coastalscrapper
Shy Member
Posts: 23 
Location: British Columbia
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Post by coastalscrapper on Jan 22, 2024 23:34:07 GMT
My scrapbook albums live on a bookshelf in a small reading area on the second floor of my house. It’s open to the rest of the house. I used the faux leather WRMK D ring albums. Just took them off the shelves and noticed on nearly all of them that the vinyl is starting to come off and in fact some of it has come off on the bookshelf. Could this be from heat during the summer. It’s the only upstairs area of the house that has no air conditioning because it’s open to the floor below. Now I’m thinking not only so I have to replace them but move them to another area of the house.
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Refupea #146
Posts: 6,342
Location: Down by the bay....
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Jan 23, 2024 0:22:16 GMT
Mine are in an enclosed closet with no variance in heat or cold, and they're doing the same. Some of them are sticking together.
What I thought was a great album for my layouts is turning out not to be. I'm disappointed. And I paid a lot of money for them!
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Post by lanena on Jan 23, 2024 0:33:24 GMT
The covers of my WRMK albums have shredded. I only use them to hold page protectors. One of them was so bad I had to throw it away. I've stopped buying them.
All of my albums are in rooms that are air-conditioned in the summer.
I've picked up a couple of scrapbook.com albums, and I hope they last longer.
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Post by pepperwood on Jan 23, 2024 0:44:28 GMT
I have been using WRMK albums for years and the covers are all fine. The only issue I had was that the rings got misaligned on one.I wonder if the quality suffered when American Crafts took over.
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,838
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Jan 23, 2024 1:17:01 GMT
This happened to my albums and I contacted WRMK (American Crafts) almost 2 years ago and they replaced all my disintegrating ones. I had to send photos and it took about 2-3 months to get them. It can't hurt to contact them to see what they will do. I have a thread somewhere about this. I'll link it when I find it. ETA: Here's the link to my thread: WRMK albums |
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petscrapper
Full Member
Posts: 146
Feb 13, 2023 2:09:58 GMT
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Post by petscrapper on Jan 23, 2024 1:18:08 GMT
I wonder if the quality suffered when American Crafts took over. It’s possible. I have cobranded We R/Hiller Scrapbooks albums and they’re still in great condition. The insulation where I live now is really awful and they’re in a room where they’re near a sliding glass door with lots of sunlight. |
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,247
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Post by blemon on Jan 23, 2024 1:22:07 GMT
I think vinyl just breaks down over time. I had some barbie clothes from the '80s in a bin. Some were like melted and stuck together.
I've had that happen to dollhouse miniatures as well. I think it's certain plastics.
But this is a well known fact and I'm surprised they would use that material. Prolly made in China.
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Post by sarahsprettypapers on Jan 23, 2024 11:46:10 GMT
I live in Florida, and yes this was a problem for me after I moved here. One year I replaced all of my WRMK albums with linen ones because the vinyl was sticking to everything and it was driving me nuts.
I also had to switch adhesives too. Everything was falling apart inside the album as well over time.
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Post by honeypea on Jan 23, 2024 17:17:02 GMT
I have been using WRMK albums for years and the covers are all fine. The only issue I had was that the rings got misaligned on one.I wonder if the quality suffered when American Crafts took over. My oldest WRMK albums are the worst, and I’m certain it was pre-AC. Circa 2012? Kiwi, yellow, navy are all doing it. I have a big batch of black, purchased in like 2020, which all seem fine, but they are all a lot newer, so hard to tell what’s going to happen with them down the line. I have a few Becky Higgins albums that I wish I could get more of, but I think they are no longer made. |
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cbscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,399
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Post by cbscrapper on Jan 23, 2024 18:51:20 GMT
Mine are in an enclosed closet with no variance in heat or cold, and they're doing the same. Some of them are sticking together. What I thought was a great album for my layouts is turning out not to be. I'm disappointed. And I paid a lot of money for them! Same. Mine are sticking to each other, sticking to the bookshelf, and peeling off the cover. It’s terrible and so disappointing. Kiwi, aqua, all of them! My AC linen covered albums are holding up great, except for all the pet hair that sticks to the fabric, but a lint roller takes care of that. |
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Post by pepperwood on Jan 25, 2024 0:29:42 GMT
I have been using WRMK albums for years and the covers are all fine. The only issue I had was that the rings got misaligned on one.I wonder if the quality suffered when American Crafts took over. My oldest WRMK albums are the worst, and I’m certain it was pre-AC. Circa 2012? Kiwi, yellow, navy are all doing it. I have a big batch of black, purchased in like 2020, which all seem fine, but they are all a lot newer, so hard to tell what’s going to happen with them down the line. I have a few Becky Higgins albums that I wish I could get more of, but I think they are no longer made. My albums have the burgundy and wine fake leather covers if that makes a difference. |
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Post by artisticscrapper on Jan 25, 2024 3:51:54 GMT
Mine look like they got in a fight with a cheese grater. Multiple colors and they all date back to when WRMK sold them. I’ve replaced a few but it’s hard to find non vinyl 3 ring albums for 12 x 12 papers. I got a couple at HL and that’s about it so far.
