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If you work in graphic design or a business that sells products with custom-made images, you might already be familiar with sublimation. However, sublimation printing is becoming increasingly popular among people who like arts and crafts projects, as well as those who want to sell their own unique creations online. In short, sublimation is a great way to get the images you want on the products or materials of your choosing!

Nonetheless, you’ve probably still got a lot of questions about sublimation and how it works. For example, what exactly is sublimation printing? Can you sublimate on cardstock and similar materials? If so, how does the process work?

In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s take a deep dive into the world of sublimation printing!

What Is Sublimation Printing?

Sublimation printing may sound complex, but it is actually pretty simple. It just requires you to print an image onto a piece of heat transfer paper. Then, you use heat and pressure to apply the image to a material of your choice. Sublimation is frequently used to make graphic t-shirts and clothing, but it can actually be used on a wide range of materials and surfaces. The reason sublimation works well for clothing is that it uses a dye-based ink that turns from a solid into a gas when heated. This gas then adheres the image to the piece of clothing.

Sublimation paper and heat transfer paper are types of specialty paper that are specifically used to transfer images from one surface to another via heat and pressure. You can often find these types of paper in either inkjet or laser form, and you will need to use the corresponding printer to print out the images correctly. Once you’ve got your images printed on the correct paper, you just need a source of heat and a surface to put the images on.

If you plan on doing sublimation for business purposes, the startup costs are relatively low. However, it may feel like a costly hobby if you just want to sublimate arts and crafts. In any case, you will need to have heat transfer paper, a printer, a heat press, and the material or surface that you want to use as the “final product.” It’s important to note that you can also use a standard iron if you don’t want to invest in a full-size heat press.

Now, this brings us to your final product. While many people sublimate images on clothing, you may want to sublimate onto a wide variety of materials, including thick paper or cardstock. So, will it actually work? Read on to find out!

How To Sublimate On Cardstock

Fortunately, the short answer is yes, you can sublimate on cardstock. In fact, sublimation is a great way to transfer printed images or text to a cardstock surface. Sublimated cardstock can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including birthday or wedding invitations, business cards, announcements, and much more. So, let’s take a step-by-step look at everything you need to do to sublimate on cardstock:

Step 1: Gather Your Equipment & Materials

As previously mentioned, sublimation printing is not something you can do without the right materials. Most importantly, you will need heat transfer paper (or sublimation paper). Most projects work well with a medium-weight matt paper (45-55 lbs). You can often find this type of paper online and, in some cases, at craft stores. The same applies to dye-based ink. You will not be able to use regular printer ink, as it will just smear right off the paper and ruin the image. So, you will need to make sure you have dye-based ink in advance.

This brings us to the printer. As previously mentioned, the type of printer you need will depend on the type of paper you use (or vice versa). Inkjet paper requires an inkjet printer, while laser paper requires a laser printer. Either way, just make sure that you check both the type of printer and the type of paper before you make any purchases!

Next, you will need to decide if you want to invest in a heat press or try to find a simpler solution. For cardstock, you do not need anything heavy-duty, but you will need something that produces enough heat to actually transfer the images from the paper to the cardstock. Additionally, you can find affordable heat presses online or at big-box convenience stores. But again, if you want to go with the cheaper DIY route, you can use a standard clothing iron. Just make sure that it has accurate temperature control, as that will be important later on.

Lastly, you will need to get your cardstock. The type of cardstock will depend on your specific needs. That said, sublimation generally works best on lighter colors. In fact, it often does not work at all on black or similarly dark colors. So, for the best results, opt for off-white or white cardstock. And remember, you can always find high-quality cardstock and paper products on Fine Card Stock!

Step 2: Choose Your Image

This step should be relatively easy. If you’re looking into sublimation on cardstock, you probably already have an image in mind. Even if you don’t have one yet, don’t stress! You can create or find the perfect image to fit your needs. For example, if you’re sending out wedding invitations, you may want to sublimate images of the soon-to-be-married couple. Alternatively, if you’re creating business cards, you may want to include the company logo or your name in a special font. As you can see, the possibilities are virtually endless!

