When Your Favorite Scratchboard Supplies get Discontinued...

As an art teacher, you probably know the heartbreak of discovering a favorite material has been discontinued. It always seems to catch me off guard mid-supply order, sending me into a frantic search across dozens of websites…only to realize it’s truly gone. 
For years, I relied on the Melissa and Doug Scratch Art Paper for my Scratchboard Hybrids lesson. It had the perfect surface: matte black, not too delicate, easy to scratch cleanly without creating accidental marks. I also really like their metal scratchboard tools and metal tipped wooden stylus tools. But then one day I received a message from a fellow art teacher online saying that the link I provided in the materials list for the scratchboard lesson no longer worked. I assumed it was an error on my part but then when checking the link I realized that my favorite scratchboard materials were really gone for good. 
I decided to take a (quick) journey to find a good alternative scratchboard paper for my art classes. Here’s what I discovered. I do share some Amazon links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission on purchases made through them (at no extra cost to you.)
That said, I am not in collaboration with any of these brands; I’m simply sharing what I found and what I plan to use in my classes this fall.

Student example from our Scratchboard Hybrids project

Scratchboard Art Papers: Not All Created Equal

Over the years I’ve ordered my share of unusable scratchboard art papers. I found that some were way too thin and flimsy, some scratch way too easily, and arrive already covered in scratches and marks. While others barely scratch at all and it is difficult to create markings without damaging the surface underneath. 
I knew I had to test a few for myself before updating my materials list or making a materials order for this project again. 
I typically order from Blick and Amazon Prime (our school has an account which has come in handy with the fast shipping!) so I decided to start with Blick since it is an art specific supplier.
On Blick I searched and  found a brand called Inovart Skratch N' Sketch Scratchboards (yes, that is the way they spell scratch in the product name) that was in my budget and that at first looked promising...

But before purchasing, I read the reviews…and they weren’t exactly glowing.

There were 43 product reviews (which is a large number for a product on Blick) and of those reviews 40 of them were one star reviews.

Reading through the text I read a lot of messages like this: “DON'T BUY THE INOVART PRODUCT. IT IS A WASTE OF YOUR MONEY AND YOUR STUDENTS WILL BE DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED.” 

​So I didn’t purchase this brand to try, it seemed way too risky...

I decided to turn to Instagram and ask fellow art teachers what they were using for scratchboard paper. As always, the community came through with a few solid leads on Amazon, I ordered the two options that were suggested, and here’s what I discovered.

Gersoniel Scratchboards have a nice matte finish surface and are thick like card stock but when scratched produce a black dust that gets everywhere...something to consider when planning clean up with large groups of students

Review of Gersoniel Scratch Paper Art Set (Amazon)

The first brand I ordered is called the Gersoniel Scratch Paper Art Set on Amazon (US), it comes in multiple pack sizes to suit various needs and budgets.
Gersoniel Scratch Paper Set:

• 25 sheets for $9.99 (I ordered this one just to try)
• 50 sheets for $14.99 (25% savings)
• 100 sheets for $18.99 ( 52 % savings)
• 200 sheets for $26.99 ( 66% savings)

You can see that by ordering the bulk packs you can pay significantly less per scratchboard paper sheet. 
Each sheet measures approximately 8.27" x 11.42", similar to the 8.5” x 11” Melissa and Doug sheets I previously ordered. 
The Gersoniel brand arrived quickly, and I was impressed with the feel right out of the package. It’s thick like cardstock with a matte black surface.
However, some of the sheets had slight scratches along the edges but when I tested my fingernail on the material it didn’t scratch easily, showing the surface is not overly delicate The paper scratched well using the metal tools I already had, though I noticed that each mark produced a black dust, some of this dust settled in the lines I scratched and I had to go get a bristle brush to sweep it away as I worked.

This is not a dealbreaker but something to consider especially if you have large classes and limited time and buy in for clean up. Also, each student would need a small brush to dust off the surface while working, otherwise it is difficult to see the marks being made. 
The wooden stick styluses included in the pack weren’t very useful for my purposes. They created thick, uneven lines and were difficult to control. While they might work well for an elementary group, they just don’t offer the level of detail high school students need for more refined scratchboard work.
I created a small study of an animal eye (which is actually the skill builder activity for our Scratchboard Hybrids lesson). I was generally happy with the results it wasn’t as pleasant to work with as the Melissa and Doug Scratch Art paper since every scratch produced a small pile of dust. 
Here’s my overall thoughts condensed into a Pros/Cons list: 
Pros:

• Thick, substantial paper
• Economical price point
• Pairs well with better-quality tools

Cons:

• Slight surface wear on some pages
• Dusty residue with each scratch
• Wooden styluses included aren’t great for detail

Final Thoughts: I’d use the Gersoniel scratchboard art paper again if I couldn’t find a better option and definitely with my own tools, not the ones it comes with. The bristle brushes are a must when using this material and cleanup considered. 

