Scrapbooking How To: All About Paper

I bet you didn't know that a person could become addicted to paper, did you? But it's possible. In fact, it's a pretty common issue among scrapbookers. We become obsessed with all the pretty papers and textures and patterns, we just can't help ourselves. Some scrapbookers might call is a passion for paper, but really, it's just an addiction. Don't worry; it's not a life threatening addiction, so we'll be alright. Besides, having a passion for paper is fun. You'll see!

My best and most important advice when buying paper is to take it slow. It's easy to go overboard and buy too much at the beginning. I know, I've been there and done that. Now I'm stuck with thousands of sheets of paper that I probably won't ever use. So start slow, buy only what you need for the pages you want to create and keep that addiction in check.

We all know what paper is, but the world of scrapbook paper is somewhat different than the plain ole white paper you put through your printer or copy machine. There are many things to think about when it comes to scrapbook paper such as color, texture, acid, lignin and buffering. It might be overwhelming for the beginner scrapbooker, so let's take it slow and go over the basics. Today let's talk about the different types of paper.

Cardstock

Cardstock is a heavy weight type of paper that comes in solid colors. This will become a staple in your scrapbook supply stash. Nearly every single page you create will have cardstock as a part of it. The color possibilities are endless and you can find the exact shade of cardstock you'll need to match just about any color you have. Yes, even the exact shade of blue of your daughter's eyes.

Cardstock can be divided into some basic broad categories.

Textured: Some manufacturers such as Bazzil, Doodlebug and Diecuts With A View produce cardstock that has a distinct texture on the paper. Small details like this texture add dimension and depth to your paper without adding the bulk of embellishments.

Smooth: Texture is nice but not always necessary or desirable. There are many companies who produce beautiful smooth cardstock in hundreds of colors to choose from. When matting photos or journaling blocks where just a fraction of an inch will be seen of the cardstock, use these less expensive cardstock options instead.

Weight: Cardstock comes in several different weights. I won't go into detail and bore you with the technical stuff, but the thickness of the cardstock you choose may be something you consider when purchasing this paper. Heavier weight cardstock is ideal for handmade cards and to add rigidity to your scrapbook pages. Lighter weight cardstock is ideal for photo mats and hand-pieced embellishments.

Core Color: The core of your cardstock can be either solid colored or white. You can figure out what you have by tearing a piece of paper to expose the inside of the paper. Nearly all cardstock manufactured in the United States has a solid color core. Cardstock manufactured overseas often has a white core and is actually three sheets of paper sandwiched together to create a heavier weight cardstock (two outside colored layers and an inside white layer which is the core). Why is this important to the beginner? Because as you learn some new techniques like paper tearing and paper piecing, the color of the cardstock core might change the look of your project from what you hadn't intended. This might not be earth shattering information for beginner scrapbookers, but it's definitely something to keep in mind as you choose your cardstock.

Patterned Paper

Patterned paper is usually where that addiction issue I talked about earlier comes into play. Scrapbook paper manufacturers tempt us with beautiful florals, funky geometrics, fun stripes and polka-dots, exciting graphic prints and gorgeous distressed antique papers. Your eyes will have a feast whenever you step food into a scrapbook store where the isles of paper are tempting and so pretty to look at and touch. You'll find papers for every holiday, event or personality trait. They've made papers for every extra curricular activity your child is a part of including sports, dance, gymnastics, boy scouts, prom and even surfing.

Patterned paper can be divided into some basic categories:

Themes: All major holidays are honored through scrapbook paper. You'll be able to find themes like Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas and many others. But it's not just about the holidays. Themes can also include paper for your pets, a new baby, camping and hunting, travel, food and family.

Events: Special events are also honored with scrapbook paper. A wide variety of wedding and anniversary papers are available as well as events like prom, graduation and First Communion.

Geometrics: I'm grouping geometrics together because there are so many to choose from. Stripes are very popular and often coordinate with other papers from the same manufacturer. You'll also find a myriad of polka dots, boxes and checks, swirls and flourishes and every other imaginable shape.

