Digital Scrapbooking - The alternative to traditional Scrapbooking

Filed Under (General) by admin on 07-03-2010

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Digital Scrapbooking hits the main stream as software developers have created many different platforms for digital scrapbooking.

We could discuss the differences in the two but that is not the purpose of this article.  My goal is to address digital scrapbooking as an alternative to traditional scrapbooking.

For many years, we have opened our photo albums and looked page after page of photos placed on a tacky paper covered in plastic.  Now, many people are taking a different approach to make their memories more fund to reflect on.  Digital scrapbooking uses a vast array of decorations used in traditional scrapbooks.  Though the embellishments are digital, the use of things like stickers and characters is still part of the scrapbook page.  However, instead of creating the mess of cut paper, glue spillage and some of the hand drawn lines that can not be erased, digital scrapbooks are easy to edit or hit the undo button.

What sets the two apart is the method of achieving this principle. As mentioned, traditional scrapbooking uses material such as papers, pens, letter cut outs, adhesives, and other embellishments. Digital scrapbooking on the other hand uses computer graphics that replaces these traditional materials. You may say it is harder to work on the page design on the computer than on the actual page (traditional scrapbook). But, to be honest, it is almost the same.

Take the following for example:

The traditional scrapbook will work on a background or layout (sometimes called a template), pictures, texts, and embellishments. The process goes like this: you place the pictures on the background, place some embellishments of your type, and write some texts.

The digital scrapbook will work on software with all the available digital embellishments and texts. You have scanned pictures or digital images from your camera to be placed on a chosen background. Put some texts and add more design. Then, with some more editing on the colors and borders, you have created a scrapbook page.  Another great thing about digital scrapbooks is that you can use the same template for more than one page.  By simply changing the colors and moving some things around on the page, you have a new template without the cost.

Oftentimes, it is much easier to create a digital scrapbook than a traditional one. This is because software that lets you create digital scrapbook with ready to use templates for texts and backgrounds, not to mention the editing tools you need. These features make it easier to create one unique page. Downloadable templates are readily available over the internet to widen up your choices on text, embellishments, and background. This is unlike traditional scrapbook that every thing is yours to make; from the background to the cutting of the decoration.

To further illustrate how does a digital page is created, here are the steps to follow:

· Create a new image from a blank canvas

· Define the size of the page you will use.

· Enter the settings you want to adapt.

· Add the photo

Looking at the colors in the photos can help you choose the color scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture you are interested in using in the page scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture will best suit the page you are wanting to create and this should be done scheme of the layout, therefore, you may want to see first what picture you are interested in using in the page before determining the mat of the canvas.

To add a photo, you must first save one on a file. You can either scan pictures or take them from your digital cameras.

· Create the background

Now that you have a determined canvas and photo, it is time for you to select your background. Here, the choices are endless. You can download images from the internet or use your photos to be the background itself. You can edit the texture of the background to match the scrapbook theme you want to achieve.

· Create the photo mat

Photo mats let the background and the photo meet on a certain point.

· Add the text and embellishments

Ready made texts and embellishments are one good feature of digital scrapbooking software. This helps you to put important touches fast and easy.

· Apply some finishing touches

Final editing is as important as placing everything in order. Make use of built in features such as shadows, emboss, effects, and others. This would help your page look more attractive as it highlights whatever you want to be highlighted.

If you are the type of person that likes to scrapbook with others, digital scrapbooking is not as much of a group activity.  I have never heard of a digital scrapbooking weekend or digital scrapbook retreat.  However, there are scrapbook crops, scrapbook retreats and scrapbook weekends scheduled around the country all of the time.  If you enjoy this type of event, you may want to visit a site that lists scrapbook retreats to locate an event in your area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tips for Making Simple Scrapbook Layouts

Filed Under (General) by admin on 06-03-2010

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simple scrapbook layout

If there is one problem that many people experience when creating scrapbooks, it’s that they allow themselves to get overwhelmed with their page designs. Rather than designing simple scrapbook layouts, they will try to crowd the page with every detail and embellishment that they can get on a page. With too many page elements and journaling on a page, it’s easy for your layout to look overwhelming or too busy. You will often discover that when you compose simple scrapbook layouts your albums will be more inspiring and appealing to the eye and of course easier to design and compose.

One quick idea for making a simple scrapbook layout is to remove a few embellishments or journaling before you complete your page. When you have your entire page layout sitting out but not yet adhered to the page, just take away an item or two even if you don’t think it’s a good idea at first. Then look at your page again and see if it doesn’t seem more appealing. It might be difficult to plan simple scrapbook layouts but when you just take away an item or two from your proposed page layout you see that this simple design is even more pleasing than the busy and crowded one.

Scrapbook journaling is another important aspect of simple scrapbook pages. Very often people tend to try to write out everything that has to do with their photo or page design. This is can be a mistake.  Often just a simple word or two or choosing from a couple of scrapbooking quotes is all that’s needed to convey so much. Pages with a baby can just use the word Love or Precious or something brief such as Apple of My Eye or Mommy’s Little One. When you choose to use brief sayings or a word or two, a simple scrapbook layout is even more powerful since they are able to stand out clearly.

Sometimes you can get scrapbooking ideas for simple scrapbook layouts from websites and other experienced scrappers, but you really need to keep your eyes open when looking at these pages. Try to notice what keeps them simple but appealing. Is it the journaling, the page elements or something else? If you take a critical eye toward these pages and really try to critique them then you can learn how to make your own simple scrapbook layouts rather than just trying to throw all your elements on every single page and then wondering why your pages look so very busy!

