My first attempt... Bless you kind folks!

[VillageJen]

Yesterday I discovered something called Digital Scrapbooking (and color television!) and it was gently pointed out to me that the reason I was having trouble is that my version of Paint Shop Pro was purchased just after Nixon resigned.

I promptly downloaded the latest edition and sat at my desk in tears because I was absolutely certain that I would never, ever learn how to use it. So many of you gave me encouragement and I really appreciate it.

I'm a visual learner so I purchased some video tutorials which have been enormously helpful. And WOWEE, the things that PSP can do now! I've discovered LAYERS, people! Can you imagine working without layers?? That's been me.

I've still got a looooong way to go but just yesterday I was wondering why my PNGs weren't transparent in PSP 5 (hangs head) Evidence:



And today I used these beautiful elements by Jenn Barrette and followed along with a video tutorial. It's nothing like you amazing ladies can create but I am just so excited to have discovered layers. You can edit them individually later! Revolutionary! (Edited to fit screen)

[taracotta7]

YEAH!!!!!! I remember when I first started digital scrapping.......it is a lot to learn at first. I was overwhelmed and frustrated. I finally found some video tutorials because I am visual also.....it was amazing what I learned once I had the correct information in front of me! Congrats on doing your first LO!!!! I can't wait to see future creations you do! You are off to a great start!

[MamaBee]

YAY!!! Great Job!! My first digi experience had a lot of tears too! I'm like why would anyone do this, it's so much easier to do traditional... this version of scrapping won't last long... LOL! Oh, how wrong I was...

[VillageJen]

Thanks, Tara! OHMYGOSH, I adore your signature! Gnomes and toadstools, so cute!

~sigh~ Maybe someday.

[Gemma]

Great job!!

I wish I had somewhere like this when I first started out, I spent so much time browsing the internet for answers, I think I spent more time doing that than I spent scrapping lol!

[Jenn Barrette]

Seriously a great first page! Can't wait to see more from you

[VillageJen]

Lol, Rebecca, I'm sorry to hear that you were in tears, too. It's just so frustrating to see all of these tools and have no idea what they do.

It's truly like having to learn an entirely new language overnight. There needs to be a Rosetta Stone program for digital photo editing.

[VillageJen]

Oh... my... goodness. JENN BARRETTE.

Two months ago I decided to do a carnival birthday party for my little guy and went online looking for inspiration. I did a Google search for images and saw this collage of gorgeous carnival graphics.

I fell in love with it and made it my computer wallpaper. Every day for two months I looked at it and just loved every new part that I saw. Baby's party was last Sunday and once it was over I was sad that it was going to be time for a new wallpaper. I didn't want to say goodbye to that darling collage.

So I decided to see if I could learn anything more about it. Thankfully it had the artist's name on it! A little bit of detective work led me here and I purchased the kit. I was so excited!!! I could OWN those darling graphics!!!

But then I didn't know what to DO with them!

I am bound and determined to figure this out and make a hard bound book using photos from the party and the graphics from JENN BARRETTE that I fell in love with. Thanks so much!

[Darcy Baldwin]

Congrats on your first page - great job! You'll find that just reading and reading and reading and playing in your program will bring you tons of great results! It does definitely take a lot of practice. The more you play, the more you will learn and the more that becomes second nature so it's not so hard to create your page.

Looking forward to seeing more work from you!

[Libby Pritchett]

haha Welcome! You will fit in *just* fine here, so I hope you'll make yourself at home.

Awesome first page.... I don't even want to SHOW you mine. I was a paper scrapper for years before that, and I can assure you that my first paper page was just as bad as my first digital page (some 10 years apart). Like you, I went on a search for tutorials, and that's how I learned. I ended up making it a goal to learn one new thing per page. It seemed time-consuming and frustrating at first (I remember some tears, too!). That was in 2006, and I haven't looked back!!

So glad you decided to join us here!

[VillageJen]

My poor dad. He doesn't know that there's a pic of him in a goofy hat being shown on the Internet. He's such a trooper!

[VillageJen]

Thanks, Libby! And congratulations on your new little baby! You've got great inspiration for scrapbooking.

[cardinalskate]

Great first page! And great place to jump off from to make more creations! My first pages where, ummmm, let's just say not good. And I know what you mean about seeing designers (and them commenting on your stuff). To those of us that live in awe of some designers, it's so exciting to have them talk to you LOL. They're like digi rockstars.

