Digital Scrapbooking and digital photography-a Match Made In Heaven

Scrapbooking has never been as simple as it is today!

Create scrapbook pages is one of America's favorite hobbies. What's not to love about documenting the lives of those we love and their very special memories? Even those who do not like to look at themselves ready scrapbooks-scrapbookers oohing and awing at about the pictures, nice decorations and the neat paper used to create this one of a kind souvenirs.

And now there is a new way to scrapbook that arrived on the scene a few years ago and it really taking off! Digital scrapbooking, or as it's called ... sometimes computer scrapbooking, is catching on fast. Traditional paper scrappers, as well as those who never before scrapbooked are loving it.

It still contains all favorites of scrapbooking while eliminating many of the not so favorite aspects of the vessel. When you use your computer to your scrapbook pages, you no longer need all the mess and clutter that traditionally was a part of scrapbooking with paper.

Here is just a few of the benefits of computer scrapbooking I can think of:

No more small pieces of paper lying around, get stuck in all nooks and crannies of your demolition area.
Glue get stuck anywhere-a thing of the past.
Stacks of scrapbook paper, decoration and tools have lying around-nope.
Your demolition area is now that your computer can go anywhere.
You can move your photos and page elements all over the place without ever having to start again.
When your done scrapbooking for the day, you don't have to back everything; only to have to drag it all the next time you want to Notepad.
You can shop for new digital scrapbooking supplies in your jammies, online; at any time of the day.
With grandmother, mother and your best friend with the click of your mouse you can sharing your wonderful Scrapbook layouts.
You can even print your finished page layouts in a hardcover coffee table book if you want to have.
Digital scrapbooking supplies are so much more affordable and you can them over and over.

I'm sure you get the idea by now. Another really nice benefit is the ability to right off your digital camera and your digital photos in your scrapbook pages. No hassle, no print first. You can resize your photos to your scrapbook pages right within your scrapbooking software.

And speaking of your digital photos; Imagine being able to erase those large pimple from your teens face or magic to lose a few pounds using your image editing software. Priceless!

And if you consider yourself the kind of person that are not very creative, even there is help for you! Pre-made digital scrapbooking layouts can be found online. All you have to do is add your pictures and a little personalized journaling as you want, and it's done. Your family and friends will think you're a genius scrapbooking.

If you can't let go of all your paper scrapbooking supplies, there is good news. Many people are combining both paper and digital scrapbooking layouts one of a kind. The term for this is hybrid scrapbooking.

So what are you waiting for? Get started! Digital scrapbooking is so much fun. Be careful because this is a hobby that can be very very quickly addictive!

For digital scrapbooking paper, decoration, pre-made layouts and coordinated kits, Digital Scrapbooking downloadsvisit. And for digital scrapbooking freebies of designers all over the world www.digitalscrapbooking-free.com, go to. Lessons and tutorials are also available.

Digital Scrapbooking - Great Tips For Advanced Scrapbookers

Scrapbooking is one of the most popular hobbies around these days. Scrappers are well-acquainted with the craft, working with the materials and tools like pros. Combining cutting lots of paper shapes, gluing photos, and sticking a collection of ribbons, die-cuts, and stamps on each page is their passion. It's hard for an experienced scrapper to imagine doing it any other way.

But computers can invade anything - even scrapbooking. Modern technology introduces a whole new approach to scrapbooking that uses graphics programs to create the basic scrapbook elements and page layouts. Using a computer to create scrapbooks, known as digital scrapbooking, involves creating page layouts with the help of computer software that edits photos, creates graphics, inserts borders and text, and allows you to "paste in" digital embellishments.

Using high-quality paper, you print your scrapbook pages on a high-resolution printer and then attach your traditional scrapbook materials. More tech-savvy scrappers can even save elements and pages on the hard drive or store them to DVD or CD to share with others electronically. These days, several websites give you the ability to create an online scrapbook by uploading your photos and images to their prepared digital scrapbook albums.

There are several computer programs that are great for scrapbooking. Most popular are Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0 and CS, Microsoft Picture It!, Lumapix, and JASC's Paint Shop Pro. They are all effective for manipulating designs. The features that scrappers will appreciate include cropping photos, replacing backgrounds and colors, adding text, and inserting borders and graphics.

The programs we've mentioned weren't created for scrapbooking, but they offer many features scrapbookers will find useful. It's easy to isolate and "cut out" specific images from a photo. You can apply color schemes to your designs. Cropping photos and trimming page elements is easy and quick, and the programs allow you to create your own design elements.

The major obstacle to applying these high-end programs to scrapbooking is in learning how to use the software. For people who haven't used graphics programs, there can be a steep learning curve, and becoming adept may take some time. They're expensive too. You can expect to pay several hundred dollars for one of these software packages.

Once you are familiar with the programs, though, using the software for other projects is interesting and fun. Their great value for scrapbooking lies in their versatility. You're only limited by your imagination in what you can create to make a super scrapbook. You can blend your own colors, create your own borders, and add texture digitally. These programs offer a variety of virtual textures: marble, canvass, cobblestone, leather, silk, and a range of natural color-texture combinations.

