New, with some more digital scrapping questions

[jmc_in_disney]

Hi - I'm new here, though I've been lurking forever! I love reading the posts and seeing all the layouts!

I only started scrapping last year, and I love it, but I find it hard to find the time - especially the time to take out my stuff and get started. I'm honestly only about 14 pages into our trip in 2005 and still have our 2006 trip to do.

I have Photoshop Elements and was making something for my son's teacher and realized that digital scrapping might be a better fit for me (always on the computer anyway!)

but, I'm curious about a few things - and some of these might be stupid questions, so I apologize! But, for the digital layouts - do you use backgrounds, or are you printing on regular cardstock (printed paper)? Where do you get your Disney stuff from, and do you feel like there's enough of a selection for you? It just seems like there's a huge variety with regular scrapping - I'm afraid I might be "missing out" if I go digital (if that makes sense! ) Also, do you incorporate "real" items, like maps, receipts, etc - and if so, do you just add them after, or do you scan them...?

Sorry for all the question - thanks for any help!

 

[virginiamama]

I'm contemplating going digital and saving my scrapbooking materials and tools for greeting cards instead. Just a gentle bump.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Not a stupid question. Digi scrapping is just like scrapping w/hands on material. You start w/a background and work from there. The end result looks like a lumpy bumpy page just on your computer.

Some people are printing on cardstock, probably a white. Some use photo paper and print it out like a photo. Some use a printing service that offer large prints,as most either scrap 8.5x11 or 12x12.

I started digital scrapping with Heritage Makers so I have my pages printed and bound into a book. I'm hoping they will come out with the individual page printing option soon.

 

[beasleybear]

But, for the digital layouts - do you use backgrounds, or are you printing on regular cardstock (printed paper)? Where do you get your Disney stuff from, and do you feel like there's enough of a selection for you? It just seems like there's a huge variety with regular scrapping - I'm afraid I might be "missing out" if I go digital (if that makes sense! ) Also, do you incorporate "real" items, like maps, receipts, etc - and if so, do you just add them after, or do you scan them...?

You know, there's really no hard & fast rule about what you have to do. Some people use digital to embellish their pics (for instance, giving them a cool border), or do just their journaling. Then, they print that stuff out and add it to a paper scrapped page with things like the receipts and maps you mentioned. That's called "hybrid" scrapping. Others print out their entire layouts in something like 8 x 8 inch and mount them on cardstock in an album. Personally, I either get an entire 12 x 12 inch layout printed by an online printer, and then I mount that entire photo "page" in an album. I've also gone the photobook route as well. Memoribilia like a receipt or a ticket is easy to scan, and in the past, I've always put maps in pockets in the back of my albums.

It's really just finding what method you're comfortable with and what works for you.

 

[jmc_in_disney]

Thanks so much for the replies!! You've given me a lot to consider! I think the one thing that concerns me about going digital is that I'm on the computer so much as it is...well, I'd never get off it if I started to scrap digitally! I may try one album (my son's school years) that way and see how it goes.

In the meantime, I've actually gotten a lot done this week as a friend lent me her cricut - what a great tool! I'm only halfway through our 1st Disney album and have another to go, so after playing with one all week, I decided to purchase it! So, I have to thank you all because I bought it through a site posted on here and think I got a great deal on a bundle! I also purchased the Animal Kingdom and Mickey Fonts cartridges and I can't wait until they arrive!

You guys really do awesome work and are very inspiring!!

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

That is the great thing about digital scrapping. We are on the computer so much. We can just whip up a page and walk away. So much faster than regular scrapping. My problem is I love them both and won't give up one over the other.

 

[Lisa0503]

I'm curious about a few things - and some of these might be stupid questions, so I apologize! But, for the digital layouts - do you use backgrounds, or are you printing on regular cardstock (printed paper)? Where do you get your Disney stuff from, and do you feel like there's enough of a selection for you? It just seems like there's a huge variety with regular scrapping - I'm afraid I might be "missing out" if I go digital (if that makes sense! ) Also, do you incorporate "real" items, like maps, receipts, etc - and if so, do you just add them after, or do you scan them...?

