scrapbook dictionary and scrapbook terms glossary

A - I                    J - R                    S - Z

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To find what you're looking for fast.

1.  Choose the appropriate page selection A-I, J-R or S-Z.

2.  Press Ctrl + F on your keyboard. This will bring up a small search box into which you can type the desired term you are looking for.

3. Click "Find"

You can also scroll down through each page to find what you're looking for.

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ABC Album -- A scrapbook album in which layouts/pages are themed around each letter (or a word beginning with each letter) of the alphabet.

Acid-Free -- Papers and materials free of acid at the time of their manufacture, with a pH ranging from 7.0 to 9.0. This term is used to describe scrapbook products that are “safe” to use with photographs and memorabilia

Acrylic Paint -- Water soluble paint made from pigments and a plastic binder; sometimes used with stamps instead of ink; sometimes applied directly to paper and other embellishments.

ADDY -- abbreviation for: address (either snail or e-mail)

Adhesive -- The general term for bonding agents that are used to affix one item to another. There are assorted types used in scrapbooking and paper crafts including glue stick, double-sided tape, spray adhesive, photo tabs, adhesive dots, etc.

AF/LF -- abbreviation for: acid-free/lignin-free

Album -- Blank book used to store photographs and scrapbook pages.

All About Me Pages -- Albums Layouts or albums that address the theme of sharing personal information, memories, stories, etc.

Altered/Altering -- Using scrapbooking/paper crafting techniques and supplies to collage, stamp, embellish, and otherwise altering a found item to reflect an artistic idea or narrative. Altered items often include books, CD’s, metal tins, paint buckets, and book covers

Analogous Colors -- Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.

Aperture -- The opening in a camera that lets in light. The aperture opens and closes when the shutter is released.

Archival -- Term used to describe a product or technique used in preserving artifacts, photographs, memorabilia and other items.

Art Journal -- A diary that chronicles the ideas, memories, and thoughts of an artist. Pages within an art journal include words, pictures and even embellishments

Artist Trading Cards (ATC) -- Tiny works of original art that are traded among artists. Cards usually measure approximately 2-1/2" x 3-1/2

ASAP -- abbreviation for: as soon as possible

Background Paper -- The bottom-most layer of paper or cardstock that is a scrapbook page/layout.

Basic Templates -- Templates in basic shapes, such as circles, squares, ovals, etc.

Beading/Beadwork -- Ornamentation and decoration with beads.

Blending Pencil -- Tool used to blend colored pencils to create different shades of a color.

Bone Folder -- A flat piece of bone or plastic, round at one end, pointed at the other; about the size of a letter-opener. Used for scoring and folding paper

Borders -- The outside edges of a page/layout that are specially decorated or in other ways made distinctive. Border Ideas

Brad Embellishment/accent -- that is usually metal. The top often looks like a small nail head, but can be a variety of shapes and colors. Bendable metal prongs attached to the bottom of a brad are pushed through holes in paper (or other material) and then bent outward to secure the brad in place

Brayer -- A small rubber "rolling pin" used to flatten papers or clay, smooth surfaces, or apply paints or inks to surfaces.

Buffered -- Word used to describe products capable of maintaining the core of a solution. For example, buffered paper prevents acid from moving from a photograph to paper.
 
Calligraphy -- Formal, old-fashioned lettering.

Card-Making -- Creating greeting cards by hand; a popular paper craft involving the use of materials and techniques also used in scrapbooking.

Cardstock -- Thick, sturdy paper available in a variety of weights.

Chalk/Chalking -- Applying chalks to papers; shading, coloring, aging, highlighting, etc; sometimes used in conjunction with templates or stencils. Chalks are usually applied with cotton swaps, cotton balls, or make-up applicators, and are available in a large assortment of colors.

Circle Cutter/Oval Cutter -- Paper trimmers that cut paper and photographs into circles and ovals

Circle Journal (CJ) -- A themed album that is passed throughout a group of people, each person completing a page/layout in the album before passing it to the next person.

CK -- abbreviation for: Creating Keepsakes Magazine

CK OK (Creating Keepsakes Okay) -- Scrapbooking seal of approval. Items that have the CK OK are considered safe to use in scrapbooking.

Clean-Line Design -- A scrapbooking “style” that emphasizes the simple, “less is more” approach to layout design; generally involve straight-lines, geometric shapes, and very few, if any embellishments

Clip Art -- Art purchased in book or software form with pictures that can be applied to scrapbook pages.

Collage -- An artistic composition made of various materials (paper, cloth, wood, etc.) that are glued onto a surface.

Color Blocking -- The technique of using blocks of different, colored paper to create layout/page backgrounds. Color Blocking Ideas

Color Wheel -- Shows color relationships and placement.

Complimentary Colors -- Two colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel; a color scheme using two opposite colors on a layout or paper craft.

Computer Generated (CG) Layouts/Digital Layouts -- Scrapbook pages that are created digitally using a computer

Conventions -- A variety of large shows and meetings sponsored by and for the scrapbooking and paper craft industry; retail, wholesale, and educational conventions held across the United States. Example: Creating Keepsakes University (CKU)

Corner-Edger Scissors -- Scissors that cut corners. Each pair creates four different types of corners.

Corner-Rounder -- A punch used to round the square corners of paper. There are also punches that cut corner edges into different shapes/designs

Corrugated Paper -- Thick, wavy cardstock available in many colors.

Creative Lettering/Hand Lettering -- 1.The use of pens, markers, and/or colored pencils to create unique and decorative titles/words on layouts/pages/cards.

Crop -- 1. To cut or trim a photograph. 2. A scrapbooking party hosted by an expert who shares techniques, products and information with the group.

