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Shopping for supplies and assistance at your local craft store

You are starting to scrapbook and see the nice aisle of brightly packaged products at your local crafts store, should you depend on that store for your products and scrapbooking advice? Maybe. Is everything that is stocked on the scrapbooking aisle safe for my photos and permanent? Probably not.

Just because a store sells scrapbooking supplies does not mean that they understand what is safe for your photos and what will be permanent. For most scrapbookers, this hobby involves more than just putting the photos in an album, we want the album to last and we want our photos to remain looking nice. More than once I have walked down the aisle of a craft store and found rubber cement mixed in with the scrapbooking supplies. (Rubber Cement is not safe or permanent.) Why are there unsafe products in the scrapbooking aisle? It isn't that the store is intentionally misleading you. There are many factors to be considered in scrapbooking and photos safety. Store personnel and store managers just don't all have the time to study all of the information they need to know to keep your photos safe. That is why you need a little education about what is safe before you go shopping. Also realize that you might be lucky enough to find your store staffed with people who have a great deal of knowledge about scrapbooking and safety issues.

Why aren't all of the supplies located on the scrapbooking aisles not safe? Again, many times the store personnel just doesn't know what is safe and what isn't. There are also manufacturers that want to sell products to scrapbookers but who do not choose to make their products safe and/ or permanent for your scrapbooks.

Should I avoid the large craft chains then, is that what you are saying?   No, do not avoid the craft chains, they have some of the best pricing!  Large chain stores generally offer the best sales and many feature % off coupons on a regular basis.  Think of it this way, you buy a hamburger at Mc Donald's right? But do you ask the kid behind the counter for information about how it will affect your cholesterol? No, you rely on an expert for that, your doctor. By learning some about safety yourself you can become your own expert and buy safe, permanent products for your scrapbooks anywhere.

Site Updated Friday, April 15, 2005