What do you like most about Digital?

[Julie DeGuia]

Well, I have been immersed in the wonderful world of digital scrapbooking for a little over one year now and still love it! For those of you who were paper scrappers before (and even those of you who have only done digital) what do you love about it? Is there a specific reason you have found digital more fun or more rewarding than paper scrapping?

Personally, one of my reasons now is still the same as when I first started. I never added three-dimensional embellishments to my pages because I don't like bulky albums. With digital I can embellish till the cows come home and my page is just as flat as when I started! LOL! And how cool is stitching? I just love the look but have a big, heavy sewing machine! I can't imagine pulling that thing out every time I want the effect on a page. Now with all the great choices Anna has in the store it is a piece of cake! Of course there was the age old problem with paper scrapping - what to do with all those extra alphas! And then inevitably you would go to make a title and be one letter short... I remember driving over to a friend's house one time just to grab one sticker letter! Ha, ha! Being able to reuse digital products is such a time and money saver!

So here is my favorite page using all the embellishments I want. Still flat with digital! Can you imagine how bulky this page would be using traditional products?

[Jen D]

I think for me it is the freedom digital brings to me. I tried to go back to paper and do both but I was frustrated that I couldn't accomplish all the cool digital techniques. I also love never running out of an "e" in the middle of the night The lack of mess is also a huge motivator!

One of the main things I enjoy is being able to scrap any where at the drop of a hat. I can leave an project and come back to it without it being torn apart (by those lovely children of mine). As a busy mom I feel like I can keep up with the story of my families lives and have a creative release.

Great thread Julie =)

[HeatherPrins]

oh there are so many reasons! I love the flatness of the page, yet the shadowing techniques add so much wonderful depth to layouts. I love that I am only limited by what i don't know, there is still so much to learn. I love that i can bulk up my pages and still have them flat too. There is a wonderful crispness to digital pages and supplies that i Love. I also love that instant gratification with shopping for supplies And that the supplies are forever if you want them to be. After finishing my vacation album and using a lot of the same elements for many of the 85 layouts and knowing i still have them to use again and again is fantastic. Can't compare that to paper, not to mention there are no paper scraps to waste or take up space in my house or to feel guilty about hoarding. And lastly, i love the way I can resize anything almost, especially my photos to give them the spotlight they deserve. Oh and the stitching, LOVE stitching!!!

[cheska99]

1. When I was a paper scrapper I would have little problems all the time with my supplies: the frames weren't the right size, I only had one sheet of a piece of paper, etc. Plus they took up so much room! So first thing I love about digital scrapping is the flexibility of it.
2. Photoshop. Need I say more? I love working with this program.
3. Designer Digitals is open 24/7!

[digigrandma]

Since part of the fun of any hobby is the acquisition of STUFF to feed one's addiction, I find the instant gratification of online buying of digital supplies from Designer Digitals one of the best things about digital scrapping!

I love your layout with all the embellies, Julie!

[jk703]

I agree with Merrilee right now!!!! I LOVE STUFF... I'm still learning a lot, so I really like to look at the pages to figure out how something was done... but then I get to buy the items to play with or for a page idea for later!

I love that it won't take up a room in my house, and I don't have to clean or be neat with my supplies while or after I am scrapping! Being able to scrap (er... learn to scrap) for an extra hour instead of taking out, cleaning up and putting away helps -- especially with the kids!

Though I still have so so many stamp sets, paper, ribbon, and tons of stuff... (anyone want any? PLEASE? lol )

Like Jen said... the kids can interrupt me all they want! I can finish it later! The glue is a repositionable kind! he he

Instant Gratification of a page done, being able to send to friends and family electronically, instantly! Perfect coloring, sizing, fit, placement, and best of all the Undoability!! (is that a word?)

Great Thread! I love the page...so fun!

Julia... I hope I am in the same orbit as your creativity and talent in a year of digiscrapping!!

[JALong]

What I love about digital is that I ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE. I don't spend all my time acquiring supplies that I don't ever get around to using because it is so overwhelming to even get started. That is how regular scrapping always made me feel.

And I, too, love working in and figuring out Photoshop! It's great brain exercise!

[Denise Gormish]

I just don't like paper scrapping anymore.

I was working on some layouts (in paper) to fill the gap between when I stopped paper and when I started digital. As I was doing the paper layouts I was getting so mad and frustrated - rub-ons sticking to the wrong part of the layout, picture cut crooked, adhesive coming undone, running out of paper, etc.

And I was working with a lot of 4X6 photos I had printed years ago. I hate that they're all the same size. Ugh. How many ways can you design with just 4X6 photos???

And adding journaling is a pain too. And then there's titles. Not enough letters, wrong size, etc.

