These three layouts above were done in a matter of minutes rather than hours. I'm still working on a few things that have me stumped, but I'm loving quick pages and layered templates as well as all the free stuff available on various blogs all over the place.
I originally wrote this post before the new year, put it in draft and completely forgot about it! It looks like it is now somewhat moot, but still, not bad:
I am a research nut.
I tend to read all there is to read, buy a crazy number of things: books and supplies, get myself fully immersed in an project simply because I think I like the idea and know that I'll love the process once I get started. Fortunately I'm usually right. The projects I love most are like preparing for a swim race or a tennis match, something I have a lot of experience with: all that intense training, repetition, proper technique, hours of time put in for the final performance. Well, I guess it is like any race, contest or performance.
I know I'll love digital once I get started. [ETA: I do, I do!]
My process for this has been a slow one. It started with my first digital camera. A small Canon PowerShot, 3.2 megapixel, which sat on the kitchen shelf from Christmas of '01 through to Christmas of '02. I read and researched, and finally charged the battery and used the camera. What a great piece of equipment. Still some of my best shots were taken with it!
Since then I've met and conquered my fear of my iPod and iTunes, GPS, MacBook and associated software, Canon 40D and the gorgeous 50mm 1.4 lens from last Christmas, Flickr, iMac and Google Earth (thanks to the NORAD Santa tracker!). The only thing left is the one piece of software I've had the longest - Photoshop Elements. I have to say, the photo project for the boys really helped me get over a huge chunk of my hesitation and I really enjoyed playing with different elements.
I finally figured out what was stopping me (or so I think) from diving into digi-scrapping:
- The enormity of what is available "out there" and avoiding purchase mistakes. The pitfalls of purchasing something you can see but not feel and touch is a bit off-putting. The fear of a potential computer crash and losing all that digi stuff - and the dollars associated. (I do have two handy-dandy Lacie hard drives, but still). After all, this digi-stuff is not tactile-stuff and though I love how tidy it can be, I fear it too. [ETA: I can't adequately express how much I really love the organized/tidy aspect of this new adventure. Oh, and the portability!]
- I love paper. Really, I do. And sometimes digi just looks awkward and fake. [ETA: But it doesn't have to, it depends on the choices you make - yay!]
- It seems so easy for everyone else and I feel like a complete dumb-ass here on line or while participating in on-line forums. Ah, ego. It is not generally this tender! [ETA: Slowly becoming less dumb-ass and realizing I am not alone. Thanks to YOU and all of your support.]
- The hundreds, nay, thousands of elements I already have on my computer: papers, brushes, torn paper, stitches, bling, lace, textures, quick pages, transparencies, templates. In a word: EEK! I don't even know the right terminology. It all seems to be so complicated. But so irresistible! [ETA: still working on this. Totally stumped by the multiple names given to the exact same thing. I need a digi-thesaurus!]
I have spent a lot of time this week getting my digital elements organized and ready to be used. Essentially charged up, like the first camera had to be. My brilliant friend Barb, sent me to a very informative thread, which now has me using my iPhoto program on my MacBook Pro to file and organize my oodles of digital elements, I've been collecting (most have been sent to me), over the past couple of years. I've now transferred 1,500 files and tons of elements. [ETA: I'm still trying to figure out how to make some of the elements "read" properly - instead of big black blobs, but what an improvement!] Love having everything all in one place, I've turfed a ton, especially those strange-looking pseudo-realistic elements that are supposed to look real, but look anything but real. In an effort to figure out what I was doing - category wise - I also went onto a few manufacturing blogs, my favourite was the Shutterfly blog, fascinating. It is like a time-capsule of digital crafting. Spending a few minutes looking at it, in reverse, I learned two things: I don't like cutesy, which certainly contributed to my reticence; and, only digi- and tactile-paper manufacturers are hung up on "out of style", because some of those "old" papers are gorgeous!
I'm quite excited by the prospect of starting some projects in the new year. Now that I have some idea, if only an inkling, of what I'd like to do. Not only that, I know where to find it and how to file it so I can find it again.Who knows, I might just forget about research and just do. [And I did!!]
This has been an incredibly cathartic journey. I have learned a ton of things in the last few weeks that were not remarked upon in the original text:
- Creative women are, for the most part, generous with their time, ideas and support
- The only one judging my lack of ability was me
- There is so much more to learn and now I'm no longer intimidated, I am challenged
- Taking this slow approach has really given me an appreciation for the talent of others
- It has also given me a head start on my "style"
The layouts above are far from perfect but they are simple and they are done. I'm sure in the next few months I will learn a lot more and produce more beautiful work in far less time!
Loving it!
What about you? Are you starting into the adventures of digi? Do you have any "must see" or "must do" or "must learn"? What am I missing that I can't continue not knowing? Tell me!
