There is never a shortage of abundance when it comes to scrapbooking. When we look into the types of scrapbook albums available, it truly is a world of its own.
The most obvious thing about scrapbooking albums is the sheer variety in sizes. The standard, most traditional, scrapbook album is 12 x 12. You will find that most scrapbook paper and paper slabs come in this size. Most people use this size album as their flagship album(s). Then there is the 8 1/2 x 11 album. It has a smaller and narrower surface to work with than the 12 x 12. It is not as frequently used, likely due to the face that it’s an awkward width for pictures, if laid portrait style, and height, if laid landscape (although an 8 1/2 x 11 album orientated landscape is less awkward). You won’t find as many variations of scrapbook paper tailored to the 8 1/2 x 11 size except for plain cardstock (which you can get in various colors).
The next set of albums follow the 12 x 12 square on a smaller scale and could be described as non-traditional albums–9 x9, 8 x 8, and 6 x 6. Since these albums are smaller the pictures in them will usually be smaller than the average 4 x 6 or the layouts will hold one or two photos. I tend to think of these albums as the “fun” albums. They are not so much chronological as they are theme related (and, of course, you can use whatever size album for whatever you want). They could be an album of friendships, travel to a specific destination, chronicle a relationship, or showcase a particular fetish (like feet). I like to think of them as “snapshots,” little glimpses of life held in time rather than an event.
The real fun and creative exploration comes with the mini album. The shortage of variation is unending.
What is a mini album? It is a small album, usually made out of a few sheets of cardstock, board books, or chipboard. They can even be made from household items like a toilet paper roll, mint tin, or match box.
Some of my favorite mini scrapbook albums are the 6 x6 album, 4 x 6 album, and accordion albums for their sheer simplicity, as well as brag book albums (just a little larger than a wallet size photo). I love seeing all the variations people come up with in the realm of mini albums–accordion, acrylic albums, paperbag albums, explosion boxes, etc.
It could be said that albums are the foundation that holds scrapbooking together–in the literal sense! Next week in Scrapbooking 101 we’ll delve into the different binding styles of scrapbook albums.
