Repair Guy: All acid is boxed...once out of the box and placed in light, its going to start degrading...so you want it in a box if you can get it. At our Lowes....I've actually seen crates of Acid brought down from storage still wrapped in plastic on pallets go completely in a week...well there was like 4 boxes left on the pallet. The customers were pulling the boxes off the pallet before they could even be moved to the right place. At our Pool Warehouse, they had the same 20 less about 6 boxes or so for a whole month of visiting both places. They are right next door....I do in and out of both stores at least once per week. Anyway, all you have to do is look at the acid. If its yellow or orange, its old. If its relatively clear, its new. My last post had a typo. I myself, buy from the pool store. Yes, I can see its older than the stuff I have purchased at Lowes Why? Because its cheaper. I would buy whatever it was cheaper unless it was really orange indicating it had been sitting for many months.

I always find folks laughing when the companies toot about guarantees for 100 years! Whenever my friend, my upline when I was a CM consultant, tells about the long guarantee, there is always someone in the crowd that comments how none of us will be around 100 years from now to know it the researchers were right. That is so true. I guess we just have to trust the researchers. That is why I stick with the reputable companies like CM, Mrs. Grossman, the big names. They have a lot invested in having a good product. Sometimes I see an odd brand sticker but I pass cause I just don't know if it is any good.

I'm not sure what the brand name is, but I got it a Sam's Club. It's a huge pack (about 700 sheets). It has almost every color you would need to scrapbook. On the package it says "Great for memory books and Scrapbooks." The only problem I have with it is that it's a little bigger than 8 1/2 x 11" so I have to trim it a little to fit my pages. It's a different consistency than regular construction paper- The reason I asked the question is that before I knew the importance of acid-free products, I tried using regular construction paper, and it faded and yellowed very fast! I wouldn't think these would since they are acid free. Does anyone know? I assume it is the acid that caused the reg. construction paper to fade.

Dear Anne, I would not worry too much over what is already done. Most times acid free paper is also lignin free too, whether it is marked as such or not. Especially paper sold for photos. Lignin is a part of the plant fiber or pulp, that is used to make cheap paper. Most of the paper used and made for scrapbooks is NOT cheaply made, especially when you compare it to note book paper at the price rate of 100 sheets for 50 cents, compared to 1 sheet for 50 cents in 12 x 12 or 4 sheets for $1.00 in the 8 x 11 size, in scrapbook paper. If the fear still plagues you, the from now on buy only what says acid free/lignin free for your books. However in my own opinion a LOT of the hype over this issue is started by consultants who can make a LOT of money off of your fears. I too want my precious photos preserved, but I refuse to be baited into the endless game of "our product is better than your product", and if you "REALLY" cared about your photos and loved ones you would spend the X amount of dollars for our items, "Just to be safe", wars that this craft is known for. Sleep safely, whatever you have done your photos are more protected now than they ever were. Penny