May 31, 2008 - under contruction
This page is designed to give you some basic definitions or explanations of terms, items or techniques which you may find in the world of stamping and paper crafts. These definitions come from personal knowledge, resource books, vendors and other visitors. If you have something to add to this information, please feel free to e-mail me.
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3-D Cards: Cards in which dimension is added by mounting the cutout image or item on the card or project with foam mounting tape.
Acid-free Papers: Papers which are free of acid at the time they are made with a pH between 7.0 and 9.0.
Acidity: State of a substance which contains acid.
Acid Migration: The transference of acid from something aciditic to something else with less acid or neutral-pH.
Acrylic Paints: Water-soluble pigment paint with a plastic binder.
Almost Leather: Product from Co-Motion Rubber Stamps, Inc. which has the look and feel of real leather. It is a foam material on which you may stamp, paint, etc.
Astrobrite paper: Paper which is available in a bright array of colors. These colors are rather bold.
Bleach Stamping : Bleach is used in place of ink when stamping. The bleach removes or bleaches the color from the paper as you stamp .
Blenders: Markers, pencils or pens used to blend the colors of the medium used to colorize an image.
Blitzer: A tool that is used with markers to create an airbrush effect.
Bookmark Card: A card on which there is a detachable bookmark. Excellent as a gift card.
Brayer: A tool which consists of a rubber rolling pin and a handle. It works well for spreading ink or paint over a surface, much like a paint roller. Normally the roller or rolling pin is flat, but there have been some textured rollers made available recently. Rollers can be either hard or soft. Excellent for making backgrounds.
Brush Marker : A marker with a brush tip which allows the user to brush color onto the image or directly on the rubber stamp before stamping .
Burnish: Polish to a glossy finish.
Calligraphy: Art of hand lettering.
Chalk: A powdery substance which can be compressed into sticks or disks and come in a variety of colors. The chalk can be applied to a card or project by use of finger, applicator, or even a q-tip.
Cling: a type of mounting that allows the rubber stamp to cling to the acrylic handle. The stamp is removed and another can be placed on the handle to be stamped.
ColorBox: Pigment-based ink pads. Works well for embossing.
Colored Markers: Markers which come in a range of colors and are used to apply color to your image. Care must be taken that you do not leave the tip of the marker on the paper too long or color may bleed out from the image. You may also run the risk of making the paper weak in that area. Do not apply markers too heavily.
Only use water based markers directly on your rubber stamps.
Colored Pencils: Pencils which come in a range of colors and are used to apply color to your image.
Confetti: Sold in a wide range of shapes and mediums. Normally made of metallic material, in small shapes. Some of the most common confetti is stars, dots and squares. You can also purchase it in mixes by themes.
Corner Rounder : A paper punch with is used to give the corner of a piece of paper a rounded edge rather than a sharpe edge .
Couching: Is a method by which newly formed sheets of wet paper are laid down after draining. Often felt or cloth is used. The felt or cloths are formed into a wet pad to absorb water. The newly formed sheet is placed on the wet felt. As each new sheet is added, so is a wet felt or cloth. The sheets of paper must be removed from the felt before they dry completely.
Coupon Book: A small book which is creating by making coupons on pieces of paper and then binding them into a book which may be given as a gift.
Crack-N-Peel: See also Sticker Paper.
Deckle Edge: the feathery or rough edge of paper. It can be the result of the run-off of wet pulp or the tearing of paper.
Destressing: The process of making a card or poject appear older than it is. Sandpaper, inks, and other products are used to age the paper or project .
Die-Cuts: Paper shapes which have been cut out either using an X-Acto knife, scissors or a die cut machine. Die-cuts can be used to layer, create a background, or to create an area of an image which stands out above the fold of a card.
Dorsing: The use of dorso crayons on parchment or Pergamanio craft to add color to the reverse side of the work.
Double-Stick foam-backed Tape: Also called mounting tape. Sticky on both sides of the foam. Can be purchased in dots (small circles), squares or in a roll. Used to mount paper images or objects to your project. Has also been used for mounting in shaker cards.
Embossing: Techniques which are used to create a raised edge image on your card or project. The first method uses embossing powder which sticks to wet ink. The excess powder is removed and the image is heated until the powder melts using a heat gun, hot plate or 100 watt light bulb.
The second method is sometimes called dry embossing and is the method of using a stencil and stylus to create the raised image. The stencil is placed beneath the paper. Once the stencil is position properly, the stylus is press into the paper along the inside edge of the image. When completed, the paper is lifted and turned over to display the raised image.
Embossing Ink: A very wet, thick ink which can be clear or tinted. It is slow drying to allow time for the application of embossing powder.
Embossing Powder: A powder which is applied to wet ink of an image and then heated to create a raised edge. It comes in a variety of colors and finishes, including clear and pearl. It also comes in fine or detail, normal and enamel. Glitter can be mixed in as well as other very small particles like tiny confetti.
Embossing Tinsel: Embossing powder which contains metalic tinsel type confetti or particles.
Envy: Same and an envelope.
Eyelets: Small metal shapes with hollow center which are used to embellish a card or project. Eyelets can also be used to attach and hold two pieces of paper at a particular point. Sometimes known as groumets.