Easier programs dedicated to scrapbooking are also available. They include Hallmark, CK, Scrapbook Studio, and Scrapbook Assistants. Designed specifically for digital scrapbooking, they're easier and faster to learn and much less expensive. However, they are not as flexible as the high-end programs, and your options can be limited to a prescribed set of colors, pre-set page settings, and canned layouts. But they do make the job easy, and you won't spend weeks to months trying to figure out how they work.

An in-between solution might be a program like Microsoft Digital Image Pro. Less expensive than Adobe PhotoShop, it's easier to learn and has more features than the digital scrapbooking programs.

If you're not sure whether you want to try digital scrapbooking, you can try it out by downloading free digital scrapbooking programs from the Internet. Be aware, though, that these programs may not be as effective as those you purchase. That's because free downloads are often used as product samples, and not all menu features are turned on in the free trial offers and downloads. They will give you a sense of what the software can do, and trying out free digital scrapbooking software may help you make your decision.

Most programs come with tutorials and help features that teach you how to do major tasks. The step-by-step instructions allow you to explore features and sharpen techniques as you learn the software. You can also probably get online help through blogs and forums run by scrapbooking websites.

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Why Digital Scrapbooking Makes Sense

Is scrapbooking one of your hobbies? Are you glad that you have a way to keep all your memories in one place? Do you hate the fact that your scrapbooks take up a lot of room and take months to complete? There is a better way to do scrapbooking and that is by doing a digital scrapbook. What lots of people don't know is how a digital scrapbook works and to be honest it's really easy, all your pages are created using scrapbooking software and are saved on your computer. The nice thing regarding digital scrapbooks is that you won't have to make room to store them somewhere, you can make them faster, and you can create copies just as easily.

Digital scrapbooks are very easy to make and not to mention can be done very quickly. If you have done scrapbooks before then you know that it takes a while to do just one and that is why so many individuals are turning to digital scrapbooks in order to make them more efficiently. The hardest part about electronic scrapbooking is simply getting all the designs that you want saved onto your computer. This can often times take a week or so but you can easily bypass this step by simply buying some scrapbooking software and getting the designs that way. If you love scrapbooking then this is the way to go, it is much faster and scrapbooking software is pretty cheap as well.

Something you must understand is that you can create a hard copy of your digital book if you really want to. The only thing you need to do is print out the scrapbook pages and stick them into an actual scrapbook. This is something that more and more people are doing and rightfully so. Many people like to make scrapbooks and with the ease of digital scrapbooking software they are doing more and more scrapbooks every year. The only thing you need to do to get started is find a good digital scrapbooking software and get started.

The last thing you need to know about digital scrapbooks is that they are great because you don't have to worry about losing them. This is something that many people worry about and the reason is because lots of people put their whole life in a scrapbook and if you lose it, then what happens? My suggestion to you whether you use scrapbooking software or not is to just have a digital copy so that you could create a backup in case anything were to happen to the one you have.

I'm not just telling you to buy scrapbooking software so that you stop using hard copies, I am saying this because using digital scrapbooks is becoming the next big thing and you will not know just how powerful it is until you try it.

Digital Scrapbooking Templates - Saving Time and Cost?

Digital Scrapbooking Templates - what are they, and how can they save you time, reduce your hobby costs, and liberate your creativity all in one go?

In just the last few years there has been such a huge surge in computer use that many people now have an internet connection, and use it.

To keep in touch with friends and family, by email, social networks,
For entertainment - music, videos and TV online, and, of course,
For crafts such as scrapbooking.

In fact, the internet is changing our lives in many ways, and for scrappers, that provides the opportunity to get into digital or online scrapbooking in some form. Going online to scrapbooking websites provides fast and easy access to the work of expert designers and crafters, bringing a wealth of high quality scrapbooking ideas and resources, as well as downloadable digital products, into the home of the average scrapper.

Instead of having the expense of traveling to your local scrapbook store (LSS) to browse products, see a demo or participate in a workshop, you can now view scrapbook sketches and example layouts online, watch streaming tutorial videos, and even more conveniently, use downloadable scrapbooking templates. These you can open in your favorite digital scrapbook software (such as Photoshop Elements), adapt the design as you wish, then drop in and adjust your digital photos. Just as when paper scrapping, you need to personalise the page layout by adding your embellishments, journalling, tags etc.

If you're not yet up to speed with computer scrapbooking, you can create paper pages by printing off your downloaded template, and either use these as the basis for building a traditional scrapbook page, or to store in your ideas file for later use.

Digital scrapbook templates and supplies save you time and money by reducing the amount of stock you need to store, and make scrapbooking possible conveniently without having to get all your supplies out to work on your projects. All you need is enough space for a laptop computer and you can scrapbook anywhere.

Another benefit of digital products is that they save you time by eliminating many of the usual repetitive tasks as you create a series of pages for an album, and save you wasting photos through cutting errors. Also, its easier for your computer to search for that elusive embellishment, saving you the frustration of hunting through paper stock for that special paper or tag...

Digital scrapbook products are usually less expensive than their physical equivalent, and they can be used over and over again. With so many internet scrapbooking templates available at little or no cost, you have access to as many sketches, templates, papers, and embellishments, as you could possibly need, so you'll probably spend much less than you would normally spend on your stash.

