Tag Archives: acid-free

The Three Biggest No No’s People Do With Their Photographs

There are so many things that people do with their photographs or have done with their photographs in the past, that sincerely make me cringe. Of course, it is not just me that is cringing. The people who are dedicated to archival quality of photographs are cringing too. These three no-no’s are so common, it is scary. Please avoid these three horrible ideas at all costs. Marking the Photograph Do not, I repeat, do not mark on the back of your photograph with anything other than a photo pencil that has been created and designed to keep your photographs safe. … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Photos Safe: The Scientific Side

The scientific side of keeping your photographs safe goes far beyond just keeping your photos away from water, dirt, high temperatures and making sure not to leave fingerprints and scratches. Although those are important, there are some more scientific things to be aware of. Most scrapbookers have heard the word acidic and the words lignin free. Perhaps you’ve even heard of buffered. But what does all this mean to a scrapbooker and how do you take proper precautions to make sure that the supplies you are using won’t damage your photographs? The first rule is always to look for supplies … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Photos Safe: Fingerprints and Scratches

Fingerprints can quickly diminish the quality of your photographs. And although a fingerprint can be avoided or wiped away, a scratch is permanent and it is a costly situation to have repaired by a professional. These are two additional ways that your photos can be damaged and two situations that need to be addressed. When handling your photographs, you should hold the edges. Some experts recommend wearing a special type of glove, but I have found that unnecessary. As long as when holding photographs, you attempt to hold the edges, you should be alright. You can place your photos in … Continue reading →

Preserving Newspaper Clippings

I have found myself inundated with hundreds of newspaper clippings that I’d love to include in my scrapbooks. Some are from so long ago, that I’m not even sure of the dates or time period, and some are from recently, like when my cousin was in the paper with his professional soccer team, or when my son was born and my mother in law submitted his photo to her local newspaper. Regardless of what I want, placing newspaper clippings in my albums is extremely unsafe. The amount of acid in those clippings is absolutely crazy. A newspaper utilizes the most … Continue reading →

The Do’s and Don’ts of Adhesive

After you’ve played around with different adhesives, it’s time to focus on the importance of choosing the right one and what to watch for. Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts for Adhesives: Do use adhesives that are photo-safe and acid-free. Don’t use your child’s glue stick. Be sure to check any type of adhesive for the words acid-free. In fact, glue sticks are not the best scrapbook adhesive. While perhaps they are very inexpensive, and some are even acid-free, however the glue often dries and becomes brittle. I’ve had several items come off layouts that I’ve used glue sticks … Continue reading →

Cheap Scrapbooking Tips

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My big hurdle to scrapbooking pictures is the cost. Scrapbooking supplies are expensive! Still, I have managed to find a few ways to scrapbook pages for pennies. If the expense of scrapbooking has kept you from doing as much as you’d like to, or if you’d just like a few ways to get some inexpensive supplies, read on…. 1. Make your own stickers. Use clipart found on your computer or online to print out your favorite pictures as accents to your page. Instead of printing on special sticker paper, use regular or glossy cardstock, or just regular paper to print … Continue reading →

The True Definition of Preserving Your Memories

The dictionary.com definition of preserve is: pre•serve (pr-zûrv) v. pre•served, pre•serv•ing, pre•serves v. tr. 1. To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect. 2. To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged. 3. To keep or maintain intact: tried to preserve family harmony. But do you ever wonder how that applies to scrapbooking and truly preserving your precious memories for a lifetime? Some scrapbookers aren’t as interested in the longevity of their pages and layouts. But most really are. They want those memories to last well after their gone so that future generations may enjoy and learn … Continue reading →