Junk Journaling Glossary: 32 Terms Every Beginner Should Know

Every hobby has its shorthand, and junk journaling is no exception: one minute you are reading a friendly blog post, the next it is talking about "fussy cuts on a deckled spread inside a three-signature pamphlet". This glossary collects the terms we use most, explained as plainly as we can manage. Bookmark it — it will save you a lot of guessing. ## Paper & printing * **GSM** — grams per square metre, the metric way to describe paper weight. Higher GSM means thicker, heavier paper. Journal pages usually sit around 100–120 GSM; pockets and covers around 176–216 GSM. * **lb (pound weight)** — the US paper-weight system you will see on craft paper packs, such as "28 lb text" or "65 lb cardstock". It is not the same scale as GSM and differs between paper types, so treat it as a label for "light" versus "cardstock" rather than a precise conversion. * **300 DPI** — dots per inch; the resolution standard our printables are restored at. At the intended print size it preserves fine detail. Print at "Actual Size" so you do not throw that detail away. * **Bleed** — the area of a design that extends beyond the final trim line, so no white edge appears after cutting. When a printable has bleed, trim inside it rather than exactly on the artwork edge. * **Duplex printing** — printing on both sides of a sheet, essential for journal spreads. Requires a little setup; our [Printing Guide](/blog/guide-printing-300-dpi-junk-journal-printables-at-home/) covers alignment tricks. * **Matte** — a non-reflective paper finish. The default choice for vintage-style ephemera: it accepts ink, folds cleanly and photographs like old paper. Glossy is its opposite and rarely belongs in a junk journal. * **Vellum** — a translucent paper, often used as an overlay to soften a printed page underneath. Printable vellum exists, but plain vellum layered over text also works beautifully. * **Deckled edge** — a rough, torn-looking edge, historically created when paper was separated by hand. Modern versions are torn deliberately (against a ruler or with a special tool) to make a page look antique. * **Printable** — a digital file designed to be printed at home, usually a PDF sized for standard paper (US Letter or A4). Our [Free Printables Vault](/free-printables/) is the easiest place to try one. * **Fussy cut** — cutting closely around the outline of a printed motif (a butterfly, a label, a flower) so it can be layered as a separate piece. Named for the patience it demands; worth every minute. ## Ephemera & paper pieces * **Ephemera** — paper items made for temporary everyday use: tickets, letters, labels, cards, receipts, advertisements. The word comes from the Greek for "lasting a day". Our explainer on [What Ephemera Is](/blog/what-is-ephemera/) goes deeper. * **Reproduction / restored scan** — a digital copy of a historical paper item, cleaned and colour-corrected for printing. "Restored" means damage, folds and fading have been repaired digitally without inventing new artwork. * **Digital paper** — a patterned sheet sold as a printable file, used as a background page or cut into pieces. Not the same as scrapbook paper: you print as many copies as you need. * **Clip art** — pre-made graphic elements (frames, motifs, labels) supplied as separate images rather than full pages. * **Tag** — a small paper piece, often with a hole and string, used for dates, quotes or decoration. Tags are the single most useful shape in a junk journal: they fit pockets, mark pages and carry writing. * **Label** — a framed text area, printed or blank, used to name things: a section, a jar, a memory. Labels are the "handwriting" of a page even when you have not written a word. * **Doily** — a decorative pierced paper mat. In journals, doilies act as instant texture: layered behind a photo or stamped over with ink. * **Wax seal** — a stamped wax medallion used to close envelopes or decorate covers. Beautiful but optional; a glue dot and a printed seal motif gets you most of the look. ## Book structure & binding * **Signature** — a nest of folded sheets that forms one section of a handmade book. A "three-signature journal" is three of these sewn or joined together. See our [Multi-Signature Guide](/blog/how-to-build-multi-signature-junk-journal-from-digital-bundles/). * **Folio** — in bookbinding, a sheet folded once to make two leaves. In junk journal shops (including ours) the word also describes a small interactive booklet or folder — a "[Folio Kit](/category/folios/)" — usually with pockets and flaps. * **Spread** — the two pages visible at once when a journal lies open. Printable spreads are designed as one wide image that crosses the fold. * **Spine** — the bound edge of the book, where signatures are sewn and the cover wraps around. * **Gutter** — the inner margin nearest the spine. Avoid putting important details or deep pockets right in the gutter; it disappears into the fold. * **Pamphlet stitch** — the simplest bookbinding stitch, worked through three or five holes along the spine and tied at the centre. Used in our [Mini Journal Tutorial](/blog/mini-junk-journal-from-one-printable-kit/). * **Awl** — a sharp pointed tool for piercing sewing holes through a signature. A thick needle in a cork is the classic substitute. * **Waxed linen thread** — bookbinding thread coated with wax so it glides, resists tangling and holds knots. Dental floss is a serviceable emergency alternative. * **Bone folder** — a smooth tool for creasing folds and burnishing paper. The back of a spoon works; the bone folder simply feels better. * **Belly band** — a paper strip wrapped around a signature or page section, often holding a tag or bookmark. Half decoration, half gentle closure. ## Journal features & techniques * **Tuck spot** — a small anchored pocket or flap that holds a loose piece (a tag, photo, note) without glueing it down. The defining interactive feature of junk journals. * **Pocket** — any enclosure glued on three sides, open at the top or side, for storing paper treasures. * **Tip-in** — a piece attached along one edge only, so it flips like a little door or extends the page. Perfect for hidden writing or layered reveals. * **Flip-out** — a page or flap that unfolds beyond the book's edge, adding space and surprise. Great for maps, long notes and "secret" pages. * **Cluster** — a small group of overlapping ephemera arranged as one focal composition. Usually three to five pieces: a hero image, a text fragment, a small accent. * **Index tab** — a small tab on a page edge marking a section or favourite spread. * **Closure** — whatever keeps the journal shut: an elastic, waxed cord, ribbon, belly band or button-and-string loop. * **Junk journal** — a handmade or altered book filled with rescued paper, ephemera and writing, usually with pockets and interactive elements. If you are new, start with our [Beginner's Guide](/blog/how-to-start-junk-journaling/). * **Glue book** — a book of pasted paper scraps with little or no writing; collage for its own sake. * **Commonplace book** — a notebook for collecting quotes, ideas and observations, usually organised by theme. The text-first ancestor of many journaling habits. Learn these thirty-two terms and the rest of the hobby opens up: tutorials become readable, listings become understandable, and you can ask for exactly what you need. And if a term still puzzles you, write to us — if it confused you, it probably confuses someone else too, and it belongs in this list. --- *Put the vocabulary to work: start with the [Free Printables Vault](/free-printables/) or a beginner-friendly [Kit](/category/kits/).*