[Schwabby]

Okay so I am sitting here with gazillions of scrapbook supplies that I inherited and that I myself purchased, I haven't pulled out any of them in years. I decided to do digital scrapbooking because, well, I am a computer art and design specialist and because I can! So I am having a ball. I have gotten two layouts done tonight! I downloaded as many freebies as I could find because I wanted to make sure that this was going to work like I thought it would. But, I don't have the exact piece that I would like to fit in to this space or that space, I had this foolish idea that digital scrapbooking was going to be much cheaper! ha ha! Are you all laughing hysterically with me yet? I hope so because the only thing I can do at this moment is laugh at myself. I considered putting this in the funnies forum. LOL
And I was going to try and just work my company (wordpress theme design) and enjoy scrapbooking, I can see I am going to have to find more clients or get a job to pay for my newest hobby OR get busy photographing and extracting! Can anyone say AMEN!?

[April Showers]

Well, I know I spend less than I did paper scrapping - mostly because I can use everything over as many times as I need to- and it all fits on a sweet little (well maybe not so little when you're talking capacity) hard drive. I still spend plenty, but I know it was WAY less than I used to.

[B&K Mom]

I spend less for sure...think of the gas money I save by not having to get in the car and go somewhere to touch and coordinate all the papers/embells. And what about when I thought it would work and it didn't. Back in the car to find the exactly right embell in the right color. With digital, I reuse my go-to supplies, change the colors of things to fit my color scheme exactly, and make the perfect paper by layering colored papers with templates or just from templates themselves. AMazing. I remember the transition though. It was tricky, but I eventually just released bunches of supplies to friends and have been light since then. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do....

[Smiles]

Well, as you're experienced in graphics, you can build up a stash of templates pretty economically and create your own custom items - much easier than extracting!
I think we all have budget challenges...

[AnnBK]

I never did paper scrapping...but I was a very accomplished quilter...so I knew what was involved.. no matter what you were doing, you would never have just the right piece/fabric to make the project perfect. And as April pointed out...once you have the "perfect" piece in digital, you can use it over, and over, and over, and over again...I do that a LOT!

[mbc72]

For me, one of the dangers of digi is that if you are looking for something, it is right there in digi-land, open 24 hours, no need to get dressed and go out!!

[Sara Arell]

I second what Melanie said! And, I don't think I spend any less money digi-scrapping than I did paper scrapping really. I spend more! Between doing hybrid and still visiting Michael's and all of the digi-stuff I've bought, I am sure I spend more!

So AMEN! BUT, isn't it fun?

[Heatheranne]

Amen!!! I spend more and like many, I don't use the same piece repeatedly. Extracting, recolouring and making some of my own designs helps. lol Since I enjoy computers, I enjoy digital scrapping. I still have my paper products and find them handy to mix in. :-)

[PBarnes]

I didn't accumulate very much paper stuff so I can't really speak to the cost of digital being more or less, but it sure makes sense to me that digital would be more economical since you can reuse things as many times as you want and they don't have to look the same because it's so easy to re-color!

Occasionally, when I haven't been able to find just the right embellishment, I have scanned or photographed something and extracted it. It's time consuming, but kind of fun.

[satippetts]

I have to say that there are just too many yummy digital stuff, that I find I can spend plenty of money if I'm not careful! But you'll find that the more you do it the more you'll be able to tweak things, and make them stretch if you'd really like it too. I think it can also be easier to purchase or get lots of digital stuff, because it just takes up space on your computer, not your home. LOL. I do love the fact though that I can reuse things over and over, rather than having to go and purchase a whole new pack of something.

[LaLo1103]

I also have a HUGE stash of paper scrapbooking supplies that I have shunned since I discovered digital several years ago. I keep hoping I'll bump into someone that will want my stash, but so far, no luck!

You can send quite a bit on digital supplies to. Even though they cost less then tangible products, there's something about the instant gratification of immediately downloading and scrapping! As April mentioned, the nice thing about digital scrapping is that you can use everything over and over again. I have a few paper templates I love and will reach for over and over again when I need something "just right" for a layout.

I think what I love the most about digital scrapping is how much faster it is then paper scrapping! No cutting and recutting a paper to the perfect size. No being afraid to ruin that beautiful paper because you can't remember where you got and therefore can NEVER replace it. No skimping on stickers because they cost so much! The list goes on and on!

But hey, the bottom line is, we buy what we love and we all probably STILL have a stash bigger then we'll ever need!

[kimmybutton]

LOL! Yes, all the pretties can add up. However, as you've so wonderfully stated ... "what's a girl to do?!" *giggle* BUT ... I have found it to be far less expensive by reusing, recoloring, purchasing ScrapSimple templates, etc. All the stuff mentioned above. Plus, I adore that I simply close my laptop when I'm finished. Easy clean up! Be sure to download the daily freebies in the SG newsletter as well as the free collection and e-book on the home page! Enjoy!

[cherise]

Love digital! I was a paper scrapper for years before I found digital. I still have paper supplies and like to do hybrid things, but mostly to use the cardstock as a base or add a small ribbon or something to pop. The real "pretties" (i.e. embellishments, paper, etc.) are usually digital though. I say go find some more clients to buy more pretties!

And I haven't welcomed you to the forum yet, so Welcome to ScrapGirls!

[ArizonaAngel]

I may spend less on digital but not much less, and what's more, I still buy the paper stuff because I make cards and I like playing with the paper. I LOVE digital for scrapbooking and can not imagine doing that with paper! And afterall, what's a girl to do?

[scrappyjan]

I thought I'd spend less, too, but when you enter the store and browse the goodies it's just like being a kid in a candy store. I also thought it would make far less mess as well - cool, just a pc, a printer and a stack of photopaper, right? WRONG! Now I'm designing, my workroom is piled up with objects to photograph, things to tweak, sketches, post-its, you name it...........!
BUT..........the important thing is..........I'M HAVING A BALL!!
Welcome to ScrapGirls, it's great to hace you here

[Syndee]

I agree with Gayle and Kimmy, ScrapSimple templates to the rescue! LOL You can create such an endless variety just by changing up the colors. One of my most favorite products are style and I use them constantly on my templates!