12/04/2010

Free Digital Scrapbooking

Free Digital Scrapbooking

Free Digital Scrapbooking Programs: Product Samples to Test before You Buy the Real Stuffs

Most of us have been so used with the idea of scrapbooking as a combination of paper cutting, photo gluing and sticking bits of nice materials together. All these would be laid on a piece of cardboard, paper or any foundation the scrapper would like to use as a medium.

But there's nothing that computers can't infiltrate. They influenced literally everything from our works to our personal lives and even the crafts that were supposed to be made by hands. Well, some people may have viewed these changes negatively. Nonetheless, so long as a person does his art on whatever technique he prefers, he still is able to fulfill many of life's pleasures.

Computer scrapbooking or betterly known as digital scrapbooking is done by means of laying out pages with the aid of computer softwares. This basically entails the manipulation of photos, graphics, borders, texts and add-ons using digital devices.

Like with conventional scrapbooking, the pages may be printed on high-resolution color printers that the scrapper will then paste on traditional scrapbooks. If you would not want to get bothered with pasting or the bulk of storing albums, you always have the space saving option of strong these in your computer or on a CD or DVD as tokens of memories you would want to share with others.

There are a number of computer programs that you can make use of when doing digital scrapbooking. The three most popular are Adobe PhotoShop Elements 2.0 and CS, Microsoft Picture It!, Lumapix, and JASC's Paint Shop Pro.

All these programs are so effective in helping their users manipulate the designs. The basic features include photo cutting, background replacements, change of colors, text adding, border placing and over-all graphic designing.

The common problem though with many computer softwares for digital scrapbooking is that users tend not to get the full controls. All have their learning curves and would require some mastery. Often, it is difficult for the user to make the program do things as they wish. Now, if you are more experienced with a single program, try to master it first before you choose to switch softwares. After all, if it worked great for you then it might help you better with your other projects.

Aside from the softwares we have already mentioned, it would be good to point out some other choices that you would find interesting. Some of the easiest programs that you can manipulate are the Hallmark, CK, Scrapbook Studio, and Scrapbook Assistants.

All these are designed specifically for digital scrapbooking. S compared with high-end softwares such as those we have mentioned above, these lower-end choices are quite less expensive and easier to use. However, they offer less flexibility in creating layouts.

Digital scrapbooking softwares that have higher learning curves have the tendency to require you to bring out the best of your creativity especially when you're done figuring out how the whole thing works. on the other hand, there are programs that are so versatile that they would allow good use other than scrapbooking purposes.

If you would want t meet the balance and stay in the middle of the road, you might want to choose Microsoft Digital Image Pro. It is less expensive than PhotoShop and will offer lots of advantages over scrapbooking programs. It is not also as hard to master as compared to other programs.

Well, if you are having doubts on what computer program to buy or you are still more comfortable with traditional scrapbooking, the option of downloading free digital scrapbooking programs in the net is always available for you.

Be forewarned though that many free digital scrapbooking downloadable are not as efficient as those you can buy from online and local retailers. They serve more like samples from which you can base your judgement of the products. Well, that expected. The web is a large pool of business propaganda and advertisements. We mean nothing wrong with this, only you have to lower your expectations. After all, websites are not giving you the products, they're only showing you how a specific product works.



If you are wondering how to make things work, be assured that most free digital scrapbooking programs are equipped with tutorial lessons that will lead you to simplified step by step instructions.

Fonts For Scrapbooking

Fonts For Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking Kits: Aids in Creating Fonts for Scrapbooking



When you are about to work on a scrapbook, you will need the materials to get on with the task. A scrapbooking kit takes charge of this. Scrapbooking kits are complete. They are sold whether by local arts and crafts shops within your area or via online shopping. It will be a good idea to be armed with scrapbooking kits most especially if you are going to make your loved one or a special friend a gift for any occasion in his or her life such as birthdays, graduation, or wedding. If you do not know yet, the scrapbook can be a perfect gift for anyone at anytime.

Generally, you will need captions for the pictures that you will include in the scrapbook you are working on. So you will need especially effective journaling pens that do not smudge or blot. These journaling pens come included in the scrapbooking kit. You just have to make sure that the journaling pens are acid-free so they can work well on the photos and the cardstocks. But if you do want a ready-made font for scrapbooking, you can get it from the internet. There are thousands of fonts for scrapbooking as well as templates hosted by the internet.

