The Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking - A Book Review

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Reported by Julia Stainton












Have you ever looked at a digital scrapbooking design and thought it was cool? Perhaps it has been something you've wanted to try but never had the time. Perhaps you had no idea where to start. Maybe you have even tried it but needed a little help wading through the technical terms and so you haven't kept at it. Would you like to add digital elements to your papercrafts designs?This book is for you! Do you digital scrapbook but need new ideas? This book is for you as well.

I was at a checkout when I first saw this publication...The Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking. I perked up. I picked it up. It sounded like just what I've been wanting. After quickly flipping through I knew it was exactly what I had been looking for. One hundred forty-four color pages of ideas, photos and walk-me-through-it techniques. I love the styles. I love the ideas. I love how there are very few advertisements. I love how it is set-up, laid out and so easy to use!

Now before I really get started, you really need to know that I am a newbie digi gal. In other words, I'm just starting. Having only tried out half a dozen digital layouts in the past, with mixed results, I am definitely not an expert. I regularly design papercraft designs, not digital. Why do I tell you this? Well, it just may convince you that if I can follow the great instructions in this book, you can too!

This Better Homes and Gardens special interest publication starts out with an article on Top 20 reasons to go digital. They present a pretty good case! No mess, perfect photos, the ability to undo mistakes to name a few. To follow this, you need some equipment to start digital scrapbooking. If you are thinking of trying it out...buy this book FIRST. Great charts and pointers will help you figure out which software and hardware are best for you, what you need to buy and what are the not-so-necessary extras. Really great advice!

I also love how the Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking is sectioned into levels. This makes it so easy to start with the basics and work up. Level one for hybrid and new digital scrapbookers. Very easy techniques to get you started but with fabulous layouts and ideas to look professional right away. Level Two kicks it up a notch but starts off explaining how to do a basic digital layout and go from there. Level Three includes fabulous techniques that give super cool results. Level Three also gives you the flexibility to design your own embellishments, brushes and templates. All levels include fabulous designs that are full of great ideas. Even if you just want to scrapbook with paper, the photo editing tips are fabulous and the layouts are sure to inspire.

Sand and Surf - This level one design is right where I started with this book...hybrid scrapbooking. I love the combination of working with paper and with digital elements. So fun and a great place to start. For this design, I actually combined three different techniques that I learned in the first level...how to print white text (the circle S sticker), how to make a digital photo collage, and how to design your own patterned paper using dingbats (the pale blue paper with the ship's wheel). I loved how easy it was to learn each technique and combine them together as I did. Hybrid Scrapbooking is a genre of scrapbooking that is making quite a trend in the crafting industry. I can certainly see why. You can combine the best of both elements to create something wonderful and unique.

Selective Photo Coloring - This level one technique is one you can use to alter your images and photos. You may want to purchase this book even if you are not a scrapbooker. The photo-altering tips are very easy and are a great way to enhance your digital photography.


Level Two... For this layout, I learned to work with a totally digital layout, add embellishments and drop shadows to give my design depth. This layout is almost totally comprised of some of the free digital elements that are available with the purchase of this book. As if it isn't cool enough already!

Summer Wonder - This layout moves into the level three territory...a bit of a challenge for someone who learned this all in under a week. But I persevered and got it all to work! For this design I was so excited to learn how to use digital brushes, and create a custom background paper with them (the green). The faux chipboard element was also another technique I learned to create by clipping and merging the paper with the element and then adding depth to it. I love how you can keep working at it until you get it right and no paper is ever wasted.


Together - Another level three technique was used on this Together layout. I decided to keep the layout clean and simple to keep the focus on the photo merging technique, a very cool way to blend two photos together. Because the background is all white, you'll have to let your eye fill in the left side of the layout as it disappears into the page. I loved playing around with this technique and yes, it did take some patience but I love the results and I feel as if I accomplished something while enjoying myself.

The Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking also has a fabulous gallery towards the end of the publication. Cutting edge designs are sure to inspire and they all have helpful tips on how to achieve the look. I have quite a few of them bookmarked to try out in the near future. Also included at the back of the book it a very helpful glossary of digital terms. I've referred to this quite a bit myself! One of the great bonus features included in this magazine is a free download of digital elements that will get you started on your new projects. I love them!

In conclusion, the Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking is a fabulous magazine for digital wanna-bes, and those who already have a good grasp of the techniques. There is something here for everyone and I really wouldn't want to be trying to start out without it. I'm so glad I found this book and I know this publication is going to have a very prominent place beside my computer for a long time to come.