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Making A Great Family Dinner That Everyone Will Enjoy

Filed Under (General) by admin on 06-03-2010

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Nowadays most families don’t have the money to spend on eating out several times a week. This makes cooking at home a necessity. Not only will it save tons of money, but it creates a great atmosphere where the entire family can share their day’s events. That is something that no amount of money can buy.

One of the most popular types of food that people tend to gravitate to is cuisine from Japan. Asian food is high in flavor and very nutritious. There are a wide array of spices and flavors that are included in the preparation including such items as ginger, soy sauce, and teriyaki sauce. However, the best additive that should be kept in any good cook’s kitchen has to be the mirin. It is an awesome seasoning method that can easily be included in almost any dish.

Many recipes can be modified to include this most versatile flavoring. Most gourmets use it in sushi recipes or perhaps the broth of a tasty soup. A great use is to add just a small splash to any marinade liquid. It makes for a most delectable sea bass that is sure to be a hit. Use very little of the sauce at one time as it is strong and will overpower food.

A well prepared kitchen always has the right tools and utensils. Preparing delicious dishes can be made a lot easier when working with good pans. The best kind that anyone can have is an anodized cookware set.

This type of pan is incredible and offers a nonstick coating and comfortable handles. The cleanup will be quick and easy which will give you plenty of time with the family after the meal is finished. Simply put everything in your dish washer and walk away. Nothing could be easier.

After dinner it is important to spend lots of time connecting with everyone. Most of us live fast paced lives that don’t allow for much family time. By making the most of every moment you have together the whole group will remain tight knit over time. Play a game or implement another activity into the time you all spend together. One especially fun project is to create a scrapbook album. Not only will it be fun, but also provide a chance for everyone to reminisce.

To make the book a success make sure all of the tools are right at hand. Most craft stores have tons of supplies to choose from and a wide array of different themes. Stickers, special pages, and shaping scissors will all ensure that the album is perfect.

In these times when everyone is rushing about, getting people together can be quite hard. Making a great dinner is the best way to ensure everyone shows up. When they all find out that there is a hot meal awaiting them, it is sure that they will hurry with whatever is keeping them away.

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How You And The Kids Can Have Fun Together

Filed Under (General) by admin on 06-03-2010

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Most of us parents wish we could do more things with our kids. Some of us struggle to find the time to have fun with them, while others find it hard to motivate the kids to do something, other than playing computer games and watching TV. If you need some ideas for activities to do with your kids, this article might be of some use to you.

Talk to your kids about what they have been up to and if they have any fun events coming up. Stay away from serious topics, since this is meant to be a fun conversation. If your child is not in the mood for talking, do not force them to talk to you.

During one of your talks with the kids, have them answer questions about their hopes and dreams. Knowing their goals means that you can help them achieve them. This will be a great way to bond and get closer to one another. You can also ask them if there is anywhere they would like to go, and possibly plan a vacation there one day.

If you have children that love to eat cookies, cakes, or brownies, baking could be a wonderful activity to do together. Choose a recipe together from a cookbook or the Internet. You can all enjoy making the recipe and then eating it later.

The kids might also enjoy a cooking lesson with you, but remember not to tell them that it is a lesson. Try making a meal that they already love to eat. During the process, they will learn new and useful skills as well as getting a great meal at the end. It might be best to cook with an anodized cookware set, though, in order to prevent the food from sticking or burning.

Try scrapbooking with your kids. Putting all of your favorite photos and mementos into a scrapbook together can be a lot of fun and makes for a great conversation also. If your kids love Disney, you can even make a Disney scrapbook together.

In order to make a scrapbook, you will need some specific scrapbooking tools. These include a pair of scissors, a stapler, and possibly a hole puncher. Chances are that you probably already have these things. However, there are some items that can make scrapbooking more fun and creative that you might not own, such as a lightbox, glow gels, glitter pens, and embossing tools.

It is not always easy to figure out what to do with your kids for fun. Talk to them about what they like and what their goals are, so you can choose activities that they enjoy.

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Tips and Ideas for Starting a Scrapbooking Business

Filed Under (General) by admin on 06-03-2010

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If you’re interested in starting a scrapbooking business, you’re in luck. Scrapbooking is a great hobby to turn into a profitable business. It’s simple, affordable, creative, easy and something anyone can do, as well as something that stands the test of time! Many other hobbies and crafts have fallen by the wayside because they are too expensive or they were just passing fads, but scrapbooking has been around for many decades.This hobby continues to grow in popularity. But scrapbooking as a business does involve some planning and effort, and of course, you want to be sure you do it right to be successful. If you are thinking seriously about starting a scrapbook business, consider these tips and ideas for getting started.

For one thing, most find that it’s more profitable to go online rather than to try and sell from a brick and mortar store. Scrapbooking is so popular and loved by so many hobbists because the supplies you need are so affordable. You could even offer discount scrapbooking supplies, but of course this cuts into the profits when starting a scrapbooking business. A website is obviously much more affordable to maintain than an actual store and you usually don’t need a staff to run it or need to even keep inventory. Many work with drop shippers, which are companies that manufacture and ship product from their site. All you will need to do is have customers place orders, collect payment for the orders and then forward the order inforrmation to your dropshipper. Starting a scrapbooking business usually requires a sales tax identification number for your state as well as a wholesaler’s license, but these are not difficult or expensive to get.

No matter how you go about starting a scrapbooking business, whether online or an actual store, make sure you create some samples of actual scrapbook pages using the materials you sell. Just like how a clothing store will dress up mannequins to give customers an idea of how to put their items together, anyone starting a scrapbooking business will want to do the same with their materials. You can use the scrapbooking ideas on the backs of the packaging that your products come in or use what is on the website of your drop shipper. Either way, if you create these demonstrations of your products you’re more likely to get customers buying those particular products. They’ll see your examples and be excited about making up the same types of pages for their own scrapbooks.

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