<p>This isn't really an MT question, but I thought maybe a lot of you do put your show memories in scrapbooks. Ive been so behind in making scrapbooks for my senior daughter of her high school years, but finally started up again. The other day my mom said, You arent putting all those non acid-free ticket stubs and show programs and award certificates in her scrapbook pages, are you? Well, yikes, because, yes, I have been doing just that. Am I making a mistake by doing this? Will the pages be ruined in the future? Should I be doing something different, such as putting the offending materials (Sue: note that I did not use the word stuff, though I wanted to BIG LOL) in little acid-free pouches or something? No, Ive never taken a scrapbooking course (gosh, did I just use a noun as a . . . verb or did I create a gerund that turned into an adjective when it was put before a nounnow Im getting so confused and off topic), so thats why Im so ignorant of how to properly create a scrapbook. Can anyone please HELP???</p>
<p>hmmmm, I used those cute little sticky tabs on all my kids' <strong>stuff</strong> too. Yeegads. This <strong>stuff</strong> just drives me crazy....looks like my sons better marry someone who can go back and fix my mess. ;) That will be the test for prospective daughters-in-law. Screw the pea under the mattress, she must be able to scrapbook!!!</p>
<p>My D (millie_chittick) has just started working on a scrapbook. We are beginners but they told us at the scrap book store (yes that's right-they have entire stores) that we should take color copies of anything like newspaper articles, etc and put those in instead. You can't tell the difference. I don't know if that is even what you are talking about but since I only know one thing about this subject I thought I would share it.</p>
<p>Scrapbooking . . . my passion, recently put on hold to pursue college theater information. LOL.</p>
<p>I have converted from craft store products to the Creative Memories. There are many reasons why, but mainly because I like their simple approch that focuses on getting those photos and journals in books with a de-emphasis of the time consuming "crafty" stuff. One of my favorite products is their acid free sleeves for putting programs, playbills in. They come in 8.5 x 11" and 12 x 12" and are called Portrait Sleeve pages. There's a cardstock page in the center which you can mount the item onto, or just remove the cardstock and slip the item in (this is how I do it). I often use the 8/5 x 11" for programs and insert into my 12 x 12" album. </p>
<p>Another thing you might try is their memorabilia packets. They look like clear envelopes and would be good for tickets and smaller things. Finally, you could mount the items onto acid free paper and cover with a sheet protector so that the non-acid item isn't touching anything else.</p>
<p>These products can be found online for browsing and pricing purposes. To actually purchase them, you have to do so through a consultant. Consultants can be located on their website as well.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Elliottsmom--That's a great idea. I see I HAVE been making a big mistake just sticking in these items without thinking about the future. I should have known, too, because my mother-in-law was an artist and left many gorgeous paintings when she died. But during the period when she was a starving artist in NY (similar to starving actor in NY) she used cheap materials which were NOT acid free. Now the damage is already showing up. She used to hang out at the theaters and paint the actors, for example, and they're wonderful! Now I am faced with the cost of restoring these paintings or letting them "rot." Marianne, yes, the newspapers are one of the big problems--and I stupidly just stuck them in the scrapbooks. I can't imagine re-doing all these pages that have already been done. I'm gonna cry!</p>
<p>You can also spray the paper with a product especially formulated to conteract the acid in the paper. It works by neutralizing the acids that deteriorates paper. It's good for newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, playbills, programs etc. Although you are supposed to spray both sides, you might want to just spray the one side of papers that you have already put in a scrapbbook. These sprays are available at scrapbbooking and/or craft stores.</p>
<p>What great ideas... The problem I'm running into is that some of our memorabilia are program posters that are a bit too big for the 12X12 scrapbook. Are there larger scrapbooks available?..... thanks for any help...</p>
<p>I just took some of ours to a copy center and shrunk them on a color copier. That's one option anyway.</p>
<p>These are such wonderful ideas. I didn't even think of putting a poster in a scrapbook, so shrinking on a color copier is great. Marianne--are these copies you make on acid-free paper? Do you have to use special paper for the copies? Johanna's mom--THANKS!!! I will check out this spray right away!</p>
<p>I have not copied them on to acid free paper but I am now going to check out the spray!</p>
<p>One of my local photocopy places has women that scrapbook. They know about the acid-free issue and they keep acid free paper in stock for us local scrapbookers. Acid-free paper can also be purchased and then taken to any color copy place to do the copying and reduction.</p>
<p>You scrapbook experts are great. New problem. I photocopied a dance program onto cardstock. But the ink is already wearing off the cardstock. Is there a certain type of cardstock I can use to print onto--or it a certain type of copier/ink that's needed? Or do I have to use acid-free paper instead of cardstock? I tried the spray, BTW, and it seems fine, but of course I won't know if it works for a long time . . . .</p>
<p>You can also buy acid-free cardstock in white, and any number of colors, from Michael's, JoAnn's, and scrapbook stores. I have seen ads for special inks and printers that are acid-free, and last longer than the typical inks we all use. It's really easy to get compulsive about all of this! The one thing I definately would do is copy anything from the newspaper. It deteriorates really fast, even if it is sprayed. Laminating newspaper is the only other method that really preserves it, but it becomes more difficult to scrapbook.Hope this info helps!</p>
<p>mamatw--I think I'm on a treadmill I can't get anywhere on. Just as soon as I think I'm doing it right, I find out another screw up. ACID-FREE COMPUTER INK NOW! Oh boy. Thanks for another tip, though.</p>