Way to Score!
By: Katherine Elliot
Whether you are new, or you”ve been paper crafting for a while, think of how many ways you score your projects. That list probably grows over time. But now more than ever, you can find many different tools and techniques to make a perfect score and make your project picture perfect.
Simple straight edge and bone folder in use. Image source from factorydirectcraft.com
Paper scoring is one of the first, most basic techniques you learn when working with paper crafts. There is so much more to it than just folding cardstock in half (although if you were like me, that”s exactly how you start!). The first time a friend saw me score cardstock before folding it was an “A ha!” moment for her. Instantly she reminded me that scoring is not always your first instinct when you start this hobby, but it becomes an important part of our craft as we try more advanced techniques.
Tools for scoring are as simple as a straight-edge, ruler and stylus or bone folder, or score blade for your favorite paper trimmer. Basic scoring tools are inexpensive and easy to find.
Cutterpede Scoring Blade shuttle and Martha Stewart Crafts Bone Folder, image source amazon.com
When it comes to following tutorials for the latest fancy fold cards or 3D projects, many companies now offer several options to help make precisely measured score lines super easy. You”ve just gotta love these tools when when it comes time to tackling more advanced crafts.
Scor-Pal, Martha Stewart Scoring Board and Simply Scored score boards shown. Image source from stampingtweets.com
Score boards from Scor-Pal, Martha Stewart Crafts, Stampin” Up! and many others offer the some of the best tools to perfectly align your score marks. Prices range from $15-$30(US) for most boards. The ruled guidelines and tools included with these boards can help make quick work of complex designs.
Straight and carefully measured folded score lines are key to many of the fancy fold cards you see, like these adorable step cards…
Step card by Pam Sparks, image source expressionswithheart.files.wordpress.com
Brighten Your Day by Paula Kay Bourland, image source splitcoaststampers.com
Crisp, scored & folded lines also help advance your card making skills to create engaging pop-up cards as well.
image source and instructions for Kirigami-Paper Bird Card from PapercraftCentral.net.
Beyond cards with a variety of mountain and valley folds, scored decorations are very trendy. Take for example, the very popular rosette. Simple hands-on scoring and folding of a strip of paper is all you need to make these fun decorations.
Scoring paper to create a rosette. Image source and tutorial found at Chasing Paper Dreams.
image source Chasing Paper Dreams
Paper rosette flower arrangement by Chavez Designs
Rosettes or other fan-folded decorations are fun dimensional additions to many projects.
Fan folded scallop circle skirt cards and image source from stampshacklady.com
Keep in mind, score lines are not just for folding. Score lines are an easy embossed accent. No embossing machine required! Check out the score lines used on these lovely cards…
image source Butternut Sage Designs
image source Debbies Designs Blog
image source DoStampingwithDawn.com
Stampin” Up”s new diagonal plate for their Simply Scored score board makes easy work of diagonal lines (that was the tool used in the Happy Birthday card shown above) and perfect folds for custom envelopes, too.
Simply Scored Diagonal Plate from Stampin” Up! featured above, image source lindastamps. wordpress.com
Crafters Companion Enveloper featured above, image source amazon.com
Envelope specific scoring tools come with the instructions you need for your custom projects. Most of the standard score boards you find also include envelope making instructions so customizing the packaging of your fancy fold card is at your fingertips.
Martha Stewart Crafts Score Board and envelope image source Craft Critique.com
Pick your favorite way to score and go for it. Keep it simple or find new ways to make scoring your project a home run. Whatever you do, score big this year!
WOW all of these projects are so amazing…Thanks for the little tutorial…great tips..
Love the diagonal plate.
Love today’s blog post! Great information on all the different tools available out in the market for scoring. AND the projects are just so sweet!
Elaine Allen
Great review of these tools and love the projects that you shared.
Love my scoring tools–so easy to get great effects.
Fabulous. It’s so easy to forget that scoring can be a design element, not just for folding. I don’t have a scoring board yet, but it’s certainly on my list of must-haves. The paper rosettes are so easy to make with a scoring board!
Thanks for the trend report!
I am a real newbie to paper rafting and especially card making, so I don’t know about scoring. This post has really piqued my interest. Could anyone recommend products and tutorials to help get me started? Thanks for all the help.
If you’re just starting out, you may want to check out what you are currently using to see what you may already have on hand. A bone folder is very inexpensive, and as long as you already have a ruler, those 2 things can get you started. If you already have invested in a cutting tool that has interchangeable blades, like a Cutterpede or Fiskars cutter, ask at your local craft store, likely they have a score blade you can change out from your cutting blade. Here’s a very basic link to a “how to” http://www.favecrafts.com/Techniques/How-to-Fold-and-Score-Paper# but just use a search engine & you can find more. Thanks for leaving a comment!
Love the dresses made by scoring the scallop circle. I don’t have a score board yet but afraid I am leaning toward getting one this quarter.
A great report and a good reminder that scoring is not just for 3D folds. Love the embossing with scoring plates. Such lovely images!
I love that you showcased different ways to score b/c I tend to use this tool for creasing but now I see alll these possibilities. I’m going to try a few after work today to add a new dimension to my cards.
So fun to see my card here… here’s my blog URL, if you’d want to go back in and add it so there’s a link to me… ‘preciate it!
http://expressionswithheart.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/a-fishing-kind-of-birthday/
I love scoring tools too! TFS!
I am a little behind on checking out my favorite blogs, so missed this post when it first came out. I really liked this informative post and all the samples. Thank you Katherine so much. I hope to see more posts like this in the future, even for us that have been using a scoring tool it was informative.