Make Your Foray into Digital Scrapbooking Easy with a Starter Project

Scrapbooks have been kept for centuries!  They're not a new tradition or fad.  In fact, scrapbooks pre-date photos!  Once photos came on the scene, scrapbooks meant even more because they preserved even more.  

Scrapbooks turned into "scrapbook-ing" in the 1980s and 1990s when scrapbookers added a creative, decorative aspect.  

The 21st century has brought us digital scrapbooking.  Instead of papers, stickers, and scissors (and a lot of space to spread out in), a digital scrapbooker utilizes technology--a computer and computer software--to create books digitally, then submit them for publishing.  

I know some digital scrapbookers keep only digital versions of their work, but print has a lot of benefits that digital doesn't, and photo experts have long maintained print as one of the safest ways to store photos.  So I consider the "digital" part of digital scrapbooking in the creation only, not the finished product.

Your story is worth sharing and preserving (the benefits to the heart and soul are impressive), and photos are the highlights of your life's story.  So let's explore making that entirely doable for you!

If you're considering making the transition from paper scrapbooking to digital scrapbooking, here are some great ideas and reasons to do it (such as a book never needing a full battery in order to give you access to your photos).  

NOTE:  I am a Forever affiliate, called an Ambassador, because I love Forever so much!  This means I make a commission from purchases at my website, and being your Ambassador means I'm here to help you with questions, too.

Making Digital Scrapbooking Easy

Today I'll share with you a brilliant way to make your foray into digital scrapbooking easy:  a starter project.  

There are five things I love about this approach I'm about to share with you:

1. It's a great fit for anyone who doesn't feel very computer-savvy.
2. It's a great fit for anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to spend preserving photos and memories.
3. It's a great fit for anyone concerned about photo privacy.
4. It provides you both a digital (shareable!) version of your book (digital backups are always smart) as well as access to a professional printing service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  
5. Once you've completed the starter project, you'll have a taste of an easy way to digitally scrapbook.  From there, you can continue using the simple software platform (free) or you can advance to a more creative and flexible digital scrapbooking software if you prefer.  (In my opinion, this is the piece de resistance!  Finding a digital scrapbooking method that works for you makes it not just doable but enjoyable moving forward.  Fun is what makes it easy.)

There seems to be a false idea out there that preserving photos and memories is hard, is complicated, takes a long time, is only for some people but not for others.  It's simply not true.  Memories aren't just for certain people.  Photos aren't just for some people.  The feel-good benefits that come from photos, memories, stories, and connections are for everyone!

My two biggest tips for making digital scrapbooking easy and doable are:

First, use a template.  It's just faster and easier.  All the templates in the platform I'm showing you here are free, so that's an extra bonus.

Second, set aside some time.  Take some Me Time on a Sunday night or a Saturday morning to spend with your photos and memories.  As soon as you start, it will stop feeling like a chore because you will love it!  I promise.

So let's get you there with a Starter Project.  Right now, just explore the options and don't worry about how to make them.  I'll explain everything!  😊

The Starter Project:  Three Options

When you're trying something new, it's often easier when you first just get your feet wet.  I have three ideas for your Starter Project which will do just that, so choose whichever one sounds most interesting and enjoyable to you.  

I've chosen three projects that you can actually try out for free, too!

I'll give you some instructions on how to do that shortly, as well as a little tutorial video on how to make these items.  You'll love how easy the software is to use!

OPTION 1

This starter project can be done in less than 5 minutes!  This is a set of 4 cork-backed coasters.  Keep it for yourself, or give it as a gift.  Click this link to start the project if it's the one you choose.

You'll choose 3 photos, a quote or sentiment, and a little text with one of the photos.  Easy, peasy.  Really.

OPTION 2

This starter project can be done even quicker than the coasters!  This little magnet has a quote as part of the design, then you just add a photo.  Click this link to start this project if it's the one you choose.    

With magnets, you can choose a 3x4 size or a 4x6 size.  If purple isn't your thing or you'd like a different quote, there are lots of other magnet templates you can choose from here.

OPTION 3

This is a sweet little book called "Remember."  Clink the link to start this project if it's the one you choose.

