Whats the difference between cardstock and coloured paper?

Ive decided that i want to make a graduation-themed scrapbook, and since ive never made a scrapbook before i have no idea how. Today i went out and bought the scrapbook itself, plus coloured scrapbook paper and stickers.

Cardstock is a heavier paper than, say, writing paper. It is usually not see-through and if it is made for scrapbooks, it should be acid free, lignin free and buffered so it doesn't damage your photos over time. Coloured paper may have lignin in it (the substance from the paper pulp that turns yellow and brittle with age - think old newspapers) so if you want your photos to last over the years and not change colour or be damaged, it is good to choose papers and embellishments and adhesives that will not harm your photos.

Here is some more information about papers and adhesives:

http://www.papercraftcentral.com/acid-free-lignin-free-buffered.html
http://www.papercraftcentral.com/papercraft-adhesives.html

You could use the coloured paper as long as it doesn't touch the photos?

About chipboard letters - I have used them 'raw' but I also like to dress them up with designer paper (slightly thinner than cardstock and it usually has designs on it) or paint or glitter or sanding blocks. I have also used the 'negative' space created when you punch out a letter and have backed them with cardstock then filled these in with beads, little buttons, threads, glitter etc.

Here's an album where the maker has used chipboard letters as tabs on the pages as well as decorating the with opal powders:

http://www.papercraftcentral.com/baby-boy-photo-album.html

It really does depend on the look you want

HTH!

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