Scrapbooking Paper

About Scrapbooking Paper

When buying paper for your scrapbooks, there are many different factors to consider.

• Type. The most common types of paper used for scrapbooking are patterned paper, cardstock, mulberry paper, and vellum. Patterned paper can be either single or double-sided.
• Size. Scrapbooking paper comes in many different sizes. The most common sizes are 6 x 6, 8 x 8, 8 ½ x 11, and 12 x 12. However, you can also purchase paper that is precut to mat 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 photos.
• Weight. Some scrapbooking paper is very thin, such as the patterned paper you purchase in large multi-packs. Other paper, such as cardstock, is thicker and much more durable.
• Decorative touches. While scrapbooking paper used to be fairly plain, it’s now quite common to see paper that includes embossing, glitter, or metallic details. Cardstock is often available in many different textures as well.
• Manufacturer. Some scrapbookers don’t care who makes the products they purchase, but others find that it’s easier to create coordinating layouts when you purchase a complete line of supplies from one particular manufacturer. For example, Making Memories makes paper as well as ribbon, silk flowers, buttons, eyelets, and stickers.
• Price. Scrapbooking paper can vary substantially in price. Patterned paper sold in multi-packs can be as cheap as $0.10 per sheet, while certainly specialty papers can be $1 or more per sheet.

Places to Buy Paper

You can purchase scrapbooking paper wherever scrapbook supplies are sold. Craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels Crafts, and Joann Crafts all carry a large selection of scrapbooking paper. If you live in a larger community, you can buy paper from your local scrapbook store. Creative Memories consultants and other scrapbook direct sales representatives also sell scrapbooking paper and accessories.

Alternatively, you can shop online at the following Web sites:

• Scrapbook.com
• Addicted to Scrapbooking
• Two Peas in a Bucket
• Scrapbook Supercenter
• Crafter’s Toy Box

Organizing Your Paper

If you’ve been scrapbooking for more than a few months, you’ve probably discovered that storing your paper is quite a challenge. However, coming up with a suitable storage system will prevent your supplies from becoming damaged and allow you to make the most of your cropping time.

Most scrapbookers use either vertical or horizontal paper storage. While vertical storage takes up less space, many scrapbookers feel horizontal storage is more user-friendly.

Paper can be sorted by color, theme, pattern, manufacturer, or a combination of these criteria. To choose the right storage system for your needs, pay attention to how you normally select supplies for your layouts. Do you look for colors that match your photos or do you head for a line designed by your favorite manufacturer? Do you scrap lots of pages with holiday themes or do you prefer to stick to papers with bold geometric patterns?

Stretch your Budget by Using Your Scraps

Scrapbooking paper is so fun to use that it seems rather wasteful to throw any of it away! Fortunately, there are several tricks crafters on a budget can use to make sure their scraps don’t go to waste:

• Create one-of-a-kind page embellishments. Tags, borders, photo mats, and serendipity squares can easily be made from leftover paper scraps. If you have a die-cut machine, you can also turn your scraps to create letters and shapes for future projects.
• Turn your scraps into handmade paper. Paper making is surprisingly simple and a great way to add a special touch to your scrapbooking projects.
• Make your own greeting cards. If you have paper scraps and extra stickers or embellishments on your desk after completing a layout, consider creating a handmade greeting card with these supplies. Since you’ve already coordinated the products, making a card should be easy.
• Donate your leftovers to a good cause. Children of all ages love to play with scrapbooking supplies. If you don’t have kids of your own, donate your scraps to a local school or daycare center.