Scrapbooks: Choosing Albums and Page Protectors

Author: Karen O’Donnell

There is a huge variety of sizes and types of scrapbook albums and you will want to choose the right one for your needs.

12″ x 12″ is the most popular size for scrapbooks.” Having said that if you travel to visit family a lot you may prefer to have 8″ x 8″ albums for ease of use in traveling. It is important to give consideration to your own purposes and you may have several scrapbooks over a period of time so each could be a different size if that is what suits you.

Acid-free and lignin-free and important qualities for any album you decide to use. This is the scrapbook industry’s current archival standard.

You will want a slipcase with the album to protect the album from light, heat and moisture which can all cause serious damage.

Look for quality workmanship by carefully examining the album for any fraying or less than top quality fabric. You want it to last for years so be sure you are happy with the standard.

You want an album that when open lies flat as much as possible. You will want the album to lie flat when opened so test it for flatness to start with and be sure you are happy with that.

Let your own taste dictate the color that you are happiest with. Everyone differs and if you are buying as a gift or a present to someone after you have done the scrapbooking be sure it reflects their favourite color.

When storing the albums always keep them upright on shelves where they’re as protected as possible from light, dust and sunlight.

Your scrapbook will have a lot of hands turning pages over the years and to protect your album you will need to have page protectors. Page protectors are plastic sleeves for the pages.

There are 3 excellent options for page protectors:

1. The best page protectors and also the most expensive are made of polyester or Mylar. If you make this choice count on using them throughout to maintain consistency.

2. Polypropylene are used by many experienced scrapbookers. They are good quality and are also well-priced.

3. Page protectors made of polythene are sage and do a good job. They are the least expensive. They are a good choice for storing materials temporarily and there is nothing wrong with using them for the finished product either.

Under no circumstances do you want magnetic album page protectors even if labeled “acid-free” because they will destroy your photos. Also you do not want page protectors made of vinyl or acetate components because they can stick to your photos causing them to fade and change color. This will ruin your scrapbook.

Envelopes and shaker boxes are another interesting use of page protectors. They can be made into embellishments for your pages quite easily. You can put things like seeds on to your page and attach them with a piece of double-sided tape so they look like a package.

About the Author:

Karen O’Donnell enjoys papercrafting and has done it for a living for 4 years. To find out more than 25 different ways of starting a business with papercrafting:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Scrapbooks: Choosing Albums and Page Protectors

Office Depot 8.5×11-in Clear Heavy-duty Sheet Protectors (Pack of 200) $27.04 Materials: PlasticFor 3-ring bindersLetter size

Wilson Jones Standard Weight Sheet Protectors (Case of 250) $34.99 These sheet protectors are a great asset when creating a professional presentation. These sheet protectors are also a terrific way to protect important papers from being damaged.

Clear Standard Gauge Poly Sheet Protectors (Case of 100) $18.04 Sheet protectors are a home or office essentialSide-loading sheet protectors are open on three sidesBinder accessory features a fold-over on the binding edge for reinforcement and securing contents

Lickety Slip Page Protector Refills (Pack of 10) $8.06 Lickety Slip 12-inch sleeves will protect all your scrapbooking endeavorsRefills feature 10 top-loading pages for larger layoutsKeeps your treasured memories safe and secure in their album

Doodlebug Combo Page Protectors (Pack of 25) $12.98 This package contains 25 true 12×12-inch combo page protectors each with three 4×6-inch pockets and one 6×12-inch layout pocket. These protectors are designed to fit in Doodlebug 3-ring storybook albums.

Top Loading Non-glare Vinyl Sheet Protectors (Case of 50) $18.93 Add a finishing touch to your office supplies with these vinyl sheet protectorsSheet protectors offer strong and durable constructionOffice supply holds 11 x 8.5 inserts

Avery Snap-In Reference Diamond Clear Sheet Protectors (Case of 120) $37.04 Special reinforcing keeps pages secure Color: Diamond Clear Includes 120 sheet protectors

Top Loading Sheets 12×12-inch Black Refill Pages (Pack of 5) $7.48 These clear refill pages are acid, lignin, and PVC free and will fit most 12×12 inch post bound, 3-ring, and staple-strap albums. This package contains five top-loading refill pages with black cardstock inserts and two extension posts.

