Craft Paper Essentials: Choosing the Right Paper for Your Projects
Since craft paper comes in a variety of weights, patterns, and finishes, it’s important to know how to choose the right type for your project. Cardstock, scrapbook, patterned, and specialty paper all have unique characteristics that will affect your final project. We’re here to help you navigate your options so that you can complete your projects with creativity and confidence.
In this blog, we’ll define different types of craft paper, guide you on how to choose high-quality paper and pass along some essential tips and tricks.
What Is Craft Paper and Why Is It Important?
A quick walk through any office supply store and you’ll likely be overwhelmed by the number of paper choices. Each one has a different weight, finish, and brightness, not to mention color. With so many paper options out there, is it really necessary to use specialty craft paper?
We get asked all the time about the necessity of using specialty crafting paper, especially by craft paper beginners. Craft paper is paper that is specifically made to create works of art such as cards, scrapbook pages, envelopes, and gift boxes. There are many reasons to use crafting paper. For one, it comes in a lot of fun patterns and colors that add just the right touch to your projects.
But beyond that, it has qualities that will help your project stay good as new and long outlast standard printer or construction paper. Some of the features we look for in the best paper for crafting are:
- High-quality materials
- Beautiful design, texture, or pattern
- Durability
- The right weight for the project
- Acid and lignin-free (photo safe)
- Archival quality
It’s important to choose the type of craft paper that will be best for your project so that it keeps its quality over time. At Stampin’ Up!, we carefully design each of our papers for crafting. You can follow our vision for the paper, or use your imagination to dream up your own creation. To better understand where to begin, here are some common types of craft paper and their unique qualities.
Cardstock
Cardstock is commonly used among crafters. It comes in a variety of heavy paperweights, making it more durable for holding multiple layers and embellishments. Cardstock should be acid- and lignin-free, which means it won’t yellow over time. These properties make cardstock an ideal choice for scrapbooking and cardmaking.
Something that sets our Stampin’ Up! cardstock, specifically for card making, is that our paper is dyed all the way through, so you won’t see any white edges when you cut, fold, or tear it—which makes it a great choice for the base of hand-crafted cards.
We recently added a new cardstock to our premium paper lineup—Two-Tone Cardstock! One side is the full-strength color, and the other side is a lighter version of the color. The ultrasmooth surface makes it ideal for stamping, giving you clean, crisp images. This two-tone cardstock has a white core and is great for crafting projects where purposefully seeing the white adds a fun dimension to your paper craft.
Cardstock is available in a variety of colors, matte and smooth finishes, and textures, so crafters have plenty of room for creativity in their projects. The example above shows three sheets of colored cardstock, that were dyed all the way through to make this cheerful card.
Scrapbooking Paper
Scrapbooking paper is specifically made for preserving memories in custom spreads in a scrapbook. It encompasses many different types of paper, including but not limited to cardstock, patterned paper, and specialty paper. Since scrapbooking is meant to preserve memories over the years, it’s important to make sure that the paper you use for scrapbooking is acid-free and lignin-free. This will ensure that your paper won’t lose its quality or colors over time or damage photos.
Patterned Paper
Patterned paper is usually lighter than cardstock and is available in single-sided and double-sided sheets. It’s great for accents or layers on cards and scrapbook pages. At Stampin’ Up!, we offer high-quality and unique patterned paper through our wide variety of Designer Series Paper collections to bring your ideas to life.
Specialty Paper
Specialty paper is similar to patterned paper, but the finish is what sets it apart. It usually features a foil accent, interesting texture, or shimmer that adds just a little something special. Specialty paper is perfect for adding eye-catching accents to cards, scrapbook pages, and gift boxes. Reminder: When choosing a specialty paper for scrapbooking, confirm that it is photo-safe.
Choosing The Right Craft Paper For Your Project
Paper is a fundamental part of crafting, and choosing high-quality crafting paper will elevate your designs and make sure they last. Here are some important things to keep in mind as you choose craft paper for different projects.
RELATED: Our Favorite Crafting Tools
Choosing Craft Paper For Card Making
For card making, it’s helpful to start with a heavyweight cardstock as your base. Heavyweight cardstock is thicker and better for holding multiple layers and embellishments. If you’re not sure what cardstock to add to your collection first, we recommend starting with Basic White Cardstock and choosing a set of colored cardstock that coordinates well.
Choosing Craft Paper For Scrapbooking
Most scrapbooking paper will come in a standard size of 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm), providing plenty of room for detailed layouts. Since scrapbooking is all about preserving memories, it’s important to check that the scrapbook paper you buy is acid-free and lignin-free. This means that the paper has been specially treated to retain its quality over time without fading, yellowing, or becoming brittle. Our new two-tone cardstock is perfect for scrapbooking, with two different shades to choose from, one sheet can do double duty in your layout design.
Typically, patterned scrapbook paper comes in a set with multiple designs united by a specific theme or group of colors. Whether you’re creating a spread for someone sweet, or a special occasion, it’s easy to find a set of scrapbooking paper to match your creative inspiration.
Coordination and Quality
As you build your collection of craft paper and supplies, it’s good to keep coordination and quality in mind. Investing in craft paper in colors and patterns that complement each other well helps you get the most out of your supplies because they’ll coordinate and complement each other more easily. At Stampin’ Up!, we coordinate the colors across all our products to make it easy to gather everything you need for your project, right down to each color’s name. For example, the product details of our Garden Poetry Patterned Paper allows you to match your colored cardstock and stamping ink pads easily.
Quality makes a world of difference in crafting. From the way the paper folds, how clearly a stamped image appears on cardstock, and the vibrance of the ink you use, high-quality materials lead to well-made crafts that can be cherished for years. It’s all in the details!
