I am an 8.5 x 11 scrapbooker. I’m what you’d call a letter-sized lady. Me like the rectangle more than the square. I think I make this fairly clear with my Make a Page Monday columns. But I recently went through some of my 12 x 12 pages because yes, they do in fact exist and I have some thoughts about them.
The 12 x 12 pages I create are for assignments only. Back in my Simple Scrapbooks days, I had to do them for both my magazine column and my books. I had to show a variety of sizes, not just the old preferred stand by.
I realize that I made some pretty cute 12 x 12s. Granted, they’re definitely minimal, both in product use and general design but I mean, come on, right? They’re kinda cute.
For me, the size is kind of intimidating. I have a hard time filling the space. Most of the 12 x 12s I do include a good chunk of framing margin space, and it’s not just because I love that general design convention. It helps bring the content area down in size.
I have three 12 x 12 albums. They include some of the first pages I ever did from when I started scrapbooking. I made the switch to 8.5 x 11 within a few months of scrapbooking and for my personal pages, never looked back.
Of course, my Project Life pages are 12 x 12. For some reason the Project Life system is less intimidating to me. I think because it’s so consistent and predictable.
It’s fun to look at these pages from time to time, but I’m still gonna say it: MAN, they’re HUGE. (Also, my kids are so much older now than as seen directly above. Sigh.)
As a columnist for Scrapbook & Cards Today I am still required to include 12 x 12 designs. They speak to more scrapbookers, ergo, I forge onward in the land of the big square.
What is your preferred size and why? And would you consider switching? Or do you like to mix and match?
I’d stay at 8.5 x 11 if I could. That’s my story. I’m sticking to it.
Caroline says
I love 8.5 x 11 too although I did years of 12 x 12 so have lots of layouts in that size. I did three alums of 6 x 12 and loved that challenge! 8 x 8 is also a fun size to scrap and I like to do my monthly review in that format.
I don’t scrap nearly as much as I used to as yarn craft has distracted me!
Deborah P says
Between the two, I prefer the 8.5 x 11, primarily because the 12 x 12 books feel unwieldy (sp?) and unstable in handling when they are full. But mostly I’m doing 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 now. Partly because I took advantage of a sale on albums several years ago, and partly because I want to focus on the pictures with just a few embellishments or a line or two of journaling to tell the story. Which is odd because I love embellishments and my craft room is jam packed with them. So, one day, I will step out of my comfort zone and do some embellishment rich 12 x 12 layouts. One day.
Lida says
I’ve done 12x12s. I’ve done 8x8s, 6x8s (standard albums), 8 1/2×11(digital version). Unfortunately, I haven’t found my go- to-size yet. Yesterday, I actually consolidated my project life pages 2010-2015, most of the pages have empty pockets not very chronological but stuff in the same year, 5 big albums down to one and a half! I hope to fill the other three, maybe not. I’ve done a photo book, too (which I liked)!
So there is no consistency as far as my books go. Maybe I need a system I can live with and consider the real estate space.
I may go back to the 81/2 x 11 digital, this could save me time, space and still have the creative outlet. Food for thought.
Maureen says
I love 8.5×11 and only scrapped this size until Project Life came along. (1998-2010 are 8.5×11) I tried 12×12 way back in 1998 and it scared the crap out of me because of the size and amount of space to fill. Being a clean and classy scrapper like yourself, I am not big on filling my pages with fluff and embellishments, so 12×12 was too big for me.
I am on my 5th year of Project Life type scrapping, using the standard 12 x 12 pocket pages and I am seriously considering pairing it down to 8.5×11 starting next year. (I don’t even know if they make pocket pages in 8.5×11.) It normally takes 2-3 albums for one year – I take way too many pictures – and those albums are so stinkin’ heavy, which is not a good thing when you have a weight limit for what you are allowed to lift! lol!
I do smaller projects like 30 Days of Thankful, A week in the life and our Christmas book in 6×8 (simple stories) size. I really love that size for smaller projects. My first love will always be 8.5×11.
Julie says
I love your 8.5 x 11 pages, but haven’t got my head around the A4 v letter sizing.
http://betweenborders.com/wordsmithing/a4-vs-us-letter/
I often buy digital supplies from USA but I don’t want to try to use templates etc that I can’t print on paper or put in albums available in Australia.
I’m sure someone can enlighten me as to how they have worked around this. (Yes, I know I can ‘buy Australian’, ha ha! But I like Cathie’s templates!!!!)
heidig says
I prefer 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller. It’s a space issue for me. Plus, 12 x 12 is just way too BIG.
Mireille says
12×12 is my favourite but I do have some scrapbooks in smaller sizes as well.
Lynn M says
While I love Project Life’s 12×12, I also use your 8 1/2 x 11 digital templates all the time to tell the “rest” of the story or highlight a special day, week, or month. I’m curious about the two new 12×12 digital templates you just released. Will they be available in 8 1/2 x 11 format?
Thanks.
Sheryl says
I prefer 12×12 because I tend to scrapbook a lot of pictures. I rarely scrapbook just one or two pictures on a layout. I want as much space as possible.
