Page protectors?

I've been looking around this site and several others and I've got question about page protectors.

I've noticed a lot of albums in craft stores have sleeves that you slip your finished layouts into. Now, I was wondering, do you like those protectors, do you make your own albums without the protectors, can you buy a full album without them? The protectors just seem odd to me if you make heavily embellished layouts. Wouldn't the protector squash/smash your embellishments?

You can take the paper portectors out of most albums if you don't like them.. I use them becuase my pages aren't heavily embellished. If I were you I'd look into D-ring albums they have more room than post-bound!!

I use page protectors. I do my LOs and slip them into page protectors into Dring albums. I refuse to buy post bound books anymore!!! LOVE d rings!!! Other than small books, all my books are this way. I wouldn't know how to put a book together without them!!! LOL!!!
Sometimes the page protectors smush your embellies a big but no big deal and drings give you more room.

I don't embellish too heavily, but I still trim off about 1/4 inch of the edge so it allows me a skoshe of room for the page.

Page protectors do just that - they protect your pages. I can't imagine scrapping without them.

If a letter or embellie calls off the protector catches it, you can retrieve it and glue it back on (had that happen) and the problem is minimized for dust on flowers and embellies.

Plus, I don't panic when people look at my books becuase I know I won't get fingerprints and smudges on my pages.

I also stick only to 3D ring binders.

I can understand the benefit of page protectors, but I also like to make interactive scrapbook pages with envelopes, and flaps, and tags that are all moveable and meant to be touched. How do people scrap pages like this? Or is that something most people only really use in mini albums? I made a mini album that was like that, and I had a blast coming up with new ways to make the pages interactive so I was curious.

Soyala27, I haven't been brave enough to try this yet, but my mom typically cuts a slit in the page protector when she uses pockets and flaps and envelopes.

• Quote:

I do this all the time. Really works well--makes your scrapbook "interactive". For example, rather than gluing down a post card, you can make a library pocket for it, glue the pocket down, insert the card then cut a slit in the protector This will allow both sides of the card to be accessible to the viewer.

Oh, I use pockets all the time - I'm absolutely in love with a Sizzix library pocket die and K&Company's Smash pockets (I don't like most of the patterns but I just cover them with other paper) - I'm just not brave enough to actually cut the page protector.

I always used protectors but nothing cemented it more than when my son knocked over a coke on the page I had just finished and hadn't slipped into the protector yet.

I'm a beginner as well, and I don't want to use page protectors for the same reason. I like using different textures and interactive features. So putting everything in plastic afterwards seems kind of like a waste to me. I guess I'd rather enjoy my LOs now instead of putting them in page protectors for all eternity and not having as much fun with them. If that makes sense...

I have ALWAYS used page protectors but I see your point of wanting them interactive. I bought a leather scrapbook that did not have the page protectors in them so I of course added them!

And when somebody drops a scrap book it is not the end of the world. A few plastic page protectors get torn rather than a few layouts getting ruined.

I use protectors so that when the littler kids look at the page, I don't have to worry about fingerprints or dirty fingers.

I always use protectors as the purpose is to keep your photos in an acid free environment so they do not discolor. Eventually, without the protectors, your photos will discolor. In addition, I don't like fingerprints on my photos (which would happen if someone was looking at my book without protectors. And yes, the obvious reason is to protect your pages and photos from food or liquids. I have some LOs that took over 6 hours to complete and I would be devastated if they were ruined. I use to ask people to wash their hands before touching my books (yes, a little germophobic! LOL) but I am beginning to feel comfortable that I can just take a damp cloth to the protectors later, after they leave.
As for envelopes and other things on your page that you would want to view, I simply cut a line and hang the tab outside the protector so it can be easily pulled out to view. I have some examples of pages in my wedding album that I have photos behind other photos.

Anytime you see a "tab" or ribbon, there are that many photos behind the main photo.

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

Vows are in these envies:
http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/15151/view/ 1929289/-...

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=gallerie...

• Soyala27 Said:

I sometimes make "interactive" pages, I still use a page protector, I just cut a hole in the sleeve so people can play/open/slide the moveable parts.

Never tried Dring though... Im starting to think im missing out

• jaxxan Said:

HORROR STORY!

OP and cmkage...I look at it this way, if you use page protectors and someone who isn't gentle gets ahold of your book/layout, what would you rather have torn up...a plastic page protector, or a beautiful layout you spent hours working on and possibly priceless pictures? As lots of have mentioned, there are lots of ways to still make your pages interactive. I would definitely recommend using them. I think they are probably the most "worth the money" supply.

Maybe I'm not so worried about something getting ripped etc because there is little chance that someone who won't be careful will be looking at my scrapbooks. There are actually no small children in my family, so it is highly unlikely that a kid will look at them. I know even an adult could accidentally damage a page, but that is a risk I'm going to take for now. I just like using different textures too much and I'd hate if it all disappeared behind plastic. In my mind, interactive pages are made to be touched.

I am thinking about getting decorative boxes for the books though, so nothing happens to them in storage and I don't have to worry about dust etc.

Wait, how are you putting them into an album?

lol! this is just too funny.I use protectors and lots of textures but I figure it's not THAT hard to pull the page out to play with moving bits and such.

The album I'm using right now is a picture album with cardboard pages. I just tape the lo in with double-sided tape. Works great.

OOOHH! Okay! that makes sense, I thought you were using a post bound or ringed album that usually need protectors to attach.

Yeah, I have those too.......I am still an advocate for protection!

I want to protect my scrapbook page but even more, I want to protect my pictures. They are treasures to me so I always use page protectors.

It is actually a post-bound album. Just one that comes with cardboard pages instead of page protectors.

I know that most people prefer to use page protectors. But I just can't bring myself to warm up to the idea.