Have you ever printed your digital scrapbook?

[Lady Pistola]

I know many people publish their digi scrapbook pages to the web...but I'm wondering, for those of you who have printed them out, how did they look? I know many of the elements are meant to look 3-D, so I was wondering how it translated. The reason I ask, is that I just finished typing and scanning my mother's old journals and photos (she passed away almost 10 years ago) and now I want to put parts of her stuff together to make a book I can give to all my siblings. I was thinking of going the digi scrapbook route (never done this, but willing to learn!) but I want to print and bind it all into a book, and I just don't want it to look cheezy. That's my biggest worry! So I have to decide if I want to use heavy(ish) embellishment, or if I should just stick to a minimalist look....any thoughts on this?

Also, any inspiration sites to look through? I don't want it to be a traditional scrap-booky looking thing, more streamlined but pretty, classy, etc. This is really special to me, and I want it to be treasured by my family... thanks for the input!

[Lady Pistola]

Oh another thing...I really like the look of altered journals, and thought that if I could do something like that, it would be really cool. Lots to look at, read, etc...almost like a treasure trove, seeing something new everytime...does that make sense? I dont know if that would be a good idea, with the subject matter. Have any of you done altered art journal looking pages digitally?

I have all her journals typed...and stuff like birth cert, birth stats, baby photos, gradeschool class photos, letters she wrote to her mother, poems she wrote, stories she wrote about her own father when he passed away, wedding pics, cool stuff like a handwritten 'expense sheet' of what they spent on their honeymoon, etc, etc, etc....just life stuff, all up through her getting sick, the funeral, the obituary, etc.

I guess I just need help brainstorming how to put all this info together, to make it something unique and special. I could go very minimalist or very heavy handed on the extras....(please help!!!!)

[mandys08]

I will start by saying I love digital scrapbooking and have printed many books. I guess I am going in reverse, because I am about to start my first paper scrapbook! Digital is great that you can rearrange, and there is no glue!

I mostly print at http://www.artscow.com/?Ref=499616

There are scrapbook kits you can use if you use their design program. So far, I have done mine in photoshop elements, but there are so many cute kits I am soon going to have to try doing it online.

There is a gallery where you can share your book, or see what others have come up with for ideas.
--- here is a halloween book I made last year for my mom of my sister & I's halloween costumes over the years---
It may take some gettig used to on the site, if you would like help you could ask me, also there is a forum on the site with people more knowledgable than myself.

[ScrappyMomma]

I have been making digital scrapbooks using the StoryBook Creator Software available through Creative Memories. I love the look of the books. They are really high quality, the hard cover books are stitch bound not glued. It's also a great way to make multiple copies of the same book like you are wanting to do...if you want to check out the SBC software then just click on the following link:
www.mycmsite.com/nicolenewcome
Then go to the digital scrapbooking section...you can even download a free trial version of the software that has the basics in it so you can try it and see if you like it.
Also, the 3D effect of the embellishments really does show through when the page is printed. It really does come out nice when it's all done!!

[measure-once-cut-twice]

I also have been thinking of printing the digi scrap pages. I don't know if this will help or not, but there is an online printing place that has great prices on 12x12 pages. It might help if you were able to print some of the pages first to see what they would look like once they were "flattened" on to a sheet. I like the CM route, but think that this other company is GREAT. I love their prints. And they are VERY reasonably priced. The price for a 12x12 page is $2.50. And shipping is reasonable.

http://www.scrapbookpictures.com/SBPView.jsp

You have to sign up. But if you have a problem you get to call and talk to a real person! It is a shop in a town near me and I have been VERY impressed with their service.

hope that helps

Sarah