Acid – a substance that causes paper to wrinkle or crumble

Acid Free– scrapbook products that are safe to use with pictures and keepsakes

Adhesive – term for bonding agents that affix one item to another.  Examples include glue sticks, spray adhesives, adhesive dots, double-sided tapes, etc. 

Altered/Altering – using scrapbooking supplies to creatively “alter” a found item.  Examples include books, metal tins, book covers, paint buckets, and woodcrafts 

Archival – term used to describe materials safe for preserving keepsakes

Background Paper – paper used as the bottom layer of a scrapbook layout 

Border – term used to describe the outer margins of scrapbook layout.  Also used to describe design of page.

Brads – metal embellishments in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes that pushes metal prongs through the paper and then outward to secure

Bufferred – a term used to describe a product that prevents acid from forming

Cardstock – thick, weighted paper available in all colors.  Considered a must have for scrapbooking.

Chalk – used in scrapbooking, chalks come in a variety of colors and are used on papers to provide shading or an aged look.  Chalks are often applied with cotton swabs or make up applicators.

Chipboard – made of lightweight cardboard, chipboard can be used to create alphabets, embellishments, and a variety of other extras.  Chipboard is usually altered by using paint or covering with other papers.
 
Circle Cutter/Oval  – special tools that cut paper and photographs into circles or ovals

Clip Art – picture art added to scrapbook pages 

Color Blocking – using different blocks of color to create a layout background 

Corner Rounder – a paper punch used to round the corners of paper 

Crop – to cut off or trim an image.  Can also refer to a gathering where scrapbookers work on scrapbooks and share ideas. 

Deacidification Spray – spray that neutralizes acid in paper documents 

Decorative Scissors – scissors that cut a decorative pattern into paper 

Die Cuts – a shape or letter cut with a die cut machine 

Dye Based Inks – water based, washable inks that become permanent once stamped on paper

Embellishments – items added to decorate a scrapbook page.  Examples include stickers, buttons, tags, ribbon, etc.

Emboss – to create a raised image on paper either by using heat embossing powder or a stylus and template 

Ephemera – often found items that are considered keepsakes and used on scrapbook pages.  Examples include stamps, ticket stubs, etc.

Eyelet – a metal ring used as embellishments on a scrapbook page.  Eyelets come in various shapes, sizes and colors and can be used to attach an item to a scrapbook layout.

Fibers – a variety of threads used to decorate scrapbook layouts

Foam Stamps – available in various sizes, shapes and designs, foam stamps are used like rubber stamps

Focal Points – the main or most important photograph of the scrapbook layout

Font  – typeface that can be used as journaling and titles for scrapbook layouts

Heritage Photos – a photograph of special importance 

Inking – technique used to accent papers with ink either on the edges or on the page itself 

Journaling – including words to document the importance of the photographs on the scrapbook page 

Lamination – sealing paper with a thin, translucent plastic

Layout – the arrangement of scrapbook page

Lightfastness – speed of which a paper fades in sunlight

Lignin – considered harmful to photographs 

Magnetic Albums – popular but considered dangerous method of organizing photographs in albums.  Many magnetic albums contain acid, lignin and PVC.  Look for albums labeled acid free. 

Masking – technique used to give the appearance of images stamped behind or in front of one another 

Matting  A Photo – cutting a background paper slightly larger than the photograph and attaching it so the photograph looks framed

Memorabilia – anything of importance worth keeping

Mica Shapes – used as embellishments on scrapbook layouts.  

Mini Albums – small, often handmade albums dedicated to a certain theme or event 

Mosaic – using scrapbook paper to create a mosaic look

Mount – to adhere something

Mulberry Paper – a decorative paper that has feathered edges when torn

Page Protectors – plastic sheets that protect scrapbook layouts.  Come in a variety of sizes to fit any album.

Paper Crafts – making arts and crafts with paper products 

Paper Crimper – a tool used to corrugate paper

Paper Piecing – use cut shapes to create a picture

Paper Tearing – to tear paper to a unique design without using a paper trimmer or scissors 

Patterned Paper – decorative papers used in scrapbooking 

Personal Die Cut System – portable die cut systems used for personal use of  scrapbookers 

PH Level – measure of the acidity of paper

PH Testing Pen – pen used to test the acidity of paper 

Post Bound Album – a scrapbook album assembled by two or three posts that hold the album together

Red Eye Pen – pen used to take red eye flash out of photographs

Removable Adhesive – adhesive that is not permanent and can be undone

Rubber Stamp – stamp used to with ink or paint to accent a scrapbook layout

Rub On Transfers – various styles, shapes and colors of art that are applied by rubbing with a wooden stick or tool

Sanding – a technique used to rough the edges or surface of paper 

Scrapbook – a memory or keepsake album

Scraplift – being inspired by someone else’s work and using their design to create your own 

Shabby Chic – a scrapbook style that uses distressing to give a worn look

Spiral Albums – albums that are bound with a metal spiral binding 

Sponging – technique of adding ink or paint to paper using a small sponge

Spray Adhesive – a spray can adhesive that can cover large surfaces 

Stencil – a precut template used to trace 

Sticker – used as embellishments on scrapbook pages 

Stitching – the practice of stitching together papers in scrapbook layout design 

Strap Hinge Album – an album that uses a strap hinge to hold together 

Tape Roller – a tool that readily distributes tape for adhering photographs to scrapbook papers 

Template – a stencil used to trace 

Texture – the feel of a surface on paper 

Theme – the overall focus of a layout or album 

Three Ring Binder – albums with rings that snap together to hold page protectors in place 

Tint – a color with white mixed in

Transparency – a clear sheet of film with printed designs on its surface.  The bottom layer will show through a clear transparency.

Trimmer – a tool used to cut scrapbook paper 

Unmounted Stamps – rubber or vinyl stamps not attached to a stamping block

Vellum – lightweight, translucent paper 

X-Acto Knife - sharp tool used for cutting in small places

About the author:

Melissa Williams is a wife and mother of a beautiful baby boy. She is an avid scrapbooker, card maker, crocheter, and all around creative person. She lives in Michigan, and aspires to start her own business selling handmade cards and scrapbooking services. Melissa is an author on Writing.Com (http://www.Writing.Com/)