As requested by our viewers, below is a glossary of some common terms in papercrafting. Sorry it's taken a while to post up - it's loooong. How many do you know? And have you any that should be added? Post a comment and let us know!!
Acid Free/Lignin Free Sometimes abbreviated to AF/LF. This means there is no acid in the paper or card it is referring to (the PH balance is 7.0 or higher), and so it will not fade your photographs over time if used with it! You should always use acid/lignin free paper and card when creating a scrapbook.
Acrylic Block - A clear acrylic block used to adhere clear stamps to and then use to stamp! Come in various sizes.
Altered Art - Album/Book/Tag/Anything - Collaging, embellishing, enamelling, stamping or doing anything else to a book or other household item to reflect a creative idea, theme or narrative. Check out our forum members' altered art and chat here!
Anti Static Bag/Pad - Used to eliminate static from a card or paper surface. Works great when embossing to avoid stray specks of powder sticking to static away from the stamped image you want to emboss. Baby Powder sprinkled over the area can achieve the same effect.
Archival - This is a term used to indicate materials which have undergone laboratory analysis to determine their acidic and buffered content is within safe levels. In the case of printed items and photographs, the ability of the images to retain their colour or blackness over long periods of time. In the case of paper, it is made with the intent of having an extended lifespan without discoloration or deterioration. Anything labelled archival should be acid free. Archival Ink is acid free and fade resistant and therefore perfect for use with photographs. It is also usually waterproof, quick drying and won't bleed. StazOn is an example of an archival ink.
ATCs - Artist Trading Cards - Tiny works of original art that are traded among artists traded among artists. Traders often keep their collection of ATCs in binders filled with clear vinyl pages, nine pockets per page. Each card measures approximately 2-1/2" x 3-1/2". Check out the ones our forum members have made in our altered art and chat here.
Bent Tweezers - Just like normal tweezers but with a bent tip great for precision work such as placing gems or small embellishments, or for peeling off and placing peel-off stickers in one go!
Bone Folder - A flat piece of bone or plastic, round at one end, pointed at the other. Used for scoring and folding paper. More commonly plastic these days!
Brads - Brads are paper fasteners with two prongs at the back. They are available in a range of sizes, colours and shapes. Often used in offices in gold or silver, but nowadays a huge variety of brads in all shapes and sizes are used in Scrapbooking and Card Making. They are used to secure photos to pages, or tags or other embellishments - they enable motion between two pieces of paper secured together using a brad and so are very common for adhering tags to layouts.
Brayer- A small rubber "rolling pin" used to apply inks for a great background look, and also can be used to flatten papers, smooth surfaces, or apply paints.
Card Sizes - C6, DL, Square. The European Card Sizes are all based on the A sizing. A4 is an normal A4 page for printing on. A5 is half an A4 page, and A6 is half that again - so a quarter of an A4 page (postcard size). DL is one third of an A4 page across the narrow length. The corresponding envelopes are all slightly larger than the A4/5/6 measurement - to allow for extra items to be put in an an envelop. So an A6 card blank will match a C6 envelope, but the envelope will be a little larger in measurement than the card. C5 matches A5, and C4 matches A4. Card blanks are often referred to by their envelope size rather than the card size - we're not sure why - but perhaps because they can be single fold so are often an A5 card folded to A6 - the easiest thing to say is that the folded size matches a C6 envelope size!!
Cardstock - Thick, sturdy, paper that is available in a variety of weights; commonly used in scrapbooking and paper crafts. The paper is the thickness of most index cards and comes in many colours and textures. Bazzill is the most successful cardstock on the market - coming in a huge range of colours and textures and being a favourite with scrapbookers everywhere.
Cello/Poly Bags - Polybags are thin, plastic, moisture proof cellophane bags used to protect and store cards - often when used to package greeting cards to sell. Come with a sealable flap and are usually available in both self-seal and non-self seal variants.
Chalks - Acid free chalks in variety of colours usually applied with an eyeshadow applicator to create gentle hazy coloured backgrounds or add dimension to edges or die cuts.
Chalk Ink - A quick drying, matte finish ink. Not usually suitable for embossing.
Chipboard - The stuff that's on the back of A4/Foolscap Pads, but re-invented!! People use chipboard in raw or decorated form for adding letters or words to layouts and cards. In raw form, you can ink it, stick paper to it, and often people add a thick layer of clear enamel using UTEE (see later in the glossary).
