Scrapbook Albums are held together in all sorts of ways.  How a scrapbook album is bound, effects how you will scrapbook in them.  So, let's take a look at the nuts and bolts (literally) that hold an album together.  Once you understand the differences, you will soon learn which one is your favorite.  We take a brief look at the sizes and materials of scrapbook albums.  Then we will explore in more depth the various ways albums are bound - Strap Hinge, Post Bound, 3-Ring and Book Bound albums. As we discuss each type, we will also include a list of some of the companies that carry these albums.

Please Note:  This guide only covers albums meant for scrapbooking and doesn't look at general photo albums so it is assumed that the albums we discuss are acid and lignin free and meet the guidelines for being an archival product.

Sizes of Albums

Let's first take a brief look at the sizes that are available for scrapbooking.  Scrapbooks today go beyond the traditional book style albums but for the sake of this guide, we will only focus on the true scrapbook albums.  The most common sizes are 5x7, 6x6, 8x8, 8 1/2x11 and 12x12 with the 12x12 being the most popular.  A few companies also have a 4x4 or a 9x9 album.  Keep in mind that 95% of the paper made for scrapbooking is in the 12x12 size so the albums that use this paper best are the 6x6 and 12x12 albums.  The 6x6 albums really make a sheet of paper go far since you get four 6x6 squares out of one sheet of paper.

So what size is the correct one for your project? 

Albums Smaller Than 6x6- perfect album for brag books that can be carried easily.  This is a must have for parents and grandparents!

6x6 and 8x8 albums - make the greatest gifts!  There are some great themed albums with paper packs meant specifically for these albums so you can create an entire album faster.  Also, if you are scrapbooking a theme with few pictures, this size album does a fantastic job of highlighting the pictures you do have since each page can only fit one to two pictures each.  This is a great size for the teenager to complete too. Makes an adorable ABC book for your child.

12x12 - the traditional size used in scrapbooking because it provides the most space to be creative.   If you have a lot of pictures or want to include journaling, embellishments and flair to your pages, the 12x12 is the one for you!  With plenty of room to be creative and still have room for several pictures on each page, this size album is for the scrap addict!

Album Materials

Much like the variety of sizes, you will see a wide variety of materials used for the album covers.  The most common categories are cloth or fabric, leather, paper, leather-like or vinyl and a new material recently introduced is press board that can be altered and decorated. 

You will want to take the materials into account based on the type of album you are creating.  Leather, of course, is the sturdiest and most durable.  The paper covered albums offer the most variety, can be multi-colored, and can match the exact papers you are using throughout the album but are also the most delicate.  I recommend investing in an album cover when working with the paper covered albums.  Some of the fabric covered albums have a nice feature of being able to be removed, washed and then put back on. 

If you are making an album that you want to pass down through the generations, I recommend investing in a leather album.  Cloth albums show nicely so they make great gifts, especially if you get one to match the theme of the book like baby girl or boy and still offer durability.  The paper album needs to be used when care can be taken with the album since it is the easiest to damage.

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STRAP HINGE ALBUM

The pages of the Strap Hinge album look like the picture above.  There are two small silver hinges that look like staples on the left side of each page.  Pages are connected by two straps that go through the hinges on each page.

Advantages

• Pages are sturdy and have reinforced edges
• Pages can be purchased in white, tan, black and special holiday themes
• There are sheet protectors that slide over the page.
• You can either use pages or sheet protectors that strap into the album.
• Straps eliminate any "gutter" so that facing layouts butt together at the center-margin
• Both the cover and the pages lay flat with no arch in the center-margin
• Is only limited by the length of the strap as to how many pages it can hold
• The end of the album is nicely covered to match the rest of the album.

Disadvantages

• The page itself is connected with the strap so you must scrapbook in the order you want the pages to be.
• Have to take apart the whole album to add pages
• If you want your album to use Top Loading sheet protectors, you can't use any of the pages that come with the album.
• If you mess up the back of a page, you will need to redo the front as well since it is the same sheet
• All paper must be trimmed on one side so you have to keep track of the direction of your background paper.
• Pages are not true 12x12 so papers that have a border or don't repeat in the design cannot be used.
• Page "staples" can come loose or bend
• Pages are specific to strap hinge albums only so you cannot interchange between other albums
• Can be difficult finding refill pages
• The Side Loading sheet protectors easily split at the top and bottom
• Pages best fit in the sheet protectors that are flat so thicker embellishments can't be used
• Can only use pages and sheet protectors from either one of the manufacturers only
• The sheet protectors from Generations, have a residue on them that needs to be cleaned off prior to use

Companies

• Creative Memories - Beautiful cloth or leather albums in several sizes
• Generations - Cloth, leather or vinyl albums in a variety of colors and sizes

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POST BOUND ALBUMS

A post-bound album uses 2 or 3 metal binding posts (screw heads on both ends of a post, one stationary, one moveable) to tightly hold pages in page protectors between the front and back covers. Post Bound albums are the most versatile album available.  They come in a variety of sizes, designs and themes.  The album usually comes with a set of sheet protectors and paper to get you started.  This is the most common album used today.