Deacidification Spray -- Spray that neutralizes acid in newspaper clippings, certificates and other documents.

Decorative Scissors -- Scissors with a decorative pattern on the blade.

Decoupage -- The technique of decorating a surface with cutouts, as of paper, or a creation produced by this technique

Die-Cut Designs -- Paper designs cut from die-cut machines. Paper is placed on the die and pressure is applied either by rolling or pressing down on the handle.

Digital Image -- An image (such as a digital photograph or layout) composed of pixels or dots, the smallest units found on monitors

DPI/PPI -- (dots-per-inch/pixels-per-inch) Measures the resolution of a scanner, printer, or image; the more dots (or pixels) per inch, the sharper the image.

Double-Mount -- To place a photograph on two background papers.

Dry-Brushing -- The technique of applying chalk or paint to a dry brush or applicator and removing most of it by wiping/dabbing it on a piece of paper or rag before using it. This prevents paint from bleeding under the edges of a stencil, and chalk from looking to dark

DW Stickers -- stickers that are designed by David Walker.

Dye-based Inks -- are water-based, washable inks and are permanent once they are stamped/applied on papers; for use on all types of papers. Dye-based inks stamp well, dry quickly and will dry on coated papers. Dye-base inks will fade with time, they are harder to use for embossing because they dry so fast, and they tend to bleed

Embellishment -- Any scrapbooking extra (stickers, die-cuts, punches, etc.) that enhance the pages.

Emboss -- To create a raised surface by applying heat or pressure.

Embossing Gun/Heat Gun -- A professional heat tool that directs hot air to a precise area; used for heat embossing. The forced heat melts embossing powder, creating a slightly raised surface on the design

Embossing Powder -- A fast melting powder that delivers rich colors and solid surface bonding (used in heat embossing); available in a large assortment of colors and granulations. It is sprinkled onto a wet, inked surface; the excess is shaken off, and the remaining powder is melted, creating a slightly raised design

Encapsulation -- A method of displaying three-dimensional memorabilia and protecting nearby items from acid contained in the memorabilia. Items are encased in stable plastics.

Ephemera -- Mainly refers to printed matter of passing interest (like ticket-stubs, canceled stamps, playbills, vintage postcards, etc.) that is used on layouts, pages, paper crafts, and altered items. 

Eyelet -- A metal ring designed to reinforce a hole in fabric; in scrapbooking and paper crafts, eyelets are mainly used as embellishments. Eyelets are available in a wide assortment of colors and sizes. They are secured (set) in place using a tool called an ‘eyelet setter’.

Fibers -- a fancy thread used to decorate scrapbook pages

Film Speed -- Refers to film's sensitivity to light. Lower-speed films are less sensitive (use these on a bright, sunny day). Higher-speed films are more sensitive (use these in low-light situations).

Findings -- Also known as "found objects" or "ephemera," findings are items that an artist encounters (either accidentally or purposefully) and collects for use on layouts and paper crafts

Fine and Chisel Pens -- This pen has a fine tip (0.5 mm) and a chisel tip (6.0 mm). The fine tip is good for lettering and it's extremely versatile.

Foam Stamps -- Like rubber stamps but made of foam material; available in an assortment of designs, shapes, fonts, etc; generally acrylic paint is thinly applied to the stamp design, which is then pressed onto paper or another surface. Ink may also be used.

Focal Point -- The element of a design where lines converge. The eye is naturally drawn to the focal point in an image.

Font -- The style of a typeface; thousands of different fonts are available in word processing programs, on CD’s, and for download on the internet. The creative use of fonts for journaling and titles can enliven and enhance scrapbook pages.

GASC -- abbreviation for: Great American Scrapbook Convention

Gel-Based Rollers -- Pens with pigment ink.

Genealogy -- The study of the descent of a person, family or group from an ancestor. Many people who wish to create a family tree by researching their family's genealogy.

General Pattern Paper -- Paper with patterns (stripes, dots, plaids, etc.) that is made to be used for any occasion.

Gesso -- An opaque, chalk-like base (painted on) used to prepare surfaces for painting, lettering, gilding, etc.; useful when altering items

Gift Album -- A compilation of photographs and mementos created with a person or event in mind.

Gloss Finish -- A lustrous, shiny, surface on photographs; can also describe the surface of some metals, papers, paints, etc

Handmade Paper -- Paper made by hand that is often rough and uneven in texture. There are flowers and leaves in the paper sometimes, which can add to the natural look.

Handmade Scaps -- Embellishments made from layered-looking die-cuts.

Heading -- The caption or title that explains the theme of a layout.
 

Heritage/Heritage Pages -- Traditions passed down through a family from one generation to the next; a family’s legacy. Scrapbook layouts that contain photos, journaling, and/or memorabilia of this nature, are ‘heritage pages
 
Idea Books -- Books usually about one aspect of scrapbooking. Some are written for particular themes (weddings, babies, pets, etc.) while others are devoted to a particular product (stickers, die-cuts, templates, etc.).

Ink (Pigment) -- Different from normal dye-based inks, pigment inks are thicker and fade resistant, with slower drying times. They are generally bright and vivid and work well on matte papers. Pigment Ink works well for heat embossing; must be embossed when applied to coated or glossy surfaces to prevent smearing or smudging.

Inking - The technique of using inkpads to smear, stain, smudge, accent, and/or age papers (and other accents) with ink. Mainly, inking is done across and around the edges of papers and other objects, but sometimes the technique is used across an entire surface.

Inkjet Printer -- A popular tool of scrapbookers and paper crafters for printing photographs, clipart, journaling, and other images for use on layouts, etc. The inks are not always waterproof or suitable for archival pieces.

Intensity -- The strength of a color based on how true it is to the primary color.


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