A Question For Those Who Use CM Albums....

[Disneylvr]

Do you make your scrapbook pages right on the album pages or do you use 12 x 12 paper or cardstock and adhere it to the album pages? I started out just using the actual album pages (mine are white) but then discovered the 12 x 12 paper in a variety of colors, patterns etc and started using that sometimes. I have to trim about a 1/3" off to get it to fit in the CM album though. My friend, who is also my CM Consultant, kinda made me feel stupid today for using the 12 x 12 paper. She said it will make my albums more bulky. She prefers using the actual album pages as her base and thinks I should do the same.

 

[Alice28]

What you are doing is called "wallpapering" and it's a very common thing to do. It's just hard to do with CM albums cause they are not true 12x12 size, as you have discovered. Lots of people do it- just depends on your sense of style. I personally like to use the white (or natural or black) as my base, but mat several of my photos in colorful paper. It does bulk up your album faster if you wallpaper all of your pages, and you won't be able to fit as many pages in your albums if you didn't do it. But, hey, if that's how YOU like to do it, then that's GREAT! Don't let someone else's tastes determine how you do your project.

 

[Disneylvr]

Originally posted by Alice28
What you are doing is called "wallpapering" and it's a very common thing to do. It's just hard to do with CM albums cause they are not true 12x12 size, as you have discovered. Lots of people do it- just depends on your sense of style. I personally like to use the white (or natural or black) as my base, but mat several of my photos in colorful paper. It does bulk up your album faster if you wallpaper all of your pages, and you won't be able to fit as many pages in your albums if you didn't do it. But, hey, if that's how YOU like to do it, then that's GREAT! Don't let someone else's tastes determine how you do your project.

You see, I learn something new every day in the scrapbooking world! I don't plan to wallpaper on every page, just some because I can see your point about bulking up the scrapbook. Thanks!

 

[WendyZ]

I do this with black alot. I don't want to put the black pages in, so I just put black paper on my white/natural page.

Works for me! I say do what works for you!

 

[nicki dahling]

As a new CMC I want to add, do what you like. Its your album. I have several albums this way. I have also started using black and natural albums in my books , because I am not big on white backgrounds. Creative Memories does stress the importance of not "bulking" up your albums with excess weight ( which happens when you wallpaper ). But frankly that is one of the reasons I use their albums. To me they hold up under pressure. Some of my other albums have started to wear at the binding , but my CM album still looks as good as the day I brought it. ( and I came to that conclusion long before I started selling them ). The most important thing is that you enjoy doing them, that you have them in a safe album, and that you create memories to share.

Cyndi

 

[mcnuss]

My friend, who is also my CM Consultant, kinda made me feel stupid today for using the 12 x 12 paper. She said it will make my albums more bulky.

It's this kind of attitude that totally turned me off to CM! My CMC was the same way. It was very much "Don't shop at the LSS, that stuff is no good, you have to use CM", kind of like the rest of the scrapbooking world had everything all wrong, and CM was the only way to go. Well, now she gets no orders from me, and you know what? She's so silly about it that she told a mutual friend that I had stopped scrapping bc she hadn't had any orders from me lately!! LOL -- it never occurred to her that I could be buying elsewhere!!

 

[crazyforpooh]

I use only CM albums and agree with what everyone has said above. I have a great CMC though who also uses other things in her albums. Not all CMC's are purist.

Enjoy mounting your memories they way you want to see them don't let other dictate how you do them. I some pages wallpapered and some not. But, I must say as of late I wallpaper more than not.

Laura
A scrapaholic

 

[joyful1nh]

I also use CM albums because I think they are made better than any others on the market. I considered becoming a CMC but the company really does encourage the consultants to stress using ONLY CM in the albums. I use a combination of wallpapering and bare natural and black pages with borders -- I rarely use white pages anymore.

I still buy CM supplies, but I do avoid going to crops at some consultants because I feel so awkward using other supplies (and I've got way too much junk to be hauling around!)

 

[Alice28]

Originally posted by joyful1nh
I also use CM albums because I think they are made better than any others on the market. I considered becoming a CMC but the company really does encourage the consultants to stress using ONLY CM in the albums. I use a combination of wallpapering and bare natural and black pages with borders -- I rarely use white pages anymore.

I still buy CM supplies, but I do avoid going to crops at some consultants because I feel so awkward using other supplies (and I've got way too much junk to be hauling around!)

Sigh...this is part of the reason I am not going on with CM anymore. I am still considered a CMC, but not for much longer. I really got tired of the *only* CM mantra I got all the time from my unit leader and when I went to the convention in February I just about wanted to puke. Sorry, I still LOVE the albums, the cutters, the stickers, the paper, but it's NOT the ONLY good stuff out there! I found it very restrictive, and I hate it when I hear about people's CMC's being such "nazis" about NOT using other products. (I know, that's probably too harsh of a term---I'm using it tongue in cheek). Especially when it comes to stickers, diecuts and papers cause there is so SO much out there that CM just doesn't offer (yet).

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by Alice28
I found it very restrictive, and I hate it when I hear about people's CMC's being such "nazis" about NOT using other products.

Some friends in New England have used that same term when discussing this topic .

 

[Twigs]

I use CM albums and I sometimes use wallpaper if that is the look I want for that page, and never thought anything about it. My CMC never said anything when she saw this, she is such a nice person and never really did a hard sell, but was there whenever I needed something. She has recently quit selling CM as she has a new baby (her fourth) and it was too much for her. I have a new CMC, who I have ordered from, and she delivered to my house, I hope she is lilke my old CMC.

 

[pattyT]

she is a 'purist'
of course she want all your scrap money to go her way!

I do bolth -
depends on the page layout!
If I want white as a backround I don't "wallpaper" the cm page - but 9 out of 10 pages in my albums have 12X12 paper over the Cm pages -

So you can't fit AS MANY pages in an album - sacrifice worth making in my eyes

I just signed on with CM because of all me past cmc's attitudes! (that Feb incentive and my buddy here on the dis encouraged me to do so - and I LOVE the albums!)
I plan to stockpile for myself - and sell only to those who have the same attitude but not do shows (I have WAY TO MUCH contaband.

 

[Disneylvr]

There are many items that I prefer the CM versions; albums, personal trimmer, cutting system, adhesives.... But I buy most of my stickers, card stock, 12 x 12 paper, die cuts.. from the local craft or scrapbooking store and will continue to do so. Thank you everyone! I knew my friend was just disappointed she wasn't getting ALL of my scrapbooking business.

Michelle

 

[ILoveDiz]

I usually wall paper all my layouts and and "heavy" mats and embellishments. The CMCs out there really hate my style of scrapping. I like the colors of the CM books and like using the strap and hinge system. I was told that the Westrim books found at Michaels and Joanns are the same company used by CM. CM has trademarks on the cover colors. I says scrap they way you want and NEVER convert to anything you dislike.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by ILoveDiz
I was told that the Westrim books found at Michaels and Joanns are the same company used by CM. CM has trademarks on the cover colors. I says scrap they way you want and NEVER convert to anything you dislike.

Nope, Westrim albums are not made by CM - totally different company, but Westrim uses CM's strap hinge idea (apparently CM couldn't copyright it). Originally CM's albums came from Webway.

There are quite a few CM Nazis out there ... but in a way I can understand their point ... most of them are trying to earn money selling CM products. But I think they carry it to far and end up losing customers.

I think what you put in your album is your choice, I'm not pure CM, but I do tease my customer/friends about using "contraband" in their albums.