Which is the Best White Cardstock for Stamping

It's all in the paper...and the inks and stamps and layouts...but it all starts with the right paper.  Especially when you use solid image stamps.  Design Team Member Kate is here to test three of our most popular white papers and determine which is the best white cardstock for stamping.

Supplies:  

• Neenah Classic Crest in Solar White
• Bazzill Smoothies in Coconut Swirl
• Bazzill Card Shoppe in Marshmallow
• Background paper Doodlebug Design
• Black foil by Grafix
• Stamp: Painted Rose from Concord and 9th
• Inks from Stampin' Up!

A few notes:

* I inked up each stamp 2 times using Stampin’ Up! Inks (using my Misti stamping platform)

* Most inks (Like Stampin' Up!, Concord and 9th, Catherine Pooler, etc.) smooth out as they are drying so your first look may not be exactly how it looks when dry.

So here are my results after test stamping on several types of white cardstock...

If you are looking for a 100% smooth image, then Neehah Classic Crest in Solar White should be your paper of choice.  It produces a smooth, solid image.

The stamped line art is super crisp and ink doesn't bleed much on this paper.

Next would be the Bazzill Smoothies and then the Bazzill Card Shoppe.  But don’t discount the last two!  Sometimes you may want a less solid image, like if you were making a vintage looking card.  

The Bazzill Smoothies is a brighter white than the Bazzill Card Shoppe.  Images still stamp well, but just aren't quite as crisp as Neenah Classic Crest. Bazzill Smoothies is 80# weight so it is similar in thickness to the Neenah.

The Bazzill Card Shoppe is 100# weight, much thicker than the other two options and thick enough to be a card base on its own, so you can stamp on it to make a one layer card. 

As you can see, the ink did not soak in in some spots resulting in a more distressed, vintage look. 

So which is the best white cardstock for stamping?

Neenah Classic Crest has long been the favorite cardstock of stampers, and it DOES produce the crispest images. But, each paper has it's own great qualities, so you may want all three in your arsenal!

-Kate

Want more cardstock testing with stamps. Check this out!