Another Speech Question: Why Do you digital Scrapbook vs. Paper Scrapping?

[Traci Reed]

Please pretty please??!?! I hate writing speeches!

[Heather Roselli]

No mess, no dangerous scissors and glue around for the kids to get into, no photos or paper for kids to rip, can leave it and come back to it whenever I want, no clean up, much more affordable....I could go on and on! hehe

[KristinCB]

I started because I don't like the mess of paper and was way too cheap to do paper scrapping and i loved the idea of being able to just sit for short amounts of time and work on layouts and the just walk away without having to worry about where to put anything. Love that with digital you can just work a few minutes here or there without having to lug out any supplies.. course when i started I didn't know about the lure of scrapbook forums..

[Megan Turnidge]

5 million reasons... lol

No mess, storage is much more compact, ability to recolor and resize, no crooked cuts...clipping masks, endless supply (can use over and over), CTRL+Z!!!!!!

It's less expensive (for me).

I can pile on as many layers and elements as I want and my page will never get any bulkier or heavier!!!! Books are nice and slim.

I can make one page and print it as many times as I need to. I can print duplicate books. I print a book for me and when DD leaves home, I can print copies for her!

It's never permanent... I can go back a year later and fix something on a LO without messing up the page.

I could go on and on....

[meems]

I was never interested in paper scrapping or memory keeping in a crafty way. BUT I love being on the computer and started digiscrapping as another way to play on the computer. I do like the added bonus of preserving memories though.

Also

easy to store supplies
easy to share layouts and to make duplicate prints
like learning new Photoshop techniques
no mess
can easily save a layout midway and return to it later
undo buttonetc.

[AllieP]

I agree with everything everyone else said, and also I love not having to *cut* my photos. Back in the day before I had a digital camera, I only had 1 or maybe 2 copies of my pictures, so I hated to cut them up or mess with them. Now, I can cut them into circles, crop them, or do whatever in photoshop without having to worry about messing up the original. I love that!! :)

[mommy2aria06]

For lots of reasons the most important being that I can pretend I am doing school work and really scrap to my hearts content lmao...scrap a little, write a little, scrap a little, write a little- its a delicate balance really lol

Also because of communities like this. Paper scrapping seems like such a solo thing whereas we have this great community here were we can share ideas and connect with each other :)

[Paula]

Here's mine:

1. You only have to create one LO and then print it as many times as you like.
2. No mess to clean up afterwards.
3. No sticky fingers - BIG one for me.
4. You can do it anywhere if you have a lappy.
5. Cost is much less because you can use and reuse the same supplies over and over.
6. You can have the bulky look without the bulk.
7. You can scrap and re-scrap photos as you see fit or as your style changes.

[Angie4b1g]

There was a time when I was 90% paper and 10% digital. But I have a feisty toddler, and I wasn't able to be in my scraproom while he was awake, and then when he was sleeping I was always doing all the other stuff I can't do with him around (laundry, eating, etc lol). So I started doing more and more digital since I can be at my computer while he watches TV or plays or whatever. Now I'm 99% digital and paper once in a GREAT while.

Anyone wanna buy my scraproom? :D

[junebug]

less mess, less clutter, more freedom i think. Easier and quicker! Plus, i can leave photoshop and go tend to my mommy duties and when i come back its fine; if i get up and leave paper scrap stuff, i come back and the kids have messed it up, lol

[chloe]

First of all because I'm a geek and I looooooove my puter! LOL Also because there's no ctrl + Z IRL, because digi isn't messy (I'm already enough messy without adding crafts to that!), because my pix are digi, because I have no space... and many other reasons that everyone above already said!

[cheltzey]

I can do it in bursts of time. I don't always have 5 hours to do a full paper layout, but I can scrap 15 mins here and there. I can print out copies of my pages to give to family members. I don't have to print the original picture and do a million enlargements and reductions to get the size I want. I don't need to have a dedicated scrap room. It's much more suited to perfectionists; there's nothing like ctrl+z! I could go on and on and on...

[Jenn Barrette]

- no mess
- less money
- doesn't take up any room
- the ability to "undo" anything
- ability to have mulitple copies of a layout
- instant gratification regarding supplies
- community inspiration, support, and feedback

[Andrea Gourley]

Because I never run out of my favourite paper :)

[lizzyfizzy]

because it's easy to contain and no mess.

[pbumbaca]

I can throw a page together cleanly and quickly and still be in the same room as my family. My scrapbook room is in the basement and I hate leaving messes so if I start something I have to clean up when I'm done. I also love that I'll never be short a letter.

