Art Paper Buying Guide: Express Your Creative Ideas

When paper is mentioned, most people think of a simple white sheet used for printing or writing things down. However, artists have a wider range of understanding of the term paper. Not only it can be the surface where they draw, sketch or practice their skills, but it can also be used for various art projects. You don’t have to be in school to do simple art projects with paper. In fact, many great artists use paper to create wonderful things from sculptures that add personality to a room to developing photos or creating small craft things such as gift boxes, or other things (small houses, maquettes of towns and so on).
 
If you are new to this whole arts and crafts world and want to explore your talent and creative ideas, you should know what types of papers exist. It can be quite overwhelming to go to the store and try and get the right paper. When looking for art paper for sale, be sure to know what kind of art you plan on practising. Will you sketch, use water paint, or perhaps you need paper to create a 3D craft. This will be of great help for you and the seller so they can know what to offer you. With that being said, here are some of the most common types of paper you can come across in art stores.

Scrapbook Paper

This paper is also known as patterned paper and it’s the kind of paper that is printed with patterns on one side and in some cases, it has embossing or glitter. It is often found in craft stores and has various colours and patterns. It’s ideal for making decorated cards, scrapbooking and flat decorative paper cards.

Kraft Paper

Kraft paper is commonly used by artists but also you have seen it in the form of brown grocery bags. During the process of making this paper, the leftover pulp isn’t thrown into the garbage and instead is used to make the Kraft paper.

Since it is made from leftover pulp, this paper is not top-quality paper but has a unique look. If you’re taking part in a project (or your kids need it for school) where the quality of paper isn’t the most important, then Kraft paper will work just fine. It’s also inexpensive, so it can be a good thing to get it if you’re on a budget.

Copy Paper

This is the type of paper most people think of when they think of paper. This paper is white and quite light and is normally used for printing. It is basic and people also use it for writing things down but also drawing with various pencils such as coloured pencils, charcoal or graphite pencils.
It is matte and works just fine for both drawings, writing and printing stuff on it. You can’t use it for crafts since it’s quite stiff and light, so it won’t move easily and will look rigid.

Textured Paper

When exploring the range of art paper for sale, don’t forget to check for textured paper. It is the type of paper that comes with lines, dots, or glitter. It is used for greeting cards, small gift boxes. This paper’s texture comes from linen and can be used for various paper crafts, especially when a 3-D effect is needed. So if you’re testing your skills and want to see if you can achieve the idea that is in your head, texture paper could work like magic for you.

Gloss Paper

Gloss paper is often used for printing glossy magazines (hence the name), publications and brochures when a print of high-resolution photos is necessary. This type of paper as the name suggests comes either with gloss all over it or with high-gloss UV layers on various parts. This type of paper is similar to other papers of the same weight, but the difference is that inks might fail to stick to it. Whether the ink will stick to it or not, depends on the type of gloss and ink. The best thing about this type of paper is that it is so attractive so you can use it for wedding cards, but also photos.

Marbled Paper

This type of paper can be printed or can be created naturally, where colour is floated in fluid before it is placed onto the paper. You can either purchase this type of paper by getting card stock marbled paper or you can make it at home by using shaving cream and food colours. Most artists and people who do crafts are thrilled to try this challenge, so before you head to the store check your skills at home first.

Cardboard, Poster Board, and Paperboard

If you need to create rigid 3-D crafts then you should use paper that is more rugged and stiff such as cardboards, poster boards and paperboards. These papers have the thickness you need to keep any project remain in the shape you want; in fact, you can create things that will look like they were made of wood board. If you are creating projects such as small houses, or need a more sturdy gift box, then these papers will work the best for you.