Hello! Today’s blog post and video focus on different types of cardstock for hot foil stamping. I’ve seen numerous comments and questions online, on Facebook, on Instagram, and also here on my blog asking why the hot foil stamping doesn’t work, why won’t it foil perfectly, why am I not getting good foil coverage, what am I doing wrong?
The answer is: you are not doing anything wrong.
You are simply using the incorrect type of paper for your project. This simple realization took me quite a long time to figure out; when I just started using my Glimmer Hot Foil System from Spellbinders I was told that it is best to foil on smooth, non-textured paper. And this is the rule I went by for a very long time. While this rule is certainly true, there is much more to it. Keep reading to learn more.
If you’ve been making cards for some time now, you might know that there are different types of papers for different types of projects. For example, if you want to work with alcohol markers, there is specialty Copic marker paper that is designed to work with alcohol markers to give you the best results. The same goes for watercolor, there is watercolor paper to give you the best watercolor results. The same goes for alcohol inks, there is the best paper for that; there are specialty papers for ink blending, and so on.
So when you think about it, all of these techniques require the right tools, the best tools, to get the job done, to give you the best results. The same applies to hot foil stamping. You can’t just take any paper and expect to have perfect results. No. You need to pick the best paper for this particular job. It is that simple, but it is vital.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.
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Over my 3 years working with the Glimmer Hot Foil System I’ve found several types of paper that work best when it comes to hot foiling. I am sure there are still many other papers to discover, and I’m sure I’ll discover more papers in the future, but for now – these are the papers that I’ve found work the best for hot foil stamping.
For the sake of this demonstration, I picked one glimmer plate and foiled it in the same color of foil on all papers. The plate I picked is the Polka Dot Strip and the reason I picked it is because it has a lot of solid space and usually the more solid the plate is, the harder it is to get a perfect foiled result using it. I also used the snarky hearts plates – they are just as solid, and they make for a great test plate for this demo.
I am testing 7 papers in this video. If there are papers you’d like me to test, leave me a comment below, I’ll try to purchase that paper, test it and share my findings in a 2nd episode of “Best Cardstock for Hot Foil Stamping”.
NEENAH SOLAR WHITE 80LB 7 110LB CARDSTOCK
Overall, this is my least favorite paper to foil on. This paper is okay if you need to foil a thin line sentiment, but not my first choice for anything more substantial. Sometimes, even the thin line sentiments don’t foil too well on Neenah. Neenah is fantastic paper for stamping, for the card bases, even for coloring, but it just doesn’t work for hot foiling.
My rating: 2 out of 5.
YUPO PAPER
Yupo will give you a foiled result that looks so incredible, you’ll think it was professionally done. To me, Yupo is one of the best papers to foil on.
My rating: 5 out of 5
TONIC STUDIOS CRAFT PERFECT ULTRA SMOOTH CARDSTOCK
The name of this paper intrigued me as you do need something perfectly smooth, the smoother the surface of the paper the better. But this paper didn’t quite stand to the test. It is great cardstock for all sorts of things, hot foiling is simply not one of them. It foiled about the same as did the Neenah Solar White. I’d say this paper is good for foiling small, thin line sentiments.
My rating: 2 out of 5.
SIMON SAYS STAMP 120LB & 130LB CARDSTOCK
Next, I tested Simon Says Stamp White 120lb cardstock (Ultra Thick White), this paper is super smooth. The results you’ll have with this paper are nearly perfect, almost as good as on Yupo Paper. This is fantastic paper to foil on. There are minor imperfections, but overall I am very pleased with this cardstock and with the foiled results I can get when using it.
My rating: 4 out of 5
Next, I tested Simon Says Stamp White 130lb cardstock (Mega Thick), this is the one I typically reach for when I want to foil something. This paper is almost as good as Yupo, but it is cheaper compared to Yupo and the results are almost as good. Because of how thick this paper is, you also have a letterpressed effect with the foil being pressed deep into the paper. It has a nice tactile feeling and looks very professional.
My rating: 4 out of 5
GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER
Next, I ventured into a different territory and foiled on glossy photo paper. There are all sorts of photo papers out there, different brands, different thicknesses, I used 2 kinds of glossy photo paper from ColorWay. One is thinner and it is almost a bit see thought. It also has a blue tint to it, compared to Simon Says Stamp 130lb cardstock. The other photo paper is a bit thicker, not see-through, and not quite as blue, but not like the Simon Says Stamp 130lb cardstock.
