Paper

Altenew makes two paper lines: Crafty Necessities cardstock and watercolour paper. As of July 30, 2026 the store lists 192 cardstock products.

Crafty Necessities cardstock

Heavyweight cardstock with a smooth surface, in colours matched to Altenew ink families. Colours include Azurite, Soft Lilac, Buttercream, and Velvet.

The colour matching is the point. A card base and the ink used to stamp on it can be specified as a pair, rather than approximated.

Sold in packs of 10 sheets.

Watercolour paper

Cold-pressed watercolour paper at 300 gsm, made for techniques that put a lot of water on the page.

Altenew also sells watercolour sketchbooks in the same weight.

Why paper choice matters

Paper is not neutral. Surface porosity governs how ink absorbs and how evenly it blends.

This is the most common reason a blending technique works for one person and fails for another using the same ink and brush.

Altenew's guidance for ink blending and layering is smooth, bright white cardstock between 80 lb and 120 lb.

What each paper does not do

Textured or heavily coated stock fights fine detail. A layered stamp set that depends on crisp registration will lose definition on it.

Watercolour paper is built for water load, not for crisp stamped detail. Its surface texture works against fine line work.