Vendor Spotlight & Giveaway: Martha Stewart Scoring Board

Reported by Peggy Marsh

This scoring board tool from Martha Stewart Crafts is really more than a simple scoring board. It's a terrific gadget to add to your arsenal of tools. And we know how much we love our crafting tools! I've wanted to get my hands on this new toy for some time now.

(Update: EK Success, the manufacturer of the Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board, currently makes a similar scoring board under their own brand name.)

There is a small panel at the top that houses the boning folder when not in use. Also, adhered inside is a decal with measurements for handmade envelopes and boxes. The instructions are in English, and the owner can substitute labels for Spanish or French instructions, as appropriate.

The envelope guide stores neatly (upside down) in the bottom of the scoreboard. What a handy tool that is!

I started out testing the envelope feature using a 8.5 x 8.5" piece of designer paper to make a 5.5" x 6" envelope.

Simply scored following the directions on the guide...

and used a tape runner to secure the sides...

Easy peasy!!

Then I scored a 1" x 9" piece of cardstock at every 1/4" increment...

Secured the ends together with a bit of craft glue...

...to create this pinwheel as a 3-D embellishment for my card.

And, here's the card set together.

How great is that to have a card with matching envelope?

Pros:

• Because the Martha Stewart bone folder is slimmer than other bone folders, it goes deeper into the scoring grooves and closer to the top fence of the board. As a result it makes crisper, more pronounced score lines.
• Very reasonably priced at a retail cost of $19.99 and since it's available at Michaels, you can use a 40% off coupon.
• The envelope guide tool is included and neatly stores away when not in use.
• No additional instructions are needed for making envelopes... it's VERY simple to use and took less than a minute to create a 5.5" square card for my project.

Cons:

• Because the bone folder is slim, it can cut through some finer papers when scoring.
• The English measurements for the envelopes and boxes are already attached when you purchase it. It is on the top portion of the housing for the bone folder. The way it is attached makes it almost impossible to read unless you pick up the board and get it to eye level.

Do you currently own a Martha Stewart scoring board tool (or the similar EK Success scoring board)?  What do you love or hate about it?