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Glitter Cardstock-Tips And Ideas




All About Glitter Paper

There are different types of glitter cardstock and each of them have specific uses. 

  • There are 6" by 6" glitter cardstock pads. These are perfect if you want a variety of colors and will use them for smaller projects. 
  • You can also find single colors packs in 8.5inches by 11 inches. These are really useful if you are planning a special event with a prominent color.

Thin Glitter Cardstock

This type of glitter cardstock has very fine glitter in a thinner paper. The glitter is almost bonded to the paper. In this type of paper there is very little shedding of the glitter when you cut it. The weight of this paper is similar to patterned paper. You might want to use this paper for intricate die cuts.

How You Can Use Glitter Cardstock

There is nothing better than a holiday greeting card with some glitter paper to add fun to your design. Think about the reds, golds, greens and silvers on a Christmas card. A touch of orange on a Halloween card. How about some pastels for Easter for spring celebrations? Or the blues and pinks for a baby card. Add elegance to a wedding with some glitter paper. But it is not only for aa greeting card. It can also be used for decor for a specular occasion.

Greeting Card Inspiration

  • Use your glitter cardstock to create borders for your cards
  • Add glitter cardstock letters and sentiments to plain cards
  • Create glitter cardstock layers 
  • Die cut shapes and decor for your cards

Party And Holiday Decor

  • Make banners, garland or cupcake toppers
  • Create glitter snowflakes, hearts, leaves and other seasonal decor for tables and walls
  • Use as a backing for photos, booth props and place cards

Scrapbook Projects

  • Use glitter paper for frames, corner accents or tiles
  • Create mats for photos and layer with plain cardstock
  • Create shapes and sprinkle them over the page


Combo Colors For Glitter Paper

Here are some combinations for colors of glitter papers that go well together 
  1. Gold glitter paper and navy-blue plain cardstock-elegant and rich look for weddings and other celebrations.
  2. Silver glitter paper and pastel plain cardstock-modern and airy especially for wedding and baby showers. A fun spring celebration like easter will be extra special with glitter paper.
  3. Rainbow glitter paper and white cardstock-bright and playful. A fun idea for children birthday parties.
  4. Gold glitter and black cardstock-bold and elegant. Think about new year's celebrations.
  5. Rose gold glitter paper and blush or ivory cardstock-soft and romantic. Wedding come to mind
  6. Champagne glitter cardstock and taupe or kraft cardstock. rustic chic. Again perfect for a country even.

Types Of Glitter Cardstock

Smooth Glitter Cardstock



This cardstock is smooth to the touch. The glitter is sealed under a clear coating. The glitter never flakes off! The finish is shiny, often glossy or metallic. Best for die cutting and card fronts.

This kind of cardstock is perfect for projects like invitations and scrapbook pages. It is very easy to cut.

Textured (Chunky) Glittered Cardstock

This is a rough glitter cardstock. You actually can feel the glitter. It is a bit more likely to shed. It has a very sparkly and dimensional finish. It combines the durable quality of cardstock with the reflective quality of the glitter. 

 Best for bold accents, lettering and backgrounds that stand out. Avoid using it for any kind of intricate die cuts or use with electronic cutting machines. It will spoil your blade.


Holographic Glittered Cardstock


This glitter cardstock can be smooth or lightly textured. It reflects color when light hits it. Unlike standard glitter cardstock that reflects a single color, this cardstock reflects rainbows od color. 
Best for modern greeting cards and kid's party decor. Pair it with white or darker colors to make the glitter paper pop.


Iridescent Glitter Cardstock


This paper is either smooth or semi smooth. It has a subtle color shift. The shift is often pastel tones with a pearly type of sheen. It uses a high-quality glitter in a single sided design that prevents shedding. It is also acid and lignin free which makes it perfect for scrapbooks and journals. 
It can be used for die cutting, especially where the design is intricate. 
Best for fairy, baby and wedding decor. 


Adhesive Backed Glitter Cardstock



The texture is smooth and slightly textured. It comes with an adhesive backing that peels off. You can make your own glitter stickers with these papers. Plus, they stick to your project without a mess. 
Best use is with detailed die cuts, lettering and stickers. 


