What is "DigiScrapping"?

By now, the term "scrapbooking" is as well-known as the terms "knitting" or "quilting." What started out as a small industry has exploded into something HUGE that is constantly growing, changing and expanding. You can see this at any local craft store - where there used to be a few racks of scrapbook goodies there are now rows and rows. There are the scrapbook albums. And the papers. And the embellishments. And the storage systems. And the cutting systems. And the list goes on and on.

Recently, however, there has been a new movement among scrapbookers. Many "scrappers" have decided to transition from "paper scrapping" (scrapbooking in the traditional style of photo prints, papers and adhesives) to digital scrapbooking (or "digiscrapping"). There are so many incredible programs available today that ones options are practically endless.

Why DigiScrap?

I was a "paper scrapper." I have been scrapbooking on paper for approximately 12 years now. When I first heard about digital scrapbooking and saw some samples of what it looked like, I SWORE I would never make the transition. Earlier this year, however, I began feeling very overwhelmed. I have four children and I am a photographer, which means that I have bazillions of pictures. I do not have space in my home to set up a scrapbooking table or area, as many people are able to do. While I enjoy getting together for scrapbooking parties with friends, I usually end up talking too much and hardly get anything done. So in April of this year I succumbed and thought "what would it hurt to do a few digital layouts?" I did one. Then another. And then another and another and another. And in one week, I had finished 5 layouts! This is compared to the 5 layouts I had finished over the previous 4 months. I was immediately hooked.

While some people really love the appearance of "real" scrapbook layouts, the digital designs that have been coming out recently are created with the intent of APPEARING real. I have seen some digital layouts that make me I feel like I could reach out and touch them through the screen.

One huge benefit of digital scrapbooking is the delete or undo button. Don't like where you put that picture? Undo. Don't like how you cropped that photo? Undo. Misspelled in your journaling? Undo. And then there are the limitless options available through the photo-editing software. Have a picture you think might look better in black and white? Change it. Have a background paper that doesn't quite match the picture? Re-color it. Have an alphabet you'd like to use, but think the letters are too big? Shrink them. The options are literally endless.

Getting Started

For people who are unsure about making the change, there are so many digital scrapbooking freebies available online for download. All you need to do is download a free kit or two and play around for a bit. It may be awkward at first - you may not know what you're doing and may need to practice a little. But once you have everything figured out, you'll be amazed at how EASY it really is.

Be sure to check out the Freebie section of the BlueFlombingo store!

Printing Your Layouts

And what about printing your layouts? Again, there are so many different options! Many people have their larger layouts printed from photo labs (places such as Costco and Sam's Club offer 12x18 prints that you can crop down to 12x12) and then insert them into their scrapbook albums. Some people who do smaller layouts often print their right at home. There are even companies online who even specialize in printing scrapbook layouts. A newer trend is to have your layouts printed in a bound coffee-table-style book. A great place to order those books is Shutterfly. Or you can simply leave your layouts in the computer and email them to friends and family or set them up to be your screensaver!

My goal for Blue Flombingo is to grow and progress right along with the rest of the scrapbooking community and I hope you will come along for the ride!