Welcome to the world of Digital Scrapbooking! I’m so glad something sparked your interest and you are ready to learn more!
I promise you won’t be disappointed. When you finish that first digital scrapbook, you will have tears in your eyes as you browse through it!
If you are new to digital scrapbooking, it is the easiest and most rewarding way to turn your photos into beautifully printed digital scrapbooks! You simply can’t go wrong!
Continue scrolling or select a section to learn more!
What is Digital Scrapbooking?
Why Should I Go Digital?
Remember Magnetic Photo Albums?
Is Digital Scrapbooking for You?
10 Advantages to Digital Scrapbooking!
How I Got Started!
Intimidated by Photo Editing Software?
Don’t Just Tell Your Story, Show It!
Ready to Get Started?
What is Digital Scrapbooking?
I can’t believe how fast digital scrapbooking has become such a popular craze! In a nutshell, it is your gateway to making a beautiful memory keepsake book…full of YOUR photos.
All the work is done by you, on your computer using digitized photos that you add to beautiful template pages. Include your own special touch to each page and instantly you have a gorgeous digital scrapbook! All created and designed by you!
I am not an artistic or creative person. So, I look at digital scrapbooking as my creative form of art.
I look at some of the photo books I have created over the years and all I can say is WOW! I am all over the place using different styles, colors, sizes, etc. But, here’s the thing…THAT’S OK! That is what your creativity is all about!
We want to show you how to get started on yours! You don’t have to be masterfully creative, artistic or a professional photographer to design your own photo book. Believe me, I am none of those!
Why Should I Go Digital?
We are living in the digital era; and therefore, forced to revolutionize the way we do almost everything. Likewise, scrapbooking is no exception. It too has adapted and evolved, growing faster than ever into the digital era.
When I say digital era, I don’t just mean computers. Nowadays, anything done on a computer, can be done on tablets and cell phones just as well!
So, say goodbye to paper scrapbooking as it is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The once abundant scrapbooking aisles are now becoming smaller and smaller.
Take the leap and say HELLO to digital scrapbooking! I made the transition easy as pie and you can too!
Remember Magnetic Photo Albums?
If you were born in the 60’s or 70’s, you probably have one! I created my first “scrapbook” using a magnetic album, when I was about 12 years old. Back then, options were scarce and we were limited to the ugly, colorless photo album with magnetic pages.
I added everything from pictures, magazine articles, newspaper clippings and ticket stubs. I even put a few snippets of hair from my best friends in it! As funny as it sounds, I still pull it out from time to time and reminisce.
It’s not attractive because pages have yellowed, seams are torn, and photos have meld onto a few pages. But, I still love it because it’s a part of my life that brings back so many memories.
Is Digital Scrapbooking for You?
The answer is YES! If you are reading this post, then you are already moving in the right direction. That’s right! You are reading this on a computer and that is your first step! See all equipment and supplies you need to get started.
So, why is it for you? YOU pick the pictures, YOU pick the colors, YOU pick the elements and YOU create the magic and have fun doing it!
10 Advantages to Digital Scrapbooking!
Here are the 10 top reasons that made me a believer and convinced me to create my first photo book. I could give you a ton more reasons, but hopefully this will be enough to convince you!
1. Time Saving
No more thumbing through papers and embellishments. No cutting, recutting, measuring or taping. Digital Scrapbooking doesn’t take a lot of tools or supplies. Everything you need is digitized!
2. Cost Savings
You can find all kinds of supplies that are relatively inexpensive or even FREE. As far as software, there are many free photo editing programs that are outstanding. See our recommendations here.
3. Easy Access to Scrapbooking Supplies and Photos
Everything is digitized. So, you have immediate access to all your photos, templates, and embellishments. If you have paper photos, here is how you can digitally scan your photos.
4. Photo Editing
Many software programs give you the ability to crop, color, shade, shadow, combine and even PERFECT your images. Here are my favorite software programs that you can buy or download for free.
