Digital Scrapbooking Information

What is digital scrapbooking anyway? Actually, its just scrapbooking, but its done digitally! :) (ingenious name, really). With the advent of digital cameras and photos, moms have begun to keep their memories digitally instead of literally cutting and pasting things into place. In the world of digital scrapbooking, you buy "papers", "elements" and "fonts" the same way you buy real paper. Then you use Photoshop or InDesign or some other graphic design program to put your page together. When you buy paper or fonts or whatever, you download it directly from the site and it is yours to use whenever you'd like. So, although you have to purchase it, it basically lasts a lot longer than a "real" piece of paper because you can use it over and over again.

I found this wonderful world by accident on Scrapartist.com. They have a wonderful gallery and tons of "How-To's". Also, on digital scrapbooking sites, they offer "FREEBIES", which are free downloads to get you started. They have beautiful papers and elements for sale, but I have always stuck with the free stuff because otherwise I would probably spend a LOT of money! :)

If you know how to use Photoshop... you can digitally alter the free stuff into different colors or shapes and create more items for your scrapbook collection! The terms of use are basically that you can't sell your creations if its free... and I'm not sure if you buy it because I never have :). But I think if its for personal use, you can do whatever you want with it! :)

Once you download the elements, you just open a document in Photoshop or InDesign and start layering them together until you get your desired page. The final step would be printing or saving in multiple places so you don't lose your work! :)

There is also a medium of art out there called digital collages. I think these are SUPER fun! Its just like a basic collage where you would cut and put together using actual paper, scissors and glue, but it's done digitally. Check out Robyn England's site for more information on this.

Here are some more sites:

scrapartist.com
twopeasinabucket.com (go to 'digital scrapbooking')
robynengland.com

Hope that helps those of you who are curious! :)