The single biggest difference between a card that looks polished and one that looks homemade (in the not-so-great way) is almost always the paper. Here’s everything a beginner needs to know about choosing and using cardstock well.
If you’re looking for a beginner’s cardstock guide that cuts through the confusion, you’ve come to the right place. I want to start by telling you about the first card I ever made that I was truly proud of. It wasn’t the stamp set I used. It wasn’t the color combination, though that was lovely too. It was the moment I held it in my hands and felt the satisfying weight of quality cardstock — smooth, substantial, and just a little bit beautiful even before I’d added a single thing to it.
Good paper transforms a card. And understanding the basics of paper and cardstock is one of the most valuable investments you can make as a beginner.
Understanding Paper Weight
Paper weight refers to how thick and heavy a sheet of paper is, and it matters enormously for card making. In the US, paper weight is measured in pounds (lb.), referring to the weight of a ream of 500 sheets at a standard size.
Here’s what you need to know in practical terms:
Texture and Finish: What to Look For
Cardstock comes in several finishes, and the right one depends on what you’re doing with it.
Smooth cardstock
The best choice for stamping. The smooth surface gives you the crispest, most detailed ink impressions, and it takes colored pencils and markers beautifully. Stampin’ Up!’s standard cardstock gives great results when creating with it.
Linen or laid texture
Adds an elegant, fabric-like appearance and is beautiful for card bases and backgrounds. For larger, bold designs it’s gorgeous — though very fine-detail stamps may look slightly less sharp.
Glossy cardstock
Gives a polished, almost photographic finish — stunning, but more advanced. Ink sits on top of the glossy surface rather than absorbing into it, which can cause smudging. Save this one until you’re confident with your stamping technique.
Kraft cardstock
That warm, brown recycled-paper look has become incredibly popular in card making. It gives cards a natural, rustic feel and works beautifully with white or gold ink.
Designer Series Paper: The Card Maker’s Secret Weapon
If cardstock is the structure of a card, Stampin’ Up!’s Designer Series Paper (DSP) is the personality. DSP is patterned, printed paper — florals, geometric designs, watercolor washes, seasonal prints, woodgrain, stripes — available in coordinated collections specifically designed to work together.
Using DSP is one of the fastest ways to make a beautiful card without a lot of technical skill. Cut a piece to size, layer it over your card base, add a stamped sentiment, and you have something that looks genuinely lovely in just a few minutes.
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Stampin’ Up!’s DSP collections are one of their crowning glories. Each collection is designed to coordinate perfectly with a set of ink and cardstock colors, so you never have to wonder whether the papers will work together. They always do. The collections rotate with each catalog, so there’s always something fresh and current to work with.
For beginners, I recommend starting with one DSP collection that coordinates with your first stamp set. You’ll be amazed how many different cards you can make from a single pack of 12 double-sided sheets.
Vellum: Use With Care
Vellum is a translucent, slightly frosted paper that adds an ethereal, layered look to cards. It’s beautiful — but it’s also a little tricky, because most adhesives show through it. If you want to use vellum, you’ll need either a vellum-specific adhesive, brads, ribbon, or a heat tool technique to attach it invisibly.
It’s not a beginner essential, but it’s worth knowing what it is when you see it in tutorials. Bookmark this note for when you’re ready to try it.
How to Store Your Paper
Paper storage is something many beginners don’t think about until they have a problem — bent corners, wrinkled DSP, or cardstock that’s absorbed moisture and won’t lie flat. A few simple habits keep your paper collection in perfect condition.
Store paper flat, not upright. Vertical storage causes paper to bow and curve over time, especially thinner sheets. Flat storage — in drawers, on shelves, or in portfolio cases — keeps everything pristine.
Sort by color family. Organizing by color family (all the pinks together, all the blues together) makes the creative process much faster and more enjoyable.
Keep paper away from direct sunlight. Colored cardstock will fade in sunlight over time. Store your collection away from windows or in a closed cabinet.
Use a dedicated storage solution early. There are wonderful paper storage solutions designed specifically for 12×12 scrapbook paper that work beautifully for cardstock too. Investing in proper storage early means you’ll spend more time crafting and less time hunting for the right shade of green.
Start With a Curated Selection
My advice for a beginner cardstock starter kit: choose three or four neutral cardstock colors (white, a soft cream, a warm gray, and a rich brown like Crumb Cake), two or three colors that coordinate with your first stamp set, and one pack of DSP in a collection you absolutely love.
That’s a complete toolkit. Everything else you can add as you discover what you reach for most. Your paper collection will grow naturally and organically as your style develops — and before long, you’ll have a beautiful, curated stash that feels entirely your own.
Paper & Cardstock — Shop Here
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