Using Digital Scrapbooking To Improve Your Crafting Skills.

By now you may well have heard about the latest development in crafting - digital scrapbooking.

Creating scrapbooks on computer throws up some interesting alternatives and benefits if you want to impress your friends and family.

Here are six ways that you can improve your scrapbooking by going digital...

More organised

Having all your photos, embellishments, backgrounds etc. on screen in front of you is a lot tidier and easier to manage than trying to sift through mountains of tear-outs and photos you've accumulated.

Not to mention the fact that manipulating these elements in your scrapbook is quick, convenient and in no way messy.

Easy-to-use and quick-to-fix tools and effects

Digital scrapbooking software comes equipped with editing tools and effects that would be time-consuming and arduous, if not impossible to implement, using real equipment.

Any of these tools and effects can be applied and removed at any point, meaning you can experiment knowing that anything you don't like can be discarded in an instant - somewhat more difficult with conventional tools.

Supplies

The internet is a handy tool isn't it? Any image, template, background or texture you think might work in your digital scrapbook can be easily sourced on the web, or even in the software you're using. You can then use as much or as little of it as you like.

And what if you want to use a certain photo on more than one page? Copying and pasting should take around four clicks of your mouse.

Unlimited pages and easier storage

Although not impossible physically, it's much more convenient to digitally create a scrapbook of larger size. Digital scrapbooking software enables you to create as many pages as you see fit. And suppose you're a bit of a scrapbooking buff and your collection is on the substantial side. If your scrapbooks are digitally created, computer storage takes up no room - no physical room that is!

And what if you want to get hold of one of your many scrapbooks and you're short on time? This isn't a problem either - searching for the file on computer will take up all but a few seconds of your time.

Share with anyone, anywhere, anytime

You've created your dream scrapbook. Now what? Share it of course! With a digital scrapbook, there are no limits on what time of day you share, who you share with or where you share with them.

It's just as quick and easy to upload a digital scrapbook to an email for friends on the other side of the world to revel in your memories, as it is to call someone from downstairs to come up and take a look.

Easy to store and protect

There's not much chance of digital scrapbooks becoming dog-eared, worn, torn or dishevelled by the sands of time, as more traditional ones do. And the same can be said if you've got little ones who take great joy in getting their grubby little mitts on your work - computer screens are wipe-clean, whereas papers and embellishments are slightly less so.

With all of this at your disposal, how great you make your digital scrapbook really is down to you.

While traditional scrapbooking isn't going to disappear, it's obvious that digital scrapbooking possesses many advantages, so if you haven't already, we'd advise giving it a go.

Peter White is employed by Serif, owner of the Daisytrail website which specialises in software for making digital scrapbooks. Their CraftArtist Platinum software suite enables the creation of a range of digital projects, from baby photo books to DIY wedding invitations.