digital scrapbooking?

[wookiewoo]

I'm curious if anyone has done any digital scrapbooking? I've been telling myself I'd scrapbook for my little one since I found out I was expecting. (She's 7 months old now!!! *YIKES*) I love doing this sort of thing, but it just hasn't been practical (we mainly use a digital camera, no dedicated area to lay materials out where she can't get them, $$$ cost of getting so many cool things, etc. etc.)

I don't know why I didn't think of doing this before. I worked in graphic arts while going to college! Duh! I'm curious how/where you print out pages? Do you use a special prog. or just photoshop? Are these pages going to last as long? Not sure if this is even popular as regular scrapbooking?
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
TIA
Heather

[Buffys Mommy]

I've only done a few digital scrapbook pages yet. I use photoshop to do it. I have a wide format printer so can print onto 12x12 pages if I'm using that format. I think if you use the right paper, your pages will last as long as traditional scrapbooking..

Digital scrapbooking is growing in popularity. If you go to www.twopeasinabucket.com and search their gallery has tons of computer generated pages. Also, Simple Scrapbooks just came out with a book/magazine called A Simple Guide to Digital Scrapbooking. I just bought it after looking through a friends, but am very happy with it thus far. They have a sample of a few of the articles at www.simplescrapbooksmag.com

Below are a few samples of pages I have done.

Tammie
Sarah Michelle 10/13/03

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/16736.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/16739.jpg


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/16740.jpg

[ellies mom]

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm interested in it also. Here is a
website that I check out occasionally: http://www.sbbytes.com Photoshop Elements is also used a lot from what I can tell, so if you don't have Photoshop, that maybe a cheaper way to get started.

One of the magazines, I can't remember if it was Memory Makers or Creating Keepsakes just came out with a special issue devoted to digital scrapbooking. It is pretty cool. ETA- I think the PP got it right, it was a Simple Scrapbooks issue. Still cool though.

Also, an idea I read about... You can't always print to the edge of the page, so even 8 1/2x11 pages may not print how you want them. So you can create your pages as a 12x12 pages, but them resize them to 8x8 to print out, since they have 8x8 albums.

Have fun, and share your creations.

[wookiewoo]

Thank you both for the ideas! What cute pages! I love the way you put her picture in each of the letters of her name :) I'm really excited about trying all of this. I will definately post once I have something complete.
I was also wondering where I would find the magazines that you had mentioned? I looked at Michaels but didn't see it?

Thanks again and wish me luck!
Heather

[Kimberly H]

Wal*Mart! :)

I also find them at BooksAMillion and Barnes & Noble.

[hwin708]

I do I do!
Sorry, just noticed this topic, so a few days late.
I use Photoshop, save my pages at 11x11, and print them out at Kinkos for about $2/page. I could do it at home, but if you add up the cost of paper and ink cartridges, plus the risk of messing up, it's easier to do at Kinkos. I have also used MyPublisher, just upload all the pages, and they send you a book! I'm starting to prefer this method, as it's cheap (about $20 a book) and I like the look of a bound book. Anyway, I think $2 a page is cheaper than buying all the regular materials, plus I find it all so much easier!!
Here's a post I did months ago about digital scrapbooking. Basically, as I mentioned, you can puchase and design your own layouts, but there are so many clever ones out there that I often just jack em from the internet and insert my own pictures. Easy as cake!
The links I give for example layouts are on EXCELLENT digital scrapbooking wrbsites, if you want to explore and find ideas you like, or post for help from far more experienced scrapbookers than myself.
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=84&topic_id=474&mesg_id=519&page=4
Oh, as for lasting longer, I really don't know. But if you save all the pages to disc, they will last forever!

[wookiewoo]

Wow thanks for all the ideas! I love the lo you posted in the other thread. I have been trying to work in photoshop elements, it came on our pc, but I'm not able to do all the effects that I have in mind.

For instance, I tried to make a first bath lo and I can't figure out how to make the bubbles look 3d? Do you use clip art or pre-made things to do those sort of things? I have found tutorials on how to make them but they are for Photoshop (not the elements version I have).

I'm excited about getting started and I think I will be looking for that book that was mentioned. I want to share my first attempt at this and get some feedback from everyone. Please be honest and offer any advice on how to improve.

TIA
Heather

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/17013.jpg

[hwin708]

I NEVER make elements on my own. No freakin' way am I going to figure out how to design a 3-D bubble. So, yes, it's always clip art or scrapbook element downloads for me.
Here's a bubble element download from a SB site. You have to register to have access to this feature though (it's free).
http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=14007&sort=2&cat=663&page=10
There are also some good bubbles in this ocean LO set:
http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36674&sort=2&cat=9408&page=9
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/17017.jpg
These "kits", like the one above, are hands-down the best feature about digital scrapbooking. Instead of paying for all these items, you can just download a whole coordinated set - for free!
If you really like the bubbles in the other LO, you could just right click the layout, save the picture, and then cut out the bubble and use them on your own LO.
In terms of my own suggestions, I would just suggest you use a paper with a slight texture for your background, so it looks less stark. Maybe the first of the little papers in the ocean LO elements. It has a slight color variation that gives it depth, but it's still just blue.
Here's a few bath pages, too, to give you some ideas. I also like to look for ideas for quotes. I just did a search of the member galleries for "bath" so there are 46 pages of ideas (!) but I put the link to a page with some fun ones:
http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=all&si=bath&page=2&sort=4&perpage=9&what=allfields&=
And can I just say that this layout alone makes me want lots more kids
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/17020.jpg
HTH! and Good luck!