Newbie Here

[susiekline]

Hi, I hope I am posting to the right place! I, literally, just discovered digital scrapbooking two days ago! I have tons of stuff for regular scrapbooking but hate dragging it out and having a mess. Doing this digitally is a dream!

I am a glass artist whose studio (aka the garage) is frozen for the winter. So I was frustrated creatively! But not any more!

I have a wonderful husband, 3 sons (15yo twins and a 9yo), 3 dogs, 3 cats. We live in the frozen western suburbs of Illinois.

I look forward to learning so much from all of you! And, seriously, can I do this with just photoshop elements and cds with add-ons?! Incredible!

[Jenny McDonald]

Welcome, Welcome! and yes you can do this with only cds and photoshop elements! I hope you love it here as much as I do! We joke that you'll need a 12 step program because it's so addictive! This is a great place to come and ask questions so ask away, someone is bound to know the answer!
Hope to see you on here more often.

[Alyson]

Susie, welcome to the world of digital scrapbooking. It really is a great way to do scrapbooking for the reasons you listed as well as a ton of other reasons! Welcome to the forums here as well. Make sure to ask any and all of the questions you have. We are all more than happy to help in whatever way we can.

[crystalclark87]

Welcome Susie! It is good that someone actually used the newbie section! Hehe.. it was made after a scrapbook show becuase tons of new people joined the forums... but there are rarely new posts in here, just tons of new people! It's great to see it used, of course you can post wherever you want.. we will all read it!

Glad to have ya! How long have been a glass artist? Is it like blowing glass or some other art form?

[tpowers]

Welcome. I just discovered digitalscrapbooking not too long ago and love it compared to traditional. Also, the ladies here (and Keith) are wonderful about awnsering questions and making sure that you made it work. I love it here and you probably will become addicted like the rest of us.

[rizkid22]

Welcome Susie! You will be so addicted to digiscrapping and this forum so beware!! Keep on posting so we can get to know you better!

[Jamie Hamblin]

Welcome!

[lanz]

Yes, Welcome Susie. Your life will never be the same again. You won't even look at your paper scrapbooking the same again. I have three children under 5 and to even think about dragging out my other stuff scares me to death. This is definately a mess free hobby, but very addicting I must worn you. You will definately love it and love getting to know the other gals on this forum.
Lana

[LucyLu]

Welcome you will love it here

[Keith]

Welcome!

[Kim Hansen]

Susie Q, welcome, it's so nice to have new people to chit chat with and get to know. Just like they said above, 'Your life will never be the same!" (TRUE STORY)

[Alishaw]

Susie, great to have you here! Definitely, jump on here a ton while you are getting started because you can find tons of tutorials and resources to get you over the initial learning curve. ANYTHING you need, just ask and we will gladly help in any way we can. I love where you are in digital scrapbooking because I remember that feeling and have never looked back since. It's all very exciting!

[Kelli West]

Welcome to the best forum around!!! You will LOVE it here!!! Digi scrapping is the way to go, and better than old style!!!! You will never look back!!

[susiekline]

Thanks for the very warm welcome! To answer questions...I have been a glass artist for a few years now. I teach beadmaking and glass fusing, as well as sell my things. I have sites... www.klineartstudio.com www.klineartstudio.etsy.com www.klineartstudio.com/blog

On my blog I posted images of the first 3 layouts I did this week.

I think I am already becoming addicted. I had to order a newer version of Elements to use with my new vista operating sytem (a result of the great computer crash of early 2008) and it comes early next week. I need it to tweak my photos for my sites, but am more excited about the digital scrapbooking aspect!

I look forward to getting to know everyone a lot better!

[Kelli West]

way cool Susie!!! That looks like it would be fun to do!!

[peverill]

Welcome Susie!

[chryslergreen]

Hi Susie! I saw the layouts on your blog - looks like you are well on your way! Your glass beads are super cute too. Have you used Photoshop prior to scrapbooking? I'm not super great with computers but I thought it was relatively easy to pick up on it to scrapbook. Especially with the great tutorials on this site and others. I used to paper scrapbook but once I found digital, I haven't pulled my paper stuff out since (almost 3 years). I'm definitely an addict! Anyway - welcome! I hope you'll keep posting here and ask any questions - the ladies here know everything!

[lanz]

Susie, I also saw the layouts on your blog. Great job! Did you find it hard to pull yourself away from the computer, when all you want to do is scrapbook? Somedays, it is very hard for me! Keep up the great work and have fun!

[susiekline]

I did find it hard to pull myself away from the computer once I started the digi scrapping! And I keep thinking of new ways to do it. I'm feeling good about using all those digital pictures I have hanging out on cds and on my computer.

I did use Elements previously. I'm just getting a new version for Vista because of the new computer.

How do you all share your layouts on the computer? I've seen them attached to messages and would like to do that. Do you use a photo site like Flicker? I like that I've been able to see them real size almost. Mine on my blog are so small!

[Alyson]

Susie, you can use a photo hosting site (I use photobucket, but I'm sure Flickr works as well) and click on the little thumbnail that looks like a picture of mountains to include the layout in your post. You can also attach it as a thumbnail; which everyone can click on to see the layout larger. To find out how to do this, go to this thread (http://forum.digitalscrapbookmemories.com/showthread.php?t=2587&highlight=posting+layouts).

[crystalclark87]

You can also upload them strait from your computer.. You don't need to have a host site at all, it is just one more step to do.

[crystalclark87]

I keep trying to look at your blog and for some reason it wont load.. It's weird..

