If you're new to scrapbooking or are unsure of the terminology, the following list should  prove to be helpful.

Return to Home

Acid causes paper and photos to disintegrate over time. The aging process of the paper and photos are slowed when acid is removed from the paper during the manufacturing process.  Acid is used in paper manufacturing to break apart the wood fibers and the lignin that holds them together. If acid remains in the materials used for photo albums, the acid can react chemically with photographs and cause their deterioration. Not all scrapbooking materials are photo-safe, so be sure your paper, glue and markers are labeled acid-free or archival-quality before you purchase them. Acid Free items have a pH (a measure or acidity or alkalinity) of 7.0 or higher.  Its imperative that all materials (glue, pens, paper, etc.) used in scrapbooking albums or anything you want to archive be acid-free..

The leaching of acid from one object to an object it is in contact with. The most common acid migration in scrapbooking is from your bare hands to your photos and paper.

A substance that adheres two or more surfaces to one another.

This is a term used to indicate materials which have undergone laboratory analysis to determine their acidic and buffered content is within safe levels.

During manufacturing, a buffering agent such as calcium carbonate or magnesium bicarbonate can be added to paper to neutralize acid contaminants. Such papers have a pH of 8.5.

To cut a photograph. This has become synonymous with a group getting together to scrapbook. An activity for scrapbooker’s to gather and spend time scrapbooking.
 

To “crop” a photo means to cut the photo. Most of the time, you’ll do this to trim out excess background like sky and grass to better focus on the main subject of the picture.

To enhance a scrapbook page by adding accents.  If you want to include newspaper articles or announcements in your memory album, photocopy them onto acid-free, lignin-free paper or you can purchase an archival spray to preserve it, found at most scrapbook supply stores.

Writing and recording historical facts, memories, thoughts, feelings and emotions in a scrapbook album. Text on a scrapbook page giving details about the photographs. It can be done in your own handwriting or with adhesive letters, rub-ons, or computer generated font. It is probably the most important part of memory albums.

Lignin is the natural bonding element which holds wood fibers together. Newsprint contains lignin—you’ll notice how brittle and yellowed a newspaper becomes after just a few days. Like acid, lignin can be removed during processing to make scrapbooking paper safe. If lignin remains in the final paper (like with newsprint), it will become yellow and brittle over time. Most paper other than newsprint is lignin-free.

The process of creating a “frame” around a picture using complementary papers.

A plastic, acid-free sheet used to slip over a finished album page.

Term used for adhesives (glues) that are usually very tacky when first applied and not meant for use on items you may have to reposition before they are dry.

This refers to the acidity of a paper. The pH scale is the standard for measurement of acidity and alkalinity. It runs from 1 to 14 with each number representing a ten-fold increase; pH neutral is 7. Acid-free products have a pH factor of 7 or above. Special pH tester pens are available to help you determine the acidity of products.

Photo albums include photos only with little or no journaling.

Holds a photo to a page by slipping the corners of the photo into the them.

This is a term similar to archival quality but more specific to materials used with photographs. Acid-free is the determining factor for a product to be labeled photo-safe.

A clear plastic pocket that slips over a photograph to protect it.

An album that has metal posts holding the binding together. The advantage with post bound albums is that the posts can be extended, allowing more room for more pages.

Term used for adhesives (glues) that do not create a permanent bond until dry. Repositionable adhesives can be applied to an object, and that object can be moved without damage to the underlying surface. Once repositionable adhesive dries, it is permanent and the object will not be able to be removed without a special solvent or damaging the surface below.

A collection of memories. Usually includes photos and journaling, although by definition a scrapbook can include anything memorable such as newspaper clippings, certificates, locks of hair, etc. Also known as Memory Books.

Preserving photos and memorabilia by creatively placing them in photo albums or books. A scrapbook is simply a decorated photo album—but it’s different from a photo album because it preserves something more than just the photos. A scrapbook includes journaling (telling the story behind the photos) as well as memorabilia (tickets, certificates, letters, etc.). You might have a family album as well as smaller theme albums for vacations, home improvement or a baby’s first year.

To copy an accent or embellishment idea, or the entire design of a scrapbook page.

Creativity block for scrapbookers.

Pockets made of clear plastic to slip over a finished album page. They can be side-loading or top-loading. It is important that they are acid-free. Polypropylene (vinyl), commonly available for office use, is not of archival quality and should not be included in albums.

Used interchangeably to describe a thumbnail drawing scrapbook page.

Use straps (usually plastic) to allow pages to lie completely flat when album is opened.

A semi-transparent paper. Used when you want detail behind to show through. Also great for computer journaling.

Return to Home