I've posted my first digital scrapbook

[Timon]

For those who want to take a peek at my first ever digital scrapbook, I've posted it on my CassWorld site.

If you've never been there, just click on the cassworld link
below and then go to Scrapbooking.

I also took all of these photos on my digital camera, except
for the few that I was actually IN, then my wonderful hubby
took those for me

The bride really loves blue daisies so I made a lot of
pages with daisies on them for her.

For those of you that didn't read the other post, I am
seriously considering starting my own business doing
digital scrapbooks. I don't even know if there would be
a whole lot of interest in this but I am willing to give it a go
and see what happens. Even if it's part time with only
a few clients, I would do it since it's doing something that
I love.

Also, here's a really quick layout I put together the other day
just to give you an idea what it's about.

 

[Spinning]

very kewl! I must have missed your other thread!
I like the idea of digital for speed but not sure if it looses something. I love that page you did and bet it lookes really nice in person but not sure if I would want an entire book done like that. Does it have depth? Or does it feel more book like?
I hope you cont to post more pages so I can get a feel. I think you could have a huge business before you know it. Especially if you find the right place to advertize.

 

[Spinning]

Wow I just realized you had an entire album on your site! Ok now I have more questions! How much ink did you use? Was all of that ink? The album is very beautiful and YES YOU CAN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY DOING THAT! Hook up with a photographer and boom! New career for you!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Totally digital or done a more traditional way I like that color of the castle page. Very cool!

Deb

 

[MommyBoo!]

I love the castle page and your website is wonderful!

 

[Timon]

Spinning,

Yes, the whole page is ink, printed on glossy Kodak photo paper.
I have a Canon i9100 photoprinter which I used for the album and it turned out great but I am also going to take the original file and get it printed at a lab and see what the quality and cost difference is. It used approximately half of my ink cartridges for the most part (I have 6 different ink cartridges so some were used more than others) for 20 pages plus two extra that I printed.


FantasticDisFamily,
Thanks, that was my very first digital page I did. Not very
creative but I just did it to see how it turns out. I was thinking (for selling these) that I should do a whole bunch of Disney/DCL layouts and post them since most people like to see the exact thing they are buying...not sure?? I still have a million things to figure out


MommyBoo!,
Thanks for the kind words

 

[Thumpersmom]

Great Job Cass. I have seen some of the other digital pages at two peas and wondered how difficult it would be to do it. It must be great to get everything you want on the page to be sized correctly.

You should go into business for yourself...you do great work and love what you do so that is half the battle. GO FOR IT!

Kristina

 

[SplshMtn99]

Cass, I hope you don't mind. I'm going to reply to our private emails here -- in the hope that it generates more ideas from others here.

No, I don't think the business is a crazy idea. I think it's great! And I think it's funny that scrapping has turned to digital in a way, because I was doing digital scrapping 5-6 years ago (and didn't even know it) when I made calendars for family members one Christmas from a WDW trip we had all taken together. That's how I got started into scrapbooking after that. The thing that FRUSTRATES me the most is the limitations in traditional scrapping. In digital, I could make the photo any size I needed it...and so on.

Anyway, back to your questions. I've been thinking about the price per album you asked me about. At first, I thought it was a bit steep....but then realized what MY problem was. Like probably alot of us crafters here, we see something we like....then decide we can do that ourselves to save us some $. So, I think what you need to do is figure out your target customers. I'm thinking they should be people who like the looks of scrapbooks....but don't have the time to scrap...but do have the $ to spend. (more affluent client base)

Also, it seems that the cost makes it a once in a lifetime ( or very large special purchase) type of album: so I'm thinking weddings & births......or a child's lifetime album. Also, wasn't sure if Rob is still DJ'ing.....but it's almost a natural tie-in with his business.

Here's some thoughts I had on places to advertise.
Any place where wedding services are advertised ---the back of those free local wedding magazines; wedding shows; Rob's DJ'ing website; links off of other DJ websites; local photographers; florists; limos; bakeries.......leave cards at all these stores & ask them to link your site & you can do the same for them.

Any place where BUSY parents (& NEW parents or PARENTS TO BE) might frequent: daycare bulletin board; post flyers at playgrounds & parks; post in pediatrician & obsticians offices; bulletin boards at stores for children & baby supplies/furniture.... OK..I have no kids; so I'm out of ideas in this department. LOL
The library (children's room....bulletin board).

Places where GRAND-PARENTS to be might frequent. Senior center. Other??????

Take advantage of every local FREE place you can advertise. There are bulletin boards everywhere --- stores, grocerty stores, the pizza place, restaurants............

Advertise in the back of certain magazines. Maybe trip related (Disney magazine?); parenting magazines; brides magazines................

Ok, my next suggestion is only from a marketing standpoint. I LOVE YOUR LAYOUTS.... you know that. But I sometimes wonder what non-scrappers think about certain scrapping trends. I really wonder what they think of the new messy collage look. PERSONALLY, my favorite style is the type of layouts you were doing about 1-2 years ago. Nice & straight lined - clean. So, what I'm really trying to say is to put LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF STYLES ON YOU WEBSITE. Non-scappers don't know it isn't the hottest trend....they just know that they like this style over that style. Make sense? Would hate to see you loose business just because someone didn't like YOUR personal style or favorite at the moment.

And lastly...... I've got mixed feelings on journalling. It seems the new trend doesn't include journalling. Not sure why???? It seems to include poetry & things??? Again, not everyone might like that. I personally arent' crazy about it. I wonder if there is a way to do some type of journalling for the clients (even if it's just who, what, when & where stuff). ???

To me, the lastest trend looks like MAGAZINE ADS. They are nice, but not me.

