| Acetate |
A clear film sheet which can be stamped, coloured or glass painted onto then insert into an aperture card as a window. Comes in two varieties normal and heat resist. The heat resist can be placed through a photocopier or used to heat emboss onto.
|
| Adhesive Foam |
This is a three dimensional foam which raises images from the page. This must be archival-acid free, so check the label before use. |
| Allum |
These are dry crystals dissolved in hot water to make a pickling solution to use at home (see pickling solution). |
| Annealing |
Is the process of heating and cooling metal to the correct temperature. This process softens the metal making it easier to work. |
| Anvil |
This is a heavy metal stand with a protruding round nose, this makes for easier shaping. |
| Argotec |
Is a white powder mixed to a paste and painted onto silver before heating to avoid fire stain, this can be mixed with water or methylated spirits. (See Fire Stain) |
| Arkansas stone |
This is used for sharpening graving tools and fine points. This abrasive stone needs to be well oiled to prevent damage to the item being sharpened. |
| Awl |
This is a tool normally has a wooden handle and a metal shank with a sharp pointed tip; it is used to punch holes. |
| Backing paper |
This is useful for Matting and Layering or as a general background paper. It can be shop purchased or create yourself using many of the craft techniques (see the scrapbooking projects section for ideas).
|
| Balancing |
Before soldering a seam, the two parts which are to be soldered together must be supported, in such a way they will not move. |
| Ballpein hammer |
This is a heavy steel hammer which has a flat face and a rounded face. |
| Barrel Polisher |
A rubber barrel which, by a continuous revolving movement, will polish chains and rounded pieces. The barrel contains stainless steel burnishers. |
| Base Metals |
These are metals that do not contain iron these include the two metals brass and copper. |
| Bead Loom |
A long thin loom specially created to allow the weaving with beads often known as Native American Bead Loom. |
| Beading needle |
Ultra fine needles used for beading often with small eyes so will pas through beads with small holes easily. Come in a variety of lengths including extra long ideal for beading using a loom. |
| Beading wire/thread |
A special wire/thread which is very strong and is suitable for beading beads with small holes. It comes in a variety of colours and types. |
| Beads |
They come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials. Sometimes the hole in a very large bead can be quite small. They are sold by millimetres the diameter of the bead being the crucial measurement, ranging from 2mm diameter to 14mm diameter.
Bugle Beads: long thin beads often made from glass come in a huge variety of colours
Pony beads: small round beads often made from glass, sold in small tubes or bags by weight.
Lamp work beads: very decorative beads often made of glass often decorated with swirls, dots and zigzags.
|
| Bearer Wire |
The metal ring inside a bezel which is the ledge upon which the stone rests. |
| Bevel |
This is the sloping edge of a metal surface. |
| Bezel |
This is a strip of thin metal around the stone, the edges of which are pushed over the stone holding the stone securely in place. |
| Binding Wire |
Whilst soldering items have to be held together securely and this wire is used to do this job. |
| Bone folder |
A flat bone bar which is helpful when folding card or paper to give a crisp finish.
|
| Borax |
A flux used for soldering. It comes in conical form and is ground with water, in a ceramic dish, to form a paste. This is then painted on the area to be soldered. |
| Bradlets |
Sometimes shortened to Brads. These are split pin clips used to attach items to cards by piercing the card and pushing the pointed legs through the piercing, then opening the legs and pushing as flat as possible.
|
| Brayer |
This is a small roller (similar to a paint roller), which is rolled over an ink pad to pick up the ink. Then it can either be rolled over plain paper/card to make your own backing paper or rolled over the image on a rubber stamp. This is usually used when the rubber stamp is extra large. |
| Buff |
This is the usual term for a fabric polisher used with rouge or tripoli. |
| Burnisher |
This is a highly polished hand-held stainless steel tool used to produce a polished surface to metal. |
| Butterfly |
These clips slide onto the post of earrings for pierced ears to hold the earring in place. |
| Cabochon |
These are flat backed semi-precious/precious stones. |
| Carbon paper/pencil |
When working on items that you cannot place the design behind to trace for example a mirror then transferring the design using either carbon paper or a pencil is the ideal solution. |
| Card stock |
This is a general name for all card used in card making.
Aperture cards have a pre-cut shaped aperture i.e. round, heart-shaped etc. Cards sold ready to use are usually pre-scored for ease of folding and come with matching envelopes. Many sizes are available.
Sheet card is available for you to cut and shape to your own specification. Remember if you are not making an envelope to cut your card to fit a ready available envelope sizes.
|
| Casting |
Is the means of making a copy or making a piece by filling a mould with molten metal. Lost wax casting is the most widely used method but this can also be achieved by using cuttlefish bone. This is a highly difficult thing to accomplish without expert knowledge. |
| Chalk |
Chalks are sold in a paint-box like case which contains squares of various coloured chalk or as single blocks. Many are acid free and they can be applied with a cotton bud or cotton wool ball for great backgrounds. They benefit from being fixed with a fixing spray. |
| Charcoal block |
Is used as a level surface when soldering as it reflects heat well. |
| Chasing |
This is a term used meaning punching a design in metal. |
| Chenier |
This is Silver or gold tubing which comes in different thicknesses. |
| Clasps |
The finding used to join one end of a necklace or bracelet to the other allowing you to undo and refasten for wear. These include:
A Barrel clasp is two parts that screw together
A Lobster claw clasp is, as the name suggests, shaped like claw of a Lobster which has a spring back clip.
|
| Clawsetting |
This is a widely used setting which has the advantage of an open back thus allowing the light to reflect off of the faceted stone. The setting has “claws” holding the stones in place. |
| Clay extruder |
This is a commercially produced tool for small part making. This is useful for dolls house pieces. The clay is plunged through the tool, similar to a cake icing tool. The tool comes with several discs of varying shapes through which the clay passes emerging ready shaped. |
| Coping saw |
Is a hand saw similar to a piercing saw, for cutting plastic and wood. |
| Cotter pin |
Is a device for holding difficult shaped pieces. |
| Craft knife |
This is a basic essential for any craft box. It should be noted that care should be taken to cut away from the body and the keep hands/fingers out of the way of the blade to avoid accidents. It is advisable to always use a self-healing cutting mat.
|
| Crimp |
A small thin tubular piece of metal used to hold wire in place. Simply thread onto wire then squash tightly around thread to hold in place, often used to help fasten clasps in place. |
| Crimping tool |
The ideal tool for ensuring crimps are tightly and securely fixed in place, looks very similar to pliers. |
| Culet |
Is the name of the bottom edge of a faceted stone. |
| Dauber |
A small thimble like tube which has a felt pad at one end, the other end fits over the finger. The felt end is dabbed on an ink-pad to pick up the ink and used either for rubber stamping embellishments or stencilling. There is also a different kind of dauber which is a double ended tube. There is a sponge tip at each end covered with a small lid. Each end usually contains a different colour ink. They are usually packed in sets of three containing six colours in all. The use is the same as the thimble type. |
| Decorative edge scissors |
Many designs of edgings can be produced by the use of these scissors as each pair has a different design on the cblade i.e. zigzagged, scalloped etc. (See video techniques section for how to use these scissors successfully).
|
| Decoupage (3-D) |
A layering technique using several identical pictures, which are cut out and layered one on top of the other to produce a dimensional effect.
|
| Die-cut machines |
There are several types of hand operated die cutting machines available allowing you to die cut your own shapes great for the avid card maker or scrap booker.
|
| Die-cut shapes |
Pre-cut shapes i.e. fish, cats, teddies, are useful for creating toppers or for matting and layering.
|
| Divider |
This is a measuring device, handy for taking exact measurements and transferring them to the many steps required in the making complicated projects such as memory boxes with divided sections. |
| Dividers |
This is a measuring instrument, a metal implement with two fine pointed legs. |
| Doming |
Is the name given to the technique of curving metal to create beads that are hollow. |
| Double sided sticky pads |
Foam pads that are sticky on both sides. They allow you to add depth to your card making or scrapbookingprojects. Simply peel from the backing paper, stick in place then remove cover and stick element of design in place.
|
| Draw plate |
A steel plate with graded shaped holes. Annealed wire is pulled through these holes to decrease its thickness and change its shape. |
| Draw tongs |
These are pliers with toothed jaws, to grip the wire being pulled through the drawplate. |
| Ductility |
If the metal has the capability to be drawn through wire. |
| Electroplating |
How a thin coating of metal can be applied using an electric current. |
| Embellishments |
A whole array of found items and shop purchased items can be used to embellish cards including keys, buttons, charms, glitter etc.
|
| Embellishments |
Glass nuggets, crystals, rhinestones etc can enhance your design. These can be applied before painting or after depending on design with glass glue. |
| Embossing |
The technique of heating an image which has been stamped using a pigment ink then covered with embossing powder then heated thus creating a raised image. |
| Embossing gun |
A special heating tool that is available and is well worth investing in one. It is used to heat embossing powder to the right temperature so that it melts. A hair dryer is not feasible for this job as the air is simply not hot enough and can be too strong so will simply blow the powder away.
|
| Embossing powder |
Embossing powder comes in a huge variety of grain sizes and colours, each with their own distinctive end result. To emboss you sprinkle the powder over an inked stamped image, whilst it is still wet, then it is heated to melt the embossing powder giving a 3-D effect.
|
| Embossing powder |
Coloured powder, available in bottles. This powder is sprinkled over the inked stamped image which is heated to raise the image. The powder is available in different grades which include fine for fine image stamping, heavy when a heavier image is required and ultra-thick for more advanced stamping techniques. |
| Embossing tool |
Normally a wooden handle with two thin spikes coming out of either end, which end in a small ball, the balls being different sizes. This tool is ideal for pressure embossing card and parchment paper and is used similar to a pencil.
|
| Embossing – pressure |
Place a stencil under a piece of card or paper then go around the outside edge of the stencil with an embossing tool. When you remove the card or paper it will appear as if the stencil design is raised on the surface of the card or paper.
|
| Enamelling |
Is the technique of fusing glass dust to metal in an oven heated to a very high temperature. |
| Enamelling or layer embossing |
This is the technique of laying several layers using embossing powder. Each layer is powdered and heated, until at least three layers have been laid on top of each other. An inked rubber stamp is then pressed into the top hot melted layer. It is essential to allow yourself plenty of card surrounding the image to make it easy to handle as the item becomes quite hot. A mini-pad pressed on the card a couple of times makes a nicely shaped square to start you off if you are using a small enough stamp. Wipe a larger pad across the paper or card if you wish for a larger piece of enamelling. The resulting piece of enamelling can make a very good topper. |
| Encaustic art: card. |
Card made especially for encaustic art is available and is the recommended medium.
This card is non-absorbent allowing the wax to stay on the surface of the card. The primary colour available is white however the selection of shades is now available increasing the versatility of this craft. Other materials can be used i.e. wood, fabric or Aida canvas. Beginners are advised to use the card to learn before advancing to other materials.
|
| Encaustic art: iron |
An encaustic wax iron is available which maintains the correct heat by means of thermostatic control. The plate can be used as a hotplate by reversing it and resting it on its own handle. This is handy for advanced techniques. A travelling iron could be used set on a low setting but this must not be a steam iron as wax would seep into the base-holes and clog it. |
| Encaustic art: Scriber |
This is a tool for scratching away the top layer of wax to reveal the card below. It can be used to add detail to the painting. It tends to be made from metal and has two different ends allowing you to scratch either a small area or a small area easily. |
| Encaustic art: stylus |
This tool is similar to a soldering iron but the stylus works at a cooler temperature. It can be used like a pen or the tip can be changed to either a stiff brush or a tip shaped like a mini-iron. The stylus is especially made for encaustic wax. It is inadvisable to use a soldering iron; it is too hot for the wax and could be dangerous. |
| Encaustic art: varnish |
The finished work can be varnished for protection. |
| Encaustic art: wax |
Several makes of encaustic wax are commercially available, especially produced for encaustic wax painting. They are available in oblong, square or long thin blocks, in a large variety of colours. Many can be intermixed to create your own colours. |
| Engraving |
This is the term for carving patterns in metal or glass with a sharp cutting tool. |
| Etching |
Using acid to eat away exposed parts of the metal. |
| Eye glass holders |
Sold in pairs to attach to each end of a stand then attached to a pair of eye glasses. |
| Eye pin |
This pin has an eye at one end. The bar of the pin will hold the beads. The other end must be finished with another eye for assembling. |
| Eyelet tool |
This is a special tool for piercing card or paper. The eyelet is inserted in the hole then the eyelet is gently hammered to flatten and secure the eyelet. A multi-tool capable of taking several sizes of eyelet can also be purchased which when loaded with an eyelet allows you to punch in the eyelet in a pliers-like fashion.
|
| Eyelets |
Small metal holed pins (similar to the holes in a belt) come in various colours and shapes and can be used for decorating purposes on cards, memory boxesa and on your scrapbooking projects.
|
| Facet |
This is the smooth surface ground on to a precious stone to increase its sparkle. |
| File |
Is a steel tool, with teeth, used for scraping metal. These tools are made in various grades. |
| Files |
These are needed to file down sharp edges, a jeweller’s fine metal files are best. |
| Findings |
The general term used for small jewellery parts for example clips, jump rings etc. |
| Findings |
This is the general description of small jewellery parts. Many of these can be purchased ready made in Nickel, Gold or Silver Colouring.
The findings listed below can all be bought ready made commercially.
Kidney wire/safety wire: names given to earrings parts
Bell clasp: a bell shaped finding used often attached to stones so they can be hung from necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
See also head pin, eye pin, eyeglass holders, clasps, jump ring
|
| Fire stain |
The black staining that appears on silver, caused by oxygen being mixed with the copper content during heating. |
| Fusing |
This is bringing metal together by melting either surface. |
| G Clamps |
Shaped like a capital ‘G’ these are used to hold glued pieces of card or wood together whilst glue is drying useful for memory box making. |
| Gauge |
The thickness of wire is measures in gauge. The larger the gauge number then the smaller the width of the wire, for example 24 gauge wire is approximately 0.6mm wide, 22 is approx 0.8mm wide, 20 is 1.0mm, 18 is 1.2mm, 16 is 1.5mm and 14 gauge is 2.0mm. |
| Gimp |
Is the ring at the point where the threads meet the clasps. This is intended to save wear and tear or fraying. |
| Girdle |
Is the broadest edge of a faceted stone. |
| Glass brush |
This is an abrasive brush for cleaning and smoothing metals. |
| Glassware |
Any type of glassware may be used; for example recycled jam jars make ideal projects and practice pieces. Always wash glassware thoroughly and allow to air dry before use. |
| Granulation |
Is the art of fusing tiny gold balls onto jewellery for the purposes of decoration. |
| Graver |
A graver is a sharp cutting tool. |
| Guillotine |
Is the name of a hand-operated machine that will cut your paper and card to any size. Several types can be purchased, some with a rotary blade and some with a pull down lever action.
|
| Hallmark |
This is the mark stamped by an assaying office on precious metal artefacts. This mark confirms metal content, and year date in which the artefact was stamped. |
| Head pin |
This pin has a nail head to hold the beads the other end should be finished with an eye often used for making earrings. |
| Heat source/gun |
The name given to the tools used to heat the embossing powder. |
| Ink |
There are a whole range of inks available on the market each one with its own special use. Each come in a variety of colours ranging from clear, black to metallic:
Acid free or Archival is best used for scrap-booking as this should not discolour the project over time.
Fabric inks are for use on fabric and some may be used on wood or clay. Check the information on the bottle.
Dye ink is a quick drying ink best for glossy paper.
Non-toxic ink is child safe.
Pigment ink is a slower drying ink perfect for embossing.
Solvent ink leaves a permanent ink finish, best for images that are not embossed. When colouring images should not run or smudge.
All of the above inks come in many colours, plus rainbow pads which have several colours per pad.
Embossing ink a colourless ink, the image will become visible only when embossing powder is sprinkled over it.
Ink pads
Ink-Pads come in a huge variety of sizes, shapes and designs. Some are flat with the casing whilst others are raised so are ideal for inking up any size of stamp
|
| Jobbing Hammer |
A special shaped hammer used for shaping, texturing and flattening wire and metal. |
| Jump ring |
A jump ring is an individual ring of gold, or silver wire, used to make a chain, or for linking together with a clasp. |
| Jump ring |
This is a simple split ring, many sizes are available. |
| Layer embossing |
Is another name for enamelling (see enamelling).
|
| Light box |
A device enclosing an electric bulb upon which is laid a stencil with a card on to of the stencil. The design can then be transferred to the card by means of a dry or pressure embossing tool. Using the tool like a pencil and tracing the design, pressing the tool gently around the shape of the design
|
| Lino cutter |
A tool which consists of a handle than can hold interchangeable blades, which are of differing shapes. They are often used for cutting into lino ready for relief printing but are also useful for cutting into polymer clay |
| Low tack masking tape |
Masking tape is useful for fixing the tracing design to the glass. |
| Mallet |
Is a wooden or raw-hide hammer used in order to leave metal unscarred. |
| Mandrel |
A mandrel is a round tapered rod, marked in ring sizes, for both shaping and sizing rings. |
| Micrometer |
A tool that accurately measures the thicknesses of metal and wire. |
| Mill |
This is a steel rolling machine that reduces metal thickness. |
| Mulberry paper |
A hand made paper with long fibres ideal for card making, memory boxes and scrap booking. Comes in a huge variety of colours some of which have ‘inclusions’ such as flowers and leaves.
|
| Outliners |
Are supplied in a tube and are water based they are applied as if icing a cake and once dry act as a barrier to stop the paint from flowing from one area within the design to the next. Come in a variety of colours the traditional being black but also available in gold, silver, pewter etc. |
| Paintbrush |
A good quality brush is necessary to avoid hair in the paint. |
| Paints |
There are a variety of glass paints some are water based others are solvent based. Some required baking normally 200C-400F (Gas mark 6) whilst others are simple air dry. There are also gel paints which may be applied straight from the tube and have a three dimensional effect. Always read the label before purchasing to ensure the paint is suitable for your use. |
| Palion |
These are snippets of solder cut from a strip pf solder. |
| Paper punch |
Punches are made in a huge variety of designs and are useed for making pierced designs in card or paper. They come as simple single designs, border designs and corner designs. Also use the section that is cut foorm the paper or card for decorating your cards and other projects. For exmaple: why not use the small shapes to make shaker cards.
|
| Peel off stickers |
Numbered or patterned stickers which are simply peeled of and stuck on the card ideal for making your own topper.
|
| Pendant drill |
This is a drill with a flexible shaft with different tools for texturing, cleaning and polishing, and removing solder. |
| Pickle |
This is a caustic solution, used after soldering and after annealing to remove flux and oxides. |
| Piercing |
This it the technique of piercing patterns and shapes into a metal item, with a piercing saw. |
| Pin |
A pin is a wooden block attached to a bench for supporting the metal whilst working. |
| Pin vices |
These are V shaped and are used to twist two wires together |
| Pink ponts |
These are different shaped abrasive heads used with a pendant drill. These are able to clean metals where an ordinary file would be difficult to use. |
| Planishing |
Is the use of a planishing hammer to remove dents and marks to even out the surface of the metal. |
| Pliers |
A hand held tool used to shape and cut metal and wire. Come in a variety of types all of which have a special use. For example:
Nylon tipped: used to harden wire once in shape.
Round Nose: No flat edges so are ideal for making round links etc.
|
| Polymer Clay |
A soft malleable substance, that comes in a huge variety of colours, which can be intermixed. To harden off, simply place in the oven following manufacturer’s instructions. Can be used for all manner of craft projects but lends itself well to jewellery making. |
| Polymer clay |
This is a clay that come in a huge variety of colours can be hardened in a normal oven and is ideal for all manner of craft projects. There are many brands and the colours can often be mixed to create your own. The malleability of them differs, if purchasing for children the soft variety would be best.
The cooked strength of the different clays is better than others. It is best to test several and pick a favourite.
|
| Positioning tool |
The clear acrylic tool which is shaped something like a T is used when it is difficult to place the stamp in the chosen position. The tool is placed in the chosen position then the stamp is placed in the angle of the tool so that two sides of the stamp touch the tool. |
| Potters Needle |
Obtainable from a potters’ supplier this is a very fine needle. Very fine pin-pricks can be with this tool, making it an almost invisible marking device. Making is great for marking thick card ready for cutting and marking positions ready for gluing sections into place. |
| Pumice |
This is a powder which is mixed with water used for cleaning the metal. |
| Quench |
This is the common word used to explain the process of dropping the hot metal into water to cool and harden it |
| Quilling |
A technique where thin strips of coloured paper are rolled tightly around a quilling tool then pinched to form a shape i.e. leaf or flower etc. These are then stuck onto a surface to create a design or pattern
|
| Quilling tool |
A small hand held tool often made of plastic with aslit in one end which holds the end of the quilling paper in place as you twist the quilling paper. |
| Ribbler |
A hand held tool which comprises of two rollers which paper or thin card is passed through. The rollers normaly have a raised pattern on, which is pressed into the surface of the paper or card as it passes through the tool. Ideal for card making and scrapbooking. |
| Rouge |
This is a fine polishing compound. |
| Rub on sticker |
These stickers come in various designs and use pressure to transfer the sticker design from the clear acetate sheet onto the surface of your projefct. Ideal for a whole range of proejcts from card making, memory boxing and general household projects.
|
| Rubber stamp |
A rubber image usually attached to a block of wood although many other types of holder are now coming on the market for example clear Perspex backing, foam backing and even no backing at all! The deeper the cut on the rubber stamp then normally the better the finished impression will be. They are also available on |
| Rubber stamp cleaner |
Bottles of cleaning fluid usually topped with a foam pad used for cleaning all types of stamps. |
| Sandbag |
This is a sand filled leather pouch used for supporting the metal during shaping. |
| Scriber |
A scriber is a small pointed tool used for marking patterns onto metal. |
| Self-healing cutting mat |
These are availble in various sizes from as small as A6 up to A1. They are a crafters must have as they prevent cut marks on table-tops and do not blunt knives.
|
| Setlers cement |
This substance is gently warmed to soften it enough to push pieces of jewellery into it. It will set hard to enable the piece to be set with stones. When the setting is completed the piece of jewellery is easily removed. |
| Shadow stamp |
This is a stamp with solid squares which are stamped onto the project first, leaving a block image. A further stamp with a smaller image is then stamped on top of the block image giving a background for the second stamp. |
| Shrink plastic |
A plastic sheet which can be cut to any shape, heated in the oven to reduce in size and harden. It is useful for making card and scrapbook embellishments. It is avialable as sheets that can be draw or stamped directly upon or placed through a normal printer. |
| Sliding calliper |
This is a sliding metal gauge for precise measuring. |
| Soldering |
Is the process of joining two pieces of metal together by means of heat. |
| Stencil |
Normally a thin plastic sheet where a design is cut out of it. They can be used by dabbing paint through them or used to dry emboss with.
|
| T-square |
A tool which allows you to obtain the perfect right angle for cutting purposes. |
| Tea bag folding |
Small squares of patterned paper taht are folded to a set design and used as a topper on cards and scrapbooking embellishments.
|
| Thong or cord |
Ideal for stringing beads that have large holes, comes in a variety of colours and made from leather, nylon, cotton or sometimes satin. |
| Torch |
This tool, used for soldering, usually uses a mixture of gas and air. |
| Tracing |
To transfer a design onto the glass first draw the design onto white paper then place it inside the glass to copy. |
| Tripoli |
Is a polish used in the first stage of polishing. |
| Tweezers |
These are made of brass and are used to place hot metal into the pickle solution. |
| Twist and curl also known as Spiral Maker tool |
A tool which allows you to easily make spiral beads using thin wire. These beads used to be nicked named month of Sunday beads, because prior to these tools coming onto the market you only made them in a month of Sundays! |
| Wig Jig ™ also known as Wire shaper |
Has a flat square base covered with a series of holes. Small metal pins are placed to form a design and the wire is wound around these. Many intricate designs are possible on this jig |
| Wire |
Comes in a huge variety of types, thicknesses (see gauge) and colours. Typically gauge 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are used on in our projects. |
| Wire cutters |
Wire cutters are used to cut the wire during work, quality wire cutters are best to avoid sharp edges and uneven cutting. |
| Wire-winders |
These winders, of which there are several on the market, are used to twist wire into beaded shapes. The wire is secured to the hand held device and the device is twisted in one hand whilst the other hand holds the wire taut. The wire twists around the pin or mandrel forming a spiral. Many sizes of bead can be made in this fashion utilising several spirals. |