Step 3: Print Your Images

Once you’ve chosen the image (or images) that you want to use, it is time to load up your printer with heat transfer paper and dye-based ink. Most standard printers will be able to handle the task without any issue, but if you’re worried that your printer won’t work for sublimation, simply contact the manufacturer for more information. Assuming that your printer is compatible with heat transfer paper and dye-ink, you can proceed as you would with any kind of print job. Just align the paper correctly, select the number of copies you want, and then click “print.” It’s really that easy! However, if this is your first time doing sublimation, it is best to start with just one printed image. This way, you can test the entire process without printing out dozens of images before you are ready. Additionally, printing one image at a time prevents the chance of the images smearing onto one another.

Step 4: Prepare Your Heat Press

The heat press is the most delicate part of the entire process. You have your cardstock in place and your heat transfer paper ready with the correct images. Now what? Both the time and temperature are important factors at this point. The sublimation will not work correctly if you do not use the heat press (or even a clothing iron) correctly.

Fortunately, it’s not too complicated to get things right. Ideally, your heat press should be preheated to somewhere between 380-390°F. Once you’re ready, you should close the press and apply roughly 40 PSI of pressure for about 45 seconds. You can do it for up to one minute, but you should be very careful not to leave the cardstock in the press for too long, as it could scorch the material, distort the image, or cause general discoloration.

If you choose to use an iron, it is difficult to gauge how much pressure to use. You can’t exactly use your iron to measure 40 PSI. So, you will just have to wing it. You may need to do several test runs before you get it just right!

Step 5: Let Your Cardstock Cool

Once you have finished Step 3, you should carefully remove the cardstock from the heat press and leave it on a flat surface to cool. A kitchen counter is a great place to do it, as it is unlikely to get damaged if the cardstocks are still very hot. When your cardstock has reached room temperature, you can finalize your creation with any additional decorations or flourishes you like. And voila! Now you have officially sublimated on cardstock!

Sublimation On Glitter Cardstock

If you’re wondering whether or not you can sublimate on glitter cardstock, the answer is yes! However, you may need to do things just a little differently. Rather than using the entire heat transfer paper in the heat press, you may want to cut out the image itself. This way, your glitter cardstock will just get the image sublimated and retain its glittery background!

Ready to try sublimation printing on your own? If so, be sure to check out our high-quality products on Fine Card Stock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!

Cardstock has a wide range of uses in both personal and professional settings. Whether you want to send out an official memo to your staff or create beautiful party invitations, you can get the job done with high-quality cardstock. But what if you want to laminate your cardstock? Is that even possible?

Fortunately, the answer is yes! You can laminate cardstock and other kinds of thick paper. However, the process may differ a little. So, in today’s guide, we will help you learn how to laminate cardstock using different kinds of materials and equipment!

How To Laminate Cardstock

The easiest way to laminate cardstock is to acquire a laminating machine (also known as a laminator). These often look like traditional printers, but when you put paper in one end, it comes out laminated on the other! The most important factor when choosing a laminator is the maximum paper size it can handle. With cardstock, you are likely not using materials any larger than printer paper, but it is still a good idea to double-check what your laminator can do. A laminator that can handle 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper should be able to handle most laminating projects.

Once you have a laminating machine, you can go through the step-by-step process for laminating cardstock below:

Step 1: Get Your Machine Warmed Up

Like some printers and copiers, most laminators need a minute or two to get “warmed up.” So, turn on your machine and just let it sit for a few minutes. If you’re unsure how long to wait, don’t worry. The vast majority of laminators have an indicator light that tells you when they are ready. In the event that your machine does not have this feature, just wait 5 minutes to be on the safe side.

Step 2: Choose Your Cardstock

Choosing the color, size, texture, and thickness of cardstock is extremely important. Naturally, the color and size will depend on your personal tastes and intentions. If you want something professional, you may choose white with a standard cardstock size. Alternatively, you may want to liven things up with funky colors and interesting textures. However, just remember that most laminators cannot handle very thick paper; standard cardstock (between 80 lbs and 200 lbs) is usually the thickest that will work.