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coastalscrapper
Shy Member
Posts: 23
Location: British Columbia
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Post by coastalscrapper on Jan 25, 2024 13:06:54 GMT
This happened to my albums and I contacted WRMK (American Crafts) almost 2 years ago and they replaced all my disintegrating ones. I had to send photos and it took about 2-3 months to get them. It can't hurt to contact them to see what they will do. I have a thread somewhere about this. I'll link it when I find it. ETA: Here's the link to my thread: WRMK albumsThank you! I’ll check it out. |
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 27, 2024 21:49:26 GMT
noticed on nearly all of them that the vinyl is starting to come off and in fact some of it has come off on the bookshelf
This has happened to several of mine as well. For as expensive as albums are, and the fact that they are supposed to be kept for a long, long time, it is a true disappointment that they are basically ruined.
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Post by don on Jan 29, 2024 19:30:56 GMT
Most of my albums are Pioneer brand, others are very nice looking and have very nice varied textures to them.
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coastalscrapper
Shy Member
Posts: 23
Location: British Columbia
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Post by coastalscrapper on Mar 2, 2024 12:35:05 GMT
I recently purchased one of the Doodlebug Storybook Albums. They seem to be a bit sturdier, albeit a bit more expensive, but only time will tell.😊
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miascraps
Full Member
Posts: 353
Jun 26, 2014 15:37:58 GMT
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Post by miascraps on Mar 2, 2024 20:43:11 GMT
I have a mix of albums incl WRMK. None are showing signs of deterioration. I’ve been at this more than 20 years. I live in the PNW if that makes a difference.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Mar 2, 2024 23:51:21 GMT
Mine were all WRMK before the sale to AC and all but one started peeling a couple of years ago. I’m In SoCal and it’s rarely humid here. They were never in direct sunlight either. They were pretty much just crap which, BTW, is what they left all over the place. I hated picking up those tiny pieces of vinyl. Today I finally bought my last replacement album. No more fake leather.
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coastalscrapper
Shy Member
Posts: 23
Location: British Columbia
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Post by coastalscrapper on Mar 3, 2024 12:29:55 GMT
Mine were all WRMK before the sale to AC and all but one started peeling a couple of years ago. I’m In SoCal and it’s rarely humid here. They were never in direct sunlight either. They were pretty much just crap which, BTW, is what they left all over the place. I hated picking up those tiny pieces of vinyl. Today I finally bought my last replacement album. No more fake leather. I suspect that’s in my future but for the meantime I’ll have to find another location for them. |
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,882
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Mar 3, 2024 15:55:56 GMT
I have never used leather albums, in a past life I must have been attacked by a leather album or something because the texture bugs me (I'm weird...) but finding anything other than leather in fun colors is difficult. I use AC cloth albums, but even those are getting harder to find, especially in certain colors.
I have some WRMK one's that are more of a coated cardboard (not cloth) but I can only find them in 8.5 by 11, but they come with a sticker on the front of them that is almost impossible to peel off.
It's frustrating.
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Post by mrssch on Mar 3, 2024 16:26:34 GMT
well darn. i’ve been slowly switching to wrmk albums for durability. i hope this doesn’t start happening to mine. especially since i live in hot hot texas.
the main issue i had was removing the adhesive branding from some older albums. this created damage. i planned to contact them but never did.
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Post by pocketaddict on Mar 3, 2024 16:41:20 GMT
same 🙁 some but not all getting weird on the bottoms mostly. is there even a manufacturer offering leather or other sturdy (non-vinyl) 12x12 option? I would consider moving over though I would miss having the bright colours. any suggestions welcome.
