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Choosing Greeting Card Stock

Picking the Right Size and Shape Paper

What are the different greeting card sizes?

If I was using a 4 3/8 x 5 3/4 envelope what size card would be appropriate?

Also what are the most economical, yet beautiful card stocks for greeting cards on the market?

Jacki

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You can make greeting cards in any size your heart desires.

If they will be mailed or delivered in an envelope, you need to consider postage cost and regulations in your country regarding size and shape, as well as what size envelopes are available to you.

Alternatively you can make your own envelopes.

Here is where you can calculate postage for cards you are sending through the U.S. Postal system.

Many artists who specialize in hand made cards go for unique sizes to make their cards stand out from the competition. This means they either make their own envelopes or purchase more expensive odd-sized ones.

Others stay with standard sizes and make their artistic statement on the card itself - with beautiful artwork or photos, with texture or 3D embellishments, even pop-ups. People who will pay a premium for hand made cards are looking for something special.

In general, envelopes need to be 1/8 to ¼ inch wider and taller than the folded card. For example, I create most of my cards on the computer and the most common card sizes I make are 8 ½" by 5 ½" and 5 ½" by 4 ¼".

These sizes print one and two cards respectively on an 8 ½" by 11" sheet of cardstock with no waste.

The envelopes for these sizes are readily available (therefore economical) and are 8 ¾" by 5 ¾" and 5 ¾" by 4 3/8".

As for card stock, whether you are going for texture and pizzazz in the paper itself or your special touch will be in the design or artwork. You can find speciality papers in many office supply and stationery stores.

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