I’m going to be upfront and tell you that I’ve never been big into traditional paper scrapbooking, mainly because of the sticky tape, sticky dots, and all those other things that affix the element to the paper.  I admittedly have slight issues with OCD, needing things to be centered perfectly and having symmetry, which is why permanently affixing something to a piece paper and leaving me with little options to remove it just send shivers up my spine.  So, to me, the number one benefit is that unlike traditional paper scrapbooking, digital gives you  the luxury of moving everything, any time you want.

Pricing

Everything in digital scrapbooking, before printing, is comprised of digital files.  A typical digital scrapbooking page kit will contain digital paper that looks as realistic as the paper you can hold in your hand.  It will also contain digital elements that vary in realism depending on what theme you’re looking for.  Each one of these digital files can be used over and over and over again.  You can print out your layouts either at home or through a professional printer, and the costs associated to that are still minimal.

Here are some other great benefits of digital scrapbooking:

• No need for a scrapbook area, everything is done on your computer.
• Takes less time to create layouts and projects.
• Photos are digital so no matter how you alter them, you still have the original and don’t have to print out extras.
• You can easily manipulate pictures and incorporate them directly into your layout.
• Digital scrapbook projects are great for gifts because you can print out multiples.  I created a layout of my daughter signing “I love you” and had it printed off for all the grandparents.
• If you make a mistake, it’s not a big deal, you can change it.

There are so many wonderful benefits to digital scrapbooking!  What are some benefits that you’ve discovered?

Lets talk about the lingo of digital scrapbooking.. the words that the seasoned digital scrapbookers sprinkle in their blogs, forum posts and general discussion. It’s like this special little language! Some of them are words, some are abbreviations, but if you’re new, they can truly be very confusing! Here are some of the most used…

LO – Layout, a plan or design of something that is laid out.

QP – Quick Page, a pre-assembled layout where you can add your image to without any other modifications.

ISO – In Search Of… Often in forums, this will be posted when someone is looking for help in finding a specific themed kit or element that they wish to purchase.

CT – Creative Team. Creative team members receive products from a designer, for free, and in return they create a layout with the product and post it online. Designers use this as an advertisement tool.

Page Kits – Digital products that include paper and elements which you use to create a layout.

Mini Kits – Digital product that includes a smaller version of a page kit which you can use to create a layout.

Elements/Embellishments – Used to decorate a layout. These are things like ribbons, buttons, flowers, frames, glitter, etc.

Hybrid – A combination of paper scrapbooking and digital scrapbooking.

Scraplift – This is the taking ideas or designs from another scrapbooker and using them in your own digital scrapbook layout. In the digital scrapbooking industry, this is considered to be okay to do, but it’s a good idea to give the original scrapbooker a credit when you post online.

RAK – Random Act of Kindness. Many designers like to give out gifts, just because. They like to refer to them as random acts of kindness.

Actions – Macros that run in a graphics program to do a specific effect.

Templates – Guides that are used to create a shape or a layout.

Alphas – Alphabet elements.

Word art – Words, Quotes without or without graphics that are used as elements on a layout.

Overlays – Patterned or textures that you can use to lay over other papers or elements with the end result being a new texture or pattern.

Blog Train – A group of designers who get together to host freebies on their blog, which you have to follow, like cars on a train. You visit one blog, grab the freebie, follow the link to the next blog and so forth.

Extraction – This is the method of taking something out of a photo. Many individuals will extract a person out of the photo or an object out of a photo so that the old background is no longer visible.

S4H – Scrap For Hire, meaning that you can use the digital scrapbooking product to create layouts, blog templates, candy wrappers, etc. to sell to others.

Digital scrapbooking is an artistic form of creating scrapbook layouts/pages in digital format with graphics software like Adobe Photoshop Elements. The digital scrapbooker uses digital photos and digital effects and embellishments to create a 12×12 (or other sizes) layout which you can either view on your computer, upload to online galleries or print out.

Many digital scrapbookers started out working with traditional paper scrapbooking and through friends or accidental web searches, stumbled upon digital scrapbooking, tried it out, and realized that it could provide them with more freedom than traditional paper scrapbooking.

