Cricut Cardstock Paper, 80 Sheets

Quick overview

Cricut’s Ocean Sampler is aimed at crafters who want a coordinated set of colors for paper projects made with a Cricut Joy Xtra, Explore, or Maker machine. It includes 80 letter-size sheets: eight colors, with 10 sheets of each, in shades ranging from light lavender and cyan to several blues and purple. The 65 lb (176 gsm) light cardstock has a solid core, so its color runs through the sheet rather than relying on a colored surface. That can help keep cut edges and folded details looking consistent across a project. It’s a practical way to stock a craft area for cards, layered designs, and other cut-paper ideas, though the palette is focused on cool colors rather than a broad mix of every hue.

How to use it

The paper is optimized for Cricut cutting machines, and Cricut says Design Space provides automatic cut settings for its materials. That removes some guesswork when setting up a project, but the sheet weight and machine compatibility alone can’t guarantee the same result for every design. For a layered card, for example, you can choose one of the blues for the background, cut smaller details from a contrasting shade, then fold or assemble the pieces. The solid-core construction is useful when edges will be visible. Keep in mind that this is light cardstock, so projects that call for heavier or more rigid stock may need a different paper.

The product is described as acid-free, lignin-free, and buffered. Those material details may matter when choosing paper for keepsake crafts, but they don’t establish how a finished project will hold up in every storage or display environment.

Practical tips

Before cutting a full design, use a small test cut if you’re uncertain how a particular shape will behave. Fine lettering and intricate cuts can be more sensitive to paper choice than broad shapes, and this sampler doesn’t specify a minimum detail size. For a quick birthday-card project, try a larger backing shape in Lake Blue, then use a lighter shade for a simple label or accent, keeping the design open lets the color do more of the work without adding extra materials.

Compared with buying a single color, a sampler gives you several coordinated options in one pack, which is handy when a project needs contrast or you make different designs over time. In return, you get 10 sheets per color rather than a large stack of one favorite shade. A solid pick if you want a selection of blues and purples for machine-cut paper projects. Not the best choice if you need a warmer palette, a specific color in bulk, or cardstock heavier than the listed 65 lb.

Before you decide

How many colors are included? The pack has eight colors, with 10 sheets of each.

What size are the sheets? Each sheet is 8.5 in x 11 in, or letter size.

Which Cricut machines is it listed for? The product lists Joy Xtra, Explore, and Maker machines.

Should you buy it?

Choose this sampler if your projects use light cardstock and you’ll make use of several blue, lavender, and purple shades. Its consistent color through the sheet and Design Space cut-setting support make it a straightforward starting point for cards and decorative cutouts. Skip it if your main need is a heavier paper, a large quantity of one color, or a palette outside the eight included shades. Those requirements matter more than having a convenient variety pack.