Theme Expansion

This is how I decide whether the binder needs more room. Volume I is currently closed to new pages; Volume II can still change, but deliberately.

Page Allocation Rules

Default: 1–2 Pages per Theme

This is my baseline. Most themes should live comfortably here.

Minimum: 1 Page

If a theme cannot fill one strong page, I leave it in reserve rather than padding it.

Expansion: 3–4 Pages (Rare)

I use this only when a theme shows clear internal variety, adding one page at a time.

Hard Cap: 5 Pages

Beyond this point, I would split the theme rather than let it become vague.

A theme that grows too large is telling you it actually contains multiple ideas.

When a Theme May Grow

A theme may grow beyond two pages when new cards introduce a distinct visual or emotional sub-note—not simply more of the same Pokemon or a higher rarity.

Good Reasons to Expand

• Different lighting (day vs night)
• Different emotional register (quiet vs heavy)
• Different scale (small Pokemon vs legendary)
• Different compositional style (vintage vs modern)

Not Good Enough

• “I have a lot of cards I like”
• “This Pokemon appears a lot”
• “This is a valuable theme”

If I cannot name what the additional page contributes, I do not add it.

How Expansion Should Look

Step 1: Pause at 2 Pages

I let it live there for weeks or months before changing the allocation.

Step 2: Add One Additional Page

Ask: Does this page say something new?

Step 3: Name the Difference (Internally)

Example:

• Calm in Nature — Open Light
• Calm in Nature — Under Canopy

The labels can remain informal; what matters is knowing why the pages are distinct.

Apply the Rule to the Current Binder

Volume I is closed to new pages for now, so its themes improve through replacement. Volume II can still grow, but no theme expands automatically. Current targets belong in the Current Watchlist rather than in this evergreen guide.

Maximum Binder Size

Ideal working size: 30–36 pages (~250–300 cards)

Hard maximum: ~40–45 pages (~350–400 cards)

Once the binder is full, I stop adding pages and improve it by replacement until there is a clear reason to reconsider the overall structure.

Volume II Themes

Volume II has three chapters, each narrower and demanding stronger curation than Volume I:

• Nearness — Companions + Quiet Familiarity (bond and domestic calm)
• Permanence — Enduring Presence (survival through time)
• Passage — Threshold (a visible boundary being crossed)

Volume II themes don’t auto-expand. No theme grows beyond 2 pages without a deliberate decision.

New Themes

A new theme starts with the reserve cards, not a shopping mission. I consider one only when 6–9 cards naturally accumulate, clearly share an idea, and genuinely fail to fit an existing theme. Current possibilities are tracked in the Current Watchlist.