How to Get Digital Scrapbooking Freebies.

Digital Scrapbooking has become extremely popular over the last few years, and for many like myself, it has replaced traditional scrapbooking because it is easier to maintain, and cheaper. Digiscraps is the common term for the collective word art, backgrounds, and elements you use to create your scrapbook pages with any photo editing software (I use MS Digital Image Pro). While you can purchase full kits online, once you've gotten started, you may prefer to add to your digiscrap collection a few elements at a time. Most digital scrapbooking sites offer FREEBIES on a weekly basis (in .jpg or .png format) -- another reason this form of scrapbooking is so economical! Here's a few places to download freebies for your collection:

Favorite Dog scrapped!

• You can find thousands of digital scrapbooking supplies online for any scrapbook theme or subject: baby, wedding, sports, heritage, holiday, school. Most freebies are for elements - quick pages, overlays, embellishments, alphabets, or background papers -- but occasionally, you'll find a great deal on an entire kit. Whether your style is grunge and altered, floral, or primary color based, there are freebies to be had for all!

• At Best Scrap Freebies, you can browse through an entire list of "Top Sites" - these change frequently, so be sure to bookmark! Once you've become addicted, er...familiar with the world of Digiscrappers and Bloggers, I'm sure you'll want to create your own freebies to share, or at the very least, join a group of happy digiscrappers and participate in their group activities and contests. Soon you'll learn how to create other paper crafts such as greeting cards, home decor, collage or altered art, or homemade gifts. 

• Go to SimplyCleanDigiscraps.com for a variety of free elements, alphabets, word art and background papers with a floral flair. Click on Resources once you've downloaded and you can get also get a great "How-to Get Started" tutorial.

• If you are just starting out, or prefer to buy entire coordinating kits, check out CottageArts.net.  Cottagearts.net has some of the most beautiful mega kits for purchase, and if you are new to Digital Scrapbooking, then this is the site to create a good foundation of digital art and templates to use. Sign up for their newsletter (free) and you'll get lots of great tutorials, info and FREEBIES via email.

• To choose a software program will require a bit of research and personal preference.  Most of the digiscraps can be used in Adobe Photoshop (.png, .jpg or .psp format) or as I mentioned in the beginning of the article, Microsoft Digital Image Pro Suite (although you can't use anything in a Photoshop.psp format).  Even some of the Traditional Scrapbooking companies have started offering digital alternatives.  Creative Memories now sells its' own photoediting & scrapbooking software.