This paper is somewhat tricky to use. Because of the top coating this paper has, I have found you need to add a sheet of printer paper to your glimmer machine to protect the photo paper. If you don’t add the printer paper, the heat from the glimmer machine will affect the coating on the photo paper and the photo paper will stick to the glimmer platform surface.
This paper foils like butter! The glossy photo paper is somewhat similar to Yupo paper.
My rating: 5 out of 5
There are slight difficulties when using this paper. It is very different from regular cardstock. If you tape something onto this paper, you won’t be able to completely remove the tape, no matter how low tack it is, it will sort of melt into the surface of the paper and will leave a dirty mark. This paper also behaves differently when you ink blend or stamp on it. So something to keep in mind.
This experiment shows you that paper matters a great deal. The smoother the paper, the better results you will have. Specialty papers, such as Yupo or Glossy Photo paper will give you the best results even the using the trickiest foil plates.
Leave me a comment below and let me know if there are papers you’d like me to test, I’ll try to purchase that paper, test it and share my findings in a 2nd episode of “Best Cardstock for Hot Foil Stamping”.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Yupo Paper Various Shop at: SSS | SC | TS |
 ColorWay High Glossy ColorWay Photo Paper Shop at: AZ |
 Simon Says Stamp White Cardstock 120LB Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Mega Thick White Cardstock 130# Shop at: SSS |
 Neenah 80LB Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Tonic White Ultra Smooth Card Craft Perfect Cardstock Shop at: SSS | TS |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System Shop at: SSS | SC | SB | AZ |
 Spellbinders Quick Trimmer Shop at: SSS | SC | SB | AZ |
 Spellbinders Quick Trimmer Replacement Blades Shop at: SSS | SC | SB | AZ |
 Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS | SC | SB | AZ |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Roll – Polished Brass Shop at: SSS | SC | SB | AZ |
 Spellbinders Polka Dot Strip Glimmer Hot Foil Plates Shop at: SSS | SC | SB | AZ |
 Spellbinders Snarky Hearts Glimmer Hot Foil Plate & Die Set Shop at: SB |
Great comparison thanks Yana – I’d been disheartened with the results I was getting with Neenah and thought it was just me. I’d be interested to see the effects on strathmore Bristol smooth and Brutus Munroe not your mamas cardstock.
This was so helpful and super informative on the different papers. So often, we wonder what happened when our foiling isn’t a success. Now I know it is the paper and will try your tips. Thank you.
In addition to knowing more about colored stock I’d like to see Accent Opaque White 8.5” x 11” Cardstock Paper, 100lb, 271gsm since many folks are using it. Thanks
You probably already know since this is quite old but I have used the accent opaque and was not pleased with the results. If you’re looking for a distressed look than look no further.
Very helpful. What is the best color card stock papers to foil on???
Thank you so very much for this video. I’m going to try out your recommendations❤️
Very interesting! Another, “duh” moment, right? Paper matters!
How does the Spellbinders colored card stock compare to other 80# paper?
What about the Brutus Monroe “Not Your Mama’s Paper” and Bristol Smooth?
I will definitely keep this in mind when using any of the “more solid” hot foil plates.
Thank you!!
Thank you so much. I never thought to try different paper. Fantastic video.
A fantastic, detailed and extremely informative video containing Information/comparisons that I have not seen before. Thank you for sharing this information! I would be interested to know about vellum brands and other information you have discovered since doing your earlier videos on hot foiling.
How does the Spellbinders new Glimmer Paper foil???
Eye opener video, Yana. I need to remember to try different media if my results are not what I want and experiment to see what might work better. I really enjoyed your video, and am looking forward to your next installment. Thank you so much for taking the time to pull all this together. This one’s a 5!!
I’m curious if alcohol ink card stock or glossy card stock would work. I think they’re very similar.
I checked SSS and there were different Yupo papers! Which one to get?
I’m just starting out with hot foiling. Although I’ve been a card maker for years, I’ve never hit foiled. I am anxiously waiting for my machine. I use Stampin up white Cardstock for card making. Will I have good results with that?