When it comes to paper/cardstock, I use more than one brand because there are several that I like; different brands for different projects, etc. When searching for colored cardstock, I recommend trying different brands and then once you’ve found the ones you like, choose by the color, not just the company. While I list only my favorites here today, there are several other brands that I use. The same can be said for ink pads, but that’s another post 
Again, the cardstock and papers I am sharing with you today are the ones I like the most and that I use on a regular basis.
First up and new on my list this year is Bristol Smooth Watercolor Paper. I use this paper for stamping, coloring, watercoloring (works great with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers!). It’s the best paper I’ve found to date. I just love it.
Another of my favorite white cardstocks for card bases and copic coloring is Gina K Pure Luxury 120lb cardstock. This paper is thick and smooth and will NOT bleed if you color on it with copics. It is the sturdiest, most luxurious paper I’ve ever used.
The Pure Luxury 120 lb Cardstock also comes in Ivory as well.
When I am layering a card panel on top of a card base, I use Gina’s Layering Weight Cardstock which is 80lb and comes in White and Ivory as well.
My favorite Kraft cardstock is Gina K Designs Heavy Base Weight Kraft 100lb Cardstock – It’s a beautiful Kraft color (to me) and it’s my absolute favorite!
Coming in a close second when it comes to Kraft cardstock is Neenah’s Desert Storm. It comes in a pack of 25 or 250. I also use this on a regular basis, depending on the shade of Kraft cardstock I want for my project.
For die stamping and die cutting, occasionally I will use Neenah Solar White. It comes in 80lb and 110 lb and you can get a small pack or a ream depending on how much you want. It’s more economical to buy a ream of it but the up front cost is more. Many people use the 110 lb for cards bases, I just prefer Gina K Pure Luxury 120lb cardstock for my card bases, but this brand is fine too.
My favorite black cardstock is Gina K Pure Luxury Onyx Black 100lb Card Stock – This is a nice true black cardstock, without the blue tints you sometimes see in black cardstocks.
For colored cardstock, I use and recommend two brands. Mainly I use Gina K Designs Heavyweight 100 lb cardstock. It comes in a HUGE variety of colors that all match her ink pads and the paper is thick and smooth enough for card bases. It’s great.
The other kind of color cardstock I use and recommend is Bazzill Card Shoppe. This cardstock is thick and sturdy (which is important to me) but still die cuts beautifully and comes in many colors.
When I need quality vellum, I reach for Essentials by Ellen, 40lb. It comes in a pack of 25.
However, if I’m doing a project in bulk or if it’s for kids or something, I just use inexpensive vellum that I buy at Hobby Lobby. I save my good vellum for important projects.
Copic Express Blending Cardstock – I use this cardstock when I color with Copics and it’s not a single layer card. Copics blend well on this paper and it’s easy to cut in my ScanNCut2!
I will list what acetate I use in the Shaker Card Products section of this blog series.
All of the products mentioned on this page are listed and linked below for your convenience. If you have any questions about anything on this page, please leave a comment or contact me and I’ll get back to you asap.
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