What is the BEST PAPER for rubber stamping?

[Craftea19]

Hi everyone....I was wondering what you consider the best paper for rubber stamping....Using Prismacolored pencils. And WHERE do you buy it for the best price?? I have been using 110 lb Cardstock. Just curious if you all have found something even better. After all YOU ARE THE PROS!;-)

[JulieHRR]

*THE* best???

Hmmmmm. I'd be hard pressed to say there is any one single "best".

A lot depends on the technique you want to use on it, as well as the type of ink you use; combined with certain papers that will determine the type of results you end up with.

110 lb. card stock is a nice weight for card-making--sturdy. But, if it has an ultra-smooth finish, it probably won't accept colored pencil work all that well because it lacks a certain amount of "tooth". Same for using pastels on it, if it's super smooth.

For watercolor work, I'd go with watercolor paper, Fabriano Mediovalis or Arturo.

For solid stamping, colored pencil work, pastels, and watercolor (light touch, i.e. with a drier brush than normal), I prefer Neenah Classic Crest Cover, 80 lb. weight. I also like it for Copic Alcohol marker coloring, when working with detail images.

I'm hoping to buy some in Neenah Classic Crest in 110 lb. cover, however, to see if that will prevent any bleed-through of Copic to the other side if I want to make a single-layer white card. If it tests without any bleed through, I just then may have found the perfect card stock--at least, for my needs/preferences and mediums I like using most, at any rate.

The trick is to find card stock(s) on which both the ink and the coloring medium you wish to use perform not only very well, but, very well together. It's kind of a 3 component gig. *chuckle*

A lot of this boils down to personal preference, and does require experimentation to find. ;)

[ebeart]

I agree with Julie, it's hard to define the best. I think I have 10 types of white CS, and I use them all! I personally love Georgia Pacific from Wal-mart, it's sturdy, quality and CHEAP!

[maryrose]

The last time I shopped at Dick Blick, I picked up an artist's pad called Bristol by Strathmore. This particular pad is called "vellum" (not the transparent kind we all think of). I was using it this weekend with Versafine inkpads and Prisma markers, and it works wonderfully! It's a very heavy weight, and the ink dries so quickly...no smearing. You can probably pick these up at any art supply store, too. Just wish I could find it in a nice ivory, too!

[KLF]

I really like the Beckett Expression cardstock that you get at Marco's paper. It comes in white and ivory. Works great for both watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils. They blend like butter!
Karen

[Deb Za]

Ditto on the Beckett! It is great!