Tropical Frame 20-page 12×12 Memory Album with 40 Bonus Pages $26.99 Store your memories in style with a festive tropical-theme scrapbook albumAlbum comes with 40 bonus pagesScrapbooking item features framed area on cover for showcasing a favorite photo

Doodlebug Layout Protectors (Pack of 25) $12.98 Materials: Plastic25 page protectorsDesigned to fit in the Doodlebug 3 Ring Storybook Albums

Doodlebug 8-inch Layout Protectors (Pack of 25) $7.79 Materials: PlasticPackage includes 25 true layout page protectorsDesigned to fit in the Doodlebug 2 Ring Storybook Albums

K & Company ‘Abrianna’ 12×12 Postbound Album $17.88 Theme: FloralMaterials: PaperPage protectors have photo-safe white carstock inserts

K&Company Little House Baby Boy 12×12 Postbound Scrapbook Kit $21.94 Organize and preserve all your cherished memories with this scrapbook kitScrapbooking kit features 10 top-loading page protectorsCrafts accessory includes framed photo and Frame-A-Name windows on the cover

Jubilee 12 x 12-inch Postbound Album $21.99 Keep your memories safe and looking great with this 12- x 12-inch expandable post bound scrapbook album. This photo album features a quality coated paper covering, a 3- x 3-inch window on the front and ten top-loading page protectors.

Grant Studios Red Embroidered Postbound Album $22.89 This high quality album is acid, lignin and PVC free. It features a durable fabric cover with embroidered details and 10 top-loading page protectors with white cardstock inserts.

We R Memory Keepers Kiwi Green Classic Faux Leather Ring Binder $17.49 Preserve your memories in this We R Memory Keepers kiwi green classic faux leather 3-ring album. This scrapbook album features silvertone metal corner guards, a label frame on the spine, and ten top-loading page protectors.

Postbound ‘Little House Baby Girl’ Boxed Scrapbook Kit $25.49 Preserve your memories in a ‘Little House Baby Girl’ scrapbookKit includes scrapbook, designer papers, Grand Adhesions, die-cut stickers and Clearly Yours stickersFrame-A-Name postbound album features top-loading page protectors

Lilo Postbound Album 12 X12 – Wedding Elegant Scrolls $22.06 This Lilo Wedding Elegant Scrolls 12×12-inch post-bound album has a high-quality coated paper cover with a 3-inch photo window. The album features ten top-loading page protectors with cardstock inserts and an alphabet for personalizing the cover.

We R Classic 12×12 Leather Postbound Album $25.08 Save your favorite memories in a classic postbound album Photo album features a padded cover made from faux leather Scrapbook kit comes with ten top-loading page protectors

Making Memories ‘Tie The Knot’ 12X12-inch Photo Album With Window $19.58 Theme: White elganceMaterials: Faux leatherPackage includes one (1) three ring photo album and ten (10) 12×12-inch page protectors

We R Memory Keepers Real Red Classic Faux Leather Ring Binder $14.69 Preserve your memories in this We R Memory Keepers red classic faux leather 3-ring album. This scrapbook album features silvertone metal corner guards, a label frame on the spine, and ten top-loading page protectors.

All My Memories Dark Green 12×12-in Postbound Album $25.99 Store all of your photos on this All My Memories Urban Postbound Album. With a leather-like finish and stitch detail, this album provides 20 top-loading page protectors and expands to showcase up to 80 scrapbook pages.

Postbound Marines Scrapbook Album $26.94 Stunning Scrapbook features a diecast plated Marines medallionAlbum is crafted from bonded leatherKit includes 10 top loading page protectors with paper inserts

Green School Days Album (12 x 12) $14.09 This high quality album features a coated paper covering with a fun school design. This set also includes 10 page protectors with white cardstock inserts, and is expandable with additional pages and posts (not included).

Postbound Girl Scouts Scrapbook Album $23.91 Stunning scrapbook features a Girl Scout themePostbound album has a die-cut window for your favorite girl scout or troopAlbum comes with 20 top loading page protectors

Sandylion Tropical Waves 12×12 Postbound Album $23.56 Present your memories in style with a Sandylion Tropical Waves postbound albumEmbroidered scrapbook album boasts a recessed window with a die-cut character imageCraft accessory comes with ten top-loading page protectors

We R Memory Keepers Buttercup Yellow Classic Faux Leather Ring Binder $16.99 Preserve your memories in this We R Memory Keepers buttercup yellow classic faux leather 3-ring album. This scrapbook album features silvertone metal corner guards, a label frame on the spine, and ten top-loading page protectors.

