My Ode to Digital Scrapbooking
I came to this forum for the same reason, to see if there is a discussion group for scrappers. I
digital scrapbooking! I've totally converted, having sold most of my paper scrapping supplies. (I sold them in a "yard sale" held by my local scrapbook store, receiving store credit, which I used to buy several really nice albums for my digital layouts!) The number one reason I prefer making scrapbook layouts on the computer is that it's so much easier than paper-scrapping: no getting out supplies, no worrying about my kids getting into my supplies, no cleaning up supplies. Another BIG difference is the UNDO command; it's so easy to fix digital mistakes. Plus, you can use supplies over and over and over... and change them to your liking or to match your picture!
My favorite digital scrapbooking websites are
ScrapGirls and
DigitalScrapbookPlace. I like ScrapGirls the best because they send a daily newsletter filled with layouts, tutorials, and freebies! Most of my collection of digital scrapbooking elements are freebies! DigitalScrapbookPlace has a monthly newsletter and freebies too, just not as much. I think the way ScrapGirls names their files makes it easier to organize them on my hard drive too. (Note: Organizing your elements is very important! You'll soon have so many!) Both sites, as well as many others on the Internet, have galleries full of layouts people have shared, beautiful digital papers and embellishments, and message boards, articles and tutorials to help you learn.
I also enjoy
Digital Scrapbooking magazine and I have the series by
Simple Scrapbooks. Not only do the magazines have lots of layouts to admire and "scraplift," they also are full of advertisements so you can find more freebies, tutorials, and so on on the Internet! These magazines and Mothering are the only ones in which I read the ads!
As for how I do it... I usually start with the a photo or a few that I want to use, although sometimes I start with an element that I especially like and look for a photo that will go with it. I search through my files and open up the photos, papers, tags, ribbons, etc. in
Adobe Photoshop Elements. That, and the professional version, along with Paint Shop Pro, are the most popular among digital scrapbookers. Another fantastic photo editing program, which is very very easy to use, is
Lumapix Fotofusion. I like how easy it is to make collages with that program. I also like Broderbund's Creating Keepsakes for making simple things; but I use it more for cards, calendars, and so on.
Photoshop Elements has two parts: an organizer and an editor. It can catalog all your photographs, you can add captions and tag them, you can even make pretty emails full of photos to share (among other things). The editor is where you do all the creating. There is a lot to learn, but it's not hard. Just takes time and practice. Anyway, basically, after I've opened the photos, paper, and embellishments I want to use in the Editor, I arrange them. Sometimes I create part of my layout from scratch myself too. Then I save, and sometimes I print.
I use a Canon iP4300 printer, which does standard sizes up to 8.5x11, and I think they look very good. I read a lot of reviews, with scrapbooking in mind, before I chose it. There are large format printers available that can print 12x12 layouts, but after much consideration I've come to prefer 8x8. (I paper scrapped in 12x12.) I've also almost made up my mind that I prefer to have my layouts printed for me. I've read that Costco is one of the cheaper options; they can print a 12x12 and two 6x6 (or three 4x6) layouts/pictures on a big sheet for, if I remember correctly, a few dollars. I really like having books printed with my layouts. Shutterfly, which last year began catering to digital scrapbookers, does the most vibrant ones, but they are not an economical choice.
Blurb and
My Publisher are good too. Blurb is the most economical, especially if you're going to have a lot of pages in the book.
My oldest daughter has 5 paper scrapbooks spanning her first 2.5 years. I just completed a Blurb book--a big 100 page one--for my second daughter's first two years. My son has several layouts printed and placed haphazardly in one album, and some more still just saved on my hard drive. And backed up. Important Note #2: Backing up your hard drive regularly is crucial.
I read a fabulous encouraging book about scrapbooking a few months ago, that has relieved some of my guilt about being "behind" in scrapbooking.
The Big Picture by Stacy Julian. She suggests scrapbooking in themes--people, home, inspiration, rituals, accomplishments, etc, with an album for each theme-- instead of chronologically. Then there's no "behind."
Finally, here are a few more
scrapbooking sites I've bookmarked.
Hope that helps and wasn't overwhelming!
