Digital Scrapbooks and More Blog » Digital Makeover

Photo Fixes to make to Photos that you have Scanned – See a Video about it.

Blog Admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:18:03 +0000

I am so excited about my new Flip-Pal scanner as I have scanned so many old photos, and then I have made the photo editing fixes to really improve those old photos too!

Now my scanned photos are ready for digital scrapbooking, back-up and sharing! I can really improve the original photos and quickly make a duplicate copy too!

Whether you use this scanner or another one after scanning your photos like mine might need to be improved!

Now my Scanned Photos need some fixing!

Here are 6 of the fixes that my scanned photos needed, check out this video and see if your scanned photos need these fixes too!

Note: Some mobile and eReaders may not be able to see this video – please go directly to blog to view: http://blog.digitalscrapbooksandmore.com/

Fix those Scanned Photos NOW!

One thing that is good to know about scanned photos is that if you have a graphics program like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements it is easy to photo edit and fix my scanned photos before I use them in digital scrapbooking, genealogy, print them, or even before I make a final back-up copy for family. Why not look have your photos look good when you use them in genealogy projects, digitally scrapbook pages, or when you make backup copies, and add to Facebook, MySpace, Websites, or even just Email them! Make your scanned photos look good with easy and fast fixes that you can do Photoshop or Elements!

Not sure how to do these easy and fast fixes?

Wondering how to make these improvements in your scanned photos?No problem, get the training that would help you do all of these things!Get this Photo Edit Training for fixing scanned photos using Elements! Have you just scanned some precious photos and have them on your computer? But sadly they have are damaged, have dust, need to be rotated, cropped and fixed but you don’t know how? Well then we have the training for you! Photo Edit Training for fixing scanned photos using Elements, can help you get the training you need to fix those scanned photos!

This training, Photo Edit Training for fixing scanned photos using Elements 10 contains 4 downloadable video tutorials, and a Cheat Sheet for helpful tips and quick reference.

Scanned photos have special needs that other digital photos might not need so take this training to learn how to:

* Duplicate
* Rotate
* Straighten
* Crop
* Separate
* Fix — (Red Eye, get rid of dust, clean up blemishes, and fixed some damages!)

After all that scanning don’t ruin your original photos, make a duplicate copy to work on!

Many scanned photos need to be rotated and straightened after the scanning learn how in this training! Sometime while scanning you pick up parts of extra photos or the album, so crop these unnecessary items out of your photo!

Save time and scan several photos together, now learn a quick way to separate them! The scanned photo needs to be fixed, lean these first fixes in this training — take out Red Eye, get rid of dust, clean up blemishes, and fixed some damages!

Buy this training now!

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Also, Get the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner to turn your old photos into digital photos!

In 2 weeks I have scanned at least 7 photo albums and over 1000 old photos! I have done all of this in a few evenings while watching TV! This little mobile scanner (Flip-Pal) has really got me motivated to get all of my old photos turned into digital photos. I scanned many of the photos right in the photo album without taking them out, and I thought the result was as good as my scanner attached to my computer! If you would like to see more about this scanner visit Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Website and check them out!

Need to scan some old photos too? Get a mobile scanner to turn your old photos into digital photos to add to digital scrapbooking pages today!

If you would like to see more about this scanner visit Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Website and check them out!

Also, see this article for more information about this neat little scanner – Scan your Photos with a Mobile Scanner for Digital Scrapbooking Projects

Or see this article: Get Rid of the Clutter and Scanning Photos and More!

Or check this article for scanning ideas: Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Helped me turn Old Photos into Digital Photos for Digital Scrapbooking!

Another Article: Fix Scanned Photos with 6 Easy Steps!

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See the training you can get to help you organize in Photoshop Elements:

How to “Get Organized in the Organizer: A Simple Start in Photoshop Elements, Lesson 1” is a great Intermediate 3-part tutorial set that will teach you all about the basics of using the Organizer! This Simple Start Lesson Set teaches you easy and simple ways to begin organizing with the Organizer in Photoshop Elements!

