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Paper is the most fundamental material in scrapbooking. It forms your page backgrounds, photo mats, decorative layers, and many embellishments. Understanding paper types, weights, and qualities helps you choose the right material for each element of your page and ensures your creations last for decades without yellowing, warping, or deteriorating.
Understanding Paper Weight and Quality
Paper weight determines how thick, stiff, and durable a sheet is. In the US, paper weight is measured in pounds (lb), while the metric system uses grams per square meter (gsm). Here’s how the most common weights relate to scrapbooking uses.
20 lb (75 gsm): Standard printer paper. Too thin and flimsy for scrapbooking. Wrinkles easily with adhesive and doesn’t provide structural support.
60 lb (90 gsm): Text-weight paper. Used for printed journaling strips, lightweight accents, and origami-style folds. Too thin for backgrounds or mats but useful for layered elements.
65 lb (176 gsm): Light cardstock. The most versatile scrapbooking weight. Sturdy enough for page backgrounds and photo mats while remaining easy to cut with scissors and paper trimmers. This is the weight you’ll use most often.
80 lb (216 gsm): Medium cardstock. More rigid than 65 lb, providing excellent structure for page bases and sturdy die cuts. Slightly harder to fold cleanly but produces more substantial-feeling pages.
100+ lb (270+ gsm): Heavy cardstock or cover stock. Used for album covers, sturdy tags, and dimensional elements. Requires a sharp blade to cut cleanly and may need scoring for clean folds.
Cardstock Basics and Best Uses
Solid cardstock is the workhorse of scrapbooking. It provides page backgrounds, photo mats, die cut shapes, and structural elements.
Smooth cardstock has a flat, uniform surface ideal for stamping, printing journaling text, and creating clean, modern pages. Most die cutting machines perform best with smooth cardstock.
Textured cardstock has a subtle surface pattern (linen, canvas, woodgrain) that adds visual and tactile interest. Textured cardstock is beautiful for backgrounds and mats but can interfere with stamping and printing. Brands like Bazzill and American Crafts produce excellent textured cardstock.
Core-dyed cardstock is colored throughout its thickness, meaning the cut edges show the same color as the surface. This looks cleaner than paper with a white core, which shows white edges when cut or torn. Core-dyed is preferred for die cuts and torn-edge techniques.
For beginners, a variety pack of 65 lb smooth cardstock in 20+ colors provides a solid foundation. Add textured cardstock as your style develops and you discover which textures you prefer.
Patterned Paper: Single-Sided vs Double-Sided
Patterned paper adds personality, theme, and visual interest to your pages. Understanding the difference between single-sided and double-sided options helps you use them effectively.
Single-sided patterned paper has the pattern on one side and a plain (usually white) back. This is the traditional format and is typically less expensive. The plain back is visible if you fold or curl elements, which may or may not matter depending on your design.
Double-sided patterned paper has different but coordinating patterns on each side. This doubles your design options from a single sheet and means both sides look intentional if visible. Double-sided paper is ideal for elements that fold, flip, or where the back might show (tags, pocket inserts, accordion folds).
Paper pads vs individual sheets: 6×6 and 12×12 paper pads contain 24-48 sheets in coordinated patterns from a single collection. They’re the most cost-effective way to get variety. Individual 12×12 sheets allow you to pick exactly the patterns you want but cost more per sheet. For beginners, coordinated pads in themes you love provide the best value and design harmony.
Specialty Papers: Vellum, Glitter, and Foil
Specialty papers add unique visual effects that regular cardstock and patterned paper can’t achieve.
Vellum is translucent paper that creates beautiful overlay effects. Place it over a photo for a dreamy, soft-focus look. Print journaling on vellum for an elegant, layered appearance. Use it for envelopes, windows in shaker elements, and delicate overlays. Adhesive visibility is the main challenge: use adhesive only where embellishments or photos will cover it, or use brads/eyelets to attach vellum mechanically.
Glitter paper has a glitter surface that adds sparkle without the mess of loose glitter. It’s excellent for accent strips, die cut titles, and holiday-themed pages. Quality varies significantly between brands; premium glitter paper (like American Crafts) has firmly adhered glitter that doesn’t shed, while budget options can leave glitter everywhere.
Foil paper has a metallic surface in gold, silver, rose gold, or holographic finishes. Use it sparingly for titles, accent shapes, and special embellishments. A little foil goes a long way. Full backgrounds in foil can overwhelm a page, but a foil die-cut title or border adds elegant shine.
Kraft paper is the brown, natural-fiber paper used in grocery bags. In scrapbooking, quality kraft cardstock provides a rustic, earthy background that pairs beautifully with vintage photos and nature themes. It’s also an excellent journaling surface with white or cream pens.
