I found the Jennifer Maker blog today.
Her page on the best types of paper for different crafts goes into a lot of useful detail and is worth a read, but I found her summary table useful as a quick reference guide.
| Type | Paper Weights | Paper Colors | Best Crafts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy Paper | Medium: 20–24 lb. (75-90 gsm) | Whites, pastels, brights | Origami, Folded Paper Crafts, Quilling |
| Patterned Paper | Medium: 20–60 lb. (75-90 gsm) | Colored patterns | Scrapbooking, cards |
| Card Stock | Thick: 80–100 lb. (218–271 gsm) | Any color | 3-D crafts, boxes, bags, cards, cut-outs, models |
| Cardboard | Very Thick: 50lb.+ (130+ gsm) | Gray, brown, colors | 3-D crafts, sculptures, models, cards |
| Kraft Paper | Thick: 80–100 lb. (218–271 gsm) | Gray, brown, colors | Patterns, budget-friendly and school crafts |
| Textured Paper | Medium/Thick: 24–80 lb. (90–218 gsm) | Any color | 3-D crafts, cards, scrapbooking |
| Metallic Paper | Thick: 80–115 lb. (210–280 gsm) | Metallic/pearlescent colors | Rolled flowers, 3-D sculptures, models, cards |
| Gloss Paper | Medium/Thick: 24–80 lb. (90–218 gsm) | Any color | Cards, crafts that mimic something shiny |
| Marbled Paper | Medium: 80 lb. (218 gsm) | Swirled colors | Bookmaking, scrapbooking, cards, invitations |
| Crepe Paper | Thin/Medium: 15–72 lb. 60-180 gsm | Virtually any color | Paper flowers, pom-poms, butterflies, paper sculptures, piñatas, wedding decor, wreaths, bouquets, and appliqué |
| Vellum | Thin/Medium: 17 lb. – 48 lb. (60–118 gsm) | Whites, golds, silvers, some colors | Cards, invitations, scrapbooking, transferring images |
| Watercolor Paper | Medium/Thick: 90–300 lb. (245+ gsm) | Natural white, bright white | Paper flowers and plants, pinwheels, lanterns, illustrations, paintings |
| Rag Paper | Medium/Thick: 90–300 lb. (245+ gsm) | White, off-white, pastels | Paper flowers and plants, long-lasting things |
| Adhesive Paper | Medium: 20 lb., 60 lb. (75, 90 gsm) | White, clear, colors | Stickers, signs, labels |
| Foil Paper | Medium/Thick: 30 lbs, 45 lb., 60 lb. | Metallic colors | 3-D crafts, embossing, relief crafts |
| Rice Paper | Thin: 40-100 gsm | White, colors | Decoupage, lanterns, origami |
| Tissue Paper | Very Thin: 20–24 gsm | Colors | Pom-poms, tassels, piñatas, lanterns, overlays |
