Thoughts on scrapbook size

[Merandab4]

What size are the WDW scrapbooks?
I know a few people have the 12x12 ones, is that the only size they make?

I realize that the 12x12 books are one of the largest, but I do not like working with them because I feel they are too bulky and don't fit nicely on my book shelf (I know, lame excuse..lol). I was thinking about working with the 8 1/2 by 11. Is that the next size down? (also, do this pages fit right into your home printer?

Do you prefer the 8 1/2 by 11 or the 10 x 10 ?
Which do you think is bigger?
I don't believe I have see any 10x 10 that come with protective covers. Do they?

Also, about how many more pages could you add to these books that are bound with the little screws, (don't know the technical name for these books), but I'm sure you know what I mean. The ten pages that they give you is just never enough!

Thanks for any help or opinions you can provide.

[Momeska]

I've added as many as 6 refills to the 12" x 12" albums. You don't really need to add all the little screws. I think I added 2 or 3 screw extenders. I'll tell you what though. Being a traditional (as opposed to digital) scrapper, that scrapbook weighs a ton!!! They key to it is how much leeway you have on the piece that covers the spine. The Disney album I bought on the Magic doesn't have much room to expand, unfortunately. I punched the holes wider but there just isn't much material there.
Linda

[onedisneylover]

i used to do 12x12 scrapbooks. now i do 11x8.5...like the size you said, but the format is long way instead of tall...i love it!!! like you said, it just fits better on the shelf...not as cumbersome...my kids can look at the smaller books a heck of alot easier than the 12x12. but if you are looking for disney albums, they only come in 12x12 or 8x8...now that is another size. i am working on my captiva album in 8x8 and this is a fun size...

[JudithM]

I found album size to be a personal preference. My first scrapbook was 8.5"x11" because it was a gift for a friend, & I wanted a "traditional" size - one that would fit nicely on a book shelf. I have done other 8.5"x11" gift albums plus an 8"x8" gift last month.

I looked around before I decided on 12"x12" albums for all my photos. I have removed all my old photos from the sticky albums & am now (slowly) scrapping them into sb albums. I have learned it is ok to throw out some photos, crop several photos, etc. My sbs are what I call "glorified photo albums." I find I can get more photos & journaling on a 12"x12" page than a smaller size sb. Now where I will eventually store all the albums, I do not know !

[becky7953]

I started out using 12x12 albums. I feel when I do 8 1/2 x 11 albums I do not have enough room.

I have done 8x8 album for a gift and that was fun. Not too many pics fit on a page though.

[Spinning]

I really love the 12x12 size. It is great for being able to get more pictures on the page. Plus if you look for the 3 post style verses 2 post you can get a lot of pages in it if you are not a real bulky scrapper. Which I am not.
I also love the 8x8 books. So again it all boils down to what feels best for you.
The 81/2 x11 are nice you can buy lots of paper and not worry about waste with cutting paper to fit. But I found that size to be hard to work with. much harder than an 8x8. Because (and this is just my opinion) the 8x8 books you must be rather picky about your pictures. at most if you do a ton of cropping you can fit 2 pictures on a page. But usually just one. And that size looks so nice with a 5x7 on it!
With the 81/2 x11 I found I could get 3 pictures on it but then it felt crowded and not enough room to embellish. But if I only put 2 on it the pages looked so similar. Does that make sense? Because you can't really move them around much. side by side, ontop, or a little angled.
I am sure this doesn't make sense at all! But with the square albums, I felt I had more creative options..Must have something to do with my symitry (SP)
issues!
So I guess I am no help!
Oh when I do my 8x8 books they are very specific not a variety of events. Such as a trip album, gift ablum, wedding album. My 12x12 are more continuous albums.

[Merandab4]

Spinning,
Yes, I know exactly what you mean about not having many options as far as layouts when it comes to 8 1/2 by 11. I didn't really think about that, but I am glad you brought that up. It gives me more to think about! I have done a few layouts with 12 by 12 pages already, and planned to take them apart to put them on a 8 1/2 by 11. (what would fit anyway). I am one of those people who don't really like to crop my pictures, so I don't really get more than two on a page. I thought plenty of times about just putting the pictures in a regular photo album that allows journaling, but still get the itch to finish the scrapbook. I feel like you get more of the story when you scrapbook? Does that make sence? I have done a mini (6x6) SB for my grandmother for her 75 b-day, and also am working on one for my best friend, our last trip to WDW (2004), but am having such a difficult time doing one for myself. I have decided that I will only scrap trips.

Thanks, and keep the opinions coming!

[Paula S.]

I like using the 12x12 for my album from the entire vacation. I seperate each park with a page that has the enterance sign, a pics of the main thing at the park (Castle, Sorcerer's Hat & Tree of Life) and a pocket for the brochure from the park.
I also use the 6x6 for smaller albums so that I can bring them to work and other places for other to see since the othre album is huge. I do seperate 6x6 albums for each of the parks.

Paula

[Merandab4]

I notice most of you are making "pockets" on your pages to hold soveniers or maps, brochures, etc.... Are you doing these with album that have the page protectors on them, or are you using albums that do not have page protectors?
Paula, I like your ideas! Your reasoning of making the 6x6 albums is exactly why I don't want to work with the 12x12 albums. I'm afraid I wont take it anywhere or show it because it is too bulky. I wish I could be as motivated as you to make 2 albums!

[Spinning]

Not sure who you were talking about with the pockets. I make pockets all the time. Even with my 12x12. I use top loading with a page protector. Most of the time I dont' look at hte stuff I put in there I jsut want to keep it protected. But if someone wants to see something they just have to reach in and pull it out. I use eyelets to hold the pocket in place.
You can also cut the pace protector. If you have a pamphlet you want to open just put your cutting mat inside the protector and then with and exacto knife make a slit long enough to slide the cover in. This I have not done but have seen albums iwth it. So I don't know how it holds up over the long haul.