Double Sided Glitter Cardstock



Both sides are glittered usually with a fine glitter. it is elegant and polished from every angle. It is a sturdy paper that can hold embellishments. It is compatible with most die cutting machines. You will want to make a test cut before you make your project just to be safe.
Good for ornaments, three D projects, and paper flowers.


Fine (Micro) Glitter Cardstock



This is a very smooth and ultra fine type of glitter paper. This is a really good microfine glitter that adheres well without shedding. It is known for its smooth surface and high-quality glitter which makes it a popular choice for paper crafters.
It is an elegant and refined type of sparkle. Good for die cutting detailed shapes, words and embellishments. Goos choice for greeting cards, scrapbooks and journals.

Medium Glitter Cardstock



This cardstock has more stability and is heavier than the thinner version. It is a thicker and sturdier paper with the glitter on one side.  It would be comparable to an 80-85 lb. cardstock. 
It still will cut well. But if you are using an electronic cutting machine and a mat, it may leave a few glitter specks.


Heavier Glitter Cardstock



So, this is the heavier version used for projects where you need the paper t stand on its own like a cake topper. It would be compatible to a cardstock of about 100-110 lb. weight. It is made to stand more wear and tear. The heavier weight means that the glitter will not shed easily. 
 It will cut well. But intricate shapes would be more difficult. It has a rougher texture and may have a bit of glitter shedding. Great for decor and greeting cards.

Glitter Cardstock Tips

  • There is a slight opening between the peel off strips where the glitter may not adhere. But it is a small inconvenience. that you can work around.
  • You may want to work in a three-sided box to help contain the glitter from getting all over the place. Just lay newspaper in the box, then your larger piece
  • Keep a lint roller handy! It helps you pick up any runaway glitter.
  • Make sure to use the brayer or bone folder to make sure all the glitter is moved onto the paper. You could use a rolling pin or even a ruler too. 
  • You want to use a good strong wet glue when you are adhering glitter cardstock to any project.
  • When you are using cover dies or background dies, make sure to run them through your die cutting machine at least twice.
  • When cleaning a die cut, use a pokey tool. Turn the die cut over to see the cut lines better.

Glitter Cardstock Die Cuts

One of my favorite ways to use glitter cardstock is to make die cuts. They add a little special something to not only your greeting cards, but also your scrapbook pages, tags and even journals. You can make backgrounds, embellishments, sentiments, and a whole lot more.




How To Work With Glitter Paper



  • Using Sharp Tools-It is very important to use sharp tools when cutting any type of glitter paper. So, your scissors or craft knife must have a sharp edge to avoid fraying the edges of the paper. You want to have smooth sharp edges on your paper to keep the paper from fraying wherever you use it. If you use scissors to cut glitter cardstock, you may want to set a specific pair aside just for that purpose. That way all of your scissors will not get dull. 
  • Cut From The Back Side-Especially on the heavier or chunky glitter card stock, it is important to cut from the back side of the paper. It keeps your cuts cleaner and causes the blades of your cutting tools to stay sharper.
  • Glue carefully-Use a strong double-sided tape, Strong glue dots, or even hot glue to avoid warping of the paper.
  • Mix Textures-Pair your glitter cardstock with matte, metallic or patterned cardstock for depth and balance.
  • Avoid Over Sparkling-Use glitter paper as an accent rather than a complete cover of a project 


Cutting Glitter Cardstock

Cutting glitter cardstock can be tricky because of the thickness, texture, and the coatings on some of these papers. But with the right tools, you can get clean crisp edges for all of your projects. 

Cutting By Hand

What You Need:
  • A sharp craft knife or heavy-duty scissors
  • Metal ruler or a straight edge
  • Self-healing cutting mat
  • Pencil for marking (always mark on the back size)
  1. Flip the paper over. Mark and cut the paper to the size you need using the ruler and the pencil. That makes it smoother and easier to see the marks.
  2. Score before you cut the paper. Use light pressure with your knife to once or twice
  3. Cut in passes. Do not try to slice through the paper in one go. Make two to three light passes for a cleaner edge. 
  4. Clean up the edges. If the glitter frays, gently rub along the cutting lines with a fine nail file or fine sandpaper.