There's just so much less you can do with paper. I am totally stuck with digital now.

[GoingtotheSun]

I know this question isn't really for me because I was NEVER a paper scrapper; BUT, I think all the reasons I love digital are all the reasons that I never wanted to be a paper scrapper:
1. I'm not patient enough for crafty projects and it takes me forever to make a decision. I just know I'd never be able to finish a layout in paper because it takes too long to arrange it, then change it, then change it again. And too much stuff to keep up with!
2. There's so much creativity available with the fab supplies here + photoshop. If I have the perfect element, but it's the wrong color - I can change it in photoshop without having to get in my car and drive to the store for more supplies. And if I NEED something new, I can click and purchase and it's there. Like magic!
3. I can look at the wonderful inspiration in the galleries on line - I don't have to wait for my next issue of a magazine to come out.
I could go on and on, but really, I think the main reason I keep doing this is because there's so much love on this board when we share our layouts and ideas. You can't get that sitting at home by yourself doing paper scrapping! : )

[HeatherPrins]

Originally Posted by Denise Gormish

I just don't like paper scrapping anymore.

I was working on some layouts (in paper) to fill the gap between when I stopped paper and when I started digital. As I was doing the paper layouts I was getting so mad and frustrated - rub-ons sticking to the wrong part of the layout, picture cut crooked, adhesive coming undone, running out of paper, etc.

And I was working with a lot of 4X6 photos I had printed years ago. I hate that they're all the same size. Ugh. How many ways can you design with just 4X6 photos???

And adding journaling is a pain too. And then there's titles. Not enough letters, wrong size, etc.

There's just so much less you can do with paper. I am totally stuck with digital now.

I sooo agree!

[laura grimes]

No more messes! No glue and getting everything covered with ink and glitter!

I love the ease of sitting next to the hubby while he reads and I scrap, late at night when the boys are asleep. If I need something, I can pop into DD and grab it and get answers to any PS questions I may have in the forums, no matter how late it is! It is a beautiful thing!

[Kayleigh]

There are so many things i love about digital, but one of my faves is being able to have it all stored on my laptop & being able to scrap anywhere. Another one of my faves is being able to be part of this great community at DD & hang with all of you. ... and never running out of an e is a great thing too.

[dorah]

I love the no mess part - no little scraps of paper floating all over the place. Also love the ease of buying digital supplies and the fact that if I see something on someone's page that I like I can actually find it to use myself. And of course who doesn't love that you can use and reuse to your heart's content and never run out of a paper or an alpha or an embellishment that you love?
And if you need to stop before completing a page you just close your computer and walk away.
And no glue. That has to be an all time favorite thing. If you don't like where something is digitally you can just move it without ruining your page or just delete it all together. And it is so fast to create and then you can print a cute little flat book that hardly takes up any room at all.

[anke]

One big thing for me is Ctrl.Z!!! I can try different things until I am happy with the way the page looks. Paper scrapping was a constant source of frustration, like so many other ladies things would stick to my fingers, I would trim paper and the edge would rip, the photos were crooked, everything was big and bulky and the supplies took up my whole third floor Now I can sit at the table and scrap and still be with my kids Need I say more?

[whatnext]

the best thing about digi is that i can actually create what i see in my head. i have NO artistic talent. i'm sayin' that i could NOT draw anything like, e.g., Anna's Artist Edges Borders. but those are the sorts of things i "see" on a page. when i tried to do that when i was a paper scrapper, can i just tell you how many pages i screwed up and had to start again? i always say that i "paint with someone else's hand." and i do. mostly Anna's. and you just can't do that sort of thing as a paper scrapper.

and i also love the fact that all my supplies are virtual. i spent a fortune buying little boxes and containers to store all my "literal" supplies. with digi, no need for tackle boxes filled with brads. YAY!!!

[earlofoxford]

I love so many of the things that have already been mentioned: the great products here at DD to feed my addiction, no mess during or after the process, the ability to embellish without adding bulk. The community here at DD, however, is one thing I really treasure. I literally have an entire world of friends on my computer. If you had told me two years ago what an impact DD was going to make on my life, I wouldn't have believed it. I can't believe my good fortune to have found this home.

[Julie DeGuia]

Originally Posted by jk703

Julie... I hope I am in the same orbit as your creativity and talent in a year of digiscrapping!!

Jenn - Thank you for those kind words.

[mungerre]

Well, I'm obsessed about things that are supposed to be the same size should be the same size. Things that are supposed to have a straight edge should have a straight edge, things that should be centered should be centered, etc. I was rarely happy with all of that paper scrapping, but digi it's a snap. Add to it that I can recolor anything, if I want 1000 stickers on one page I can do it and it doesn't cost any more than 1 sticker on a page, and the only thing I have to take care of is turning my monitor off to save energy Are those enough reasons?

