Easel card Template

This is a tutorial for a simple easel card base that you can use to make all sorts of standup cards.

I go through phases in my card-making endeavors and recently, I’ve been on this easel card kick. I started out not liking them because they were kind of a hassle to make but this new easel based turned out to be an essential base card template that I use a lot. I think it’s probably a good one to have in your arsenal if you are a serious cardmaker. I ended up making a lot of these easel cards because the round pop-up layer was just so versatile to do all sorts of arrangements from flowers to wreaths to flower wreaths.

This is so simple, you don’t actually need a cutting machine to make the most basic easel card. It can get pretty complicated with double easels and twisted easels but let’s just start with the basics for now.

If you are going to do lots of customizations, then I would advise using the cutting machine to make things go faster. I’m an avid Cricut card maker so all the accoutrements featured here in this tutorial. are pretty much going to require a cutting machine of sorts.

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Materials for Basic Easel Card

Cardstock – the only thing I would note here is you are going to see both sides of the base template. Some printed cardstock only has the print on one side. Just keep that in mind as you are designing. Here are some of my favorite cardstock brands:

• Assorted Starter Pack – Basic assorted colors, great starter pack, perfect weight for most papercraft projects
• Cricut Joy Insert Card Packs – You don’t have to use these with the Cricut Joy, they are nice material kids for cardmaking.
• Cardstock Warehouse Brand on Amazon – I love the quality of all the matte-colored cardstock with Cardstock Warehouse. It is my go-to brand for individual matte colors that I might need
• Poptone Assorted Variety Pack – This is the perfect peppy assortment of colors of heavy cardstock. It’s a heavy cardstock assortment with colors I actually use frequently for cardmaking.
• Seasonal Assorted Variety Pack – This is a slight variation on the Poptone assortment and has a quite few neutrals that complement almost any accent color.
• Stardream Metallics Line – For paper crafts, the Stardream line is the go-to for a metallic shimmer finish. It is the perfect sheen to make any project pop. The core is also colored is which hard to find for metallic paper.

Glue – I use multiple glues in one project and this was no different. Here are my favorites:

• Scotch Adhesive Roller Dispenser
• Rubber Cement
• Glue Pen
• Art Glitter Glue
• Foam Tape

Cutting Machine – I use a Cricut. Check out my recommendations for Cricut machines and accessories for beginners for more info.

Templates – The base easel card template is available in both SVG and printable PDF formats for free in my resource library.

Easel Card Tutorial

I cut both the base and the decorative elements using a fresh light-grip blue mat. I find that one to be the easiest to clean after cutting cardstock.

It’s really important to use a fresh light-grip mat for the more intricate pieces. Otherwise, you risk the cardstock snagging on the blade and wasting a sheet of cardstock.

I would cut out all the pieces first and then gather your supplies to do final assembly. Here, I have used 65lb medium weight cardstock for everything but the base. You can get away with lighter cardstock for the base but it will hold itself up better with something at least 80lbs or heavier. Here I have used 100lb kraft cardstock for the base.

To score or not to score… I’ve big on scoring the cardstock for fold especially if it is 80lbs or heavier. It just creates a cleaner fold. If you don’t have a fancy scoring board, just use an edge of a ruler and scrape against a straight edge along the fold. For Cricut users, I never bother with the scoring tool, it never aligns properly.

After scoring and folding the base, glue the back of the wreath or decorative layer on first. I like to use by glue dot roller tape for this one but it’s up to you.

Just for reference, for this particular easel design, there is a half circle slit where it is supposed to tuck in to be in display mode.

This is meant to hold the end in place so the easel sits up.

If you are a craft supply hoarder like me and must have every tool out there, then you will likely have a quilling tool like this. If you are more efficient with your tooling, then just roll up the center of the flower by hand. Then assemble the flower layers and try to offset the petals so it looks better when assembled.

That is all there is to the base, you can now decorate the base easel until the cows come home.

I like gifting this card mostly because it looks a little different and the receiver can put it up on their desk for a little bit almost like it’s part of the decor of the room.

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