new at this ... lots of questions ... albums?

Hi there, I discovered SB just a few months ago and I started with my first album (baby book, for my 5 month old). I collected some info and I started buying papers, stickers, etc. My major problem are albums ... I bought several before understanding that maybe the 12x12 hinged are the ones I liked ... I started my baby book on an odd album: it is 11x11, spiral bounded. So ...
1. I cannot find 11x11 page protectors anywhere ... do I really need them, and if yes where can I find them?
2. with the spiral I cannot move pages ...anyone using this kind of album?
3. I am not sure the pages in the album are acid free, it did not say it on the cover. Does it really matter, if I put a mat under the picture and I find a way to protect them.
4. Is the paper that you use for the page different from what you use for mats or decorations? (in this album the pages were already there and I am only adding some color to them)

I am considering redoing it completely ... although I am afraid that I will never get it done, considering the only time I had to do it was during my maternity live ... I would really like to keep the work I have already done, after all can't be worse than my other baby book ... a magnetic album!!!

Sorry for all this rambling, I hope you can give me some practical advise ...
Thank you,
Maru

One thought would be to take an exacto knife and very carefully cut the pages out of the 11x11 spiral and mount them on a peice of 12x12 cardstock. Ideally you would want to eventually redo them and take them off of the non-acid free paper (You can get an acid testing pen to be sure). But this would keep you from having to start over right away and you could still get them all together in one album. I know how discouraging that can be.

I have a 10 month old and know how precious those first pages are.

Hi Maru,
Welcome to Scrapbooking!!! CONGRATULATIONS on your early start on your second baby's sb. I am not sure about page protectors for 11x11 pgs. I used Creative Memories sb and you have one page that you scrap the front and back as pg 1&2. If you later decide that you wanted different photos on pg 1 you had a problem. * Undu is a product that helps you remove anything or everything from a sb pg. The liquid comes with a tool like spoon to get under the photo and does not harm any of your "stuff". In fact you are able to reuse the photos, stickers, mats, etc. without having to reapply an adhesive. Just make sure that you clean your hands after working with it so that you do Not transfer any stickiness to something else.(I guess that was the teacher/mother in me!) I feel that in making our albums; the time, money, energy, etc. that we should use only Acid-free paper. Since you are only using acid free paper in your sb the paper can be used for everything; backgrounds, borders, punches, & mats.
I have started using top loading albums and if I change my mind about the placement of my pgs. all I need to do is pull the pg out and put the desired pg. in. That easy!
Maru, you will be surprise about the time you will find to sb. List 3 things of which you are grateful. In other words "Count your blessings". *Remember to do something each day for yourself! This seems impossible; however, those of us that do this will be better women, wives, and mothers! I will get off my soapbox now. Happy stampin' and scrappin'.

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God Bless You,
Janie Harvey

Welcome Maru!

Sorry I don't have any advice for you, but I'm sure you'll get lots of it.

Enjoy!

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Megan:
A person who always strives to do her best-

Welcome Maru, to the neighborhood. You will find lots of questions, solutions and friendship here. Hope to share with you soon, Nancy

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Nancy

Thank you all for all your help.
Actually I called the manufacturer (Galison) and they say that all their scrapbooks are acid-free ... I guess that lives me with the question of the page protectors. They don't sell them and their 11x11 format seems impossible to find anywhere else ...
Since the album is spiral bounded maybe I could not fit a page protector on the pages anyway ...
I will probably keep going on this one and be more careful in the future!!!
Thanks again,
Ciao,
Maru