How to Choose Paper Size for Card Stock
Card stock is a much heavier type of paper than regular printer paper or construction paper. Because it's stiff and sturdy, it's the ideal type of paper for a variety of craft projects, including scrapbooking and card creation, as well as things such as posters, menus and business cards. Some card stock retailers carry a variety of colors, weights, textures and paper sizes to choose from, while others are more limited. You should always base your decision of paper size on your specific purpose for the card stock.
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Instructions
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Determine what the primary use of card stock will be. Because card stock comes in so many varieties, it's best to purchase card stock for a particular purpose. For instance, if you are creating a scrapbook, just buy the specific color and size you need for that one scrapbook. Once you decide how you'll be using the card stock, you can properly choose a paper size. If you are creating a large poster, you'll need a bigger size. Scrapbooking may require small strips.
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Determine what size of paper best suits your project. The most common size for card stock paper is 8 ½" x 11", which will fit in any printer. If you plan on printing letter-size documents, such as a menu or resume, this is your best option. Card stock also comes in 12" x 12", 11" x 17" and small strips, such as 6" x 26".
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Find the paper retailer that sells the size and color of card stock you need. Most office supply chains, such as Staples and Office Max, solely carry 8 ½" x 11" paper. (See References 2, 3) If you need a custom size (anything other than 8 ½" x 11"), you may want to try an online retailer. For example, try the Paper Mill Store (see Resources) to purchase additional sizes, which are useful for scrapbooking and other projects. If you want to purchase in store, find a local scrapbooking store. (See Reference 1)
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Select a color and texture from the available card stock that will suit your needs and purchase your card stock.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit paper image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
