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You Asked, We Answer
Getting Kids into card making...
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December, 2009 Newsletter

Welcome to Scor-it-All News, a monthly eNewsletter from the makers of Scor-it Boards and the Scor-it Mini.

The Ultimate design tool has gone pink  - click here for details.

In the Spotlight: Elaine Barr

Elaine Barr is a crafter, artist, blogger and general lover of all things creative.  She spent her childhood making paper, drawing with alcohol markers, and playing with papier maché hot air balloons.  Her background encompasses all aspects of crafting.  She calls herself "self-unemployed" but she is hardly idle.  She is using her freedom to explore ever more crafts, she's organizing her very cluttered studio, and minding three precocious kitties.  Join Elaine at rocknrollcrafts.blogspot.com for more projects and crafty craziness.

Elaine created a paper pendant project especially for Scor-It-All newsletter readers (click to enlarge photos):

Paper Pendants by Elaine Barr
This project is perfect for holidays and home décor as well as for parties.  Make larger pendants from cardstock so they remain sturdy, with crisp folds.  Use lighter weight paper if you want to create mini size pendants. 

Here are the supplies you'll need - The Scor-It-All, 3 6" square sheets of cardstock, glue, paper clips, silver glitter, ribbon or cord.  I chose glass glitter for added sparkle.

Score cardstock, alternating mountain and valley folds for a total of 7 evenly spaced score lines.  Accordion fold along the lines to create a fan.  Repeat with the other two squares of cardstock.

Glue the ends of the fans together, adding one at a time to complete the circle-shaped pendant.  Hold the glued ridges of the fans together with paper clips until the glue is thoroughly dry.

Here is a close-up of how the paper clip should look.

Once the fans have been glued together to form a pendant, it's time to embellish with glitter along some of the mountain fold ridges.  Add a cord or ribbon so you can hang the pendant.

Options:
*In addition to, or instead of glitter, add sparkle with gems, iridescent or metallic ink or paint. 
*Accent your pendant with die cut snowflakes, paper flowers, chipboard motifs or other dimensional embellishments.

You Asked, We Answer
Do you have any ideas for getting my kids into card making?
Absolutely! Tell them about Carolyn Guidry, the speediest scorer we know. She can score the fold lines on over two hundred cards in half an hour. Teach the kids to use the Scor-it Board and let them practice for a while to make sure they have the hang of it. Then challenge them to see how many cards they can score in five minutes, ten minutes, or whatever you think works best.

Give them the cards they scored as a prize, along with stickers and gel pens or other supplies so they can fold and decorate them. Provide envelopes and stamps, too. Encourage them to branch out, using the Scor-it Board for decorative embossed or de-bossed lines. Once you've given a demonstration, sit back and get out of the way - kids are willing to play and experiment; you just might end up being the student rather than the teacher.

I love my new Scor-it Sliding Ruler.  Should I store it on the board when it's not in use?
Yes, it'll keep it nice and flat and the cat won't be able to knock it off the table.

I've heard about the Scor-it Sliding Ruler but before I buy it, I'd like to know why I need one! What can you tell me about this new Scor-it Board accessory?
The Sliding Ruler was developed by Tim Hammonds with input from local Pauline Hasund. He's the same person who designed the Scor-it Board, because he wanted to open up even more options for using the board. It's designed to stabilize your paper so it won't twist or turn while you're scoring (it's like having a third hand). It's useful for creating consistent starting and stopping points when you're making many cards with the same design. It's ideal for making embossed rectangles and boxes or star bursts where all of the corners meet. Plus, you can use it to create parallel embossed or de-bossed diagonals and diamonds and all sorts of other special effects and geometric shapes.

We think that you'll love how easily the Sliding Ruler glides. We know it's a good value, a versatile well-made tool that you'll be happy to have in hand.

Can I use the Sliding Ruler on my Scor-it Mini? Will my friends who have the Metric Scor-it Board be able to use the Sliding Ruler?
The Sliding Ruler is sized for the large (12") Scor-it Board and it has both inch and metric markings. Simply flip it around to use whichever measure you need.

Why would I need a Scor-it A-2 Envelope-it Template when I can open an envelope and trace around it?|
Good question! The answer is simple: Because the Envelope-it is durable metal and you can cut against it with a craft knife. It's reasonably priced and will last for many years - metal doesn't wear out - and won't bend or break when it's stored, plus you can clean the template it if it gets dirty. The Envelope-it is easy, fast and accurate. If you do like to trace around a template and cut with scissors, you can do that, too. Instructions are printed right on the template, it shows you where to score on the Scor-it Board, fold and apply glue. Also, go to: www,scorit.com / Help to view a tutorial on how to use the Envelope-it.

If you're a teacher, you're going to want several Envelope-it templates on hand. 

Why is there a circle cut out in the middle of the Envelope-it Template?|
So you can position the template on your patterned paper. For example, if you're making an envelope out of a recycled calendar and you want the picture of the flower or puppy front and center, you can see where they go. And if you want, you can use the circle as a template to cut out circles, from your paper to create other designs.

Click here to view tutorials on how to use the new Envelope-it and Sliding Ruler.

