Core'dinations Cardstock

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Reported by Julie Campbell

One of my favorite new products of 2008 is Core'dinations cardstock. Most cardstock on the market either has a white core or is solid all the way through. Core'dinations cardstock is unique because it has a core color which coordinates with the surface color. You can choose to keep that core color hidden, or add your own creative touch by sanding, tearing, or antiquing the cardstock.

Core'dinations is heavy weight (80 lb.) canvas-textured cardstock. It is acid/lignin free, so it's perfect for any of your paper crafting projects! There are several different product lines by Core'dinations.

• Core Essentials: This is your standard cardstock. The surface color is solid and has a coordinating core color.



• Black Magic: This cardstock has a black surface color and a colorful core.



• Vintage: This cardstock has been pre-sanded, and has a vintage, variegated color.



• The Chocolate Box: This is similar to the Black Magic line, except the surface layer comes in a variety of shades of brown. The core is colored.
  

The card below uses two shades of Vintage Core'dinations cardstock. I love how much texture it adds to my projects!

Stamped Images by: Cornish Heritage Farms (The Birds & The Bees)

One of the things I love to do is emboss and sand Core'dinations cardstock. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder below to create the pattern on my Black Magic cardstock and then sanded over the raised areas and along the edges. I tore the bottom of the cardstock to add even more texture. The blue cardstock is from the Vintage Collection. I sanded the edges to bring out more of the core color.

Stamped Images by: Cornish Heritage Farms (I Thee Wed)

Here are some suggestions from Core'dinations on how to best use their product:

• Tearing allows you to outline the surface color with the Core'dinating Core.

• For a wider torn section, pinch the paper between the thumb and forefinger of each hand where you want the tear to begin. As the paper begins to tear, do not reposition your fingers. Use the direction of pull to guide the torn edge.



• For a narrower tear line, pinch the paper between the thumb and forefinger of each hand where you want the tear to begin. Tear in increments of one inch and then reposition your fingers to follow the torn edge.

• Sanding removes the surface color on only the raised portions of the texture.
  

• For a rougher, worn look use a lower grit sandpaper - 100 grit or less. Remember, the lower the number the rougher the sand paper.



• For a more subtle, blended look, use a higher grit sandpaper, such as a 180 or 220 grit. Sanding the non-textured side of the cardstock with a higher grit will create a very blended, subtle look.

Antiquing combines both tearing and sanding with crumpling to add another level of dimension. Depending on the desired outcome, you can lightly crumple specific areas of the sheet or crumple the entire sheet into a ball. Flatten the sheet as desired, and sand the area you want to antique. For a more subtle look, flatten the sheet as much as possible prior to sanding. You can also use more advanced level techniques such as spritzing and heat flattening. Lightly spritzing the sheet with water prior to crumpling, then ironing on a low heat setting, will allow the sheet to flatten more. Crumpling and sanding the un-textured side of the cardstock will also create a more subtle look. Pros: This is a unique product that has both a surface color AND a coordinating core color. Textured cardstock gives projects a lot of visual interest. This cardstock emphasizes embossed, torn, and distressed areas. Core'dinations cardstock comes in a variety of colors and styles. Cardstock is substantial & heavy weight (80LB). Cons: Because this is a relatively new product, it can be difficult sometimes to find in your local scrapbook store. Cardstock has a coating on the surface that does not work well with all types of ink. StazOn inkpads and Pigment inks work very well and provide adequate coverage. Core'dinations Cardstock is a really fun product that adds a lot of texture and visual interest to your paper crafted projects. You can find this cardstock online at All That Scraps, Storage Units Ink, & Scrapbook.com. Have you tried this cardstock yet? Let us know if you have any questions, great ideas, or tried-and-true shopping locations! We'd love to hear from you!