The scrapbooking kit that you should purchase depends on the theme of the scrapbook that you will make. Is it for the holidays? A birthday? A wedding? A baptismal? Therefore, it points out that the scrapbooking kit which you must take hold of is suited to the occasion at hand. For example, a scrapbooking kit that is meant for the Christmas holidays will include sheets of papers that are the color of the holidays such as red, green, and yellow. There will also be cutouts of Santa Claus, candy canes, Christmas trees, wreaths, jingle bells, stickers, ribbons, and other Christmas-related items. It will be entirely different though for a birthday-inspired scrapbooking kit.

When creating fonts for scrapbooking, there is the latest technique known as the “rub on transfer”. This technique is guaranteed by many to be smudge-free and cheaply priced for your upcoming scrapbook project.

The Supplies Needed

For the “rub on transfer” technique, all you need to procure are: one piece rub on transfer film which comes included in the scrapbooking kit, a fine mist hair gel which has a mega hold, a hairspray, a hair dryer, and an ink jet printer.

How it is done

In order to be successful in this rub on technique, just follow the following steps:

On the transfer film, spray the fine mist hair gel. So as to see if you’ve done the spraying evenly on the coverage of the film, hold up the film a few inches from the mirror. Just spray enough hair gel to cover the entire area of the film.

Dry the sprayed gel with a hair dyer. It needs not be too hot and too close to the film.

Make use of any available word processing program in your computer to design your artwork. You can opt to stamp and flip the images on the film using pigment-based inks.

Set your ink jet printer to either the “T shirt transfer” or “Mirror Image” mode. This step can be omitted if the images have already been flipped.

Print the images using the normal image print setting. It will ensure that the ink will not run.

Have the ink dry up in its place. You can employ the help of the hair dyer but be sure it will not dislocate the ink position.

Gently and smoothly rub on the printed image on the artwork. Make use of a spoon to rub the image in its place. Ensure that the entire area has been rubbed thoroughly so that the image transfer will be successful. After which, peel away the film from the artwork in a gentle way.

You now have a rubbed on image or font for your scrapbook. Wouldn’t it be nice to see that your artwork has really been exerted with too much effort? The pleasure which you may derive from your craft is priceless. Being artistic pays off. Now you have an idea as to how to make fonts for your scrapbook.

Firefighter Scrapbooking

Firefighter Scrapbooking

The Virtues of Firefighter Scrapbooking



Scrapbooking is one of those activities that, while relying around a central theme, allow the person freedom to express him or her self. What does this signify? Well, scrapbooking revolves around one principle: organized chaos. This means that while you can practically put anything in a scrapbook, you should do it in a way that lets the objects relate to one another.

However, inanimate objects cannot really “relate” can they? What you need to do is build bridges between these objects as to let the viewer experience the bigger picture. You need to have a central theme upon which the chaos is based. For chaos that revolves around chaos is just plain, dare I say it, chaotic.

One popular theme among young boys is the firefighter. You see, these true to life heroes are admired by many people. Young boys are not the only ones fascinated by the idea of being a firefighter. In fact, many adults still find themselves wishing that they achieve their childhood dreams of being a firefighter.

Firefighter scrapbooking is probably the closest you can get to the real thing. What does one need to keep in mind when firefighter scrapbooking? Well, you have different factors to consider, and these factors need thorough thinking in order to come together in a scrapbook.

Here are the factors that affect firefighter scrapbooking:

1) Color – There are different types of colors that you can use for firefighter scrapbooking. There is, of course, the standard combination of brilliant red with white. This is the most recognizable, thanks to its being the standard color of fire trucks everywhere. In using this color combination, you need to take care to make the red very distinct and the white should not dominate the theme because doing coloring it so would turn your theme into an ambulance.

Another popular color combination for firefighter scrapbooking would be a red, coupled with spotted white. This actually honors the Dalmatian, since it is known as the traditional dog of the firefighter. People really have little idea why the Dalmatian was chosen as a mascot for such work, but hey, it works.

