If you are wondering what the best paper is for your rubber stamp creations, here’s what you need to know. Acid-free archival paper is a must if you want your projects to last. You will probably find card stock to be the most useful type of paper. However, there are other kinds that will have a place in your stamping project also.
Did you know that ordinary paper contains acid? It’s not harmful to you in any way-it is just there because of the standard manufacturing process. But over time, the acid actually causes the paper to self-destruct, becoming brittle and turning yellow as it ages. You don’t want that to happen to the stamping projects that you made with care. That’s why you must use acid-free paper. Sometimes it is called archival or pH-neutral paper. But they mean the same thing. There is no acid used to make it and it will last longer without deteriorating. You can usually find it online or at craft and rubber stamp stores.
There are several types of paper available. You will probably find card stock to be your paper of choice most of the time. This heavyweight paper is available in a wide range of colors. It also comes in two types of finish-matte and glossy. Stampers love the shiny finish of glossy card stock because it makes colors look more vibrant. However, glossy finish is also more slippery, which makes stamping a little more difficult until you get some practice. Glossy finish also requires a process called “heat embossing” to dry the ink and make it last. Card stock is available in standard sheet sizes and can also be found in several pre-folded sizes for use as greeting cards.
Other papers that you may find useful include text-weight paper, cover weight paper, fancy papers, tissue paper and vellum. Each of these paper types is used in different ways in a stamping project. We’ll take a look at how to incorporate them into your creation in another post.
