Tips

So let's say you've decided to go digital (or, at least learn more about it), here are some tips and tricks that I wish I knew when I started.

SOFTWARE


Photoshop Elements - "The best selling consumer photo-editing software...combines power and simplicity".

Thanks to my job, I have Photoshop CS3, but I've heard that PS Elements is the best, affordable option for beginners.

It should sell for about $60. I would suggest looking for it on Amazon, eBay, Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

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FREEBIES

They're everywhere! If you just google, "digital scrapbooking freebies", you'll probably find more sites than you know what to do with.

I recommend IKEA Goddess if you want a good one-stop resource for freebies.

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GOOGLE READER

Something you should be using anyway. If you have a Gmail account, you'll see a "reader" link in the top left corner. It's just an easy way to keep track of all of your favorite websites in one place. You just subscribe to the sites/blogs that you frequent most, and the Reader lets you know when that site's been updated. It's nice b/c you can view all of the updates right there without having to browse around.

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TEMPLATES & QUICK PAGES

Simply Yin is my favorite spot for templates.

I'm a walking contradiction b/c I'm a minimalist when it comes to design, but I also take way too many photos. That's why I like Yin's templates; she has a way of organizing the chaos.

Here's an example of how you can use a template:

A "quick page" is pre-designed. So it would be like my finished layout above, but with open placeholders just for your pictures and text.

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DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING KITS & GALLERIES


Ok, so it's not all free. Occasionally, you'll find a must-have kit that costs a few bucks (usually between $3 and $7). But, you can mix and match everything and use the papers & elements as many times as you like.

My favorite "store" is Oscraps.

It's also good to browse around the galleries for ideas...

Why go digital??

Ok, so I get it; you're nervous about making that big leap into digital scrapbooking - and abandoning all of your cheesy quote stamps, scalloped scissors and heart-shaped hole punches (that you spent entirely too much on to begin with). But, tell me this, when was the last time you actually sat down and made a scrapbook page? I have a feeling it's been a while. It's such an ordeal to get everything out, and - if you're like me - spread everything around all over the room just so you can recall what exactly you own. A mess only your kids will appreciate. So, I say it's time to simplify!

While we were in Saipan, I took a bazillion pictures, but all of my scrapbooking junk was in a storage unit 7000 miles away. That's when I discovered digital scrapbooking and resolved never to turn back.

If you're thinking about making the switch yourself, here are some things you'll want to consider:

• NO MESS!
• Less expensive - there are thousands of freebies out there. You could easily create an entire album out of freebies. There are even crazy people out there who spend hours a day searching all over the internet for said freebies and then compile them all together for us. (ie. http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/)
• Requires design software. I strongly recommend Photoshop. I think you can get PS Elements for about $50.
• Printing: Shutterfly is one of the more popular Photobook printing companies, and you can print a 20-pg 12x12 book for under $40 right now ($1 per additional page)
• Storage: It does require a decent amount of virtual storage space. These days, however, you can buy massive external hard drives for really cheap (ie. 500 GB for $80, etc.) You'll probably use closer to 50 GB (at most).
• Convenient - it's so easy to sit down and create a layout or 2 in the evenings. And, if something comes up, you can just save the page and come back to it.
• Convenient #2 - All of your photos are right there, nice and organized on your computer. No more shoe boxes full of random photos, and no more expensive photo printing.
• Convenient #3 - It's also helpful to have all of your scrapbooking elements organized in tidy little directories. (ie. tan papers, stars, alphas, frames, etc.) No more digging!
• Convenient #4 - With traditional scrapbooking, once you've used a paper or element, it's gone, but with digital, you can use and re-use everything!
• Convenient #5 - You don't have to be a designer. It can be as easy or complex as you want it to be. If you just want to create an album as quickly as possible, they offer lots of templates, quick pages and even pre-designed albums to simplify the process for you.
• Convenient #6 - After you've finished a photobook, you can easily print duplicates (maybe for Grandma?)

Ok, I think you get the point. Ultimately, it's going to save you a lot of time and money (and stress!).