Scrapbook paper: types, weights and sizes explained
Scrapbook paper is acid-free paper and card sold for pages, usually 12 by 12 inches. Patterned paper is thin and printed; cardstock is thick and plain, and forms the base of a page.
Start with 40 pages free. No card needed.
Most packs mix two kinds: thin printed sheets to cut up, and thick card to build on. Knowing which is which saves buying the wrong pad.
The table compares the common types by weight and use.
See also: digital scrapbook paper to print or place, scrapbook album sizes, scrapbook background ideas.
Make a digital scrapbook
Add your photos and keepsakes in tbf scrapbook, then arrange them on the pages. Make a digital scrapbook online.
| Paper | Weight | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Cardstock | Usually 65 to 80 lb cover, about 175 to 215 gsm | The base of each page and mats behind photos |
| Patterned paper | Lighter than cardstock, often printed on one side | Strips, blocks, borders and cut shapes |
| Kraft | Brown, from thin paper to heavy card | Plain, warm backgrounds and tags |
| Vellum | Thin and see-through | Overlays, writing over a photo, soft titles |
| Specialty | Glitter, foil, embossed or textured card | Titles and small accents |
| Printable | Whatever your printer takes | Printing one digital design as often as you need |
Acid-free and lignin-free
Paper with acid in it yellows, turns brittle and can damage photos it touches. Look for acid-free and lignin-free on the pack; nearly all paper sold for scrapbooking says both.
Sizes
Most scrapbook paper is 12 by 12 inches, to fit standard albums. Pads also come in 8 by 8 and 6 by 6 inches, and A4 in the UK. Smaller pads usually shrink the pattern too, which suits mini albums.
Pads, packs and single sheets
A pad holds one collection, so the patterns already go together. Single sheets cost more each but let you buy only the design you need. Cardstock is cheapest in large packs of one colour.
Steps
Choose one base
Pick one cardstock that suits most photos in the album: white, cream, kraft or black.
Add one pad
Buy a single 6 by 6 or 12 by 12 collection whose patterns already match.
Cut it, do not cover with it
Use patterned paper in strips and blocks rather than as a whole background.
Keep the offcuts
File scraps by colour in a folder; small pieces make photo mats and tags.
Questions
What is the difference between cardstock and scrapbook paper?
Cardstock is thick card, usually one colour, used as the page base. Patterned scrapbook paper is thinner and printed, and is cut up and layered on top.
What size is scrapbook paper?
Most is 12 by 12 inches, about 30 by 30 cm. Pads of 8 by 8 and 6 by 6 inches are common, and A4 is sold in the UK.
Can I use printer paper in a scrapbook?
For a single page, yes, but it is thin and curls under glue, and the pack may not say acid-free. Print onto acid-free card for pages you want to keep.