Now that you know how to use Photoshop Elements in the Editor Mode, there’s no doubt that you have plenty of photos and edited photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, and digital scrapbooking projects! After a while, all your photos, supplies, and projects can become a nightmare to sort through and find. So what do you do, you ask? You can easily clean up the digital mess using Photoshop Elements’ Organizer!

That’s where Organizer training comes in! Learn the basics about the Organizer and how to use it. Learn simple, but helpful, steps to get your photos, supplies, and projects neat and tidy within the Organizer with this 3-part tutorial training!

How to “Get Organized in the Organizer Using Organizing Features in Elements, Lesson 2″ is a great Intermediate 4-part tutorial set that will teach additional tips and organizing features within the Organizer!

Lesson 2 takes your digital organizing to the next level, by pushing past the basics of the Organizer! Make your digital photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, and digital scrapbooking projects neat, tidy, and incredibly easy to find with more secrets revealed about the Organizer!

Get this coordinating all-about-the-Organizer training and learn how to do more advanced organization within the Organizer, like add keyword tags or create albums and categories to bring some much needed order to all of your many digital things! While other companies may focus their Organizer training specifically on photos (and only photos!), Digital Scrapbooks and More reviews organizing both digital photos and digital supplies – for the best of both worlds!

Continue your organizing training with How to: “Get Organized in the Organizer Using Organizing Advanced Features in Elements, Lesson 3.” This 4-part tutorial set will teach you all about advanced Organizer secrets!

Lesson 3 is a great fit for anyone interested in advanced organizing techniques within the Organizer. Learn how to rate your favorite photos, or even find your photos with actual faces! Find out how you can easily compare similar photos side by side to decide which ones are better with additional Organizer tools. Advanced organization within the Organizer can make your digital photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, and digital scrapbooking projects incredibly easy to find and use!

Get this coordinating all-about-the-Organizer training and “go to the next level” in your organization skills using the Organizer! Learn how you can use the Organizer to help you make much-needed back up copies of your most-treasured photos in case of an emergency or computer-crash, or learn how to make a back up copy of your favorite supplies to use on a newly purchased computer or separate laptop.

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Learn Digital Scrapbooking Today!

Get training to learn digital scrapbooking, Photoshop or Photoshop Elements ~ buy the Getting Started Series for Digital Scrapbooking in either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Also get Photo Edit Training and Digital Scrapbooking Supplies!

Start Scrapbooking today with FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies!

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See Digital Scrapbooking and Photo Edit Training too!

Scan your Photos with a Mobile Scanner for Digital Scrapbooking Projects

Blog Admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:33:00 +0000

Scan those old photos and make them digital!

Have you been looking through your old photo albums, and wish those photos were digital? If so then you might be thinking that you might want to scan those photos so you can use them in your digital scrapbooking projects, keep a backup or just have them turned into digital to preserve them.

Here is a new way to scan those old photos!

Every once in awhile we come across a gadget the is nice to share with other digital scrapbookers.

This product seems especially interesting to us. If you are like us and have loads of old photos sitting around then you might want to try the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

Here is an exciting tool to scan your photos because this scanner is compact, doesn’t have to be attached to a computer, and stores scanned images on a memory card!

According to the maker, the Flip-Pal mobile scanner can scan photos safely while they are still in the album or frame!

Also according the the maker you can scan Photos, drawings, quilts, even small objects like coins or jewelry. Also they claim to scan Newspapers, bound books, albums and magazines!

We just ordered one and when it comes we will test it and let you know.

But here is how we imagine using first, is to take old photos in our album and make them digital then make a back-up copy so I can give my family copies too! Then digital scrapbooking any of the new digital photos!

As soon as we get our we will let you know how it goes!