Faux Alligator Leather Postbound Window Album (12×12) $22.99 Capture memories with this faux alligator leather postbound photo album. Crafted of brown leather with a rich alligator texture, this photo album features ten page protectors with cardstock inserts and a protective vinyl cover.

We R Memory Keepers Bubble Gum Linen 3-Ring Binder $23.49 Archive all your memories with this three-ring binder from We R Memory Keepers. This binder highlights a D-ring design and includes ten top-loading page protectors.

Postbound Scrapbook Album – Mickey and Friends $28.01 This Mickey and Friends postbound album features a recessed window Art supply is a die-cut of one of America’s favorite characters Craft supply comes with 10 top loading page protectors and inserts

‘Black & White Damask’ American Crafts 3-ring Album (12×12) $19.49 Store your photos and keepsakes in style with the American Crafts patterned albumIncludes 12-inch 3-ring scrapbook album with 3.5-inch square photo windowTen top-loading page protectors come with scrapbooking album

Lion Sleeps Boy Frame-A-Name 12 x 12 Photo Album $18.78 Personalize sweet memories of your baby boy with this Lion Sleeps ‘Frame-a-Name’ photo album. The album features photo and name windows on the cover, and includes ten top-loading, photo-safe page protectors with cardstock inserts.

Yellow School Days Album (12 x 12) $12 This high quality album features a coated paper covering with a fun school design. This set also includes 10 page protectors with white cardstock inserts, and is expandable with additional pages and posts (not included).

Nature 12 x 12 Postbound Album $18.08 Personalize your memories with this nature-themed photo album. The postbound album features a photo windows on the cover, and includes ten top-loading, photo-safe page protectors with cardstock inserts.

We R Classic 12×12 Leather Postbound Album $25.09 Save your favorite memories in a classic postbound album Photo album features a padded cover made from faux leather Scrapbook kit comes with ten top-loading page protectors

We R Memory Keepers Linen Bubble Gum 3-ring Binder $27.47 Archive all your memories with this three-ring binder from We R Memory Keepers. This binder highlights a D-ring design and ten top-loading page protectors.

Felt 3-Ring Vine Green Album $14.06 Place your memories inside this vine green felt 3-ring album. This photo album features 10 top-loading page protectors with cardstock inserts and a clear vinyl protective cover.

Mega Graduation Scrapbook Kit $18.78 This Graduation scrapbook kit has everything you need to make your own scrapbook album. This kit contains an album with page protectors, ten designer papers and three sheets of die-cut stickers.

We R Memory Keepers Black Classic Faux Leather 8.5×5.5-inch Ring Binder $16.49 Preserve your memories in this We R Memory Keepers black classic faux leather 3-ring album. This scrapbook album features silvertone metal corner guards, a label frame on the spine, and ten top-loading page protectors.

Doodlebug Ladybug Red Fabric 12-inch Storybook Album $24.76 Color: Ladybug redMaterials: FabricPackage contains one (1) 3-ring photo album with 12 page protectors

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We R Classic 12×12 Burgundy Leather Postbound Album $25.09 Get scrapbooking with this burgundy faux leather albumPostbound album features a padded coverAlbum comes with 10 page protectors and an expandable spine

We R Classic 12×12 Leather Postbound Album $25.09 Save your favorite memories in a classic postbound album Photo album features a padded cover made from faux leather Scrapbook kit comes with ten top-loading page protectors

We R Memory Keepers Linen Key Lime 3-ring Binder $23.33 Archive all your memories with this 3-ring binder from We R MemoryKeepers. This binder highlights a D-ring design and ten top loading page protectors.

American Crafts Aqua Mini Polka Dot 3-ring Album (12×12) $19.58 Keep memories organized with this aqua, mini polka dot fabric cover memory book binder from American Crafts. This 3-ring binder includes a 3.5-inch photo window on the front and includes ten top-loading page protectors.

We R Classic 12×12 Red Leather Postbound Album $25.09 Get scrapbooking with this red faux leather bound albumPostbound album features a padded coverAlbum comes with 10 page protectors and an expandable spine

Grant Studios Black Flocked Album $19.88 This high quality album is acid, lignin and PVC free. It features a durable fabric cover with embroidered details and 10 top-loading page protectors with white cardstock inserts.

Black Leather Postbound Album $21.74 This scrapbooking album features a black alligator textured cover with a 3.5 x 3.5-inch window. This album includes 10 top-loading page protectors.

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