12x12 vs. 8x8

Does anyone have any preference to using either the 12x12 or 8x8 albums? I always use 12x12 and was thinking about using an 8x8 for a "cousins" album but don't know if it would be worth it or if I should continue to look for a 12x12 album. Does anyone have a preference?

I used to always scrap 8 1/2 x 11 but recently discovered 12 x 12 because I can put more stuff on the page and I like the look of it. I just got an 8 x 8 album from TLC because it was just too cute and I'm not sure about changing the size myself. I guess I need to just pick a group of pictures and make that album just for that theme, it's a Christmas album kit so I guess I'll pick a Christmas that I have alot of pictures. I think if you are making the album for someone else a smaller size is more that acceptable.

8x8 is a great size for a gift album- still room to embellish, but not overwhelming. Just did a grandpa one for my FIL for Christmas and he loved it.

I scrap 12x12 for my DD. I did an 8x8 for a gift for my mom, but I didn't like it. More because I felt like I was wasting paper. If I did another gift album, I would do it as a 6x6 so I could quarter the paper. KWIM?

I hear what you mean by wasting paper. I never throw out scraps though. My 8 x 8 album came as a kit and it has all the papers pre-cut to that size so I probably wouldn't waste as much using that stuff.

I never thought about the paper wasting thing. Yes I guess it would be like wasting paper.

thanks for all your feedback !! Much appreciated.

Yes 8x8 all the way for a gift album. I have to make an album by the 20th of this month so I definately will be using an 8 by 8. It's so much easier, faster, and not as overwhelming as 12x12 album. A nice touch for an 8x8 would be to decorate the front cover.

I like 12x12 personally because of the size and I normally take so many photos. Bonus is I can get page protectors 10 for a $1 at Dollar Tree.

I use the 6x6, 8x8, and other sized pages for gift albums and special events. Smaller space and usually less photos.

I'd say it all depends on how many photos you have of the cousins and how much you want to say. I like 8x8 for gift or themed albums like that, but if you have a ton of stuff to scrap 12x12 might be a better choice.

Cindy

I use 12x12 for everything but themed stuff - usually that's when I'll reach for an 8x8. I did one last year for my son with photos of his 30th birthday surprise party, it was a BLAST to make - for me - just because I wasn't trying to fill up huge pages.

I used to scrap chronologically so breaking away from the regular size was difficult to do. Now that I scrap what feels right at the time and I don't have to put everything on one page I feel that maybe using a different size won't be so bad. I'm really changing alot of my style since starting to scrap again after not doing it for 3 years.

Hmmm....I felt very overwhelmed when i was scrapping 12x12...so i switched over to 8x8....but when i do 8x8 i only put 1 or 2 photo's on a page, and they're more layouts where i really like the photo's.....but my regular 12x12 album has the event layouts in it with multiple photo's....

I am usually partial to the 12x12 , but I love smaller albums 8x8 or 6x6 for theme albums. if you keep the scraps, they work great for mats, border, etc on the 8x8s. I have a friend who did 12x12 and now has converted to 8x8s - lots less space to fill up. check out scrappymamas gallery.

I looooooooove Dollar Tree! Their scrapbook supplies are very good too !!

8x8 is the perfect album for a single event, that's bigger than like a "mini" album or brag book. To save some space with picture...I will print out wallet sizes (which are 2x3 I think)...and 3x3 or even 2x2. The 2x2 ones I really use to sort of embellish the other photos. A lot of newer programs & print-from-the-memory-card printers allow you to print the special 3x3 & 2x2 sizes. I like lots of pictures per page, but if the 8x8 is for a single event...I can space them out more & use some of my fun embellishments that take up too much space on a 12x12.

My friend uses all 4x6 phots in her 8x8s & does a two page spread, with 2 photos on one side & 1 on the other...so you get 3 photos per spread. I also use 4x6...but I am nutty about having a certain amount of space around it...so I don't usually do more than ONE 4x6 photo per page.

• BarbaraZ Said:

I usually do 12x12 but did 8x8 for some gift albums. Here is the link to them, if you'd like to check them out 8x8 Savannah pages

I found it a bit of a challenge to do 8x8 but it was fun to do.

Aloha,
Cheryl Wordweaver

I think that the fact that I am into a minmum of 4 pics per layout- makes me like the 12' by 12' format.




but i think that when i will make gift scrapbook- the 8 by 8- is nicer- and not too heavy ( in price, whight- or meaning...)

I scrap 12x12 for my big albums, but for smaller or gift albums, I do 8x8 and I love them. I have 3 12x12 albums and 2 8x8 albums in my gallery.

I'm doing a 12x12 gift album because each page is centered around one pic, a 5x7 (check out my gallery for that idea)
I'm also scrapping an 8x8 album for last years vacation. I was actually thinking of starting 8 1/2x11 albums for yearly albums.. this thread helped alot on that idea.

I've only done 12 x 12 b/c I take way too many pics (lol) but I could see myself doing 8 x 8 for gift or theme albums.

I like the 8X8 albums to give as gifts...I made one for my eldest brother to introduce him to some of the newest additions to our family...I like that the pages are not so large & you still have the ability to embellish the pages & make them look great...

Yep, I use 12 x 12 albums for my son's books, but use smaller ones for gifts or themed albums.

Personally, I prefer 12 x 12. I find that the 12 x 12 scrapbooks and papers are much easier to find. Plus, there is a lot more room on the page. Also, I think it adds something to the layout. I think 12 x 12 sized layouts are much better looking and more attractive.

I don't have a problem with 8x8 paper...I just cut paper I already have that is 8.5x11 or 12x12. I do end up with scrap...but I will use that again in the same book, to get the color theme throughout the book.

I like 12"x 12" for my own books - daily events, holidays, etc.

I like 9"x9" and smaller for specialty books (I did one for my house or you could do it for a large event, etc) and they are great for gift albums.

I like your pages. Very bright and eye catching. I didn't realize that you could fit so many pictures in an 8x8. Thank you for your advice.
BarbaraZ

I normally scrap 12x12 or 8 1/2x11, but the smaller sizes are fun to do for special occasion or theme albums, and as gift albums. I've made a few 6x6 and 8x8 albums for new babies and holidays and I *love* them! It's something different, and I don't get overwhelmed with the page size, thinking I have to fit lots of things on them.

Good luck and have fun!

I scrap 12x12 for our family stuff and Dd's albums. I like the small albums for events like a vacation, or gifts, and now I'm thinking I'll do some journal albums (credit the idea to thecircleguru) and my bom album that way.

As far as scraps I don't worry about that I use the extras for die cuts, and other things on different pages or altering.

I am currently doing an 8X8 album for my dog. The first 8X8 I have tried and it is alot of fun! I bought the DCWV Dog Kit Stack and it's great because it comes with cordinating colors and paper in the 8X8 size. Definatley not as overwhelming as a 12X12 if it's a small topic.

I do 8x8 for my pets as I just won't have too too many pics of them - granted still a lot but not enough in my opinion to need a 12x12 page. For everything else its 12x12. I think it depends on what you're scrapping. Fewer photos I think work better on 8x8 plus they go much faster. . .

I use 12x12 for ongoing albums...but an 8x8 would be perfect for celebrating a special friend, cousins, or a single event. 12x12 gives much more room to incorprate lots of pics or a mixture of big pics, small pics.

When I did my 8x8 graduation album (see my gallery) I would try to use either one 4x6 with a few wallet size or 3x5s, or a 3x5 with wallet sizes to where there was still a central picture or two, but not so much I couldn't add other pics.

I have always done 8 1/2 by 11. It seems to be the perfect medium and the paper is easy to find and cheaper. And if you find 12X12 papers, you can always cut them down.