[crecia27]

Less mess, no worry about cutting something wrong. But also, I really like my nice compact books, and that I don't have to worry so much if my kids really love looking at them - if they get worn out I can just print another one.

[lovely1m]

So many reasons, it looks nicer and cleaner, it doesn't have my terrible hand writing, no mess, cost less, easy to do with just a few minutes of time and save and go back, its much more artistic for me without all the other stuff holding me back.

[mommy2aria06]

Oh one more: the store is always open! lmao

[Misty Cato]

The undo button.

[heatherdumas]

It is the community. Where else can you get an expert to give you advice for free? Where else can you earn coupons for lifting someone else's stuff?
Also, I love the feedback. You do a layout in paper and it sits in your album until someone pretends to care and looks. Here, you post it and people tell you what they like about it. Then you know what to do or not to do next time.

[DawnMarch]

I love that there's no mess too! I kept doing both for a while but after a while I felt like it was so much harder to create the pages I wanted with paper. You can't resize your photos and elements, you can't really recolor anything (unless you want to paint!) -- you are stuck with the elements the way they are made.

[jessica31876]

there is more freedom in digi scrapping. I do not have to worry about whether the product will damage my photos. It costs way less. I can scrap a photo 20 different ways and not have to worry about damaging the photo or needing reprints.

[Nikki Epperson]

I never really did paper. I just love the convience of digital :)

[MelindaH]

My #1 reason - can't stand the idea of cutting pictures. With digital scrapbooking, I can "cut" a picture and "undo" it if I don't like how it turned out.

My other major reason is cost. I simply cannot afford to purchase, nor do I have the space to store, paper scrapbooking supplies.

I never paper scrapbooked because I was intimidated by all of the tools and cost associated with it. I have a past coworker who said she is sure she has thousands and thousands of dollars worth of paper scrapbooking materials stored in totes in her garage (after a divorce she had to move). I just can't imagine spending all that money and not playing with it!

[breakingbrie]

Extracting!! LOL, I'll admit, I've actually tried cutting out a pic with scissors... bad idea, doesn't quite work out. I love that you can do that digital. That's one of my fave things about it-the stuff you can do with the pics - extractions/overlays/b&w/color pops and such without having to print multiple photos.

I also love it because I just don't have time to pull out my stash anymore, especially that the girls don't get into my stuff this way... Oh, and buying an alpha sticker pack, then needing just one more e...SUCKS BIG TIME :D

Oh, also that you can recolor anything whenever you want to make it match. There's so much, but most of it's all been mentioned! lol, and I think it was Anna that mentioned 'the store's always open'!! lol.

[iJenny]

cheaper
endless creative freedom
less mess/clutter
no "running out" of supplies (adhesive, cardstock, etc)
easy to "un-do" mistakes
more socializing (in my opinion)

there are just a few for ya T!

[nesser1981]

Easier to stay caught up.
Don't have to print pictures to scrap.
No mess.
Smaller books.
no storage for supplies.
Easy to share.

etc..

[Stacey42]

I digi scrap because I am hopeless with scissors and other cutting tools. I can just about manage a straight line with a roller cutter & ruler but that is it. Also all my supplies are on the computer so I never haveto worry about taking all the stuff out and putting it all back or about small boys getting into it and making messes.

[tlcaudle]

Why I digiscrap?

There is no mess to clean up. I have all my files on my laptop and I can take it anywhere. I love the fact that you can recolor items and even combine your papers to create new paper, without spending over $100 for one layout. All my supplies are re-usable.

I also feel I have more creative freedom doing digital scrapbooking. I can play around with all kinds of things without ruining my layout. Digital layouts are also easier to share and easier to duplicate.

Okay, so I hope that helps you out a little bit!!

[scarletsierra]

I was a paper scrapper for a loooong time before I delved into digital scrapping. And my number one "pro" for digi vs. paper scrapping, is the flexibililty of the medium. I have more freedom to make mistakes, because I can fix them. I can more easily experiment with elements and papers and alphas. I think digi has made me a better scrapper.

I also love that I don't have to worry about mess or losing anything if my toddler gets into my goodies. Digi has also been more affordable. Especially since I can reuse and reuse and reuse if I so choose. And now with hybrid, if I ever got un-chickenifed and tried it, I could have the best of both worlds.

[sannajeannine]

Because it takes up way less room than paper scrapping and I can use papers and elements over and over again, so its much more economical :)

[Tracyfish]

Pretty much what everyone else said. No mess, nothing for my kid to get into, I can use elements, papers, alphas over and over again.

