An Acid Debate.....

[My sister's princess]

When I am scrapping I am careful to purchase the acid free paper, stickers, glue.

I carefully choose what I am going to use... and then I just can't help myself and I stick Disney maps, shopping bags, stickers they hand me, and other random "stuff" in there.

So, I am wondering how you all feel about the Acid in the things that I stick on my pages vs. my obsession with buying non acid supplies

 

[Reddy]

I try to keep the non-acid free away from pictures
I also figure in a hundred years - no one will want my ablums - they are for me & my boys, but boys are austic & I don't think I'll be a granny (at least I better not be since there is no way my boys could raise a kid)

 

[pjlla]

Despite the fact that I CAN see a time that I will be a Grandma, I'm still not sure that in 100 years anyone will care about my scrapbooks... so I don't overly worry about the whole "acid free" debate. I buy traditional scrapping papers, page protectors, glues, etc, so I'm sure that most of my stuff is acid free. But I also love to use real ephemera (which is why I love scrapping.... cause I love to save my "stuff"!), and I don't worry too much about it. Park maps, parking passes, park tickets, airline tickets, receipts, snack wrappers.... you name it and it could find its way into my books! Mostly that sort of stuff does end up in pocket pages, but I do use them on pages along with photos whenever I can.

I think most of us should be more concerned about how we store our books. I notice that some of my "ready to use" cardstock has faded along the top edge (where it would be getting any light exposure). I don't want that to happen to finished pages in the books. I store them in my bedroom on shelves.... not exactly hidden away from light, but away from windows and doors in a climate controlled area. No basements or attics for my books!

Anyhow, if you are REALLY concerned about it, do like Reddy mentioned and keep the acid stuff away from the actual photos.... or make copies of important papers onto acid-free cardstock or paper.... or take photos of important papers.

HTH..........................P

 

[My sister's princess]

I appreciate that others scrap the same way I do! I don't do digital because of the "stuff" that I save, so not using the stuff isn't really a way I am willing to go! There isn't really another fun way to share it with the people who want to see what we did in Disney "again"

 

[Earstou]

Does anyone use the sprays to make items acid-free, like the Krylon Make it Acid-Free Spray?
I've wondered how well these work.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I dont know if it really matters honestly. I found a box of old scrapbooks in my fathers things last weekend actually. They were made from 1931-1944. They have been kept in a garage with no climate control or anything for, well, ever. There are newspaper clippings, pictures, brochures and random things in there and they all look really really good. I doubt my ancestors worried about acid in their scrapbooks.

I get around that by snapping pics of each page after I finish them. If they degrade, my future bloodline will have digital images of what I made if they really want them!

 

[pjlla]

I dont know if it really matters honestly. I found a box of old scrapbooks in my fathers things last weekend actually. They were made from 1931-1944. They have been kept in a garage with no climate control or anything for, well, ever. There are newspaper clippings, pictures, brochures and random things in there and they all look really really good. I doubt my ancestors worried about acid in their scrapbooks.

I get around that by snapping pics of each page after I finish them. If they degrade, my future bloodline will have digital images of what I made if they really want them!

The pictures are a great idea. I did start doing that recently, but it took an hour to do one book and it was a PITA to take each individual page out of its sleeve. And I've got about 20+ books to do! And honestly, I'd rather scan them, but I'm not ready to invest in a 12 x 12 scanner. But the photos are better than nothing. Do you use a flash or natural light or what?.........P

 

[Raenstoirm]

The pictures are a great idea. I did start doing that recently, but it took an hour to do one book and it was a PITA to take each individual page out of its sleeve. And I've got about 20+ books to do! And honestly, I'd rather scan them, but I'm not ready to invest in a 12 x 12 scanner. But the photos are better than nothing. Do you use a flash or natural light or what?.........P

If you can find a 12x12 scanner, let me know!! They dont seem to exist. The A3 scanners arent quite 12 inches, so you would have to stitch the image anyway.
As for the pics of the pages, I take them outside in the shade with no flash. I always toy with the idea of making a little stand for the camera so can just drop it in and snap away and have it lined up right, but I never actually make it.

 

[pjlla]

If you can find a 12x12 scanner, let me know!! They dont seem to exist. The A3 scanners arent quite 12 inches, so you would have to stitch the image anyway.
As for the pics of the pages, I take them outside in the shade with no flash. I always toy with the idea of making a little stand for the camera so can just drop it in and snap away and have it lined up right, but I never actually make it.

I did something like that once when I was taking a bunch of photos of old family photos.... it was faster and easier than scanning them and they came out great. I built a small upright "studio" from black cardstock (for the backdrop) and white card stock underneath as the "floor" to help reflect light. Then I lit it with my two Ott work lights (one on each side). And then I made a small pile of ?? (books probably) so that my camera was at just the right height and it worked great. I propped up a photo and then snapped, and then switched out the photo, and then snapped. I suppose it would probably work about as well if I did a similar set-up for my scrapbook pages.... but I keep getting glare off the photos themselves. At least the old vintage photos were matte...............P