The way that papers are graded are by GSM or Grams per Square Metre. It is a great way of gauging whether certain papers will work well for your projects. For many of my projects I use 250 upwards to 300gsm as I find these work well for some of the designs I use. The exception for this is the Pop Up card which is just made from a basic A4 card of approximately 200 gsm which I then strengthen with the addition of stronger card.
GSM allows you to gauge what quality of paper you are using for your projects so it is always important to double check (especially if you are buying card stock online) as you can be quite disappointed when you choose great looking paper but find it is either to thick or too fragile to use for your chosen project.The higher the number of GSM the thicker the cardstock.
One handy tip to remember is that if you are choosing a really high GSM cardstock that this will effect the weight of your finished card and therefore will have an effect on the cost of your postage so bear this in mind.
I hope the following guide to card stock size will help when choosing the type of paper for your projects.
10-35 gsm: Tissue-like paper - really light and handy for packing or using for paper mache projects
35-70 gsm: Very light paper. Nearer the 70 gsm bracket is just slightly lighter than some printer/copier paper. This will work if you are using this paper for adding details to cards but do double check that the glue will not soften the paper too much otherwise you may end up with a very sticky paper pulp on your card.
70-100 gsm: This is the average paper weight bracket for the paper you’ll find in a copier/printer. It would be the one you tend to get if you are buying a pack of paper from your supermarket or general stationery store.
100-120 gsm: Heavier quality paper or light cardstock. This is lighter than average greeting card weight and heavier than everyday printer paper. Suitable for printing but if you are wanting more performance from your card then it would be worth investing in the next weight bracket.
120-150 gsm: Average cardstock and comparable to a greeting card in weight.
150-200 gsm: Heavier cardstock. This would not be the best choice for printing on unless you have a really good quality printer that can take thicker card/paper. This is the type of paper used for creating greeting cards and as a foundation for invitations etc.
200 gsm +: starts at approximately the same thickness that makes up a cereal box. It is really suitable for other home craft projects. This tends to be the weight I go for and upwards as I can emboss, stamp and decorate this type of card without too much worry regarding warping splitting.
When you are choosing your paper you can opt for a variety of finishes from gloss, silk finishes, decorative finishes and sheens but always remember to try a small section of the paper to see how any glues or inks you are using will take to the card. This is particularly important if you do not have a lot of resting time for the card or creating a card in a hurry!
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