In the meantime you might want to take a look at some of the Flip-Pal videos below:

Take a look at this and see how the manufacture of Flip-Pal uses this nice little scanner!

(This Video Shows more Information about Flip-Pal! Some eReaders, tablets, and other mobile devices might not be able to see video. Please use a computer and go to http://blog.digitalscrapbooksandmore.com/ to have a better view)

See the training you can get to help you organize in Photoshop Elements:

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After you have scanned your photos you might want to fix a few things!

See these Photoshop Elements and Photo Editing Tutorials to help you edit your digital photos after you have scanned them:

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Get FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies too!

Start Scrapbooking today with FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies!

Get a Virtual Makeover Today!

Jennifer Barlow — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:36:00 +0000

(Originally posted as: So, What’s a Virtual MakeOver Anyway? by Jennifer Barlow 9/29/2009)

I love makeup and I love makeovers. My best friend and I used to do makeovers all the time when we were teens. I even did my sister’s makeup for her wedding. I think that’s why I created the virtual makeover photo editing series at Digital Scrapbooks and More called the Digi MakeOver Madness Series.

The new-age, modern approach to applying makeup is even more exciting to me. As a girl who has suffered through ridiculously bad acne. I really knew first-hand that makeup can only go so far. If you have a massive zit on your face, you can load on the concealer, foundation, and powder, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t be able to see it anymore.

And have you tried those over the counter whitening strips yet (the kind you can buy from the grocery store)? The first time I used them they hurt my teeth so bad I actually had to take them off my teeth after one minute! My teeth didn’t hurt the second time, but the strips felt nasty in my mouth and were not always terribly convenient to use. At the end of the day, I spent $30 on these stupid strips that I never use, and to me, that isn’t cheap.

My makeup isn’t any better either. I try to be as all-natural as I can when it comes to food and even makeup, so I bought a healthier “mercury-free” mascara the other day. It’s actually gluten-free too, which is especially important because I have Celiac Disease (can’t eat wheat, flour…essentially can’t eat gluten) and the Pros? I really like this new mascara and it doesn’t irritate my eyes. But the Cons? It was $24! I bought a gluten-free lipstick too for $20 and almost went bankrupt. It was insane.

Why does it have to cost so much to look good? I don’t think it should. By looking beyond conventional, traditional makeup and beauty products, you can save a lot of money and achieve the same (though usually better) results! How you ask? With virtual makeup! By giving yourself a virtual makeover, you can save some serious money, but still look great in your photos. You can make professional photos for work, like resumes or company parties, edit them, and look fabulous. Or pictures for your personal website, Myspace, or Facebook profile? Edit them and look fabulous. Got pics that you want to put in frames, digital scrapbooking albums, or send as holiday cards to friends and family? You know what I am going to say: Edit them and look fabulous.

I mean it! A professional magazine never lets their celebrities or models go without retouching the photos. The models are gorgeous, but even then, if it’s going to be on the cover of a magazine, I’ve never seen a model with a huge, honker of a zit on the front page (unless it’s The National Enquirer or People Magazine or something…). They will edit them, retouch, and airbrush the photos, but yes, sometimes they go a little too far.

I don’t think there is any reason to “photoshop” people to the point that they don’t look like themselves anymore, but I do think that you have every right to remove a zit from a photo if you don’t want it there. Again, I think it’s the same concept as makeup. If you have blemish on your face, you may decide to put makeup on it. Makeup might make your feel better, prettier, whatever. And virtual makeup can do the same. You can make quick, simple edits to apply natural-looking virtual makeup- as much or as little as you want.

One of my good friends even said this about editing her photos: “I took some family portraits a while ago and had them made into large, framed photos in my living room. But when I saw the final outcome of the pics, I knew I couldn’t walk by it everyday and be reminded that I was a “little larger” than I used to be. I took out some of the obvious bulky lumps on my tummy in the photo and now I love it and admire it every day. I still look like me and sometimes I even think it gives me the encouragement I need to do just a little better that day…”

I think that says it all. Photo editing can make you feel confident in your photos and not stray away from the camera. There’s nothing worse than someone you love and care about, who is absolutely beautiful, that refuses to take photographs because they don’t like the way they look in pics. A little photo editing can help anyone feel confident in their photos and smile again for the camera!