The "Remember" book has a lot of different page options, each one with a word like "SMILE," "GROW," "SHARE," etc., room for a few pictures, and space for text.  Write down a few of your memories--things you remember--and find some photos you can add in, too.

If finding photos is a little overwhelming for you because you haven't organized them yet, here's an idea:  Go to a local park and take some nice scenery pictures.  This is just a book of your memories, and you're just getting your feet wet making a book.  You can save the photo organization for later if that's easier.  

By the way, my goal here is for your Starter Project to be free if you're new to Forever, but I know there are several options for sizes and bindings available for books.  If you choose the 8x8 softbound book during a 50% off sale, you'll still be able to get it for free!

The How-To:  Instructions

Follow these simple steps to make your Starter Project (hopefully for free!).

1. You'll use the free templates at a simple platform called Create & Print by FOREVER.  First, open your free Forever account here.  
2. Next, check your email for an email from Forever so you can verify your email address.  If you're new to Forever and you verify your email address, you'll be emailed a $20 Welcome Coupon that's good for 60 days.  You'll be able to use it for your Starter Project!
3. Now watch this 5-minute tutorial video about how to use the Create & Print software (formerly called Design & Print).  I like to say that the learning curve for the Create & Print software is almost a straight line!  This allows you to get projects done in a jif.
4. Choose the photos you'd like to use in your project.  Upload them to your Forever Storage (cloud storage for photos and videos).  If you're uploading from your phone, this tutorial video will help.  If you're uploading from your computer, this tutorial video will help.
5. Next, click on whichever Starter Project you've decided on:  the coaster set or the magnet or the "Remember" book.  Make the project!  👊  I'm your Forever Ambassador, so reach out if you have questions.  photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com
6. Once your project is completed, go to the "Deals" tab along the top of the page at the Forever website.  Check to see if your chosen product is on sale.  You should be able to use the $20 coupon to get these items for free if they are 50% off.  Everything is on sale all the time, and sales vary between 35%-50%.  If you want to wait until your item is 50% off, you certainly may.  Whatever the sale is, use the sale code you see there so you'll get the sale price at checkout.
7. Now, go back to your email and get the coupon code for the $20 Welcome!  Apply that $20 Welcome code in your cart as well.  You should have the sale code and the $20 welcome code.  You will pay shipping, but hopefully you're getting your lovely Starter Project for free.

Next Steps

Now that you've gotten your feet wet with the Create & Print software, you're ready to do some digital scrapbooking to preserve your photos and memories!

You can keep on using Create & Print by Forever for travel books, yearbooks, Reasons I Love You books, and much more!  

There are hundreds of templates in Create & Print, and new ones are added all the time.  Old ones are retired periodically, so if you see one you like, snap it up and get started!

And, of course, you have also seen that you can make plenty of photo gifts and home decor using free Create & Print templates, too!

If you love Create & Print, then my work here is done!  😊  Set aside the time, use Create & Print templates, and you're ready to become a regular digital scrapbooker.  I like creating yearbooks every year, and you can find a lot of different designs by typing in "yearbook" into the search bar or just clicking here to explore.  

However, if you liked Create & Print OK but haven't met the love of your digital scrapbooking life, let me introduce you to Artisan digital scrapbooking software by Forever.  

It has many of the DIY elements of traditional paper scrapbooking (like using embellishments and alphabet stickers and "ripping" papers).  There's a LOT of room for flexible pages and for creativity.  You can see the basics at an introductory class I taught a few years ago:

It's my personal favorite because I can do things like this with it, playing with fonts and creating my own pages (whether from scratch or from blueprints) and choosing my own digital art and designs:

If you think you might fall in love with Artisan like I did, you can start a 30-day free trial here and read all the computer system requirements.  (Mac users need a partitioning program.)

What Will You Do?

I love that these options mean there's something for everyone, that you can get it all with both photo privacy and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and that you can really be your own digital scrapbooking hero!

Tell me--what will you do?  Which of the three Starter Projects will you choose?  Which of the digital scrapbooking options will be Your Thing?  Let me know in the comments.  You're going to love the world of digital scrapbooking, especially with Forever!  

Who do you know who is looking for a simple way to get into digital scrapbooking?
Share this post using the share buttons at the left, then Pin this image to save and share.

Follow Photo & Story Treasures on social media here: