Scrapbooking made simple

When you think of scrapbooks, do musty attics and heavy albums filled with old photos come to mind? If so, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Scrapbooking 1.0 (building pages by hand using store-bought elements) has become a wildly popular pastime for people of all ages. Using patterned paper as a backdrop, scrapbookers create a colorful, personalized display for their photos and other visual elements. But here’s good news for all you digital enthusiasts: Scrapbooking 2.0, or digital scrapbooking, delivers a whole new way to scrapbook using your laptop and your imagination. Not only can you create fun, embellished pages using photos, graphic elements, frames, borders and text—but many programs are now offering multimedia scrapbooking. Want a slideshow with music and captions to upload to your iPod? You can make it! There are a variety of resources to help you delve into this addictive world, depending on what you want to do and your skill level.

Web-based programs
Services such as Kodak Gallery, Shutterfly and Snapfish are a great place to start because they do everything for you. Besides organizing and storing your digital photos, these services also offer a number of products and gift ideas that you can make yourself. Keep in mind that these sites focus on the creation of photo books and products such as calendars—layouts consist of a single photo per page with a limited array of frames and backgrounds to choose from. In other words, they’re great for sharing photos but won’t satisfy your inner Picasso.

Microsoft programs
Layouts using programs you already have through Microsoft Office can be surprisingly fun and versatile. For example, you can create scrapbook pages using PowerPoint by simply designing your “slides” using photos and interesting background colors. Microsoft Word is also more designer-friendly than it seems, offering text boxes, file and photo insertion, background color options and table-making. Take a look at Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed: MS Word to get the most out of your Word program.

Standalone programs
A quick look online shows that there are hundreds of standalone packages on the market that offer a much higher level of digital scrapbooking capabilities. When poking around to see which one is for you, check to see how easy it is to import photos directly from a camera and scanner, as well as assessing all the fun stuff like templates and font choices. Polaroid’s MyMemories Suite is the granddaddy of standalone programs, with easy-to-use tools and a variety of output options including slideshow, DVD, web photo galleries and pdfs. Budding graphic designers might prefer Adobe’s PhotoShop Elements—it’s easier to use than PhotoShop and PaintShop Pro but allows for almost limitless customization. There are less expensive options too, such as My Scrapbook and Scrapbook Factory Deluxe. Consider them as a starting point and work your way up.

Online Resources
One of the best things about digital scrapbooking is the communities built around it. You’ll find thousands of digital scrapbooking enthusiasts of every age and taste waiting to see what you create and showing off masterpieces of their own. Check out the talented bloggers at Two Peas in a Bucket or Scrap Girls, and you’ll get ideas and inspiration from them. Places like CottageArts.net are sort of like a scrapbooker’s emporium; you will find everything from templates and embellishments, to CD tutorials, starter packs, scrapbook galleries, designers’ blogs and newsletters. Check out Digital Scrapbooking magazine either in print or online for up-to-date information on new techniques, layout ideas, designers and products.