| Scrapbooking albums come in many sizes from 6x6, | | | | You certainly still can find a variety of scrapbooking |
| 8x8, 8 1/2x11 and the popular 12x12 format. Over the | | | | album sizes, but the 12x12 album has dominated the |
| years as this hobby has become more and more | | | | scrapbook paper industry in recent years. In the |
| popular, some album sizes have come and gone. The | | | | beginning we had albums with paper pages in black or |
| 8x10 album is much more difficult to find and so is the | | | | white. We added our photos and embellishments |
| 12x14. Yet, the 12x12 has become the most common | | | | directly to these pages. Now, top-load pages are the |
| scrapbooking album available. | | | | most common. Using a 12x12 sheet of paper, a page |
| Why Are 12x12 Albums So Popular? | | | | slides into an acid-free plastic page protector that is |
| When the scrapbooking craze took off in the 1990s, | | | | then inserted into the album. You can find many sizes |
| Pioneer and Creative Memories, the predominant | | | | of open paper stock, but 12x12 is definitely the most |
| acid-free album manufacturers at the time, both | | | | widely available format for individual paper purchases. |
| offered 12x12 albums. This size gives you a square | | | | Most page kits also come in this size, and the majority |
| foot of space and seems perfect to give enough | | | | of monthly scrapbooking clubs have stayed with this |
| room for photos, journaling and a few embellishments. | | | | standard format. |
| The most common size for snapshots is 4x6, and | | | | 12x12 and the Digital Age |
| 12x12 accommodates that photo size very well. Yet, it | | | | Even digital scrapbooking, the newcomer to the craft, |
| can still handle portrait sizes like 5x7 and 8x10. Since | | | | has taken to the 12x12 album. Scanners are available |
| this format is square, it works well with balancing page | | | | with flatbeds in this size. These scanners are still quite |
| elements and creating 2-page layouts. | | | | expensive in comparison to their letter-size |
| The Challenge of 12x12 Storage | | | | counterparts. Printing the 12x12 size scrapbooking page |
| For many years, 12x12 storage was nearly impossible. | | | | is a challenge since most desktop printers use |
| Containers seem to be cursed to hold only standard | | | | letter-sized paper. However, online photo processing |
| letter-size or legal-size paper. Before scrapbooking | | | | services are now offering 12x12 prints in response to |
| manufacturers responded to the needs of | | | | digital scrapbookers who prefer to use the that format. |
| scrapbookers stocking massive quantities of paper | | | | The Future of 12x12 Albums |
| and supplies, it was common to see crops and | | | | The 12 x 12 album is here to stay. It not only won over |
| workshops filled with large Rubbermaid tubs filled with | | | | the traditional scrapbookers, but it has been embraced |
| their supplies. Now, we have so many more choices, | | | | by the digital scrapbooking fans as well. Trends are |
| including totes on wheels and storage bins in the 12x12 | | | | moving towards album kits with coordinated papers |
| size. You can even go to your local Target and pick | | | | and embellishments, and these are leaning towards |
| up a rolling cart with 12x12 bins. | | | | smaller sizes like the 8x8. Yet, for everyday |
| | | | scrapbooking, 12x12 is still going strong. |
| The Scrapbooking Industry Makes 12x12 A Standard | | | | |