Chris' Review	Tammy's Review	Stephanie's Review	Donna's Review	Penny's Review

Review by Chris

After debuting their innovative color core cardstock in 2008, Core’dinations has continued to expand their product line. The two newest lines to be released are The Whitewash Collection and The Chocolate Box. Both of these collections maintain the colored core concept unique to this company.

The Whitewash Collection reminds me of old weathered houses on Cape Cod. The white surface has a canvas texture and when sanded reveals the colored core. Think of older homes where the paint has weathered and worn and the underneath layers of faded color are showing through. This is exactly the effect achieved with this cardstock. I received a padded collection of 20 assorted sheets of whitewash. The whitewash side is just that, a white wash over the color of the reverse side. This collection includes 20 different pastel colors in the full spectrum of the rainbow. The whitewash side carries just a tint of the solid color, giving a hint of what will happen when the crafter sands, tears or distresses the paper.

Have you ever bitten into a piece of dark chocolate and revealed the bright strawberry or yellow creamy center? This is exactly the effect you will achieve when you work with papers from The Chocolate Box collection. This collection includes several different shades of brown paired with colors ranging from pastel to vivid shades. I received a padded assortment of 20 sheets of cardstock. The brown side has a canvas texture, the colored side is smooth.

I combined papers from both The Whitewash Collection and The Chocolate Box collection on this layout. Using texture plates from TenSeconds Studio, I embossed designs into the whitewash and chocolate papers. After completing the embossing, I gently sanded away the surface layer to reveal the colored core of the paper. I also used the smooth colored side of the Chocolate paper to create a scalloped border for my embossed piece. Two of the layers in my large flower are the color core cardstock torn into circles, revealing the colored core. The beauty of this paper is how is can add dimension and texture to any project.

Puppy Love
Products used: Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock, the Chocolate Box (brown/green) and The Whitewash Collection (whitewash/brown)
Patterned paper (Basic Grey, Urban Prairie)
Buttons (Autumn Leaves)
Ribbon (Luxe Designs)
Die Cut Letters (Sizzix, Curlie Girlie)
Punches (Marvy, EK Success, Martha Stewart)
Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels, forest green, creme de chocolat)
Texture plates (TenSecond Studio)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech permanent bond tape runner)

Embossing these papers with embossing folders and a die cutting system is the easiest and most effective way to achieve an embossed design. Once the design is sanded, the colored core is revealed. These papers only work one way, however. For example on the card shown below, I embossed the dark side and the purple is revealed when the brown is sanded away. You cannot, however, emboss the purple side and expect to see brown once you sand the paper. Trust me, I tried. Still, the cardstock is quite thick and embosses well even without the added effect of a different color.

Smile card
Products used: Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock, The Chocolate Box (brown/purple)
Patterned paper (BasicGrey, Lucky)
Cardstock (Judikins, Specialty Stamping Papers, ultraCream)
Stamp (unknown)
Ink (PrintWorks, Outliner)
Ribbon (Luxe Designs)
Rhinestones (Taylored Expressions)
Colored Pencils (PrismaColor)
Texture plate (CuttleBug)
Die Cut (Spellbinders, Nestabilities, Labels 1)
Border Punch (StampinUp!)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech Permanent Bond Tape Runner)
Sketch: Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #68

Here is another card on which I have used two different papers from The Chocolate Box and two different embossing designs.

Fathers’ Day card
Products used: Core'dinations ColorCore cardstock, Chocolate box, brown/yellow and brown/red
Stamps (Lockhart stamp Co., apron; My Sentiments Exactly, greeting; Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous, scratches)
Markers (Staedtler, dual tip mars graphic 2000 watercolor brush markers)
Ink (Ranger Adirondack pigment pitch black, snow cap; Ranger Distress Inks, antique linen, tea dye, scattered straw, vintage photo)
Texture folders (Cuttlebug)
Ribbon (Offray)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech permanent bond tape runner)
Punch (StampinUp, ticket corner)
Sketch (Ellen Hutson)

Core’dinations has delivered an expanded line of its innovative product. The Whitewash Collection and The Chocolate Box are welcome additions to what’s currently available in the cardstock arena. We all love to add layers, texture and dimension to our projects and by using Core’dinations ColorCore Cardstock, the crafter can do that without adding weight and bulk. I think that’s a real bonus!

