Scrapbooking Tools - Cardstock

You can’t build a scrapbook without paper and card. And perhaps we should add a caution before going any farther: Collecting card and patterned paper is highly addictive! Well actually collecting paper of any sort is highly addictive. Don’t say you were not warned! …

There are three basic categories: [tag]card stock[/tag], patterned paper and specialty paper. Card stock and patterned scrapbook papers come in sizes to fit scrapbook albums: the most common being 12″ x 12″, with 8½” x 11″ and 8″ x 8″ following closely behind. Specialty papers come in a variety of sizes including standard sizes.

 

Card stock

Card comes in a variety of weights. Use heavy card as the base or background for your scrapbook page. Use lighter card with punches or to give a little weight to items cut from patterned paper: adhere the roughly cut shape to your card, and then cut the detail in both layers at the same time. Matt paper embellishments on it, too, the results will be great.

You probably want to stick with a medium-weight card when using [tag]die-cuts[/tag] and for matting photos. Having said that, you can use any medium or lightweight card for mats, but I’d probably avoid using a heavy card unless it was absolutely the exact shade I wanted and I only had it in heavy cardstock, and then it would be better to place it low on my page to minimize the ‘wobble’ factor as you hold a page. However these are only guidelines. There are really few hard and fast rules in scrapbooking.

Stick to lightweight card when using decorative edge scissors for as with punches a heavy card may damage your tool.

When making 8½” x 11″ inch layouts, I’ve always got some card and paper left over to make greetings cards!

The techniques you use will vary according to the size of paper you choose to work on. For example, you can get 8½” x 11″ through most printers therefore you can print your journaling. Not everyone has a printer that will cope with 12″ x 12″ papers. Although with the increase in digital scrapbooking these are becoming more common. Again, most printers can handle 6″ x 6″ or 8″ x 8″.

 

Glitz Shimmer and Bling!

For the current love affair with all things that glitter, Bazzill have a range of glitzy bling in 12″ x 12″ and 8½” x 11″ card stock. There are some beautiful colors and each in a range of single colors or three coordinating monochrome colors. Click “Bazzill Monochromatic Trio 12″”X12″” Paper Packs - MANY COLORS” to buy some from Joann.com

[tag]Hot off the Press[/tag] have glimmer paper and cardstock - just a hint of bling but really more of a ‘shimmer’. It has a wonderful black core that makes interesting torn edges.

 

Other Uses for card

I’ve usually found I need smooth card when using rubber stamps. If anyone can give me a tip on how to stamp on textured card, I’d appreciate it as I’ve had no success there. The least I can say is that I have had ‘interesting’ results stamping on textured card - however, not interesting enough to make me want to use it!

There’s such a rainbow of colors available you’ll find something to match your color scheme. So use cardstock for titles, words, quotes, frames, tags and journaling. There are many templates available to help. See Hot off the Press templates for example: Slide Mount Mania, Susan’s Pockets and Tags, & Tags, Library Card Holders & Mini File Folders that will allow you to coordinate with your paper and card.

 

A few last tips:

Choose a color in your photo and match or contrast with the card and papers surrounding it.

Consider the effect your surrounding [tag]scrapbook papers[/tag] and background cardstock will have on your photo. Some will cause it to stand out; on others the photo will be swallowed up and lost.

Don’t be afraid to use black cardstock as your background. Many times your photos will really pop out and be noticed when placed on a black background.

Have fun using card in your scrapbooks.

 

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