Types of Craft Paper – 15 Best Paper & Uses for You

Learn about the different types of craft paper! Some papers are designed to fold easily, while others provide the strength needed for cards, boxes, signs, or wet media. This guide covers 15 common types of craft paper, their main characteristics, and the projects they’re best suited for so you can choose the right paper for your next craft.

Types of Craft Paper (Quick Guide)

Different types of craft paper are suited to different techniques. If you’re looking for a particular finish or purpose, these are some good places to start:

• For cards and sturdy crafts: Cardstock
• For kids’ crafts: Construction paper
• For paper flowers: Crepe paper
• For folding: Origami paper
• For scrapbooking: Scrapbook paper or cardstock
• For transparent layers: Vellum
• For gift wrapping: Kraft or tissue paper
• For decoupage: Decoupage or tissue paper
• For watercolor painting: Watercolor paper
• For signs and displays: Poster board

What Is Craft Paper?

Craft paper is a general term for papers used in arts, crafts, and decorative projects rather than one specific type of paper. It includes everything from lightweight tissue and origami paper to heavier options such as cardstock and poster board. These papers differ in weight, texture, finish, flexibility, and absorbency, which is why some are better suited to particular techniques than others.

Features of Craft Paper

When you’re trying to understand the different types of craft papers on the market, you will also need to know what features make them different. Below, we’ll go through just that, and hopefully, it will help you with your next crafting project.

1. Weight – The weight of the paper is how thick or thin the craft paper will be. Usually, it’s calculated in grams but you don’t necessarily need to know the exact numbers. Just knowing how thick or thin your paper needs to be, will be good enough. Thinner papers are more fragile but fold better while thicker papers will last a long time but will be a lot harder to fold.
2. Coating – The coating on a paper determines the texture of a craft paper. If the paper has no coating on it, it will have a rougher texture while papers with coating on them will have a smoother finish. Coated paper comes in glossy and matte finishes.
3. Opacity – Opacity describes how much light passes through the paper. If you’re making crafts that require thicker papers, you will have more opacity while with thinner paper or Vellum paper you will have a more transparent finish to it.
4. Brightness – You wouldn’t normally think that there may be a brightness scale for paper, but there is! Brightness refers to how much light the paper reflects. Brighter white papers can make printed colors appear more vivid, while warmer or less bright papers can produce a softer appearance.

Types of Craft Paper

There is no right or wrong when it comes to crafting, but just like any other thing in your life, you will be much better off knowing which type of craft paper can help you make your craft a success. Below, we list the most common types of craft paper you can find in the markets nowadays. These paper types are broken down, so it is easy for you to pinpoint exactly what you need. In reality, craft paper types can be categorized into 7-8 broad types.

1. Construction Paper

Now, these are the types of craft paper we are most familiar with, as we have seen them since childhood and probably used to make some school crafts.

Construction paper is great for children’s crafts because it is inexpensive and comes in all the colors you could ever want. It does have a rougher texture, which tends to make it harder to fold. The color of construction paper tends to fade over time, so it isn’t for crafts that you may want to keep.

2. Crepe Paper

Crepe paper is a lightweight paper with a distinctive crinkled surface that gives it some stretch and flexibility. It comes in numerous colors and is particularly useful when you need to shape a project rather than simply fold.

BEST USES: It’s a popular choice for paper flowers, party decorations, streamers, and piñatas. NOTE: Heavier, higher-quality crepe paper generally provides more stretch and structure for detailed flowers, while lighter varieties work well for simple decorations and children’s crafts.

3. Cardstock

One of the most popular types of craft paper, cardstock, is easy to find and comes in a million different colors and textures. Nowadays, you can even find cardstock with different patterns and designs on it. It is a medium-weight paper, which means it is heavier than printer paper and lighter than cardboard.

BEST USES: Cardstock is most popularly used for scrapbooking, cards, and handmade boxes.

4. Kraft Paper

Kraft paper has become popular in the past few years as a minimal and edgy way to wrap your presents. Apart from being an economical wrapping paper, kraft paper also works great for different crafts. You can bleach this coarse brown paper or buy it in bleached sheets or rolls from the art store.

