Post or strap/hinge albums?

Which do you use? I used to use the post kind with the page protectors you slip your layout into. I switched to Creative Memories albums, which are strap with pape protectors you slide over your layout. I like them both for different reasons. I think I might switch back though.

What kind do you use and why do you like it?

I prefer top loading post bound albums so that I don't have to scrapbook in order. I can do my pages and put them in order later. I did start with CM albums and they are great but I ended up getting locked in and finding more pictures later that I couldn't add to my layouts.

i hate strap hinge. i don't like the idea that i can't rearrange things very easily. slipping in a layout to a post-bound album is sooo much easier than having a layout permanently attached.

back when i first started keeping a scrapbook (aaages ago) i had spirals and unprotected postbounds. things are stuck right to the pages (background paper wasn't even conceived of yet! lol) and i hate that i can't add additional pages of pictures (of childhood and such) i've accquired later in my life.

it's postbound for me all the way (and right now i'm using a Scrapworks scrap smart 3-ring for a a gift album, too).

I hear ya about being able to move around your layouts. I think I'm going to switch back to the postbound with top loading page protectors. I have 3 CM albums though. Maybe I'll sell them on ebay or something.

post bound here, baby!

I'm not organized enough to do strap-hinge!

I use either post bound or 3 ring binders. I like to have the option of rearranging my pages.

I have both kinds postbound and strap hinge. I started all this like superpezgirl said with spiral books back in the day. Then I moved to CM albums that are strap hinge. I never ever attached my pages into the books though. I used paper clips and the sheet protectors, I like to move things around too much and as soon as I finish a layout means I'll find 3 more pics. lol So just because you have strap hinge doesn't mean you have to attach your pages.

Strap hinge all the way! LOL 99% of my albums are CM. I don't adhere my layouts to the page right away but slide them in under the page protectors. Those hold them in place very well. The main reason I like strap hinge is that I've yet to find another type of album that lays as flat. I don't like 3-ring albums. I've also had top-loading albums where my layouts slid out....to each her own, I guess. HTH

I love post/top-loading. I like to be able to change my mind about order, add pages later, etc.

Linda, this is exactly why I like strap hinge...they lay flat. I could never get my postbound books to lay flat - especially when I have thicker embellishments.

Stephanie, yea, I was pleasantly surprised at how well they have handled 3D stuff and still lay relatively flat. My only problem with them is that I'd love to have many of the album covers the manufacturers have come out with these days. Some of them are so cute! Then again, I have the 12x15 issue...there aren't any other manufacturers I could find that sell this size. Such is life...heavy sigh....

Strap Hinge if you are an organized person or if you are doing a book in order.
For example I did my Europe book like that...I use the pioneer albums and I got 102 pages into mine and it still shuts... Then again that's back to back...

i like 3 ring myself (easy to rearrange)

I only have post-bound... so I can't say which one I prefer since I've never used strap...
But I really really post-bound

top loading post bound

I do prefer post bound...but I got a CM flyer in the mail yesterday and they have some beautiful 12x12 albums now. I just love the colors. Not sure if I am going to break down and buy one of those or not.

You can rearrange strap hinge albums. I have one book that I use to do whatever suits my fancy at that moment. I can then take them out of that book and put it in the book that it belongs to. I am always undoing the straphinge. I also like the way it lays flat. I have one CM book that has over 60 pages in it. (120 if you count front back.)

PB!

I prefer the post bound!!!! My LSS is even phasing out the strap hinge since they don't sell too many!

I just started scrapbooking 3 months ago so I only have one album. It's a Creative Memories strap. I really like it. I just added more pages and it was really easy to work the straps.

I don't scrap directly on the album pages like CM does. I use background paper trimmed to fit between the binding on the pages. I use the page protectors. It's really easy to slide the pp out to rearrange the "pages". When I am completely finished with the album and happy with the arrangement I will attach my "pages" to the CM pages.

My mom has several top loading post albums. She is thinking of switching to my version of CM scrapbooking. With the top loaders, if you store your albums standing up, dust can settle down into the pages. The CM page protectors are sealed on the top and bottom to keep dust out if store upright.

Post bound all the way here!

i've gotten the dust argument before (actually from an incredibly rude cm consultant who was a customer at the LSS i work at - who also balked at the notion that someone would *ever* use "a whole sheet of paper to cover a page"...). but i tend to store my albums stacked laying down - i find that that way they don't get knocked over if they're on an unfull shelf and it keep things nice. so unless the dust is raucously moving in from the sides, i'm set!

Post deleted by DavesSpoon

I use 3-ring albums now. They always lay flat, and are very easy to rearrange. I store my albums upright, because I've heard that storing them stacked laying down can damage your pages. If you have any kind of embellishment that sticks out from the page, the pressure of the album laying down (especially if there's other albums stacked on top of it) can cause the embellishment to damage the facing page. Even with page protectors, it could leave indentations on the facing page.