why I digi

[anke]

It's so funny, I was looking at a scrapbook catalogue this morning and the papers made my heart beat faster. It just made me think about the time I used to paper scrap (the few months I did). Cutting paper was almost agonizing to me, they were so darn pretty, I hated to ruin them and then they were gone. Now I can do whatever I want with them and they are always there to be used again, it is like a little heaven to me! Plus the cutting was such a pain, it took me forever to get a straight cut. No, this girl was not made to be using paper cutters.
The first time I saw a digital paper on the Internet I couldn't figure out for the life of me where the advantage was. I figured since you had to print it out, you had to pay for it twice and then what would you do with it? I had no idea that you could actually put a whole page together before printing. sorry, just rambling, those pages brought back those memories, not my fault

[nirecreations]

Sometimes we need to ramble to get the whole thought out, Anke! I understand you!! I was at Joann's this weekend picking up art supplies for my little budding artist and all of the paper scrapping supplies just made me angsty. I give so much credit to all of you who can do both or hybrid but all of the 'stuff' makes me edgy. Too many choices and honestly none of it looks like it would even go together so you would need to go to so many places and accumulate so much STUFF to get anything cohesive done. I just couldn't see how it was enjoyable, it would stress me out! LOL! So I am so happy to call DD my digi home and not have to cut paper and have a mess to clean up or keep toddler fingers out of!! Digi scrapping is the way for me and I am SOOO happy that I found it!!

[kchris]

I've never paper scrapped, but I think the gluing would do me in, lol. And I can't cut straight either, Anke.

[donitab]

Anke - I am just like you - I would hoard my paper & elements because I loved them so much & what if I REALLY needed them for a project later - you cannot imagine how much stuff I have - even now - that I need to use on something - but what???? Digi materials can be used over and over and over and we never run out. And our wonderful designers keep coming out with new stuff - it's great - a lot more freedom to be creative because I don't have to save it for the PERFECT project because it will still be in my supplies! Thanks dd!

[dugarner]

Anke, your post is hilarious! I felt the same way, I never wanted to cut anything. And I would tell myself, "I'll cut a circle just this once," and I'd glue it down and hate it. Then I'd tear up the whole LO and do it over. I think that the digiscrapping design industry really fosters creativity; there is no overhead for designers (as far as materials, manufacturing, etc.) so they can create literally anything, and since the products aren't consumable, they have to keep coming up with more (and better!) stuff.

When I first started digiscrapping, I thought $7 for a kit? That's pretty expensive! But then you add up what it would be in a brick and mortar store for all that stuff, those kits would run $20! And I thought the same thing at the beginning---that your computer knew how many times you could open the paper file and you would eventually "use it up."

Love it!

Sarah

[bluelemur01]

I used to save and hoard all my special scrapbook supplies, and agonize over how/when to use them. Finally, when I switched to digiscrapping, I gave so many of them away! ---Although I saved my faves, because I still like to make my own cards & bag tags for parties. I still love my stamps & my embossing powder....so fun! Of course I hardly EVER do it. Digital is my addiction now!

BUT...when I walk through a Michael's...it's very hard not to start grabbing stuff and saying "hey, just in case I ever want this! and this! and this!"....

J

[Jana_NJ]

As a paper scrapbooker, and now doing some things in digital, I understand that paper, and all the supplies can seem overwhelming, but in my case, I think when you like something both can make you spend a lot of money.
I think now that I begin to search for digital elements to improve my pictures and layouts, when you see something at $2.00 and $ 3.99 can be very addicting to begin to just buy and buy, I just began and I already have some good amount of stuff, and I think who does just digital is not different. How much space you have on your HD with tons of kits ?

In my case, yeah papers are pretty but I don't mind to cut them, because if you really love that pattern you can always buy again.
To me, to have hands on relaxes me. I like to feel, the touch of paper project.
And digital elements just made my projects have that bling of a difference I think, not the same boring, same boring pics, and also helped me to scrap faster. I can use a template use tons of pictures, print, stick on a paper, grab some embellishments and voila ! Layout ready !
So, at the end is just personal taste I think.

[susiecw]

Anke, my first scrapbook was a baby book which was a baby shower gift for my daughter, Erin. I swear, by the time I drove all over town dozens of times for that perfect element or paper and finished that book, I had spent over $200. At least that's when I quit counting, it was probably way more. I didn't want to add it up and the time spent was crazy. I found those little glue dots around my house for a month...including one stuck to my dog's tail. I'm trying now to make a book every year for my grandkids' birthdays. This is great...and, I can go back and change things, delete entire pages, and I don't have to get in my car. Susie

[Starlite9711]

I can so relate...I never paper scrapped (well if you count like 3 pages that were never "done") BUT...i have TONS of paper scrapping supplies. I collected it like I was a professional. I hoarded it. I still can't give it away, what if I decide to make something. I have made a few "altered" projects, and I love doing that, but to put a page together, and "use up" something.....oh no...now way jose.

[anke]

I know, I still have a room stuff full of supplies, it is totally ridiculous! And I am keeping it too, you just never know. I always planned to add a few embellies to my finished digi pages, because I like the dimensional look but I just never did. Why I am keeping it I don't know. I still love the look of regular paper pages, it's just not for me I guess. Even stamping on paper put me in agony, it never turned out the way I wanted it and then it was ruined. And don't even talk about moving stuff around! Once you place a staple, what do you do? But, that is just me

[teeleedee]

Anke, I'm with you, I have so many supplies that I haven't used because I love them so much I didn't want to use them. Because once you use them, there gone. I still love the idea of paper scrapping, but I don't think I'll ever do it again. I'm too addictive to digital. I get way more done digital them I ever got done paper wise and I love Shutterfly Books. I still have a ton of stuff, but I just can't part with it because I spent so much money on it and eventually I hope to use the stuff with my kids to make crafts. My Scrapbook supplies is just something I collect, I like looking at it Okay enough with the rambling.

Tara

[Lynn Grieveson]

Me too! I could never bring myself to use my absolute favorite papers and cutting them would make my heart pound. Plus I was "scissor and glue challenged". The glue would always end up everywhere but where I wanted it to be.

[Crissy]

ITA, Anke!! I love Digital! I can't do the paper stuff anymore!

[earlofoxford]

I paper scrapped for 11 years and did enjoy the tactile aspect of it, but I think I was overwhelmed by my stash. For a long time I just collected supplies without using them. When I would sit down to scrap, I spent more time sifting through my stash than I did scrapping. I was about alphas the way you were about paper, Anke, afraid to use them because I might need them later for something. Weird, huh? With digital, I love the ability to do a layout and then change my mind at the last minute about the background paper if I want to. That would never happen with paper. Love, love, love it here at DD!

[deanie]

I found myself scrapping in the evening and never seemed to have the right shade of card stock or just the right embellishment. So the moment passed and things never seemed to get finished. I'm paper cutter impaired as well-Never seem to get things straight! Now, if it is midnight I can buy the right element right from my chair! Will never return...

[dugarner]

Linda, that was exactly my conumdrum with paper---my daughter's name has a lot of vowels, and there are never enough "b"s, "i"s, or "e"s in those sticker alphas! I would constantly run out and get frustrated, trying to come up with a different way of saying "Baby Bailey."

[Mary Rogers]

BUT...when I walk through a Michael's...it's very hard not to start grabbing stuff and saying "hey, just in case I ever want this! and this! and this!"....

this would be me! I don't have a lss, but when I do get into Michaels I find it difficult not to buy...however, I limit myself to the 6x6 paper pads (still LOVE Basic Grey) for cards and tags...and magazines, of couse, I still need to buy those.