How do I start my scrap book?

Michelle - posted on 04/08/2011

Hi Vanessa! I am a master designer with an online publishing company that in my biased opinion feel there is nothing out there like it!! They have it all from designing to printing! The drag and drop design studio is already integrated with 50,000+ pieces of FREE keyword searchable designer artwork categorized in thousands of matching collections (would cost over $5000 to download yourself but you get it free)! It also has FREE unlimited high resolution photo storage that I can download back to my computer at any time so all of my pictures are ready for me to drag and drop and place where I want them on the page! The design stdudio is just like traditional scrapbooking where I can create the page like I want to and not be stuck with a template that I can't change! However it also includes almost 5,000 professionally pre-designed templates that ARE changeable so if you don't like an embellishment on the page you can delete it..move it, add more art..and change background papers and colors to your liking..etc! When you are done with your project (scrapbook pages, hardbound books, gallery wrapped canvas prints, greeting cards, invites, posters, calendars, cookbooks and more)..you simply push a button and it's professionally printed and delivered to your door in a week. I have never come across products with better quality that too make me cry when I get them back! They use only the highest archival quality materials with superior digital printing and everything they offer is gorgeous!! I like their customizable 12x12 postbound album that come with page protectors and then I make their 12x12 scrapbook pages and insert them! The only thing you pay for is professional printing! So for just $3 per scrapbook page..I get all the artwork I could ever need (more collections added every month), an unbelievable design studio and professional printing for one low price!!

I have included samples of things I have created with our studio..Again..you can create them on your own or use these as templates and simply drop in your photo's and add your text but still have the freedom to change anything about it that you don't like:

Please feel free to contact me and I'll get on a quick webinar with you and show you the design studio..you are going to fall in love with this easy, fast and fun solution to digital scrapbooking!
Scrapbook page
http://www.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/4/45...

Scrapbook page
http://www.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/4/45...

Gallery Wrapped Canvas
http://www.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/4/45...

Michelle - posted on 04/08/2011

Hi Vanessa! I am a master designer with an online publishing company that in my biased opinion feel there is nothing out there like it!! They have it all from designing to printing! The drag and drop design studio is already integrated with 50,000+ pieces of FREE keyword searchable designer artwork categorized in thousands of matching collections (would cost over $5000 to download yourself but you get it free)! It also has FREE unlimited high resolution photo storage that I can download back to my computer at any time so all of my pictures are ready for me to drag and drop and place where I want them on the page! The design stdudio is just like traditional scrapbooking where I can create the page like I want to and not be stuck with a template that I can't change! However it also includes almost 5,000 professionally pre-designed templates that ARE changeable so if you don't like an embellishment on the page you can delete it..move it, add more art..and change background papers and colors to your liking..etc! When you are done with your project (scrapbook pages, hardbound books, gallery wrapped canvas prints, greeting cards, invites, posters, calendars, cookbooks and more)..you simply push a button and it's professionally printed and delivered to your door in a week. I have never come across products with better quality that too make me cry when I get them back! They use only the highest archival quality materials with superior digital printing and everything they offer is gorgeous!! I like their customizable 12x12 postbound album that come with page protectors and then I make their 12x12 scrapbook pages and insert them! The only thing you pay for is professional printing! So for just $3 per scrapbook page..I get all the artwork I could ever need (more collections added every month), an unbelievable design studio and professional printing for one low price!!

I have included samples of things I have created with our studio..Again..you can create them on your own or use these as templates and simply drop in your photo's and add your text but still have the freedom to change anything about it that you don't like:

Please feel free to contact me and I'll get on a quick webinar with you and show you the design studio..you are going to fall in love with this easy, fast and fun solution to digital scrapbooking!
Scrapbook page
http://www.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/4/45...

Scrapbook page
http://www.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/4/45...

Gallery Wrapped Canvas
http://www.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/4/45...

