Today's post is a continuation of my post about getting started with card making. Yesterday I wrote about minimum and maximum sizes for cards and letters to go through the United States Postal Service. I mentioned how I avoid cards that are too thick and I shared links to the USPS websites where mailing sizes, thickness and weight limitations are listed.
Today I am comparing what was familiar to me, Close To My Heart cards and envelopes, to what Stampin' Up! offers. I noticed that there can be some subtle differences between CTMH and Stampin' Up! cards/envelopes and I want to be sure that you are aware of them.
According to several sites I found online, including Cards for Causes, the 4¼" × 5½" card size is referred to A2 and 5" × 7" is A7. I did not find an alpha-numeric "standard" for 3½" × 8½" (Slimline) there, but Jennifer McGuire has this post, All About Slimline Cards, where she refers to the 3½" × 8½" size as the Popular Slimline which would fit a #9 Envelope.
| Standard Greeting Card Sizes | card size | envelope size |
| A2 | 4¼" × 5½" | 4⅜" × 5¾" (A2) |
| A7 | 5" × 7" | 5¼" × 7¼" (A7) |
| Slimline | 3½" × 8½" | 3⅞" × 8⅞" (#9) |
I updated this post to add this section...I've been scanning the Close To My Heart Blog and found a DIY Photo Cards! post where they listed several card sizes and the envelope that works with each card size; unfortunately the post will be disappearing soon with the closure of CTMH. Here's the list of card sizes and envelopes with links to envelope sizes CTMH and SU! do not carry:
| Card Size | Envelope Type |
| 3″ x 5″ | 4BAR |
| 4″ x 6″ | A6 |
| 5″ x 7″ | A7 |
| 5″ x 5″ | 5¾” Square |
| 6″ x 6″ | 6½” Square |
The link CTMH shared to the 6½” Square envelopes now lands all available envelopes from Paper Source. At the bottom of the envelope page you will find an Envelope Size & Style Guide and if you select "Size Chart" under Paper Bar on the left menu you will find this Stationary Components Size Guide that is great for seeing what A# is what size in inches. While I was trying to find a link to 6½” Square envelopes, I found a guide on How To Make an Envelope Liner and Envelope Liner Template Kit to aid with creating the envelope liner if the flaps on your envelopes have a similar shape and size. If you are creating unique shaped cards, remember that additional postage might be required, and you may want an Envelope Template Kit (creates six sizes of envelopes) to create your own envelopes if you are unable to find the envelope size you need.
Comparing Close To My Heart Cards/Envelopes to Stampin' Up! Options
If you are familiar to the cards and envelopes from Close To My Heart our options were:
| CTMH product name | item number | product description | card size |
| White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack | X254 | 50 card bases and envelopes | 4¼" × 5½" |
| 5" × 7" White Cards & Envelopes | X258 | 20 card bases and envelopes | 5" × 7" |
| Slimline Cards & Envelopes | X257 | 20 white card bases and envelopes | 3½" × 8½" |
| Stampin' Up! product name | item number | product description | card size | envelope size |
| Sunny Springs Cards & Envelopes | 163754 | 5 cards and 5 envelopes: 1 each of 5 designs | 4¼" × 5½" | 4¾" × 5½" |
| Calming Creek Cards & Envelopes | 163753 | 5 cards and 5 envelopes: 1 each of 5 designs | 4¼" × 5½" | 4⅜" × 5¾" |
| Brushed Gold Cards & Envelopes | 162177 | 20 cards and 20 envelopes | 4¼" × 5½" | 4½" × 5¾" |
| Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes | 159232 | 20 cards and 20 envelopes | 5" × 3½" | 5⅛" × 3⅝" |
| Basic White Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes | 159234 | 20 total Memories & More card bases and 20 total envelopes: 10 small and 10 large | small & large (details below) | 4½" × 5¾" |
| Basic White Medium Envelopes | 159236 | 40 envelopes (fits 5½" × 4¼" cards) | n/a | 5¾" × 4⅜" |
| Clear Medium Envelopes | 102619 | 50 envelopes (fits 5½" × 4¼" cards) | n/a | 5¾" × 4⅜" |
The Sunny Springs and Calming Creek Cards & Envelopes are printed cards with envelopes that have the same pattern on the envelopes; the liner matches the card exactly and envelope itself is a subtle version of the pattern. The Brushed Gold Cards & Envelopes look like someone took a large paintbrush and gold paint to the card and envelope. I think the Brushed Gold would make fabulous holiday cards.
The Basic White Note Cards & Envelopes are little smaller than what CTMH Makers and customers are used to. They are ½" shorter in one direction and are ¾" shorter in the other. While this is good as far as saving paper if you are covering the entire card front, there were many times I wanted a "canvas" that was larger than 4¼" × 5½".
The Basic White Assorted Memories & More Cards & Envelopes are designed to work with cards from Memories & More Card Packs. The Memories & More Card Packs are similar to the Picture My Life cards CTMH carried. The small card bases work with the 3" × 4" Memories & More cards while the large card bases with the 4" × 6" Memories & More cards.
At this point in time, Stampin' Up! does not offer a White 5" × 7" or Slimline card and envelope options (I did notice the Sweet Springtime Paper Pumpkin Past Kit (164385) has a slimline card where the finished size is 3¼" × 6¼"). I have not heard anything about Stampin' Up! expanding their card size options. I've created both 5" × 7" or Slimline card, but they are not my go to sizes so I am unsure how many other people would miss these sizes.
Since Stampin' Up! carries 8½" × 11" cardstock that is a good weight for card bases, my impression is many Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and customers make their own card bases. Stampin' Up! has two envelope only options that fit 5½" × 4¼" cards. Once is translucent so your decorated masterpiece shows through. The 8½" × 11" cardstock is one of the reasons I am thinking about creating more of my card bases in the future.
Stop by in a day or two when I share different ways I plan to create card bases, including creating the card bases from 12" × 12" cardstock.
Have a great week ahead. Don't forget Father's Day will soon be here.
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