Are you wondering about this digital scrapbooking craze? Do you think it's a wonder that paper scrappers could ever want to do scrapbooking on their computers. Are you wondering about how to get started in digital scrapbooking? I think I might have some answers for you then!

You see, I was a diehard paper scrapbooker. There, I said it. Did you see the operative word there - was? I swore up and down, left and right that I could never would never become a digital scrapper. After all, I love my paper too much! (Not to mention that I have stacks and stacks of it!) I love gettig my hands messy. I love seeing my creation come to life before my eyes. Also, there are some techniques, such as some stamping techniques, that just can't be done digitally...right? Well, maybe not so right. But I was determined that I would not convert.

You see, I have been a Design Team member for Scrap Girls for over a year now. I love it there. Scrap Girls has a warm, friendly supportive atmosphere, and the designers are absolutely amazing. Talented, sweet, kind, and so willing to help each other grow both in their businesses and personally. But I was a paper scrapper. I used their digital products as printables. And that's the way it was going to stay.

Until one day, I had to do a bunch of layouts fast for my father for Christmas. (Yes, I waited until the last minute!) I use Photoshop Elements, and I had slowly been learning more and more about using all of its features, through my friends at Scrap Girls. So, it actually wasn't very hard for me to put together these layouts. Especially since, besides their basic digital elements like papers, embellishments, alphas, they have what they call Easy Pages. These are layouts that are all pre-designed. All you have to do is put your pictures on your page, whatever journaling and title you would like, and you are done! Can't get much quicker than that.

But I found that the more I did, the more I wanted to know. Scrap Girls also sells paper templates. These are templates that are in greyscale, that allow you to color things any way you want. So, before I knew what was happening, I was playing with those, and making my own paper! Who would have believed it! Then, the more I played with those, the more I wanted to figure out how to make my own templates. Have you heard that digital scrapbooking is addictive? It is, believe me, it is! Just like regular scrapbooking!

Scrap Girls calls this line of paper templates their ScrapSimple line. The ScrapSimple products are for digital scrapbookers who want to do a little more customization of their digital products, but don't feel they have the time or knowledge to create digital elements totally from scratch. ScrapSimple is the next best thing. Another product in that line are Digital Layout Templates. These are layout templates, again done in black, or greyscale, that allow you to choose what papers and embellishments you want to use, but the designing of the layout  is all done for you. So, with a few clicks of your mouse, you have a finished layout, totally customized by you. All of these ScrapSimple products come with complete instructions, so you can complete a layout in no time flat! I made my first set of these, and they should be in the Scrap Girls store by the end of next week! I can't wait to see how people use them!

So, have I piqued your interest about digital scrapbooking? Are you one of the many people who have been thinking about trying it, but you don't know where to start? Then I highly recommend that you make a visit to Scrap Girls. This link will take you to the University there, where there are many free tutorials on everything from how to get started in digital scrapbooking to more advanced techniques on how to use brushes on  your pages.

If you feel you're ready to delve in a little more, though, I highly recommended Rozanne Paxman's Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed programs. These tutorials will give you in-depth information on your chosen software program. Ro (the CEO at Scrap Girls) has made these as videos, showing you the actual screen of the program, so it is like she is sitting next to you showing you where to click and what to do. They are an excellent way to really learn the basics of your software program and start using it productively immediately.

Digital Scrapbooking really is a wonderful new world to explore. Will I ever totally give up my paper scrapping supplies? No, I won't. I will still do plenty of stamping and creating and getting my hands messy. But for my layouts, you'll probably find me in front of my computer!