Cutting Glitter Cardstock With A Paper Trimmer

  1. Use a guillotine cutter for the best results. It handles the paper better.
  2. Only do one sheet at a time so that you do not dull your blade.
  3. Place the glitter side down so that you do not tear the paper
  4. Sharpen or replace the blades often as these papers may dull the blade.

Using An Electronic Cutting Machine

Cricut Settings
  1. Use the glitter cardstock presetting (or set to heavy cardstock)
  2. Use a sharp or new fine point blade.
  3. Use the default pressure setting or "more" if it in not cutting through.
  4. Use the strong (purple) grip mat.
  5. Place the glitter side down on the mat.
  6. Always make sure to do a test run on the paper you are using before cutting the project. 


Silhouette Settings For Cutting Glitter Cardstock

  1. Blade should be manual (5-7 deep cut)
  2. Speed should be 2-3
  3. Thickness setting is 33-35
  4. Passes should be set to 2

Cutting Tips For Glitter Cardstock

  • Tape the corners of the glitter cardstock if it does not stick well
  • Avoid cheap glitter cardstock. It sheds glitter and will clog blades
  • Use a lint roller to clean surfaces, mats and tools.
  • Store cut pieces flat. They can warp.

Creating Your Own Glitter Cardstock

Have you ever created your own glitter paper? It is really not that difficult. And you can get a lot of die cuts from one package of sticker paper. This is just part of my collection from a recent paper making project. I learned a lot of tips and tricks which I will give you in this post.

There are only few things that you need to create your glitter paper. 
  • Double sided adhesive paper
  • Fine glitter in the color of your choice
  • Bone folder or a brayer
  • Cardstock
  • Newspaper or something to cover your work area.
Make sure that you turn off any fans in the area that you are working in. Otherwise, you may have glitter flying around. 
  1. Spread the newspaper or over covering on your workspace.
  2. Place a 12" by 12" piece of cardstock on the work area.
  3. Place a letter size piece of cardstock on the larger piece.
  4. Remove the backing from one side of the adhesive sheet.
  5. Carefully place and line up the adhesive sheet on the smaller piece of paper
  6. Cut off any excess adhesive paper. Set the backing aside.
  7. Use the brayer or the bone folder to rub the adhesive sheet onto the cardstock.
  8. Remove the backing off the front of the adhesive sheet, now adhered to the cardstock.
  9. Set aside the backing.
  10. Sprinkle the fine glitter onto the adhesive sheet covering the entire sheet.
  11. Place the backing on top of the glitter covered sheet.
  12. Use the brayer or bone folder to rub the glitter onto the sheet.
  13. Remove the backing from the glitter sheet.
  14. Lift the glitter sheet and tap any extra glitter off the sheet onto the larger piece of cardstock.
  15. Use the larger cardstock like a funnel to put the excess glitter back into its container.
  16. Die cut or use as needed.
Here is another option for making your glitter cardstock. There are several different ways to get the job done



Super Quick Glitter Paper

This is another idea to help you create a super quick piece of glitter paper. This will help you create a smaller piece of budget friendly glitter paper in a color that you need for a specific project

  • Cardstock
  • White PVA or school glue
  • Wise foam brush or other brush
  • Scrap paper (the same size as the cardstock)
  • Fine or medium glitter
  • Brayer or bone folder
  1. Place some newspapers or other non-stick material (like parchment or wax paper) on your work surface.
  2. Place the cardstock on your work surface.
  3. Spread the glue over the cardstock with the foam brush evenly.
  4. Cover the cardstock completely with the glitter.
  5. Place the scrap paper over the glitter paper.
  6. Rub the glitter into the paper with the brayer or bone folder.
  7. Lift the paper and tap off any loose glitter. 
  8. Let it dry and enjoy using your paper. 

Did You Know That You Can Add Color To Glitter Cardstock?





Now, I am off to create with my glitter die cuts. What would you make with your DIY glitter paper? As always, we would love to hear your ideas, thoughts and suggestions.



Till next time, Happy Crafting!

Linda



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