For more details on Core'dinations ColorCore cardstock, see Chris's review here.

---

Review by Tammy

Core'dinations new Whitewashed and Chocolate Box collections are not your ordinary cardstock. Each piece has a coordinating color core which when torn or sanded turns ordinary cardstock into extraordinary.

The Whitewashed collection is just like the name implies. The textured side has a whitewashed appearance but when sanded the true colors shine through giving each piece a soft but subtle look. The Chocolate Box collection is various tones of browns that conceal the many vibrant colors found on the reverse side; and just like the Whitewashed, when torn or sanded the colors shine through.

As I began to experiment with the many ways to use this unique cardstock, I found that sanding with a light weight sandpaper was the most versatile way to create texture and patterns. A ruler could be layed under the cardstock to create lines; chipboard set underneath the cardstock created patterned shapes; the cardstock could be run through an embossing plate then lightly sanded to highlight the pattern; and if you sanded the cardstock hard enough you could remove the whitewash or chocolate color all together to reveal a shabby or distressed version of the core color.

On this layout I placed a metal edge ruler about a 1/4 inch inside the edge of the cardstock and began to sand creating a frame around the page. I then used a paper distresser along the edge of peach strip and then began to sand along some of the edges. As I did this the paper began to tear somewhat giving my piece a whole new look that I really liked. As I began to sand in various other places I was able to create distressed holes giving the strip even more dimension. I laid my chipboard bracket embellishment underneath of the blue cardstock and sanded around the shape that would then become a shadow for the actual embellishment when I placed it on my page. The butterflies and flowers were cut with my Wishblade from the Whitewashed cardstock and then run through an embossing folder. I then lightly sanded each piece to highlight the texture and used a pen to outline each shape. Lastly I cut my title using my Wishblade from the reverse side of the peach Whitewashed cardstock.

Title: Bluebird Nest
Whitewash Cardstock (Core'dinations)
Flower Die Cut (BGlad Papercrafts)
Buttons (Hobby Lobby)
Atyou Spica Glitter Pen (Too Marker Products)
Embossing Folders (Cuttlebug)
Chipboard Bracket
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

Several years ago my boys were raising rabbits and they thought it would be fun to take some pictures of our kitten with the baby bunnies. I decided to use these pictures with the Chocolate Box collection. I cut a piece of cardstock that had a light peach core and used my embossing folder to create texture which I lightly sanded. I then used the other half of the cardstock (peach side showing) and attached it to the left side of my layout. To hide the seam I chose a coordinating Chocolate Box cardstock with a blue core and also embossed it with an embossing folder and lightly sanded it to bring out the blue. My layout needed some neutral color added so I used a piece of Whitewashed cardstock that had a neutral beige core. I used a border punch then lightly sanded it to complete my border. Then I used the core side to print my journaling on to and on the Whitewashed side I tore it and added it as a small mat behind the lower two pictures. I chose a coordinating brown to cut out my title; I added a few buttons and I had completed a very easy layout!

Title: Flipper and the Bunnies
Products used: Cardstock (Core'dinations Whitewashed and Chocolate Box collections)
Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)
Buttons (Hobby Lobby)
Embossing Glitter (Twilight, PK Glitz)
Border Punch (Fiskers)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

My son was arriving home from his first big 4-H state competition where he had placed 11th out of 26 participants. It was quite an accomplishment but since we are a pretty competitive family, we jokingly decided that 11th place was actually the same as two first places put together! Also, ribbons were only awarded through 10th place so I got the idea from a friend to make him these two ribbons for when he arrived home. The Core'dinations Whitewashed collection was the perfect cardstock for this little project. I used the same technique around the edges of the ribbons as I did in the Bluebird Nest layout and I used a chipboard star and sanded over the top to create the darker blue star at the top of the ribbons. I ran the bottom portion of the ribbons through an embossing folder and lightly sanded. I cut out the stars and the numbers using a piece of Whitewashed cardstock that had a gold core. The stars were run through an embossing folder and the number ones were crinkled and sanded to create the texture. I also used the Whitewashed side of the cardstock to print out the captions and used a paper distressor along the edges. To finish off the ribbons I added some glitter and punched a hole in the top of each and added gold ribbon. The project took me less than 30 minutes and my son was really surprised when he arrived home to see his 2 first place ribbons!