Here are just a few more benefits of the digital approach to scrapbooking:

Easy to find and share layout ideas
You can re-use digital "papers" and embellishments many times over, with zero replacement costs
Very much easier to duplicate your scrapbook pages or completed album. So if you want each granny to have the same album, with extra copies for a couple of aunts and a favorite uncle, you just create the album once.
You have easy online access to resources for every season and every kind of life-event

You can think of your digital scrapbooking templates as a fast start to page layout designs. You can use them either in your paper-based projects, or you can create pages and albums completely on your computer, then share the finished project with friends, family and fellow scrappers easily and freely across the internet.

Genie Balfour is a paper crafter and scrapbooker for many years, Genie is well-versed in the ins and outs of paper and digital scrapbooking. As the founder of the popular website ScrapbookingGems.com, she writes regularly on paper and digital scrapbooking topics.

You can get Genie's sketch designs and downloadable digital scrapbooking templates, or click here and check out her free exclusive scrapbook sketches and layouts series.

It's All About Digital Scrapbooking

Today we live in a high technological world, where everything is instant and easy to use. From typical paper scrapbooking before, today`s scrapbooker are also interested in the fast and fun of making digital scrapbooking. Digital scrapbooking is a form of scrapbooking that uses desktop publishing, page layout programs, and advanced printing. It is done by the use of a computer program. People prefer this kind of scrapbooking because of its ease, quick learning and comfortable method of usage. In this article you will be provided with the reasons why some modern scrapbookers prefer digital scrapbooking compared to traditional paper scrapbooking:

Variety

With scrapbooking, you can pick two ways on how to publish your craft. You can print out your digital scrapbooking to put as a page in your album. The second one is online. You can post your scrapbook design in some websites by making a slide show of the pictures you have or just by putting it on some social sites for friends and family to view.

Less mess

Electronic scrapbooking does not require you to use the normal materials. Making digital scrapbooks has less mess compared to the typical paper scrapbooking. You are not able to use mediums here so it will free you from smearing ink, paint etc on the pages of your scrapbook. And you are really free from using scissors to cut some images or pages of your scrapbook.

Safety

With Electronic scrapbooking you are not going to use scissors or cutters that might hurt you. Digital scrapbooking only requires you to hold the mouse of your computer or the touch pad of your laptop. You also don`t need to worry about fumes from chemicals. Oil paints are very smelly and need a lot of open windows to air out the smell.

Neatness

Making a digital scrapbook will definitely give you a very neat result in the end. You can actually edit or undo the move that you have just done if you don`t like the result, you don`t have to worry about messy glue or sticky tape ripping the page. Some people say that digital scrapbooking is the easiest way to make a scrapbook or a scrapbook design.

Electronic scrapbooking is commonly used by teens and young adults. It`s because teenagers are really into new and cutting edge technology and they love using things that are new and smart. So try it yourself now, there are lots of websites that offers digital scrapbooking-have fun.

Find more great info about Digital Scrapbooking My Scrapbook Page Ideas.

A Beginner's Guide to Digital Scrapbooking

Throughout the years, digital scrapbooking has steadily grown into a fully-developed niche; one that is able to be viewed as a viable alternative to traditional scrapbooking. But is digital scrapbooking really a different way to create a totally different form of art, or is it merely a newfangled tool used by traditional scrappers? I'm going to share the sum and substance of both niches with you and let you decide which is which.

Digital scrapbooking and its traditional form have several important similarities. A traditional scrapbook is created with paper of different types, styles, and colors. Photographs are usually mounted on the pages using a variety of methods and adhesives, and the pages themselves are decorated with a number of embellishments. Scrapbookers also use several other materials and techniques to embellish and adorn a scrapbook page as they see fit. Some of the common materials used are inks, paints, stamps, die cuts or cutouts, ribbon, and metal items (to name just a few).

The most glaring difference between the two is how the scrapbook is created, not the principle behind the craft. What sets digital scrapbooking apart from the traditional form is that the processes mentioned above are all done using a computer. With digital scrapbooking, the paper, embellishments, inks, photos, and all the other traditional supplies and materials are replaced with computer graphics.

However, some scrapbookers will argue that creating a traditional scrapbook is definitely harder than the digital method. After all, a digital scrapbooker only has to use a mouse and keyboard to design the layouts and mount all the elements needed for the page, while a traditional scrapper actually needs to handle the materials with her hands and use actual tools to do the job and accomplish the desired results. But there are also several instances wherein the two methods are identical to each other.

For example, a traditional scrapbook will be designed using a layout or template, upon which the photos, journaling elements, and embellishments will be arranged and mounted. Usually, the most common process that traditional scrapbookers follow is this: find a background paper they like, place the photos on the background paper, look for embellishments and place those on the page, and then do some journaling and place that also on the page.

With digital scrapbooking, you will use software to create your scrapbook page. That software will already have several templates to choose from, and also several styles, patterns, and colors for your background paper. Your photos will have to be scanned (if they are not already in digital form) and then placed on the design with your selected background. You will then need to type some text for your journaling elements, place that on the design, and then look for more graphical items to add as embellishments. Edit the colors, placements, and sizes as you wish, do some work on the borders, and you're finally done.

It cannot be denied, however, that there are also several instances wherein creating a digital scrapbook is a lot easier than traditional scrapbooking. This is due to the software that you use to create scrapbooks. You already have templates, fonts for journaling, backgrounds, and a huge selection of graphical items for embellishments, all ready to use. You also have the editing tools to crop and re-size your photos. If you need more templates, you won't even have to go out of the house, since you can just download more templates online. The same goes for backgrounds and other graphics that you need.