Many times, professionals retouch photos that have nothing to do with virtual makeup too. I actually had a professional photography session a while ago, and the photographer took pics of me with all kind of lighting. She kept taking photos that had shadows all over my face and body, and had to readjust the lighting several times before it reflected well onto me and into the pictures. Even after she got the lighting in the best position that she could, there still had to be a little editing just when it came to the shadows! Photo editing doesn’t always have to be for makeover purposes- it can be for lighting, removing shadows, or removing errors with the picture that sometimes have nothing to do with the virtual makeup!

Give photo editing and virtual makeovers a try with Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Digi MakeOver Madness Tutorials- photo editing training that’s inexpensive and a lot of fun! The Digi MakeOver’s start at $1.99 a tutorial, which makes them affordable for anyone- even on a budget! Give photo editing and digi makeovers a try yourself!

-Jennifer

Check out other Photo Editing Training in our Scrap Shop!

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After the photo is taken you can edit and fix it or take it an edit it for more dramatic and lovely affects! Learn more about photo editing using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements

Check out these Photo Editing Tutorials:

Airbrushing Portrait Photos in Photoshop Elements 7

Removing Shadows and Lightening Photos in Photoshop Elements

Convert Photos to Black and White in Photoshop Elements

Removing Demon-Looking Red-Eye in Photoshop

Removing Demon-Looking Red-Eye in Photoshop Elements

Getting Rid of Wrinkles, Zits, or Moles in Photoshop Elements

Whitening Teeth within Photoshop Elements

Adjusting Skin Tones and Digi Tanning in Photoshop Elements

Removing Wrinkles, Lines, and Bags in Photoshop Elements

Also see these baby editing tutorials:

NEW: Baby Series- Removing Baby Red-Eye, Converting to Black and White, and Adding Artistic Effects to Baby and Pregnancy Photos

Happy Scrapping and Photo Editing!

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Five Fun Photo Effects for Easter Photos

Jennifer Barlow — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:00:40 +0000

Whether you and your family will be attending church, hunting for hidden eggs, keeping your eyes open for signs of the Easter Bunny, or just devoring some yummy chocolate, take digital photos of the holiday’s activities and scrap them!

Another fun way to “jazz” up your favorite Easter pics is to add photo effects to them. This can create an artistic-feel that will look fabulous on your Facebook Page, Family Website, digital scrapbooking pages & albums, or even just as photos mailed or emailed to your family and friends! Give these five cool Photoshop Elements photo effects a try this Easter!

1. Black & White. Snap some pics of your little one dressed in their Easter attire and convert them into Black and White within Photoshop Elements. Tip: Black and white photos exaggerate the feeling or mood of the photo, so try to use one with few distractions and “noise.” For super-sweet Easter Black and White photos, avoid using pics with a lot of background and scenery, and instead choose simple photos or close-up portrait shots.

Want to learn how to convert your regular, colored photos to black and white? Then get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Black & White Digi MakeOver Madness Photo Editing Tutorial!

2. Black & White… with a Touch of Color. One step up from converting your photos to black and white, you crank up the intensity when you bring back a little color to something special in a photo.

For Easter pics, add the color back to something special: an Easter basket, Easter eggs, colorful chocolate candies in your child’s hand, etc.

Want to learn how to convert your regular, colored photos to black and white with just a bit of color? Then get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Black & White with a Touch of Color Photo Editing Tutorial! Please note: This tutorial features Halloween photos, but there’s no reason why you can’t use this photo editing lesson for Easter pics… or any photos- holiday or not- for that matter!

