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Stampin Up! Their quality, consistency and value is amazing. Everything coordinates, the ink, the paper, the markers, the accessories and the designer paper. The patterns of the 12x12 Designer Paper even coordinates with their stamps and the papers coordinate in families with each other! On top of that, the quality is fabulous. I've been a fan ever since I first tried them in 1998.
Check in the gallery and you'll find that most cards posted here are made with SU cardstock and ink. LOVE IT!
Also be sure to take a look at Close To My Heart.
We carry 60 colors of white core cardstock, ink, and markers. We also have designer paper packs that use those same colors.
Our cardstock runs about .40/sheet before tax and shipping. Designer Paper is about .50/sheet.
Yeah, I'd have to agree with them. I just started stamping, and I thought for sure SU would be more than I could buy it for elsewhere. But I've looked around, and they DO have the best price and are totally coordinated. Putting my first (of many, I am sure!) paper/ink order in next week...
It took me five years to figure out that SU was the way to go. I'm really slow, LOL! The coordinating papers and inks are the highest quality, very matchy-matchy, and easy to use.
I would have saved myself lots of time, frustration, and money if I'd just committed to SU in the first place.
Many people here have discovered that going to SU! papers makes their projects look better. Like me, they began with sardstock chosen at random from craft stores. Even after you get better at composition and techniques, your stuff still looks a bit "off" compared to other things in the gallery. After switching to Stampin Up! stuff, the difference is amazing. Although it is true that Close To My Heart has coordinating papers, some would rather not have the white core. SU! card stock is the same color all the way through.
__________________ ~Vee
It's not who you know-it's whom you know.
For stamping companies I think both SU! and CTMH do a great job however, CTMH has a greater selection of designer papers that coordinate with their standard line of cardstock BUT they only sell 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock in family packages and not by the individual colors (Unless something has changed and I missed that) Not so good for the card makers. (again, someone correct me if I'm wrong)
That said- Papertrey Ink also has a fabulous stamper select white cardstock which is FAB for card bases and for die cutting boxes and also is introducing monthly a line of matching card stock, patterned paper, ribbon and ink.
K & Co and DCWV also do coordinated ranges - it may just be best to go out and see what's out there and suits you.
I don't particularly agree with the if it's not SU it looks "off" theory (waits to get flamed) - also from an artistic standpoint when the layers overly match it takes away from depth and impact.
OK, I was looking at coordinated double-sided paper I found at Michael's (and I know SU paper is double-sided also). Is that not a waste of designs though? For instance, if you use side A, you are gluing down side B and therefore not using it.
In that case, isn't it a waste?
I haven't purchased anything yet - at this point I'm just browsing -- but if I bought say a large mat-stack at Michaels for $19.99 with a half off coupon that brings me to $10...
I do agree though while browsing through the mat-stack that some of the designs were NOT nice looking and they were not made to coordinate with each other.
OK, I was looking at coordinated double-sided paper I found at Michael's (and I know SU paper is double-sided also). Is that not a waste of designs though? For instance, if you use side A, you are gluing down side B and therefore not using it.
In that case, isn't it a waste?
I haven't purchased anything yet - at this point I'm just browsing -- but if I bought say a large mat-stack at Michaels for $19.99 with a half off coupon that brings me to $10...
I do agree though while browsing through the mat-stack that some of the designs were NOT nice looking and they were not made to coordinate with each other.
Double-sided paper is more versatile than single-sided, and I find I use it more (hence, am not wasting my money). It's especially handy in cardmaking as you can use two pieces, one showing side A and one showing side B, and they coordinate perfectly to make more interesting backgrounds.
Yes, you can get the stacks for $10 and it seems like a value, but as someone who's bought about three of them and used maybe 20 sheets total of all that, I really considered those 20 sheets for $30 expensive. When I buy nice, high-quality, double-sided paper, it may be more per sheet, but I USE much more of it and thus waste less money in the long run.
That's just my experience, though. Everyone is different in how they buy and consume craft supplies. Some people are very artistic and creative and can take random stuff and make beautiful things. I'm not one of those people, LOL!
Since you're just starting out, I would advise you to experiment for yourself and get a feel for how you work best. Try not to spend too much money right off the bat until you get a feel for what works for you. Really. Learn from my mistake, please!;)
Click on their clearance area, then on cardstock. There is a TON of Bazzill coordinated papers as well as ColorMates coordinated papers. Even with shipping, my bill worked out to about $.20 a sheet. A bargain in my eyes since I didn't have to drive to get it! THAT's a savings of a couple cents a sheet right there.
Tell her Ann Clack referred you. You do get a percentage off regular priced stuff when you get referrals but I won't be using it.....have all the paper I need now for quite a while! I just want her to know. She was also an absolute doll and had donated paper for the goodie bags at one of our shoe box swaps.
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
I bought the mat pack thing at Micheals when I first started and you know what I do with it now? I use the white side as a mat for when I'm working. :rolleyes: That paper is not great quality at all.
I'm all about SU! paper, DP, and matching inks and wouldn't recommend anything else.
I used to buy from my LSS and some of the paper is great. However, even after buying ink in every color of the rainbow, it never seemed to be a good match. I do so love the way SU ink matches the paper exactly, and yes, CTMH does too, I just prefer SU.
I also find that my SU ink coordinates with a lot of the DP I've bought from my LSS.
I was under the impression you were looking for coordinating paper~ which to me means card stock and coordinating designer paper.
As far as patterned paper- IMHO My Minds Eye can't be beat. Love K&Company too (always have) I could go on and on and on as one company or another always has some new gorgeous paper out there I have to have!
If you love the papers in the stack.. buy the stack- I always buy what I love for myself. If I don't love it it won't matter that is was the "best value" around.
When I scrapbook, I do tend to go with the patterned paper from my LSS. For cardmaking and other papercrafting projects--it's SU! all the way. I LOVE the weight/smoothness of the paper. I love that the DP matches the regular CS...and the ink...and the ribbon...hee, hee, hee!! I do use the Georgia Pacific white for layering, sometimes, though. Nice and smooth, not quite as great as SU whisper white, but good nonetheless!
Best source / best value coordinating paper
