Scrap Shanty Challenge Blog

Then about 2 years ago I kept hearing about digital scrapbooking, same deal, what is this? I tried it out, at the time it just seemed to hard, and time consuming. So I shelved the idea for about a year, then I thought I would give it one more try and this time I was successful. I don’t recall how or why, but I did it! I was so proud at my self accomplishment. Now I have been digital scrapping for about a year, and I am not a pro by any means, there is tons I still need to learn, but I wanted to share as a newbie to the digital world some of the pros and cons I have experienced on the subject. Yes, I still call myself a newbie to digital scrapping.

Christi’s Pros on digital scrapping vs. paper

One of my favorite things about digital scrapping is being able to download whatever I need right from my computer. I don’t need to travel 30 minutes to my LSS to find what I need.

Digital scrapbook pages can still be inspiring to paper scrappers.

For scrappers who may have problems using their hands, digital scrapping is a way to make that easier.

You still get your creative outlet digital scrapping.

Digital scrapbooking does not take up as much space, and if you are like me, there is also not a big mess left behind to clean up.

I am pretty good about taking pictures, I am pretty bad about getting them printed. Digital scrapping is a good way for me to get my pictures scrapped while they are still fresh in my memory.

I love the 3D effect you can get with digital scrapping without having to have a bulky layout.

You can use your digital scrapbooking supplies over and over again. The price of real vs. digital is comparable in a good way.

You can change the color of any paper or embellishment to coordinate with whatever you want.

Cropping your photos, I remember when I first started I cropped my photos with my handy dandy paper trimmer, next I started printing my photos myself at home and would crop them with my photo editing software before I would print them. Now a days I add them to my digital page already configured to the size I need.

Tutorials there are many tutorials out there in both digital and paper scrapping. There are tutorials out there for just about every kind of program out there. One thing I have noticed about some of the tutorials, they can be hard to follow if you don’t know to use your program. Learned that the hard way, hey what’s this? A Manual!

All the freebies! Need I say more?

Christi’s Cons on digital vs. paper

I personally print a lot of my pictures at home (when I do actually print them), I have also printed a lot of my digital pages, mostly I print them on photo paper because I feel the quality is better. I am concerned about how much it cost to print on good quality photo paper plus the cost on ink vs. having it be printed somewhere else. A lot of my digital scrapbook pages are not printed due to this and are going unseen by my family and friends.

12×12 printers at the moment are expensive, so if I am printing out my page I personally have to print it out as 8×8 and mount it on to 12×12 coordinating cardstock. I am not sold on the smaller size albums idea yet.

I know that handwriting vs. typing is an issue, I hate my handwriting, as do many scrappers, I love all the fun different fonts out there, but I also learned in my early days that handwritten journaling creates a very personal touch. So it is my belief that using the fun fonts is great, still include some handwritten journaling in some of your layouts.

Going to crops, I have to admit it would be weird to sit among your friends in front of a laptop doing digital pages at a crop. Could you just imagine? I personally go to crops to not only scrap, but socialize, shop, and take a break from reality.

Cost of programs, many scrapbook/ photo editing programs can be costly, but there are some out there free to get you started. I have been struggling to learn some of the techniques used in the photo editing programs, I have left my comfort zone. Even saying that I am pretty proud of myself when I figure something out.

Designers; why don’t the designers merge? I have to admit I am in awe over the awesome stuff digital designers can create using software programs. (one of the things I struggle with) but I think it would be so cool if some paper designers came out with a coordinating digital kit to the paper kit. I know a lot of the papers out there from paper designers are just awesome, and I would love to use them, but I have to either drive to the lss (which is 30 minutes away for me) or buy it online and wait for the mailman to bring it to me.

Apparently the Pros out weight the cons on digital scrapping vs. paper scrapping in my book. I am not ready to give up the scissors and glue, but I am having fun digital scrapping. Not ready to jump into the digital scrapping world? Take some baby steps and try a hybrid!

In closing I wanted to note that at the Shanty, it is my feeling that this group of scrappers who are not just smacking down photos and journaling to get it done, but to have a creative outlet, both in the paper and digital scrapbooking techniques. It is my experience that If I have question about digital scrapping, someone is here to answer my questions, so thanks to all of you who have helped me. (you know who you are!) I am amazed at the talent in this group, I am actually somewhat spoiled by it. Some message board groups just don’t have the talent found here at the Shanty, so weather paper or digital scrapping you are sure to find creative and amazing scrapbookers among us, check out the Shanty gallery and be prepared to get a big boost of mojo and inspiration!