BEST USES: These types of craft paper are great for making cards, scrapbooking, and even creating minimal floral crafts.

5. Newsprint

Newsprint is the lightweight, inexpensive paper traditionally used for newspapers. Its low cost makes recycled newspapers particularly useful for crafts where you need a large amount of paper without spending much.

BEST USES: Newsprint tears easily and absorbs glue and paste well, making it useful for paper mâché, collages, practice projects, and other crafts where durability isn’t the main requirement.

6. Mulberry Paper

A unique offering in this list, Mulberry paper is a lightweight decorative paper known for its visible fibers and distinctive handmade appearance. Depending on the variety, it may have a soft, textured surface and irregular or deckled edges.

BEST USES: Owing to its coarse texture and organic look, Mulberry paper is great for collage, scrapbooking, card making, mixed-media projects, and decorative layering.

7. Scrapbook Paper

There are many types of craft paper marketed to serve one purpose but you can use for other crafts as well, and scrapbook paper is one of them. It comes in several patterns and designs, with some printed on one side only and some printed on both sides. Standard sizes are available in scrapbook paper, which you can always cut to the size you need.

BEST USES: Designed for scrapbooking, you can also utilize this paper for card making, bookmarks, paper decorations, collage, and other projects where you want to add a printed pattern.

8. Origami Paper

Origami paper is lightweight paper designed to fold cleanly and hold sharp creases without adding unnecessary bulk. It is commonly sold in precut squares and comes in solid colors, prints, metallic finishes, and traditional patterns.

BEST USES: Although designed for origami, its lightweight construction also makes it useful for folded decorations, paper shapes, collage, and other small paper crafts.

9. Tissue Paper

Tissue paper is a very thin, fragile craft paper that you can find easily in every craft store. It comes in many different colors and can be used for many different things. Because it is delicate and easy to layer, scrunch, or tear, tissue paper can create effects that are difficult to achieve with heavier papers.

BEST USES: Use tissue paper for gift wrapping, paper flowers, pom-poms, collages, decoupage, paper mâché, suncatchers, and lightweight party decorations.

10. Decoupage Paper

Decoupage has become a very popular craft in recent years and is the art of gluing different cut pieces of paper onto any object of your choice. This paper has a very thin weight, allowing it to conform more easily to the surface underneath. It’s also available in many prints, motifs, colors, and finishes.

BEST USES: Decoupage paper is useful for decorating boxes, furniture, ornaments, containers, and other craft projects.

11. Vellum Paper

Vellum paper is a very thin, translucent paper with a rough surface. Some vellum can also be printed on, but check that the paper is compatible with your printer first. Glassine paper is another type of similar craft paper, which is even thinner and very see-through.

BEST USES: This type of paper is usually used as a liner in invitation cards, as a minimal new-age greeting card, or in scrapbooking.

12. Washi Paper

A type of craft paper made in Japan valued for its strength, flexibility, and decorative appearance. Craft versions are available in many colors, textures, and printed designs. While it costs a little bit more than others in the market, the uniqueness makes it all worth it.

BEST USES: You can use washi paper for origami crafts, card making, scrapbooking, collage, book arts, and decorative paper crafts.

13. Poster Board

If you’re looking for craft paper with more body, a poster board is exactly what you need. Poster boards are thick and can stand on their own. They are available in different sizes, and you can choose thinner poster boards for costumes or thicker ones for school projects or signs.

BEST USES: These types of craft paper are ideal for signs, displays, school projects, costumes, presentation boards, and larger paper crafts.

14. Printer Paper

Printer paper is the simplest, widely available type of paper that has surprisingly great craft uses. It comes in many types, depending on the type of printer you have. Standard sheets are thin and easy to cut, fold, draw on, and print.

BEST USES: You can use these papers to paint, make floral arrangements, or make different shapes for décor around your home.

