Scrapbooking Small Heirlooms

By Diane Haddad Premium

Not sure about the smartest way to scrapbook different mementos? Adhere to these guidelines for common heritage-album keepsakes.

  • Pressed flowers&#151Enclose in a Mylar sleeve.

  • Newspaper clippings&#151Treat with a deacidification spray and encapsulate, or use a color photocopy.

  • Letters&#151Treat with deacidification spray. To make both sides readable, place in a separate page protector,in a keepsake pocket, or color copy important passages for display.

  • Cards and programs&#151Treat with deacidification spray and place in a keepsake pocket. If you want the inside to be visible, open the card and place a length of ribbon vertically along the inside fold. Then fasten the ribbon to the background paper just above and below the card.

  • Polaroids&#151Use color copies.

  • Fabrics&#151Encapsulate, color copy or photograph wool or silk items. Hand-stitch other items to your page.

  • Coins&#151Place in keepsake pockets. Arrange so they’ll stay in a single, flat layer.

3-D Danger Zone
The “layered look” is popular in scrapbooking these days&#151but certain embellishments can damage photos or attract insects. Employ these items sparingly or avoid them altogether:

  • metal (wire, eyelets, foil, glitter)

  • silk

  • wool

  • acetate ribbon or fabric

  • any fabric or ribbon with dye that runs

  • wire-edged ribbon

  • thick pieces (polymer clay, buttons, beads)

  • pressed flowers or leaves

If you want to use 3-D embellishments, stick to safe-scrapbooking rules: Don’t let them touch photos. Enclose mementos in plastic sleeves or keepsake pockets, so they don’t harm your pictures, either.