Card stock and Cover Papers

Card stock and Cover papers are the primary 'thicker' papers that you use for printing projects, be it commercial in scale or for a small, special occasion.

 

 

Generally, card stock is a term reserved for papers sold for crafting purposes, but sometimes you see heavier weight paper for printing called card stock when there is no lighter weight version of the paper available.  Otherwise, heavyweight paper for printing is called Cover.  This is the paper you use for folded cards, flat cards, enclosures, and business cards.  While there are always limitations on sizing when you print on paper (is it too little or too big to run through a printer), the weight of a paper is also a limiting factor.  Make sure you check on printing with a test sheet before you commit and buy a stack.

Since the printing is more complicated on Cover, many people opt for printing on Text weight, then mount it onto Cover pieces.  Once you open the field to using the heavy paper as a purely decorative and structurally supportive element, then scrapbook paper is a great option.  Scrapbook paper is generally sold as 12x12 in. squares and they are a moderately heavy card stock.  The down side to using them is that they are normally sold in stores as individual sheets, so buying in bulk to keep down prices can be a challenge.  Also, many papers are seasonal.  Once they are gone, you will never see them again.  So buy enough for your entire project ASAP.

Still, scrapbook papers are the main option for pattered paper in Cover weight.  Many of them are decorated on both sides, so they don't look like an unprofessional craft project when you use them for formal occasions.  Personally, I use them all the time for business cards.  Normally, if there is a pattern on one side, then there is a contrasting solid color on the reverse.  You can get your information made into a stamp and then stamp it onto your pre-cut blanks.  This is one of the least expensive ways to get those specialty, crafty-tastic business cards that are so in vogue at the moment.

Cover and card stock should be readily available in office supply stores and specialty print shops/paper stores.  For scrapbook paper, this is strictly a craft item and you will need to go to a craft store.  Buying online is also possible and will be necessary if you are looking for larger quantities.  The main scrapbook brands are Basic Grey, American Crafts (a personal fav), Cosmo Cricket, and Sassafras, just to name a few.  Martha Stewart Crafts also has some great designs, maybe the most elegant and tasteful in the bunch.  I think it can get kind of kitschy pretty fast in the world of scrapbooking.  I don't scrapbook and I am going to leave it at that.

The only source for patterned Cover paper for printing, which I am aware of, is the Mod-tone paper line from French Paper Co.  Actually, I take that back.  The invitation elements brand Envelopments also does patterned paper.  Or I should say that they buy papers from other manufactures and then silk screen their designs on it.  They do very pretty things and you can buy 8.5x11 sheets (I think they recently started to do larger sizes and custom cuts, too).  Heads up on the price though.  Envelopments isn't a brand for a low budget and you will need to buy through a reseller... but then you can buy/special order when that reseller has a sale.  Yay, sale!!