Hi there,
My name is Melanie and I recently came across the idea of digi scrapping. I dont know how I hadn't ran across it before . Anyway I have some questions, I have read the faqs, But I just mainly want some opinions I guess. I am a long time scrapper- I have scrapped for about 12 years. The past few years with three kids and a job ( i teach kindergarten) and I just dont have the energy to drag out all of my supplies. I am pretty tech savvy so I can see myself doing this. I have photoshop cs on my mac and have used it some, not a whole lot. So my questions are
1. Is there one place to download(buy) what I need? like a lump sum of papers etc...
2. Do most people print out their books, if so what printing service do they use?
3.How do you keep it all organized? I have seen one program but Im not sure its mac compatible
4. I need to hear from someone who has made the switch and why you love it....
Thanks in advance....
Melanie
PS WHO is looking for a digi scrapping buddy for guidance

Well, I was never a paper scrapper, but here's what I can tell you.

There's no one place to get digital supplies. There's a good store here, and some others. I would suggest starting by playing with some freebies. There's a freebies gallery here, and one of my favorite places for freebies is Shabby Princess. If you have Photoshop, that will do nicely. I use both mac and Windows.You will also be able to find lots of tutorials you can try.

I think most people do print their books, though I haven't printed a page in a long time. I have sometimes made a page at 12x12 but the printed on my home computer at 8x8. There are services you can use to have 12x12 pages printed, though, and some people have their pages printed in a book from someplace like Shutterfly.

As far as organization, I just use folders. I have a "supplies" folder, and subdirectories for embellishments, papers, kits, etc. Kits are sorted by designer and embellishments are usually by type like "ribbons", etc.

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Welcome to SBB Melanie, you will love it here!

Since I was never a paper scrapper I can't comment on that part but I do know from my past real life crafts where I had yarn, paints, brushes, pattern books, needles and everything else under the sun laying around my house this hobby stays on my computer and I never have to pick it up before company comes! LOL You can walk away from your Layout and come back 2 1/2 hours later and it is just as you left it, if you don't like something all you have to do is click UNDO and no more glue, tape ripping occurs. I you don't like your photo you can make a duplicate of it and play with that one! No more damaging those once in a life time photo's!

The other thing about digi is that the supplies never get used up, you can recolor papers to match your exact needs, never run out of a certain letter in the file of Alphas!

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I made the switch about 5 years ago, and I would never go back. I still have paper supplies that I use for card making sometimes, but that largely gets neglected.

1. Is there one place to download(buy) what I need? like a lump sum of papers etc...
There isn't but there are a lot of stores out there. SBB's store is great (yes, I'm a little biased, but it's still true.) and there is a lot of versatility and uniqueness. Really you wouldn't want a lump sum of supplies, because there is just some many really cool things that come out all the time. Outside of some basic colored solids, I would just buy as you see things and keep your eyes peeled for some nice quality free stuff.
2. Do most people print out their books, if so what printing service do they use? I print most of mine out on my home printer at 8X8 inch, but a lot of people use 12X12 printers. I used to use Kinko's of Office Max for 8X8, but there are a lot of economical choices out there for 12X12 if that's your preference.
3.How do you keep it all organized? I have seen one program but Im not sure its mac compatible. There are a few programs out there for organization, but I keep everything organized by folders.
4. I need to hear from someone who has made the switch and why you love it.... I love it for a lot of the reason you've already stated. No clean up, no paint and glue everywhere, no need for an extra scrap space. I love the online community that comes with this. I love that I can create things that look "real" and make people want to touch my pages. I love love love to play without making to big a mess. I'm also a software junkie, so that feeds that addiction too.

Melanie, if you find PSCS a little overwhelming you might try out the ACDSee photo editor beta. Right now it's free through July I think. It's very user friendly and not so intimidating and it's quite capable of a lot. Also, be sure to look through the tutorials here and please ask questions. There are a lot of knowledgable people here eager to share.

BTW, Melanie, check your private messages.

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LaWanna Desjardin,
Owner, Desjardin Digital Designs, featuring regular articles and tutorials.
Contact Me Here


Snag my blinkie!

First of all, welcome to SBB! I found this site to be the most comfortable after making the switch to digi a couple of years ago. Everybody was so helpful and supportive, and I really felt like I fit in. Now for your questions...

1. Is there one place to download(buy) what I need? like a lump sum of papers etc...
As a paper scrapper, you probably have a "need" to have product on hand (I know that I did when I switched too). I have since learned that is is often best to purchase what goes with your photos you are working on or you will find yourself needing additional hard drives. I have 60 GB of kits that I have purchased, and that doesn't include the downloadable CD's that I "had to have".

2. Do most people print out their books, if so what printing service do they use?
My family just got me a really nice printer, so I have started printing my layouts and hybrid projects at home. My other printer was also great, but I didn't use it as much as it was an "ink hog".