Digital scrapbooking uses digital papers and digital elements to create the overall look. You can either download free products or purchase the product through a digital scrapbooking website, like Gotta Pixel. The products, page kits, typically contain a variety of papers, both plain and patterned, and embellishments to adorn the layout. Recently I created this layout using this digital scrapbooking page kit created by BellaGypsy.

After you create your layout, you can save it to your computer hard drive and either print it out or just share it with family and friends, through Facebook, digital scrapbook online galleries, and email. Many print out their layouts either to place into a 12×12 album, create a book with a collection of different layouts, or they print them out to frame and place on their wall. I have printed out several of mine to frame on the wall, and have created several books.

Over the next few weeks I will be providing you with tutorials on how to get started on your first digital scrapbook layout and all the wonderful lingo, techniques and inspiration that you could possibly need to get you hooked on this incredible hobby!

Since I bought my first computer in 1994, when the Internet was still in ASCII and the first main stream graphical browser was just in it’s infancy, I had this uncontrollable desire to conquer this digital world and take it and use it for greater good. That desire has not diminished in anyway during the last 16 years and I have no doubt that it ever will for me.

I started working as a web and graphical designer in 1997, self taught, but highly motivated. I stumbled on a graphical software program, Micrografx Picture Publisher, that I adored more than Adobe Photoshop and set out to learn everything I could about it. I soon created a fan based website, Webattitude, for the software, catching the eye of Micrografx, and in 1999, I was hired as the Lead Software Tester. I packed my belongings (and boyfriend) and moved from my childhood state of Nebraska down to Texas and started working in a male dominated industry and loved every.single.minute of it! I’ve had my artwork appear on the back of Picture Publisher box, in publishing brochures and have won several contests.

In 2005, I was at a crossroads. I had my first child in 2002, and some of the priorities of my single life had drastically changed and I needed a focus that encompassed my family. For months, my cousin had suggested I try out this new thing called “digital scrapbooking”. I can’t say that it was love at first sight, as it awhile for it to really click how this could fulfill my graphical desires, but when it did, it clicked very loudly.

My cousin and I started a Digital Scrapbooking website in 2005, GottaPixel.net, which is still going strong, 5 years later. As you know, technology moves at the speed of light, and the changes in digital scrapbooking is no different. I’ve seen a lot of changes in style and technique over the last 5 years and I”m excited to have another chapter in my life begin with the start of this blog.

About me, personally. I have two beautiful children, a boy and girl, who are typically the main focus of my digital scrapbook layouts and photos. I have been married since 2001 and we currently live in Nebraska, where I was born and raised. I’m an avid photographer, though not professional (and no desire to be professional). I’m currently the co-editor of my local camera club newsletter, administrator of their Flickr group, and my biggest love is macro photography. Spring and summer make me giddy because this is when all the bugs come out here in Nebraska and I have ample macro photo taking opportunities.

My goal with this blog is to introduce you to digital scrapbooking, shake a little bit of photography knowledge in there as well, and help you create a digital legacy of your memories. Please feel free to ask questions, make suggestions, or add your own tips! Welcome!

I recently created a list of entrepreneurial women I recommend people follow on Twitter, and now I’m taking suggestions as to who you think people should be following! You can nominate someone by clicking here (and it’s okay to nominate yourself). Nominations will be accpeted through October 14. I will then compile a list of those nominated and let the public vote on who are the best tweeps to follow! So get your nominations in ASAP!

Sparkplugging’s General Editor, Kelly McCausey is hosting two Wordpress Orientation sessions. If you are new to Wordpress, you’ll definitely want to check them out.

They are being held tomorrow from 10am – 1pm Eastern and on September 30 from 8pm – 11pm Eastern.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Get a complete tour of the Wordpress Dashboard

• Learn the difference between posts and pages.

• Learn How To Use the Visual Editor to create great looking blog posts.

• Learn about categories and tags and how to use them!

• Learn about Plugins

• Learn about Widgets

• Learn about Themes

• Learn about Exporting/Importing and Backups.

• Get Answers to All Of Your Questions!

These sessions are held in a web conference room, so you don’t have to worry about traveling, hiring a sitter, etc. And it’s only $19 – and that is totally worth skipping the headache of trying to learn this yourself!

For more info and to register, click here.