Papercrafting is a rewarding art form that’ll have you experimenting with all sorts of beautiful designs!
These designs make for great wall decor, masks, and more — making your place that much snazzier.
If you’re considering trying your hand at papercraft, you’ll need to be prepared. In particular, the quality of the end result depends so much on the paper that’s been used.
There are plenty of options out there, but cardstock rises to the top. And while there are plenty of cardstock products for you to choose from, the best ones are made of heavy paper and leave a smooth finish.
Let’s get straight into it!
What Is Papercrafting?
Papercrafting is one of the most accessible (and most fun!) forms of crafting. At its core, it simply involves making shapes and objects out of paper.
This art form is so easy to learn as well! The only things you’ll need to do for paper crafting are folding and gluing. With just two actions, you can make all kinds of amazing creations!
With paper crafting, you can create animals, flowers, masks, and pretty much anything else your imagination allows.
Then, enjoy your creations as decorations for your house, as gifts for friends, or just as a fun family activity on a rainy day.
Papercraft’s history can be traced to ancient Japan – the birthplace of the art of origami. In the present day, papercrafting exists in so many different forms and mediums!
What Is Cardstock? Why Is It Recommended?
Cardstock is a great material for papercrafting. It’s thicker than normal paper but thinner than most other card-type paper.
Why is this important? Well, these traits make cardstock the perfect fit for molding it into different, funky designs.
That aside, it’s also super durable and useful for items like business cards and postcards. You certainly don’t want your efforts at building something to go to waste because the paper couldn’t hold it up!
Cardstock also allows for extensive cutting and shaping, meaning you can make more intricate and detailed designs.
There are endless different thickness levels available for cardstock – it just depends on what you want to make!
What Is GSM?
GSM stands for “grams per square meter”. This refers to the weight of the paper.
When a paper has a high GSM, it means the material is more durable. As a result, your crafting projects will sit happily on your shelf or hang from the wall for as long as you want.
If your project is a bigger size, you’ll definitely want a higher GSM in your cardstock too.
However, that doesn’t mean that high GSM is required all the time. Smaller projects can get away with a lower GSM, especially since there are smaller details that require thinner materials.
Texture & Finishes
Cardstock typically has a smooth finish, imparting your projects with a lovely matte texture.
It can also come with a glossy, metallic, or textured finish. Other products made from cardstock have different finishes, such as the nice glossy one on a postcard.
With regular printing paper, the texture is a little harsher and doesn’t look as good on the finished product.
Papercrafts made of ordinary paper lose that classic touch and look much rougher – reducing the design’s overall aesthetic quality.
The cardstock that we use for our designs has a pearlescent finish that looks absolutely fantastic on display.
This appearance creates a timeless look, making it even more appealing on a well-connstructed papercraft project!
Papercraft World Uses Recycled 250 GSM Cardstock!
All of the products available at Papercraft World use 250 GSM cardstock.
This cardstock is made from 100% recycled materials, so it won’t just make your papercraft look fantastic — it’s also better for the planet!
Because Papercraft World uses such high GSM cardstock, your projects will hold together for a long time. They’ll be better decor pieces for your home!
Using recycled materials is important to us here at Papercraft World. Our planet is our home, and it’s vital that we protect it so that we can keep making beautiful art through papercrafting!
Recommended Cardstocks for Papercrafting
Neenah White Index Heavy Cardstock
The Neenah White Index Heavy Cardstock is a fantastic choice for paper crafting. This cardstock is heavier than standard 65 lb. cardstock, yet lighter than 80 lb. coverstock.
It has a delicately smooth texture that’ll look amazing on your papercraft projects, sure to have guests asking, “Did you really make that yourself?”
This cardstock also works well with other Neenah products, so you can mix and match to your heart’s desire. For craft projects, you won’t go wrong with this one!
Pacon Array Card Stock
Pacon cardstock comes in many different bright and exciting colors to really make your papercraft projects stand out. It’s also very durable, ensuring that your creations will hold for a long time.
Since there are so many colors in the package, Pacon encourages you to follow your creative spirit!
Feel free to make all manner of decor, whether you want something antique-looking or more contemporary.
Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock
Super durable, Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock is an unbeatable material for papercrafts.
It’s also ideal for printing if you decide to print colors and patterns on your projects!
Because of its thickness, this cardstock will prevent alcohol markers and ink from bleeding. The result? Rich colors that’ll make your design so much more appealing to look at!
Crayola Cardstock Paper
Crayola products are great for virtually all kinds of arts and crafts. Their cardstock paper is no exception!
This one is an all-around material for all your paper crafting needs. It comes in different bright colors and patterns, so you can make weird and wonderful crafts that tickle your imagination.
It’s also the perfect weight, making this cardstock super durable. With Crayola, your crafts are guaranteed to come out looking top-notch and professionally made every time!
Try Our Papercraft Kits!
Join us in our commitment to sustainability by exploring our incredible collection of papercraft kits crafted from recycled cardstock paper.
Take a look at our best papercraft kits, and embark on an eco-friendly crafting journey that not only sparks your creativity but also minimizes your environmental footprint at the same time!