12x12 D-ring albums

So...who uses these and what do you like about them? I'm a post-bound girl, but I'm considering a D-ring album. What are the pros/cons of D-rings vs. post-bound? I know it's easier to move things around in D-rings. Can you fit more pages in the D-ring albums? Do the rings stay tight when closed so the pages don't catch? (I'm thinking how the cheapy binders always irritated me in school.) Also, what brands of D-rings do you like?

I bought a Hiller, and I'm considering switching more of mine....I like the Hiller, and the KMA. TONS more pages fit, and so far, my rings are tight...

I use the American Crafts brand. I absolutely love them! Yes, they hold lots more pages than a regular post-bound album. I'd say I can get more than twice the amount in them than I can in a post-bound album. The rings do stay closed tight. You can fit all different size pages in a 12X12 album, too.

The only (small) con to using them is that your pages won't line up side-by-side like they do in a post-bound. This would only most likely bother you if you do a lot of double-page layouts. I do a few double-pagers, and it doesn't bother me at all.

I highly recommend them!

I mostly have mm d rings. I think I have 1 American Crafts one. O like that it is so easy to rearrange and put in more pages. I know that the pages not being snugged up to each other bothers some people who do 2 page layouts but it doesnt bother me1

I like that they do a much better job with bulky pages. I haven't tried it, but I've heard if you are bothered by the pages not being snug against each other on a 2-page layout that you can staple or otherwise attach them to each other with no problems. I am pretty visual so I'd have to see it before I really "get" how to do it, otherwise there are a couple I'd have tried it on.

I love the American Crafts d-ring binders for a couple reasons

1. You can decorate the cover as you wish
2. You can mix page sizes in 1 album which makes for a very interesting album.

You can see one I altered on my blog (link in my siggy) it is my idea binder

Ladies, thank you for all the info... I had thought about using these, but was never sure!

I use the same kind as Ami G up there and I really like it. The pages lay perfectly flat in it instead of curling over that spine thingy, which was a problem I had with several of the postbound albums I tried. I guess it wasn't a problem, I just didn't like it. I posted a question on here about it and later found out it's normal and mostly me just being anal about it lol. The lady at the store where I bought it (the 3 ring) said the rings are made so the pages don't catch & no problems so far.

I wondered how that turned out for you Amesl,,,I remember that thread Glad you like the D ring album!

I'm doing a fairy tale and it's probably going to be rather long with a large number of pages,,,most likely 30-40 pages, and I am considering a D ring album for this,,,,,I have to go look at a few and see what I think,,,,,

I love them because you can move pages so easily - I can't stand moving pages around in post bounds! And yes you can fit so much more in a 3 ring (no pesky extension posts either). The cons are subjective, some people don't like the gap in the the middle where the rings are (in cases of 2 pagers); I don't mind the gap at all.

I only use American Crafts D Rings! Once I started, there was no going back.

I use post bound for certain things that use a limitted amount of pages. For example, a memorial album, a themed album etc.

If it is my family album it is 3 ring all the way! I can fit so many more pages it and I love to mix up the page with 6X12 and other variations!

Thanks for all the input! I do lots of 2-page lo's, so I wondered about the gap. I've never seen a ring album in use...anyone have a pic of an open one?

I've used American Crafts Modern Albums and We are Memory Makers Leather Albums. I love the versatility with the D-ring. I can create thicker pages and not worry about lack of room. I also like the ease of changing pages or adding pages without undoing posts...too much work.

I love my D-rings!!!

Hugs, Josie

I ourchased one of these which I love.....it is the Making Memories brand and I have the corduory binder which comes in several colors. After I transferred my grandsons book to this one....I was thrilled. It holds 42 pages and so far, it is wonderful....in fact so wonderful that I have bought two more for the book I am doing now for another grandchild. I have also bought a MBI Khaki cloth bound one which has smaller rings, so I am thinking it will not hold as much. I am ready to buy one of the Keeping Memories Alive albums from this site any day now.....I must say...I LOVE these. If you are making albums for kids as memory books....these are great. They hold so much more, you can change the pages around much easier, I have inserted new pages a year after the book was finished....LOVE THEM...I will never go back to post-bound again.

• scraprabbit Said:

I have a few in my Gallery under "Other". Here is one with it open.

