Re: I need comments from anyone!

Another comment I might add (which again could apply to both digital and traditional is this:

We all can recognize the handwriting of our parents, our grandparents, our spouses our children. And seeing someone's handwriting on a page of a lost loved one can bring that person back for a moment. Many people do not want to journal because they "hate their handwriting" I would encourage everyone to utilize their handwriting in their books from time to time, it is uniquely you and recognizeable to your loved ones instantly. For your great-grandchildren they will see a piece of you beyond what you looked like. I do have bad handwriting if you were wondering and I am not always happy with how it looks on a page and I use a lot of stickers for titleing but I do incorporate my writing when I feel it works best.

Just an FYI and an encouragement. Not really anything for the article at least not in quoted form just informational.

((((BOWING TO MELISSA)))

Most if not all what Melissa wrote I will not plagerize here. However I will say that I am a digital scrapbooker as well as a hybrid scrapbooker in addition to my first love of traditional scrapbooking.

Although I only use digital scrapbooking for quick gift items, I do pay attention to details and give it the love that I would if I were to make it the traditional way. Each choice from background color to frames to accessories are chosen with care and if necessary changed to complement the picture(s) involved. I find that digital scrapbooking is more cost effective for me and at times much quicker than doing a whole traditional album. I was sick for awhile last year and digital scrapbooking was an outlet that I could utilize while recovering. I use Hallmark Scrapbooking Studio 3.0 as my medium and Microsoft Picture It as the editing software.

In the traditional arena, New York City isn't big scrapbooking town. I live in Queens and the nearest "crop" is either on Long Island or somewhere in the Bronx which is out of the way for me. I work Tuesday to Saturday which cancels most crops that are held at my local AC Moore or Michaels.. However, this board is like a little crop and they are very inspiring. I grew up in a family of Printers and I have a college background in Art History so the tangible feel of traditional scrapbooking is what makes me excited. I saw a scrapbook once from the 1890s in a museum in Newport Rhode Island and the love and attention to detail this woman put into her scrapbook detailing her life and her hobbies (she was an avid gardener and world traveller) she was into was fascinating. It wasn't a just photo and a postcard or embellishment here and there on the page but so much more that historically it was precious. Although none of us will most likely impress social historians in a hundred years (except maybe a few of us who scrapbooked events like 9-11) but to our future generation families they may be priceless.

Traditional scrapbooking is also extremely expensive. Between the papers, stickers and tools the cost of supplies alone can total hundreds of dollars maybe thousands. The cost can also be judged by the size of the album, 6x6, 8x8, 8 1/2 x 11, or 12x12 can also change the price. However the love, time and patience put into the scrapbook has no monetary value because each piece of paper, each cut of the photograph or embellishment, the layering of stickers or embellishments, the handwritten journalling cannot be given a cost because of the thought and care put into the page.

What also can determine a scrapbooker is the level of creativity. There are scrapbookers here that are beginners who are talented but like the clean lines of a few photos and corresponding embellishments and then there are the experts who can make a very busy very cluttered layout look effortless and have the air of being really simple when they are not.

Message boards such as this one "sees a need, fills a need." It is a meeting of the creative minds who inspire and challenge the best in each of us. We may cyberly tease that Dave has bought yet again another case of paper on his trip or MC is enabling us in oohing and aahing over the newest tools she saw at a convention or if one of us is having a problem figuring out how to work a layout the ideas are endless in how to fix the page and to encourage the line of thought one of us is heading.

Good luck with your article and if you could, provide us with a link of your article so we can see it.

Kate

Other than making sure a gathering space had enough outlets, how would a digital scrapbooking retreat at a B&B be more financially unwieldy to operate than a traditional crop? (Now, if there were a power failure . . . LOL)

I would imagine that "traditional" crops are held more often than among digital scrappers, but I think it would be cool to be able to talk & share techniques with other digital scrappers. It doesn't have to be each digital scrapper alone in a room in front of their computer screen.

Another addicting hobby, isn't it?

And I just meant that I find it easier to share via digital scrapping. Didn't intend to speak for everyone.

No offense taken. Just wantd to add my perspective.

Alicia

An aside on the subject of handwriting. My parents were from families that had to watch where they spent their money. Then, when my folks were both children, the Depression hit, so everything was used to its' fullest. My dad (mom's no longer living) & to a broader extent than most of my peers tend to still do that today. Had to laugh Thursday when I saw s plastic bag my dad had used to put a jar of pumpkin butter he'd made in that he mailed to me. It said, in my mother's handwriting, "fried green tomatoes" & had a date on it of 1991 or

1992. LOL!

My dad is one that hates his handwriting. His mother saved all of his letters home from WW II (& he wrote to her often). Several yeears ago he sent them to me & I put them in archival-safe sheet protectors in three 3" binders. He recently commented, "you can throw those letters out now" (since I'd read them). Um, no way!

I, too, use handwriting when I can in my albums, often scanning the writing on the back of a photo to put next to it in the album.