Whether you prefer digital scrapbooking or the traditional way, it's to you and your personal tastes. It wouldn't do you any good to go for a particular method just because everybody else is doing it. If you prefer one way over the other, that's perfectly fine, as long as you enjoy what you are doing and the process in which you are doing it.

Aside from being an accomplished artist and art/design teacher, Kimmo Hakonen is also the author of "Scrap Ideas". You can read more about Kimmo and the "Scrap Ideas" e-book here: http://www.scrapideas.net

Get a free course in scrapbooking that is loaded with information about scrapbooking sayings, themes and other ideas from pro scrapbookers, as well as lots of other highly useful tips and techniques. Please go here digital scrapbooking layouts

The advantage of Digital Scrapbook

Digital Scrapbooking is becoming very popular. It is a way to share photos with friends and family, which provides for creativity as in the traditional scrapbooking and plays in the technology driven world in which we live. Digital scrapbooking is becoming more popular among the traditional scrapbookers and thanks to the increased quality, reduced cost scrapbookers newbie mess, as well as the ability to easily share the latest projects with others.

One of the obvious benefits of digital scrapbooking scrapbooking the traditional physical is the mess that it does not create confusion. With traditional scrapbooking have makers either have to leave enough space in their home from their supplies and tools, or have enough storage and containers. Problems with both, potentially dangerous tools for children to come and the hassle of putting everything in or bin mid-project lying around are clearly repellents. The other important thing to mention is the physical clean up. As many know, scrapbookers get into a project a simple derivation of brands the paper clippings and pieces of the string, buttons and items spread across the stage. Digital scrapbooking also minimizes the stage, on a computer screen.

The next big thing about digital scrapbooking is the cost, or lack there of. Yes, you can spend a lot of money to digital scrapbooking, if you want, but you don't need to. Save money the first aspect is that of tools and supplies. There are many tools that endless tubs of scrapbookers, cutting devices, hole punchers, stamps, ink pads, supply of paper, Ribbon, buttons, pens, stickers and the list goes on. The supplies for digital scrapbooking can often be found for free online or created with graphic-and photo-software. The largest cost of digital scrapbooking is mostly related to finding a computer program to use. Photos can run $ 50-300, but many offer free downloadable trials so you can be certain of your investment. A could walk in a single burden when it comes to equipment such as digital cameras, scanners and printers, but most people are probably already in the possession of most of this equipment.

One of the best things about digital scrapbooks is only that, it is digital. Corrections and additions to the digital platform can be easily created. How easy is it to an actual handmade ClipBook page, are not physically change. In fact, ruin the page can try to do this all in all, a lot of wasting time and resources. Digital scrapbooks are also very popular because of their ' share-ability ' (is that a Word?). The satisfaction in scrapbooking in two-tiered: see the final product and parts of the final product. You can share your scrapbook with all the people around you. With digital scrapbooks, you can share it with that all over the world. Family members or grandparents who live cross country can get enough details about their grandchildren? You would not want to risk mailing your artwork to them.

A minute ago as, is one of the greatest things about scrapbooking, being able to see in completion. Looks good, something physical that is personal and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Digital scrapbooks don't do this. There are many Web sites, scrapbooking companies and even photo labs that your pages or even an entire book, printed & bound print.

Digital scrapbooking offers many of the perks of traditional scrapbooking but with added convenience, lower costs, like much of a creative outlet. It also has many advantages that traditional scrapbooking no, making it the choice for many. If you're looking for a project that is fun to build, personal and fun to share, digital scrapbooking can be for you.

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Wesley Skiles is the creator of [http://www.howtomakeadigitalscrapbook.com], a blog consisting of scrapbooking articles, tips and more.

Advantages of Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

With technology's entrance in the scrapbook industry, the ability to easily create digital scrapbooking layouts became available to a lot of people. Even those that didn't have any experience whatsoever in traditional scrapbooking could just use their computer to produce beautiful scrapbook pages with minimal effort. The evolution of technology has changed the way in which people now create and enjoy this craft, and even though some scrapbookers still think that the traditional techniques are the only way to go, it cannot be denied that digital scrapbooking allows even casual hobbyists to participate and develop an appreciation for the craft.

The advantages of digital scrapbooking layouts over the traditional methods can be summed up in three factors: versatility, savings, and sharing. Digital scrapbooking is more versatile because it provides more options for the creator to use other media like video and sound. It also lets people save more money than traditional scrapbooking because they don't have to go shopping for materials and supplies every so often. Sharing your digital scrapbook albums is also easier because you can easily print out your pages if you want, or just use the Internet to let people enjoy your finished work.

Have you ever wished that you could use animated pictures in your scrapbooks? Or maybe wanted to insert a short video with music and sound effects to maximize the overall impact of your work? You can do all this with digital scrapbooking. You can use your computer and the appropriate software to make your scrapbook albums come to life that traditional methods can never do. Think about the enjoyment of your audience when they open your digital scrapbook albums and see the images moving about.

Add to that the fact that you can also use video and sound for your digital scrapbook albums, and preserving your memories has never been so exciting and enjoyable. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much more if you're using video? Now you and your audience will no longer have to be content with just looking at the pictures and wondering how the whole scene would be like when the picture was taken. For example, pictures of your son hoisting the championship trophy would be great, but what if you had a video of that moment? It would be awesome, wouldn't it?