Advantages

• Posts eliminate the distance between two pages, referred to as the gutter. So facing pages flow together almost making them appear as a single page.
• You can use both top loading and side loading page protectors from a variety of companies
• Some post bound albums have 3 posts instead of 2 which offers more support
• The sheet protector is what is connected to the posts, not the actual pages
• Can rearrange pages without taking apart the album since the pages sit freely in the sheet protector
• Since the page itself is not connected in the album, you can use any paper you have as the background.
• Posts can be lengthened by adding extensions
• True 12x12 page size is available from several companies
• Can easily add foam or cardboard spacers to accommodate thick pages
• Can use a variety of companies for sheet protectors including specialty pages like C-Line's Memory Book Page Protectors that create panoramic, swing shutter and flip pages.
• The posts can be purchased at a hardware store in much longer lengths to accommodate more pages
• Convert to an easier Snap Load system which allows more pages to be added (Snap Load pieces seen in the picture below)
• Snap Load system lets you reorder your pages without having to disassemble the whole book (Snap Load pieces seen in the picture below)

Disadvantages

• If the album is overloaded or dropped, the post can come through the back or break apart.
• Using multiple, small extension posts weakens the album (this can be eliminated by purchasing the longer posts at the hardware store)
• To add a sheet protector to the album, other than to the very front or very back, the album must be taken apart.
• The pages arch a bit when the album is opened flat (Many of the new albums have corrected this issue)
• Several post bound albums don't cover the spine so the edges of the page protectors are visible when stored on a bookcase

Companies

• K & Co. - Stunning paper covered albums to match their many designer coordinated products in 6x6, 8.5x8.5 and 12x12 sizes.
• EK Success - An entire line of albums to match their licensed products such as Harley Davidson, Mickie Mouse and Coke in 8x8 and 12x12 sizes.
• Pioneer- Solely an album company offers albums in all sizes.  Their newest product being the Snap Load pieces that can be purchased in their albums or as a separate kit to change any post bound over to a Snap Load system.
• All My Memories - Textured leather albums in two sizes and several colors
• Making Memories - Classic leather albums in true to size 12x12 and 9x9 albums.  Also has a line of mini scrapbooks.
• Mrs Grossman's - The first albums that were introduced as being true to size.  Metallic sheen solid colored albums in two sizes, 8x8 and 12x12.

The Post Bound album is the most popular available today.  Almost every company that has a coordinated line of products also offer the post bound albums.  The list above is only a small sampling of the post bound albums available. 

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3-RING ALBUMS

These albums have the same rings as the general ring binder found in office supply shops but are usually covered in fabric or leather.  This type of album is not restricted to 8.5x11 paper sizes as you may think.  In fact, this type of album has the largest album available in the scrapbook market today. 

Advantages

• Pages can be added or removed with ease
• Ovversized versions are larger than the page protectors so less damage happens to the corners of pages.
• Often padded, have reinforced brass corners, and D-rings (this style of ring aids in page turning and helps the album to lie flat when opened)
• Spine is covered and protected.
• Layouts can be slipped in and out of the page protectors
• Some albums come with a blank label on the spine so you can organize your collection
• Metal ring assembly increases sturdiness
• Can create 8 1/2x11 albums using supplies found at an office supply
• Are the perfect album for making Recipe Scrapbooks 
  

Disadvantages

• Rings can become misaligned making it difficult to turn the pages
• When the album is full, the stack of pages can be awkward and heavy 
• Rings are not replaceable
• When an album is opened the rings create a gutter separating the two facing layouts

Companies

• Collected Memories - Fabric covered ring albums in 12x12 size
• ScrapWorks - Unique style box albums are great for long term storage and protection of your memories

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BOOK BOUND ALBUMS

A book bound album can have several different kinds of binding such as spiral bound, stapled, glued or stitched.  This is an album with a set number of pages in it and where more pages cannot be added.

Advantages

• Makes great small, themed books
• Least expensive form of album
• Nice gift albums
• Great for shared journal circles and teenagers.
• A variety of sizes to choose from
• A way to scrapbook on a smaller scale and having less expensive supplies

Disadvantages

• Cannot add more pages
• It is hard to have lumpy pages since the album is bound (the spiral bound book is the exception since the pages are not connected to one another)
• Often cannot remove pages, especially in books that have the paper folded in half to create separate pages
• Have to scrapbook in the correct order since you are working with pre-bound pages
• Cannot scrapbook to the inner edge of the paper
• Most of the time, there aren't sheet protectors available to use on the pages

Companies

• SEI - Yummy albums to match their coordinated sets.  Comes in a variety of materials, like plastic, and some fun sizes as well.
• Heidi Swapp - Spiral bound 9x9 and 12x12 albums
• Bazzill- A variety of sizes and colors even has albums as small as 3x3.

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Recommendations

If I had to recommend only one type of album, it would be the Post Bound version with the true 12x12 page size.  It is the most versatile, can use pages from a variety of companies and offers the widest range of albums to choose.

Now that you have learned about the differences, you can find the album that is best for you.  Within groups of scrappers, I have always seen people who are dedicated to only using strap hinge while another group are die-hards at using the post bound albums.  There is one thing that holds true, no matter which album you choose to use, it will highlight your creativity and cherished memories beautifully!