Cardstock is a general term for a type of thick paper that falls between paper and cardboard. It is widely used in handicrafts due to its hard texture, smooth surface, bright colors, and intricate finish. Cardstock is easy to shape, but because it is relatively stiff, creases, scratches, and curls are very noticeable and difficult to erase.
There are many techniques for working with cardstock, including weaving, cutting out, and interlocking. Besides paper relief and paper strip art, there are many other forms of artwork such as cardstock weaving and 3D cardstock model making.
Paper relief is a new type of fine paper art. It involves cutting paper into suitable shapes and then using techniques such as turning, folding, raising, lowering, bending, cutting, and crumpling to create a three-dimensional effect and sense of depth. Creating a paper relief mainly includes three steps: designing the image, cutting out the shape, and gluing it into shape.
Cardstock is also often used to make strip collages. The basic steps involve cutting out several strips of paper about 1.5cm wide. To soften paper strips, place one end of the cut strip on a pen barrel, press it down with your right thumb, and pull the strip with your left hand. The pulled strip will naturally form a spiral shape. Then, fold the strip into the desired shape and glue it in place.
When working with cardstock, be careful to avoid getting your hands pricked or cut by the corners or edges. Cardstock is thick and stiff; if you need to overlap the strips, do not exceed four layers. When using cardstock, pay attention to the smoothness and neatness of the cut lines; for complex shapes, outline them first. Also, ensure that the colors of each part of the artwork are well-matched.