Cutting printable cards, call slips and boards

Cut cards and slips

1. Let the ink dry fully, especially on card stock.
2. Trim the outer margin off the whole sheet first, so every card ends up the same size.
3. Make the long cuts first: split the sheet into strips along the cut lines that run the full width or height of the page.
4. Cut each strip into cards along the short lines.
5. For call slips, cut the strips into slips and keep them in an envelope or a zip bag with the caller's list.
6. For a page with two bingo cards, one cut across the middle makes two cards.

Which tool

1. A paper trimmer (a guillotine or a rotary trimmer) makes the straightest, fastest cuts and is the easiest way to cut a whole set of cards.
2. A metal ruler and a craft knife on a self-healing cutting mat work well for cut lines in the middle of a page.
3. Scissors suit a few cards, rounded shapes and craft pieces like props and turkey disguise parts.
4. Corner rounder punches give game cards a finished look and make them easier to shuffle.

Tips

• Cut a hair inside a printed line if you don't want the line showing on the card.
• Stack no more than two or three sheets in a trimmer or under a knife; thicker stacks drift and cut crooked.
• Keep craft knives and trimmers away from children; kids can cut the craft pieces with safety scissors and an adult nearby.

Questions