Scrapingbook

Scrapingbook : Digital Camera and Photo Editing Software (part 2)
With a digital camera and photo editing software you can not only crop and edit your photographs, but create decorative accents and elements as well. By changing your photos to black and white or sepia tone, resizing or reshaping them, you can make the photos match your vision for a layout — instead of always trying to work around the photos you have (see butterfly above).
Photo editing software also enables you to create backgrounds and elements for your pages that match your photographs exactly. By taking a picture of fabric or simply matching colors from the photo, your pages can be coordinated perfectly. I have been known to take pictures of very strange things — the ground, a rock, even a spider web to use as background designs. Digital editing software allows you to use photos such as this and add special effects such as watercolor, sketching, chalking, etc. The finished product is often very dramatic.
Scanner
all graphics, fonts, and frame from Print Shop Deluxe, sheetmusic was scanned
My favorite tool for creating digital scrapbook items is my scanner. There is an unlimited list of things that can be scanned to include on your paper scrapbook pages. From actual paper items such as your child's artwork, journal entries, schoolwork, recital programs, sheet music, ticket stubs, postcards, etc. to 3D items such as your Grandmother's button collection, jewelry, artwork, fabric, frames — the possibilities go on and on. I find that by including my children's work in this way I am able to resize it to fit on my page perfectly.
Here is a page that is done very much from a child's point of view. It is entitled "Our Cottage". The background is a painting my daughter did many years ago depicting the lake at our summer cottage. I included a journal entry she wrote in school about our summers at the lake and her drawing of the cottage itself. Although it may not be the most polished pieces I have ever created, it is, in my mind, one of the most special because it is a part of my daughter!
Internet Access and Scrapbooking CDs
Last, but certainly not least is Internet access and digital scrapbooking CDs. There are many places on the web including Elemental, a division of Pages of the Heart, to download items such as backgrounds, elements, frames, etc. for your scrapbook pages. Digital scrapbooking CDs offer many of the same items. Although people most often think of using these items for digital projects, many can be printed off and included on paper pages as well.
Remember to always be true to yourself, your own style and preferences when scrapbooking. With so many choices out there it is hard not to imitate others in an attempt to keep up. Be careful, you can easily lose your vision and your creativity. Believe me — I'm guilty! Never forget the reasons you scrapbook: whether it's simply a creative outlet or a way to leave a legacy, be sure to enjoy yourself! •
© 2005 Cindy Schrauben
About the AuthorCindy Schrauben is a self-taught digital artist and small business owner. To see her work and a full line of custom cards and invitations visit: A Glimpse of Time: custom photo cards