Circle Journal - A project where a group of scrapbookers get together and each make a journal in their own style and theme (such as "Last Christmas" or "my best friend") which is then passed around the circle and each scrapbooker must add a scrapbooked page or two of thoughts, ideas and designs to everyone else's journal. Here's some examples of completed Circle Journals done by members of our forum - Elisa's CJ, MiniFlan's CJ and Eva's CJ. Fancy joining in the next one? Check out the discussions people are having about the current one in the ATC/Altered Items and Circle Journals section of the forum.
Corner Rounder - A type of paper punch used to take the right-angle edges from photos or other pieces of card.
Craft Knife - A sharp, easy to hold paper knife that's about the size of a pen with a sharp tip for cutting out paper and card and doing precision work. Used in conjunction with a cutting mat
Cutting Mat - Self healing cutting mats are used when using a craft or paper knife to protect the surface (kitchen or dining room table) from scratches and marks from the knife. Usually come with rulered backgrounds which can be utilised to cut card and paper to size.
Crop (noun) - A crop is a get-together of scrapbookers to chat, share, learn and of course...scrapbook!
Crop/Cropping(verb) - To trim unwanted parts of a photo or image, and layer it on top of a slightly wider backing card to frame the image.
Crop a Dile - The latest super tool. Punches holes, sets eyelets and snaps and tons of other great features.
Die Cut - A process for cutting out any special shapes by using a metal form which is called a die. Also used to refer to the cut out shape. Can be used with fabric or paper. Common die cutting systems are Sissix and Quickutz
Deckle Edge - The natural feathery edge of paper; the result of the run-off of wet pulp when making handmade paper. These days a deckle edge usually means a rough or uneven edge to the paper. Our Indian Cotton paper has a lovely rough deckle edge, and you can also buy edging scissors to create the look.
Decoupage - The technique of decorating a surface with cutouts, as of paper, or a creation produced by this technique. Usually creates a 3d look when used. Sandidune on our forum is a big fan of decoupage - you can see just some of her creations using this style HERE.
Digital Scrapbooking - Digital Scrapbooking is the art of creating a digital scrapbook page using an uploaded photo and various digital effects and embellishments available from a number of online digital scrapbooking sites. The result is a 12" x 12" (or other size) layout which can be viewed on a computer and easily shared between friends and family. Here's an introduction to digital scrapbooking class on our forum to making your first digital layout - and there's several other classes in there too if you get the bug!
Distressing - The technique of ageing an item to make it look antique. Done using dark brown inks, teabags, crackle accents and other techniques. Tim Holz inks are often used to create the effect, though normal dark inks will work just as well.
Doodling - As it sounds, but it has taken on a new art form where Scrapbooking is concerned. See our previous post all about doodling.
Dry Embossing/Debossing - The opposite of embossing - an indented design is created on the card rather than a raised one. Dry Embossing is debossing done on the reverse side of the card using a stencil and stylus resulting in a raised pattern on the front side of the card. Also known as relief embossing.
Edging Scissors - These are scissors with a pattern in the blade. Used to create a deckle edge or other edge along the border of a card, wedding invitation or layout.
Embellishment - Anything pretty that you can put on a card or layout :)
Embossing (Heat) - Embossing is a technique done using heat to melt powder and create a shiny, enamel finish. Usually done using rubber stamps to create an image on the card that is then embossed. Here's an online introduction to embossing class on our forum to show how it's done.
Embossing Ink - A particular ink such as Versamark which is clear, slow drying, extra sticky and very suitable for embossing.
Embossing Powder - Embossing powder is a fast melting powder that delivers rich colors, bonds to the card and creates an enamel coating when heated.To use, sprinkle onto a wet, inked surface, shake off excess and then apply direct heat to melt, creating a slightly raised "enamelled" design. Available in a multitude of colors and granulations, Fine Detail, Dimensional Enamel (such as UTEE) or Regular granulation.
Embossing Tinsel - As for Embossing Powder, but melts leaving a sparkle in the raised image.
Envelope Sizes - C6, DL, Square. Please See Card Sizes.
Eyelets - A metal ring designed to reinforce such a hole; a grommet. Set using an Eyelet Setter.
