Paper material guide
Construction paper
Construction Paper: read the 130 gsm examples and handling notes. Folding, cutting and glue tips. Find craft uses, sheet sizes and weight equivalents.
130 gsmFolds: Simple foldsBest for: Cut-outs and chains
Construction paper is coloured pulp formed into a craft sheet. Products include sulphite paper and recycled paper, with colour carried through the sheet rather than only printed on top.
- Typical weight
- 130 gsm
- US lb · calculated at the named basis
- 87.8 lb text equivalent (25 × 38 in, 500 sheets)
Weights to look for
A useful craft example is Folia’s 130 gsm coloured paper. US construction-paper packs use other weights; a bare lb number without its basic sheet size is not enough to compare them.
Folding, creasing, cutting and gluing
- Fold
- Good for broad accordion folds and simple shapes. Its bulk builds up quickly in a folded cutting packet.
- Crease
- Press once with a smooth tool; repeated reversals can roughen the crease. Score thicker sheets gently.
- Cut
- Works well for bold silhouettes. Use thinner paper for the twelve-layer snowflake packets.
- Glue
- Glue stick works for flat collage; a small amount of PVA holds overlapping tabs. Avoid soaking the absorbent sheet.
What to make
Try connected paper dolls or the simple bat silhouette. Keep the bridges broad when making a chain.
Common sheet and pack sizes
School packs include 9 × 12 inch sheets; European coloured craft paper includes A4 and 50 × 70 cm.