Cardstock does more than provide a color for your card. It also dictates how the card folds, whether the card can hold heavier layers, and whether the card will lay flat or start bowing. A paper that might be perfect for a decorative layer may not be the right choice for a card base, and heavy cardstock can be challenging to score and fold.
For a base, you want a cardstock that remains straight when the card is standing open, but can still be folded along a score line. If a cardstock is too thin, the front may curl once the adhesive and any embellishments are applied. If the cardstock is too thick, it can crack when folding or not be able to close properly. Rather than simply going by the cardstock’s appearance, try it out. Score and fold it with a bone folder and check if the surface remains relatively flat along the fold line.
The layers don’t need to be as heavy as the cardstock used for the base. A front panel made from lighter cardstock or patterned paper can provide some color and texture to the card without making it overly thick. The matting layer can help provide a visual break between the base and focal panel, but each additional piece of paper does increase the thickness. To see how much paper you’re adding, put all the pieces together on the closed card and determine if the front is noticeably thicker than the back.
Some beginner card makers deal with a thin card base by adding more paper to it. Doing this could end up making things worse. Gluing multiple layers onto thin cardstock can result in warping, and it can make the card difficult to close. It’s easier to work with a sturdier base and fewer decorative layers. You should also pay attention to your adhesive. Too much of a wet glue can soften the paper briefly, causing it to curl.
To get a sense of how the different papers compare, create three sample cards, each using different paper combinations. Keep the design the same to eliminate any other variables. For instance, you could use a firmer cardstock for the base with one light layer, the same base with two layers, and a thinner base with the same decoration. Fold and close the sample cards, and note how they align at the edges, how flat they lie, and how they feel when you hold them in your hand. By comparing the sample cards, you can see how different types of paper interact much better than trying to imagine the difference by looking at the sheets individually.
It’s important that the card functions properly as an object, and not just in the flat state on your worktable. Close the card before adding the last layers and decorations, and take note of how thick the finished card is. If the front keeps popping open, the fold looks tight or uneven, or the card barely slips into the envelope, then maybe you should skip adding another layer. Selecting your paper is easier when you know what each layer should do: provide the structural foundation for the base, color or texture for the focal panel, and just enough for any additional layers to support the design.
