It is a fact set in stone that everything changes with age, and the scrapbook is
no exception, but there are some easy steps towards slowing down the ageing process
and keeping your scrapbook looking fresh and new as time goes by.
When looking to begin making your scrapbook, pay close attention to the paper that
you use when you do so; paper can have a very strong effect on the ageing process,
particularly when it is brought into contact with certain other substances.
common sense and careful handling will help keep your scrapbook album in top condition
Paper is a chemically enhanced product when made commercially, and as such contains
a number of acids in normal circumstances. These acids are used to help the process
of paper making, and aid the cheap and efficient production of paper for many uses.
Acid free paper
However, when these acids are brought into contact with a number of other chemicals
they can be encouraged to leave the substance - a chemical reaction known as migration
– and hence the paper becomes less stable and firm, and rapidly crumbles – in other
words, the ageing process is enhanced.
Chemicals that cause this reaction are present in – among other things – photographic
paper and adhesives, hence using standard paper is not a guarantee for long life
in a scrapbook.
Fortunately, the availability of ‘acid free’ paper – a more expensive but more long
lasting paper – is the answer to this problem. Acid free paper is ideal for scrapbooks
as it will not be encouraged to age by the attachment of photographs or the presence
of glue, and will thus last longer. Any craft store can make sure you buy and use
an acid free paper for your scrapbook.
Keep out of direct light
Another aid to ageing is light – particularly bright sunlight, or artificial light.
This is because pigments – the basic make up of colours – react in different ways
to exposure to light, with some – particularly reds – fading much quicker than others.
This is why an old painting or embroidery tends to lose its impact over time, as
the colours fade in the bright light.
This process is known as ‘light fastness’ and it is possible to buy some inks and
paints that have better lightfast qualities than others.
Keeping your scrapbook out of prolonged bright light, then, is a good way of making
sure it lasts as long as can.
Sunlight or a damp environment are dangerous to your scrapbook album
Dampness is another problem, and it is advisable to keep a scrapbook – or any book
– in a cool and dry, and generally dark, place when not in use, although letting
the pages dry out too much can lead to crumbling. Normal browsing should stop this from happening.
In basic terms, common sense and careful handling should lead to your scrapbook
lasting a long time, and being enjoyed long after by all the family, especially
if you use a strong and good quality acid free paper as the basis for your scrapbook,
and keep the book out of direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.
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