Title#11 = First Place, Twice
Products used: Cardstock (Core'dinations Whitewashed collection)
Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)
Glitter (PK Glitz)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

Most scrapbookers are stumped when they are challenged to create a layout using only cardstock. I will admit that it can be intimidating because we are all so used to using patterned paper in our projects. The Core'dinations Whitewashed and Chocolate Box collections make "cardstock only" layouts and projects easy and fun!

---

Review by Stephanie

The basis of any scrapbook layout is cardstock – the foundation upon which you build your artwork. Without cardstock, a layout, in my opinion, would be incomplete. Cardstock helps pull a layout together. But, let’s face it, with few exceptions, cardstock can be pretty boring. So I was very excited when I was first introduced to Core’dinations cardstock just after they debuted at winter CHA 2008. At that time I received 44 sheets of their brand new heavy weight textured cardstock. Their cardstock has a color core that appears when you tear or distress the paper. Usually, when you tear cardstock, the white core shows. That is what makes Core’dinations cardstock so different. To be actually excited about cardstock choices is now amazing. So, when I had the opportunity to review two new collections from Core’dinations, I jumped at the opportunity.

Just like their previous lines, Core’dinations’ newest cardstock is also textured on one side and smooth on the reverse. The textured side is the surface color. In The Chocolate Box collection, each sheet was a beautiful shade of brown. In The Whitewash collection, each sheet was lightly whitewashed with a hint color. The smooth side is the core that shows when you distress or tear the paper. Lightly sanding the cardstock brings forth the underlayer with exciting results. While I love the initial collections - All in the Family, Vintage, and Black Magic, they have really outdone themselves by adding a collection of brown cardstock and whitewash cardstock. With names such as Cherry Cordial, Key Lime and Strawberries ‘n Cream from The Chocolate Box collection and Barn Siding, Wicker Chair and Pickle Barrel from The Whitewash collection, you know you are definitely in for a treat. These collections come in pads of 20 cardstock sheets, one of each color with a tear off strip showing the core color.

I chose to work with papers from The Whitewash collection for my first layout. I wanted a subdued background with an added pop of color to match the roses and this cardstock was perfect. I was able to use a punch to create a scalloped edge; use my Cricut machine to cut out my title; use an embossing folder for dimension and use stamps without smudging. A little bit of sanding to allow some of the core to show around the edges and on the embossing was all that was needed to finish my layout.

Title: Beautiful
Products used: Cardstock: (Core’dinations, The Whitewash Collection)
Font (Provo Craft, Cricut)
Ink (Ranger)
Embossing (ProvoCraft, Cuttlebug)
Punch (Fiskars)
Other (Machine stitching)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

My next layout uses cardstock from both The Chocolate Box collection and The Whitewash collection. These papers work wonderfully together. Again, the papers tore easily allowing the color core to show. Also lightly sanding the cardstock allowed the color to show through. I was to type directly on this cardstock with no problem at all. I found I could also sew through 3 layers of cardstock quite easily. Since I do love to sew on my layouts, this was an added bonus!

Title: Farm Fun
Products used: Cardstock (Core’dinations, The Whitewash collection, The Chocolate Box collection)
Ink (Memories)
Brads (Making Memories)
Die cuts (Provo Craft, Cricut; Bosskut)
Stamp (Stampin’ Up)
Punch (EKSuccess)
Stickles (Ranger)
Other (Machine stitching)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

I find cards to be so much fun to create, whether you are using new papers or scraps from other projects. Using Core’dinations cardstock makes a card a little more special and it is so easy to create a beautiful card in a short time frame. I embossed the cardstock and lightly sanded it so the core color showed - I stamped my image, then embossed it. This cardstock truly allows for a clean and clear image. What more can you possibly ask for? Adding a little pattern paper and this card was completed in no time at all.

Title: Love
Products used: Cardstock (Core’dinations, The Whitewash collection, The Chocolate Box collection)
Pattern Paper (Basic Grey)
Ink (Versamark)
Stamp (Stampin’ Up)
Embossing Powder (Stampendous)
Punch (EKSuccess)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

I absolutely love this cardstock! The company slogan is “sand it, tear it, antique it, keep it”. By doing so, you are able to show this cardstock to its fullest potential. Each sheet of cardstock can be distressed and exciting opportunities present themselves. Stamping, tearing, inking, embossing, punching, die cutting. Whatever you want to do, you can certainly do it with this cardstock. This cardstock is a definitely “must have” in my opinion.