Our Favorite Designer Series Paper For 2024
Our January – April 2026 Mini Catalog features a beautiful variety of patterns and designs to elevate your projects. Some of our favorite patterns include the Beach Boardwalk pattern with bright colors and fun prints that are perfect for summer. The Cute as a Bug collection is just as adorable as it sounds, with ladybugs, fluttering friends, and picnic-perfect prints. And don’t sleep on our Mixed Up Patterns bundle with a variety of colors and patterns that can be used in cards and crafts alike. Some other popular craft papers include Nature Walk, Lovely and Beautiful, and Lovely Blossoms. We have so many favorite crafting paper patterns and designs that it’s hard to pick just one.
Crafting Paper Project Ideas and Storage Tips
Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are some craft paper project ideas and storage tips.
DIY Packaging
For small gifts and boxes, patterned paper and specialty paper can be used as gift wrapping. This small box has a lovely shimmer and texture. Paired with a ribbon of your choice, this is sure to be a special gift for your loved ones.
A more advanced crafting option is to create your own gift box using cardstock and patterned paper of your choice. In this Stampin’ Up! tutorial video, you’ll notice how red cardstock paired with white, textured specialty paper creates a beautiful gift box with contrast and holiday cheer.
Card Making
Depending on your familiarity with crafting, cards can be as intricate or simple as you’d like. It’s the thought that counts the most!
For beginners, starting with a crafting kit like The Best Ever Kit is a fun way to get acquainted with card making. These kits have everything you need—stamps, ink, paper, embellishments, envelopes, and step-by-step instructions. Though it looks complex, kits are a great way to enjoy crafting while benefiting from step-by-step instructions and learning new techniques.
As you build your card-making skills, you can explore different elements that you can include in your cards. Here’s some inspiration on how you can use stamps, colored cardstock, and embellishments to personalize different cards.
Decorations
Craft paper can also be used to create decorations for your home. The Radiant Reminders Kit, paired with our Standing Clipboard Trio, creates beautiful customized pieces for your space.
The Every Little Thing Kit also pairs with the clipboard trio. Crafting kits are a relaxing way to unwind and a great way to stay inspired with ideas for future projects.
Craft Paper Storage Ideas
There are many options for storing your craft paper, but effective storage depends on your workflow and preferences. We’ve provided some options to get you started with ideas, but your method of organization is entirely up to you.
- Magazine holders are great for organizing your craft papers without requiring too much space. Place one on your desk, a shelf, or a small space. Then, you can easily view and access your craft paper inventory when you’re working on a project.
- Mail sorters are best for organizing large craft paper collections. They come in various sizes, so you can find one with the number of shelves you need.
- Clear scrapbook containers usually measure 12″ x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) and are perfect for storing scrapbook paper and cardstock. They offer easy visibility into your craft paper stash while protecting your paper.
- Accordion file folders are good for storing paper scraps in one central place. You can label each file to help you find different scraps. These folders are pretty compact, so you can easily store them in a small space or take them on the go.
When it comes to sorting craft paper, you can sort it by color, texture, dimension, or theme. If you have a smaller inventory of craft paper, sorting it by color may work well. For larger craft paper collections, you can get more specific with how you sort to make it easier to find what you need. It all comes down to your preferences and what works best for your crafting workflow, so don’t worry too much about getting perfect organization the first time. It’s totally fine for your storage to change as you craft.
FAQ: Craft Paper Essentials
Q. What is the best type of craft paper for card making?
A. The best type of craft paper for card making is cardstock. Cardstock has a heavier paperweight, meaning that it’s strong enough to hold multiple layers of paper and embellishments. Cardstock also comes in smooth finishes, which are great for stamping.
Q. How do I choose the right paper for scrapbooking?
A. Choose acid and lignin-free scrapbook paper to ensure that it will last well over time without yellowing. It’s also important to protect your scrapbooks from sunlight to prevent fading. A wide variety of scrapbook paper is available, but it’s usually organized by theme. Shopping with a theme or idea in mind can help you narrow your search among all the options.
Q. How can high-quality craft paper enhance my papercraft projects?
A. Using high-quality craft paper allows you to get cleaner folds, crisp stamp images, long-lasting colors, and durability in your projects.
Q. What types of craft paper are best for stamping?
A. Smooth cardstock in lighter colors is best for stamping.
Q. What is the importance of paper quality in crafting projects?
A. Paper is the foundational piece in many crafting projects, so using high-quality paper will add to the quality and durability of your overall project.
Q. Where can I find unique and exclusive craft paper designs?
A. At Stampin’ Up!, we create all of our paper designs in-house. Whether you’re looking for cardstock, patterned paper, or specialty paper, we provide a variety of high-quality craft paper to bring your crafting vision to life!
Q. How do I start with paper crafting if I’m a beginner?
A. Start with white cardstock, one set of patterned paper, a stamping block, photopolymer stamps, and a black ink pad. You’ll be surprised by just how much you can create with these foundational supplies!
Explore Paper Crafting with the Stampin’ Up! Community
Now that we’ve covered some craft paper basics and inspiration for project ideas, it’s time to start creating! The Stampin’ Up! craft paper line is always changing. Make sure you get your hands on your favorite high quality prints, patterns, and colors before they’re gone.
Paper crafting is a wonderful way to create beautiful cards, works of art, and memories. It’s more than just an activity; it brings people together. Community and creativity are at the heart of everything we do at Stampin’ Up! We’re proud to provide high-quality craft paper designed by our in-house teams. We’ve also got an army of friendly and knowledgeable demonstrators that you can connect with today! We’re excited to see what you’ll create!