I do not have a local scrapbook store when I am home in Maryland. I shop for paper at Paper Source. Which means I get a lot of great prints in full size sheets that could serve as wrapping paper. This works well for what I do, which is a lot of cropping down to 4×6 for mini books.
Because of this, I so rarely purchase 12×12 papers by scrapbook manufactures. I just don't see it. And shopping online for paper is really difficult because there is a lot of searching you have to do. For every one pattern you love there are 10 that you don't. That's a lot of clicking and scanning. So if you don't know exactly what you are looking for, nothing beats wandering around a scrapbook store. The closest one to me in California is Green Tangerines. It's huge and they have sections of paper organized by color. I think all paper should be organized by color. It's how my brain works.
I went last night with the intention of stocking up on more patterns for the next round of mixed paper books. I left with tons (and tons) of paper for those and a few sheets that I am hoping to put to use for some of my own projects. When I am crafting for me – not to sell – I still buy paper with the intention of cutting it down for smaller projects. I do not do a lot of scrapbook layouts so rarely will a paper stay 12×12 size or be cut down to 8.5×11. For small books, I look for one of two things : big bold patterns in great color combination OR papers with lines or grids that can be used to hold text. Because these papers will go into mini books that show both sides of a paper, I pay attention to what is on the back side as well. Double sided papers where the back and the front match in color are huge winners. Nothing like finding a paper that you love the front just as much as the back.
Here are a few of my findings from yesterday. I have listed the manufacturer and the line/paper title where available. No links, but I am sure a google search would get great results if you just have to have a sheet.
From left to right : BoBunny "Back to Basics", Teresa Collins "Documented" (the back of this one is cool as well – big alphabets in black and red), SEI "Madera Island", Creative Imaginations "Double Vision", American Crafts "Amplified" (I love a scalloped edge), Jillibean Soup (I had never heard of this brand before and just love it. Thick kraft cardstock, reminds me a bit of Hambly.), Jillibean Soup
Colors on this photo are not so great. that's a light blue – not a gray. From left to right :
Luxe Designs "Simply Luxe" (I am sort of obsessed with this Simply Luxe line. And I just heard the company is closing which is too sad.), SEI "chick-a-doo", SEI "Bridgeport", American Crafts "Kids", Luxe Designs "Simply Luxe", Luxe Designs "Simply Luxe", October Afternoon "Dew Drop Inn"
From left to right :
Luxe Designs "Simply Luxe", SEI "Bridgeport", American Crafts "Spring & Summer", Luxe Designs "Simply Luxe"
Oh man, I love paper.
enJOY it 
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