[newfiemountiewife]

Why I digiscrap?

There is no mess to clean up. I have all my files on my laptop and I can take it anywhere. I love the fact that you can recolor items and even combine your papers to create new paper, without spending over $100 for one layout. All my supplies are re-usable.

I also feel I have more creative freedom doing digital scrapbooking. I can play around with all kinds of things without ruining my layout. Digital layouts are also easier to share and easier to duplicate.

Okay, so I hope that helps you out a little bit!!

This is absolutely what I was going to say. I work in Photoshop all day, so this was a natural progression for me. I have scrapped around 150 layouts this year, and if I had to scrap paper, I would have done 0 LOL

[newfiemountiewife]

Oh one more: the store is always open! lmao

THIS^^ LOL

[my4boys]

I think it is a bit more frustrating with Digital but I love the fact that it takes just 3 things to complete a digital layout...My laptop, EHD & a printer!!! With paper, that is not the case at all, as much as I love it it is so much cleaner and easier.

[jessica31876]

Another thing is *when* I start printing pages I want to be able to share tehm with friends/family I.E. give them a copy if I make one that I think they would enjoy. I couldnt do that with paper scrapping unless I made two pages and well lets face it it isnt so easy to make those placement exactly the same on two seperate pages.

The only thing I do not like about digi is that I sometimes forget to save and lose all my work.

[scrapmonkey]

Here's some of my reasons, though I'm not completely 100% switched:
1. Supplies take up less room
2. I can scrap and still watch TV with the hubby without moving a whole bunch of stuff around (paper scrapping usually meant time spent away from the hubby)
3. I can use some supplies over and over again like alphas
4. I don't have to worry about running out of adhesive
5. If I want to, I can create some effects that would be much harder to do with paper (like blending)
6. I am terrible with cutting in a straight line - PSE keeps the lines straight for me!
7. It is easier to share my creations with family & friends via e-mail

[amystoffel]

It is more cost effective...in theory! You can re-use elements and paper. Unless you are a shop a holic like me :) Less bulk. All my paper scrap pages were so embellished like my digi LO's and the pages were bulky. Less mess. And it will withstand time.

My scrapbooks from just 5 years ago...the glue is I guess aging and things are falling off the pages.

More flexibility. I am not stuck with what I start with. In paper scrap...you glue it...it's done. In digi I can change my mind all the way until the end. I'm not stuck with placement I dont like.

[Di-ahh]

Glue makes me nauseous and those big 12" scissors scare me!

[KirstieGai]

pretty much the same as everyone else - less mess, I've got paper LO's that the kids have scribbled over, I love that I can duplicate a LO for each of my kids rather than having to do 3 seperate LO's, my digi layouts look much better, more portable with a laptop than a bag of paper supplies

[gerich]

All the reasons everyone has already mentioned are reasons I love digi scrapping - the main ones that actually made me take the leap from paper scrapping was:
time - (my main reason at this stage of my life with 2 young children) it is so much quicker to make a digi LO and I can do it in spurts if needed and to clean up all I need to do is hit save!
able to reuse supplies - never run out of alphas or paper again!
ability to recolour - I'm a perfectionist and would spend hours procastinating over which shade of green etc to use!! and pink .... I never had the right shade of pink!! what is it about pink?!!
resize - it use to frustrate me when I had the perfect element but due to it's size I couldn't get it to work on my page!
photo sizes I want without multiple trips to the shop to enlarge or reduce
instant satisfaction - can scrap photos taken that day and if I don't have the right supply can purchase it and use it straight away
cost - so much cheaper though I feel guilty about all my paper supplies I'll probably never use now!! I'd like to think I'll do a mix of paper LO's and digi LO's but at this stage digi is so much more convenient I don't see it happening any time soon!

[rach3975]

One of my reasons that hasn't been mentioned is less need to plan ahead. In the few days I paper scrapped, I had to go to the store and buy supplies for every page I wanted to make. With digi, making just a few purchases leads to a stash that can be endlessly recolored and resized. Now I don't have to decide ahead of time what pages to work on, what photo sizes I need, what colors my page will be, and what elements I want to use.