[mrshobbes]

Dude, your first page WAY rocks and totally trumps my first page (which incidentally took me three days to scrap, lol!) YAY you!!! Keep at it!

...and yes, aren't layers fabulous?

[TheHybridMess]

My first LO's weren't great and I too was a paper scrapper for about six years before. My LO's still aren't great to some of these ladies but i do try to learn something/try something new with every page

Your first page is great... and welcome!

[Traci Reed]

Hehe AWESOME first page!! You're gonna do just fine now that we've got you out of the stone age Now to get you to buy a car you don't have to pedal with your feet

[VillageJen]

HAHA, Traci... too funny! I have two toddlers, so we actually do have two (Little Tikes) cars that are peddled by feet!

What I need is a computer that isn't powered by me riding a stationary bicycle. Or that has a little bird inside taptaptapping away.

I can't decide if I'm Wilma Flintstone or MaryAnn on Gilligan's Island!

[Leila]

Great page, Jen!! Way better than my first, that's for sure.

And as someone who started digiscrapping with PSP5 (apparently when Nixon resigned...two days before I was born), I totally feel your pain on that program. It was a beast to use even then...

[joelsgirl]

Woo hoo! You are off to a great start!

[nun69]

you are off to a great start and glad you are here to hang out!

[melrio]

Awesome 1st page! And yes, layers totally rock! You're going to love it here....a great group of ladies & men to help support you. Can't wait to see more. BTW: My first page was done in PowerPoint.

[Julie Billingsley]

yay Jen! It's wonderful to see your layout! Congratulations on working through a new program and figuring it out! It's gorgeous!

[Traci Reed]

Originally Posted by melrio

BTW: My first page was done in PowerPoint.

Omg! *snort*

[heathergw]

YAY!!! That's such a great 1st page! I learned from video tutorials and the wonderful scrappers here at SSD... I seriously love your sense of humor and am so glad you're hanging around here

[deepounds]

FANTASTIC! Discovering layers is almost as good as discovering gold :-) You will be totally addicted soon, and SSD is the absolutely BEST place to hang out as you learn more stuff & hone your skills.

[VillageJen]

If I put this much energy into learning an actual foreign language, I'd be on my way to a career with the State Department. At the very least, I ought to apply myself to doing the dishes.

Instead I get all focused on making a picture of my most beautiful baby ever. (Well, in the Top Six!) And then I see your signatures and think, "How do they make the insides of their letters a different color than the outsides??"

I really ought to get dressed.

But here's my pretty baby!

[sevenupps]

Heh-heh, now you're HOOKED! You are doing fantasticly well and the more pages you make, the more fun you have and the more you learn!

[CA Dreamer]

Very nice! And, welcome to the world of digital scrapbooking! You will live it and love it here at SSD.

[HeatherKS]

Yay! Good for you!!! That first page is the hardest - and you rocked it! Can't wait to see more from you!

[pomi]

I think you've find here the place that fits you best in digiland.
Great first pages! You should see my first, created in GIMP (a free program from Linux) with 4 (yes, four) layers altogether including the photo (and no, it wasn't the minimalistic design on purpose).

[kscwgirl]

agh he's adorable!!!!!

[abm234]

Jen,

Not only am I impressed that you made your first page, I'm also impressed that you figured out how to post it here! I've been scrapping for awhile now and never bothered to figure out how to post a layout here!

[scrappurple]

Haha!! You are doing amazing for your first time!!! Yeah!!!

[tanbanan]

You're doing a fantastic job! It's fun to see how scrappers evolve over time and how they find their own style. Lots of support and encouragement here! Welcome!

[Leontine78]

Great first page!
And if you are a visual learner you might wanna check out Jessica Spragues website. She has awesome classes....self paced.
I did three of them and use those skills on my pages!

[suze]

Hey fantastic first page!! You'll love to hangout here with us and these girls are some of the best ladies around. We all support each other and give so many tips and tricks.. thats how I've learned so much, trust me my first page was insanely hard and looks nothing like what I can do now.

[ZaCola3]

Hooray! That is a great first page...I use PSP so if you have any questions feel free to ask in a PM or here if it is easier for you...
Welcome to our community and Digi Scrapping!