Alicia

12x15 albums too. That's what I've been working on lately. Kate said many great things... yes, we'd all certainly like to see how it turns out!

In response to Alicia's questions directed to me.

1. how would a digital scrapbooking retreat at a B&B be more financially unwieldy to operate than a traditional crop?

You are still misinterpreting my comment. I am not talking about a B and B where they operate as a bed and breakfast and occasionally host or have scrappers come. I am talking about a dedicated scrapbooking retreat business, such as

(just one example). They would (I would think) need to buy multiple computers... that was how I was thinking of it rather than people bringing there own stuff. That's all.

I hope it was understood that I was not implying that handwriting cannot be used in both I am quite positive it is extensively used in both.

Sorry for the hijack Brittney. Thank you again for your comments Alicia. I hope you know better understand what I was thinking (just the computer costs; hadn't considered everyone bringing there own.).

And since I have a laptop, I wasn't thinking of a retreat place having to supply everyone with a computer.

Hmmm, how about a place that has their own equipment, makes $$$ teaching computer classes during the week & does scrapbooking retreats on the weekends? Anyone want to start a business?

Alicia

Brittny - I have been scrapbooking for approx 10 years. I started when our oldest graduated from High School, and I wanted to have the books at her party. It has snowballed considerably since then!! It is a way to save all the 'stories' of my family, new and old. I have also inherited all the family photos on my Mom's side of the family. I am putting all these pictures together also, some of the pictures are from the early 1900's.

Since my Mom passed away just before Christmas this past year, scrapbooking has been very theraputic for me. We also have a son serving in the Air Force in Iraq, he sends me pictures also, and scrapbooking these photos is also a way I cope with having a son so far from home.

Good luck with your paper . . .

Cindy Reid

Hi Brittny. I've never digital scrapped before. I don't really have an interest in it. I enjoy the paper (original) way. I like to be able to have the different textures from paper, ribbon, metal, chipboard, etc. Being able to use the glue, scissors, and other tools is therapeutic. LOL. It's fun going to all of the different stores and browsing through the isles of scrapbook supplies. With digital you don't have the need for space that paper scrapping needs to keep all of your supplies. But with digital again you don't have the textures and you would have to have special printers to print out the 12 x12 of pages that I like.

hi

Brittney, I am so glad others have brought up the "therapeutic" aspects of scrapbooking. That is usually one of the first things I tell people. Scrapbooking is more than a craft, more than a hobby in that not only can it entertain you it can heal you. When I am angry or sad, if I go scrapbook I will get back in touch to the warm loving feelings I have for family, friends, etc. It truly brings peace and happiness.

Hi Brittny.....have read most of the post to your request for info! Agree with most of it and just wanted to give a beginners insight...Totally new to all this (from UK and scrapping is relatively new here) introduced to it all on Jan 5 2008 by a Canadian Friend...the very 1st word l would link to scrapbooking is OVERWHELMING......2nd ADDICTIVE....3rd LIFECHANGING.....

Digital SB? Not sure what that means exactly?...in a very short space of time l decided l wanted to use at least some of my own papers and not always other ppls so l use a mix....so l suppose l use digital a bit maybe?...by creating my own papers from embroidery l have done hand made papers l've painted from kitchen roll to brown paper etc. then copying them and printing them to use....then cutting them up and copying again!!.....so some of what l do could be described as a digital page...although not totally done on the pc so l might be wrong here....forgive as l'm new to all this!

Have always enjoyed the hands on bit of crafting (Arts Degree in Textiles..so its in my blood) Already started a local group and have made some terrific friends...l feel if l had gone down the pure digital route l wouldn't have made the friends and l wouldn't have had the 'theraputic' side to scrapbooking..l just love cutting up bits of paper lol.....not sure if this added anything but may give a tiny insight into the veiw of a newbie from another country Good Luck with the story.....lots and lots of ppl here in UK are loving scrapbooking and get a huge amount of pleasure from both hands on and digital thanx for sharing a wonderful hobby...addicted Shropshire Scrapper Suz

Brittny,

Good luck with your paper -- I SO do not miss writing papers for school. Altho, I suppse as a journalist...you'll be writing for a long time to come =)

I am a traditional scrapbooker. I have attempted once or twice to do the digital scrapping, but it just doesn't have the same appeal to me. I enjoy taking the time and collecting the supplies to physically put a layout together. On top of that, I am a huge picture person. I just LOVE going to the store and picking up my prints (even though I know what they will look like because I ordered them online from a digital camera) and then having the actual prints included on my layouts.

I also saw a couple people wrote about handwriting. I have to say, I hate my handwriting, BUT I make sure to handwrite at least some (if not most) of my journaling in my traditional scrapbooks because I know how much I love to find old letters in my grandparents handwriting, or even my mom's. I figure, someday, my kids might appreciate my handwriting in the same way. I suppose there is just something comforting about the personalization of handwriting as opposed to typing something up on the computer.

That's my 2 cents...hope it helps!

~Mel P.