How to Choose Scrapbook Materials

Scrapbooking today is not merely the organization and display of photos and memorabilia, but the preservation of the items you include in the book. This requires the use of special materials that will not contribute to the degradation of your scrapbook photos.

Things You'll Need

• Paper Cutters
• Paper-edger Scissors
• Photo-safe Markers
• Rubber Stamps
• Acid-free Scrapbooks
• Calligraphy Pens
• Scrapbooks
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Acid-free Ink Pens
• Acid-free Markers
• Acid-free Papers
• Archival-quality Markers
• Archival-quality Pens
• Binders
• Rulers
• Rubber stamps

Instructions

1. Look for materials labeled "photo safe," "acid-free," "lignin-free" and "archival quality." These products will not cause or contribute to photo deterioration. If the product is not labeled as such, look for an alternative.

2. Choose a sturdy, archival-quality album over a magnetic album. The materials used in magnetic albums can, over time, harm your photos.

3. Become familiar with the types and sizes of albums available. The type of album you choose will determine the ease with which you can rearrange, add, or remove album pages.

4. Use acid-free page protectors to cover your album pages. Page protectors will help prevent photos from becoming soiled and will guard against fingerprint smudges.

5. Mount your photos onto acid-free and lignin-free cardstock paper. You can also use this type of paper to make decorative cutouts for your scrapbook pages.

6. Use acid-free and photo-safe tapes and adhesives to mount your photos, decorative cutouts and borders onto the album pages.

7. Use archival-quality writing implements to add text to your album pages. Suitable implements will also be acid-free and photo-safe.

8. Trim pages and photos with scissors or a paper cutter. A paper cutter will cut a more accurate line than scissors. If scissors are your only option, make sure they're very sharp.

9. Practice your scrapbooking skills with the basic materials first. With each successive project, you can add items such as decorative paper punches, die-cuts, stamps, stickers and other decorative materials and tools to your scrapbooking toolbox.

Tips & Warnings

• Three-ring binders offer the easiest removal and addition of album pages. You can rearrange pages in post-bound and strap-hinge albums - but not easily. The pages in a spiral-bound album are set; you cannot remove or add to them.

• Consider purchasing a scrapbook kit, which will come with all the basic supplies you need to complete one scrapbook. You can even choose a themed kit that focuses on a particular event such as a wedding, birthday or graduation.