Paper Dolls: Fun, Nostalgic, and NEW!

Preservation, Storage and Display
of Precious Paper Dolls
(c)2007 Judy M. Johnson www.papergoodies.com

DAMAGE & PREVENTION

It would seem obvious that the best way not to have damaged paper dolls is to prevent them from becoming damaged in the first place. These things can cause damage to paper:

Mishandling:
Dings/dents from improper holding
Folding, rolling or crushing prints
Corner dings from dropping/mailing without enough protection
Tearing
Ink bleeding through
Scraping surface inks by sliding sheets together

Poor Storage:
Pressure from stacking/packing too tightly, causing inks to compact or transfer
Storing in cardboard, wooden drawers or other acidic materials
Humidity resulting in mold or mildew
Too much dryness, heat or cold
Vermin damage: mice, chipmunks,insects
Dirt, dust, smoke, oils, sprays & other pollutants
Holding together with paper clips

Improper Display:
Placing in florescent light or in direct--or even indirect--sunlight
Placing in non-archival plastics or acetate
Using improper adhesives such as cellophane tape or rubber cement which turn yellow-brown
Putting PDs in those photo albums with the sticky pages & PVC covers ... eeek!
Tip -- If your clear sleeves or coverings have a strong plastic smell to them, they are not archival. Do not use them for any papers you really value.

Archival Materials:
Throughout this article I speak of "Archival" and "Acid Free" materials to use with your PDs. Packaging of page protectors, and paper reams indicate "Archival" or "Acid-Free" Always look for these notations.
Light Impressions catalog is an education in itself, whether you buy or not. In it you will find things you'll need for your collection. Archival= no acid or chemicals to damage your valuable paper. Acid from other materials (paper, wood) and from the air itself is what kills paper causing it to become brittle and break. There's a spray to stop acidification. Use on old/fragile paper dolls. Encapsulate fragile pieces after using the spray: Place prints or cut-out pieces on archival paper or board, then seal under a sheet of clear mylar stuck all around edges with ATG tape. Order your LIGHT IMPRESSIONS catalog 1-800-828-5539.

KEEP YOUR COLLECTION LOOKING YOUTHFUL
Slow the aging process. Can I reverse damage? Yes, in some instances, and to some degree.

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