Glossary of Basic Scrapbooking Terms

Acid-free: Acid is a chemical found in paper that will disintegrate it over time. Acid will ruin photos. It’s very important to use papers, pens, and other supplies labeled “acid-free,” or eventually the acid may ruin cherished photos and layouts.

 

Adhesive: Any kind of glue or tape can be considered an adhesive. In scrapbooking, there are several kinds of adhesives: tape runners, glue sticks, and glue dots.

 

Brad: This is similar to a typical split pin, but it is found in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. It is commonly used for embellishment.

 

Challenge: Within the scrapbooking community, challenges are issued in groups as a way to instill motivation.

 

Crop: Technically, to crop means to cut down a photo. However, a crop is also a gathering of scrapbookers who get together to create scrapbooks. A crop can be anything from a group of friends getting together to a more official gathering where scrapbook materials are for sale, games are played, and challenges are issued, and so on. Online crops are a good alternative for people who don’t have a local scrapbook community.

 

Die-cut: This is a shape or letter cut from paper or card stock, usually by machine or by using a template.

 

Embellishment: An embellishment is an item, other than words or photos, that enhances a scrapbook page. Typical embellishments are ribbons, fabric, and stickers.

 

Eyelet: These small metal circles, similar to the metal rings found on shoes for threading laces, are used in the scrapbook context as a decoration and can hold elements on a page.

 

Journaling: This is the term for writing on scrapbook pages. It includes everything from titles to full pages of thoughts, feelings, and memories about the photos displayed.

 

Matting: Photos in scrapbooks are framed with a mat. Scrapbookers mat with coordinating papers on layouts, often using colors found in the photos.

 

Page protector: These are clear, acid-free covers that are used to protect finished pages.

 

Permanent: Adhesives that will stay are deemed permanent.

 

Photo corners: A photo is held to a page by slipping its corners into photo corners. They usually stick on one side.

 

Post-bound album: This term refers to an album that uses metal posts to hold the binding together. These albums can be extended with more posts to make them thicker. Usually page protectors are already included on the album pages.

 

Punch: This is a tool used to perforate paper or card stock with decorative shapes.

 

Punchies: The paper shapes that result from using a paper punch tool are known as punchies. These can be used on a page for a decorative effect.

 

Repositionable adhesive: Magically, these adhesives do not create a permanent bond until dry, so you can move an element dabbed with the adhesive around on the page until you find just the perfect spot.

 

Scraplift: When a scrapbooker copies someone’s page layout or design, she has scraplifted.

 

Scrapper’s block: This is a creativity block.

 

Strap-hinge album: An album can utilize straps to allow pages to lie completely flat when the album opens. To add pages to this album, the straps are unhinged.

 

Template: A template is a guide for cutting shapes, and for drawing or writing on a page. They are usually made of plastic or cardboard.

 

Trimmer: A trimmer is a tool used for straight-cutting photos.

 

Vellum: Vellum is a thick, semitransparent paper with a smooth finish.