Acid free supplies...always necessary?
By KarenLO
@KarenLO (238)
United States
June 13, 2007 4:26pm CST
I have just begun to scrapbook. I see so many projects that have silk flowers, buttons, fabric and many other mediums being used on a scrapbooking page. When did the acid free idea get thrown out of the "rules" and how important is it. I would love to use paints, cloth, flower petals etc. Anyone have any expert advice?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mayogi (74)
• Spain
13 Jun 07
Hello Karen!
I can only talk for myself and I would NOT use anything not acid free on my scrapbook pages. At least not if I had a photo on that page. Ocassionally I do make scrapbook pages without photos and then I could consider using omething not acid free. Scrapbooking is such an expensive hobby and every page takes me many hours to make so I think that after I've spent a lot of money & time on acid free materials and photos - why should I risk getting it all ruined in a few years time? Just my opinion though.
@KarenLO (238)
• United States
13 Jun 07
Thanks for your response. I took a class on stamping and I wanted to use the embossing technique on my pages but I wouldn't know if the paint and embossing powder would ruin the pictures that I am using. I am using copies of my pictures which I print out...so the original would always be on the computer...maybe that would make a difference. I have many very old pictures in my genealogy and always scan them and make a print. My printer does such a good job that I can't tell the difference from the pictures done professionally. Thanks for the advice.
@mayogi (74)
• Spain
13 Jun 07
You're welcome. :-)
When you buy ink for your rubber stamps look for acid free and archival safe inks. As far as I know the embossing powders are acid free but just in case, only buy a well known brand and ask in the shop, just in case.
I've heard that all the acrylic paints are acid free and so are the water colors, but if I were you I'd go to a LSS and ask. They can help you. Just in case....
@jolenegreen (1209)
• United States
15 Jul 07
HI Karen! I use all that stuff on my pages! LOL. I have been scrapping for a little over 4 years! I dont even look anymore when buying scrapping supplies, LOL. If you read magazines like scrapbooks etc, and Creating Keepsakes....hardley anyone looks or uses acid free. The only ones who really push it anymore are Creative Memories Reps. The girls on scrapjazz.com got me into not using acidfree. Checkout the website...Its great! Great group of women on the message board and an awesome Gallery!!! Hope this helps!!!
@KarenLO (238)
• United States
15 Jul 07
Thanks for responding. I, too, have been scrapbooking awhile and let it slide for a few years. I got divorced after 36 years of marriage and couldn't look at my pictures...too painful. Thanks to scrapbooking....I have learned to crop, crop, crop...and guess who I don't have to look at anymore. Of course, there are some times that he is included but it seems that I was the one taking pictures on vacation, special events and he was in every one of them. I love scrapbooking and have gotten into it full force again. I, too, am finding lots of items in my collection of craft supplies that will work on my pages...that is why I asked the question about acid-free supplies...maybe Creative Memories ...just has an opinion. I, too, am using lots of stuff that I have around the house that I know isn't acid free...but I figure that the page and pictures will probably last for 100 years...haha...that's long enough. Jp[e upi can get back into scrapping....at least take some pictures for later....while your children are small...you can scrap later.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
15 Jun 07
Hi! I am not an expert, but with scrapbooking I would use only the acid free. I think your pictures break down if you don't. Welcome to mylot!
@sugarcrystalz (60)
• United States
27 Jul 07
Almost everything that you buy made specifically for scrapbooking will be acid free because they know people won't buy it if it's not. There's a spray you can buy (Krylon's Make it Acid Free) that you can use on anything not for scrapbooking that will neuralize the acid so it won't harm your pictures. I don't usually use it because I'm not super worried about the acid, but it is nice on occasion.
