You have put a lot of time and effort into creating the work of art that is your scrapbook. Now that you have made a scrapbook, there are still some added steps you need to take to ensure that the book lasts. If you make time to take a few precautions, your scrapbook will stay safe for many years to come. Ever wonder how museums keep historical documents and paintings intact for so long? Everything is mounted on acid-free archival paper and kept in rooms where the humidity and room temperature is monitored very closely. You don't have to go to quite that extreme; however, there are some protective measures you can carry out that will work just as well.

The first tip to keeping your scrapbook safe is to keep it dry. Humidity and liquids will ruin your scrapbook, photos, and negatives. Always store these items in a dry, sealed container. Avoid placing them in a damp basement or attic where they will be subject to severe humidity. Also, when scrapbooking, keep your drinks away from your materials and photos.

Remember that direct sunlight will damage both photos and negatives. Too much sun will even fade the cover of your scrapbook. To keep your memories safe from fading, store them where they will not be in direct sunlight often. For photographs that you want to display in a frame that will need to be in direct sunlight, consider having a copy made that you can keep in a safe album out of the sun. Having this copy will preserve the photograph even if the framed version becomes faded.

A good rule of thumb to follow when storing your scrapbooks is to think how comfortable you would be if you were the book. Books like to live where you do and if it's too hot or cold for you; chances are that it's too hot or cold for the photos in your book. Excessive heat can cause warping and sticking and the opposite will occur with extreme cold. Never store your scrapbooks in the basement or the attic.

One thing that many scrapbookers do not realize is that the oil from their hands can cause damage to their photographs over time. It is important to keep your fingerprints off your photos as much as possible. You will need to handle your photos while creating your scrapbook, but do so as little as you possibly can. Some professional scrapbookers will wear cotton gloves to work with their photos. Washing your hands frequently will help protect your photos as well.

Remember when you are working with your photos that you are not only creating an album for you to enjoy right now, but you are also creating a keepsake that you can pass on to your children and their children as well. Everything you do in your scrapbook should be done with longevity in mind. Carefully protect your pictures so that many more family members can enjoy them!

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About the Author

Graham Johns runs and writes regularly for Easy Scrapbooking Ideas where you can read many more articles on scrapbooking pictures.