Two Thumbs-Up For Digital Scrapbooking

Well, this is Gina Chen, Family Life editor, busting into Scrapbook Mom's blog again. This time I just have to tell you about my experience with digital scrapbooking.

I tried it for the first time a few weeks back. We had gone to California to visit my in-laws, and we were wracking our brains to come up with a gift to thank them for their hospitality. I decided a scrapbook of the trip would be a great gift, but I knew there was no way I'd have the time to do a traditional scrapbook.

So I decided to go digital. It was great.

I've been scrapbooking the traditional way -- with stickers and paper -- for about 12 years, and I've finished more than 10 albums that way. I love doing it. I love expressing my creativity, reliving our family fun and chatting with my girlfriends.

But going digital had one big draw: speed. In about three hours I had an album done.

I selected my pictures, uploaded them, added captions and headlines. I used Creative Memories free software, so I had follow the pre-determined picture format. (But it's free!)

It was simple to use. Point, click and move a picture. I could change the color of the text. I could put a picture on the cover and a title. It allowed me to do all the basics things one would want, although eventually I'd probably spring for the $59.95 program. That allows you more flexibility and choice in picture placement, size, embellishments.

A few days after I put my digital scrapbook together, I proofed it, tweaked a few things, ordered it. Less than a week later, it had arrived at my in-laws' home. They loved it. I haven't actually seen the finished copy because I sent it directly to them, but my father-in-law's thank you e-mail speaks of it being of high quality.

This doesn't mean I'm ready to turn in my page trimmer and circle cutter. I still much prefer old-fashioned scrapboooking mainly because I love the social aspects of scrapbooking. (In fact, tomorrow I'm spending the day at National Scrapbooking Day) But to do something different, scrap an album quickly or make a gift, you can't beat going digital.

Anyone else have experience with digital scrapping? Please share.

Taken From Syracuse.com

How to Scrapbook Your Own Day Planner!

Try finding a day planner that affords you the space to stamp and scrapbook month to month! You can create your own monthly masterpiece by applying your favorite photo on an index tab divider, or even on a sturdy calendar page itself.

Apply you favorite stickers and stamps to significant dates to remember or celebrate. Consider tacking pictures of those who will celebrate memorable moments such as birthdays, anniversaries or graduations on the index tab dividers for each month.

Some planners even have a covers that have picture pockets that you could easily modify with the passing seasons! Changing the look of your day planner cover will keep it fresh and exciting all year long.

Try inserting a few mini scrapbook pages within the planner itself. Sharing your favorite photo masterpieces can be as easy as reaching for your purse.

Your creative scrapbooking is meant to be shared and enjoyed. Scrapbooking the pages of your planner could also serve to promote a business, whether its stamping, scrapbooking or day care! Share your talents each and every time you open your planner to make an appointment or just to jot down a note or two.

Adding your own personal scrapbooking touch to your day planner or calendar will encourage you to be more organized and will inspire at the same time!

It can make a great personal gift for you or someone you love. Enjoying the space we live in makes everyday a little easier. Have fun and get scrap happy in January right on through to December!

Author, Tammy Matthews, is a mom of three and creator of the Bizzi2Go Planner. For more information please visit: http://www.bizzimom.com

Scrapbooking Catalog Request

The scrap book catalog is a pamphlet that gives you information on the many types of scrapbooking activities that you can be engaged in . It has lots of colorful features that you can easily make use of to enhance the general outlook of your scrap book. It contains about 500 stamp designs and card ideas that you can borrow from as you endeavor to improve your scrapbooking.

One thing to note is that the scrapbooking catalog request is available online and you can download it from one of the many web site that specialize in this memory-preserving activity.

The stamp designs on the catalogue are quite interesting varying in shape, size, color and theme and they include flowers, birds, horses, babies all of which can be attached to different pots with different messages.

The scrapbooking catalogue request also allows you to receive some working tools like scissors, knifes, paper trimmers and many more items like the acrylic block set.Apart from the tools you also stand a chance of receiving rubber images worth $ 30 for free.

You will find that the themes that come along with these scrapbooking catalogs will include greetings, in-laws, parents, siblings and other themes that you can think of.

The scrapbooking catalogue requests assists you in knowing exactly what it is that you want and eventually as you make you order you find that you are better placed for having the information at hand well in advance. You can request for the catalogue free of charge by filling in a subscription form and sending it online to the relevant people.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Scrapbooking. For More Information on Scrapbooking Catalog Request, Visit His Site at SCRAPBOOKING CATALOG REQUEST