Fabric Ink: Permanent inks which are made specifically for stamping on fabrics.
Fabric Paint: Permanent paints which are made specifically for painting on fabrics.
Faux: Not the real thing, but similar.
Foam Mounting Tape: See also Mounting Tape.
Foil Papers: Metallic foil papers which can be used for layering, creating backgrounds, paper folding, or lining of envelopes. They normally come in squares for origami or in retangular sheets for stamping and paper crafts. Foil papers may also be purchased in the form of wrapping paper.
Gilding: Art of embellishing or artwork or fixing gold leaf to an object.
Gocco Printer: Used to print your personal designs, calligraphy or text in a range of colors on a variety of surfaces.
Gold Leaf or Foil : Very thin sheets of leaf or foil used to embellish images or projects. Adhesive is used to make the leaf or foil adhere to the surface .
Glue Sticks: Glue which is sold in a stick format. There are many brands and it works well for attaching layering paper or cutouts.
Halo & Loop: A method of mounting stamps using velcro instead of wood. The unmounted stamp image is placed on the loop or soft part of the velcro. The halo or hard part of the velcro is normally used on an acrylic block with grooves for the halo which allows the image to sit smoothly on the block.
Handmade Paper: Method of making paper by hand normally using a screen type device for the actual forming of the sheet of paper. Handmade paper can add texture and body to your card or work. Many handmade papers have inclusions of fibers, plants, confetti or any other desired items. Some of the most beautiful paper in the world is handmade.
Heat Gun: A toll which resembles a hair dryer, but gets much hotter without as much blowing. It is used to melt embossing powder or to soften wax waffers or seals.
Ink Pad: Felt or foam pads which contain ink. Your stamp is pressed on the pad or a brayer rolled over it to pick up ink. The stamp or brayer is then applied to paper, leaving behind the ink in the shape of the stamp image or rolled over the paper by the brayer to create a background.
Iris Folding : The art of folding and placing papers behind an opening or window to create a pattern or design .
Kentic Cards: Cards with moving parts such as wheels, pop-ups, sliders, Flip-Flop, etc.
Kozo: Most common fiber used in Japanese papermaking is Kozo from the Mulberry tree. It creates strong paper with long fibers.
Kromecoat Paper: A brand of paper which comes in cover-weight and is glossy on one side. Care must be taken when stamping on this type of paper to be sure you do not smear your ink. Works very well for embossing.
Layering: A technique in which dimension is added to a project by layering work. Layering may be done with papers, foils, etc.
Leaf: A very thin, fragile foil which is applied by using a tacky adhesive or double stick tape or sheets. It is sold in a range of colors and styles. It is easily found in craft stores in the section of wood crafts as well as in stamping sections.
Loop: See also Halo & Loop.
Mail Art: Stamped or embellished postcards, envelopes or cards in clear envelopes which are mailed through the postal system.
Masking: The method of stamping an image and then covering it with a piece of paper in the exact same shape, then stamping the next image. The results are that there is no overstamping and you can create depth to your card or project using diferent stamp images. For block images, you may want to tear a piece of paper in the same type of shape to give the overstamping a fuzzy edge. This will make the image softer.
Micro Beads : Extremely small holeless glass beads which are glued to the surface of a stamped image or the surface of a project to give it a effect similar to beaded glass or stained glass.
Mini-Book: Tiny books which are created by binding small pieces of paper into pages and adding a front and back cover. Mini-books can also be made from shrink-art plastic.
Molded Paper: Paper which is made wet and then molded into a shape or image. Clay cookie molds are often used to create a molded paper image which is layered onto a card or used as a decoration which is hung.
Moldmade or Mouldmade Paper: Paper made by slowly rotating a cylinder mold. This process simulates the hand-papermaking process. The fibers are randomly intertwined and stronger than machinemade papers.
Mortise Mask: A masking technique in which only the open area of the masking image is cut. This works well for bowls, windows, doors, boxes and handled baskets.
Mulberry Paper: Japanese paper made from Kozo. It comes in a wide range of colors and has a wonderful texture as well as appearence. Excellent for layering.
Oil Pastels: Come in either crayon, block or tubes. Easily applied and blended.
Origami: The Japanese art of folding paper into desired shapes and designs. These shapes and designs are almost always 3-D.
Overstamping: The technique of stamping images over part or all of previously stamped images to create a wash or ghosting of images. A wonderful technique for creating backgrounds.
Padding: A rubbery adhesive which is used to bind paper into notepads.
Paint/Ink Eraser: A pencil or brush shaped tool with a rubber tip used to lift, rub off or erase excess paint or ink.
Paper: Comes in a range of colors, weights, textures and types. Click on these link to find out more about papers or Sources.
Paper-casting: See also Molded Paper.
Paper Crimper: A tool which contains two rollers between which paper is rolled. The results are crimped paper which can be corragated or may have embossed shapes. The newest crimpers available have shapes such as stars.
Paper Edgers and Corner Tools: Scissor-like tools which allow for a decorative cut edge or corner on you paper.
