The first rule of choosing an album is to stay clear from magnetic albums. Make sure your albums are archival  and any page inserts are lignin free to protect and preserve your memories.

The standard scrapbooking album sizes are 12" x 12" and 8.5" x 11". There are smaller albums out there however their small size can be restrictive and not really big enough to record enough detail such as multiple photographs and journalling. I find that the smaller albums are great though for quick projects, children and those who don't have the confidence to create a full size album. So if you have lots of information and photos you would like to record - bigger is best!

I find that when it comes to paper selection, there is certainly a much wider variety out there of the 12" papers and cardstock. The only problem you may find with 12" papers is that they won't fit through your regular home printer. That wont stop you from cutting paper and cardstock to size for printing journalling and embellishments to attach to your page though.

After determining what size album you would like to use, you will need to choose what type you would like. Below are a few of the popular albums;

Post Bound Albums

These allow your pages to lie fairly flat when open. Additions and reorganising your pages may be a little more time consuming than other types of albums. With post bound albums, posts are available for purchase seperately so that you may expand your album and will also keep your double paged layouts side-by-side without seperation.

Three Ring Albums

These albums are generally the easiest for maintaining and reorganising your pages. You are however restricted by the size of the rings as to how many pages you can fit into these albums. There will be a gap where the rings are between any double paged layouts. Three ring albums also use the same page protectors as post bound albums.

Strap bound Albums

In order to reorganise your pages you will need to take the whole album apart. These albums will keep your double pages layouts side-by-side without seperation.

A lot of albums will come with page protectors/refills and paper inserts and also sell them seperately to the albums.

Your albums should be stored in an up-right position to allow air flow through them. This is important in order to avoid moisture accumulating which encourages the growth of mould.

Page Protectors

Page protectors help to protect your scrapbooking layouts from wear and tear and preserve your photos. They must be safe for use in displaying photographs.

• Your protectors should be polypropylene or mylar, be non-vinyl and archival safe. Avoid any containing PVC (polyvinyl) or made from acetate.
• Top Loading protectors open from the top and Side Loading protectors open from the side. (Side loading protectors open at the spine so your page can't slip out.)
• Shiny or clear protectors help the colours on your page look true whilst non-glare protectors are easy on the eye - hence the 'non-glare'.