Aimee - posted on 03/22/2011

Hi there! I've been digi scrapping for about 4 1/2 years now since jsut before my son was born. My son's book is a mess. lol My daughter's book went better for me. What I did is made the blank pages ready to go before she was born and then filled them in as I went (or later). I had a page for each month with a picture of her and then a calender up the sides to just fill in any milestones that happenned on that day. I also did a couple of pages for the hospital, a page of her nursery and our home that she came home to, a family tree, a dental chart etc... Most of that can be done before and spaces left to just drag and drop in the picture when you have it. I suggest looking through baby books at the store to see what some possibilities are for LOs -- that can help a lot.
I use Photoshop, myself, but I am pretty comfortable with the program. Elements is a bit easier to use and there are great programs online as well, but be aware that most of the elements made for digiscrapping are photoshop compatible.
I usually print through Shutterfly. Just look for the deals and then printing is cheaper.
Also, I suggest you hang out at scrapping sites like www.twopeasinabucket.com and www.thedigichick.com and see what other scrappers are doing.
Good luck!

Yvette - posted on 11/03/2010

I also want to start scrap books for my kids but just don't know any info or tips on how to start so if you get some good ideas can you share them with me.

Connie - posted on 10/28/2010

I can't believe I just found this site! Vanessa, everyone has such wonderful suggestions! OMG you will be addicted like us when you figure out how to make them. I use Shutterfly for ALL my photobook printing. Shutterfly offers Simple Path books which means they can put the book together for you when you add pictures of your choice. OR you can make a custom book and change all the pages yourself. ( Shutterfly.com ) I make them this way then about 9 months ago I bought a program called lumapix fotofusion LOVE IT for putting together digi books. You can google it and look at the preview. I also use Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Creative Suites 4.

Here's a link to some sample books at Shutterfly: http://community.shutterfly.com/communit...

And here's my my Shutterfly Share site link: http://etterscreations1.shutterfly.com/ Some of my books are on the guest page.

Heather - posted on 10/26/2010

Hi Vanessa, I am a fan of digital scrapbooking. I use a program by Stampin Up! called My Digital Studio. I am a demonstrator, but I am also a graphic designer. I have tried other programs on the market from major photoprinters, and also traditional scrapbooking, but MDS is my favorite. I can keep my photos on my computer-I label them by month and year, and I can use all the typefaces on my computer. The programs has over 60 stamps set installed, plus embellishments, paper, ribbon, punches, and more. It comes with designer templates that work as drop and go type books, photo layouts, and start from scratch layouts. There is no mess when I scrapbook, and no storage problems. I can make cards, calendars, many size of books, and then turn them into jpgs I can share, print, or even burn them to a cd or dvd as a slideshow.
I also like that we have a online community called Mydigitalstudio.net where you can see other peoples ideas and post your own. we also have forums for chatting and getting help.
My website is http://scrappystampers.stampinup.net. For a great video overview go to http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/scr... . You can shop online with the products tab.

Hope this helps, email me with any questions!
Heather

REGINA - posted on 02/25/2010

I AM A GRANDMOTHER OF 2 GIRLS AND A BABY ON THE WAY AND I HAVE SO MANY PIC OF THEM THAT I WANT TO SCRAPBOOK SO I WATCH HGTV EACH WEEK TO GET IDEAS. AND I ALSO LOOK ON OTHER PEOPLE'S PAGE TO GET IDEAS AND YOU CAN ALSO GO TO FREECRAFTSITES TO GET GOOD IDEAS , THE INTERNET IS YOU BEST SOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON ANYAND EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. I ALSO HAVE A CRICUT EXPRESS MACHINE .

GOOD LUCK

Tish - posted on 02/22/2010

Hi Vanessa -- If you don't want to add more software to your computer, try lifephoto.com. The software is on their site. You can create your own digital photo albums, store an unlimited number of photos there. Plus you can share your albums from lifephotos with Facebook friends, on Twitter,other social media sites, on a blog or Web site, and by e-mail.

Make a photo book with your photos and you can send a "turning-page" preview of your book the same way -- at no cost. But you can opt to have your book printed in lifephoto's pro photo lab -- the same lab used by professional photographers across the country.

Lifephoto is in the process of adding even more background and scrapbooking options to its site. But there's a lot on it already to choose from.

Check it out. I'd love to hear back about what you think.

http://simplephotogifts.com
http://lifephoto.com

Ramona - posted on 02/20/2010

Actually I get my Photobook prints from here:
http://www.artscow.com/default.aspx?Ref=...

