Card stock is a great type of paper to work with for most scrapbooking projects. This paper is particularly thick and heavy, generally 36 - 38 pound paper. This means that a particular stack of this type of paper weighs 36 to 38 pounds. Compare that to common copier paper, which is usually 20 pound paper, or high-quality resume paper, which is usually around 28 pounds, and you can imagine the difference. Heavier paper is easier to work with in many cases when doing basic scrapbooking techniques.
Card stock usually comes in the standard sizes of 12X12", 8.5 X 11", and 8.5 X 5.5". Like any of your scrapbooking paper or supplies, the card stock you purchase should be of archival quality to protect your precious photos and memorabilia. Make sure it states on the label that it is acid-free and ligning-free.
Solid colored card stocks are the most useful and versatile, being that it makes great background and matting paper, and are easily adapted in just about any layout. They can be purchased in packages of 10, 25, or 50 just about anywhere that sells scrapbooking supplies. At specialty scrapbooking supply stores and craft outlets that have large scrapbooking sections, they can often be found by the sheet, or in medium and very large assortment packages.
Card stock also comes in patterns and textures. Textured card stock is often referred to as “mulberry paper.” It is made with linen and has a wonderful, hand-made look, with thread lines and discolorations throughout. These types of card stock are usually more expensive, but if your budget is small it can be purchased by the sheet or in small variety packs on an as-needed basis. If you can’t find the patterns that you want, try creating your own patterned card stock paper by using stencils with chalks or markers, rubber stamps, or printing patterns directly onto the paper from your computer.
Card stock can be used in a number of different ways in scrapbooking, from backgrounds to embellishments. First and foremost, it provides a sturdy background for a page or matte for a photograph. When you pick up a page you are working on that is holding heavy photographs and several layers of page elements, card stock will hold up without bending. If you have a thinner, patterned paper you wish to use as a background, you might want place it over a sheet of plain white card stock in order to make it a sturdier foundation upon which you can work.
Heavier paper is stiffer and easier to cut, especially with decorative-edged scissors. It doesn’t “wilt” when you are holding it, and gives you a clean, sharp line. It is also easier to attach brads, snaps and eyelets to card stock paper, and it will hold them more securely. Since it is stronger, it is less likely to rip or tear.
If you want that torn look, card stock is easier to “direct” when tearing by hand, and gives you that nice, jagged edge without the rip getting out of control. Try tearing the edges of mattes or putting a torn strip across the page to put your title on for a natural, hand-made look. Mulberry card stock makes a particularly nice ripped look, as it gets fuzzy around the edges and has a fabric-like appearance.
When punched with a paper punch, card stock makes sturdier cut-outs that are easier to use. You may have noticed that light weight paper cut-outs are harder to pick up, fly away easily, and can crease and bend when handled. Card stock cut-outs hold up much better when working.
Because it is stronger, card stock is also a better paper to use if you are attempting to emboss letters or stencils onto the page, and the embossing is sharper around the edges for a more pronounced look.
Every beginning scrapbooker should consider getting at least a couple of 10 or 25 sheet packages of card stock in assorted colors to add to their starting supplies. Assortment packages are often grouped by color tones (neutrals, pastels, jewel tones, earth tones, bold). Single color packages can also be obtained if there is a particular color or two that you find yourself using frequently in your layouts and don’t want to run out. This will save you money in the long run, because purchasing by the sheet can really eat up your scrapbooking budget. Nor does it pay to continuously purchase the same assortment just to get those five sheets of green you love, when you don’t use half the other colors in the package. It is beneficial to have at least one package of neutral toned card stock (black, white, creams, tans), since these colors tend to be used most often. When beginning your scrapbooking supply collection, card stock should be at the top of your list.