As for sound, you don't even have to use complicated effects for your scrapbooks. Even a short musical piece in your album will do the trick. Just find a MP3 version of your subject's favorite song and insert it in your digital scrapbook, and you're done! Sound and music can serve to really add to the atmosphere and overall feeling of your albums. Creating a Christmas-themed digital scrapbook, for example, would just need a simple Christmas song inside it to complete the deal.

Traditional scrapbooking is also getting more and more expensive as time goes by. The prices of the materials and supplies that you are frequently buying are all rising, slowly but surely. Can you calculate the amount of money you are spending on papers, cardstock, album refills, page protectors, embellishments, ribbons, adhesives, and templates? If you're a regular scrapbooker, it can really add up.

Digital scrapbooking allows you to start creating your scrapbooks without needing to go to the shop first. All the materials you need are already installed, and you can create hundreds of different albums with different themes without exhausting the selection of papers, patterns, colors, and themes in the software. And when you do need to find more materials, you won't even have to go outside, because you just need to go online to download the items you want. Most scrapbooking software also comes with free updates and downloads, so you can save even more money this way.

Aside from being an accomplished artist and art/design teacher, Kimmo Hakonen is also the author of "Scrap Ideas". You can read more about Kimmo and the "Scrap Ideas" e-book here: http://www.scrapideas.net

Get a free course in scrapbooking that is loaded with information about scrapbooking sayings, themes and other ideas from pro scrapbookers, as well as lots of other highly useful tips and techniques. Please go here digital scrapbooking layouts

Digital Scrapbooking - Why I Love It

All of us crafters know about traditional scrapbooking. And, we love it!

Through scrapbooking, you can create something beautiful and physical, a piece of artwork, really, that's filled with memories for yourself and your loved ones, something to be cherished for now and for future generations. Scrapbooking allows you to express your creativity while keeping you connected to the people, places and experiences of your life.

Let's face it - what's not to love about traditional scrapbooking?

But, I'm here to put in some good words about the latest take on scrapbooking - digital scrapbooking! I've tried my hand at digital scrapbooking and I've come to really enjoy it. In fact, I have to admit, I've come to love the digital version of scrapbooking as much, if not more, than the more traditional type. I'm here to tell you why I love digital scrapbooking and to encourage you to give it a try.

The first reason I enjoy digital scrapbooking is because I'm already digital when I'm photographing! Like many scrapbookers, I use a digital camera to take my photographs and I store these digital photos on my computer's hard drive. So, when I'm doing digital scrapbooking, my photos are already there on my computer! And, I can make copies of my digital photos at the click of a button. So, I never have to worry about getting copies of my photos made or messing up that copy.

I use image editing software to correct, resize and 'tidy up' my digital photos. That means that I already own the most important tool I need to create beautiful digital scrapbooking pages - Adobe Photoshop Elements. And, anything else I might need I can easily and quickly purchase online and download directly to my computer. No waiting! I don't have to leave the house to run to the craft store. So, if I'm in the mood to scrapbook, but there's no one to watch the kids while I' run out, it's not a problem! I can get whatever I need in minutes online. How handy is that?

But, the ability to re-do, reuse and re-create is probably my biggest reason for loving digital scrapbooking.

When I'm working on a digital page, I can experiment to my heart's content without messing up my photos, my paper, or my embellishments. Even if I crop or resize my image and I later change my mind, I can always begin again with a fresh copy.

And, I can make multiple pages using the same digital backgrounds, frames, embellishments, whatever, without having to buy multiples of that element. Since everything is digital, I can use my single copy of that element as many times as I like. No more standing around the craft store trying to figure out how many times I'm going to want to use a particular sticker! I can use it as many times as I'd like in the digital world.

And, finally, sharing my scrapbook is so easy when it's digital! And, when my scrapbook is in a digital format, there are options for sharing hat I just don't have when the scrapbook is the traditional kind.

With a digital scrapbook, it's easy to print my scrapbook several times, to give as gifts or keepsakes to Grandmothers, Aunts, and friends. I can also easily change the size of the scrapbook that I print. Let's say that I've just created an amazing scrapbook. I print out copies for both Grandmothers, but I also would like to have a smaller version to carry around in my purse. No problem when the scrapbook is digital!

I can even send my scrapbook out to a professional printer to have it turned into a beautiful, bound coffee book.

Lastly, I can share my digital scrapbook pages online just as I would any other digital image. There are lots of online photo galleries available on the web, many of them free. There, I can upload my scrapbook pages for all of my friends and family to see and admire.

So, let's face it - what's not to love about digital scrapbooking?

At ScrappyDigits, we make Digital Scrapbooking fun and easy! If you're new to digital scrapbooking, our Learning Center has tutorial videos to help get you started. So, stop by our site and sign up for our newsletter to receive lots of great digital scrapbooking freebies!

Debunking the Myths About Digital Scrapbooks

Many traditional scrapbookers resist the temptation to experiment with digital scrapping because of some prevalent myths about going digital. This article will debunk these notions and explain the advantages of dipping your toes in the digital scrapping world.

Digital Myth #1.

To create digital scrapbooks, I need to be a computer guru and learn complicated software.

Fact.