I love the books, but not happy with there mouse pads.
The cups are awesome and also the puzzles, photo prints and key chain, that is all I have ordered by them so far.

The prices are very resonable and great quality.

If you have any questions with your book, which program to use... Let me know, love to help, when I can.

i have Corel PSP XII which I love but also just bought the Adobe CS4, haven;t used it at this moment, but everybody in my groups just love this program, they say it has a lot of different function. And both are just the perfect combination.
But for starter, I would recommend Corel PSP XII.

Also agree, keep lots of folders on your computer, for everything and stay organized (which isn't the easiest for me lol) Also try to get an external HD, to save your layouts and photo;s, they are so precious !!!

Erin - posted on 02/20/2010

Oh geez, I forgot to add where I get my prints from! Scrappingsimply.com! They are soo very affordable and their prints are EXQUISITE! When I get them back in the mail, they bring tears to my eyes!

Erin - posted on 02/20/2010

I agree with Danielle Lee. You should get everything organized first.
I have several folders on my computer. After having literally hundreds of digital layouts completed, just laying around collecting virtual dust, I made a folder for each of my children's books. I then went through all my layouts and chose which ones I wanted to keep for their books and moved them to the corresponding folder.Then I had a folder of what I wanted to "redo" so I wouldn't forget what all still needed to be scrapped again. In each of my kids' folders I have another folder called printed. As I get pages sent in, I move them to that folder, so I know where I stand and don't accidentally print a duplicate.
So far, I only have a good start on my daughter's book. I wanted to do hers first since she is the first born. And I too, wanted a theme even though it is a general book about her life. So I got the idea from an Everclear song, The Story of A Girl. My front cover I used traditional scrapping supplies to decorate and it says (from the song) This Is the Story of a Girl. Then, when you open the cover, my first page has a series of photos from birth on up, all different shots of her with a big cheesy smile, and it says (again from the song) and I absolutely love it when she smiles.
So you probably didn't need to know exactly how I did my scrapbook lol, but I'm really proud of it because I put so much thought into it! So in a nutshell anyway, that's my piece of advice, pick a song or a poem that you like and turn it into a running theme. There is a poem out there somewhere, something about a Boy's Tale, I think that could end up being the theme for my son's book when I get to it--HA!

Ramona - posted on 02/20/2010

If you like, check out my blog.
I have started digital scrapbooking about 1.5 years ago before that I didn't even know what scrapping is...

http://magicaldreamdesigns.blogspot.com/

Rachel - posted on 02/18/2010

I love your photobooks Danielle! Very inspirational :]

Vanessa- You can buy software that makes it really easy! I spent $20 on a program called digital scrapbook artist and love it! I am not very creative, but the program is for me. You can look up tutorials for it on youtube to see if its your thing. If it is find it on Amazon.com If you use this program you can make books really east through any printing site- but I am sure that is the same with any program you use. Hope this helps!

Danielle - posted on 02/17/2010

Hi Vanessa! I started my sons Scrap books by first organizing my digital photos in folders, birth, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months plus, 5 months... etc.



Even though I have a Degree in Web Design and Graphic Design, I bypassed Photoshop and Photoshop elements, cause lets face it I don't have the time to work page by page, so I came across a software program called Picaboo. You can download it at www.picaboo.com for free. (you are also welcome to use any program software of your choice.) But the backgrounds through picaboo are free, and the program is so easy to use. Plus you can either purchase the book through picaboo, share online, or print at home!



I started my Son's Baby Books with photos of us checking into the hospital before we had him. I believe I ended the book at the end of 1month old. I started his second baby book at the age of 2 months, and the next one I think I started at 4 months.... etc.



I ordered the books through Picaboo directly, and I am hoping that as he gets older, they will simply be books in his book collection that he will like reading and looking at all the pictures! If you follow the links, I have shared an example of my first 2 baby books! Enjoy, and Best of luck to you!!! I am sure your son will love anything you make for him!



Baby Book 1

http://preview.picaboo.com/Webview/Cover...



Baby Book 2

http://preview.picaboo.com/Webview/Cover...