What does "lignin free" mean?
What is "acid free?"
What is "PVC free"?
Where do I begin?
What is a die-cut and how do I use a die-cutting machine?
What is an embellishment?
Can regular glue be used for scrapbooking?
What is "cropping?"
What is Embossing?
What are clear stamps?

1. What does "lignin free" mean?
   Lignin is a substance that gives plants and trees their strength and rigidity and also binds wood fibers together. When wood is broken down to make paper, the lignin becomes unstable. Paper that contains large amounts of lignin is very acidic and will turn yellow when exposed to light and humidity.
2. What is "acid free?"
   Acid is produced in paper when the paper and papermaking chemicals in the paper deteriorate or when acid is absorbed from its environment. Over time, acid breaks the paper fibers down causing the paper to deteriorate and become brown and brittle. Paper that is acid free has a pH of 7.0 or higher.
3. What is "PVC free"?
   PVC stands for Poly-Vinyl Chloride and is generally defined as unstable plastic. PVC may exude oily plastics or emit corrosive and acidic hydrogen-chloride gas. Avoid all sheet protectors, binders, photo enclosures, corners, or any other product made from vinyl with your photographs, negatives and memorabilia.
4. Where do I begin?
   To help you create your scrapbook pages, here are some basic steps in getting started:
   • Look through your photos and select a theme (i.e., family, friends, baby, wedding, vacation, etc.).
   • Select your photo album (12"x12" is most popular) and lignin free paper in coordinating colors to compliment your pictures.
   • Choose a photo or photos to be your focal point.
   • Shape and mat your photo.
   • Arrange photos, titles, and your journaling on the page to give it a balanced, eye - catching look.
   • Add embellishments to give your page that creative flair.
5. What is a die-cut and how do I use a die-cutting machine?
   A die-cut is a shape or letter cut from paper with a special die cutting machine. To operate the machine, position the paper or cardstock on top of the die. Place the full cutting mat on top of the material, then roll it through the machine by turning the handle in the direction you want the die in the platform to go. Remove the cutting mat and separate the die cuts from the remaining material.
6. What is an embellishment?
   An embellishment is anything that decorates the scrapbook page. This includes ribbons, stickers, buttons, 3-D items, brads and much more. Embellishments are made of many fun materials like paper, metal, wood, clay and naturals and currently are the #1 selling scrapbook item.
7. Can regular glue be used for scrapbooking?
   Using the proper adhesive for scrapbooking will not only make your pages turn out better, but will preserve and protect your photographs and memorabilia. It is important to only use dry adhesive for paper crafting. The most popular types of adhesives are Glue Dots, Adhesive Runners in permanent or repositionable, Glue Sticks, Glue sheets, or double sided tape.
8. What is "cropping?"
   "Cropping" is altering the boundaries of a finished photograph by trimming or masking the photograph. This can be done manually or digitally. You can learn how to enhance your photographs with imaginative cropping, matting, borders, and placement on the page, and then add creative and appealing captions. A "cropping party" is when a group of scrapbookers get together and share their flair.
9. What is Embossing?
   Embossing refers to the creation of an impression of some kind of design, decoration, lettering or pattern on another surface like paper, cloth, metal and even leather, to make a relief. There are three types:
   • Heat Embossing - Heat embossing is the easy and versatile technique of combining inks, embossing powders, and heat to make raised designs on paper. The effect is similar to the lettering on an embossed wedding invitation. Here's how it is done: Apply ink to paper, using rubber stamps and an inkpad. Sprinkle embossing powder over the wet areas, working quickly so the powder grains will stick. Shake off excess. Melt the powder using a heat embossing heat tool (a special heat gun made for this purpose). When cool, the melted powder will dry into a glossy, raised image. (Note: a hair dryer will not work for this technique as it will just blow the embossing powder everywhere.)
   • Adhesive Embossing - same as heat embossing only using an embossing stamp pad that contains an adhesive instead of a regular stamp pad as the wet. Embossing ink is specifically designed for embossing and is often lightly-colored and very slow drying. Embossing ink is available ink stamp pads or ink pens. Although not as versatile as other types of ink, this ink is the most ideal for embossing.
   • Dry Embossing - method of impressing two-dimensional design into paper using a stencil and an embossing tool, which has a rounded tip at each end. You made depressions in the paper by pressing the tool through the cutouts in the stencil. When you turn the paper over, the depressions become rained areas creating a relief design. The technique is called dry embossing to distinguish it from wet embossing that uses fluids and powders to create raised effects.

10. What are clear stamps?
    They are generally made of acrylic or clear rubber. When used with a clear acrylic block, you are able to stamp accurately and with perfect precision, something that wood block and foam backed rubber stamps cannot offer. Clear stamps are crystal clear allowing you to see exactly where the image will appear on your page, thereby taking the guesswork out of stamping.