Fonts - The different styles of lettering you can choose in a word processing or other system. Try www.dafont.com or www.freefont.com to find tons of free fonts to download.
Gel Pen - An inked ballpoint pen that often come in 3d, metallic, sparkle and chalky finishes. Ideal for doodling and other work on coloured card where you need a coloured pen which will show over the card.
Glue Dots - Little blobs of sticky glue ranging in size from 3mm to 12mm diameter. Come in permanent and re-positionable types. Ideal for adhering embellishments such as chipboard, buttons, blossoms, die cuts...
Glue Gun - A glue gun is an electrical gun used with sticks of glue which it heats and you can then apply to paper or card - even in corners or hard to reach places. A little messy to use, and the nozzle gets very hot, but good for applying harder-to-adhere embellishments and particulary if making cards or invites in bulk.
Glue Tape/Runner - Like Pritt Stick but for glue!! Glue Tapes are the best invention yet. Simply place against your paper, roll and they leave a line of glue or double sided tape on your paper. Come in different styles including continuous, tabs, and invisible glue tape for use with vellum.
Heat Gun - A tool used to melt embossing powder using gentle, very hot air.
Journalling - The technique of adding a story or some description to your photos on a scrapbooking layout. Many different types of journalling are used today - from tags, hidden journalling, doodling on a border, to downloading fonts and typing out the writing on vellum or patterened paper instead.
Laid Paper/Card - Also called linen or wove finish. Paper with a grid pattern in the sheet resulting from the pulp resting against wires sewn to the papermaking mold screen. Laid lines are closely spaced while chain lines are farther apart and run parallel with the grain direction of the sheet.
Layout - A Scrapbooking Layout is essentially a single scrapbook page, containing typically a photo, some journalling and some embellishments. The formal defintion of a layout is the arrangement of heading, text, illustration, and artwork on a page. You can see some examples HERE and also a step by step class to make your first simple but effective layout on our forum HERE.
Light Box - Used when dry embossing to make it easier to follow stencils on card.
Thick Embossing Powder/UTEE - A special type of embossing powder with extra large crystals that melt to form a layer of enamel about 1mm deep on an image, chipboard, tag, ATC or other object. Should be used with a proper embossing ink.
Matting/Layering - When you place either card or paper of increasing sizes around an image to create a frame. Here's some examples by Noelle on our forum of some baby booties matted and layered on several layers of card.
Mounting Pads/Tape - A double sided layer or foam tape or tiny pad (usually about 3mm square and about 3mm deep) which are used to elevate an embellishment up from the card below. Often used to elevate up a stamped image on a square background from the backing card and create a "3d" effect.
Paper Punch - A punch used to punch out a shape from card or paper. Punches are used to cut out shapes which are then stuck onto card or layouts, or the silhouettes of the shape are often used as well. Come in a wide variety of types and sizes and include single hole punches, border punches and corner rounders as well as regular shape punches. Check out our previous article all about maintaining your punches, what's popular and more!
Paper Trimmer/Guillotine - A Paper Trimmer is a device which enables you to cut paper and card straight and to certain lengths. Come in a variety of sizes including A5, A4 and A3 - A4 being the most common. Some come with different blades for scoring, perforating or decorative edges as well. Most have built in rulers, some extendable, with paper sizes marked on making it easy to cut paper and card down to standard sizes.
Peel Off Stickers/Peel Offs - Peel off stickers are outline stickers supplied on sheets. They can be of pictures or text, or both. When you peel away the sticker from the background, only the outline usually comes with it, while the centre of the sticker stays on the backing paper (and can often be used separately). You can then colour in the outline image using gel pens, paints, glitter glue or inks if you wish. Peel off stickers can be applied to card, paper, metal, acetate etc. If used on acetate with permanent markers, a stained glass effect can be created.
Pergamano/Parchment Craft - Pergamano is the brand name for the hobby of "parchment craft" which utilises parchment paper to create cards, boxes, lampshades and other works of art. The paper can be embossed, perforated and painted upon.
Pigment Ink - A slow drying ink suitable for use with embossing powders or on its own.
Quilling - Thin strips of paper which are rolled tightly and then loosened a little and shaped to form an image. Kiki on our forum is our resident quilling expert and has some fantastic examples of her work on our forum - see just some of Kiki's quilled cards HERE.
