Welcome to the Stickers 'N' Fun Scrapbooking Glossary. We know that sometimes scrapbooking can become a little technical and there are often many new terms to learn. Here we aim to define all these words for you so you never have to feel confused again. If there is a word you would like to see added or defined, please email us and we will be happy to add it to our glossary. We do our best to ensure the accuracy of this resource, but should you find an error, we would greatly appreciate it if you would please let us know.

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Acetate - a synthetic textile commonly used in paper crafts. Please note that this material contains acid and is not suitable for use with photographs.

Archival - indicates a material is permanent, durable and chemically stable.

Bone Folder - a tool made from a flat piece of bone or plastic. It is used to impress a fine line on paper to allow easy folding.

Brad - a small metal paper fastener with two prongs that are pushed through the paper and flattened on the other side. They are also known as split pins.

Brayer - a tool comprising a small rubber rolling pin with a handle attached. It is used to flatten paper, smooth surface or apply paint or ink.

Buffer - an alkaline substance added to paper to make it acid free.

Cardstock - generally refers to heavier papers. It is commonly used as backgrounds and photo mats in scrapbooking, but of course, the applications are endless.

Chalk - a common medium for shading and highlighting. When using on paper, make sure you let it sit for 24 hours before placing the item in your album. This prevents the need to seal it.

Colour-fast - refers to the items ability to retain its colour over extended periods of time. A colour-fast pigment or dye is resistant to environmental influences such as light and heat.

Crimper - a device used to turn ordinary cardstock into corrugated cardstock.

Crop - to cut or trim unwanted areas from a photo or image. A crop is also a gathering of friends for the purpose of scrapbooking.

Deacidification Spray - a spray used to 'wash' items such as newspaper clippings, documents and certificates. It neutralises acid found in these items and prolongs their life.

Die-cut - a shape cut from paper or cardstock using a die-cutting machine like Accu-Cut or Sizzix.

Distressing - using steel wool or a wire brush to artificially age cardstock or paper.

Dry Brushing - the process of applying chalk or paint to a brush and then removing most of it with a rag before using it. It can prevent paint bleeding (for example, it can stop it seeping under the edges of a template) and chalk from looking too dark.

Dry Embossing - a method of embossing whereby a stylus is used to create a raised effect on your paper or vellum.

Embellishment - anything used to enhance and decorate your page.

Embossing - a technique used to create a raised effect, either by applying heat or pressure.

Ephemera - refers to anything short-lived. In scrapbooking it refers to images of the past such as vintage postcards that can be incorporated into a layout.

Eyelet - a small metal ring used to line and strengthen the edge of a small hole.

Fibre - a slender thread-like strand commonly used to decorate tags and scrapbooking layouts.

Lignin - a natural substance found in the cell walls of plants. In plants, it is largely responsible for strength and rigidity, while in paper it leads to degradation. For example, when your newspapers turn yellow, it is because the lignin in the paper is reacting with the light and reducing the durability of your paper. When scrapbooking, always make sure the products you are working with a lignin free.

Mat - to create a border or frame around a photo or image. Also known as mounting.

Memorabilia - items of sentimental value that represent a memory and help tell a story. They can be anything from certificates to ticket stubs to holiday souvenirs. More often than not, they are not photo safe and require special care to preserve them

Mulberry Paper - a fibrous paper available in various textures and colours. Please note that not all mulberry papers are lignin free.

Paper Piecing - involves collating a range of cut out pieces of paper to create a particular theme or idea.

Pigment Ink - water based inks containing very small particles of colour. They are more vibrant and resistant to water than dye inks.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - an unstable plastic which can emit acids that cause damage to photographs and paper.

Quilling - a technique whereby thin strips of paper are curled and rolled into various designs.

Shabby Chic - this style of scrapbooking is simple and yet imperfect. Soft, pretty colours, muted tones, aged and distressed papers and torn edges often play a key role in this style.

Stylus - a pen-like tool made from wood, metal or plastic with rounded metal ends. It is used to dry emboss. It is also known as a burnisher.