Today's digital scrapbooking software is easier than ever to use- even for the amateur. Most programs offer free 30-day trial downloads, which is generally enough time to give it a try. And while it might take a little time to learn, you'll find that the endless array of beautiful, innovative scrapbook designs and photo collage frames is well worth the minimal effort.

Digital Myth #2.

My digital scrapbooks will look amateurish because I lack experience with them.

Fact.

Even the beginner digital scrapper can produce professional-looking photo collages with the wide variety of easy-to-use scrapbook designs and collage frames available today. Electronically edited photos are of higher quality, computer text is consistently straight, and computer font is always legible. Generally, digital scrapbook pages look more professional than traditional creations and boost the pride scrappers feel in their projects.

Digital Myth #3.

Digital scrapbooking is more expensive than traditional scrapbooking.

Fact.

By switching to digital scrapbook designs, you can actually save yourself money ... and time. If you already own a computer, all you need to buy is the scrapbook layout software and digital scrapbook kits, which are fairly inexpensive. The equivalent in paper, scissors, glue, embellishments and albums is far more expensive, and once you use them, they're gone. Digital scrapbook designs and collage frames, on the other hand, can be used indefinitely. Think of the money you'll save on gas driving to and from the craft stores, and the money you could save on gifts by giving personalized photo collages to friends and family.

Digital Myth #4.

Switching to digital scrapbook designs will limit my creativity.

Fact.

You can take your creativity to exciting new levels with the variety of digital scrapbook designs and collage frames available now. Choose any design you like and turn it into just about anything you want. You can mix and match or create your own unique styles. Adjust the colors, sizes, patterns, arrangements ... add audio and even video... your options are limitless.

Digital Myth #5.

I don't have time to learn how to make digital scrapbooks.

Fact.

Today's digital scrapbooking software programs are so user-friendly and intuitive that they make learning them a breeze. Once you get the hang of it, digital scrapbooking is a great timesaver. Correcting mistakes, editing, moving items around and revising are much easier and quicker to do digitally than they are by hand. You can size and resize your backgrounds and photo collage frames with a few simple mouse clicks and create beautiful keepsakes in no time.

Digital Myth #6.

I need to own a digital camera to create digital scrapbooks.

Fact.

Even if you only have a film camera, you can still create digital scrapbooks by scanning your images onto a computer or having your film images put on a CD. And you can finally put to use those electronic photos your friends and family members have e-mailed to you. Of course, with today's digital camera prices going down all the time, you may find you'd like to buy a digital camera anyway!

Digital Myth #7.

If I move to digital scrapbooks, I'll have to give up the traditional art of scrapbooking and the social and bonding aspects that come with joining my friends and family in making scrapbooks.

Fact.

On the contrary, digital scrapbooking broadens social circles. Many digital scrappers get together to share their digital resources and knowledge about editing programs. They go to scrapbook conventions and meet others in online digital scrapbooking chat rooms. Plus, you can take advantage of the digital scrapbook's ability to help you keep in touch with faraway friends and relatives via e-mail, Web sites and easily printed copies of scrapbook pages that you can mail to them. You can also burn them to CDs and DVDs.

Of course, you can still make traditional albums and consider integrating your digital scrapbook designs into them. And as you learn new techniques and tricks digitally, you're apt to spark your creativity with traditional scrapbooking.

You don't need to become an expert digital scrapbooker overnight. Start out small by making a simple digital photo album, then work your way up to a full-fledged scrapbook. Happy scrapping!

Digital scrapbooking diva Sasha Byers explores the world of documenting memories digitally, providing insight and ideas on how to create digital photo collages and scrapbooks. She offers tips on scrapbooking important events, travels and major life periods such as childhood, school athletics and a child's transition out of the nest. She also debunks common myths about digital scrapbooking and addresses frequent questions on this popular new hobby. Sasha's blogs provide answers, tips and digital scrapbooking ideas to help you create sharper, more attractive scrapbooks in half the time.
Connect with other photo collage enthusiasts at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community.
Share your scrapbook pages and download others at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community.

Digital Scrapbook Flourishes

A digital scrapbook is an exciting project. With minimal mess, you can gather photos and memories into an electronic scrapbook. From there, you can share individual pages or the entire digital scrapbook via e-mail. You can save the digital scrapbook on CD. You can print your digital scrapbook - as many copies as you desire.

Digital scrapbook flourishes make your work look professional. Well-placed and limited in number, digital scrapbook flourishes can soften sharp corners and add feeling to any page.

Define Digital Scrapbook Flourishes

Digital scrapbook flourishes are decorative touches added to photos on the page of a digital scrapbook project.

As in writing, a flourish is an ornamental embellishment, added to make the page showier. Such embellishments appeared frequently in Victorian writing, but are now reserved for things such as certificates where calligraphy appears.

A digital scrapbook flourish might be a sweeping stem of flowers placed across the corner of a photo. It could be a circular "doodle" of intricately interwoven lines. Sometimes, digital scrapbook flourishes take a free art form, flowing loops of color or black sweeping onto the photo from opposite corners.

Brushes or Rubber Stamps

The forerunners of digital scrapbook flourishes are done with "brushes" in conventional scrapbooking. The term "brushes" can be misleading, however, as no artist's or painter's brush is involved. These decorative touches are added with rubber stamps in conventional scrapbooking.

