Basic Scrapbooking 101- Conservation and Storage

 Scrapbooking is all about preserving memories for generations still to come.  Fortunately, in today's modern world, we have the knowledge and distinctive advantage regarding how to do this properly to keep our photos and memorabilia safe from corrosion.

Remember the old magnetic albums in the 70's? Or that's my first memory anyways. I thought they were the bee's knees. LOL, but boy did they ever ruin my precious pictures. Especially the ones of my kids and everyday life back then. I have been literally digging my photos off of them and scrapbooking them in a better environment. I found out that Undu makes the job easier and doesn't damage them further.. 

The materials in these albums contained chemicals that, with time, break down to form acids. These acids, in turn, begin breaking down your photos. The term for this is acid migration.

Many papers contain lignin, a chemical compound derived from plant matter. In time, lignin will also beak down causing the paper to yellow and become brittle. This process of deterioration causes your photos to be damaged also. 

If you have photos that have been damaged or in danger of deterioration, you can replicate them by scanning or reprinting and making color photocopies on acid-free paper as a temporary solution. Damaged photographs can be restored in many different ways. Professional photo labs provide restoration services for photographs and negatives.

The internet is a good place to go to find new and up to date information for preserving and replicating your old photos. 

So, where do we start with this whole scrapbooking thing?

I would recommend starting with your photos. Are they jumbled in a box? Stored in unfriendly picture albums? 

You can start by sorting through the jumbles in a box and getting those photos out of those unfriendly albums and put them into photo boxes. 

Sorting and storing photos chronologically is a really good starting point. Simply record the year on the front of each box then place the photographs in order. If there are several photos of the same event, in lieu of writing on the back of each one, use a journaling card to record all the information relating to that event. Place that card in front of those photographs.

You can sort by themes, by person, by dates, by events, etc. As you sort, those ideas will come to mind, and it will get easier. You can add journaling cards as it will save time and energy when planning layouts plus, if it takes a while to get to them, it helps later for remembering the event. I thought I would never forget, but now that it's been 40 some years since the beginning of some of our photos, I can't always remember the important information. 

Here is a link to the 8 best storage boxes. Just make sure any box you choose is acid free cardboard. You can also purchase plastic boxes made for photo storage. Store the photos in a cool, dry location to avoid any damage from light and mold. 

Next week: Materials and Equipment