Step 3: Prepare the Cardstock & Laminating Pouch

When you purchase a laminator, it typically comes with some sample laminating pouches. However, you may need to buy additional laminating pouches if you want to laminate dozens of cards, invitations, or documents. In any case, to prepare the cardstock for lamination, simply place it inside the laminating pouch. This part is pretty easy, as the pouch is just two pieces of laminate paper connected at one end. If the laminate is not substantially larger than your cardstock (with at least 1 inch of space on each side), then make sure to center your cardstock so that it will be cleanly laminated. Once the interior of the laminating pouch is ready, you will need to place the pouch inside the carrier. The carrier is another pouch that protects your laminator from the buildup of adhesive materials.

Step 4: Put the Carrier in the Laminator

Now that the carrier and laminator are ready, you can begin to feed the carrier into the laminator. Do not force it in, as this could damage your cardstock or the machine. Instead, feed it in slowly until you feel the laminator take hold of the carrier. Then, continue to feed it through, allowing the machine to do most of the work.

Step 5: Let the Carrier Cool

Once the carrier comes out on the other side of the laminator, you simply need to set it on a flat surface to cool for a few minutes. This gives the laminate enough time to properly stick to the surface of the cardstock. If you try to remove it too quickly, it may come out with bubbles, tears, or other blemishes. So, once you have let it cool for about 10 minutes, you can remove the laminated cardstock from the carrier.

Step 6: Finalize Your Cardstock

Now that you have removed it from the carrier, you are likely left with laminated cardstock that has extra laminate along the edges. Simply use a pair of scissors to cut along the edge of the cardstock and remove extra laminate material. If you want, you can decorate your laminated cardstock with additional garnishments that suit your tastes. Either way, you now have laminated cardstock!

Laminating Glitter Cardstock

Laminating glitter cardstock requires the same process as laminating regular cardstock. That said, glitter cardstock can be a little more complicated. Depending on the thickness of the cardstock and the “chunkiness” of the glitter, you could run into issues of bubbles forming on the end product. For this reason, it is best to do a test run and see how your laminator handles glittered cardstock. In most cases, you won’t have any issues. If you do run into bubbles, you may need to choose a thinner cardstock with smaller pieces of glitter.

Laminating Cardstock Without A Laminator

So, what if you don’t have a laminating machine but you still want to laminate your cardstock? Or what if your cardstock is too thick for a standard laminating machine? Thankfully, you can still do it! Read the steps below to see exactly how to laminate cardstock without a laminator:

Step 1: Acquire Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets

Self-adhesive laminating sheets are essentially like a DIY lamination pouch. With these, you simply place one on a flat surface, then place your cardstock in the middle before adding a second sheet on top (to make sure everything lines up correctly). Most laminating sheets come with squares to help you line up the sheets and your cardstock perfectly. If your sheets don’t have any lines, you might want to use a ruler to make sure everything is clean and tidy.

Step 2: Prepare your Laminating Sheets

When you purchase laminating sheets, they are essentially like stickers. You will need to remove the top layer to expose the adhesive side of the laminate. Be sure to do this part very carefully so that your laminate does not accidentally stick to you or any other surfaces. Also, make sure to grab the sheets by the edges so that you don’t leave behind any fingerprints.

Step 3: Secure Your Cardstock to the Adhesive

Since you already examined where you want everything to line up in Step 1, this part should be pretty easy. Simply place the cardstock where you want it to go on the adhesive (usually in the center of the sheet). Then, press down on one corner of the cardstock so that it can stick to the adhesive. Next, using your whole hand, press down and roll your hand along the length of the cardstock. This will press it against the laminate without causing bubbles.

Step 4: Apply the Second Sheet

Once the cardstock is attached to the first sheet, you will need to take out a second sheet, expose the adhesive, and gently press it down on top of the cardstock and first sheet. It is generally best to start at the corner and slowly set it down until both sheets line up perfectly. Now you just need to wait a few minutes for the adhesive to really set in.

Step 5: Cut Off the Excess Laminate

Finally, you just need to cut off the excess laminate along the edges of the cardstock. Be sure to press and roll out any bubbles before you do the cutting. But once you have cut it to your satisfaction, you’re all set!

