D-Ring vs. Post Bound - Which do you prefer?

I am struggling with which type of scrapbook albums to go with. I REALLY like the ease and versatility of D-ring binders but they seem to only come in plain, one-color styles. All the cute licensed designs all seem to be in post-bound styles. So I'm wondering if everyone goes with what's convenient (D-ring) even though it's plain, because plain is all you have to choose from, or do you go with the less convenient style (post-bound) because there are cuter options available? If given the option, would you go with D-Ring in PLAIN or DESIGNED? Or do you prefer post-bound in PLAIN or DESIGNED? I guess I'm just trying to decide which I'll be most happy with in the long-term.

I also know a lot of people like to be consistent in their album styles so they keep with the plain vinyl albums or Creative Memories style albums. I guess my question is... which do you use? And do you go with that because it's all you have to choose from, given that you prefer either ease or style? And if you use the post-bound styles, do you put those little cardboard spaces between EVERY page or what?

I'd love your vote, but I'd also love it if you reply and elaborate on your opinion. I've got a lot pages done, but haven't put them in albums yet because I'm really at odds about what style to go with that I'll be happiest with in the long-term, given that I don't seem to have the option of convenience AND cute at the same time.

Thanks everyone!

I go with convience everytime!!

You can always decorate the outside of a simple album, so it's as cute as you want it to be....

Yes, but how do you do it in such a way that it preserves a nice look and doesn't get bent or worn? I've wondered about that because you can do such cute things, but ultimately, I'd like to have something that is actually imprinted so that it wears better. What do you think? And thanks for responding.

I didn't vote at all, because I didn't know what to chose. But here's my two cents worth.

D-Ring - love the convenience of them, love that they lie flat when opened and very full. Don't like the big gap between the pages (2 page LO's tend to look funny with that gap, I do lots of 2 pagers) as far as design goes, my MIL found me a really nice, faux leather one. It's a creamy marble in color with the leather texture and the corners have brass protectors on them.

Post Bound - love how they look closed, open and very full they tend to flex (I have a very full one, and am scared that the posts will break when I pull it off the shelf) Love the options as far as designs go.


Despite the fact that I like D-ring better, I still went and bought a new post bound because it was pretty. So, I'm still not sure where I stand. Maybe I'll give this new post bound a try and we will see. Hope this helps.

Post bound...but they are a pain. I have started to use the flex hinge.

I only use the post-bound albums. I really don't find them to be at all inconvenient and I think they hold up better - I've had problems with holes ripping out in binders in the past.

I just saw one of those flex-hinge converters the other day and wondered how they work. Can you explain more about them?

I used to do d-ring but have since transitioned to post bound. They can be a pain to insert all the pages but I still really like the way they look, and once they are put together there is no additional effort involved.

I use both.

I prefer ring for ease of moving pages around, but I like the postbound because the pages lay together.

I have changed most of my postbound to snap n load. It's basically a strap that goes through the holes instead of the posts and "locks" on both sides by snapping into a plastic "lock" glued to the side fo the covers-so you can open the album from the front and the back. Also, I use spacers between every 2-3 pages depending on how thicker your pages are to even out the spine of the album.

As far as the plainness of the 3-rings, I have found some in my local box store that have decorative covers. You could also decorate the ring albums if it's that much of an issue too!

HTH!

I love post bound. They are a pain to put together though.

I absolutely love post bound.

A few suggestions on decorating an album...

Based on the material the book's made of, you can run the things you want to stick to it through a Xyron - that way, it's entirely covered with adhesive that's super-tacky and it will stay where you put it. You can also use Mod Podge to adhere paper to the cover. A few layers of Mod Podge on top of the paper will then help keep it in place and protect it from wear & tear. I've done both, and so far, it's been effective.

I use post bound because pretty much all of my LO's are 2 page spreads and they open so much more nicely in post bound than they do in a D-ring.

The flex hinge album converts the post album to something similar to the strap-hinge albums that CM makes. You run a strap thru the holes where the posts used to be. That then has a snap type thing on the end that holds the pages in place. Very easy to add additional pages.

Still tho...the thing I hate about post bound is the spacers! I have to add one every other page and it is a pain!

I used to use the CM style and had all matching books depending on subject. That has changed now and I use post because I like the true 12x12. But those books are my fave! If they made them true 12x12 I would switch back in a heartbeat!

I dont do post bound becuase they are more stylish--I do them becuase I just liek them better--3 rings start to fall apart once you get so many pages in them and I dont like the space between facing pages.

That "lock" thing everyone is talking about is called SNAPLOAD and is from Pioneer--I love them!!!

I USE BOTH.... hehehehee

D-ring is stylish.

I use the D-Ring albums for the pages while I working on them ... and then I put them in order and put them in postbound albums ... I started using the snapthing .... its really easy and cool ...
I dont like the cardboard that you have to put between the pages in the postbound albums but I make due ... sometimes I have to put 2 between the pages never less than 1 ... but in the end I dont mind ...
but I only put the pages in postbound albums once ... so Im not taking them out and putting them in ...

Very smart, Tink!

d ring all the way, i dont care if the lo's dont hug each other. susan a

D ring... it allows me to add and remove the pages with ease, plus I can decorate the album how ever I want... plus, it holds more LOs

I like post, but thats all I have ever used. I guess I go by the old saying.... if it ain't broke dont fix it? LOL

• chococatgirls Said:

I use these too, I convert all my post bound to this and it's so much easier!

I love D ring but I can't find them locally and I don't like the prices online, I like to use Coupon s!

• crazymom4 Said:

really .... I get 60-70 LO in the D ring at the most .... but I get up to 90 LO in the postbound and + the album doesnt look as weird ... I looks straight .....

I have been thinking about getting a couple of d-rings....I think I will

I use the D ring as well, I love them. I was getting mine at Michaels but they discontinued them. So now at the LSS I will have to pay at leat 10 dollars more. And I need 2 more right now!!!

I have five D-Rings right now .... half of them are full right now ... I have to finish a Few LO and then I can put a bunch of them in postbound ...

I think I slightly prefer the post bound because it seems to hold the pages more securely. Of course I haven't tried adding any extra pages either.

In the D-Ring I've had a problem with the punched holes ripping and the pages sliding sideways. Maybe I overloaded the album, but I really don't think it would make much difference.

Both can be stylish and both can be convient. You don't have to fasten your pages into a specific spot in the post bound album. Just slide them in and out of the page protectors as necessary. That makes it still pretty easy to change the order of the post bound albums too.

Just my two cents.