I wonder if citrus twist would ever try 12x12. I'm very happy with their 6x8 life crafted albums that have a kind of fabric cover.
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cbscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,399
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Post by cbscrapper on Mar 3, 2024 20:28:19 GMT
same 🙁 some but not all getting weird on the bottoms mostly. is there even a manufacturer offering leather or other sturdy (non-vinyl) 12x12 option? I would consider moving over though I would miss having the bright colours. any suggestions welcome. I wonder if citrus twist would ever try 12x12. I'm very happy with their 6x8 life crafted albums that have a kind of fabric cover. That would be amazing if CT made 12x12! Their colors are so yummy! |
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,795
Member is Online
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Post by TXMary on Mar 4, 2024 4:00:33 GMT
I recently rearranged my albums and noticed the same thing. I live in Texas but we maintain a constant temperature in the house and they are stored nowhere near a window or sunlight. Very disappointing considering the cost. They are all WRMK.
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Post by Embri on Mar 4, 2024 6:53:16 GMT
I think vinyl just breaks down over time. I had some barbie clothes from the '80s in a bin. Some were like melted and stuck together. I've had that happen to dollhouse miniatures as well. I think it's certain plastics. But this is a well known fact and I'm surprised they would use that material. Prolly made in China. This; vinyl is not a stable material. It's not even close to the best of the plastics in terms of longevity. That goes to Polymethyl methacrylate, more commonly known as plexiglass/perspex and BoPET, aka Mylar. The breakdown and stickiness are the plasticizers separating from the polymer, which happens to plastics even under the best of conditions. Exposed to light, UV, temperature fluctuations or extremes and it happens even faster.
It looks good, machines readily, is inexpensive and easy to source, and does not last. Really a questionable choice for a touted "memory keeping product".
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coastalscrapper
Shy Member
Posts: 23
Location: British Columbia
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Post by coastalscrapper on Mar 4, 2024 14:11:08 GMT
This; vinyl is not a stable material. It's not even close to the best of the plastics in terms of longevity. That goes to Polymethyl methacrylate, more commonly known as plexiglass/perspex and BoPET, aka Mylar. The breakdown and stickiness are the plasticizers separating from the polymer, which happens to plastics even under the best of conditions. Exposed to light, UV, temperature fluctuations or extremes and it happens even faster.
It looks good, machines readily, is inexpensive and easy to source, and does not last. Really a questionable choice for a touted "memory keeping product".
Good to know. Sounds like a combination of factors |
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Post by Embri on Mar 4, 2024 15:01:55 GMT
It's really just one factor - plastics (some more than others) do not want to stay together, chemically. At least it can't spontaneously self-combust like degrading cellulose nitrate film!
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Post by hoopsfn on Mar 4, 2024 15:38:36 GMT
Sadly this has happened to my WRMK albums too. The "leather" is crumbling and peeling off the edges. And I know that at least 2 or 3 of them are pre-American Crafts.
I really haven't found a comparable replacement yet.
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jediannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,838
Jun 30, 2014 3:19:06 GMT
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Post by jediannie on Mar 4, 2024 15:44:25 GMT
It seems like the American Crafts versions of the WRMK albums are not "melting" as badly as the older ones. That being said, I haven't had the newer ones as long so ask me again in 5 years.
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alleyscrap
Junior Member
Posts: 61
Apr 4, 2022 18:43:23 GMT
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Post by alleyscrap on Mar 4, 2024 16:02:30 GMT
I also have an aversion to the pleather/vinyl albums and just can’t stand the look and feel. Plus I have seen the material degrade quickly on other items so I have managed to stay away so far.
That being said, in a moment of weakness, I bought a pleather 9x12 from Studio Calico when they were doing a crazy sale because it was so cheap. I need to use it up and was thinking of maybe trying to cover it with fabric, so if it degrades you won’t be able to tell as much. That was the plan anyway, until I found a 12x12 paper covered album at HL on clearance for $5 and now I think I will cut that to 9x12 and cover it with fabric. I will eventually need to use that other pleather album though so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Do you think a pleather album could be successfully turned into a fabric/linen album? Maybe if I somehow removed the pleather material and used the basic structure of it to create my own?
I reeaally hate the pleather look and would be willing to put in a ridiculous amount of effort to fix the album so I can avoid it.
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