Cutting Laminated Cardstock On Cricut

If you have a cricut machine, you can also use it to cut laminated documents. Cricut cutting laminated cardstock is relatively easy, as long as your cardstock is not especially thick. If you’re unsure if your cricut machine can handle it, just check with the manufacturer.

Ready to laminate cardstock on your own? If so, be sure to check out our high-quality products on Fine Card Stock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!

Curling and bending paper is a necessary skill if you want to enjoy tons of unique arts and crafts projects. However, it is a skill that many people lack. Most people decide to buy pre-curled paper or cardstock decorations to save themselves time, but this ends up costing a lot more money. Rather than spending a fortune on premade designs, why not do the curling on your own? It is a great way to save on the extra cost, learn a new skill, and customize your arts and crafts designs, all at the same time.

So, in today’s guide, we will take a closer look at how to curl paper and cardstock, as well as the different ways that you can put these curled products to good use!

How To Curl Paper Streamers & Strips

Paper strips and streamers are some of the easiest paper products to curl. Moreover, paper ribbons and similar decorations are far easier to curl than streamers made from other materials. The exact steps will depend on how you plan to display your streamers. However, in the vast majority of cases, you will be hanging your streamers for a party or event. In this case, you can use the following steps:

1. Tape one end to a flat surface – With standard tape, attach one end of your paper strip to a wall or a place where you plan to hang it. Don’t worry if you tape it in the wrong place. You can always move the end of the streamer and use another piece of tape to attach it again.
2. Cut your streamer to the desired length – Typically, paper streamers come in rolls of varying sizes. When you unroll one end and tape it to a flat surface, you will need to cut the other end to the desired length with scissors. If you’re unsure how much material you will need, cut a longer piece so that you can shorten it later if necessary.
3. Curl your streamer – Now that you have a paper strip that is attached to a surface with tape, you can start curling the streamer starting on the opposite end. Simply twist the material until you have the desired curls (tight or loose curls). Alternatively, you can begin wrapping your paper around a pencil to create curls.
4. Finish hanging your streamer – Without letting go of the curled streamer, tape the free end to another flat surface (like a wall). This will create a curled streamer that is already positioned as a decoration. And that’s it! Now you can repeat the same steps to decorate your home or event space with multiple curled strips and streamers.

How To Curl Paper Flowers

There are dozens of ways to roll paper flowers, but some require special tools and a lot of patience. The key to making paper petals and paper leaves is creating realistic-looking shapes. You can purchase a curling tool, but it is always better if you can create the same finished product with household items. So, here is the simplest way to curl paper flowers:

1. Shape your flowers – Unless you bought premade flowers, your paper flowers will need basic shaping. This may require you to cut out the shape of the leaves and petals using standard paper or cardstock. Needless to say, if you already have premade paper flowers, you can skip to the next step!
2. Scrape the edges of your flower – In most cases, you will only want to curl the petals (not the leaves), though you can apply the same method for both. Just take a pair of standard scissors and scrape them along the edges of your flower petal. This will naturally make the paper curl. If you don’t have scissors on hand, you can also use a credit card or something with a similarly-firm edge.
3. Repeat the scraping for each petal – Once you get the hang of it, you can easily curl the rest of your flower into the desired shape. If you are using scissors, it is a good idea to hold the base of your flower to ensure that you don’t accidently rip the material. This is particularly necessary with thin paper or cardstock.

How To Roll Paper Into A Cone

Rolling paper into a cone is surprisingly easy. However, the thicker your paper, the more resistant it will be to rolling. For this reason, many people opt for thinner paper or cardstock when making decorative cones. To roll paper into a cone, follow these steps:

1. Roll one end of your paper or cardstock – All you have to do to begin creating a paper cone is roll one end so that it forms a point. When you do this step, the opposite end of the material should be open. This will form the essential shape of the cone.
2. Cut out extra material as necessary – When working with standard-sized paper or cardstock, you will not be able to create a “perfect” cone without cutting off some of the paper. This is because the top corners of the paper will stick upward from the open edge. Cut off these corners so that the top edge formers a flat circle.
3. Tape or glue your cone in place – Once you have your edges trimmed and your cone in the right place, you will want to use tape or some kind of adhesive to keep it in place. You may need to re-roll the cone if it loses its shape during this step. If this happens, just ensure that you roll it into the same position so that the top end looks like a perfect circle and the bottom end looks like a perfect point.

