Another reason is that you can move your pages in order and even move them from album to album. Since I started scrapping about 10 years ago, I’ve moved my pages many times, and I’ve changed my mind about how I want to organize them. You could do it by year, or by topic, or by family group or or or or - whatever you choose. Sometimes I want to extract a few pages of a particular subject and take them to show, and it is very easy to do in the smaller size. Once you put them in the larger albums, most of the time they are difficult to move, or maybe in some cases not even possible. Top loading - absolutely.

Some scrappers are also crafters. If you are, you have the opportunity of making some cute individualized covers for your three ring binders. Since they are inexpensive, you don’t mind covering them.

I do think that before you do anything very permanent, you need to determine what size page you want.

Something I learned to do after I had been scrapping a couple of years was a better way to use sheet protectors. Say I went somewhere and picked up a postcard or other souvenir. Also I have a ticket stub, or maybe an airline boarding pass. I put these and any other memorabilia together in my protector until I’m reading to scrap. If I have to wait to get my pictures developed, this is a great way to hold like things together. Maybe I’ll even jot down my journaling thoughts while I’m waiting to get the page scrapped. That way I don’t forget what I want to say, even if I go back five years later to make the page. If I am using digital pix, I always print out a contact thumbnail sheet of the picture(s) and put it in the protector. Unfortunately, there have been times when I lost the pix on my computer and my little thumbnail is all I had for a picture. As bad as the quality is and as small as it is, it’s still better than total wipeout.

There are kits and sets, also individual pieces which are fun too. Its all up the scrapbooker! Supplies can be found at stores and places like Wal-mart have a small but affordable section.

Scrapbooking can get expensive.

I teach my girls to sew and get them their own basic machine when they turned 12…that was fun and they got a skill they could use professionally etc for the rest of their lives.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions please contact me either through my website or email me at