Album queries and advice please :o)

Hi Marylyn. I am a big fan of K&Company. I have put up to 65 pages = with embelishments and have never had a problem. I have used pioneer = albums for certain things, but frankly I am not a big fan of theirs = quality wise. I've never actually had one fall apart, but I have = noticed that the sleeves have are more likely to stick to the pictures = than any other album I've used.=20

BTW, I do make sure that I tell the people that I make albums for to = always store them standing up. They will last a lot longer and the = embelishments are less likely to indent the oposite page.

M-C

I am looking for some information on how you all work with your albums = and which sort you prefer. I currently have two Print Block postbound = albums, one for my daughter and my own, bought from ebay. I have already = added another 10 page protectors to mine, with extension posts and = spacers, but don't like that the album doesn't sit nice now :o( I think = I am going to remove the extra pages and rethink that strategy. Perhaps = I need to have several albums to house my various topics or maybe I = should only put in 5 extra pages in rather than 10. What does everyone = else do? Is it perhaps this brand of album that is a problem. I know = that it is the embellishments that take up most of the extra space but I = wouldn't want to leave them out. I am a little worried that the extra = weight may damage the other pages though, if the album gets squashed!

My questions have probably been answered many times before but I would = really appreciate opinions on this. Do you add additional page = protectors or not? Do you just prefer to start a new album once you have = completed the 20 LO's in there? What is your favourite album manufacture = or who do you think produces the most durable album? I have heard folks = say some brands {I *think* Pioneer was the one mentioned but could be = wrong} a more inclined to fall apart :o( Personally, although I like the = pretty covers (i.e. K & Co etc.) on some of them I feel that they may = get dog-eared & grubby, fade or change colour with age and handling. = Perhaps my assumptions are wrong but I would appreciate peoples views. I = am thinking about these factors because I have looked at my LO's several = times since doing them as have the family, so I can foresee all these = problems arising. I want to be sure that I am preserving these memories = in the most effective way. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi marliyn. I have been using creative memories albums. This is a = strap album. It seems to be ok. I have about 30 pages in mine and its = pretty thick. I would like to try another kind though so I can fit more = pages in it.

I have CM albums too. Only thing I don't like about them is their 12X12 isn't exactly that measurement. I use a lot of background papers and have to make sure they are trimmed just right BEFORE I do the page or it just makes a mess.

Lynne "shannon" wrote in message news:cutjps$vi5$ snipped-for-privacy@mailhub227.itcs.purdue.edu... Hi marliyn. I have been using creative memories albums. This is a strap album. It seems to be ok. I have about 30 pages in mine and its pretty thick. I would like to try another kind though so I can fit more pages in it.

Thanks for this info M-C. So do you add additional spacers between the = pages to accommodate the embellishments? I have now removed my extra 10 = page protectors and am still concerned that the album doesn't sit as = neatly as I would like....it sort of fans out at the front :o( I can = understand what you mean when you say to store albums standing to = eliminate some of the stress caused by the weight of everything you use = but mine still spreads out with only 20 LO's in there....waaaah!!!!!. I = am just wondering if I need to cut down on what I am including on each = page. I tend to be your 110% kinda gal...LOL no flimsy paper here...use = stout Bazzill cardstock...sometimes 2 sheets layered....or cardstock = then patterned paper...LOL Then there is the cardstock for matting and = layering,,,,maybe 2 layers of that, etc., then the embellishments made = of paper, resin, even wood or metal...are you getting my drift...LOLOLOL

As I say I am using the Print Blocks albums so maybe I just need to use = another post extender pack and extra cardboard spacers....not sure!!! = Can they be bought separately or are they only in the page protector = pack? I have another three albums on their way which should arrive = tomorrow. They are Generations Memory Albums, so I am hoping that they = will be OK quality wise!

When you say that you have put up to 65 pages are we talking 33 page = protectors or 130 LO's in one album without a problem. If it is the = later you are a busy bee....LOL....that album must have been pretty = heavy! Thanks again!

Thanks for your input Shannon...I don't think I have come across the = strap albums yet. I have seen many spiral bound but the postbound seemed = more flexible somehow. I will search some of the online scrapbooking = stores in the UK to see if they are available here. I have searched on = eBay and there is a couple listed but I am wondering how easy it would = be to get additional page protectors, etc. More research need...LOL = Thanks again!

Very useful info Lynne....I have noticed that some paper is not true 12 x 12 and wondered why! Now I know....LOL It certainly would mess up your layouts if you forget to trim before starting.

Hi Marilyn,

Yep, I've gotta say Don't Use Pioneer. They are crap -- sorry, but it's true. I've used so many brands of books but became dedicated to the Creative Memories albums. And now, because I use them exclusively, the trimming of the pages is automatic. And it's not like it's a lot of wasted paper. CM has that weird size because they believe that you shouldn't use the entire sheet for a background because then you lose the buffering that their pages provide so that if you were to use a non acidic something, that acid cannot spread to something else on the page. So that's their reasoning. Of course, that doesn't stop me, I do what I want when I want. The other thing that I love about the CM albums is the protective sheets, how there seams are across the top and bottom rather than along the side. They are much more protective in that way, keeps the dust out and if something wasn't secured properly, you haven't lost your piece.

Keep scrapping the way you scrap, but know that not every album will have the same number of pages held within. Scrapping is an expression of the artist who's work is held within. Do not feel bound or limited by the fact you can only get 20 pages in a book. The people who look at the book are not going to be impressed by the manufactured album, their to overwhelmed by what's inside to even notice how the book lays. Good luck in your search.