You may also think of choosing a color combination of red and orange, signifying the flames that the firefighter puts out. However, in order to keep up with the theme of firefighter scrapbooking, you may try to do different colors for different pages, beginning with the colors of the flame and ending with the color blue for water. This would not only be a great firefighter scrapbooking idea, but it can also signify the yin and the yang. Balance is shown by the different colors and the different elements, and if there’s one thing every person needs in his or her memories, it is balance.
2) Imagery – You might also like to be more straightforward with your theme and use different pictures and images for your firefighter scrapbooking. This means you can use popular symbol associated with firefighting.

Here are some symbols you might want to think about using:

a) Fire engine – This popular vehicle enjoys immense popularity in different types of crafting media. What makes this image so popular is the fact that it is easily recognizable. It is also of a very distinct shade of red which is aptly labeled “fire engine red”. The basic construction of this vehicle is so familiar that even children recognize it.

b) Firefighter – The firefighter is also one of the most recognizable images you can use for firefighter scrapbooking. Ideally, since the scrapbook is actually based on the character, this should be the logical choice. Given the popularity of the vehicle, however, you can understand why most people prefer it.

The firefighter also gains its popularity because of the distinctive look of the uniform. In fact, that protective hat of the firefighter is distinctive enough to stand as a symbol on its own.

c) Hydrant – This is also one of the distinct images that people associate with firefighting. Despite the fact that many people actually use fire hydrants for personal purposes the hydrant still remains to be a distinctive symbol of firefighting. Be careful, however, as the hydrant is also associated with dogs mainly because of the fact that many people think that hydrants are dogs’ comfort rooms.

Free Scrapbooking

Downloadable Albums For Free Scrapbooking

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Downloadable Albums for Free Photo Scrapbooking



Technology has changed so much of the way we live. Computers and the internet have especially produced very significant impacts on the way we do different stuff. It made us change the way we do business. The internet revolutionized the way we study. These technologies definitely revolutionized the way we access information. The internet changed the way we build social circles. Last, but definitely not the least, the internet changed the way we look at entertainment.

Some people may disagree, but the internet is definitely the best idea since sliced bread. The internet makes humanity capable of so many things that today, imagination is the only limit. Just think of how come we have far in so few years. A decade ago, the cellular phone was a pathetically large device, which allowed you to call other people, and could not do much else. Now, we have cellular phones that allow you to check your mail, shop, take and share videos and photographs, and virtually any other activity imaginable. Surely, this is a great evidence of the accelerating technological evolution.

There was a time when what you needed to create a scrapbook were paper, scissors, memorabilia, pictures, pens, coloring material and lots of glue. A good idea, of course, was essential to making a good scrapbook. You needed to take time to form a scrapbook out of the little bits and pieces you had. Creativity was a must in order to create the perfect scrapbook.

The advent of the internet also changed that. Today, there are downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking in the internet. This new technology has a few advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look at them, shall we?

Advantages:

1) It saves time and effort - Downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking save time. This is because with downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking, you do not need to take a long time to think up ideas or a general theme for your scrapbook.

There is also the issue of effort. Making a scrapbook from scratch often needs dedication. You need to put in the effort to create a thing of beauty. However, most people today do not have the energy to expend on scrapbooking.

With downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking, you only need to choose which style you want and voila! You have a scrapbook. Many people choose this because of the fact that the world we live in today doesn't really allow us to have much free time. We need to put in the hours to earn money and survive.

2) Easy to share - most downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking in the internet today allow you to share the scrapbook you made to the whole world. You see, most downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking actually need you to upload the images and photos in the internet and there create a virtual scrapbook.

Of course this can't really compare to holding a scrapbook you made with your own hands. However, for those who want instant connectivity, then downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking are perfect for you.

Disadvantages:

1) Uniformity - with downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking, you get to choose from a lot of designs. Because of this feature, however, your scrapbook will lack the individuality that truly makes scrapbooks beautiful. You see, a scrapbook has to reflect your personality. The fact that you make scrapbooks from scratch guarantees that your scrapbook will be unique in the world.

2) Limited to photos - you see, you cannot really upload pieces of memorabilia in order to put into an online scrapbook. We all know that the best scrapbooks use a mixture of pictures and memorabilia in order to truly capture a special event in our lives. We don't really carry a camera around all the time (but nowadays, because of cell phone cameras, some of us do). There are just some experiences, which cannot be fully expressed by a photograph.

