When I first started scrapbooking I would make a sample copy of all my page designs, and then meticulously put together the real deal piece by piece. My method took an excruciatingly long period of time, though after a while I learned how to speed up the process. Unfortunately, I found the faster I assembled layouts, the more mistakes I made. I would forget a word in a journaling block, misspell the page title, or more often, place a photo or embellishment in the wrong spot after I adhered it to the page.
In a previous blog I touted the magical powers of un-du. The specialty product removes adhesive and allows you to reposition stickers, labels, and other sticky back scrapbook items. However, it has somewhat of a fickle reputation. While it has garnered a variety of awards at scrapbooking, photography, and office product tradeshows, it was taken off the market four years ago due to environmental concerns.
In 2007, the California Air Resources Board claimed un-du was not in compliance with Volatile Organic Compound regulations. However, after being sold to a different manufacturer, which slightly altered the product’s formula, un-du went back on the market and it remains a staple in most scrapbookers’ craft rooms despite the fact that it is rather expensive.
If you are looking for a more affordable means to fix errors made with scrapbook adhesives you might consider buying some stamp lift fluid. The product is designed to remove the gummy residue from stamps and stickers. Another alternative to un-du is Bestine rubber cement thinner. It is an effective medium for removing cemented items from a layout. I would not suggest applying lighter fluid to scrapbooking photos, stickers or other adhesive backed items as it is very toxic and can cause injury if it is not used with caution.