CARING FOR YOUR HEIRLOOM

A small guide to keeping your keepsakes beautiful for generations to come.

Your Lucky Mae album was made to be touched, opened, and returned to — not tucked away and forgotten. With a little care, it will age the way heirlooms should: gently, and with character.

Handling

  • Clean, dry hands are best when turning pages — natural oils and moisture can mark archival paper over time.
  • Let pages lie flat when adding photos or notes, rather than pressing hard against a curved surface.
  • Avoid placing heavy objects on top of an open album, as this can strain the binding.

Adding Your Memories

  • Only use acid-free, archival-safe adhesives, pens, and embellishments — this protects both your photos and the surrounding pages.
  • Avoid regular sticky tape, glue sticks, or ballpoint pen ink that may bleed or yellow with age.
  • If adding printed photos, allow fresh prints to fully dry and cure (24–48 hours) before placing them in the album. 

Storage

  • Store your album flat rather than upright — this helps prevent the weight of thicker pages from straining the binding over time.
  • Choose a spot with good air circulation, and avoid areas prone to extreme heat, humidity, or moisture, such as garages or basements.
  • Keep your keepsake box in a cool, dry place too, and avoid resting heavy items on top of it, as this can put pressure on the linen and affect its shape.
  • Direct sunlight is best avoided altogether — heat and light exposure can fade pages and discolour the natural linen fabric over time. 

Everyday Care

  • Gently wipe away dust or fingerprints with a soft, dry cloth — both the album cover and the linen box benefit from this simple upkeep.
  • Avoid water, solvents, or cleaning sprays, which can mark the linen finish or affect the gold foil detailing.
  • As a natural fabric, linen has a little movement and character of its own — slight variations in texture are part of its charm, not a flaw.
  • Handle gold foil detailing gently, as foil can lift or scratch with repeated rubbing against rough surfaces. 

For the Long Term

  • Revisit your album occasionally, even after it's "finished" — gentle, regular handling actually helps keep bindings supple over time.
  • When passing your album down, include a note of its story. Part of what makes an heirloom is knowing the hands it passed through.
  • Made to be opened again and again — this is a keepsake meant to live in your home, not just on your shelf.