5. Takes Up Less Space
You only need a space big enough for a computer. So, go ahead and empty out that cabinet of scrapbooking supplies and use it for something else!
6. No Mess to Clean Up
This was a big seller for me! No more frantically trying to clean up a half-finished scrapbook to get your table ready for dinner. Then trying to remember everything you were going to add to your scrapbook later was such a pain.
7. Reusable Pages/Elements
Every embellishment and page template can be used again and again. Change them up for a different look to make an unlimited number of beautiful photo books.
8. Correct Mistakes Instantly
Undo, Undo and Undo again! No more cutting or gluing errors! If you don’t like what you see, easily undo errors in any software package.
9. Use Premade Template Pages
There are thousands of premade template pages available online. Templates are particularly useful if you are a new to digital scrapbooking. You just add your photos and you are ready to print!
10. Create a Family Heirloom
Photo books are fun to share your story with family and friends. In addition, you are creating an heirloom that can be passed down in your family for generations.
How I Got Started!
Even though digital scrapbooking has become so popular, I still hear people say, “I don’t think I can”. I only have one answer…YES YOU CAN!! If I can do it, then you definitely can! Like I said earlier, you don’t have to be an artist, software guru or professional photographer.
Some people have a natural ability to pick anything up and just run with it. Well, I am here to tell you, I did not inherit that “natural” trait. I could get around on the computer pretty well, but I didn’t know how to use the editing software or even where to start learning.
In spite of everything, I just wanted to jump right in and give it a try. Really, how hard can it be? Haha!! Immediately, I wanted to give up. I found out real quick that google wasn’t my friend.
Back then, I had a hard time finding information online because there just wasn’t any. What I found were tidbits of information on a few different websites. Tutorials were minimal at best and templates were few and far between.
Love, Love the Premade Page Templates
So, I changed my focus, came back to reality and decided to start by using premade page templates. After a lot of searching, I found beautiful templates that I absolutely loved. My first scrapbook took me a couple of months to complete. Primarily because I had a hard time finding photos! Word to the wise…organize your photos now! I finally have a wonderful photo organizing system that works like a charm!
When I finally finished my first digital scrapbook, it turned out beautiful and I realized it was so easy!
Well, I didn’t stop there. I kept working my way around in Photoshop reading and watching tutorials to learn as much as I could. It didn’t take long before I was ready to design my own templates.
Tada!! This is where I am at today! Now, I can put together a scrapbook in just a couple of days.
Intimidated by Photo Editing Software?
It can be a little daunting trying to learn anything new. Learning how to use the software is where I see the fear lies most in people. For that reason, they decide to give up before even trying.
Well, I am here to tell you, learning and exploring the software is truly the fun part! There is so much you can do with photo editing software that you will have so many “WOW” moments.
Once you learn the basics, you will want to keep experimenting and create even more! I can spend hours just trying out all the filters in Photoshop. The more you work with it, the quicker you learn how to master it!
Get to know the software by following our tutorials for Adobe Photoshop, Paint.net (coming soon), and GIMP (coming soon).
Don’t Just Tell Your Story, Show It!
Photo books are the most rewarding way to tell your life story. Don’t let your family history, photos, and letters fade into long lost memories. Preserve, cherish, and show them off in a digital scrapbook created by YOU.
An heirloom created by you that will be passed down in your family for generations. Your children’s children, and even their children will cherish learning about their ancestors through the memories you made possible.
I will never forget when my kids saw my first digital scrapbook. They were shocked and kept saying, “Did you really make this yourself?” Unfortunately, my whole family knows how unartistic I am!
They would show it to their friends and I still remember hearing them say, “Yes, really! My Mom made this book!”… absolutely priceless.
Ready to Get Started?
Now, are you ready to put away the paper, glitter and glue sticks to start digital scrapbooking?
Give it a try and before you know it, you are on your way to mastering your software and creativity skills—it’s a win/win!
We want to help you get there and make it as easy as possible. So, let’s start off by making sure you have all the right equipment and supplies!
Feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly if you have questions about anything we have not covered.
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