I tried traditional scrapping but it just didn't work well for me. I love digiscapping though. My Disney Album was the first I digiscrapped. As per Disney selection, right now there is not tons out there but the awesome thing with Digiscrapping is that you can "make your own" papers. There are tons of clip art images available. Check out this thread for links to website where there a disney-ish items you could use for Digiscrapping: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1310733

 

[Lisa0503]

Whoops Double post...

 

[SusieStone]

Come check out the swaps. It would be a great way to add things to you albums. Plus there are great ideas in the completed swaps.

Thanks so much for the replies!! You've given me a lot to consider! I think the one thing that concerns me about going digital is that I'm on the computer so much as it is...well, I'd never get off it if I started to scrap digitally! I may try one album (my son's school years) that way and see how it goes.

In the meantime, I've actually gotten a lot done this week as a friend lent me her cricut - what a great tool! I'm only halfway through our 1st Disney album and have another to go, so after playing with one all week, I decided to purchase it! So, I have to thank you all because I bought it through a site posted on here and think I got a great deal on a bundle! I also purchased the Animal Kingdom and Mickey Fonts cartridges and I can't wait until they arrive!

You guys really do awesome work and are very inspiring!!

 

[jmc_in_disney]

Come check out the swaps. It would be a great way to add things to you albums. Plus there are great ideas in the completed swaps.

Sorry, not to sound like a total newbie, but what is a swap? Is that where you make different things and swap with others? To be very honest, I get very intimidated by the stuff I see from other scrappers - it's hard to imagine I'll ever be able to do the things that they can! I was on the cricut message boards (anticipating the arrival of my cricut! ) and I saw someone had made the animal kindom tree of life out of Mickey heads and animals - I was blown away by that! I always feel I'm not that creative!

 

[SusieStone]

Sorry, not to sound like a total newbie, but what is a swap? Is that where you make different things and swap with others? To be very honest, I get very intimidated by the stuff I see from other scrappers - it's hard to imagine I'll ever be able to do the things that they can! I was on the cricut message boards (anticipating the arrival of my cricut! ) and I saw someone had made the animal kindom tree of life out of Mickey heads and animals - I was blown away by that! I always feel I'm not that creative!

Come in and take a look.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

What is a good digi scrap software program? I think this might be a better fit for me - and leave scrapbooking for special albums -

 

[Yzerbear19]

I think most people use either Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or Paint Shop Pro X.

I use Photoshop 7.0 and love it, but its a rather expensive program. This can be a difficult program to learn and I think its intimidating to new users, but once you learn it, its awesome.

Photoshop Elements is a cheaper program that does most of what Photoshop does. I've never really played with Elements much so I don't know what it doesn't do that Photoshop does.

And I never liked Paint Shop Pro, but that is another program popular with digital scrapbookers.

EDIT: You can go to this site: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/ and get free trials of both Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements.

You can get a free trial of Paint Shop Pro here: http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1155872554948

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I have elements already, so that's a start. But do you have another program that you incorporate with photoshop? Or is it all just the photoshop program?

Thanks,

Karen

 

[Lisa0503]

I have elements already, so that's a start. But do you have another program that you incorporate with photoshop? Or is it all just the photoshop program?

Thanks,

Karen

Photoshop is all you need. Basically what you do is take your digital pictures and combine them with digital scrapbooking "supplies" (papers, brads, elements) using the program. You can get your "supplies" via downloads from tons of Digital Scrapbooking sites on the net. You can get many for free or you can buy coordinating kits too. When you get proficient at using your program, you can create your own papers/elements ect... You have a great program. Now just go to the websites with tutorials and play around with how to use it.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Is there a nice digi scrap book software "add-on" for elements that you (or anyone else) would recommend?

Karen

 

[Fran98765]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19035009#post19035009

I wrote up a FAQ a few days ago but never posted til now. Some of that info might help you out. Feel free to ask more questions if you have them.

 

[ChristineS]

to get started in PSE (Photoshop Elements) you'll find a TON of tutorials by googling "Digital Scrapbooking Tutorials"
Christine Smith
Digital Designer