Guide to Buying Paper and Cardstock
Paper and cardstock are the absolute basic materials for card making, scrapbooking and papercrafting so it is important to make the right choice. With so many different sizes, weights, colours and designs available you might wonder where to start. With this Craft Superstore guide you can pick your way through the myriad of options with ease.
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Matching Colour Paper & Card
When choosing the colour of your papers and cardstock for a particular project, you will probably be guided by your theme, as well as your own personal favourites. For scrapbooking layouts pick one, two or three co-ordinating colours from your photographs that complement each other and the photo. When making cards, choose colours with your recipient and the occasion in mind; with papercraft projects, the subject and intended use will largely influence your choice. Don't be afraid to mix patterns in your projects but ensure that they are from the same colour palette to avoid clashing.
Crafting Weight Measurements
You may have noticed that paper and cardstock vary in weight. This is measured in grams per square metre (gsm) or microns; the higher the gsm the heavier, and therefore thicker, the paper or card. Cardstock for scrapbooking layouts should be at least 240gsm to provide a solid basis for your pages. If you are buying cardstock to make your own cards, go for at least 260gsm as using lighter cardstock may mean that your card cannot stand up straight once it is decorated! The weight of decorative papers is not as important as the weight of cardstock, but often gives a good indication of the quality of the paper. Also, thicker "cardstock weight" embellishment papers, which are often highly decorated, are perfect for matting and layering as well as cutting out elements of the design to make adornments for your handmade cards, scrapbook layouts and papercraft projects.
Ready-Made Craft Kits
Ready made kits and packs of paper and cardstock are fantastic for beginners and experienced crafters alike. The colour co-ordinating has been done for you and you can concentrate on creating beautiful cards and keepsakes. They represent great value for money too, as there is usually more than enough to complete a project plus you can keep the reasonably sized scraps for future projects or make co-ordinating cards and gifts tags. Crafters never waste what they can re-use!
Preserving Old Photos
When choosing paper and cardstock for use with photographs, it is of paramount importance that you choose acid free products. The acid contained in some products can eat into the photos and discolour them. You work so hard to create beautiful works of art so do them, and yourself, justice by keeping them looking great for as long as possible by using the right papers and cardstock. They may be a little more expensive than plain craft paper but they are worth it in the long run.