3.How do you keep it all organized?
I have a hard drive that just has purchased digi kits on it. The drive is divided into folders of stores and/or designers. I place my kits in the folders after unzipping, then burn the zip file to DVDs that are sorted the same way. I always keep the kits together as the papers and elements were designed to work with each other (in most cases). Just so you know, I also have a HD for just photos, one for just layouts and two that I use for my designing.

4. I need to hear from someone who has made the switch and why you love it....
Here is a good story for you. I owned and operated my own scrapbook store until I developed cataracts in both eyes. Nothing like going from perfect vision to "it is illegal for you to drive now" within six months. After the surgery, my vision still isn't so great and I can't even see to sign my name. Switching to digi was a last resort for me. It took me a while to learn how to use an older version of PS, and even switched to PSE for a bit just for the ease of use. I finally sat down and forced myself to learn CS2/CS3 and now I am designing and selling kits in the store. As for the eyesight issues, since I am able to "zoom" with the program, I am able to create with greater ease than if I stayed with traditional paper.

If you have any other question, just shout!

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Colleen in Friendly Manitoba...
Proudly selling digital designs at SBB
(Come take a peek at my Gallery or check my BLOG to see what I'm up to)

1. Is there one place to download(buy) what I need? like a lump sum of papers etc...
As the previous responders have mentioned. There are a lot of great stores out there that can supply all of your needs. Most stores are going to carry a little of everything you need. Some stores will have a specific style. And definitely go for those freebies. You can get some high quality freebies to play with. You don't want to spend a lot of money to start.

2. Do most people print out their books, if so what printing service do they use?
I printed at home for the first year with 8x8 size pages. Then, for a couple of years, I didn't print at all. I made dvd's. The kids were able to watch them on the tv or the computer. Then I decided I wanted to print again, but I didn't have a large size printer. I have used several companies, winkflash, shutterfly, scrapbookpics, etc. Even Walmart has options. I basically use whatever I have a coupon for at the time Sometimes I have books made, sometimes just pages.

3.How do you keep it all organized? I have seen one program but Im not sure its mac compatible
I am terrible. I just have a file with everything in it. I use the previews as the folder pics so I can see what is in each kit. It's terribly disorganized and makes mixing things from different kits awkward. It's just how I started and I never changed.

4. I need to hear from someone who has made the switch and why you love it....
I started paper scrapping in '93 and made the change to digital in 2004. At that point, I had four kids and made books for each of them, as well as one for myself and one for my dad. I was overwhelmed. I had tons of supplies and no room. I would get tired of having to remake the same page up to 6 times for the different books. (I could have just made copies but I didn't like the way the colors varied from copy to copy). I found SBB, and after lurking for a few months and learning, I got a copy of PSP and got started (I now use PSCS). I have been able to be so much more creative since I don't have to worry about "ruining" supplies if I need to redo something. I also scrap more, because I don't get bogged down doing the same page over and over. I always thought I would go back to paper.....I kept all of my supplies for about 2 years after I went digital. But, here it is, 4 years later and I know I will never go back.

Good luck! I hope you find this as much fun as I did

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Dena



My Blog, My Ramblings

Welcome!!
I just started digi scrapping several months ago and I am loving it! I have paper scrapped for years, and now that I have 2 little ones, was finding it hard to get the time to pull it all out.
I joined several message boards, but found SBB to be the most welcoming and the comfortable for me.
The best thing I could have done for myself to begin learning is to dive into the challenges. You learn so much, and even though I am still not sure I am doing any of the challenges correctly, they are all such encouraging people! Plus you get freebies for participating!

I have not printed anything yet, but I think that I will probably use a book printing option. I really like either snapfish or blurb.
I am using PSP right now, but it took me a while to figure anything out. I really like it now that I am getting used to it.
Since I have not been doing it that long, I have yet to buy anything. I wanted to see how I liked it before I started investing. There are so many great freebie sites out there, and a lot of sites that catagorize them according to paper and embeliishements, it makes it easy to find good stuff--pm me and I will give you a good list to start out with! I also think that, for me, it has helped to get just freebies in the beginning just so that I could learn what style I liked best. I have discovered that my digi scrapping style has varied somewhat from my paper scrapping style.
Organizing is pretty easy if you start as you mean to go on. I began with one folder entitled digital scrapbook supplies and in that I have sub-folders titled paper, elements etc. Inside the paper folder, I have more sub-folders such as pink, purple etc. And in the elements, I have sub-folders titled brads, ribbons, ect.
I also have a folder entitled kits, and inside that, sub-folders according to designer name or web-site I got it from. Then I copy certain elements or papers that I like out of each kit and put those in my paper or element sub-folders. That way I can find things according kit or by item. I hope that all makes sense.


I would love to be a buddy with you! I would love to have someone to learn with! Just send me a pm!
Welcome to SBB--I think you have found a wonderfully supportive community!

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Everyone has given you terrific answers - Ill just add that iphoto (which you should have on your mac) will work to help you keep everything organised

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