Cameron - The spiral bound scrapbooks do not have sheet protectors for its pages - although I have read in a magazine someone adapting regular sheet protectors for their spiral bound scrapbooks. I am using a 3 ring binder right now and have used the post bound albums also. I think my favorite is the post bound. Everyone has their own particular reasons for what is their favorite. If you want to start an album and keep adding to it don't use the spiral bound. Hope this helps! - Patty

I started scrapping with a 3 ring binder and top loading page protectors. I love how easy it is to organize, but I hate the gap between pages, not good if you want a 2 page spread. I bought a Creative Memories binder because it was a lot nicer looking on the outside, but I do not like it now that I have started using it - I have to be careful about the order and the straps don't seem to hold the pages tightly. I am going to try a post bound - nice looking outside, with top loading page protectors so I can rearrange. I scrap as an idea comes to me or by what pictures I pick up - not by date or event. Hope this helps

I started with a 3 ring binder, and although I have purchased a different album since, I prefer the 3 ring binder. I like the fact that if I do another page that goes with that time/event/category I don't have a hard time putting it in it's place. Perhaps after I have most of my old photo's done, then I will probably change them back into the post type book. I don't like how the CM books fit together, it takes too long to load a page. As for the spiral ones, I don't like them since you cannot move the pages nor can you add any, and the protectors are not available with out modification. I spend too much time and money on the finished page for it not to be protected from the elements and me. Penny

Actually, there are page protectors for spiral bound albums. A company called Canson makes them. I have two 10x10 spiral bound albums myself, with Canson page protectors on them.

I prefer D-ring binders because they are cheap, easy and convenient, and the gap in the middle doesn't bother me at all. It's like the black lines on the screen when you watch a letterbox-format movie--they go away if you don't focus on them. :)

I started with the post album and I love it!. You can add more posts and pages to accomodate the amount of pictures you want in each album. The pages come with the sheet protectors and you can just slide each page under the protector and you can move them around within the album as necessary without taking the whold book apart. I also have not had to cut any of my papers to fit into the protector, but I have been told that with the strap album you have to trim the paper. Hope that helps.

Yes, even though I have been scrapbooking for about a year, I just realized that there are about 10 different sizes. I thought that 12 by 12 meant 12 x 12. But it doesn't.

If you use page protectors with holes in the side (like the kind pam talked about), then the 12x12 pages DO fit inside and you can change them around. This is very nice and you have the added benefit of it looking very similar to the strap album. (I hated the fact that the strap albums limited you to the back of the page in front.) These can go inside post albums or 3ring binders made just for that size. These albums can be expensive but price is relative if you consider you will be keeping these albums for years and years.
However, since we are very poor, and yet I really want to do this scrappin' thing, I opted for the 81/2 x 11 size because you can buy the page protectors for cheap at Sam's Club and yes, I can find the "safe" kind - and then the paper is fairly cheap, too. I have six children and I can't imagine doing big albums for all of them as well as all the other ones I want to do. I have big dreams.

I may do one of the big ones for my husbands 40th birthday (sort of a life tribute) because they will hold a page and a few photos, too.

But be careful when looking at the aisle with paper because I have bought paper and when I bring it home, it will fit in the album and be a different size than something else I am using. That is because some 12x12 have the holes punched within that frame which brings your space to 11 1/2. If you use the 12x12page protectors, it extends them to 12 1/2. It's a big difference.

I miss not being able to put a lot of pictures on one page - but I solved this with two thoughts. 1) I realized that I took too many pictures of the same thing and 2)if I really like all those pictures, make 2 or 3 pages. Hey, it's my album.

Have fun with yours.