Fun with the Scor-it Board

Club Scrap FIELD JOURNAL Scrapisode: Spend a few minutes with Tricia Morris and Michael Strong while Michael learns to make his first book.  The Scor-It-All makes the book's accordion-fold spine a snap! 

Zutter OZZ (Original Zutter Zisters) Bind-it-All Design Team member Tish Treadaway shared her terrific treasure box project with us. Thank you, Tish!

Treasure Boxes
By Tish Treadaway, Zutter OZZ Bind-it-All Design Team Member

Tiny treasure boxes are perfect for every season and event:  Birthday, graduation and wedding gifts, party, shower and wedding favors, and Halloween and other holiday treats.  The Scor-It-All enables one to make clean and crisp folds.  Here are the supplies needed and step by step instructions for the boxes I created.

Materials: 
- Scor-It-All, HAMMONDSgroup, Inc.
- Quick Fix Adhesive Runner and 450 Stainless Adhesive, Helmar
- Love Bouquets patterned papers, Karen Foster Design
- Scissors or craft knife

Embellishments:
- Architexture Building Embellishments, EK Success
- Flowers, Jolee’s by You and Prima Marketing, Inc.
- Clock face, Li'l Davis Design
- Charms, K& Co. and Making Memories

Instructions:
1. Cut a 4 1⁄4” square for the bottom of the box and a 4 1⁄2” square for the lid of the box from coordinating patterned papers. 

2. With the Score-It-All, score the squares as follows with the paper FACE DOWN on the board.  You will be creating lid and box bottom that are self-lined.  For the lid, score along all four sides 1/2" from each edge and again 1" from the edge, and again 1-1/2" from the edge (for a total of 3 parallel score lines along each edge.  Repeat for the bottom, again scoring 3 times along each edge at 1/2" intervals.

3. To assemble lid and box bottom, make four cuts, one at each corner, stopping where the final score lines touch - Be careful not to cut beyond this point.  This creates a flat at each corner so the lid and box bottom can be folded up and glued.  Use Helmar Quick Fix Adhesive Runner to secure box folds in place.  Refer to photo.

4. Use Helmar 450 Stainless Adhesive to attach flowers, charms, trinkets, metal hardware and other embellishments.  This is a clear quick-drying adhesive formulated to hold a variety of materials.  

5. Fill the boxes with small treats and treasures.

Tips:
A. To change the dimensions of your boxes, remember to cut the piece of paper or cardstock for the lid approximately 1/4" larger than the piece cut for the box bottom.  The larger the box, the heavier the paper or cardstock needs to be.
B. Boxes do not have to be square.
C. For a beautifully finished box and added stability, cut a piece of matching paper to glue inside the lid and box bottom.

Gena McCown's origami Christmas tree card and template are welcome additions to the Scor-It-All project gallery. It's easy enough for beginners and make sure to get the kids in on the act, too. Click here for details.

Visit the Zutter Zister DT blog and link to a tutorial!

Press
Check out the new book from Design Originals: Cards & Trinkets (No. 3447).  Designer Judi Kauffman's projects on page 17, a wall calendar and Earth Day card, show how easy it is to score idea-ology™ Grungepaper™ on the Scor-It-All.  The calendar includes a block of faux tiles, the card uses decorative embossed lines for added color and dimension.  She cut slits at the corners so the embossed lines become a grid for weaving strips of raffia.  Nice work, Judi! 

Designer Judi Kauffman's bold and sassy Folder Cards featuring the Scor-it Board, Teresa Collins's die-cut folders, cards and envelopes, and rubber stamps from Red Castle, Inc., Hero Arts and Inkadinkado, are in the premier issue of Christmas 365 Magazine (pages 82-83).  It's a quarterly devoted to Christmas year round from All American Crafts, who also publish Scrapbooking & Beyond and Paper Creations.

Did You Know?
Did you know that you can use the Scor-it Board to score random or evenly spaced diagonal lines? The Sliding Ruler makes it easy and fast.

Did you know that you can store the Scor-it Board standing upright to save space? It takes less than two inches of shelf space. Tuck it into a tote and suspend the tote from a hanger in the closet if your shelves are already filled.

Did you know that dark chocolate has been deemed heart healthy? We've been waiting to hear news like this!

Did you know that decorated envelopes induce smiles throughout their journey within the postal system? Use the Scor-it Board to create embossed lines, add a bit of color to the lines with sponged-on ink, and write the recipient's name and address between the lines. Do a bit of stamping, while you're at it. Hint: Choose colors that go with the postage stamp you plan to use.

Great Finds!
Have you spent time in the periodicals department of your local book or craft store lately?  If not, you're in for a treat.  All American Crafts just launched a new magazine called Christmas 365.  It's a quarterly for those who love Christmas year-round, a mix of how-to projects, recipes and interesting articles.  Don't forget to see what's in your old favorites, too: CardMaker, Scrap & Stamp Arts, Paper Creations, Scrapbooking & Beyond all celebrate the holidays in style, as do Oprah and Martha Stewart.

Pick up a couple of magazines, head home to your favorite easy chair, put your feet up and forget the long list of things you should be doing.  Support the magazines you like best by buying a subscription for yourself or for a friend.