You're doing some projects with your rubber stamps and you want to know what paper you can use...
This article goes into the various aspects of your choice to help keep your stamped image intact.
You can use a huge range of different patterned paper when you're making cards, however there are some considerations you need to think about before you use them with your rubber stamps.
You can get relatively inexpensive patterned paper at your various local craft stores or even at office goods stores.
You can also get handmade or imported sheets which can become quite costly.
It can come in a whole variety of different sizes as well, not just your standard 8.
5 x 11 inches.
For card making you can even use unlikely items such as napkins, place-mats, origami paper, old sheet music, pages from old books, magazines, doilies, printed gift wrap, foils and other items.
However, not all these are ideal to use with rubber stamps.
Your first consideration when picking your paper is to determine whether its surface is coated or uncoated.
If it has a protective coating, then that will allow it to repel liquids, or in the case of rubber stamping, your ink.
While this doesn't mean it's impossible to stamp onto coated surfaces, it does mean you'll probably need to emboss the ink for the image to retain its shape.
This is especially true if you're using pigment inks, however even dye inks don't dry quickly on the coated surface.
So if you don't emboss it, you will need to be very careful about handling or coloring the image before it is completely dry.
To work out whether what you've selected is coated or not, look closely at its surface.
The coating often gives it a glossy look and feel, although sometimes they can also have a matte finish.
Remember the coating can be on one or both sides.
If you want to ensure your stamped image lasts for a long time to come, then you're going to want to select the archival or acid-free varieties.
Paper can become acidic because of items used while it was being manufactured, or due to the environment it was created in, so be sure to check the details before you buy it.
Most packs now-a-days will state they are "archival quality" or "acid-free" on them.
I hope you enjoy looking through the large range of patterned paper available for your card making project!