Rubber Stamping - also called stamping. An image is carved out of a rubber sheet and usually then mounted onto a wooden block to be used as a rubber stamp. Ink is applied to the rubber-carved image, and the stamp is then pressed down onto paper, card or other medium to leave the inked image behind on the page. Have a look at our Rubber Stamping Hints and Tips on the forum on our site for more information. Jackie on our forum is our rubber stamping queen, and is the proud owner of more than 2,000 rubber stamps!
Scoring - A technique used to create a fold line on a piece of card. Usually done using a scoring machine or a scoring board or a ruler and bone folder. When a score line has been created, the card will then fold along that line in a neat, straight line.
Silent Setter - Traditionally an eyelet setting tool and hammer were used to set an eyelet in place. This tool from Provocraft replaces those and enables setting of eyelets quietly (using force/weight applied to the tool with your hand instead) and more quickly. Superseded by the Crop a Dile somewhat but still very much in use as the Crop a Dile can only set eyelets along the edge of card.
Sizzix - Sissix is one of several brands of die-cutting machines available on the market. This is a machine with a lever you use to push down and punch out and emboss shapes in card. They come with a wide variety of dies to create lots of different shapes. Some people sell the paper die-cuts themselves on places like eBay - the machines cost a fair amount to invest in upfront, so many people try to get as much value from them as possible!
Shrink Plastic - A plastic sheet which can be painted or stamped and then heated. Once heated it shrinks, hardens and thickens. Great fun to do in combination with rubber stamped images. Used by jewellers as well as paper crafters! Comes in a variety of colours though white and translucent tend to be the most popular.
Snaps - A snap is like an eyelet, but without a hole through the middle!! Fastened in the same way as eyelets but with a solid top not unlike a brad.
Sponge Dauber - Sponge Daubers are fingertip sponges used to apply ink more accurately to a stamp.
Stash - A scrapbooker or card maker's stash is their collection of craft materials to use for paper crafting!! Most papercrafters have more stash than they will ever use in their lifetime; some have been put on Shopping Bans by either themselves or their partners to prevent further acquisition of New Stash!
StazOn - A particular brand of ink made by Tsukineko and usable on all surfaces including glossy card, plastic, metal, glass, ceramics etc. As the name implies, very hard to remove and usually requires the use of the StazOn Cleaner.
Stickles - A (particualrly good) brand of glitter glue - a liquid adhesive containing fine glitter particles which can be used to create 3d glitter images or fill in stamped images on card. Comes in a wide variety of colours.
UTEE - UTEE stands for Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel and is an embossing powder with larger grains/crystals than normal which melt to form a clear, sometimes bumpy, enamelled surface. Often several layers are applied to get a more smooth surface to the item.
Vellum/Tracing Paper - Traditionally real vellum was made from the stretched skin of young livestock but nowadays vellum as refferred to in papercrafting usually means paper with a translucent quality. A quick tip - if printing onto tracing paper, note that it is less porous than normal paper and so takes longer for ink to dry. Leave aside for a few minutes to air dry after coming out of the printer to avoid smudging and if necessary, overnight.
Versamark - A clear ink which creates a translucent effect and is often used as an embossing ink due to its clear colour and extra stickiness.
Water Brush - Water brushes are brushes with a hollow pencil-like container for water which enables water to be continually delivered through the brush. The stem of the brush is pliable and can be squeezed. Used commonly in watercolour painting, but often used in papercrafting to run a line of water along a tissue-like paper and allow the paper to be gently pulled apart along the line to create a deckle edge on both sides. Also used together with watercolour pencils - colour in a stamped image with the pencils, then gentle smudge and blend using the water brush.
There are 70 terms here - how many did you know?!?!
Thanks Ais. Nice, clear definitions and great links too.
Posted by: Neasa | September 12, 2007 at 11:37 PM
Very comprehensive, Ais - if I'd realised how long and thorough it would be,I wouldn't have started reading when I should have been getting ready for work :-) Well done - a lot of work in that.
Posted by: Sabrina | September 13, 2007 at 08:04 AM
Wow, an amazing and most helpful glossary. Can't think of a single thing not covered.
A must have list for all crafters.
Well done.
Posted by: Barbara | September 13, 2007 at 03:52 PM
Wow, I have heard of a term Chewing paper but never seen a person chew Pounds/Dollars as its replacement. Must admit that The information available is really good.
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