How To Make Paper Bends

Paper bending and paper folding may sound simple at first, but they can be complex, especially if you want to bend your paper into specific shapes. For this reason, it is best to understand exactly what you want to do with your paper or cardstock before you get started. If you are looking for ideas for decorations or fun DIY projects, you can find thousands of paper-folding tutorials on YouTube. Alternatively, if you already know what you want to create, you can generally follow these steps:

1. Draw your bend lines – It is much easier to fold paper into specific shapes if you know exactly where the paper is meant to bend. To do this, you can draw the bend lines on your paper in advance with a pencil. Since some parts of the paper may fold over each other, you may need to draw one line and then make the respective fold before continuing.
2. Loosen your paper and make the folds – Assuming you are using thicker paper or cardstock, you may need to loosen it up to allow folding. For this step, you just need to make broad bends in the paper, back and forth, until it feels less rigid to the touch. Then, you can start making your folds.
3. Finalize your creation – Some paper-folding projects will require adhesive, while others will automatically stay in place using tight folds. Either way, make sure you don’t let your paper unfold itself before you’re done!

Ready to curl paper and cardstock on your own? If so, be sure to check out our high-quality products on Fine Card Stock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!

Flowers are a beautiful addition to just about any space, interior or exterior. Whether you want to brighten up your kitchen or make a beautiful display in your back garden, flowers ensure that there will be peaceful, calming plants for everyone to enjoy. However, the main issue with flowers is that they don’t live forever. This is especially true if you want to display flowers in a vase inside your home. Eventually, cut flowers will die, usually within a matter of days or weeks. For this reason, many people prefer to make cardstock flowers that can become a permanent decoration for your home or workspace.

However, you probably have a lot of questions about making cardstock flowers. For example, are they complicated to create? Do the materials cost a lot? Finally, how long does it take to make high-quality cardstock flowers? In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s look at how to make both two and three-dimensional flowers out of cardstock.

How To Make Flowers Out Of Cardstock

The process for making DIY cardstock flowers varies based on the type of flowers you want to make. Two-dimensional (flat) cardstock paper flowers are a bit easier to make, assuming you have the right materials on hand. Alternatively, three-dimensional flowers can take a little more time and effort, but they often do not require as many different types of cardstock. In any case, let’s look at how to make flowers with cardstock using both design methods:

Two-Dimensional Flowers

Two-dimensional flowers offer a great decoration option because they can be glued to a larger paper or poster to create a beautiful display, turned into refrigerator magnets, put under glass, or even hung on strings for decorations that line the walls of your home. So, let’s see the step-by-step process for making two-dimensional cardstock flowers:

1. Choose Your Colors – First, you need to decide the colors you want for your flowers. Red, pink, yellow, and purple are all popular options, but you can choose cardstock made of any color you like to make the petals and center disc of your flowers unique to you. The interior disc (the circle at the center of the flower bloom) is usually a darker color that coordinates well with the primary color of your flower (black, brown, and white are common options). Additionally, if you want a stem for your flowers, you will probably want to choose green to make it look more natural.
2. Draw the Petals or Flower Outline – You can draw individual petals or you can draw an entire flower outline for each flower. The latter is much easier, but the former option can make your 2D flowers look more customized and interesting.
3. Draw the Interior Disc and Stem (Optional) – 2D flowers do not require interior discs or stems, but they can make them look more realistic. So, if you want interior discs, you will need to draw circles in your cardstock. For stems, you will need to draw long, thin rectangles. Just make sure that the stems are not too long or too thin to support the weight of your flowers if you want them standing up.
4. Cut Out All Flower Parts – Now that you have made all of your drawings on the correctly-colored pieces of cardstock, you will need to cut them out one by one. Make sure to cut along the lines as closely as possible. If you struggle to cut along the lines, consider investing in a cricut machine (more on that below).
5. Glue Cardstock Pieces Together – Once all of the pieces have been cut out, it is time to glue them together properly. If you cut out individual petals, these will need to be glued together in a circular pattern. Regardless of the type of flower bloom you make, you can glue your interior disk to the front of the flower (at the center of the bloom) and the stem to the back of your flower.
6. Display Your 2D Cardstock Flowers – Lastly, you just have to choose how you want to display your 2D flowers. You have a plethora of options, from putting them in a traditional vase to hanging them from your bedroom ceiling. It is completely up to you!

