It’s been said before and, I’m sure, it will be said again, when it comes to scrapbooking there is no shortage of variation. Which brings us to our Scrapbooking 101 topic of the day: paper.
Venture into any craft store and you’re bound to find at lease one aisle, top to bottom, of scrapbook paper. For the beginning scrapbooker, it’s enough to make you dizzy. Don’t feel overwhelmed with all your options. For a stress-free paper shopping experience follow these two simple guidelines:
- Know what you’re looking for. By this I mean come in with a plan. If you’re scrapbooking a certain event, like Christmas or a birthday, then you’ve already narrowed down your options. It’d even be helpful to bring in a few photos you’re planning to scrapbook, so you can match colors, patterns, or tones. It’s also a good idea to bring in a sketch of your layout. This will help you decide which paper works better as a background or accent. It’ll also refine your layout as you choose what you like best.
- Know what’s available. It’s helpful when choosing scrapbook paper, like with choosing anything, to know your options. What types of scrapbook paper are out there? Does it require a special adhesive? How will it affect my photos and/or documents in years to come?
Acid-Free & Lignin Free
When someone is new to scrapbooking, you’ll often hear them say, “What’s the deal with this acid-free (or lignin-free) stuff? Do I really need to ahve acid-free paper?” The simple answer is yes.
When a product is labeled “acid-free” it means the paper has a neutral or basic pH (of 7 or higher). This is important, because if paper is not acid-free, over time, when it is exposed to light and/or heat the molecules in the paper break down faster. What this means for scrapbooking is the paper and photos will slowly deteriorate. And nobody wants that!
Lignin is the element, derived from wood, that holds the natural pulp (wood fibers) together. If paper still continues lignin over time it will yellow and deteriorate, like a newspaper. Basically, it becomes flaky and brittle before it falls apart.
Sizes of Paper
The standard sizes of scrapbooking paper are 12 x 12, 8 x 8, and 8.5 x 11. You can find smaller sizes different paper slabs.
Types of Paper
Most scrapbooking paper is pretty self-explanatory, but here are the general types of paper:
- Cardstock. This paper, generaly, has a heavier weight than other scrapbooking paper and you will find it in a variety of solid colors with varying finishes (matte, sheen, glossy, glitter). Cardstock could be tagges as the “cornerstone” of scrapbook paper.
- Patterned. Just like it sounds, this paper is patterned and you will find endless varieties. Some patterned paper can also have the weight of cardstock and/or be double-sided with a coordinating color or pattern.
- Textured. This paper has a texture, usually a very slight design (such as lines).
- Vellum. this is a lightweight, semi-translucent paper. If bent the crease remains, it may tear easily, and for best results should be used with a vellum adhesive.
- Embossed. Simply means that there is a raised design throughout the paper.
- Transparencies. These are like the transparencies used on an overhead projector, except they have a design.
- Specialty. If a paper is labeled as specialty paper, that usually means it is handmade and takes on a more unfinished or antique look.
Buying Scrapbook Paper
There are two basic ways to buy scrapbook paper:
- Individual sheets. You’ll find these at craft stores like Michaels or Joann’s, as well as any scrapbook store. These usually run in cost from $ .25 to $1, depending on the size and type of paper. (Vellum, embossed, and transparencies usually run on the higher end.)
- By the pack. You can buy 12 x 12 and 8.5 x 11 cardstock in multi-packs with related colors or you can find them in basic colors like white and black. You can also find plain vellum this way as well. Many scrapbook companies also put out paper slabs which will have a variety of patterned paper (or cardstock). You can get these for different occasions (birthday, wedding, baby) or seasonal (like Christmas).
Now that you’ve had your primer on the types of scrapbooking paper, hopefully you feel ready to conquer the scrapbooking aisle with confidence.
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