One thing you may have noticed about the hobby of scrapbooking is that most papers are much larger than usual.  It can be difficult to find scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 paper, whether at your local supply store or even online.

The reasons for this is that most scrapbooks assume that the focal point of your page is going to need something larger than plain old scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 paper, but if you’re looking to keep your pages in a regular notebook or want something of that size, you may be wondering where to start looking.

Why It’s So Hard to Find Scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 Paper

As said, many scrappers assume that your focal point, embellishments, and everything else will require a bit more space than on normal-sized paper.  This is why so many offer paper that’s usually 12 x 12 square.  For some, however, this is difficult when you want to add items from your computer and your home printer doesn’t support this size paper – a common problem among scrappers.  However, if you’re having a tough time finding scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 paper, it may be because you’re using the wrong term.  This size paper is commonly called letter sized, something that many people who don’t have experience working in offices don’t always realize.  So when searching, try using the term letter sized and see what comes up.

Making Your Own Scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 Paper

If you’re a serious scrapper, you may already own a paper cutter, and if not, it may be time to get one.  If you have a high-quality paper cutter, you can make your own scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 paper out of paper that’s any size larger.  It may be a little bit clumsy or time consuming to do this, but it can be worth it if you want your scrapbook to be a manageable size.  Paper cutters are typically very affordable and come in small sizes, perfect for the desktop.

So if you have a hard time finding the perfect scrapbooking 8-1/2 x 11 paper, even using the term letter sized, you may want to consider the time it takes to make your own.  Once you get into the habit of doing this, you’ll soon find that it’s easier than you think, and you won’t need to limit yourself to the other sizes that you find in your supply store or online.