Three-Dimensional Flowers

As previously mentioned, 3D cardstock flowers are a little more complex, but they do not always require as many different parts. Here are the steps to make a standard three-dimensional flower with cardstock:

1. Choose Your Colors – Just like 2D flowers, 3D flowers require the right combination of colors. Many 3D flowers simply use a one or two-colored bloom and a green stem. That said, you can always get creative and use your favorite colors for every part of the flower!
2. Fold Your Cardstock – 3D flowers generally require thinner cardstock because the paper needs to be folded. Start with a square piece of cardstock and fold one corner to the opposite corner, forming a triangle. Then, fold the triangle in half two times. Next, with the longest side of the triangle resting vertically, fold the opposite corner so that it creates an even vertical line with the long side.
3. Cut Your Cardstock – Now you should have a long point at the bottom and a short point at the top, with a flat edge closer to the top triangle. Cut off the top triangle. Then, draw a line that curves outward from the top-right corner down to the bottom point. Cut out the paper outside of the curve.
4. Unfold Your Flower – Now, all you have to do is unfold your flower and you’re done! Naturally, you can also choose to add interior discs or stems with adhesive, in which case you can follow the same instructions you used for the 2D flower. Either way, the folds give this type of cardstock flower a more vivid, 3D appearance!

How To Make Cardstock Flowers With Cricut

If you want to give your cardstock flowers a more professional look, you cannot go wrong with a cricut machine. This electrical paper cutter allows you to make card paper flowers according to your own specifications. Many cricut cutters also have the ability to add lamination, engravings, and other special designs that would be much harder to do by hand. In any case, the exact process for making flowers from cardstock using a cricut machine varies from one cricut manufacturer to another. Regardless of the brand you purchase, you can make the entire process of creating cardstock flowers much faster and easier with a cricut machine.

The Best Cardstock For Flowers

The best cardstock for flowers will depend on the type of flowers you want to make. Thinner paper is better if you plan on doing any folding, while you can get better strength and longevity with thicker cardstock paper for flowers. Thus, there is no “best” type of cardstock for flowers. The same applies if you plan to use a cricut machine. The best cardstock for cricut flowers will depend on what type of flowers you want to make and how you plan to display them.

Ready to create your flowers using cardstock? If so, be sure to check out our high-quality cardstock products on Fine Card Stock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!

When you think about parchment, you likely think of old letters, quills, ink, and the customs of centuries past. After all, parchment was the primary material used for communication before more modern forms of paper and cardstock were invented. However, this does not mean that parchment no longer serves a purpose. In fact, parchment is one of the most popular types of cardstock among many modern consumers.

So, what exactly is parchment cardstock? How is parchment made? Finally, how can you put parchment cardstock to good use? In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and take a closer look at parchment cardstock in general. Additionally, if you are currently shopping for parchment cardstock for your next DIY project, we will help you evaluate the best choices at your disposal through Fine Cardstock.

What Is Parchment Cardstock?

Before we dive into the differences between regular cardstock and parchment cardstock, it is important to understand how traditional parchment differs from modern paper. The truth is that the paper we are accustomed to today is not quite as “modern” as you might think. On the contrary, modern forms of paper were already beginning to replace parchment paper as early as the 15th century.

Regardless of when the transition began, you are probably still wondering how the two materials differ. Traditionally, parchment paper was made using animal skin. However, once the paper-making industry grew and animals no longer became a realistic sourcing material, manufacturers started using fibers from fir trees. Depending on the climate and fauna in the region in which it was manufactured, some printers would use fibers from plants such as cotton or flax. It was this shift that marked the change from parchment to what we now refer to as “writing paper.”