[A-to-Z]

Welcome Susie!! You will love it here and you will LOVE Digi Scrapping! This is the perfect place to ask questions and just have fun!

[supermombritt]

Welcome Susie. We are glad to have you here. you will find this site helpful and everyone friendly.

[April]

Welcome Susie!!

[LVincoli]

I am so glad someone else is new to this. I have spent 3 weeks just downloading kits and actions and now totally lost. Any beginner suggestions? I too have all the scrapbook stuff and don't have time with 2 little ones to make a bigger mess than my kids. What do you experts suggest? I am 5 years behind in my scrapbooking!

[chryslergreen]

Welcome LVincoli!!! This is such a great place for a beginner. My tips would be to learn the basics of your program - are you using photoshop??? I think that's what almost everyone here uses, so send any questions you have our way. Everyone here is so great at answering questions! Also check out the sticky thread at the top of the digital scrapbooking forum here... it has links to a lot of helpful tricks, especially the little keyboard short cuts that will help you scrapbook faster.

Also... I know it can feel overwhelming when you feel you are "behind"... but I find what works best for me is to say, if I could only scrapbook one more page/memory, what would it be? Start there, I find that more meaningful (and the pages come out easier) than trying to scrap chronologically.

Happy Scrapping! Hope you'll stick around! :D

[Alishaw]

Get all your STUFF organized before you start. Photos, kits, etc then you won't have that frustration on top of all the learning. Classes will start next week and you will gain a ton of knowledge there! Once you do a bit of practicing, you'll be thrilled and quickly get yourself caught up! Welcome!

[supermombritt]

Welcome. Don't look at it as being behind five years. I still have not done my wedding from 11 years ago. I decided that I would start right now. Each time I take photos or do something, I scrap that. when I have some extra time, then I scrap something from the past. This way I don't feel too overwhelmed. Good luck.

[Kim Hansen]

Alisha, what classes? I don't want to miss anything.

[Kelli West]

I'm with Kim on that!!!!

[crystalclark87]

Yeah, you lost me on 'classes starting' When, and what? online, or in person?

[LVincoli]

I am so impressed with everyone. Thank you for being so welcoming! I know I am not a fellow Utah-n! Great suggestions! I am excited about the classes. I saw on one website that they have like retreat weekends for digiscrapping! I might have to arrange for a girls weekend in Utah! (my cousins go to the Y and our very dearest family friends just moved to Sandy.)

[Tori Easton]

Welcome

[Alyson]

Lindsay, DSM is having a retreat in Park City at the end of April. It would be fun if you could make it!! Maybe they will give a prize for the person who traveled the farthest to be there. :D

[caulensmom]

Welcome Lindsay! Its great to have you here. Yes, come to the retreat! Park City is an amazing place to be and having a digiscrap retreat up there is THAT much more fun!

[LVincoli]

It is sounding tempting! We are planning to go to Disney World in either March or April. I might have to work something out. I love Park City! My fam use to ski there a lot. I went to Cosmetology school in Provo (Good old Bon Losee!) and Park City was one of my favorite places to "get away"! Are you all going? Thanks for all the help, by the way.

[caulensmom]

I am going to be there and I am thinkin that Alyson is going to come to!

[Alyson]

Yes, I am definitely going to be there. Kelli, Kim, and Jenny all say they are coming in the other thread. I'm sure there are others...these were just off the top of my head.

[supermombritt]

Brooke and Alisha will be there too I believe.

[tpowers]

Me too! I am so excited for this.

[Jamie Hamblin]

me too! Can't wait!

[Kim Hansen]

I'll be there--can't wait to meet all of you--and to learn more techniques and buy the Boy's CD:)

[lauree]

Hello everyone,
I am new at digital scrapbooking got all theses programs Photoshop Elements 6, memory mixer, pixel magic, polorid scrapbooking. Have done some pages but with reading about photoshop elements 6 it seems like it would be the best but I do not know where to start with that one. and I have printed out some pages but I want them to fit the whole page which is 8.5 x 11 and I never get one that prints out the whole thing there is always a white border and when you do paper scrapbooking you can use the whole page so there we go I have some big problems..

thanks Lauree
photoshop elements 6
Kodak printer

[montmeag]

Welcome Lauree. Are you printing at home? You might want to check your printer and see if it has an edgeless printing option. If it does make sure that is selected. If it doesn't you may want to check into commercial printing. A lot of people use Costco. Some use Sam's Club. I think Staples will print for you too. There are ton of online printers as well. Just do a google search and it will bring up a ton of companies. Something to watch for is some companies still print with a small white border (about 1//8") to make sure nothing gets cut off. Some people have them professionally printed and then just trim the white border off. I would also suggest that you do a search in the "digital scrapbooking" forum here for "printing". There have been numerous discussions about this very topic. If you're interested you can also do a search here for "bound books" to get input about what companies other people have used, etc. Hope you find something you like. Ask more questions if you don't.

[Alyson]

Welcome, welcome, welcome!! You will love digital scrapbooking. We are so glad you have decided to join us!

I think you will definitely be happy with Photoshop Elements 6 in the long run. I think Photoshop is the most common program being used in digital scrapbooking, so you can get a lot more help with it because more people have experience with it. If you want to get started, a great place to look is the tip section on this website. Click tips in the green bar across the top of this page.

There are also free online classes here. Check out the most recent thread about them, and sign up if you're interested, click here (http://forum.digitalscrapbookmemories.com/showthread.php?t=4784). There's even one tomorrow! It will help out a lot, and you can start trying some of the things you learn, and ask questions about the things that just didn't quite make sense.