Other reasons I love digi:
-No mess or safety concerns even with young kids
-I'm much more comfortable with a computer than art supplies
-More economical
-Flat, archivally safe albums
-Ease of putting the same LO in multiple children's books
-More flexibility (resizing and recoloring)
-Undo

[kscwgirl]

well I could quote all the posts but that would be redundant. So, I'll just say, ITA. :)

[heatherdumas]

Oh, the "A"s & "E"s !!! Everytime I find an alpha I like there are never enough "A"s & "E"s. I could buy a million alphas and it would not be enough. Natalie, Derek, Sara, Amanda, Bryan, Heather & Andrew... let me count 10"A"s and 6 "E"s Then I am left with a bunch of unusable letters. :confused:

[~Julie~]

Less mess... no dangerous cutting tools laying around... no sticky fingers from glue. I can use the same alpha 10 times if I wanted to without buying it again. CTRL-Z the undo function! LOL

[SamaraGugler]

I love digital scrapbooking because it combines two of my LOVES....creating and computers. I'm a creative geek at heart. :)

FYI- I paper scrapped for 7 years prior to turning to digital.

[arenee]

The reason I got it to originally was to be able to make copies of my pages for my in-laws and keep some for myself.

But since I have gotten into buying things online and using photoshop............I can make photos for in laws.....my parents...I can make a yearly book, a book for each child......

I have to say the "savings" is a myth for me. I spend more because I can shop at the drop of a hat. I dont have a local scrapbook store unless you count Michael and Hobby Lobby. So it is hard to develop a relationship with a store.
But I will say I have been more productive with digital of late.

I do feel I can be more creative with digital. If I don't like what I have done, I just control-z

I dont have to keep up with all the paper scrapping things. No more buttons to be organized. No more paper pieces to keep up with to make my scrapping dollar go further.

But the biggest advantage is that I can take it anywhere, planes, trains, auto, kids events that I have to wait around for.............on and on

[MamaK]

it's the technology that draws me in. I LOVED paper scrapping but when I got bit by the digi bug, I just never recovered. LOL I do appreciate that it is cleaner, easier to transport and store in the house, and I can get a little more creative using the software than I could with a pair of scissors.

[Tracie Stroud]

all the reasons already given. :D

[alansrock]

I never paper scrapped as it just always seemed too time-consuming to me and glue is a total mess. Plus I like the versatility of digi; you can rework a page as often as you want and you have more control over your options. Plus I can save my work and come back to it later. And the photo editing tools let you create things that you could never do with paper, blending, color treatments, etc.

[melmos75]

I have never been an arts and crafts kinda person so cutting and glueing paper really isn’t my thing. However, I do some graphic design for a living and so digi scrapping was right up my alley!

Other reasons (I have to admit, I didn’t read all the replies so most if not all of these have probably already been said):
• Cost
• Ctrl Z – I would be devastated if I ruined an expensive piece of paper because of a bad cut
• Ability to resize and recolor elements so they work just perfect for my LO
• I don’t have to print my pics at sizes that would work for my lo – just resize and cut them in PS.
• I can do more fancy things with digi such as blendings, extractions, and selective coloring on photos
• No mess
• Storage space is a lot less
• Easy to just press save when you gotta get up and leave vs cleaning up the mess
• Can work on it anywhere – just gotta bring along my laptop
• I can print the LO more than once if I wanted to use it for a gift instead of creating a whole other page
• I can give my pages dimension but yet be able to store flat
• I can finish a digi LO faster then a paper LO

[switchwiz]

If I mess up, I don't have to throw away the layout, I just redo it
If I don't like my layout it's easy to just start over and I didn't waste supplies or money
Way more fun
don't have to get out supplies then put them all back
When I need something I don't have, I can shop any time day or night and have LOTS of places to find things
It was such a natural progression from touching up photos

[beaucat]

Easier to do, faster, easier to put away and it takes up less space (I was always getting crap from people about "all" my paper supplies.)

AND I actually do it (and as opposed to paper where I just bought things and did maybe four layouts a year)

[AmyM]

The shopping is more convenient and cost-effective-
I pick what I want, download and use immediately with digi, and have the freedom to use the supplies over and over again. With paper, I have to fight the traffic and go out scrounging through the stores for that one perfect item and once I use it, that's it. No using things over again.

Creative freedom-
Digi gives you the ability to resize, recolor, and layer as much as you like. Not so with paper scrapping. Got an orange ribbon? You're stuck with it or you have to go out and buy the color you like. Paper scrapping costs a ton to use lots of embellishments and layers. You can have over 20 bucks tied up in one page before you know it.

Neater!
No messy glue stuck in my hair, spilled glitter all over the floor, or scraps of paper to thow away. click and drag baby.

Love it!