By Lori Garcia, editor-in-chief

* Things that are dangerous for scrapbooks: moisture, sunlight (and florescent), extreme hot or cold temperatures (photos like to leave where you do--65-70 degrees F), acid.

* Where to keep photos: (1) in a book/album, closed in the dark (2) in containers because they are dark and keep photos dry (3) in the packaging they come in from the developers

* Three different types of albums that are space to use (1) 3-ring binder (pictured) where scrapbook sheets are put into page protectors and put into the rings. (2) Strap hinge- an album where all the pages are bound together at one end. You can open it up and move them around if needed. (3) Post Bound--(the most popular album sold at the Scrapbook Barn) is an album that is very versatile. Pages fit into brackets and can easily be removed and switched around one at a time.

* Mount pictures on solid paper before you lay them on a pattern. This way your subjects won't get lost with the busy paper.

* Always use "acid-free" to prevent photos, paper, etc, to become yellow over time.

* Other names for "acid-free" are "ligment-free" or "archival safe"

*Things that are "acid-free" and are safe for your scrapbook: (1) ribbons (cotton or lace, don't use wired ribbons) (2) metals are "acid-free" such as coins. (3) Hair is also "acid-free" for scrapbooking "Baby's First Haircut" for example.

* If you have something that is NOT "acid-free" such as a newspaper clipping, and would like to include it in your scrapbook, you can do a couple of things: 
(1) Put the article, print, etc, in it's own little page protector or pouch to isolate it from photos and other keepsakes. 

(2) Archival mist is also available to help save your acidic memorabilia, such as newspaper articles. Archival mist is a solution that you can spray on an item to make it "acid-free." It also helps keep newspapers from turning yellow. It is the acid that makes it yellow in the first place. Archival mist is expensive, however, running more than $40 a bottle. 

(3) You can also photocopy a newspaper article or other memorabilia onto "acid-free" paper. Don't count on regular computer paper to be "acid-free," instead, bring your own in to the copy center to ensure you're getting the safest paper. 

(4) Wash your newspaper article in distilled water in a 9 by 13" pan to purge it of acid. Let dry on a flat surface and it will be "acid-free" Corianne says this really works! 

(5) Another way to preserve things that are NOT "acid-free" would be to take a picture of it. This works really well with children's artwork. Instead of including the child's artwork in the scrapbook, take a picture of the child holding his/her artwork. This way, you can easily see how old the child was when he/she created it. It will be a fun memory.

* Die-cut machines (pictured) are like large paper cut-outs. You run a template or plate in the machine, slide the lever, and the paper is cut from the template. Die-cut machines are quiet pricey, where most machines are not found in the home, but rather in scrapbook stores. The Scrapbook Barn will cut die-cut shapes (pictured) to order, or you can choose from their wide pre-cut selection.

* Use the Xyron ® sticker maker, you can easily turn a die-cut into a sticker.

* A good paper trimmer is a sound investment. The good quality ones costing between $20-50, they will help you make clean, straight, sharp cuts. 

* Some trimmers comes with different blades that produce interesting patterned cuts

* Decorative scissors are an easy way to make your scrapbook stand out. Use them to cut paper frames for your pictures or simply use them directly on the photo itself.

* Punches are fun and easy to do. You can use the part you punched out to decorate your page, or the left over material that you took the punch out of.

* Stickers are a great way to add artwork to any page without much skill. 

* Stickers often come in themed packs such as "Back to School" or "Day at the Beach" and will have many stickers that you can use just for that page.

* You can actually make your own stickers out of anything. Xyron ® makes a sticker machine where you just feed your paper through one end of the machine and crank it out on the other side as a picture. This is especially good to use with kids because it does not require heat to use.

* There are many  different types of adhesives to choose from. Make sure they are "acid-free" Here are a few different kinds 

(1) adhesive dots-these are little sticker dots that are sticky on both sides. You stick them on the back of your pictures, etc and they can stick right onto your album page. 

(2) tape dispenser (shown in picture)--these are very quick and easy to use. Use slide the tip across the photo/paper/etc and it instantly put some adhesive tape on your object. 

(3) Glue Stick--(make sure it's "acid-free") Glue sticks are easy to use, but tend to dry out quicker than other adhesives 

(4) Mounting corners--Mostly used for photos, these are easy to stick onto sheets and fit your pictures into the corners. These are great because you can take your picture out of your album if you need it to scan or for other purposes. It easily slides out of the mounting corners and can be easily put back into place.

* It is a myth that your pens must be "acid-free." In fact, pens do matter whether they are or not. Don't spend extra money on "acid-free" pens when cheaper versions will do.