Cards - Zutter Bind it all

I just adore using my new Zutter Bind-it-all binding machine!! It is such a versatile machine as it can punch through a number of materials. It can punch through just about anything, as long as it is not too terribly thick. So beyond punching through just the typical paper, foam, and cardstock, it can also punch through wood, acrylic, and even some softer metals. Well I was having a great time binding small scrapbooks and projects, but I wanted to go beyond just binding and see how I could incorporate the great machine into making some fun cards.

Now I know this article is written basically referring to and using the Zutter machine, but what if you don’t own the machine? Well if you don’t happen to own a Zutter binding machine – you can most certainly improvise!! I am a great fan of improvising, especially when perhaps space and/or finances restrict you from owning all the gadgets on the market. So if you don’t have the machine, you can simply use a standard hand held ‘rectangular’ (or really any shape) hole punch. Use the hole punch to punch holes in the same pattern/design as shown and then just proceed.


After a little brainstorming, I came up with a number of ways to incorporate the use of my Zutter into this set of fun and unique cards. I chose not to use the actual metal binding that comes with the Zutter machine – as cards mail better when thinner. The metal binding that comes with the machine comes in a variety of sizes, but even the smallest was pretty thick for mailing, especially in a standard envelope. So by punching just the holes into your card fronts, you can keep a thinner card, yet begin to add some wonderful embellishments. In the examples shown, I chose a variety of techniques from tying to stapling to weaving the assortment of ribbons and fibers. The punched holes allow you to tie on fibers and you can rest assured, unless many adhesives, that they will be securely fastened to your card for their journey to the recipient. Once you have some fibers added, you can add the final embellishments of beads and charms to personalize your individual cards.

Supplies needed:

* Cardstock (Club Scrap)
* Rubberstamps (Club Scrap)
* Ink pads
* Fibers
* Ribbons
* Beads
* Charms
* Zutter Bind-it-all OR hand held punch
* Stapler

“Practice Hope” card
Cut 7 in. x 5 in. piece of brown cardstock, fold in half, ink edges with brown ink. Use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 3 holes on each side of the front of the card. Cut a 1.75 in x 3.25 in piece of green cardstock, rubberstamp “Practice Hope” (Club Scrap) sentiment in black ink on it, ink edges with brown. Mat on blue cardstock, ink edges, mat onto front of card. Thread fiber through holes (adhere on back side) and add beads. Finished card is 5x3.5.

“Beaded Beauty” card
Cut 7 in. x 5 in. piece of dark teal cardstock, fold in half, ink edges with brown ink. Cut green cardstock piece 3.25 in x 3.25, use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 6 holes on top of piece, ink edges with brown ink. Tie fibers, beads and charms to the card at punched holes as shown, adhere to card front. Rubber stamp “girl silhouette” (Club Scrap) and “Happy Birthday…” (Club Scrap) sentiment onto blue cardstock, ink edges and adhere to card front. Finished card is 5x3.5.

“Lucky Day” card
Cut 7 in. x 5 in. piece of brown cardstock, ink edges with brown ink. Use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 3 holes on each side, top and bottom as shown. Ink edges of a 1 in strip of green cardstock, add to left side of brown card front. Rubberstamp “Today is your lucky day” (Club Scrap) sentiment in brown ink on blue cardstock, ink edges, adhere to front. Weave frilly fiber through holes, creating two “X’s” at top and bottom as shown. Finished card is 5x7.

“HI” card
Cut 4.25 in. x 5.5 in. piece of green cardstock, ink edges with brown ink. Use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 10 holes on left side, tie frilly fibers through each hole. Cut brown cardstock 4.75in x 7in, fold in half, ink edges with brown ink, mat onto green cardstock. Rubberstamp “Arrow stripe” (Club Scrap) image with black ink on green cardstock, ink edges, mat onto brown card front. Rubberstamp “Just wanted…” (Club Scrap) sentiment in black ink on blue cardstock, ink edges with brown ink and adhere to front. Finished card is 4.25x5.5.

“Happy Everything” card
Cut a 8.5 in x 5.5 in piece of brown card stock, fold in half. Cut 4.25 in. x 5.5 in. piece of light blue cardstock, ink edges with brown ink. Use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 6 holes on each side. Cut a piece of green cardstock 4.25in x 4.25in, ink edges and adhere in center of card front. Rubberstamp “Happy Everything” (Club Scrap) sentiment in black ink in lower center. Thread frilly fibers through each hole zig-zagging your way from top to bottom, adhere fibers to back side. Mat this card front to brown card back. Finished card is 4.25x5.5.

“I appreciate you” card
Cut 7 in. x 5 in. piece of brown cardstock, fold in half, ink edges with brown ink. Use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 6 holes on fold side of the card back. Use a bone folder or scoring tool, score a line 3/4th from fold. Add strip of blue patterned cardstock to front. Rubberstamp “Flourish” (Club Scrap) and “I appreciate you…” (Club Scrap) sentiment on blue and green cardstocks, respectively, in black ink. Ink edges and mat onto brown card backing. Thread ribbon through each hole and overlap fold, staple to card as shown. Finished card is 5x3.5.

“Bouquet” card
Cut 7 in. x 5 in. piece of lime green cardstock. Cut a 1.75 in x 7 in piece of blue cardstock, ink edges with brown ink. Cut a 1.75 in x 5 in piece of dark green cardstock, ink edges with brown ink. Use Zutter binding machine or a rectangular punch, punch 3 holes in the four short ends of those dark green and blue cardstocks as shown. Adhere the blue to the dark green, where they overlap. Weave the ribbon as shown, adhere ribbon to the back sides of the pieces. Mat this cross section onto the lime green card back as shown. Rubberstamp “bouquet” (Club Scrap) image in black ink on lime green cardstock, color in image and ink edges with brown ink, mat onto dark green cardstock and adhere to card front in lower right hand corner as shown. Finished card is 5x7.

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin