Arts & Crafts Glossary

Acrylic paint is a versatile water-based paint that dries quickly and adheres to most surfaces including canvas, paper, wood, fabric and cardboard. It is safe to use indoors, cleans up with water and is available in a huge range of colours. It is the most widely recommended paint type for beginners and general craft projects.

For general craft and art use, a starter set of quality acrylic paints covering primary colours, black and white gives you the flexibility to mix a full range of tones. Avoid very cheap craft acrylics as they can be chalky and thin. Brands with good pigment load are worth spending slightly more on as they cover better and mix more predictably.

Alcohol markers use an alcohol-based ink that blends smoothly and dries quickly without streaks. They are popular for illustration, comic and manga colouring, card making, adult colouring books and craft projects. Alcohol marker ink is semi-transparent and can be layered and blended for smooth gradients. They work best on smooth, marker-specific paper as standard paper may bleed.

Alcohol markers require smooth, non-porous paper to perform at their best. Standard printer paper is too thin and porous, causing the ink to bleed through. Marker-specific paper or smooth Bristol board are the best choices. Place a spare sheet beneath your work to catch any bleed-through. Most high-quality alcohol marker brands sell their own recommended paper pads.

A brush pen has a flexible tip that mimics a traditional brush. Heavy pressure produces a thick stroke; light pressure produces a thin stroke. This variation is the foundation of brush lettering and modern calligraphy. Brush pens are also used for illustration, colouring, manga inking and general drawing. They come in a range of tip sizes from fine to large and in water-based and permanent ink formulas.

For beginners in hand lettering, a medium-firmness brush pen is the easiest to control. Very soft, large brush pens are beautiful but require more skill to keep strokes consistent. The Tombow Fudenosuke (hard tip) is widely recommended as a first brush pen because its relatively firm tip is more forgiving while you develop pressure control. Water-based ink brush pens are generally easier to blend and more forgiving than permanent ink pens.

A canvas is a painting surface made from cotton or linen stretched over a wooden frame (stretched canvas) or mounted on a rigid board (canvas board). Canvas provides a textured surface with a slight give that responds well to acrylic and oil paint. Canvas boards are more affordable and portable; stretched canvas is the traditional choice for display paintings.

For a first painting, a small to medium canvas (20 x 25 cm to 30 x 40 cm) is the most practical starting size. Smaller canvases are less intimidating and can be completed in a single session. As your confidence grows, larger canvases allow more expressive work. Canvas boards are a cost-effective way to practise before committing to stretched canvas.

A craft knife (also called a Stanley knife or box cutter in heavier versions, or a precision knife for fine work) is used to cut paper, card, foam board, vinyl and thin plastics cleanly and precisely. In craft projects it is used for scrapbooking, card making, stencil cutting, journalling and mixed media work.

Always cut on a self-healing cutting mat to protect your work surface and prevent the blade from slipping. Keep fingers away from the cutting path and always cut away from your body. Replace blades regularly as dull blades require more force and increase the risk of slipping. Store the knife with the blade retracted or capped. Keep craft knives away from children.

A self-healing cutting mat is a layered rubber or PVC surface that closes back up after being cut, extending its useful life significantly. It protects the table beneath, keeps blades sharper for longer (compared to cutting on hard surfaces) and includes a printed grid and measurement guide for precise cutting work. They are an essential craft tool for anyone doing regular cutting work.

For most craft projects including card making, scrapbooking and paper craft, an A3 mat (420 x 297 mm) is the most practical all-round size. It fits most work surfaces without taking up too much room. For larger projects or regular fabric and vinyl work, an A2 or A1 mat provides more working space.

Card making is the practice of creating handmade greeting cards using craft techniques including stamping, die cutting, embossing, decoupage and layering patterned papers. Handmade cards are popular for birthdays, Christmas, weddings and other occasions. The hobby ranges from simple stamped designs to complex layered art pieces.

A beginner card making kit typically includes blank card blanks (A5 folded to A6 is a standard greeting card size), a selection of stamps and an ink pad, scissors, adhesive, some coordinating papers and embellishments such as gems or ribbon. A craft knife and cutting mat help with precise trimming. Die cutting machines are a popular upgrade once you are comfortable with the basics.

Coloured pencils use a wax or oil-based pigmented core for drawing and colouring on paper. They are one of the most accessible art tools available, require no setup and are portable. Coloured pencils range from student-grade sets (good value, suitable for most crafts) to artist-grade sets (higher pigment concentration, better blending, lightfast colours) for serious illustration work.

A student-grade set of 24 to 36 colours gives you a practical working range without a large investment. Look for pencils described as wax-based, which blend smoothly and are easy to layer. For adult colouring books, a set in the 36 to 72 colour range gives you more tonal variety for detailed work. Sharpen pencils with a quality sharpener to maintain a fine point for detail work.

Decoupage is a decorative craft technique where you cut out paper designs (from magazines, napkins, wrapping paper or printed sheets), adhere them to a surface (wood, glass, canvas, furniture) using decoupage medium or diluted PVA glue, and then seal the finished piece with multiple layers of the same medium. The result is a smooth, layered, decorative finish.

You need a surface to decorate, paper cutouts or napkins, decoupage medium (or diluted PVA glue), a brush to apply it, and sanding paper if you want a very smooth finish between coats. Wooden surfaces work particularly well. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next to prevent the paper from tearing or wrinkling.

Embossing creates raised, dimensional designs on paper or card. Heat embossing involves stamping a design with slow-drying pigment ink, pouring embossing powder over the wet ink, tapping off the excess and then applying heat with a heat gun to melt the powder into a raised, glossy design. Dry embossing uses a machine and embossing folder to create a textured raised pattern on card without any ink or powder.

For heat embossing you need a stamp, a pigment or slow-dry ink pad, embossing powder in your chosen colour, an anti-static pad (to reduce static that causes powder to stick where you do not want it) and a heat gun. Apply the stamp, immediately pour on the powder while the ink is wet, tap off the excess back into the pot, then apply the heat gun until the powder melts and becomes shiny and raised.

A fine liner pen is a drawing pen with a rigid, precise tip in widths from 0.05 mm to 1 mm or wider. They are used for detailed illustration, hand lettering, sketching outlines, drawing in bullet journals, and adding detail to watercolour paintings. The ink is typically waterproof once dry, making fine liners compatible with watercolour and other wet media when layering.

A set covering three tip sizes (0.1 mm, 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm) in black is the most versatile starting point. This gives you fine detail, medium weight lines and bold outlines. Waterproof ink is essential if you plan to add watercolour or other wet media over the top. Coloured fine liners are a popular addition once you are comfortable with line work.

Gesso is a white primer used to prepare a surface for painting. Most pre-primed canvases are sold ready to use with a factory gesso coat. Applying additional coats of gesso allows you to adjust the surface texture (smoother for detail work, rougher for textured effects) and creates a more receptive ground for paint to adhere to.

Most commercially available stretched canvases come pre-primed with a gesso coat and are ready to paint on straight away. If you are using raw canvas, unprimed board or wood, applying two to three coats of gesso before painting is strongly recommended. Sand lightly between coats for a smoother final surface.

Craft embellishments are decorative additions applied to a finished or in-progress craft piece to add visual interest, texture and dimension. Common types include glitter (loose and fine), rhinestones and gems (flat-back and self-adhesive), sequins, ribbon, brads, eyelets and shaped foam or resin elements. They are widely used in card making, scrapbooking and mixed media art.

Apply a thin, even coat of glue or glitter glue to the area you want to cover. Pour loose glitter over the wet glue, then tap the excess back into the container. Allow to dry fully before handling. Working over a piece of paper lets you funnel excess glitter back into the pot. A clear sealant spray or decoupage medium coat over dried glitter helps prevent it from shedding.

Hand lettering is the art of drawing individual letters by hand in a decorative or stylised way. Unlike calligraphy (which uses specific tools and formal stroke orders), hand lettering focuses on the visual design of the letters themselves. It is a popular skill in journalling, card making, signage and social media content creation. The most common starting tools are brush pens and fine liner pens.

Start with a brush pen (a beginner-friendly option is a Tombow Fudenosuke or similar soft-tip brush pen) and practice the basic principle of thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes. Print or create practice sheets for individual letters before combining them into words. Tracing over letterforms you admire is a recognised and effective practice technique for building muscle memory. Consistency and daily short practice sessions progress skills faster than occasional long sessions.

In the craft context, journalling combines personal writing with decorative art techniques. Popular styles include bullet journalling (structured pages with hand-lettered headers, habit trackers and weekly spreads), art journalling (mixed media spreads combining paint, collage, stamps and illustration) and scrapbook-style journalling (memory keeping with photographs and ephemera). It is one of the most accessible creative hobbies as it requires very little equipment to begin.

A good starting kit includes a dot grid or blank page notebook, a set of fine-liner pens in black and colour, some washi tape, a ruler and a pencil. As your practice grows, you might add watercolour paints, stamps, stickers, brush pens and collage materials. The most important thing is to start simple and develop your style over time rather than buying everything at once.

Mixed media art uses a combination of different materials and techniques together in a single piece. Common combinations include watercolour with fine liner pen, collage with acrylic paint, or stamping with embossing and layered paper elements. Mixed media removes the restriction of working in a single medium and encourages experimentation. It is a popular approach in art journalling and craft projects.

Yes. Mixed media is one of the most forgiving approaches to art because there are no strict rules about what combinations are right or wrong. Starting by combining two familiar techniques (such as watercolour washes with fine liner pen details) is a good way to build confidence. Work on mixed media paper or art journal paper that can handle multiple wet and dry media without buckling.

Paint brushes come in a range of shapes (round, flat, fan, detail) and sizes (0 to 20+) suited to different tasks. Round brushes are the most versatile for general painting. Flat brushes suit broad strokes and washes. Fine detail brushes (sizes 0 to 2) are used for intricate work. The right brush depends on your medium (acrylic, watercolour, oil) and the detail level you are working at.

For general craft projects, a starter set with a selection of round and flat brushes in small, medium and large sizes covers most needs. Synthetic bristle brushes work well with acrylic paint and are easy to clean with water. Natural hair brushes are preferred for watercolour as they hold more water. Always clean brushes thoroughly after use to extend their life.

A palette is the mixing surface you use while painting. Squeeze or place paint colours around the edges of the palette and use the centre for mixing custom colours and tones. Disposable paper palettes are convenient and avoid cleanup. Plastic palettes with wells suit watercolour. Wooden palettes are traditional for oil painting. Keeping a spray bottle of water nearby prevents acrylic paint from drying out on the palette.

A stay-wet palette is highly recommended for acrylic painting as it keeps paint moist for much longer than a dry surface. These use a damp paper liner under a special membrane. A standard tear-off paper palette is a practical budget alternative, particularly for shorter painting sessions. Avoid wooden palettes for acrylics as dried paint is very difficult to remove.

PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) glue is the most commonly used adhesive in craft and art projects. It bonds paper, card, fabric, felt, wood and many other materials. PVA dries clear and flexible, making it suitable for layered and mixed media work. Diluted with water (roughly 1 part glue to 2 parts water), it is also used as a decoupage medium and scenic sealer for model railway groundwork.

Yes. Diluted PVA glue works as an effective decoupage medium when you add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension (helps the paper lie flat). Three to four coats diluted PVA gives a decent seal. Dedicated decoupage medium products offer a slightly more consistent and higher-gloss result, but diluted PVA is an inexpensive and widely available alternative.

Scrapbooking is a craft hobby where you create decorative layouts combining photographs, journalling (written memories), patterned papers, stickers, stamps and embellishments in a themed album or book. It is a popular way to preserve family memories, holiday photos and milestone moments in a creative, personalised format.

A basic scrapbooking kit includes a 12x12 or A4 album with page protectors, a selection of patterned papers, acid-free adhesive (to prevent photos from degrading over time), scissors, a craft knife and cutting mat, and some embellishments such as stickers, stamps or washi tape. Acid-free products are important for scrapbooking to ensure photographs and papers do not yellow or degrade over time.

Rubber and polymer stamps are used with ink pads to print designs onto paper, card, fabric and other craft surfaces. They are a core tool in card making, scrapbooking and journalling. Ink pads come in a range of types: dye ink (fast-drying, bright, works on most papers), pigment ink (slow-drying, opaque, ideal for embossing) and archival ink (permanent, water-resistant).

Dye ink pads are the most beginner-friendly choice. They dry quickly, are available in a wide colour range and work on most paper types. Pigment ink pads are the choice when you want to emboss (add heat-embossing powder to wet ink before heat-setting) as they stay wet long enough for the powder to adhere. Archival inks are the best choice for projects where permanent, water-resistant results are needed.

Craft stickers are adhesive decorative elements used to embellish and decorate creative projects. In journalling and scrapbooking, they add colour, texture and character to spreads and pages. In card making, they provide quick decoration without the need for stamps or die cuts. Sticker types include flat paper stickers, raised epoxy stickers, foil stickers, puffy stickers and die-cut sets themed around seasons, characters or styles.

Match the sticker style to the aesthetic of your journal. For minimal, elegant spreads, simple line-drawn or monochrome stickers suit best. For bright, expressive journals, illustrated character or botanical stickers add personality. For functional bullet journals, organisational stickers (habit trackers, calendar elements, flag tabs) are the most practical. Most craft sticker sets are sold in theme-based packs so you can build a coordinated collection over time.

Watercolour is a paint made from pigment suspended in a water-soluble binder. When applied to watercolour paper, it creates translucent washes of colour that build in layers. Watercolour is popular for landscapes, botanical illustration and light, loose painting styles. It requires specific watercolour paper to perform well as regular paper buckles and absorbs too quickly.

You need watercolour paints (pan sets are the most practical starting format), watercolour paper (at least 300 gsm to resist buckling), a selection of round brushes (sizes 2, 6 and 10 cover most needs), a palette for mixing and a jar of clean water. Cold-press (textured) watercolour paper is the most forgiving surface for beginners.

Washi tape is a thin, slightly translucent decorative tape made from Japanese washi paper. It is lightly adhesive, which means it can be repositioned and removed without damaging most surfaces. Washi tape is extremely popular in craft projects including journalling, scrapbooking, card making, gift wrapping and planner decoration.

Washi tape has an almost unlimited range of craft applications. Common uses include decorating journal spreads and notebooks, edging pages in scrapbooks, adding colour and pattern to cards and gift wrap, creating geometric designs on walls (it removes cleanly from most painted surfaces), labelling and tabbing planners and decorating packaging. It is one of the most versatile and beginner-friendly craft supplies available.