Guest Author - Carol Taller

New hobbies or activities seem to come with their own language. Rubber-stamping is no exception. Below are terms and some of the more common abbreviations that are used within this art form.

Acid Free- Acid will cause discoloration of your work in years to come. It is recommended that all supplies be free of acid to assure long life in your artwork.

Adhesive- Substance that bonds one object to another. Glue, double faced tape, glue dots, etc. are types of adhesives.

Angel Based Company- Many manufacturers of rubber stamps post this disclaimer when they sell their rubber stamps. This means the company will allow you to use the stamp in artwork that you sell, however, there may be some restrictions that you must follow.

Archival- Material that is chemically balanced is considered to be made of archival quality. The term suggests that the product will be durable and last longer than non archival products.

Artist Trading Cards (ATC)- Small cards (usually measuring 2 ½ X 3 ½ ) that show off an artist’s work. ATC cards are often traded and collected.

Brayer- A rubber wheel with a handle that works like a paint roller. It can be used to create unusual backgrounds.

Crystal Lacquer (CL)- Liquid glaze that gives a dimensional, glossy look to your work.

Die- The raised part of the rubber stamp that creates the impression.

Dye based ink- Permanent, water based ink that is not recommended with embossing powder.

Embossing- This technique raises or lowers the paper surface to create an image.

Embossing Powder (EP)- Powder that gets sprinkled onto wet stamped image. Heat the powder and it solidifies into a raised image.

Masking- A technique that covers up part of the image to protect it from unwanted colors. Masking is often used in backgrounds.

Pigment Ink- Wet ink that works well for embossing powders. It is slow drying and will not dry on glossy paper unless embossed.

Rubber Stamping (RS)- The art of transferring an image from raised images on rubber.

Stamping Mat- A cushioned mat (could be a mouse pad) that “gives” when making impressions. Works well when stamping oversized stamps.

Stamp Positioner- A clear acrylic tool that assists in positioning your rubber stamp art exactly where you want in on the page.

Template- A pattern used as a guide to make something easier.

Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE)- Thick embossing enamel that can adapt to many techniques. It can have a many colors, be smooth or crackled, and can be molded into shapes.