So many options!

To begin digital scrapbooking, you need a computer program that deals with photos and graphics. Fortunately, there are many choices out there in a variety of price ranges. They also vary in functionality, so make sure that the program will do as much as you want it to before you buy anything.

Probably the easiest programs to use are internet sites where you can upload your photos and use their preset backgrounds and embellishments to create a photobook. They have user-friendly drag and drop controls that are simple to learn and use quite effectively. I have seen some really great photobooks made using these kinds of programs. However, they usually require you to have their printing service print up your book. This can be quite costly. Also, you are usually limited to their selection of backgrounds, embellishments, and layouts which can limit your creativity. I don't use these programs myself, so I can't recommend one over any other but here are a few of the choices out there:

printmyphotobok.com
shutterfly.com
mixbook.com
photoworks.com

There are so many scrapbooking software programs out there that I can't possibly even go through the options. However, this site: http://scrapbooking-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ has rated several popular software choices. It gives them a rating on many aspects such as ease of use, help and support, backgrounds, embellishments, and publishing and sharing your pages. What a great help to make your purchasing decision! It also lets you compare the cost - they range from $28.99 to $49.99.

For the most control, options, and features you definately have to go with PhotoShop. The C S5 version that is just coming out will cost you $699. If you are like me that is way out of the budget, but don't give up just yet! You can get older versions for much less that will still have the functionality that you want.

I hope this helped you find a digital scrapbooking option that is right for you. Coming up soon - info on tutorials and where to find great freebies!

As always, please check out my store Scrapbooking Tales

and

Happy Scrapping!!!

The digital revolution

So here I was, finally getting into some real scrapbooking. I was now using archival quality products, journaling, and making pages look great with embellishments. My kitchen table was covered with papers, ribbons, scissors, pens, glues...you name it, it was there. I had books full of page layouts and ideas. I had all my scrapbooks and page protectors. I had boxes of all of the pictures and papers that I needed to scrapbook.

It was so much fun, but... every time I wanted to scrapbook I had to pull it all out and put it away when I was done. It took up a lot of time, a lot of space, and it was getting expensive! Also, I always had to use stencils or alphabet stickers to write anything on my pages because I hated my handwriting.

Then I discovered digital scrapbooking. I had always loved computers, so to be able to combine that with scrapbooking was awesome! It also solved all of my issues with paper scrapbooking. Everything was on the computer, so there was no big set up and take down required. That saved time and space. I found tons of great freebies - pages, fonts, brushes, embellishments - to save money. And, I could type any text I wanted on the page in any font and have it come out looking great! I especially loved that I could make a page and then come back and do it over again if I changed my mind even a year later! It took a bit of learning, but pretty soon I was even faster at digital scrapbooking than I had been at paper scrapbooking.

Digital scrapbooking can be simple using 'plopper pages' or fairly complex if you want to create your own elements. So my next few blogs will have a lot of resorces for you, from learning how to use digital scrapbooking programs to freebie sites and a whole lot in between. Here's a great one to start with: Digital Scrapbook Teacher< Check it out!

Happy Scrapping!

Talk about wish fulfilment!

Just last post I said that I wish Stephenie Meyer would release another book soon. Then this week I learn that she will be releasing a new book - the Short Second Life of Bree Tanner!! If you've read Eclipse, you know the newborn vampire army that Victoria creates to attack the Cullen clan. After the battle, Bella is surprised to see one of the newborns alive. Carlisle has offered to spare her life if she will promise to behave herself. This newborn vampire is Bree Tanner. We don't get to know much more about her because the Volturi come and kill her.

In all my hopes that Stephanie would write more for the Twilight saga, this backstory had never crossed my mind. However, anything from Stephenie is welcome. I am curious to read Bree's story. I wonder if Stephenie can make us care about these wilder, more viscious characters. I am so excited for this book to come out!!

I would love for Stephenie to write the backstory on Esme - we know she had a child that died, but we never hear about the father of the child. What did she think of becoming a vampire? How did she fall in love with Carlisle?

I have also wondered about the backstory of Emmett. What was his life before he was attacked by the bear? What did he think about becoming a vampire? How did he fall in love with Rosalie?

I look forward to this newest story of Stephenie's, and I sure hope for so much more to come!!!