Paper Crafts ⁽¹³³⁾

Scrapbooking, Card Making and Paper Craft Supplies

Scrapbooking, card making, origami, washi and quilling, with the papers, adhesives and embellishments behind them. Real range across price points, chosen by a team that's supported Australian crafters for more than 40 years. Skim the grid, then read below for guidance on what to pick and why.

Scrapbooking, and what you need to start

If you already scrapbook, you know the drill. Restock your cardstock, grab a fresh patterned pad and top up your adhesive. If you're starting out, keep it to four things. An album, a stack of cardstock, one patterned paper pad for scrapbooking that matches the story you want to tell, and a tape runner. A Green Garden pad is a friendly starting point because the sheets already work together. Add die cuts, stickers and stamps once you know your style. For memory keeping, look for acid-free and archival wording on the pack so photos and paper don't yellow over time.

Choosing papers, cardstock and patterned paper

Cardstock weight is measured in gsm, which is just how heavy a square metre of the paper is. Around 200 to 250gsm suits card bases and layout backgrounds. Lighter 100 to 150gsm sheets are better for layering, journaling and die cutting fussy shapes. Patterned pads are the fastest way to build a coordinated layout. Single sheets let you pull one hero print into a project. Size matters too. 12x12 is the scrapbooking standard and gives you room to layer photos and journaling. 6x8 suits pocket pages, mini albums and card fronts. 

Card making, and making a card that posts flat

A card that arrives creased is a card that didn't make it through the sorter. Start with a card blank around 250 to 300gsm so the fold holds without bowing. Keep embellishments low profile, or save foam dots for cards you hand-deliver. Match the envelope to the folded card size with a few millimetres to spare, and check the thickness against a large letter guide before you post. Deco Foil kits are a nice way to add shine without adding bulk. See the full range of card making supplies for blanks, envelopes and finishing touches.

Origami and which paper folds well

Origami wants a paper that creases crisply and holds the fold. Traditional origami paper is thin, sized square and often coloured on one side, which suits most models. Double-sided sheets earn their keep on designs where the reverse shows. 15cm squares are comfortable for beginners. Smaller squares suit modular and complex folds once your hands know the moves. Cardstock is too stiff and cracks at the crease. Washi is too soft and fibrous. Use the right paper and the model does most of the work for you.

Washi and decorative papers

Washi paper is a soft, fibrous Japanese-style paper, and it's not the same thing as washi tape. It shines in collage, junk journals, card backgrounds and mixed media where you want texture and a slightly translucent layer. Tear it rather than cut it for a soft edge. Don't try to fold origami with it. The fibres won't hold a sharp crease.

Quilling, and the paper strips to use

Quilling is rolling narrow paper strips into coils and shapes, then gluing them onto a card or layout. Standard strips are 3mm or 5mm wide, with 5mm the easier width to start on. You need a slotted quilling tool and a fine wet glue, and that's about it. Quilled flowers, letters and borders sit beautifully on card fronts and scrapbook layouts where a flat sticker would feel plain.

Adhesives, and which to use where

This is the section most crafters get wrong. Match the glue to the job.

If you want one place to compare, our paper craft adhesives collection covers all four.

Stamps, inks and stickers

Rubber stamps mount to a block and give a solid, tactile impression. Clear stamps stick to an acrylic block so you can see exactly where the image lands, which helps with sentiments on cards. For ink pads, dye inks dry fast and suit everyday stamping on cardstock. Pigment inks stay wet longer, sit on top of the paper and are the ones to reach for when you want to heat emboss. Stickers on the grid cover die cut, foil, glitter and resin finishes. The Aarbee Australian wildlife stickers are worth a look if you want a local flavour on a layout. Explore the full craft stickers range for themes and finishes.

Tools worth having, and what can wait

Start with a sharp pair of scissors, a craft knife with spare blades, a bone folder for clean creases and a paper trimmer with a grid. That covers ninety percent of paper craft. Add dies, embossing folders and stencils like The Paper Mill layering stencils when a specific project asks for them, not before. Our paper crafting tools collection has the essentials and the extras when you're ready.

Paper craft FAQs

What do I need to start scrapbooking?

An album, a small stack of cardstock, one patterned paper pad and a tape runner will get your first few pages done. Add photo corners or a wet glue for anything the tape runner can't hold, and pick up die cuts or stickers once you've got a sense of the style you enjoy.

What is the best paper for origami?

Purpose-made origami paper is best because it's thin, sized square and creases crisply without cracking. 15cm squares suit beginners. Cardstock is too thick and washi is too soft, so both fight the fold rather than help it.

What glue should I use for scrapbooking?

A tape runner for the bulk of your flat layout work, plus a wet glue for small pieces, paper piecing and anything fiddly. Foam dots add dimension for hand-delivered pages. Glue dots handle ribbon, buttons and resin embellishments that a tape runner won't grip.

What is washi paper used for?

Washi paper suits collage, journaling backgrounds, card layers and mixed media where you want soft texture and a hint of translucency. Tear it for a feathered edge. It's not built for folding, so leave origami to purpose-made origami paper.

What weight of cardstock is best for cards?

Around 250 to 300gsm for the card base so the fold holds and the card stands on its own. Lighter 100 to 150gsm sheets work well for layered panels, die cutting and printed inserts inside the card.

Are scrapbook papers acid free?

Most scrapbooking-specific papers and pads are acid free and lignin free, and the pack will say so. That matters for memory keeping because acidic paper yellows and can damage photos over time. Check the label if you're using paper from a non-scrapbooking range.

What is a scrapbook kit?

A scrapbook kit bundles coordinated papers, embellishments and often stickers or die cuts around a theme, so you can start a project without hunting for pieces that match. Kits are a good shortcut for beginners and for travel or holiday albums where a set palette saves time.

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