Post-bound, 3 ring, CM, strap hinge...help!

[Sandy22]

So there are 4 different types of albums? Post-bound, 3 ring, CM and strap hinge? I'm sooo confused! Are CM the only kind that have that plastic strip running down the interior seams?

 

[LindaBabe]

There are also spiral bound just to add to the mix!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I think the CM album is a strap hinge album, but other companies make them as well.

 

[Sandy22]

I think the CM album is a strap hinge album, but other companies make them as well.

So does strap hinge refer to that plastic thingy?

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

The strips are called jeeping and all strap hinge albums have that because they need something on the inside edge for the "staple" the strap goes through. I guess it is on the outside edge for either stability or symmetry. But it is the very thing that turns me off to strap hinge. I always feel like I can't scrap to the edge and no matter what color scheme I use I have the strip on the edge.

Deb

 

[Sandy22]

The strips are called jeeping and all strap hinge albums have that because they need something on the inside edge for the "staple" the strap goes through. I guess it is on the outside edge for either stability or symmetry. But it is the very thing that turns me off to strap hinge. I always feel like I can't scrap to the edge and no matter what color scheme I use I have the strip on the edge.

Deb

Thanks for the explanation! I finally went to my LSS and pulled out all the albums to look at the different types. I think I'm going to buy post-bound from now on as I like the look of the pages sitting side by side.

 

[kaygela]

The post bound is the type I always end up buying too.

 

[Spinning]

Stap hindge is what CM uses.
It is so confussing when you just start up. My suggestion to you is find a crop and head out! Or a local scrap book store (LSS) when they have a crop going on stop in and see what people are using. No one I am sure will mind you looking at their books! It will give you an idea of what you think will work for you!
Each style has their pluses and minuses. So it is a very individual choice.

 

[piratesmate]

The strips are called jeeping and all strap hinge albums have that because they need something on the inside edge for the "staple" the strap goes through. I guess it is on the outside edge for either stability or symmetry. But it is the very thing that turns me off to strap hinge. I always feel like I can't scrap to the edge and no matter what color scheme I use I have the strip on the edge.

Deb

I agree! I had gotten both DD & myself a CM album before we really started. After doing a bunch of my Disney pages (on the wallpaper) I realized that I couldn't put them in the book because it isn't truly 12x12. (Yeah - poor planning on my part!)

I don't know what DD will do as she hasn't really gotten into it yet. (She wants to, but is intimidated I think. I need to get DDIL over here for a crop again.)

I went out the other week & got a post bound album that was on sale at Michaels. Wow! They were much, much cheaper! But now I can just slide my pages in. I guess I'll use my CM album for either family history or generic family life. I really like them, but the cost would keep me from doing as much as I'd like.

 

[scrapperjill]

I like the CM strap albums... I guess it doesn't bother me to have the stip along the edges. I actually don't even notice it when I'm looking at my layouts. Yes it can be a pain to trim all your paper to fit...If you do the wallpapering (I do)..but the quality of the albums and pages...can't be beat. Plus I love the way all the album pages lay flat when they are opened...no matter where in the book your looking...unlike other types of albums...that get the bend at the binding when opened.

But eveyone is diffrent and has their favorites..it may just take a little trial and error to find your fit.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I prefer the top loading albums. I used to be a die hard strap hinge album user, but I can't see going back to them now. Top loading is so much easier. (I like the Close To My Heart albums.)

 

[tubachick]

I like the strap hinge and the post album, I think I switch depending on how many pages I want in the album, because I can usually put more pages in the post style. but that is just my preference.