Articles : Tutorials - Scrapbooking

Scrapbook Albums

Since scrapbook albums make it possible to preserve your layouts for future generations to enjoy, a durable and attractive album is a necessity for any serious scrapbooker.

Scrapbook Album Sizes

While 12x12 scrapbook albums are the most common, there are many other sizes to consider as well. If you are creating a themed album covering one event, such as a recent family vacation, an 8x8 or 6x6 book might be a good choice. If you create a lot of pages on your computer, or simply don’t have the space to store large albums, the 8 ½ x 11 size is an option to consider as well.

Scrapbook Album Designs

When choosing scrapbook album designs, you have several available options. For example:

• Simple solid colored albums to coordinate with the colors of your home décor
• Albums to match specific patterned paper lines
• Albums to support general scrapbooking themes, such as sports or holidays
• Clear acrylic or plain chipboard albums that can be customized to suit your unique tastes

Album Type

Understanding the different types of scrapbook albums available will make it easier to choose a product that fits your needs.

• Post bound albums are the most common type of scrapbook albums available today. These albums normally have two to four metal posts that hold the album together through the spine. After the page protectors are placed onto the posts, the end is capped with a screw. The albums are very sturdy and adding extra pages is fairly simple for most scrapbookers.
• Three-ring albums, also known as D-ring albums, are binder-style scrapbooks. It’s very easy to add extra pages to this type of album, but the large gap between facing pages can be an inconvenience if you enjoy doing two-page layouts on a regular basis.
• Strap-hinge albums are held together with plastic or leather straps that run down the length of the spine. The page protectors in this type of album normally load from the side instead of the top. It is possible to add refill pages to a strap-hinge album, but the process can be difficult and time-consuming.
• Spiral bound albums are essentially more elaborate versions of the spiral notebooks you used to decorate as a child. They are fairly inexpensive, making them a good choice for quick brag books or gifts. However, they aren’t as durable as other album types and the binding makes it impossible to add extra pages if needed.

Refill Pages

Most scrapbook albums available for purchase come with between 10 and 20 plastic page protectors. If this is not enough pages to accommodate all of the layouts you wish to include in your album, you’ll need to purchase scrapbook refills as necessary.

When buying refill pages for your album, you’ll need to pay attention to the album manufacturer and type. Refill pages are not interchangeable among scrapbook albums. In most cases, a description of the refill pages needed should be printed on the inside cover of the album or the package the album originally came in.