Folding a sheet of paper may sound like an easy thing to do, but cardstock is thicker than regular paper and there’s nothing worse than a messy fold. In order to fold cardstock neatly, it needs to be scored. This ensures a smooth hinge-like fold that looks like high-end greeting cards purchased at stores. There are many different methods with which to score cardstock. Each method will be explained below.
Score Cardstock With Your Cricut
A cricut is a cutting machine that is able to cut many different types of materials. In addition to cutting, it is also able to score. The cricut machine can use one of two different attachments to score cardstock – the scoring stylus or the scoring wheel.
Both tools will allow you to score cardstock for folding. The main difference between them is that the scoring wheel gives you two different tips. One is for lighter materials, i.e., regular paper and cardstock, and the second one is for even thicker paper, like posterboard. The scoring wheel also allows for adjustable pressure, so it is a much more powerful tool.
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On the other hand, the scoring stylus will provide more precise scoring lines because it draws lines in single strokes. The scoring wheel is driven by an adaptive tool system and therefore will have some overlapping in the lines. This holds true for regular paper and mid-weight cardstock. However, once you start working with thicker cardstock, the scoring wheel will provide smoother scoring lines because it is more powerful.
Once you have decided which attachment to use with your cricut machine, you can use the Cricut Design Space. This is an app which allows you to control the machine and wirelessly score your cardstock. Once you upload your file to Cricut Design Space, you will have to adjust the layer setting which controls cutting and scoring. By default, it is set to cut, so you want to make sure to change that before beginning your project. To do so, you need to first select the layers tab. There, you can identify the scoring thumbnail easily – it is the one with no color and very thin lines. It will say “Cut” since that is the default setting. |
Once you have selected the thumbnail icon of the layer you’d like to score, simply go to the Linetype Menu at the top of the screen and switch it from “Cut” to Score”. That’s it. Now you’re ready to score your paper and you just have to click the “Make It” button to start the actual scoring process.
Score Cardstock With a Bone Folder
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Bone folders are another method with which to score cardstock. A bone folder tool is a traditional book-binding instrument that is rounded at one end and pointed at the other end. It is sometimes made of real bone and is an ideal tool for scoring paper and smoothing edges. To use it as a paper creaser tool, simply take a ruler and place it on the cardstock you would like to score. Run the pointed tip of the bone scorer along the edge of the ruler, pressing down as firmly as you can as you go down the length of the ruler. When finished, simply remove the ruler and your cardstock is ready to be folded. Since the bone folder is a handheld tool, it is best for smaller projects. If you need to score hundreds of cardstock papers, it can put a lot of strain on your hand when using a manual scoring tool for that long. For bigger projects, the cricut method would probably be your best bet. If you need to make a few thank you cards, the bone folder would probably be the quicker method since you don’t need to pull out the machine and adjust all the settings. |
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Score Cardstock Without a Cricut Or Bone Folder
What if you want to score cardstock but don’t have a cricut machine or a bone folder at home? There’s no need to worry. There are basic household utensils you can use to score cardstock. They will create a nice scoring line without the need for a cardstock scoring tool. Simply open your cutlery drawer and take out your butter knife.
With this method, like with the bone folder, you will need a ruler to hold a straight line as you score the cardstock. Using the smooth edge of the knife (and never the sharp side), press down firmly as you move along the length of the ruler and down the paper. The more pressure you exert, the deeper the score will be.
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If your butter knife disappeared in one too many dishwasher cycles, there is another common household item you can use instead. Use the tip of a wooden skewer and with a ruler, do the exact same thing as you would with the butter knife. However, make sure not to press too firmly. The wooden skewer can potentially damage the cardstock if you apply too much pressure.
There are even more DIY methods to score cardstock. You can use a large heavy-duty toothpick, a knitting needle, or a letter opener. There are a multitude of basic at-home items which can be used alongside a ruler in order to score paper. However, from all the household tools mentioned above, the most popular yet precise tool amongst users has been the butter knife. |
Which Way To Fold Scored Cardstock
Now that you have scored your cardstock, it is time to fold it. You might think that the actual folding is self-explanatory, especially once the scored line is already there, but that is not the case. You want to make sure to fold it correctly in order to ensure the smooth clean finished look you desire.
A score line creates two distinct sides on a piece of cardstock paper. One side of the cardstock will have an indentation, while the other side will have a raised line. So which direction should you fold the paper – into the indentation or into the raised side? When you score cardstock, you are essentially stretching the fibers of the paper. Therefore, you want to fold away from the score line. In other terms, you should be folding the cardstock into the raised side and the indentation of the scored line should be on the outside of the card. An easy trick to remember this is that the mountain should be in the middle.
What happens if you do it the opposite way? Since the fibers of the cardstock are stretched when scored, if you fold into the score line, you are going against the stretch and can cause cracking in the paper. That’s the last thing you want after putting in all that effort to score your cardstock, so it’s important to remember the correct way to fold it. Now that you know how to score cardstock and how to fold it, you can get working on your crafting projects like a true Pinterest-worthy professional.
