Scrapbooking is one of the most creative ways to preserve photos and cherished memories. Many women today are engaged in this hobby that not only challenges their creativity but provides a fun and exciting time for them as well. Instead of just pasting photos on an album the traditional way, scrapbooking makes use of colorful and patterned materials to design an album page with or without photos. The materials can really be anything – from scrap colored papers, cardboards and gift wrappers to fabrics, ribbons, buttons and eyelets. Your creativity has no limits in this hobby.
A scrapbook page is more attractive if it includes photos. Keeping photographs, however, takes extra effort on the part of scrapbookers. It is more than just keeping them away from water, dirt, heat and ensuring that no fingerprints or scratches are left on the photos. There’s actually a scientific side to preserving treasured photos.
When scrapbooking, make it a point to use materials that are acid-free. A buffered or lignin free paper is also best as they help lessen the migration of acid to your photos. If you are in doubt of the product, better not use it. However, if there’s no alternative to what you really want, just be sure to have an extra copy of your photo, keep the negative or position the photo away from the questionable supply when layouting your album page.
Apart from your photos, keep your layouts safe too. When getting page protectors for your scrapbooks, get the scrapbook exclusive protectors or find out from the label if they are polypropylene and PVC free.
As for adhesives, choose the acid-free or photo-safe brands. Avoid rubber cement or scotch tape or any other regular tape. It’s still best to use the double sided photo tape or squares.