Audrey V says
I started out scrapping 8.5 x 11 pages 16 years ago, and I was always frustrated because I couldn’t get enough photos on my pages. When I started 12×12 pages, it was like the angels started singing.
I still do 8.5 x 11 books for my kids albums and albums for me (!) and a Thanksgiving album that is ongoing. I like the smaller size if you only have 1-3 photos per page. I use 12×12 albums for our family yearly album, vacations, Christmas, and project life. I love the extra space on the page. The only downside is that 12×12 are big albums to sit on your shelf. I get that part, and I don’t have a good solution to it. The 8.5×11 albums definitely sit nicer on my bookshelf.
Michelle t says
Hi Cathy, I started scrapbooking with a trip to JoAnn’s, so I picked up a bunch of 12×12 paper and muddled through. And that’s what I still do. It’s only been a couple years. But, last year when I did Ali’s WITL project with the kit, I made a couple 6×8 layouts. I’ve made a few more recently, for smaller stories, stuff like that. I like it. I love my 12×12, but I like the 6×8, too, for something different. Your layouts are awesome, so inspiring, thanks for sharing them. Michelle t
Helen High says
I have yet to do a 8.5 x 11 page, but I do see them my future. I’m still a 12 x 12 girl, but do find the size intimidating at times myself. I scrap with ladies that can be ornate and “shiny” at times and my simple nature causes them to question why I scrapbook (go big or go home mentality). I do it because I love paper. I always have. I do it because I love writing. I love photos. I love beautiful colors and when I was a little girl it didn’t occur to me that I would be able to combine all these elements and make people including myself smile and be proud.
8.5 x 11 seems to be natural flow for me as I continue to move into digital scrapping and your templates are just so stinkin’ awesome and simple.
Can’t say this enough. . . your inspiration is awesome!!
That Cathy , is my story and I’m sticking to it.
Laurel says
8.5×11 all the way, except for project life (which I print in 10×10 books.
Linda says
Back in the day, I was 12×12. But in 2005 I took your class at CKU; then bought your books, then starting reading your blog and now I am sorta like a creepy stalker of CZ. YOU converted me to 8.5×11 and I love it!!! I still have some 12×12 albums, but I find them difficult to work on.
Thanks Cathy, for converting me to 8.5×11 — the change made me a much better scrapbooker.
Kathleen S. says
I scrap mostly 12×12, but have done some 8.5×11 landscape. I prefer the clean/simple style whatever size I work with. I agree with Audrey that the 12×12 gives more space for photos. I do a lot of family gatherings/history LOs, and need the 12×12 for those. But I am drawn to the 8.5×11 — like the LOs I’ve done in that size (mostly for classes). I think if I was just starting, I’d go smaller.
Betsy says
I love 12 x 12! If I scrapbook and right now not much time for it I do 12 x 12. 8.5 x11 is too limiting for me. My favorite albums that I have done were 14 x 12. Now talk about space! I love all the white waiting to be filled in with photos and words, but sadly that size never took off so my 3 albums sit on the shelf alone surrounded by 12 x 12s.
justasiam says
I am a die-hard fan of 8.5 x 11 and its the only size I work with. Even when I do pocket pages, they are in that size also. There are a limited number of different styles to choose from…I get mine from WeRMemoryKeepers. What is personally a little discouraging for me, though, is that most of the blogs I check out have layout ideas in 12 x 12 only. I wish that there were options online that show the 8.5 x 11 size. I opted for that size because I could get almost as many photos on a page for less bulk. My kids could handle this size album better when they were looking at their “scrapbooks”.
Ann Tomaschik says
I’ve been scrapbooking 8.5×11 since about 2-3 months after I started and that was 11 years ago. Although in the last year I started doing more 6×8 pocket page. 12×12 Pocket Page still feels like too much for me. I rarely look at blogs that only do 12×12 as it just doesn’t interest me.
Rochelle says
Confession time. The only 8.5×11 layouts I’ve ever done was during your DYL class! They are now mounted on 12×12 card stock and I like them SO much better!
Lynn H. says
I started scrapbooking with 8.5×11, but I found it too constricting, so I switched to 12×12. My PL albums are 12×12 photobooks (I’m a digi girl), but I keep memorabilia in an album, and I have a variety of page sizes. That’s the thing now – with pocket scrapbooking, there are MANY sizes/brands available. I have included layouts made with your 8.5×11 templates and love them – the size works well for a clean & simple look. I kinda love how Kelly Purkey’s 6×12 pages look and have been tempted to do an album that way.
Outi says
Letter size. Always!
Tink says
I’m a 6×8 and 7×9 gal. I’m bed bound and 6×8 is much better to handle on my bed table. I embraced the hybrid scraping, and in both album sizes I love to mix stuff up with hidden journaling, envelopes etc. the 7×9 are the Basic Grey albums, they do have pocket pages.