---

Review by Donna

Most of us scrapbookers and card makers will agree, I think, that cardstock is to paper crafting as peanut butter is to jelly. But, just like all peanut butters and jellies aren’t the same, nor is all cardstock! Enter Core’dinations!

Core’dinations is not your ordinary cardstock! Most cardstocks have a white core or are solid all the way through, but, Core'dinations’ has a core color that coordinates with its surface color, leaving you the creative choice of either keeping the core color hidden or sanding, tearing, or embossing it. It is a heavy weight (80 lb.) canvas-textured cardstock that is acid/lignin free, with a linen texture on one side and smooth on the other and is available in several different lines that include: 1. Core Essentials: This is your standard cardstock, with the surface color solid and a coordinating core color; 2. Black Magic: This has a black surface color and a colorful core; 3. Vintage: This is pre-sanded and has a vintage, variegated color; 4. The Chocolate Box: Similar to the Black Magic, this has surface layers in a variety of browns and the core is colored; and 5. White Wash – This has a white-wash finish surface and a color core.

For this review, I received a generous two pads of Core’dinations 12” x 12” Cardstock, one The Chocolate Box, “a beautiful assortment of yummy colors hidden beneath the chocolate surface” and the other, Whitewash, “A stunning collection of colors under a white wash finish. Each pad contained twenty sheets of cardstock and retails for about $10.50. Also sold separately in 12” x 12” sheets, Core’dinations is available in literally hundreds of colors.

As soon as I touched my first sheet of this cardstock, I thought it was fabulous. It’s the perfect weight for scrapbooking, card making, collage, or even home décor projects and all of the colors I was looking at were beautiful.

The moment I looked at the colors within the white wash collection pack, I immediately thought of the beach and, with an upcoming Miami Beach vacation, I decided it would be fun to create a few “beachy” cards to send to family and friends during our time away instead of sending them postcards. I was anxious to try some dry embossing and sanding with this cardstock, so I incorporated that into the design of the cards. After placing a piece of the cardstock in an embossing folder, I ran it through my Cuttlebug and then, once embossed, I simply lightly sanded the top to reveal the core color. Next, I added stickers, ribbons and buttons and my notes were complete.

Title: Beach Notes
Products used: Whitewash Cardstock (Core’dinations)
At the Ocean Cardstock Stickers (Flair Designs)
Rubons (Jenni Bowlin)
Buttons (Autumn Leaves)
Ribbon and Inks (Stampin’ Up)
Pins (Tim Holtz, Ranger)
Embossing Folder and Tag Die (Provocraft)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

For my second project, I wanted to try a little tearing, so, I created a layout, using the Whitewash cardstock as a matt on both my photo and on a piece of regular patterned paper. Also, I love the subtle color “washed” look of the Whitewash cardstocks without applying any technique to them, so I used yet another piece to act as my layout base. After adhering the photo and patterned paper to the cardstock, I tore the edges to reveal the red core color and then used a paper trimmer to straight cut the edges. The resulting look is a fabulous mat around the photo and the patterned paper (the non-textured side of the cardstocks are perfect for this too). To complete the layout, I added buttons, chipboard, more patterned paper pieces, chipboard and a few acrylic paint dots (applied with a foam stamp). I loved the end result!

Title: run 2
Products used: Whitewash Cardstock (Core’dinations)
Patterned Paper (Studio Calico)
Chipboard (Sassafras Lass and Daisy D’s)
Buttons (Stampin’ Up and Autumn Leaves)
Ticket and Label Sticker (Jenni Bowlin)
Detail Pen (Sakura)
Ribbons (Pebbles, Inc.)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

I was just as excited about using the Chocolate Box Cardstock as I was the Whitewash, and, I had so much fun with the Beach Notes, I decided to do a little more embossing and sanding and created another note card. Again, I simply placed a piece of cardstock in an embossing folder, ran it through my Cuttlebug and then lightly sanded it to reveal the color core. The card was complete once I added a button, a fabric yo-yo, some patterned paper and stickers. I love the way the green looks on the brown - a striking combination!