Today, writing paper can be made from a variety of plant-based sources, though wood pulp is the most common material worldwide. It can be made to mimic the look and feel of traditional, animal-skin parchment. The same finish and process can be used to create parchment cardstock paper. Rather than using animal skin or similarly old-fashioned production methods, cardstock producers simply recreate the look of parchment or aged cardstock using different colors, designs, source materials, as well as the finish of the paper.

Common Parchment Cardstock Uses

Even after parchment paper fell out of fashion, it was still used for extremely important or commemorative documents. For example, the original United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written on parchment paper. So, while we may not use “real” parchment paper nowadays, we can still use imitation parchment paper and parchment cardstock for important or commemorative certificates, invitations, cards, and even DIY decorations.

Certificates

If you have ever walked into a medical clinic or doctor’s office, you have probably seen a medical certificate framed and mounted on the wall. This gives patients peace of mind knowing that their physician has legitimate credentials that they are proud to display. However, certificates do not just apply to doctors. There are many different accolades that can be put on parchment cardstock and framed at the home or office. Whether you want to celebrate your bachelor’s degree or show your certification to teach a given subject, you can use parchment cardstock to make it look even more authentic. Since parchment is historically associated with important documents, it only makes sense to put your most important documents on parchment paper. The difference with parchment cardstock is that it is stronger (which means it is less likely to wear with age) and better suited to be set in a frame.

Invitations

Invitations offer a great opportunity to show your personal sense of style and invite others to celebrate a special event in your life. Perhaps you are getting married, graduating from college, having a baby, or even moving into your first home. Regardless of the event, you will likely want to send out formal invitations to your friends, family, and loved ones. Parchment cardstock is one of the best materials to make your invitations memorable and luxurious. People associate parchment with the past, when royals and elites acted with a certain sense of decorum, sending written invitations for special events. Putting your invitations on parchment cardstock gives them an aged look while also making your event feel more refined. It is especially useful if you are planning a themed party that you can match with the style of the parchment invitations.

Cards

Not all written communications need to be invitations. There are plenty of reasons to send someone a special card to let them know that you care about them. You may have a friend who recently lost a loved one or an acquaintance who is starting a new job. Either way, you can send different kinds of cards based on the events in other people’s lives. Parchment cardstock makes each card just a little more special, encouraging the recipient to keep it for years. Cards are not just for events in other people’s lives, either. Many families like to send out yearly Christmas cards or cards to announce unexpected news (like a new addition to the family). If you and your family enjoy spreading information to those closest to you, consider parchment cardstock to make each and every card even more memorable.

DIY Decorations

It is easy to forget that cardstock is a great canvas on which to express your personal creativity. Parchment cardstock offers you the ability to create a decoration for the holidays or for the whole year and make your home just a little bit brighter. Cardstock works well because it is firm enough to stand up on its own, giving you the ability to write, draw, or paint whatever you like on a beautiful parchment background. Also remember that cardstock does not need to be kept in its original form or shape. You can easily cut up cardstock to make Christmas tree decorations or adornments to put somewhere special in your home. No matter what you choose to make, parchment cardstock is a great jumping-off point for beautiful DIY decorations!

Parchment Cardstock Colors

The “aged” look is what most often comes to mind when thinking about parchment paper or cardstock. While the beige, off-white aged coloration is a popular choice, it is certainly not the only one available. In fact, you can get parchment-style cardstock in various colors, including but not limited to:

• New white
• Spring green
• Smoke gray
• New champagne
• Natural cream
• Ice pink

As you can see, there is quite a bit of variety in parchment cardstock coloration. This gives you the ability to customize your cardstock based on your personal needs and style. You may want to use a natural cream color for a wedding invitation or an ice pink invitation for a children’s birthday party. Alternatively, you could use new white or spring green for holiday decorations, while you could use the “aged” look or natural cream for certificates or more formal cards. With parchment cardstock, the possibilities are virtually endless!

Ready to create your next DIY project or card using parchment cardstock? If so, be sure to check out our high-quality cardstock and paper on Fine Card Stock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!