Melissa Pages in 2005: 94

Marilyn, I have one 12x12 post-bound album and I didn't like the way it sat either. I also didn't like the hassle if I needed to add LOs later.

I've done 4 albums that are 8.5x11" where I when to Walmart and bought a white 3-ring binder for $2 or less and the high quality, clear page protectors found in the office supplies for about $3 for 50. I really liked the ease of the 3-rings. I like that 8.5x11 gives me lots of computer flexibility. The downside is (to quote another) less real estate. :-)

I will probably do more 12x12s but I think I'll stick with a 3-ring album.

Hope you find the one you like.

-- Amy Springboro, OH

Glad I didn't buy any of those then....LOL Just took delivery of another three albums today and I like the look of them. 2 NCL and one Generations. which I love the cover on so much I have ordered another. Will see how I feel about them when I start using them.

My kinda gal....LOL I hate to think that I am limited to doing things their way. You have to stretch the boundaries to keep developing. Am I right in thinking that CM are only available through consultants? Doesn't look as if they are available in LSS or online stores here. I also note that the album example on the CM website seems to be done on the white acid-free paper insert. I wondered about using them as I quite like a clean white page for a background. Does that make me sound a cheap skate....LOL I guess I could buy white cardstock but if you can use the inserts...why not! I'll wait and see if anyone else does!

I think I saw this on the DIYnet scrapbooking site in their video scraproom....it looked a little like a pillowsham design PP. You slip stuff in the PP then you get this little flap to cover the end so nothing falls out. The problem is that you spend so much time researching then find the stuff is not available here in the UK.....grrrh!!! I am not against getting stash from the US but I am impatient....LOL I want it and I want it now! It also makes it so much easier if you can access supplies locally 'cos if you run out of something you just pop out and get it :o) An absolute must for the afflicted....erm I meant addicted...LOL

I will just go with the flow and see how things work out for me. Unfortunately, there is so much information out there that you end up going around in circles like a headless chicken. It is great when you can ask on groups like this, where the people are generous with both their time and their knowledge. I will conserve my energy for what really matters....making LO's that don't offend my eye, and hopefully, that other will appreciate what I do :o)

Hi Marilyn, Just read your post about what type albums you use. I have mostly Creative Memories strap hinge albums. I like them the best. They stay like new longer and hold up very well. I use a lot of embellishments and "lumpy" stuff and find the CM books do better. I have a couple of non-CM and I can just tell by looking at my row of albums which ones aren't CM. Do you have CM consultants there? I enjoy going to a crop at a CMC's house. Ihave their cutting system ,also. I think it is the best. LOL No, I am not a CMC.Yes they are more expensive but they are worth it.

Hugs, Sabrina in Kentucky

a good friend is a life long treasure

Amy, thanks for your input on my album questions. I have thought about an A4 set up and know that I can get clear page protectors at one of my local stationers. They are marked as archival/photograph safe and are totally see-through rather than the ones generally used for office filing/school/college work, etc., which are a little more opaque Like you say there is a lot of pros and cons to this issue and I do have lots of A4 supplies that I could utilise. I may try some A4 scrapping and see how I feel about it. Perhaps I could use that system for my furbaby pictures and keep the 12 x 12 for other topics.

Oh, I just remembered I have a proper A4 album somewhere....I must look it out! Yeah...I found it and it is a postbound album also. Wonder if I can find PP's for it in the UK. Am I turning into an album addict now!!!!!!

Thanks for your views on the album question Sabrina, they are much appreciated. I haven't done any further research to see if there is a CM consultant near me. I did search on another board and see there are CMC's down in England and I suppose I could contact CM through their website to enquire after a Scottish contact. I will wait until I have asked at my LSS...I am sure some of the people who frequent there are bound to have come across the info and may even have an album that I can look at. There is nothing better than actually seeing the real thing...LOL

Marilyn -

Melissa and I got addicted to Creative Memories Albums together. I agree - they are my favorite as well. I started with them though - but they are still my album of choice. Just shopping around, I haven't found anything I like better. And the Page Protectors are better, as Melissa said - because of where their seem are.

And as you can see, we love giving advice around here!

Good luck!

Jessica Pages on 2005 - can't remember right now! :)

I get my Creative Albums off of ebay. You can get them a little cheaper that way most of the time. But don't forget about the shipping price when bidding on them.

Marilyn, I also have post bound albums. Most of them are pretty thick too. One has around thirty pages in it, sixty front and back, and it's still not complete yet. I think what you need are some spacers. There was a thread on this topic awhile back and someone reccomended using foam sheets. I haven't bought any yet but I'm going to. If you have very bulky pages, mine are flat, then you really do need to use the spacers. They're the loose strips of cardboard at each end of the album that the posts go through and they give it more support. Hope that was clear. I have a feeling it wasn't though.

Katrina in KS

Thanks for the info Katrina...I thought that spacers were perhaps the answer. I will need to check if they are available at my LSS or I will search online.

They are really easy to make Marilyn. Just get some mat board or fun foam and cut your own. You can usually buy scraps of mat board at picture framing shops.

Great tip Cathy...thanks!!!

When I started a few months ago, I was hesitant to buy expensive albums and paper, because I knew too little and thought I might spend a lot of money and then stop scrapping! FAT CHANCE! Anyway, I also decided to start a "trial" A4 album for my furbaby to practice. I use what we call "filling sleeves" to put the LO's in and then into a ringbound file which I covered in in offcut velvet. I think it came out real nice. I'm moving onto my first "real" 12x12 Album now. Just when shopping this morning and got a great bargain!

Judy, SA