[Shannamay]

I loved paper scrapping - and I still do really like the paper pages I see, and I'll do a paper mini album every now and then to satisfy the urge for tactile. BUT scrapping was only ever a holiday activity because of the mess and the space and so I was always playing catchup or losing the impetus or the idea around a particular shot. I LOVE that I can do digital anywhere, anytime with no space needed, no mess created, and creatively - I can strike while the iron is hot - so to speak. I get heaps more done, and it can be a relaxing pastime even in term time - love it!!

[Adryane]

I collected LOTS of supplies and never finished a single page. The one time I tried, I cut my finger with the exacto knife.
I love CTRL/Z.
I love no mess.
I love that you can use things over and over again and PS makes the possibilities almost endless.
I love that I now have lots of friends who love what I love!! Before DD I didn't know anyone with interests similar to mine.

[Amy L]

I never could get the paper stuff to look very good. And I hate how messy my desk would get...I was always looking for the spot I dropped my scissors, etc. I love Photoshop too!

Julie, that is a precious layout!

[kathleen.summers]

Yep, so many of the same reasons for me too. I was a paper scrapper for over 7 years when I switched to digi in Feb of last year. And I'm pretty sure that I've already scrapped more digi pages in this last year than paper pages in those 7+ years! I love the process with digi and I love how much I'm getting done.

Originally Posted by earlofoxford

The community here at DD, however, is one thing I really treasure. I literally have an entire world of friends on my computer. If you had told me two years ago what an impact DD was going to make on my life, I wouldn't have believed it. I can't believe my good fortune to have found this home.

That too!

[justmp]

I was never a paper scrapper...although I tried to be, but I never finished a LO because I was so scared of messing something up. With digital, I can try something and if it doesn't work, I can just "undo" and the picture isn't cut, supplies aren't wasted, etc.

[LauraBean]

Long ago, I used to gaze longingly at the paper supplies in the craft stores, but I was totally intimidated by paper scrapping. Digi set me free (perhaps thanks mostly to CMD-Z). Once I got really comfortable with digital scrapping, though, I started playing with paper, mostly doing hybrid mini albums (I still have no desire to do a 12 x 12 paper page). I love playing with physical supplies, but the thing that is most frustrating to me is the inability to resize stuff! This overlay, that rub-on--if only I could just click and drag on its corner and make it perfect!

[Britgirl]

what I like most-
That I am only limited by my imagination... not by not having that colour, that size, that shape, etc etc

I use my favourite stuff. My sister is a diehard paper scrapper but... they always have piles of 'too good to use' stuff...in which I cant see the point! use it I say. and of course I CAN say because I can use it once, twice or fifty times over digitally!

the 'I can do that' factor. When I see something in a scrapbook store, or a label in a food store, a design on a plate, a poster advert for something, I can break it down and see how it was done. and then often I can say 'I can do that!', go home and make my version!

[janedee]

I paper scrapped for nine years and still make the odd page, but I find it so much more difficult to actually begin the process of making a paper page now - it can be very frustrating.
ITA with so many things everyone has said - no mess, ease of experimentation, freedom to re-use favorite items, portability, instant gratification buying supplies.

[alligatorally]

that page in the opening post is gorgeous!

I am a die hard paper, ink and glue lover, but I do appreciate digital scrapbooking and love all the brushes. I love adding digital elements to my photos and using them on my paper pages.

[HeatherPrins]

oh that is so true Britgirl!!! I still have paper that was too pretty to use, ugh. With digital you get to use it all with no cutting guilt!!

[kathie02]

I was never a paper scrapper. I love the limitless possibilities that all the wonderful products here at DD afford me. I love that it is all neatly stored on a couple of "smaller than a book" external hard drives and when I want to scrap all I have to do is sit at my desk and start to play...when I am done, cleaning up is clicking a button.

.....and the "undo" feature is my best friend!!

[anxela]

Everything that's been said here - and more. But the most important things: I love that my desk has no paper clutter, that everything is organized. That I can scrap on the train on my way to work if there's no other work to be done... Photoshop - a life-long love affair, I'm sure..! CMD-OPT-Z, DD forums, DD galleries, DD shop, DD friends... Templates, stitching, recoloring, alphas always complete and ready.

And the fact that I always get something done when I sit down, as long as my mojo is at least partly present. With paper scrapping, I would never get anything done. I had a ton of supplies, and sat gazing down on them, wondering where to start, afraid to cut in something...

I could go on forever, I think... I really wanted to get into paper scrapping, it's that crafty thing that's always been so tempting, but I feel 1000 times more creative with my photoshop up and running than with scissors and glue.