15. Watercolor Paper

Watercolor paper has a thicker feel and works great with water-based paints and dyes, thanks to its absorbent property. You can use these types of craft paper for many different crafts, and they are easy to find in sheets or pads.

BEST USES: Use it for watercolor painting, ink washes, mixed-media projects, painted cards, and paper crafts that involve a significant amount of water or wet media.

How to Choose Craft Paper

Choosing the right craft paper is easier when you think about what the paper needs to do rather than simply how it looks. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Consider the Structure: Use heavier paper or cardstock for cards, boxes, tags, and crafts that need to hold their shape. Choose lighter paper for folding, layering, or delicate decorations.
• Think About the Technique: Origami requires paper that folds cleanly, while watercolor needs an absorbent paper that can handle moisture. Crepe paper works better when the project requires stretching and shaping.
• Check the Surface: Smooth paper works well for clean printing, writing, and detailed cutting, while textured paper can add dimension to collage and mixed-media crafts.
• Consider the Finish: Glossy, metallic, translucent, or patterned papers can add decorative effects but may require different adhesives, pens, or printing methods.
• Test Unfamiliar Paper: Before cutting into an expensive sheet, test your glue, paint, ink, printer, or folding technique on a small piece.

Types of Craft Paper: Use Chart

Now that we’ve discussed the details of each type of craft paper and the factors to consider, here is an easy chart that will help you differentiate between them easily:

Types of Craft Paper	Texture	Weight	Uses
Construction Paper	Slightly rough	Light	School Crafts Projects, Kid’s Projects
Crepe Paper	Crinkled, stretchy	Light	Party Décor, Floral Arrangements, Pinatas
Cardstock	Smooth/Textured	Medium to heavyweight	Business Cards, Greeting Cards, Scrapbooking, Printed Projects
Kraft Paper	Coarse, natural	Varies	Wrapping, Recycled Projects, Kids’ Crafts
Newsprint	Soft, slightly rough	Light	Decoupage, Paper Mache Projects, Practice Projects
Mulberry Paper	Fibrous, textured	Light	Scrapbooking, Collage Work
Scrapbook Paper	Varies	Light to Medium	Scrapbooking, Bookmarks, Cards, Simple Card Crafts
Origami Paper	Usually smooth	Light	Origami Projects, Decoupage, Puppet Crafts
Tissue Paper	Thin, delicate	Very lightweight	Decoupage, Paper Mache Projects, Décor, Sun Catcher Crafts
Decoupage Paper	Thin; finish varies	Light	Decoupage Projects,
Vellum Paper	Smooth, translucent	Light	Liners for Invitations, Greeting Cards, Printed Projects
Washi Paper	Smooth or textured	Varies	Card Making, Scrapbooking, Origami, Wallpaper
Poster Board	Usually smooth	Heavy	Costumes, Signs, School Projects
Printer Paper	Smooth	Light	Folding Projects, Paper Flowers, Chain Crafts
Watercolor Paper	Smooth to textured	Heavy	Watercolor Paintings, Floral Décor, Simple Origami

Common Craft Paper Mistakes

Even when two papers look similar, they may behave very differently once you start cutting, folding, gluing, or painting.

• Choosing paper that’s too heavy for detailed folds. Thick cardstock can crack or become bulky when used for projects designed for lightweight folding paper.
• Using lightweight paper for structural projects. Thin paper may bend, curl, or collapse when used for boxes, freestanding decorations, or heavily embellished cards.
• Using too much wet glue on thin paper. Tissue, newsprint, and other lightweight papers can wrinkle, tear, or become oversaturated.
• Using ordinary paper for wet media. Printer and construction paper can buckle or deteriorate when heavily painted with watercolor or other water-based media.

Types of Craft Paper FAQs

Types of Craft Paper – In Conclusion

Understanding the different types of craft papers and what they can do for you can make both the crafting process and the finished result much better. Some craft papers are made with specific crafts in mind, while some have many versatile uses. You can make any craft paperwork for yourself but why go through the hassle when you have the handy chart in this post to help with your next project. Happy Crafting!

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