Choosing the Right Paper for Handmade Cards
Cardstock is the best choice for handmade cards. It is a nice heavy paper made specifically for card making. Craft stores carry a wide array of cardstock, and it is also used for classic business cards. The thickness of the cardstock is crucial for the final look and feel of your invitations. Cardstock is made from wood pulp and comes in various weights and textures to meet different needs. Textured paper can enhance your card designs. For beginners, it might be overwhelming to decide on the right paper. Most card projects employ A4 or A5 sizes, readily available from craft suppliers.
Stamping and Embellishments
Clear photopolymer stamps or acrylic stamps can significantly enhance handmade cards by adding clear and crisp images.
Understanding Cardstock
Cardstock, sometimes known as pasteboard or cover stock, is a popular heavy paper option. A standard thickness such as 12pt cardstock is more durable and much thicker compared to ordinary printing or writing paper. For a good balance between durability and ease of handling, 14pt card is one of the most commonly used cardstocks for printing, offering a thickness of 0.39mm, which is ideal for items like business cards and postcards.
Materials for Business Cards
The most typical materials for business cards include paper, plastic, and stainless steel. High-quality plastic cards are preferred for certain uses, such as in casinos. Paper remains the cheapest but least durable option. Standard business card dimensions are 3.5 by 2 inches. When it comes to thickness, common business card paper weights include 14pt and 16pt, with 14pt being comparable in thickness to a brochure.
Tips for Printing and Notecard Creation
For custom card sizes, make sure to specify the dimensions to your printer, as most will default to letter size. To avoid see-through issues and ink bleed on double-sided printing, select opaque cardstock. Uncoated paper is ideal for greeting cards due to its ease of writing on. To create notecards from children’s artwork, save and digitize the artwork by scanning or photographing it, then use the digital images to design your notecards.