Jun 20, 2008

Remember 8 1/2 x 11?


I STILL scrap that size. Perhaps it's because I've been scrapping since about 1995 and at that time, colored copy paper and three ring binders were about the only options. I am super comfy with that triangular size and found 12x12 to be too big and too square for my tastes. I can cram a lot of stuff on a double-page layout! In fact, I often will suggest that new scrappers start on either 8 1/2 x 11 OR 8x8. A blank sheet of 12x12 paper can be so intimidating to a new scrapper. To some it would be like being told you had to plow a field with a hand-held hoe.

As I was digging through the archives at ScrapBiz this morning, I found a post from May 2003 from a ScrapBiz member in Utah. She was SHOCKED because her local scrapbook store had all their 8 1/2 x 11 albums on clearance. They were not going to carry them anymore and they also told her that many manufacturers were discontinuing the production of 8 1/2 x 11 patterned paper. I got a twinge of sadness reading that old post. I DO miss good patterened paper in my favorite size! I hated being told, "You can just cut it down" whenever I complained. I hated it for two reasons:
  1. Not every 12x12 patterned paper CAN be successfully cut down

  2. 12x12 was more expensive so it cost me MORE to scrap and I always ended up with a border strip that I never used despite having the best of intentions.

It's funny how you can get every other weird size of paper in the industry BUT 8 1/2 x 11.

It's been 5 years since it's passing and I still grieve...





3 comments:

Musicmom-Amy said...

You and me both!

Anonymous said...

I started with 8.5 x 11 too! I remember my first kit - I bought it at Wal-Mart, of all places! I still have it & look back at it and get a good chuckle at my beginnings.

8.5 x 11 may be an opportunity for someone........

Anonymous said...

It's funny how you can get every other weird size of paper in the industry BUT 8 1/2 x 11.

I never thought about that before. Humorous.