Since digital scrapbooking is done solely on the computer, the "brushes" or "rubber stamps" may be previously created designs placed on the electronic page atop the photo. Another way of producing digital scrapbook flourishes is to use a digital brush to doodle or swirl a design onto the finished page.

Advantages of Digital Scrapbook Flourishes

Many advantages can be gained through the use of digital scrapbook flourishes. A page that is other wise little more than a simple photo album page gains interest, and tells a more complete story through the addition of flourishes. How do flourishes accomplish that?

1. Digital scrapbook flourishes give cohesiveness to a page. For example, a page that features two similar photos can look bare if the two photos sit alone on the background. Look at what a digital scrapbook flourish can do. A flourish can sweep between the photos, crossing one corner of each, and tying them together. A flourish can be echoed from one photo to the next. Place identical flourishes across matching corners to show the photos' relationship. A few small flourishes can flow between the photos, overlapping each photo slightly at one or two spots. All of these, and more, are ways to pull page elements together with digital scrapbook flourishes.

2. Digital scrapbook flourishes can also be used to convey emotion. A photo of a young girl, just home from her first dance, can become wistful and nostalgic if a spray of flowers floats across one corner. A photo of a boy's first baseball game recalls his excitement when a flourish of a trophy is added.

3. Finally, a digital scrapbook flourish can simply make a dull page showy. Think of an official royal decree. It would carry as much power on a plain piece of paper, provided it had the proper seal. But a flourish or two makes it showy - gives it importance. Digital scrapbook flourishes can do the same for your electronic page.

Sources for Digital Scrapbook Flourishes

The best source for digital scrapbook flourishes may be your own skill and a good computer graphics program. If you are comfortable with using such a program, and know your way around it, you can find many built-in flourishes, as well as tools to create your own flourishes.

If you do it yourself, you can create digital scrapbook flourishes from a bit of your digital scrapbook paper design. Simple capture the flower or design element you want for a flourish and "clean" it, removing unwanted background colors. Place the finished flourish on your page and see how well it ties in with the background. Change its color, if desired, for more contrast.

Most digital scrapbook software includes flourishes and embellishments. If you are using such a program, look for "brushes" or "stamps" to use.

Websites that retail digital scrapbook supplies will also have digital scrapbook flourishes. Look at their samples to get ideas. Purchase packages of digital scrapbook flourishes from them.

Helpful tip: When you come across a term such as "flourishes" in your digital scrapbook work, pursue it until you understand it. Understanding the "technical talk" is a big part of making a great digital scrapbook.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about digital scrapbooking at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent review of digital scrapbook software.

Free Digital Scrapbooking Themes

If you are a digital scrapbooking beginner, you probably have many questions. You like the idea of digital scrapbooking, but you don't want to sink a lot of money into it until you know whether it will be rewarding.

Definition of Digital Scrapbooking

Digital scrapbooking is the act of creating images, photos, journaling, and extra "touches" to preserve your memories in digital instead of physical form. Scrapbooking software is available free on the Internet, or you can use a standard Microsoft Word program.

Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Scrapbooking looks most professional when the entire publication has a theme. A digital scrapbooking theme helps you focus on one style, rather than have each page different. Once you have a central theme, you can set themes for individual pages. These should follow the main theme, but in smaller pieces. For example, an main vacation theme might have page themes of transportation, hotel, beach, restaurants, and activities. You can get free digital scrapbooking themes for both overall and individual pages.

Free Digital Scrapbooking Theme Kits

Free digital scrapbooking themes are available in kits at several Internet websites. You might combine similar themes, or use the elements for your own theme. For example, downloading two or three free digital scrapbooking theme kits that are focused on sports would give you elements to complete several coordinated, but different pages in a sports-themed work.

DIY Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Your status as a digital scrapbooking beginner does not mean you cannot approach digital scrapbooking themes as do-it-yourself projects. If you are willing to invest a little creativity, you will find an abundance of free digital scrapbooking themes on the Internet. One website gives the digital scrapbooking beginner many hints in their descriptions of themes for sale. Consider three of them.

1. Memories of school days will be placed on backgrounds specifically designed for school. Stop and think. What kind of background fits the description? Imagine back-to-school advertising. Pencils, books, backpacks, apples, desks, and alphabets spring to mind. With very little work, you can create your own backgrounds for free digital scrapbooking themes on school days.

Picture a page with a faded school building background. A large school bus sits in front of the building. A child's kindergarten photo fills one window. Friends' photos fill two more windows. A note about the first day of school is "tacked" to the page with a small, bright backpack graphic. Another page theme might begin with a background of alphabet letters or "spelling words" written in script and arranged at angles. Great for showing off a perfect spelling test, or photos of the spelling bee. The same letters, or bright trophies, could be added as embellishments. In a matter of moments, you have two free digital scrapbooking themes for school memories. Each is do-it-yourself. Each fits the mood you are trying to create.

2. A 50th wedding anniversary scrapbook might have a nostalgic, antique theme. Close your eyes and picture antique things. Imagine an antique store or a trunk of old clothing and faded letters. Lavender, satin ribbons, old lace, and antiqued paper come to mind. With imagination, you can create your own backgrounds for free digital scrapbooking themes on old memories.

A large photograph of a county fair, faded and antiqued, would make a great background page for photos of the dating couple and a ticket stub or two. Cotton candy or carousel horse embellishments could spice up the page. If it's a 2-page spread, a piece of an old love letter can be the journaling. Colorful photo mats in candy-striping will carry out the couple's happy feelings. A second page theme might be antique cars, a faded background of vehicle graphics setting the stage for photos of the couple's first car, or every car they ever owned. On a third page, clipart or photos of ornate mirrors could be repeated on a faded background. A single, enlarged mirror frame could frame the main wedding photo. Smaller mirrors, lace and ribbon elements could complete the theme. With a few minutes of thought, you have three free digital scrapbooking themes for your 50th wedding anniversary scrapbook.

3. If you want a digital scrapbook cowboy hat theme, begin by thinking of symbols you connect with that idea. Your background might be rodeo scenes, a desert, or the colors of the outdoors. You might make a page that looks like the inside of a stable. Hang rope on a board in the stable, and set a pair of cowboy boots on the floor. Scatter straw at the bottom. Then add your photos, tacked in place with small cowboy hat graphics. Be sure one photo shows the subject in a cowboy hat. Add rope letters to spell out a caption such as "Ride 'em, Cowboy!" A "scrap" of torn paper with the date, name, and a comment would be appropriate journaling so that future generations can fully appreciate the occasion. You have just given yourself another free digital scrapbooking theme.

Gleaning Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Another source of free digital scrapbooking themes is the website postings of those who are eager to share their own work. These are easily found by doing an online search. If you have a basic theme in mind, you can often glean themes for individual pages from the examples offered.

Scrapbook stores and magazines offer many themes, some digital. If you are creative, you can adapt non-digital themes with a little practice.

Final Tips on Digital Scrapbooking Themes

Wherever you get your digital scrapbooking themes, keep in mind that backgrounds should always complement the colors in the photographs that will go on each page. Journaling adds great interest. If you don't know what to write, think: who, what, where, when, why, and how. "Elements" are extra decorative objects added to the page. Scrapbook Bytes offers many free, downloadable elements.

© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about paper and digital scrapbooking themes at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com Anna is posting new articles every week on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent article on free digital scrapbooking frames.

Free Digital Scrapbook Templates

Digital scrapbooking presents a unique way to capture special memories for posterity. Whether you are a computer veteran or a novice, you can create digital scrapbooks that go a step beyond conventional photo albums. You can add to the photos: small notes, embellishments, and stickers to tell the story more fully.

Free digital scrapbook templates can make the job easier for you. The scrapbooking paper, frames, titles - even embellishments or stickers are already placed for you. You don't need to find or prepare each element. Just slip your photographs into place, add a journaling note or caption, and you have finished pages. Free digital scrapbook templates are, in a sense, scrapbooking kits.

Free digital scrapbook templates are a great way to learn digital scrapbooking. They are also a great way to see, before you invest money, whether you enjoy digital scrapbooking. Templates show you what you can do, and take the work out of it.

These free digital scrapbook templates are often provided as samples, with themes that appeal to a large number of people. The hope is that you will enjoy your experience and return to the website to purchase more materials.

Understanding Free Digital Scrapbook Templates

Free digital scrapbook templates are nearly-finished scrapbook pages. Some call them pre-made pages, or pre-made layouts. To use free digital scrapbook templates, you follow a few easy steps.

1. Download your free digital scrapbook templates. They should be in "png" format. Many will be zipped to reduce size. Unzip your downloads, and place them in a computer folder.

2. Open the software program you will use with your free digital scrapbook templates. Many programs you may already have will work well. Microsoft Word, PhotoShop, and similar programs are good. You may have purchased digital scrapbooking software.

3. Scan photos for your digital scrapbook pages.

4. Open the free digital scrapbook template you want to use. Open photo files, and place your photos on the page. Crop photos, if necessary to fit the opening. Send them to the back layer, and slide them into place.

5. If the colors of the papers in your free digital scrapbook templates do not complement your photos, simply use your

paintbrush" tool to change the colors.

6. Add a small box on your page, and type in a note about memories that go with the photos. This "journaling" might be as short as a caption, or a paragraph that will help viewers understand the photos.

7. When you are satisfied with your page, flatten all layers, and save it as a new file.

8. Now you are ready to print. Use acid-free paper so your colors will remain bright and true for years. Print it as a page of a larger scrapbook. Or print your page as a scrapbook card.

9. Optionally, you may want to save your pages to a CD - or send a finished page to a friend or family member. You might even want to send your completed free digital scrapbook templates to a "print-on-demand" company to have them bound into a permanent book.

Free Digital Scrapbook Templates Changes

As mentioned above, you may want to make changes to your free digital scrapbook templates. At first, those changes may be as slight as changing the color of the scrapbooking paper. As you learn more about digital scrapbooking, the changes may take in other elements.

You may want to add digital charms to empty spots - or place charms across corners or edges of your photos. If you have a photo of a child receiving a skateboard for Christmas, you might want to place a couple of skateboarding embellishments on a page. These extras add a personal touch to the themes of free digital scrapbook pages.

Helpful tip: Even if you are a veteran scrapbooker, you will find free digital scrapbook templates a help in getting fresh ideas. Start with downloads of free digital scrapbook templates, and customize them to your creative satisfaction.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about free digital scrapbook stuff at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent articles on digital scrapbook free downloads.