3. Custom Shapes. You can add some cool, funky flare to your adorable Easter photos using custom shapes! Add bunnies, tulips, and Easter eggs, or other holiday-inspired shapes to create an original-looking background!

Get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Lesson 2 within the Getting Started Series to learn how to use Custom Shapes! Or get the entire Getting Started Series CD and learn it all!

4. Text. Adding sweet-greetings to a favorite photo can add a little personality to a sweet shot. Turn a special photo of your family into a greeting card, or convert it to a PDF page or album and email it to Grandma and Grandpa! Include names, the date, and the place to personalize a pic! You can even include favorite sayings, phrases, quotes (poetry, songs, etc), and use a holiday-inspired text to inject some special Easter Day photo-flare!

Get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Lesson 2 within the Getting Started Series to learn how to add text to your photos or scrap pages! Or get the entire Getting Started Series CD and learn it all!

5. Artistic Effects. Easter is the perfect excuse to go all out and make a regular ol’ photo anything but ordinary. Use artistic effects within Photoshop Elements to make your portrait photos look like charcoal sketches, watercolor masterpieces, or little works of (digital) acrylic genius. It’s incredibly easy to add artistic effects, it only takes seconds, and, trust me, you’re friends will wonder how the heck you managed to create such a cool holiday photo! They may even ask you to add effects to their family pics too!

Get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Baby Series Photo Editing Series- available in Photoshop Elements AND Photoshop, which includes 3 tutorials: Adding Artistic Effects to photos, Removing Red Eye from Photos, and Converting Photos to Black & White!

Remember, besides taking and making cool photos this Easter, don’t forget to digitally scrap all the special festivities!

Get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Beginner’s Digital Scrapbooking Training for Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Buy Easter digital scrapbooking supplies and kits to create your Easter scrap pages!

Happy Scrapping & Happy Easter!

-Jennifer

Enjoy a Virtual Makeover Today!

Jennifer Barlow — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:14:49 +0000

Do you have some photos you wish you could fix?

Fix things, like red eye, yellow teeth, blemishes, wrinkles and more…. all of these things taken away?

Photos that complimented your natural beauty instead of photos that make you look scary and unattractive?

If so, then read this article to find out about Virtual Makeovers!

So, What’s a Virtual Makeover Anyway?

(by Jennifer Barlow ~ Originally Posted 9/29/10)

-Jennifer

Enjoy! Give your self a Virtual Makeover Today!

What You Resist, Persists

Jennifer Barlow — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:11 +0000

My husband used to have what seemed like the most basic, standard cell phone ever. It was super-simple, easy-to-use, and included only the most basic features. That’s why he loved his phone: because it was simple. It had what he needed and left out all the “junk” that he didn’t care about. But as simple as it was, and as happy as it made him, there was one important feature that it lacked- a camera.

I always bugged him about that missing item. I worried that if he ever got into a car accident, that he might need to take pictures of his car’s damage, or of a license plate, etc. and wouldn’t have a way to do so. To me, a camera phone seemed like much more than just a “cool phone feature,” it seemed like a necessary safety tool. But my husband rejected my advice and insisted that he was just fine without a camera phone. To him, a camera phone meant a complex, hard-to-use phone; a phone that would be a nightmare to navigate with unnecessary photo-taking features that he’d never ever use.

So when my husband came home with a brand new phone, one that included a camera (he won it as a raffle gift- there was no way he would have bought it on his own), I was absolutely ecstatic! It’s funny, because fast-forward a few years later, he is constantly snapping pictures with that phone. I’ve scrolled through his cell to find tons of phone-photos of beautiful sunsets, cool cars, and our dogs sleeping on the couch. Every time we go out, it seems like he’s off somewhere, aiming his phone at something and getting a quick pic. It amuses me that someone so resistant to getting a camera phone could now possibly be a camera phone addict.

