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Framing Documents as a Collage, Part 3 Building an Archival Pocket From "Get Framed" episode DGFR-105

Shahnaz creates an archival pocket to preserve documents, concealed in the back of the frame.

In this project, expert framer Shahnaz LaCaze helps create a framed heirloom from family letters and documents. So far, Shahnaz has shown the essentials of archival framing and how to create a family heirloom.

While the newly created spacers are drying on our collage, we lnow earn how to keep other precious letters preserved yet still accessible in a secret, decorative, acid free pocket built onto the back of the frame.

Materials:

frame (already decoupaged with map)
UV Plexiglas® (cut to size of frame)
roll of mylar
scissors
decorative paper (large enough for dust cover on frame and pocket cover)
barrier paper
acid-free double-stick tape
acid-free foam core (frame size)
nails
hammer
bumpons
glue
filament tape
air in a can

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Steps:

1. Build the archival pocket for the back of the frame.

• Use gloves for this process because the mylar easily picks up oils from hands which will cause deterioration of the contents housed in it.

• Take a large sheet of mylar and fold in half to create a pocket. Double check that the pocket is deep/tall enough to hold your letters (figure A).

• Press down hard to crease the bottom of the pocket (figure B).

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• To secure the sides of the pocket, reduce the right edge one inch by cutting a strip of mylar off the right edge, top layer only (figure C). This will leave a one inch lip on the bottom layer of the mylar pocket.

• Apply a strip of double-stick tape along the entire new edge of the top layer (figure D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• Fold over the bottom layer of the right edge onto the double-stick tape strip of the top layer and crease the side edge. This secures the right side of the pocket (figure E).

• Repeat the process on the left side of the pocket (figure F).

  Tip: This procedure is important because it ensures that your letters never touch adhesives that will corrode them over time. The interior of the pocket will be entirely archive-friendly mylar from top to bottom to sides.

  Tip: Be sure to separate all your letters and envelopes inside the pocket, with acid-free barrier paper to keep the materials from deteriorating over time.

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

• Set aside the mylar pocket until the frame is fitted.

2. Attach the collage mat board to a same-sized piece of foam core with double-stick tape and glue. This will make the artwork sturdier in the frame (figures G and H).

Figure G

Figure H

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