Inspired by Nature: Just like it sounds, this type of paper has a theme of flowers, foliage and other natural elements. Some are realistic in appearance, some are more cartoon like. Some are crisp and clear; some resemble antique wall paper or maybe even your grandmother's curtains. There's a floral pattern for every scrapbooker's taste.

Heritage: These papers look like they've been stored in your grandmother's hope chest for 100 years. Which makes them the perfect match for the scrapbook pages you'll create using your grandmother's photos. These papers have an appearance of being aged or distressed and come in many different themes - from old ledgers and postcard/letter graphics to buttons and lace printed on the page.

Graphics: Graphical papers are actual photographs transformed into a scrapbook paper. It could be a photo of a ocean beach or a pile of spaghetti, these papers have a realistic look that will coordinate with your special photos.

Everything Else: It's impossible to list all the different themes of patterned paper in this short list. Not only is it impossible because there's so many different patterns but also because the themes are constantly changing and new paper is released from manufactures regularly.

Specialty Papers

I'm grouping specialty papers together in this single section. There are so many different kinds - and new ones being introduced regularly - that you'll be amazed at what is available. Specialty papers are typically more expensive than cardstock and patterned paper and are used sparingly and for special occasion scrapbook pages. But knowing you have access to these special papers can boost your scrapbooking to a new level and can really get your creative juices flowing. Let me tell you about just a few papers that you'll want to try out:

Vellum and Transparent Papers: Vellum is a fine translucent paper used as a fine stationary. You'll recognize vellum as a typical insert used by printers in wedding invitations or as leaf pages in fine books and publications. But vellum has arrived on the scrapbook market with a bang. This elegant paper can be used to print journaling and titles on or as an overlay to photos. You can even use it as an overlay on brightly colored patterned paper that you want to tone down the color on. Vellum is see-through, but not completely transparent, and comes in a variety of colors with the most common being white. Vellum can also be printed with patterns or border designs.

Transparent papers and clear overlays are also available for scrapbookers. Remember the old Overhead Projectors from our school days? Those transparency film sheets are now a hot product on the scrapbooking market. Manufacturers are printing graphics and text on transparency film and selling them in scrapbook stores. But don't forget that you can still purchase transparency film at any office supply store and make your own.

Mulberry and Natural Handmade: "All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel..." Yes, that's the kind of mulberry I'm talking about. Mulberry paper is actually made from the inner fiber of the mulberry plant to create an exceptionally strong and beautiful natural paper. Because it is a natural paper made from plant fibers be very cautious about the lignin and acidity levels of this type of paper. (We'll discuss acid and lignin later in this chapter.) This beautiful paper is not meant to be cut, it is meant to be torn to create a feathery edge for a natural look. Mulberry comes in a variety of colors, styles and thicknesses. Although you'll find mulberry in your local scrapbook store, you'll likely find the largest variety of papers at specialty art stores.

Metallic and Coated: Super shiny metallic papers are so much fun! When you need just a touch of shine on your page, these types of papers do the trick. Silver, gold and bronze will get you started, but they don't stop there - nearly any color can be turned into a metallic and it has been. There are also some pretty funky coated papers that almost feel like plastic. This section of paper in your scrapbook store is definitely worth exploring - new types of paper are being created all the time.

The Crazy Stuff: Did you know that mesh could be a paper? Yes it can! And not all mesh is created equal. Not only can you find plastic mesh in a variety of colors, but you can also find mesh made from natural materials. This type of paper will add dynamic texture and dimension to your scrapbook page without adding much bulk. But mesh isn't the end of the list when it comes to "the crazy stuff" - you'll find many other specialty papers either at your scrapbook store or in the paper section of your local art store. Explore the possibilities and learn something new.

Overwhelmed yet? Don't be. As I said before, just take it slow and learn as you go. And eventually you'll develop your own paper addiction as a new scrapbooker.