The Wow Factor of Digital Scrapbooking

I think digital scrapbooking is really, really cool.  I’ve been creating digital scrapbook pages since June 2005 and have been a designer since 2006 and I still think it’s super cool. But I have a question for you – have you stopped feeling that way? Sometimes I lose my mojo and my enthusiasm but I’ve had a couple pairs of fresh eyes look at my work lately and they were really impressed with what can be done with digital photos, supplies and a computer. These ladies had never seen or heard of digital scrapbooking before and so the wow factor was pretty high. Today I was at the bank to create a business checking account for Christine Smith Digital Design, primarily to deposit a check from a corporate client. My banker commented on what a cool business I was in multiple times. For her, it was new and fresh and novel. If you don’t feel that way anymore, do you remember when you did? If you want to regain that feeling, I have some suggestions on how to do it.

1. Learn a new technique – look through galleries and teaching websites ‘til you find an idea you like and see if you can learn how to do it. Googling the search terms “digital scrapbook tutorials” will get you lots of results and may I also recommend my series on straight ribbons?
2. Take a class. Here are a few that pop into my mind: Hummie’s World, Big Picture Classes, Debbie Hodge, Jessica Sprague.com and Bunny Cates’ Book About Me. I know there are more so don’t consider this a definitive list!
3. Participate in a challenge. There are many available at Digitals, including my Card Challenge.  Have you ever made a digital card?  They’re fast and fun and useful.  There’s a list of challenges in this forum at digishoptalk.com  And don’t forget about The DigiDares.
4. Read some blogs. See what’s new and interesting or just get inspired by layouts. I subscribe to The Daily Digi and love seeing what they post every day.
5. Go shopping for digital scrapbook kits and embellishments!  Sometimes some new supplies really get me chomping at the bit to create something that I can use them on, is anyone with me on this? I invite you to check out my store during my grand opening sale if you want to get some bargains.
6. Get some new fonts.  Fonts also “speak” to me – they say COME SCRAP WITH ME.  There are TONS of free fonts available around the web.  Check out MyFonts.com, FontSquirrel, Kevin and Amanda and Miss Tiina.  Don’t get lost now like I do – I can look at fonts for hours.
7. Organize your digital scrapbook supplies. I use ACDSee but it’s not the only show in town.  See what’s in your stash – I bet there’s something in there that really wants to get used.
8. Share your pages in a new way. Not a gallery user?  Try uploading to your favorite site. Leave feedback for a few people and see if people comment on yours. (If not, it DOESN’T mean it’s a crummy page!) Email to a relative. Post on Facebook. Make a screen saver. Load onto a digital frame. Print, if you don’t normally. You can get 12x12 frames at Michael’s to hang a favorite layout on your wall. Burn to a DVD and set to music. Send a digital greeting card. There are so many ways to use digital scrapbook pages!

Rekindle your love for digital scrapbooking! To me, it is honestly the very BEST hobby I have ever had. It lets me be creative AND geeky at the same time LOL. I hope a new spark lights in your creative efforts today – have fun making something.