There you go: those are some pros and cons of using downloadable albums for free photo scrapbooking. You need to realize that whatever other people tell you about how a scrapbook should look like and how you should create one, the final look of the scrapbook should always reflect your personality. A scrapbook talks about your life, thus, no one can really judge what it should look like, except you.

Discounted Scrapbooking Supplies

Discounted Scrapbooking Supplies

Take Your Past in the Present

Memories can last a lifetime if you allow them to. Nonetheless, if you want to bury them in the past, your discretion will dictate.

Even so, for those who opt to bring the memories in the present, they can choose from a wide variety of equipments, gadgets and techniques to aid them do so. One of the many ways to bridge the gap between the past and the present is by making a scrapbook.



Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a hobby of pasting photos, newspaper and magazine clippings, quotes, memorabilia and other stuffs into custom-decorated albums. People who love both art and memories share the hobby. Thus, combining both in a different artistic expression made scrapbooking existence possible.

Documenting family history and other important occasions and events is a way of preserving the legacy. This is the main purpose of scrapbooking. With a scrapbook around, it will be easy for you to tell stories to your children, grandchildren and the next kin in line. Imagine the bridging of generations. Without a scrapbook, your fallible memory will just fail you. Chances are, you will forget most of your precious memories if not recollect them with so many discrepancies. As they say, pictures paint a thousand words. Hence, to cherish pictures and preserve them in a manner that will not make them deteriorate will also preserve the stories behind them.

Scrapbooking Supplies

Before, scrapbooking is a peculiar hobby. Only a few are hooked by it. Thus, scrapbooking supplies are elusive. However, in today’s modern time when the popularity of scrapboooking is pretty much obvious, there are even stores who give major discounts on scrapbooking supplies.

· Customized Albums

Scrapbook uses customized albums where you put the cropped or scanned pictures and embellishments. These albums come in 2 basic sizes - 8 1/2 x 11 or 12 x 12. Smaller than those sizes will be inadequate to scrapbooking needs. The former is a familiar size. However, the drawback of using the same is that it has limited space hence, your art concepts will also be limited by the space. The usual scrapbooking album is a 12x12 inch paper to accommodate necessary photos, writing and embellishments.

12x12 size creates more room for creative layouts. Hence, you will no longer worry about the limitations in space. Moreover, you can also select from a plethora of colors, themes and styles. Availability is never a bother.

Aside from the size, you must contemplate if you are going to use a strap-bound, post-bound or a 3-ring album. Strap-bound albums have flexible strap hinge, which allows adjacent pages to lie flat with its hinge unseen. Post-bound albums also allow the adjacent pages to lie flat without separating the pages. 3-ring albums, on the other hand, are the easiest albums to use because you can rearrange its pages readily. However, it can only hold limited pages.

In choosing for a customized album, be sure that the album is archival. It must be made with acid free materials. The paper used must also be lignin free. Use the most appropriate colors you can find, your limit is your imagination.

· Album Refills

If you are planning to do an exhaustive scrapbooking session, better purchase album refills together with your desired album. It will be frustrating to know afterwards that no refills are available or compatible to your scrapbook when you needed them.

· Adhesive

There are a lot of adhesives available these days. Choose one or two that will compliment your scrapbooking project. Some of the popular adhesive brands used by artists are Mod Podge, Glue Dots, Triple Thick, 3D Dots, Xyron and EZ.

· Paper

Different kinds of paper can be used to make your scrapbook artistic, appealing and breathtaking. You can use different shapes and colors of paper to add an air of elegance and style.

· Pair of Scissors

Keep your pair of scissors sharp. This will make cutting and shaping easier.

· Pens, crayons and acrylic paint

Pens, crayons and acrylic paint can improve the artistic side of your scrapbook. You can use them to write something or to color a portion of your album.

· Hole punch

To make holes on the pages, a hole punch is indispensable. Hence, your scrapbooking supplies will not be complete if you don’t have one.

Additional Supplies

· Embellishments

Embellishments like stamps, stickers, tags, laces, tassles, alphabets, beads, eyelets, denim blocks and other things that can make your scrapbook a sight to behold can be incorporated in it.

· Scrapbooking kit

The scrapbooking kit is an exclusive compartment of all your scrapbooking supplies. To make your supplies organized and easy to find, this kit is necessary.

Before doing a scrapbook project, be sure that you have all the materials and supplies needed.