I do both traditional and digital scrapbooking. What is digital scrapbooking? It's not printing digital photos and sliding them into sleeves. It's a lot more creative and fun than that!
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The simple fact is you don't have to choose. You can do traditional scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking, or both like I do. Each have their place and you don't have to select one way and abandon the other. Enjoy the benefits and fruits of both!
Traditional scrapbooking and digital scrapbooking have differences and similarities.
Traditional | Digital | |
Final result is actual printed album with pages | ![]() | ![]() |
Stories / Journaling | ![]() | ![]() |
Photos | ![]() | ![]() |
Decorations | ![]() | ![]() |
Finished dimensions up to 12" x 12" | ![]() | ![]() |
Name some of the differences you know. I've thought of these...
Feature | Traditional | Digital |
Final printed thickness | Up to 3 inches | Up to 1/2 inch |
Tools | Assortment of cutting, shaping, attaching tools | Computer & software |
Tools storage | closet or room | space for computer |
Supplies | album covers, pages, papers, stickers, and more supplies | digital equivalents (pdf) |
Supply Storage | closet or room | on computer |
Album Storage | coffee table, bookshelf | need less space on coffee table, bookshelf |
Effort | set up table, pull out supplies and tools | start working with software |
Photos | print photos to use in scrapbook | use digital photos which will be printed in album |
Photo storage | shoe boxes, drawers, organizers | organized on computer (see video) |
Each way of creating scrapbooks brings its own benefits.
Traditional | Digital | |
Easier with a busy life to work during available snipets of time | ![]() | |
No cleanup | ![]() | |
Use "supplies" over and over | ![]() | |
Tactile pleasure of creating | ![]() | |
Effortless to make one or more duplicates | ![]() | |
Journaling in own handwriting | ![]() | |
Lighter albums for especially children to hold | ![]() | |
Technically easier (no IT help needed) | ![]() | |
Less storage room for finished product | ![]() | |
Work on your scrapbooks in a group ("crops") | ![]() | ![]() |
Video tutorials available | ![]() | ![]() |
If you're at the stage of "what is digital scrapbooking," a couple of short videos might really help you start your exploration. Watch both in under 10 minutes.