Title: The Best Things Card
Products used: Cardstock (Core’dinations)
Patterned Paper (Sassafras Lass)
Stickers (7 Gypsies)
Canvas (7 Gypsies)
Button (Autumn Leaves)
Fabric Pinwheel (Fabric Editions)
Ribbon (Stampin’ Up)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

I really enjoyed working with this cardstock as I had never worked with it or for that matter, ever seen it before. I loved its versatility – it can easily be used as is, or you can sand it, tear it, antique it or emboss it to reveal the beautiful core color. I loved it weight and the overall quality – it stands up well to tearing, sanding, inking and punching beautifully. I loved the colors. I loved the fact that the core colors were different than the surface colors. I guess I just loved everything about it! Definitely try this out – you’re sure to love it too! Thanks Core’dinations! Your product is outstanding.

---

Review by Penny

Core'dinations has just added to its unique line of color-core cardstock. What is color-core cardstock, you ask? Unlike some cardstocks that have a white core, Core'dinations cardstock has a coordinating color core that is designed for distressing.

The heavy weight, 80 lb., premium cardstock reveals its magic with sanding, tearing or antiquing to allow the beautiful core color to peek through. The cardstock is acid and lignin free and has a canvas texture on one side and is smooth on the other.

I received a 12" x 12" assortment pack of two of its newest collections: Whitewash and The Chocolate Box. Each collection pack contains 20 different colored sheets.

The Whitewash Collection features a rainbow of colors under a whitewash finish giving the cardstock's core color a faded, worn look. Distressing the whitewash finish will reveal its inner core color, intensifying its brightness.

I used the Cottage Porch color for my first project. I lightly sanded it and did some distressing and tearing along the edges. I also used the reverse (color) side of the paper behind my title and as a border along one of the photos.

Title: Flip
Products Used: Cardstock (Core'dinations Whitewash Collection)
Patterned Paper (Fancy Pants)
Stickers (Adorn It)
Rub Ons (Sassafras Lass)
Foam Alpha (American Crafts)
Punch (Fiskars)
Marker (Zig)
Other: buttons, flower trim
Adhesive (Ad Tech Glue Runner)

The Chocolate Box collection is a luscious, zero-calorie assortment of rainbow colors and a neutral French Vanilla. The vibrant color core is covered with light to dark chocolate. The colors of this collection are so saturated and lovely! I instantly fell in love with them!

I used the Blueberry cardstock for my second project. I distressed the edges of the layout to show the reverse color. I took a strip of the cardstock and wet it down really good and laid it on top of a texture plate and molded the paper to it. I let it dry completely and then sanded it slightly to show off the embossed areas that the texture plate created. This color combination makes an excellent boys page!

Title: Mason
Products Used: Cardstock (Core'dinations The Chocolate Box Collection)
Patterned Paper (Deja Views)
Rub Ons (Cosmo Cricket)
Alpha (Scrap Within Reach, Around the Block)
Texture Plate (Scratch Art Co.)
Adhesive (Ad Tech Glue Runner)
Other: buttons

I used the Blue Mint Truffle cardstock in my final project. I sanded the cardstock and then tore the edges at the bottom of the layout. The title word "YOU" was created with letter masks and a needle to etch out the letters and show the blue inner core on the edges. I wanted the title to pop off the layout a bit more so I added a touch of glitter glue to the letters.

Title: Love You
Products Used: Cardstock (Core'dinations The Chocolate Box Collection, Prism)
Patterned Paper (KaiserCraft, October Afternoon)
Foam Alpha (American Crafts)
Letter Masks (Heidi Swapp)
Stickles (Ranger)
Jewels (Prima)
Stickers (Scenic Route, Luxe)
Photo Corners (Chatterbox)
Fabric Tag (K&Company)
Stamps (EK Success)
Ink (ColorBox)
Adhesive (Ad Tech Glue Runner)
Other: paper ribbon

This review was the first opportunity I had to use the Core'dinations cardstock. Although Core'dinations has many other colors and collections available, the Whitewash and The Chocolate Box collections particularly piqued my interest. If you enjoy distressing in any form you need to give Core'dinations a try! I'm so happy I did! It is extremely addicting and fun!

---

Visit the ScrapFriends Core'dinations Gallery