Strangely enough is my all about me album clean and minimalistic. But whe I make an album, I work on different albums at once, I like to design the album in line with the personality of that person. I know my daughter love the artistic hybrid version, my grand baby girl is all princesses and fairies so this gives me a chance to use all my creative imagination. 🙂 I’m thinking of doing a week in the life or a Christmas album in 6×12 or an 8×8 totally in PL app and a cute Doodlebug album.
Whitney says
I started out as strictly an 8.5×11 scrapper, but now that I’ve done several smaller albums, I do really like 8×8 and 6×6 as well. It just depends on my theme. And I swore I would never, ever scrapbook digitally, since I have about a forest’s worth of trees in my basement in the form of cardstock and patterned paper, but I will admit that I do love the Project Life app, with 6×8 and 8×8 being my preferred sizes. Whether old school or digital, to me, the smaller sizes take the pressure off the need to get several good photos of an event, etc. Sometimes I only get one really good photo, and it is so much easier to scrapbook it on a smaller page.
And can I also say that your PL value kit is awesome! I hope you will have the chance to design more kits!
Beth says
I want to love the 12 x 12 … but I don’t. :(. Can’t tell you how many 12×12 albums I’ve bought at different times determined to document our lives (well, actually 7 that I can think of), and then given them to Goodwill. I’m not crazy about how my 12 x 12 pages turn out. They don’t make my heart beat. :(. I prefer the more manageable 6×8 or 8 1/2 x 11, but have found peace with the 8 x 8 PL style.
Beth says
Oops meant peace with 6 x 8
{vicki} says
12×12
that’s what I started with so I just feel more comfortable with that size.
I usually have more than enough to fill a page.
If I use smaller pages it’s usually for a mini book
Jenny B. says
Your pages are always really nice, regardless of the size. 🙂 I haven’t done a lot of 8.5 x 11, other than with Ali’s templates for Week in the Life. So… I’d say I prefer the square, but I like them smaller than 12×12. I usually do digital layouts, and I’ve found my favorite size and format is a 10×10 photo book. I like 12×12 Project Life, but only when I use the divided page protectors. Since they bend at the seams when you turn the pages, they don’t feel as unwieldy to me. I’ve included a few 12×12 layouts in my Project Life album, but I think I’d have been happier printing them at 8×8 and sticking them in an insert. So, since I know I like smaller, maybe I should try 8.5 x 11 a little more often. 🙂
Viola says
I love your “Did you know page”!! You are such an inspiration. Maybe I can do something similar for each member of my family… hmm… I’m not sure yet, but the ideas are flowing. =)
Christina says
I’m a 12×12 gal but really I find them a touch too big. why doesn’t anyone come up with a 10×10 album???? I just don’t understand why no one has thought of this. I love the 8×8 but as I am am mainly a digital scrapper, I find that the writing is too small when printed. Someone please make a 10x10ins album. I know that shutterfly prints albums this size but I’m too lazy to make digital books.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Sue I says
I have always found it ironic that you prefer 8 1/2 x11. I would think that as a designer, you would think more interms of thirds. I find it much easier to break down a design with numbers that are easily divisble by 3. But maybe that is the numbers geek in me talking as I tend to overthink everything including measuring with a ruler or sometime using a calculator to determine sizing.
Kay Gregory-Clark says
I’m an 8 ½ x 11 incher from way back in my graphic design days when I did so many newsletters that size. It was only natural for me to scrapbook that way too. I have done 12×12 & all the other sizes from time to time, but feel most comfortable with the good ol’ 8 ½ x 11. Right now my go-to is 6×8, after using it for my December book with your templates, Cathy. I even started a PL book with 6×8—again, with your temps. But when I want to get artsy & really creative, I do 12×12 because there are so many templates & gorgeous papers available for it. Also, I’ve begun to dabble in Anna Aspnes’ products which are this size. I’ll always go back to the tried-and-true, tho, & the simplicity of your products.
Kay Gregory-Clark says
p.s. Forgot to say that I do a lot of hybrid & recently have been mixing sizes in a 12×12 album, just to give me more freedom.
Kay Gregory-Clark says
I’m an 8 ½ x 11 incher from way back in my graphic design days when I did so many newsletters that size. It was only natural for me to scrapbook that way too. I have done 12×12 & all the other sizes from time to time, but feel most comfortable with the good ol’ 8 ½ x 11. Right now my go-to is 6×8, after using it for my December book with your templates, Cathy. I even started a PL book with 6×8—again, with your temps. But when I want to get artsy & really creative, I do 12×12 because there are so many templates & gorgeous papers available for it. Also, I’ve begun to dabble in Anna Aspnes’ products which are this size. I’ll always go back to the tried-and-true, tho, & the simplicity of your products.
Forgot to say that I do a lot of hybrid & recently have been mixing sizes in a 12×12 album, just to give me more freedom.
Stacia says
Christina, that’s exactly what I was going to say! I love all the space in 12×12 because, like another poster, I always have so many photos I want to include. And if not photos, then journaling. But I find 12×12 albums really unwieldy too. Wish that there were standard 10×10 pages and albums. :-/ I do monthly summary pages (two-page spread per month) and print them 8×8, but I’d really rather use 10×10 because the words get a tad small. Somebody take this idea and run with it! 😀