Zocone brand scratchboard set came with what I thought was a metal stylus but it turned out to be a tool with a plastic tip that fell apart the first time I tried to use it.

Review of ZOCONE Scratch Paper Art Set (Amazon)

The next brand I tried is called ZOCONE Scratch Paper Art Set on Amazon.  It is also similar to the dimensions of both Melissa and Doug and the Gersoniel brands at 8” x 11” per sheet. However, this brand offers fewer bulk ordering options and, puzzlingly, does not provide a discount for purchasing larger packs.​
ZOCONE Scratch Paper Art Set: ​
30-sheet black pack – $9.99

• Best value at $0.33 per sheet
  

50-sheet black pack – $16.99

• No real savings compared to buying two 30-sheet packs
  
• Might be more convenient if you prefer fewer packages
  

50-sheet rainbow pack – $17.99

• Highest price per sheet ($0.36)
  
• Not suitable for our high school scratchboard project
  
• Too bright and playful for the tone and detail we’re aiming for—better suited for elementary

It came with the usual wooden sticks, along with what looked like a small metal-tipped stylus that initially caught my attention. Unfortunately, the stylus turned out to be a flimsy plastic tool painted to look like metal. The tip broke off before I even used it, and when I tried to reattach it, it was wobbly and loose. In the end, it created lines that were just as clunky and imprecise as the wooden sticks.
That said, the surface of the paper itself was actually the closest match I’ve found to the discontinued Melissa and Doug Scratch Art Paper. It scratched off in fine shreds, not dust, and felt smooth, sturdy, and satisfying to work on. None of the sheets were scratched around the edges, which was a nice improvement over the Gersoniel brand. 
The set also included a small bristle brush (handy for clearing away the shreds- for one student! lol) and a set of plastic stencils which might be fun for a child to use, but not something I’d use in a classroom setting.
Here’s my Pros/Cons list for ZOCONE:
Pros:

• Surface feels very similar to Melissa and Doug Scratch Art Paper
  
• Scratches cleanly in shreds, not dust
  
• No scratched edges on any sheets
  
• Includes one small brush for cleanup
  

Cons:

• Stylus was poorly made: cheap plastic, not metal, and broke immediately
  
• Wooden tools lack detail and control
  
• Stencils included aren’t classroom-friendly
  

This one has potential, especially because of the paper quality, but you’ll need to supply your own tools for serious student work.

Scratchboard Tools

With the Melissa and Doug tools gone, I needed new options for styluses and scratchboard cutters.
I found a few scratchboard cutter handles and nibs on Blick, one set was the same Inovart brand as the poorly rated scratchboard paper so I pressed on to explore different options. 
These tools from Essdee look the closest to the ones I previously purchased and what I like about them is you can purchase the cutter nibs separately from the handles (if you already have your own handles or need to just trade out the nibs) and you can order just one style of cutter in bulk if you would like. I’ve found that we only really need the pointed style which is called “style 1 or 2” in this brand. I’ve had good luck from this brand before when I purchased these (Essdee Lino Ink Trays) which I use as acrylic paint palettes in my advanced classes. 
If you want to try out all of the tools to see which ones to order for you class there is an Essdee Scratchboard Cutter Set on Amazon Prime for $11.15 that includes 5 assorted cutter nibs to test out. This is what I ordered to try before placing a bulk order on Blick. 

These tools made a big difference, especially when paired with the Gersoniel and Zocone paper. The line variation and detail they allowed reminded me of what I used to get from my old setup.

Final Thoughts on Scratchboard Art Materials

Neither Scratchboard paper I tested is exactly like the Melissa and Doug Scratch Art sheets, but they both come close enough.
For my next round of Scratchboard Hybrids, I’ll be using the ZOCONE scratchboard paper with the tools we already have but I will order a few of the specialty nibs from Essdee for students to try. The paper is reliable enough, and with the right stylus, students can still get that satisfying scratch and crisp line work that makes this lesson so engaging.

But…if you are looking at cost effectiveness only the ZOCONE is more expensive per sheet $0.33 vs. approximately $0.19 per sheet if you order the 100 pack of Gersoniel (only approximately $0.14 per sheet if you order the 200 pack)

If you’re looking for scratchboard ideas, I created this Scratchboard Hybrids project with beginners in mind, students love combining animals and sometimes human features to make surreal creatures, and the scratchboard medium makes it easier to create textures like fur, scales and feathers.

You can find it here on TPT, and now you’ve got the scoop on how to make it work even without the Melissa and Doug originals.

If you’d like to see my full FREE Art Materials Guide just click the link I’ve added these materials to the Scratchboard section.