There are many different types of scrapbooking album to choose from and it is a personal decision as to which you prefer and which suits the purpose or style of album you wish to create. It is best to choose an archival-quality album that is acid and lignin free to ensure that your photos are not ruined and are preserved properly. It is worth remembering that a magnetic scrapbooking album could seriously damage your photographs. Always buy a sturdy scrapbooking album that can withstand plenty of page turnings.The most popular size of scrapbooking album is still 12×12, closely followed by 8 ? x 11, but there is now a much wider variety of sizes to suit every type of project. It is important to be able to actually see the size of a scrapbooking album before you buy it and not assume that you know it will be right for the job.A post bound scrapbooking album has two, or three, metal screw posts that hold the album together. This type of scrapbooking album is ideal for almost any project as the pages can be reordered whenever you feel the need to ensure that you have them exactly how you want them without having to plan the order in advance. You can also by post extensions to expand the size of the scrapbooking album if necessary so you will never run out of space.A flex-hinge scrapbooking album has flexible straps that thread through the covers. This type of album is particularly sturdy and the pages lie very flat when the album is opened, unlike some other types.A spiral bound scrapbooking album is perfect for smaller projects as it is a complete album with the pages already integrated. However, it is important to ensure that the spiral is large enough to accommodate the added thickness of photographs and embellishments. This type of scrapbooking album is ideal for beginners or small projects.There are a number of specialist scrapbooking album systems that have their own products that can be used within the album, such as paper and protectors. The size of these can not be extended so are best suited for small, special projects.If you are looking for your first scrapbooking album then it is best to get advice from an experienced scrapbooker to ensure that you do not buy one that you find does not work for your purposes.
Archive for June, 2010
Choosing a Scrapbooking Album
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010What you need for your scrapbooking store
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010We want to remember and keep for posterity important experiences and events of our lives, snapshots of moments and events we consider momentous in our lives and things which are of value to us and which we feel to be treasured for revisiting in future. The hobby of preserving all kinds of such memories bearing our personal touch and creative ideas be they journals, photographs, diaries or any other objects is called ‘scrapbking’. What Is ScrapbookingThe scrapbooks of earlier times used to be paper books on which we pasted clippings from newspapers. Now they are creatively organized albums of journals and photos chronologically documented for the coming generation to look at with wonder.Stores for ScrapbookingThe scrapbooking activity requires certain supplies to create the album. Some of these scrapbooking stores are listed below:i) Papers: The papers used for decorating the albums and mounting photos must be acid free. Presence of acid in the paper makes it brittle and prone to early damage. The photos will get discolored and faded easily by the acid in the paper. The scrapbooking paper must be free from lignin also as it causes early yellowing of the paper if it comes in contact with ultraviolet light. The processed paper for scrapbooking found in scrapbooking store is free from both acid and lignin.ii) Plastic Sheets: Plastic sheets sized to fit the album pages protect them from dust, spills or fingerprints. Papers and page protectors are available for making the two standard sizes for scrapbooks, viz. the sizes 8.5″x11″ and 12″x12″. The larger size can accommodate more information and photos and are therefore suitable as anniversary albums for weddings and the first birthday of the baby.iii) Photo album binders: The photo albums come in formats like spiral bound, three ring, strap style and post bound. Spiral bound is good as small events album like say a particular excursion but not ideal for big albums due to certain drawbacks. New pages cannot be inserted for additional sets of photos. Also the color of the pages cannot be changed and pages cannot be covered with page protectors. Three ring binders provide these flexibilities. Album pages can be turned, removed or added easily with the provisions for changing colored papers and using page protectors. From consideration of storage, strap and post bound styles are better as the pages are arranged flat in the album making storage of the album easier.iv) Glues: Only acid free glues or adhesives should be chosen. Double sided tape adhesives leave no glue on the photos and keep them clean. Glue sticks have the advantage that they take some time to dry up making it easier to move objects in albums before they get fixed on them. Since glues if not carefully used can spoil a photo, it is safer to use for albums photo splits which can be pulled off with ease if needed. v) Embellishments: They add life to the album by decorating it with eye catching fun and flare. They come in the forms of stickers, die cuts, paper punches and paper dolls.Scrapbooking ToolsThese tools are required to develop a scrapbook. The basic tools are acid free pens, pencils, scissors, templates and stencils.