SB: Which Type of Album and Why?

[Cinders]

I'm about to buy my first SB album and would like to know what kind of book you use and why. I've already decided it will be a 12x12 and I've already bought a few papers, pieces, and one sheet of stickers. But I'm wondering about the pro and cons of strap and post type books.

Thanks

 

[Snow White]

I only use Creative Memories albums, and I really like them. That is really the only CM product I use, but the albums have a lifetime guarantee, so if something falls apart or breaks on them you can take them back and they will replace it for you. They are the strap albums.

 

[WDWMom]

I have used the strap, 3 ring binder type and post bound. I would not recommend the 3 ring binder, although it is the easiest to move your pages around if you need to. Either the strap or the post bound are great. Find a brand that your are going to want to stick with. I have 3 kids and they each have their own books. I stick with the same color and style for each one so I can identify whose is whose easily. Also when they get to keep them someday, (maybe when they are 80) they will look nice on their nursing home shelves for their visitors to see. LOL.

 

[WendyZ]

I also use CM books. We each have our own color. Just started scrapbooking in Dec. My DD even likes doing it. She was so excited when I told her I was starting over because all my other books had fell apart, except for my wedding.

I am going to surprise them next Christmas with small books all done with the character autographs from their first trip to Disney!!! I can't wait!!

 

[bananiem]

I do almost excluxively 12x12, except for a few special occassion 5x7 ones. I used to use strap hinge but have switched to post bound. I like the top loading pages and feel I can rearrange them later if necessary.
I like the way the strap hinge binding looks on a bookshelf better.
I also tend to like a colored background and don't like to adhere my pictures on both sides of a page, like I used to do in my first strap hinge one. Anyway, with a top loading one I can slip out the white page that comes with it and slip in my completed page. I think everybody kind of falls into their own style and what works for them. And it changes over time. I have a friend who only uses photo corners. I HATE using photo corners! To each his own!!

 

[Spinning]

I have been stuggling with this since I began scrapping!I first started with 3 ring binder, cheap way to go....but didn't care for it.
Then I bought 2 spiral bound, definately a bad move! I loved the feel of the paper inside. Covers have gotten dirty quickly and it doesn't close nice...won't be doing that again!
Then onto CM strap hinge. Very nice album, well made only problem hard to add pages to if you find more pictues you want to add to the lay out since you are glueing on both sides. Also expensive, not true 12x12. So on to Scrap in a Snap, very nice top loading true 12x12 pages. Thought for sure I found the ablum for me...only problem I just didn't like all the prints on their covers, and the spines on the book, poor heavy paper, (which they have changed and now have a nice curved piece) now that I have complained and condemed all the books out therer LOL! I think.....my favorite album is Mrs. Grossman. The covers are pretty, solid colors, expands nicely holds a true 12x12 page. Great price and you get 20 top loading page protectors.you need to look at your style are all your pictures in order? are you a stickler for chronological? Do you think down the road you may want to create seperate albums...kids sports? dance? trips? If so the top loading gives you more flexibilty, JMHO!

 

[Tiger Fan]

There are tons of opinions out there on this very subject so decide for yourself by holding, touching, and really getting a close look at various albums. I use only CM. I love the larger (12 x 12 almost - LOL) and I think they are very high quality albums. That all being said after scrapping for almost 5 years I decided I wanted to try toploading. I didn't want to give up my CM and I really prefer strap hinge to post-bound so I now substitute top loading page protectors (from Westrim - shhhh - don't tell) and it all works out fine. I trade off my pages that come with the album to my buddies who use them, works out great. Have fun deciding.
Lisa

 

[Melrosgirl]

I love the Close To My Heart albums. Granted, I'm biased since I'm a CTMH consultant, but they are reason I became a consultant! They are post bound with 3 posts, extra sturdy and available in leather or imitation leather. The page protectors for them are patented and have an extra 1/2 inch or so, so they really lie flat. You can stuff these albums really full because they are expandable with optional post extenders.

I like the ease of postbound because I like to work out of order and I can just slip my finished pages into the protector when I'm finished and not have to worry about what is on the back of that page. KWIM? I always had that problem with strap hinged albums. I'd forget that I did a Christmas layout on the back of my 2 year old's birthday page, so I was stuck with a Christmas layout in the 2 year old book. Drove me nuts!

 

[YaYas_Mom]

Ask 100 scrappers, you're likely to get 100 different opinions. So here's what I tell my customers.

Get out there and look! You've already won part of the battle deciding which size. That's a great start.

Then you need to decide, strap, post, or ring style.
Personally, I like the post the best. I don't DIS-like the strap, but would only use the strap ones with top loading page protectors (Westrim makes these)

Quality is of course an issue.

Here's my thoughts on some of the more popular brands

Pioneer: Lower end of the price range, quality is okay - if you get the ones with the slip in binding, not the paper binding. (However, Pioneer also offers a guarantee on their albums, I've had 6 replaced when the paper binding has ripped)

CM: Love the quality, hate the strap hinge with slide on pp. Just doesn't work for my style, and I don't like the jeeping. But again you can always substitute the westrim top loading strap hinge pp instead.

CTMH - quite honestly I've never even touched one up close. However, they get RAVE reviews wherever you go. Don't think I've heard a bad thing about them that wasn't related to price.

Dalee: Great album, love the high quality page protectors. Especially now that they've switched to the hidden post design and 3 posts instead of 2.