I think all of us have had experienced a time where we have been resistant to try something new and were “absolutely sure” that a thing, a hobby, a place, or even a person, “just wasn’t for us.” We all are guilty of making excuses like, “I won’t like that.” “That seems too hard.” Or, “I don’t have time.” We all have resisted something at one time or another that could be a lot of fun, not very difficult, and not too long if we were just a little bit more open-minded to a new adventure!

Even when my mom first introduced me to digital scrapbooking, I turned up my nose and was quick to say no. I thought it “wasn’t my style.” Fast-forward life again, and digital scrapbooking is a hobby I am so passionate about that I started my own business with my mom dedicated to the fabulous world of digital scrapbooking: Digital Scrapbooks and More.com!

So, what has digital scrapbooking taught me? Here are three big lessons learned:

1. I am an artist. I never thought I was good at “girly crafts” like scrapbooking, sewing, etc. so I just figured that arts and crafts just weren’t my strength. But I was happily proved wrong. Digital scrapbooking makes it possible to make adorable, personalized photo books, scrapbooks, gifts, and SO much more, without being a good artist, without needing to have good handwriting, and never needing to take a single painting or photography class. It was nice to find a craft that made it so easy to make my own style of beautiful art so effortlessly!

2. I have skills. I’ve talked about how digital scrapbooking helped my career, and it really has. Knowing how to use Adobe software (Photoshop and Photoshop Elements- which I mostly worked with Elements at my workplace!) made me the go-to person for creative projects and made my job more interesting and personally rewarding. It’s amazing how many other careers could benefit from a little digital scrapbooking training: making flyers, brochures, catalogs, ads, company greeting/business cards, enhancing photos, etc. I have increased my skills and enjoyed the benefits within areas I never expected from learning this fun little craft, and I think other professionals could be surprised how it could help them in the workplace too!

3. I look good. Becoming a digital scrapbooker has taught me how to use the Adobe software, and has also helped me become a passionate photo editor. I think that photo editing tends to have a bad rap in the media, but it’s really a powerfully positive tool if you use it correctly. Just as a professional photographer would use lights for a photo shoot, or a makeup artist would use makeup on a model, you can achieve natural-looking results that make your photos look better with good training. Example: Have you ever shot a photo in a museum and wished that that they allowed you to use your flash? Well, with photo editing you get the “flash back,” with simple, natural tools to lighten the photo. Or have you ever had a massive zit on your face and refused to pose for a picture? Well, there’s no need to be camera-shy, because you can easily remove unsightly blemishes with a click of your mouse! And don’t feel bad about “editing” your photos: If you use make up, there’s no reason why you should be ashamed of “covering up” one measly zit in a photo! Or have you ever taken a picture of something amazing, only to realize later, you wish you could crop something out, or remove a tourist? You can. It’s easy. And now with my digital scrapbooking and photo editing experience, I always feel comfortable in front of the camera knowing that I don’t have to be perfect, or be the best photographer in the world, to take a beautiful, professional-looking photo.

Get photo editing training with Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Digi MakeOver Madness Series!

There’s a million more reasons why digital scrapbooking is a fabulous hobby and might be right for you- no matter what doubts you may have! Try something new this 2010. Learn digital scrapbooking and give it a try, because remember, “What you resist, persists!”

Happy Scrapping,

-Jennifer

Get Digital Scrapbooking Training for Beginners with Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Getting Started Series. This must-have training is available for both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Users!

Save Money on Your Fall or Winter Wedding: Make Your Own Wedding Scrapbook

Jennifer Barlow — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:00:17 +0000

Your wedding is one of the best days of your life, and definitely a day for a professional photographer. From walking down the aisle, to that very first married kiss, and all the wedding festivities after the ceremony, a good, professional photographer is a must. But after spending ridiculous amounts of money on the perfect person to capture all of those once-in-a-lifetime moments (plus the cost of venue and decorations, the dress and accessories, the flowers, the food, etc), most brides are more than happy when anyone is willing to give their wallet a break!

