Petals and Pigtails Our China Adoption Journey: October 2009

I have had several questions lately on how I do my scrapbook collages. So I will give some information on my newe favorite hobby. I have been learning to make collages for a little over 2 years and I am still learning new tricks and techniques each day.

Donna's blog was the one who got me started on digital scrapbooking and I found myself asking her the same questions that people are now asking me. She has a link on the left hand side of her blog that will give you some info as well.
I have Photoshop program but it was too confusing at first and I have not had the time to set aside to learn how to work it. I do plan on learning the program to edit my individual photos but I do not use it to complete my collages.
I use an amazing program called Fotofusion (Thanks Donna). Just "google" fotofusion by Lumapix. I use the Extreme edition so that I can print at the highest resolution (300dpi) but I used the Advanced version up until a few months ago. It is very easy to use and has great tutorials that are easy to understand. Basically you can import a group of pictures and it will automatically put them in a basic collage for you. There are many tutorials on their website.
I get my digital kits from several different websites. You can find a lot of freebies everywhere. The best thing about digital products is that you can use them over and over again and mix and match.
A few of my favorite sites are:
http://www.polkadotpotato.com/shop/home.php
http://www.shabbypickledesigns.com/
http://digiscrapdesigns-by-lorie.blogspot.com/
http://www.gottapixel.net/store/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=79
http://www.pickleberrypop.com/shop/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=59
https://scrappindigikreations.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=18
http://adeyeo.blogspot.com/
http://scrap-a-lot.blogspot.com/
http://digiscrapdesigns-by-lorie.blogspot.com/
http://freebiesandscrapsbymajula.blogspot.com/
http://pineappleplantationdesigns.com/
http://www.raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com/
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/home.php
http://www.flergalicious.com/blog/

I have an external hard drive (350g WD passport) that I plug into my computer when I scrap.
Everyone organizes their digital scrap kits differently but I do the following.
I have these folders: SUMMER/SPRING, CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING, HALLOWEEN, CHINESE, EASTER, OCEAN/BEACH, FISHING/CAMPING, FOURTH OF JULY, BLACK/WHITE, BOY KITS, GIRL KITS, COWBOY, NEW YEAR, SAFARI/ZOO, SCHOOL, VALENTINE, WATER, ELEMENTS EXTRAS, FRAMES, QUICK PAGES to name a few.

Then I have a folder called KITS for all the kits that do not fit a particular theme.
Inside each MEGA folder I have all the folders that contain each digital kit. For example, in my SCHOOL folder I have 7 different folders each with a different kit in it. So I can be quick and just use items from one particular kit or take my time and mix and match between the different kits.
I organize all my pictures by date on a separate external hard drive. I have a MEGA folder HOME 2009. Then it is broken down into month folders. In each month folder, I have folders for each day of pictures. So I click on HOME 2009 folder... then AUGUST folder...then August 7th folder (for example).

To make a folder on your computer: Right click on your screen. Click New. Click Folder. Then name it. You can drag folders into other folders.

Organization is the key to digital scrap-booking. It doesn't take that long to make a simple page but if you are not organized it takes forever to find the kit you are looking for.

I make all my pages in a 12 x 12 format and have just stated to do all my pages in 2 –page spreads. Much easier! I save all pictures and pages in the highest resolution.

I use a program called BLURB. You can "Goggle" Blurb. It is an awesome program to make books. I just printed 2 books made from my scrap pages. They turned out amazing!!! They were like $175.00 for 300 page books (12 x 12)!!! That's great!!!

It is so easy to use. You just set it up to do a large square (12 x 12) and then drag your completed scrap collages onto the pages. So cool!!!! You can also put a picture on the front and back cover! I did Sydney's life-book all digital. She loves it. AND... if something ever happens to it I can print a new one since it is saved in the program. I might order doubles just to put one away for safe keeping.

After I make collages for a particular date, I immediately drag (copy) them into my Blurb book. SO at the end of the year I am ready to click PRINT and another book is complete! I actually do so many collages that I have had to do my books in ½ year increments to prevent having 600 page books!

Hope this helps and I will post more information on how I do my collages soon!
Feel free to ask questions!