When it comes to crafting, the choice of paper weight depends on the type of craft project you’re working on. Different weights of paper serve various crafting purposes. Here are some common paper weights used in crafting:
- Cardstock (60-110 lb):
- Cardstock is a popular choice for many crafting projects due to its sturdiness and versatility. It comes in a range of weights, with 60 lb being on the lighter end and 110 lb on the heavier end. Lighter cardstock is suitable for papercrafts like cardmaking and scrapbooking, while heavier cardstock is ideal for making invitations, paper flowers, and 3D projects.
- Text Weight (20-70 lb):
- Text weight paper is lighter than cardstock and is often used for projects where flexibility and lightweight materials are essential. It’s suitable for origami, paper folding, and projects like printable decorations and paper flowers.
- Construction Paper (60-80 lb):
- Construction paper is a thicker and more durable paper often used in children’s crafts, such as cutting and pasting projects. It comes in various colors and is suitable for simple crafts, classroom activities, and art projects.
- Specialty Papers (various weights):
- Depending on your specific crafting needs, you may choose specialty papers like tissue paper, vellum, metallic paper, or translucent paper. These papers come in a range of weights, and the choice depends on the effect you want to achieve in your project.
- Tracing Paper (20-40 lb):
- Tracing paper is typically lightweight and translucent, making it useful for tracing and transferring images or patterns in crafting projects like embroidery, quilting, and drawing.
- Crepe Paper (various weights):
- Crepe paper is a lightweight, textured paper that is often used for making paper flowers, party decorations, and costume accessories. It’s available in various weights and is chosen based on the desired texture and volume for your project.
- Watercolor Paper (90-300+ lb):
- Watercolor paper is heavier and thicker, designed to withstand the wet media used in watercolor painting. It can be used for craft projects that involve watercolor painting, mixed media art, or creating textured backgrounds.
- Specialty Craft Materials:
- Beyond traditional paper, crafters may also work with materials like felt, foam sheets, fabric, and other non-paper materials, which come in various thicknesses and textures.
The choice of paper weight should align with the requirements of your craft project. Consider the project’s size, intended use, and desired appearance when selecting the appropriate paper weight. Additionally, experimentation and testing with different paper weights can help you discover the best fit for your specific crafting needs.
Many countries in the world (I am in Australia) use gsm (grams per square metre) rather than lb for paper weights. Is there a simple conversion from lb to gsm?
This link should hep with the conversion https://soloprinting.com/resources/paper-weight-conversions/
Thank you Janet. I still have a question though – what is the difference between Text Paper, Cover Paper and Offset Paper? We do not use those terms. Gsm applies consistently to all paper (and cardstock) no matter what size it is or what it is used for.
Text paper is school paper or copy paper – light weight. Cover Paper is paper used for a cover or binding but is still thinner than cardboard. Offset paper is a type of paper specifically designed for use in offset printing.