Acid-Free and Archival Quality Explained
This is the most important quality consideration for any scrapbooking paper, and it’s worth understanding why.
Paper manufactured with acidic processes gradually deteriorates over time. The acid causes yellowing, brittleness, and eventual crumbling. More critically, acid migrates to materials in contact with the paper, meaning acidic cardstock can damage the photographs it touches.
Acid-free paper has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH (7.0 or higher). It resists yellowing and won’t damage adjacent photos. All paper in direct contact with your photographs should be acid-free. Reputable scrapbooking brands universally produce acid-free products.
Lignin-free paper goes a step further. Lignin is a natural compound in wood that breaks down into acid over time. Removing lignin during manufacturing ensures the paper remains acid-free indefinitely, not just at the point of sale.
Buffered paper contains alkaline substances that actively neutralize any acid that develops over time, including acid from environmental sources. Buffered paper provides the highest level of archival protection. For heritage scrapbooking with irreplaceable old photos, buffered paper is strongly recommended.
According to preservation guidelines from the Library of Congress, using acid-free, lignin-free materials is the single most important factor in long-term photograph preservation.
Color Coordination Tips
Pull colors from your photos. The easiest way to choose page colors is to identify 2-3 prominent colors in your photos and select papers that match. A beach photo suggests blues and sandy tans. A fall foliage photo calls for oranges, reds, and golds.
Use complementary colors for energy. Colors opposite each other on the color wheel (blue and orange, purple and yellow) create vibrant, energetic pages. Use this approach for celebrations and active events.
Use analogous colors for harmony. Colors next to each other on the color wheel (blue, teal, green) create calm, cohesive pages. Use this approach for peaceful moments and nature subjects.
Neutral backgrounds let photos shine. White, cream, gray, and kraft backgrounds ensure your photos remain the focal point. Bold backgrounds can compete with photos for attention.
Best Paper Brands for Scrapbooking
American Crafts: Excellent smooth cardstock in a vast color range. Also produces quality patterned paper collections and specialty papers. Widely available and consistently well-reviewed.
Bazzill Basics: The go-to brand for textured cardstock. Their signature “canvas” texture is beautiful and cuts cleanly. Available in 200+ colors. Core-dyed for clean cut edges.
Echo Park: Known for themed patterned paper collections with coordinated stickers and embellishments. Their 6×6 paper pads are popular with beginners for value and design quality.
Simple Stories: Produces complete scrapbooking collections with papers, stickers, die cuts, and embellishments all designed to work together. Ideal for crafters who want a coordinated, no-guesswork approach.
Tim Holtz/Ranger Ink: Produces specialty papers and inks for vintage, distressed, and mixed-media scrapbooking. Their kraft, metallic, and specialty papers are favorites among crafters with a rustic or vintage aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular printer paper for scrapbooking?
Regular printer paper (20 lb) is too thin and typically not acid-free. It wrinkles with adhesive and doesn’t provide the structure scrapbook pages need. Use it for test layouts and practicing, but always use proper cardstock for finished pages that you want to last.
How do I store unused scrapbook paper?
Store flat in a 12×12 paper storage organizer, accordion file, or cube shelving unit designed for 12×12 paper. Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture. Sort by color family or collection for easy access. 6×6 paper pads store conveniently on bookshelf or in magazine holders. For overall supply organization, see our supply guide.
How much paper do I need per page?
A typical page uses 1 sheet of 12×12 cardstock for the base, 1-2 partial sheets of patterned paper for accents, and small pieces of solid cardstock for photo mats. On average, 2-3 sheets of paper per finished page is a reasonable estimate for planning your supply needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper weight should I use for my scrapbook page backgrounds?
You’ll want to use 65 lb (176 gsm) light cardstock for most page backgrounds, as it’s sturdy enough to support photos and embellishments while remaining easy to cut with scissors or paper trimmers. This weight is the most versatile for scrapbooking and works well for photo mats too.
Why is regular printer paper not suitable for scrapbooking?
Standard 20 lb printer paper is too thin and flimsy for scrapbooking because it wrinkles easily when you apply adhesive and doesn’t provide the structural support your pages need. It won’t hold up well over time and can compromise the durability of your scrapbook.
What’s the difference between cardstock, patterned, and specialty papers in scrapbooking?
Cardstock is solid-colored heavy paper that forms the foundation of your pages, while patterned paper features designs and prints for visual interest, and specialty papers include textured, foil, or metallic options for dimensional effects. Understanding these scrapbook paper types helps you choose the right material for each element of your page design.
When should I use heavier cardstock like 100 lb weight?
You should use 100+ lb (270+ gsm) heavy cardstock for album covers, sturdy tags, and three-dimensional elements that need maximum durability. Keep in mind that this weight requires a sharp blade to cut cleanly and may need scoring for folds to prevent cracking.