I felt that way after spending thousands of dollars on my photographer. She was brilliant, and it was definitely worth the expense (she took beautiful photos!), but we paid for photography service and that’s it. All the adorable “perks” she offered after her photography package, yeah… we just couldn’t afford any of it. One of those additional perks was a wedding scrapbook that she would create for you. Although her wedding scrapbook-example was beautiful, I was stunned by how much she was charging for it. Being a digital scrapbooker, I knew just how easily and inexpensively it was to make one just like it!

It made me realize that although it’s great to have a professional photographer, and not a day to miss out on that important wedding service, there is no reason why you can’t make your own wedding scrapbook afterwards- of equal quality for that matter. The cost of her wedding scrapbook was more than a thousand dollars. The cost of your own wedding scrapbook at the same quality? Anywhere from $50- $200. Really, that’s it. Again, anytime you can save yourself a little money and still get the same benefit around your wedding day, is definitely a time that it’s worth it.

3 Reasons you should make your own Wedding Digital Scrapbook:

1. Cost. The cost for your photographer to put together a wedding scrapbook can be absolutely insane. Like I said, my photographer was brilliant, but I could not afford a thousand-dollar scrapbook, I’m sorry. Between digital scrapbooking supplies, the book, and the printing, you can make a beautiful leather or linen-bound book for $200-max. Not bad.

2. Look. When you make your scrapbook, you get to decide what photo is on the cover page, and what photos go inside. Your favorite photos may not be your photographer’s favorite photos, and it’s important that you decide which photos bring back special memories and hold sentimental value. By taking charge of the project, you can feel proud of the look and design of each page and every photo that is included.

3. Effects. Your photographer may apply certain effects to photos, but might not use them in other photos. But what if you want to convert a favorite photo to black and white, or perhaps even add a touch of color back into the black and white photo- and it’s not already done? Well, you can easily apply these effects to your wedding photos yourself, at less than a fraction of the cost for your photographer to do it!

So why do brides-to-be waste thousands of dollars for someone else to make them a wedding scrapbook?

I think that those that can afford a high-priced book pick that option either A.) Because they feel overwhelmed and tight on time- and want someone else to do it. Or B.) They don’t know how to make their own wedding scrapbook and are afraid that any attempt that they make at creating their own would be disastrous. I think both of these issues are incredibly easy to solve.

First things first, as crazy, hectic, and stressful as wedding planning can be, most brides want nothing more than to have a break from planning. It seems so convenient to have someone do all the work, especially when you’re just so busy getting ready for your big day! But remember, after the wedding, what typically comes next is the relaxing honeymoon, and then it’s just every day, regular married-life! After your wedding, it’s so much fun to reminisce over the photos, watch the wedding video, and talk about all the special moments! It’s the perfect time to start making your own scrapbook, because you’ve had time to rest, but are still so excited about your wonderfully special day! So, even though it may seem overwhelming to make a wedding scrapbook before the wedding, just remember, you’ll be making it at a time when life has slowed down and reminiscing about the wedding is fun!

Second, it’s easy to make your own wedding scrapbook. Sign up for the FREE Digital Scrapbooks and More Newsletter and learn how to begin digital scrapbooking. This free newsletter will teach you what you need to get started, which digital scrapbooking software you should buy, and much more! It’s the very best way to start as a beginner to digital scrapbooking.

Next, get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Digital Scrapbooking Training: The Getting Started Series. It’s available in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. This will teach you how to create beautiful scrapbooking pages and even print your finished album through an online printing company.

Once you know how to digitally scrapbook, get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Photo Editing Training. Photo Editing will teach you how to apply beautiful effects to your photos (or even give them a virtual makeover!).

And just because you go digital doesn’t mean you can’t add real physical items to your wedding day scrapbook. Lace real invitations, dried flowers, table name cards, etc throughout your special book. Combine the best of both worlds: digital and traditional!