American Crafts Album (D-Ring) By Ami G

Does anyone know if the Colorbok 12x12 pages fit in any of the 3 ring albums? If so, what brand?

By fit, I mean is the whole page inside of the album, or does it stick out on the top or bottom? Do the holes line up?

• Tivi Said:

Do you mean the page protectors ?

Thanks Ami! I think you guys are selling me on them! My postbounds get SO fat (I do yearly chronological albums).

1.easier to move pages
2.fit more pages
3.they dont fall apart at all like postbound tend too.

• Here Kitty Said:

Yes, I mean the Colorbok page protectors .

anyone???

i don't have any of those. If you do, just take them to a store that sells the D-Ring albums and see if they fit.

That IS the problem. The only store around me that sells the D-ring binders is HL. They carry 2 brands - first brand is like Henry Ford, black only. The holes only fit that brands' page protectors . I made quite a mess on the floor trying to figure out if it would hold various page protectors (yes, I cleaned up my mess).

The second brand doesn't seem to close properly, and again, only that brands' pape protectors would fit in the rings.

Thanks for all the comments ladies. I too have been wondering about these and wanting to change over but was worried about the rings coming apart, you have all given great advice.

• Tivi Said:

Hobby Lobby carries the American Crafts D rings, and I have never had problems with them closing.
Also I have used cheap dollar store page protectors in the AC D rings with no problems.

Yep, the second brand was AC. They only had a few of them on the shelves. Since they didn't close properly, maybe that's why those were still not sold.

So the page protectors are completlely inside the album covers? They don't stick out the top or bottom? And the holes all line up? You don't have to punch new holes for the rings?

They may have been damaged if they didn't close. I have only used AC D rings since they came out, and all mine hold up really well even though they're totally full of really heavy pages

The dollar store page protectors I had were made to be universal I'm guessing because they had 2 sets of holes so they'd fit different albums. And no part stuck out of the album.

Really though, I would just buy the American Crafts page protectors when they're 1/2 off. They're reinforced and way more sturdy than the off brand ones I used.

• Here Kitty Said:

This is exactly what I do. I get the AC albums and page protectors when they're half off at HL. Can't beat it. And I have bought several, packed them full, and have never had a problem with the rings or the binders themselves wearing down or falling apart, either.

Also, a side note: I have found that the AC page protectors will fit just about any of my old post-bound albums. Sometimes even the post-bound album's own brand of page protectors won't line up right, but the AC ones will. It's weird, but nice.

I think I'm going to have to try this type of album,,,,,

D Ring ALL THE WAY!

• Tivi Said:

I use the C-Line page protectors in my 3-ring Hiller albums.

I've never had trouble with the holes lining up (but I only use one brand).

I once bought another brand that did stick out the side of my album. I didn't like that, so I returned them.
Look at the page protectors -- if there is a space between the holes and the page, I find that they are a tad too wide.

The C-line ones below are what I use.
See how the 6x6 pages below have a space beside the holes? That type of design seems too wide.

Hellloooo there miss Holly.....Good to see you...LOL....I use these binders as of this year. I had been using post type...which I really hated.....in fact when I started scrapping I used 8 x 11 beacuse I could have ring binders....NOW I have 6 of the KMA leather bound. I love the colors I have, so far, and am very happy with these. I also have 4 of the courderoy I think they are American Craft, and I love those too. I have 2 cloth bound that I bought ebay that are fine...but I love the KMA books...they are wonderful. Let me know if you want more info...and if you have tried these by now, tell me what you think.

I got an AC binder and went right out and bought a second one. Wow, they are SO much easier! I do some 2 page lo's where the pages need to be right up next to each other though (a split pic, for example), so I'll be playing around with stapling or sewing those page protectors together. I also stocked up on page protectors when they were 50% off at HL a couple weeks back, so I should be set for awhile!

I purchased an AC ring binder for a class I was taking and LOVE it. It is so much easier to use and to switch pages around. You can also customize the AC album covers! Next time I need an album, it will definitely be a ring binder.

• Tivi Said:

I just love D ring albums! The other ones cannot hold as many pages as the ringed albums.
Scrapbooks Etc has em! And of course this site has D ring albums too!
I bet Scrap Happy Sisters does too, if you are on the west side.
(You are in the Phoenix metro area correct?)