i visited the digi side of the world

i have always been very quick to say that i am NOT or ever will be a digital scrapbooker. i understand so little of photoshop. just enough to edit my photos and print some photo collages. i ignore any tutorials on digital scrapbooking i see. i admire the layouts, sure. but i don't pay attention to how they're done. i have a stack of digital scrapbooking idea books also. about five or six of them. but i just look at the layouts. i've never read all the great instructions and tips that are written inside. 

that being said, i have managed to start a small collection of digital kits and elements. and i never use them. but this weekend, i got around to doing some browsing on the scrapgirls site. they were super generous in sending the CK dream team some gift certificates, and i figured it was time i use mine. i loaded up on paper kits. since i always start with paper when i scrap. figured i would do the same with digital scrapping, once i got around to trying it. luckily, getting new kits all downloaded and organized on my computer got me inspired to try and use them.

and here is what i came up with. my very first all digital layout. i actually started out with the idea to just do the paper and photos digital. and then print it out, and add real "stuff" to it. like embellishments, ribbons, title letters. since that is something that i don't have much of. i have just a tiny handful of digital embellishments, and am not patient enough to learn how to make my own. but in the end, i just used what i did have and and made it work.

i created my layout in the 8x8 inch size. my photo printer only prints 8.5x11, and that way i could print at home. or i could order them from costco, and pick them up for $1.49 each. then i can mat that 8x8, onto a 9x9 sheet of cardstock. since i do scrap the 9x9 size, and since i always love a good matted look around my layouts. and another thought that just came to mind. this could very easily be reprinted for haley's mom and dad, and they could have their own copy.

i certainly have no plans of becoming a digital scrapper. or switching over to "the other side". lol! but this was fun to play around with. i created this and printed it all within an hour. i didn't make a mess, i didn't have to cut paper, i didn't have to dig out title letters, i didn't have to go upstairs to print my journaling and then cut it into strips, i didn't have to take photos of my layout and then find my card reader to upload them to the computer, i didn't have to crop and resize that photo of my layout to share on my blog. i literally sat in my chair and scrapped, just by clicking some buttons. kind of a nice change of pace. but i'll be back with my paper and real "stuff" today :)

supplies:
birthday wishes solids paper mini, by sarah batdorf (turquoise paper)
young at heart paper biggie, by angie briggs (orange circles paper)
typesets hello ness brushes and stamps, by cathy zielske (title)
artist in me, by karla dudley designs (stitches)

Comments

[Heather Jordan]

I am another one of those people who swears I will never be a digital scrapper. I don't even want to learn. I love playing with the paper and embellishments too much! Thanks for sharing this though. Good job!
I have a quick question: How do you print the long strips of journaling on a 8 1/2 x 11 printer...like on the "Whoo's your best friend?" layout?

[Patricia Kumfer]

That turned out great Laura. I seem to be addicted to both. I think the main reason I like digi is becuase I can NOT use sewing machine and I lave sewing on layouts. Digi makes it so easy. LOL. BUt my roots will always be with paper.

[Jen Gallacher]

You did great!! :) Hybrid is the best of both worlds. LOL! ;)

[Brandie]

I'm excited to see you trying out digital! Your layout looks fabulous.

[Sarah Batdorf]

I LOVE scrapbooking my babies' pics now that they are 5 and 7. I miss that age. Beautiful layout. I love your style.

[krolski (kathy)]

Great LO! I have done some digi stuff, but mostly I like hybrid too. I still like working with the "real" stuff too much to go all digi. :)

[Susy]

It has come up lovely, very clever. I am still yet to cross over to the dark side, I have dabbled in some hybrid stuff which I have enjoyed but scrapbooking the traditional way appeals to my messy side :-)

[Suzanne]

This is beautiful! How nice to be done within an hour!!! Sweet title, and I love the photos! (glad you are not going to the other side!) LOL

[Carla]

OMG, love love this!!!!!!!! I love that stitching and Haley is gorgeous in these pics!

[Karla Dudley]

WOW WOW WOW FREAKIN' WOW!!!!!! This is your first one? ....Well, I'l be...

Girl you have mad talent! I love everything about this! I'm a sucker for clean geometric lines! And your photography is super sweet! He's a cutie! I would love for you to guest design for me sometime ^_^

-Karla

[Sandi N.]

Laura

I am very proud of you:) Great job!

Sandi N.

[Sara Rossi]

For your 1st attempt at digi I think you did WONDERFUL!! And just a little FYI--when I was 1st reading this I thought you were describing me....well except for the ability to create collages, & editing...LOL!!

[alicia king]

great digi page Laura! I always said I would never go digital...but I love hybrid! And some of the most simple things like text on photos that were on pages in the early years of CK...I have wanted to learn that for years, and I finally know how to! I used to find myself asking how do they do that! And now I can just look at it and say I can do that! lol! it's amazing what you can learn!

[Tammy Morales]

Laura,

What a great layout and your first one; pure digital - IMPRESSIVE!

I am like you and love using paper, embellishments, and the process of more traditional scrapbooking.

Could you share how you take photos of your paper layouts? I am really struggling to get a great shot of my layouts.

Thanks a bunch!

[Meghann]

That is a great first digi layout! I don't like digi myself, and always ignore tutorials as well!

[Kim M]

You sound just like me. I don't ever see myself going digi, I just like the feel of paper in my hands and creating with it. I love the look of your first digi layout, I think you did great.

[Sue from Collage Picture Frames]

I think you should definitely visit the dark side more often your layout is digitastic.:)

Cheers
Sue

[karin]

You make it look so easy - I might have to try it soon. I, too, love to work with the paper, but the ease of digi is calling. My excuse is I work on the computer all day for work, its nice to get the break - but it would be nice to show up to a weekend crop with my friends, with just my laptop and my MPIX login! I'll have to try the hybrid version - I don't like how fake some of the digi stuff looks! thanks for the push and always fresh inspiration!
-karin

[Sierra]

I love it! My fave thing is its still so you! Your certain style with the paper strips. Haley is so teeny tiny! Very sweet indeed!