I am having such a hard time transitioning from top loading to CM

[Spinning]

I love my Top loading 12x12 but I have had this CM book with boy baby pages to do. I really love the preprinted pages, thought I would be able to do the album quickly! UGH! It is taking me forever! I can't seem to figure out how to add color easily to my pages I swear I measure to do a wall paper and it off sized! I don't want to do triangles and strips down the side on all the pages! I end up just matting everything and adding stickers to liven it up. Anyone else have this problem? I still have my DD CM book to do! Any tips would be great!

 

[bananiem]

I hear you!!! Actually, I did the opposite. I started with a CM book and had similar problems. After 2 or 3 albums like that I tried a top loader. WHEW!!! For my style of scrapping it works well.
One tip- when I tried to wallpaper I would put the paper on top of the page and sort of use my fingernail to crease where the edge of the page was and then I'd put it in my trimmer and line it up and cut. Does that make sense?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I've tried the CM style books - both "real" CM and other brands, same style. I've gone back to my top load and when I have the choice will stick with it!

Good luck!
Deb

 

[DiznEeyore]

Hmmm .... it's hard when you're working with pre-printed pages. If you want to wallpaper, what I usually do is use one of the CM pages as a "template" and then lay my sheet of paper over it. I make tiny marks at the edges (where the jeeping is) with a pencil and then use my trimmer to cut it. It usually turns out okay that way.

I'm going to be doing the opposite of you -- I've always used CM but just became a Close to My Heart rep so now I'll be using CTMH's top-loaders. It's funny how we get used to "one way" and it's so hard to change!!

 

[Spinning]

Some of the preprinted pages are great, and very pretty. Give you a nice place to write but I have some just plain white pages and they are the ones that are giving me the trouble! I will try some of tricks posted. I just really thought I would wiz through this book. The pictures are all in order. I have his baby book and calander to go by! LOL! Watch by the time I am done I will be a CM person....doubt it but who knows!

 

[pattievers]

I am working on my daughters CM book. I love their books, but am trying to use only CM products.

It is making me CRAZY!

I had to take a break this week, and go back to the old way. I am leaving a bit of a border on both sides, and am going to trim them down before adding them to a book.

I think it gets faster...but it is like learning a new language. It gets easier and easier.

Patti

 

[llp479]

I don't think it's the switch from the top loading to the CM style, I think it's all the blank white space that you have that overwhelming need to fill.

I have only used CM books, but I laugh when I look at my pages. Some pages I obviously was not intimidated by the white space, while others I either completly covered, or used many shortcuts and matting and stickers.

My sister and I did a 12X12 with the natural pages for our parents' 40th anniversary. The natural color worked great with the old B&W photos, the not so bright 60's and 70's photos, and all the new pics from the 80's - today. Plus, the pages didn't seem so stark that we had to embelish every page. Made completing the album much faster.

 

[pattyT]

I was working on my Top Loading Disney album and my regular CM albums at the same time - augh!

My top loading album looks awful because none of the pages are cut the exact same size (so sometimes on the top you can see the next page color

For CM pages I NEVER just use the white page to do a layout -
I ALWAYS cut a 12X12 on on e side to fit then do my layout on that. Just make sure you are holding the paper the correct way.
This way it is easier to 'move' pages around.

Hope that helps

 

[YaYas_Mom]

Can you switch to the Westrim top loading strap hinge page protectors and just drop your preprinted CM layouts in there? (I haven't seen these, so not sure if it's the whole page with strap hinge and jeeping that's already printed or if it's printed paper that is sized to put on the blank CM pages.

 

[Spinning]

I found a great trick! (thanks to a posting on another board!) Chalking! I used my chalks on the white pages to add a little subtle color! I now plan to do a cloud page with my chalks for a sleepy time lay out! It is amazing what a little chalk will do!
YaYas_Mom:
Tigger Fan I think has used those pages in her CM books. I just wonder if it would look so out of place since I am using many of their preprinted pages. But I may get a pack to try! But now that I have added chalk I am taking on a whole new look!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Hey Spinning - yes you are correct I use Westrim top loading in my CM albums - and I'm a CMC at that. I just found that top loading works better for me, but I LOVE my CM alubms and doubt I'll ever switch. Now, as for using both in the same album, no problem. I often use our preprinted pages or "regular" refill pages and then the very next page can be Westrim top loading. They both have the white jeeping on the edge and they go very nicely together. Try it - you'll like it. Great idea with the chalks - I use them with some paper piecing stuff, but need to get brave and branch out. Happy Scrappin.
Lisa

 

[GrammieMame]

PattyT: How do you adhere the finished page in the CM album? Since you talk about moving pages around, I assume you don't stick them down. That's my biggest problem with putting 12x12 paper on my CM white pages - I don't mind cutting them down, but I hate to put all that tape runner around the edges to stick them down (I hate little puffy sides to a page where they aren't stuck down). Also, it makes the book really thick and I feel like I can use my usual 30-35 pages for a book. I'd try the top-loaders, but I'm a former CM consultant and I loaded myself down with CM albums before I quit.

 

[pattyT]

I use tape runner -
I usually just put it in the 4 corners - then I blot it with material so its not super sticky - then adhere my page. With page protectors on they never move.
I always have little tear in the cm page when I move a page around - but thats ok because I just throw another page over it.

Aren't the CM albums only suppose to hold 30 pages? That is all I put in mine anyways.

I saw QVC at 3am today and they had these GREAT pages for 3-d embellishments for 17- you got 8 Bu5t I don't know if they would work in a cm album? Anyone?

 

[mom2grace]

I agree with llp479. I use natural or black pages exculsively now in my CM books! What a difference, I'm making converts all over the place when they see my pages. I am a "traditional" CM type scrapper, BTW. They do cost more, but somehow I justify it!!

Susan

 

[Spinning]

mom2grace
Mom son's school album is also a CM and it has the sand color pages and you are right it is easier. I always thought it was easier because IT was the same theme, school so I used the same style but after doing this baby album it must be the white pages!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I think it is probably a combination of things and just plain personal preference. I use top load post bound pretty exclusively. As I was getting started in scrapping I tried a variety of styles. I just can't get used to the jeeping on the CM style, strap hinge albums. But have a friend who has been scrapping for years and swears by the CM albums. She'll use pretty much anything in them (ok neither of us use eyelets, ribbons, or other 3 D embellishments) but only those albums.

I've done two strap hinge albums one from CM and one from Westrim with the jeeping and struggled all the way through them. Maybe it is because I tend to two 2 page layouts a lot and like to put borders on the two outer edges - that metal strip just got in my way! LOL.

And with the top load I can use all sorts of colors - the 12 x 12 card stock comes in dozens of colors, or I can use the white and either wallpaper it, mat my photos, or both!

So hang in there Spinning - strap hinge may just not be your thing!

Deb