Questions about Carta Bella cardstock

Jun '23 CAQ

I don't know if I can ask about a particular product here, so if this is not appropriate, moderators, please feel free to delete.

First, my intention is not to cut down a product. I am looking for answers. The cardstock question is gorgeous, with a great feel, weight and texture, but there is one issue with my first purchase of the brand.

I purchased the 6x6 Carta Bella Flora 6 and 5 paper pads, and the Carta Bella Paper No. 6 Collection - Essentials Bundle. They are gorgeous and I was really looking forward to receiving the order.

I received it a few days ago. The minute I opened the box, it reeked. It reeked of a nasty musty odor. When I took everything from the box, it was the items that reeked. I have been airing it all out in the living room on a table on the other side. It has been almost a week. The odor has not even started to dissipate. So disappointing.

I contacted Scrapbook, "Thank you for reaching out. I have checked these Carta Bella Products and only the 12 x 12 collection kit to have a strong odor. Carta Bella paper is a heavily ink saturated paper, so there is a slight smell to all of the products that should dissipate with time."

This is not dissipating, it is not a slight smell. I have never had to let cardstock air out for days upon days. It reeks of mustiness, heavily. If I go near the table, the air disturbance brings that smell to me, still. I keep hoping. I will be trashing it all. Scrapbook suggested donating it. First, why would I donate cardstock that reeks? Second, I could not find anyone or any organization around here interested in good cardstock, not even schools. Nobody wants it. There is nobody around here to donate it to. So, it will be trashed.

In a later email response Scrapbook said all cardstock has a slight odor. I did not say this is a slight odor, that will dissipate over time, I was very clear. It reeks of a heavy musty odor, that is not dissipating. I have never had this happen, I have never had to air out cardstock. I did get a refund, but I do not think they understood the issue. I would like to try it again, but the answer from Scrapbook was not encouraging. Airing out cardstock? More than halfway through a week and it is still just as bad as day one.

Has anyone else had this issue with this brand or other brands?

Also, I Googled to get a way to contact the manufacturer to see what the deal is. When I Googled, it said it was a sister company of Echo Paper, and the only contact info I could find was to Echo Paper. I mentioned Echo Paper in my contact to Scrapbook. She said Carta Bella is not Echo Paper. I contacted Echo Paper. Imhave not heard back

Does anyone here have any experience contacting Carta Bella? Can you share their contact information? I really like the paper, but my first experience with them, not good.

Is Carta Bella part of Echo Park? If so, does Echo Park have the same problem?

Thank you. I am very reluctant to try this brand again, but it was such nice paper.
Jun '23 Dawna.s Place

@CAQ I have purchased Carta Bella papers in the past and have not found them to have a strong odor. They are normally a lux paper, with beautiful graphics and heavy weight. While I haven't experienced a heavy odor, I can tell you how to get rid of it, and possibly save it from the trash can. Place your cardstock in an enclosed box or drawer and pour cat litter over it. I know it sounds gross, but the cat litter will absorb the heavy smell after a few days and it will dust right off and should leave your papers pristine. I hope that helps. Wishing you good luck as you try to remedy the situation.
Jun '23 CAQ

Thanks. I don't have a cat, so I think that I will just get rid of it in a few days if it shows no sign of dissipating. I think it was packed before allowing the ink to dry, therefore, getting musty. Or it was delivered in a way it was in a damp area somewhere along the line, but the box was not musty smelling.

It is good to know you had a better experience. Maybe, I will try buying one sheet in a month or so, and see how it is.

Thanks.
Jun '23 CAQ

Well, I am bound and determined to be able to keep this lovely cardstock. Even the solid colors are gorgeous. I have them hanging by the little 1/4-1/2 inch edge, by skirt hanger on a rod I have in the doorway opening where my washer and dryer are. It is not humid there, it is just a nook off the kitchen. I have space between them all. I then turned on a fan, to low, to keep them from shifting up next to each other. I am having the air circulate around them. We will see. If it works, I will hang the others. Ran out of room.

Like I said, the paper is wonderful.
Jun '23 PKfromPA

From what I found by googling it, Echo Park and Carta Bella are sister companies. I buy more Echo Park than Carta Bella, but haven't had the issue of the musty smell. Here's what I found online for Echo Park by phone (385) 477-4205 by e-mail [email protected]
I hope you get things straightened out.
Jun '23 CAQ

I always came up with Echo Park and Carta Bella being sister companies, het the rep for Scrapbook said they are not connected. I think she was mistaken. I couldn't find any contact info for Carta Bella except through Echo Park. Echo Park started sounding familiar, so I looked at some previous card stock that I purchased. I have purchased Echo Park, but I had no issues. They also don't feel like Carta Bella. I think they are made differently.

I did hang some sheets of the cardstock from skirt hangers with a fan lightly blowing near them. Some sheets are okay now, some sheets need more of the fan. They were hanging from morning til evening, and still needed more. This should not be necessary.

I still have not heard from Echo Park, but it is a weekend.

I am pleased Scrapbook gave me a refund. They seem to be pretty good at making things right, when it needs to be done.
Jun '23 CAQ

I just wanted to update. I ordered a couple of the sheets of Carta Bella that came in the kit collection as single sheets. They were fine. I think the kit package that I received earlier had gotten damp somewhere along the line, or maybe the ink was not dry enough to be packaged. But, the single sheets are fine. They do not feel damp out of the package like the other ones from the kit package did, and they did not reek of mustiness.

I did not want to leave this discussion as it was. Scrapbook refunded me. The single sheets I ordered are normal. I am glad to find this out because the cardstock is lovely in looks, feel and weight.
Jun '23 Sewflake

I have purchased tons of Echo Park and a number of Carta Bella…you are correct in that the paper from both name brands have a different feel, and texture and odor/smell to them.
I have never had a collection that was difficult to rid the (in my case) slight smell. I have had some papers smell stronger than others but again nothing that did not dissipate within a day.
Yes Carta Bella is a sister company of Echo Park…not everyone necessarily knows that Echo Park Paper Co. makes Carta Bella.
It is hard to tell what happened to the batch of Carta Bella papers you received but it is not normal to smell so bad.