With digital scrapbooking and photo editing, your wedding day scrapbook can be just as stunning as any photographer’s version, at a ridiculously inexpensive price. And after a day like a wedding day… every penny that you can save counts!

-Jennifer

Ps. If you liked the paper in the example above, get Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Heavenly Blooms Kit!

Taking Photos at Your Kid’s Halloween Party

Jennifer Barlow — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:30 +0000

My mom used to let me have the best Halloween parties when I was a kid! She would park the cars in the street and let us use the whole garage to decorate and transform into a one-night “room of terror.” It was actually an adorable kids’ holiday party, with yummy snacks and treats, Halloween games to play, and music to listen to (usually Michael Jackson’s Thriller over and over and over again!). My mom even got us a strobe light and we would dance or rollerblade. The big open space in the garage was perfect for that! A few of my best friends would come over to the party and we would play, eat, laugh, and tell spooky stories in the room of terror until it was time to go trick-or-treating! Those parties were the best!

Kids are so excited to host their own Halloween party, and just like my mom, you can always set them up in the garage if it’s not too cold (I have to admit, I was spoiled, as we lived in sunny San Diego!), family room, or a rec room. A few, simple (and inexpensive) Halloween decorations, along with some yummy, Halloween-inspired snacks, and you really can create a fantastic “room of terror” for your own kids this Halloween!

The awful news about my own Halloween parties is that we didn’t take any pictures! All the photo ops of decorating the garage together or playing in the garage? Yup, we don’t have any pics and it’s such a shame! The good news? You can learn from our mistake and make sure to take plenty of Halloween party pics at your own ghoulish party!

There are a few must-take photos opportunities that you must take advantage of at your kid’s next Halloween bash:

First, take photos of the final set up. After adding a spooky Halloween decoration here and there, a table or two with black or pumpkin-orange-colored table covers, and made a few oh-so-frightening Halloween snacks, you must take photos of your super-scary garage transformation! Even better? Take “before” pictures of the room, and then take “after” pictures of the room of terror! You’ll want to remember your adorable Halloween set-up, and these kinds of pictures are great for digital scrapbooking pages! Make sure you ask your kids to pose in the pictures too!

You’ll also want to take pictures of the kids playing in the room of terror! As each of your child’s friends come over, ask them if you can take two posed pictures next to your child. Make sure you take pics of your child and their friend next to some adorable decorations in the room of terror, and ask for a simple smile. The next photo, ask the kids to be wild and crazy- do something fun for the cameras (like a silly face), or make a fun stance that matches their Halloween costume. Doing this will create fun memories, great pics, and will ensure that your child has plenty of photos (that you and/or your child can digitally scrap with!) of each friend!

Make sure you also take some posed group shots of your child and their friends. Same thing- ask for a few smiles and a few silly faces. As you leave them to enjoy their Halloween party, you may want to leave a few disposable cameras (if your children don’t have their own digital cameras). Leave a few on the tables, and encourage them to take their own pictures. Getting silly, adorable pictures from their point of view will be a fun addition for Halloween digital scrapbooking projects. It also ensures that you have some posed pics (that you took) and some fun, kid’s pics (that they take) from two, wonderfully different perspectives!

Last but not least, after the party is over, and you are ready to scrap all the Halloween photos, add some “spooky” Halloween effects to favorite photos using Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Halloween Photo Editing Tutorials! Convert a favorite photo to black and white and then add a touch of color, for an exciting Halloween photo-effect!

If there were some scary kids’ costumes, add even more dramatic effects by emphasizing “scary” eyes in the pics! Play with Digital Scrapbooks and More’s special seasonal tutorials for adorable Halloween photos for digital scrapbooking projects or “thank you” cards for all the kids that attended the party!

Happy Halloween & Happy Scrapping!

-Jennifer

So, What’s a Virtual MakeOver Anyway?

Jennifer Barlow — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:30:37 +0000

-Jennifer