And Cass, have to tell you something funny. The night you emailed me the Colors of the Castle layout, I had just finished something Scott's friend asked me to do. They had asked me to do a page (digitally) that they could use as the first page in their WDW photo album...sort of a cover page. They were leaving in a few days. They wanted the icons of each park. Well, my layout is very close to yours; except each of my photos where matted on white, then matted on thin black like yours...and my background was blue. It's funny how they looked similar....and we were working on them at the same time....and didn't even know it. I'm telling....we are too much alike sometimes. LOL

 

[SplshMtn99]

Oh, geesh... I thought of more! LOL

I know you had to make some of the elements on the pages yourself....but is any of it from certain software? If so, is it copyrighted...and is it ok to use in a business pursuit in which to make $ from? I use PrintMaster only because I've been using it for like 10 years. I know in the front of the book it says something about the clipart being for personal use only ...and not for business because it's copyrighted clipart. LOL.... like I think anyone is ever going to get caught. And we all know everyone gets clipart, fonts & photos from the web where it says copyrighted or not.

And one unrelated thought. Will the clients have to have their photos in digital format already? Another words, they won't be sending you a photo that you scan, will they? I would guess you would need to set file size (pixels size?) MINIMUMS to work with or the quality would stink.

Would they be emailing the photos....or mailing you a CD?

LOL............no idea why I'm thinking about all this stuff. It's not MY business. LOL

 

[pjlla]

Where's the link? I want a link? Who took my link? I wanna see more... please put the link up! Or PM it to me please!...................P

 

[JulianneP]

Cass I have a flyer made up that I use for my scrapping for hire business. If you would like to look at it PM your address to me. I use to have it in a file if I do I can email it. It is nothing as fancy as your business could be but it may help you.

Your work is amazing! You really should share your gift.

I hope your health is better!!

 

[SplshMtn99]

The link is in Timon's signature --- original post.

But you can go directly here is you want:
http://www.cassworld.ca/digitalsb.htm

 

[Timon]

Splsh,

LOL You are so awesome! I don't even think I have put THAT much thought into it LOL!

Ummm those were fantastic ideas, I am going to print off this thread!

Hmm some answers:

The only software I have used is Photoshop. I used a few elements that I mentioned from those sites but it was for sale to use and I don't think they have it copyrighted but just in case, I will double check and if it is, that's no problem cus I plan to create everything myself for the layouts I make.

As for the photos, digital would be best but I have a scanner and could get pretty decent photos doing it that way if people only have 4x6 prints. And e-mail would work best I would say, but CD is good if there are tons of photos.

Also, if I do get a client, I would e-mail/sit down with them and go over each layout, offer them something unique or a layout that I've already done. I also would ask them about colors/journaling and titles that they may want included. As you suggested, I would also ask them what kind of style they are looking for. I also will do as you suggested, post different styles of layouts...so I have lots to do now

Rob is indeed still DJ'ing, however the wedding season is just winding down but I was planning on making an album that he could bring to his dances also making business cards/flyers etc. It will also be posted on his website and he will send a link to my site in all his e-mails with his clients

He also knows other DJ's too, so that helps as well.

Oh and all your help and suggestions are GREATLY appreciated as sometimes when you are involved with something, you can't look at it objectively! You've mentioned some awesome ideas which I will definitely use!

And I appreciate and welcome all opinions and thoughts, good or bad, they can only help!

pjlla,

The link is in my signature but if you can't find it, or don't have the signature option checked in your settings, here is the direct link
http://www.cassworld.ca/scrapbooking.html

JulianneP,
thanks so much, I have PM'd you. And my health is better, not great but getting there, thanks so much!!!

 

[pjlla]

Thanks.... I have all of those options shut off... not sure why? Guess it seemed like a good idea at one point.... Anyhow, I checked the link. Your pages are beautiful. I'm sure that the bride was very happy! I wouldn't know how to BEGIN to scrap digitally... I'll leave that to you experts!........P

 

[Renysmom]

Digital Scrapbooking is so much fun and the best part, once you get the software you need, its free except for the printing, which I do at home so my costs are ink and paper but it is so much less than paper scrapping.

You can get the 3d look on your pages by knowing how to use the elements, add shading and that sort of thing.

My website has tons of links for those interested in learning more about it.. http://www.renysplace.com/digsraplinks.htm

Also, feel free to take a look at some of my digital layouts... I dont have any disney ones yet, since my first trip is next year but I have been working on making sets and elements that I hope to use

Here is my gallery:
http://www.renysplace.com/mylayouts/index.html

There are tons of free elements and sets available out there, but they are large to save to your HD. You really need at least a 20 Gig HD to dedicate to them or be willing to burn to CD's alot and know where you put things.


Software of choice is either photoshop or paint shop pro but many other programs are used as well.

If you have any questions, please email me and I will try to help as well.

 

[Renysmom]

Timon -

I looked at your pages and they are gorgeous!!! You should definiately start selling your stuff on SBB, Elemental or one of the others.. I work with Elemental and am very happy with them..

Again.. Beautiful papers and layouts!!

Kelly

 

[Beanie]

Your castle page is beautiful! I love the colors you have on that page!

Very, very nice wedding pages! They are so beautiful and you are so talented, Cass! Thanks so much for sharing them, I really enjoyed looking at it!

 

[LindaBabe]

Just BEAUTIFUL! That wedding album is gorgeous. If I didn't love to cut and paste so much (and have about a million pieces of paper!), your work might tempt me to go digital. Best of luck with your business!

 

[Timon]

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments and your support! It means a lot to me!

I spent yesterday designing some digital layouts to put in a Gallery when I get my website up. I am really enjoying it,
I hardly even miss all my SB stuff that is packed up in boxes