Paper Punches: Hand held punches used to punch decorative shapes in paper.
Paper Sculpture: Sculpture created using paper. The paper can be formed by cutting, embossing, and molding.
Perforating Needles: Tools used to punch or perforate holes in parchment for Pergamanio. Needles come with single needle to five needles.
Perforating Pad: Pad which is placed beneath the parchment when using the perforating needle tools in Pergamanio.
Pergamano: Sometimes call Parchment craft. Images or designs are traced on the rough side of the parchment paper. Embossing is done on the smooth side. The resulting work often appears almost lace-like on the edges.
PolyShrink: a flexiable plastic material which will shrink when heated. Works well in making pins and jewelry. It has also been used to create covers for mini books which can be worn as a pendant.
Pop-out Cards: Cards in which the image or item pops out when opened.
Pop-up Cards: Cards which have a image or item which pops up when opened.
Postcard: A flat piece of cardstock which has an image on one side and a message with the mailing address and postage stamp on the other side.
Prisma Glitter: Art Glitter which comes in a variety of colors in medium to ultra fine grain. It is sprinkled over glue or other types of adhesive to make it stick to the medium.
Radiant Pearls: Brand of paints made by Angelwings. Click here to link to their site for full explination, tips, etc. on Radiant Pearls.
Rainbow Ink Pads: Ink pads which come in multiple colors on a single pad. Works well for creating an image in a rainbow of colors or for creating backgrounds.
Repetition: The repeting of an image over and over. This works well to create a garden from a single flower or a forest from a single tree or the heavens from a single star.
Reverse Image: An image which is the reverse of the stamp image. It is created by stamping your image on a plain rubber surface and then stamping that on the paper or project. Works well for creating a reflection in water or on a mirror.
Scenic Stamping : The use of multiple stamp images to create a complete scene. An example would be the use of various stamps of animals, plants, trees and other scenic elements to create a single picture.
Scatchboard: Is a board which has a layer of black paint over a colorful rainbow background. Images may be scratched through the black paint to allow the rainbow of colors to show.
Shaker Cards : Cards with a hollow area usually created by the use of foam board and plastic to create a window which is filled with beads, sand, shells or confetti which moves when shaken. Normally there is an image or message in the background of the window..
Shrink Art: See also PolyShrink.
Sparkles: See also Confetti.
Sponging: A technique of applying ink or paint to a medium with a sponge. Sponges come in a range of textures and types. Excellent for creating backgrounds or texture in an image.
Static Cling Mounting Foam : A mounting foam for unmounted stamps which allows the stamper to do a temporary mount of the stamp on an acrylic block. The stamps may be stored in notebooks or CD cases. This type of mounting system saves on storage space over wooden mounted stamps.
Sticker Paper: Paper which is plain on one side for stamping and embellishing and is sticky on the other side. Crack-N-Peel is a popular brand.
Stamp Pad: See also Ink Pad.
Stamp Positioner: A tool which is used to position a stamp in exactly the desired location. Works well when creating scences using several differen stamp images. Many of them look similar to a T-square but are normally made from acrylic.
Stencils: Come in brass, plastic or heavy cardstock. They are used to create shapes and images. The stencil has open or cut out areas through which color can be applied to create the image or a stylus can be used to create a raised image.
Stippling: Technique of gentle hammering strokes with a brush on your medium. Excellent for creating backgrounds or applying color in large areas quickly.
Stylus: A tool with a rounded tip. It comes in a vew sizes and is used when embossing paper using a stencil.
Teabag Folding : Small squares of paper are folded into designs and then placed together on the card or project to create a design. The paper is two sided, similar to origami paper. In some cases, origami paper is used in place of teabag papers .
Tent Card: A simple card made from a piece of paper by folding it in half. The fold would be the top of the card.
Tooth: the suface texture of paper which grabs or holds the nib of the pen.
Tinta Ink: Ink which is used in Pergamanio. It comes in white, gold and a range of colors.
UTEE: See also Embossing Powder.
Wash: Using a wet watercolor brush to extend colors of the image.
Water Color Paint: Paint which is applied using water to spread or sometimes thin the colors. It comes in tubes, blocks and in the form of water color pencils.
Water Color Pencils: Pencils which are used to color an image and then a brush and water can be applied to achieve a water color wash or appearence.
Waterfall Card : A technique which allows the stamper to create a card with a pull tab on which images and a message are attached. When the tab is pulled, the images flip or waterfall to show each image and a final message as the tab moves. A sample of a Waterfall card is on Beeswax's website. Click here to see the instructions and sample.
Waterleaf Paper: Paper which has little or no sizing, such as blotter. It is very absorbent.
Wet Strength: The strength of the sheet of paper once it has been saturated with water.
WildFiber: Brand method of making paper. Made from a combinations of colored textiles, accents and a dry binder. Can be rolled out, molded or shaped. Once dry, it can be used as is or cut.
Wood Mount : Rubber stamps are mounted on foam and a wooden block.
Wove Paper: Paper in which the surface is uniform and unlined in a smooth finish.
X-Acto Knife: A craft knife with a small sharpe blade used for cutting small areas or details. There are a variety of blade shapes.
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