Scrap Artistry: Great album, page protectors are the same as the dalee ones, hidden post design, only drawback: Two posts instead of 3, but they are short, which leads to the wobblies. Fix: Buy longer ones at the hardware store.

HTH

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

YaYas_Mom was right when she said this really is a personal issue. We've had some "passionate" discussions in my scrap group about this! LOL!

I don't like the strap hinge because of that metal strip on the edges - is that what you call jeeping?

I like the post bound best. Probably either Dalee (which I've used pretty exclusively for my DS basically because of the covers offered matching his book themes) but have also used some Generations.

I did do a 3 ring because the cover was a great DCL book! And that is the only 8 x 12 I've done - I really don't like that size, I have a hard time making anything decent that isn't a 2 page layout. Which of course eliminates the ability to rearrange that is the main advantage of a 3 ring. I also did a couple of spirals for special occasions - a 40th birthday and a trip. Won't use those again though unless it is something really short or specialized to perhaps give to someone else and by that I mean like a friend or colleague where I don't want to sink two tons of money into the project!

Deb

 

[SplshMtn99]

I guess I'm weird.

So far it's been 8.5x11 3 ring binder style.

But I'm switching to 12x12 -- but still 3 ring. I just like it; ease of moving stuff.

I don't scrap in order AT ALL. I'ld freak if I couldn't change my mind at least 100 times. LOL

Also like top loading protectors.

To each their own.

 

[Mom2Em]

Here's another vote for CM 12x12... I love the quality... Yes, the pagesff can be a pain when trying to tighten the book but i love the look and the guarantee... My Mom just returned one because water was spilled on it and it was pulling up in back... Not a problem!

 

[Beanie]

I agree that everyone is different and to get out and look around and decide what you like best! That is what I did and I liked toploading 12 x 12 best...it is the only kind I use now!

 

[pas2]

I scrap 8.5 x 11 and use top loading pages in a Hiller 3-ring binder and I love it. I know they make 12 x 12 binders too.

 

[BevS97]

I am definitely a 12x12 top loading post bound kinda gal. I just can't get away with pages that aren't true 12x12 or CM style where you have to stick layouts back to back.

I have tried Dalee, K&Co, Scrap in a Snap, Mrs Grossmans, Scrap Artistry and a cheap one whose brand escapes me.

I like them all except the page protectors in the cheap one where just barely 12x12 and if I put anything bulky on the page then the page wouldn't if in the protector - they where also tearing (the page protectors), in the end I removed the page protectors and put some Dalee ones in instead.

Of the others, I think I like Dalee the best, but K&Co are beautiful - I just had a cover on my K&Co tear at the posts (my dd pulled on it) and they replaced the entire album with no quibbles, so I was very impressed with that service.

We have an article on choosing an album in our Library on UkscrappersYou can see it here it's in the 2nd or 3rd post so you will need to scroll down

Bev

 

[DiznEeyore]

I think I've tried every kind of album in every kind of size! LOL I've done 3-ring, spiral, post, and strap. The CM albums are best for me because: 1) I like the quality of the books; I don't think anything else compares. 2) I like the way my books lay in a strap-hinge vs. a post-bound. 3) I *hate* dust collecting on my pages and using slide-on page protectors is the only way for me to go. Too much dust with top-loading.

To enable me to work out of order, I've set up files for each of the past few years. I do my layouts on cardstock or printed paper (I use a CM page as a template first to make sure the paper is sized correctly) and then file them in the folder for their year. When I finish a year, then I'll load 'em up in a book.

 

[nicki dahling]

I have strap hinge by CM and postbound albums . I love the true 12x12 of postbound and the thick page protectors , but I love the quality of CM albums and the gaurantee .

I have learned how to get around putting my pages in sequence in CM albums by creating the pages first and than just sliding them into ( like the toploading ) the sides under the page protectors without gluing them to the page . I can switch them around if need be and have not had any slip out .

All of my Disney albums and my childrens albums will probably be strap hinge . For special events or as gifts where I may have only 1 or two rolls of film I may use the postbound albums . But I do agree with everyone else that in time you wll find the one that is best for you . Enjoy !

 

[DMoss3377]

Seems like opening the flood gates when asking this question. LOL

But like a lot of other commentors have said, this is a very personal matter. To each her own. But, in MHO, I definitly love 12X12. I started with Dalee post bound because I was new to the craft and wasn't organized enough yet to handle a straphinge and I firmly believe in scrapping what you're passionate about. I also love the cloth covers. I know a lot of people are fine working chronilogically, but if it's snowing outside and I'm doing beach pages, I want to be able to stop and work on my snow pictures, without the fear that I'm breaking the timeline. LOL

I have used other post bound toploading albums, which I usually get because I like the cover design. I do agree that I like the look of the spine on CM albums, and if I ever use one, I'll be sure to use Westrim page protectors so that I can still scrap what I'm passionate about at any given moment.

I'm overly organized when it comes to scrapbooking now, but I get more done when I like what I'm working on. So I still don't work chronologically.

I also learned through trial and error from myself and scrapbuddies.

 

[Cinders]

Wow! Quite a few great responses. Although a couple raised a new question.....some mentioned the CM's are not truely 12x12 so do you have to trim the 12x12 papers to fit? And if so has anyone had their CM dealer send feedback to the company that recommends they fix this problem? And for the ones that use Westrim protectors....where do you purchase them?

Thanks everyone!!

 

[BevS97]

the CM pages are 12x12 but they have an edging on them which makes the useable space slightly narrower.