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Post by cats4jan on Nov 28, 2021 11:44:54 GMT
It was the turn of the century - wow - I can actually say that... Around 2001... ...it all started when I got a Christmas letter from a friend. I loved how she told the story of her year in photos and text so I asked her how she did it. Turns out she used Microsoft Word. Hey, I could do that - already proficient in Word, I had never explored adding photos or graphics to a Word document. Then I had a lesson on a cruise ship. Yes, there was a Word Processing lesson on the cruise  ...figured I could use Word to create greeting cards from standard 8.5x11 cardstock. It worked - there were even envelopes for half fold greeting cards, but frustrated with the limitations of what Word had to offer - I started exploring greeting card software... I bought them allThen, Microsoft was giving away Picture It in packages of cardstock - it was my first experience with photo manipulation - Picture It morphed into Digital Image Pro. It was a good program, but I assume Microsoft decided they couldn't compete with Adobe ...Totally fell into Photoshop Elements. Around 2004, I found a bundle with PSE4 and PE2 - purchased it - knowing the Adobe name, but truly wondering why I could buy two Photoshop programs for under $100... didn't realize Elements was the smaller, dumber little sister of Photoshop. In those days, Photoshop Elements was limited, but now my choice is Elements over 'full-blown' Photoshop.
I believe it's that good.
Layouts created September 2008 - scans and photos of the software I had on hand Yes, I scanned the discs - in those days, that scanner got a good workout  |
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 28, 2021 11:50:18 GMT
As you can see, my first greeting cards were not exactly masterpieces, but ... Somehow, I fell into pcCrafter and their cute graphics (see those cats) - made me hungry for more - and, again, just fell into digital scrapbooking kits - got them to make greeting cards One Christmas I made 40 individual greeting cards...But wait, there's more - ...what's this digital scrapbooking thing everyone was talking about ?? I never paper scrapped I hardly ever put my photos into scrapbooks but this Digital Scrapbooking thing was interesting...
A hobby was born - 15 years later - I'm still enjoying the journey  |
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Post by Lillias on Nov 28, 2021 14:46:06 GMT
Interesting story Janice. It’s amazing how one thing leads to another in our hobbies.
I have never done actual paper scrapbooking only getting into making cards digitally when I got my first computer way back when!!!
I started making cards with Microsoft Word. Then I got a card making software whose name I forget but they stopped selling it in Britain for some reason and I progressed onto a software by Serif called Craft Artist (now defunct) which I believe was the forerunner of their present Affinity Photo software on a much smaller scale.
Some years ago I got a small wacom tablet and it came with a free copy of PSE 8. It was quite some time before I ventured down the PSE road as I was happy with Craft Artist but once I did, that was it for me.
It’s been a fun journey, mind bending at times but it keeps the old grey cells turning.
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 28, 2021 15:42:20 GMT
Your journey sounds much like mine - it's as if some strange entity is tugging us along for the ride - same thing happened in my personal life.
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Post by hmca on Nov 28, 2021 16:39:39 GMT
Thanks to both of you, I have just created my first digital scrapbook. I started following the Scrapbook board a few years ago.
I love seeing your work and trying your techniques and challenges. You have shared a wealth of information with us.
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 28, 2021 19:24:33 GMT
Helen - I think we have you hooked. Enjoyed your scrapbook. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
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Post by jackscrap on Nov 29, 2021 10:37:24 GMT
Really enjoyed reading about your journeys into scrapbooking. I started with paper and photos, found the whole process fascinating and frustrating, couldn’t resist adding papers and embellishments to my stash, my collection was huge. I didn’t always worry too much about quality, quantity was was my downfall as I then had way too much to choose from and could never make a decision, come to think of it, nothing much has changed in that department...at least when digitally scrapbooking it’s easy to try different combinations without having to peel back photos to place in a different position. I get all nostalgic when I look back at my paper albums, what an amateur I was and still am, but it’s a hobby that I enjoy and it’s much easier to share pages and store my stash than ever before. I recently gave away all my paper supplies, including years of scrapbooking memories magazines, hope someone else enjoys them as much as I did.
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 29, 2021 12:16:01 GMT
Jacki - got my first computer when you still had to load DOS as the operating system, so that's why I went straight to digital greeting cards, but I have to say - I prefer paper-scrapped greeting cards. I have some friends whose cards are so beautiful.
Never did total paper, but I tried my hand at hybrid - where I designed the card front on the computer, then printed it and cut it out with fancy scissors, then glued it to colorful card stock. They turned out pretty good because the cardstock was so pretty, but then I found going to the craft stores collecting cardstock and some graphics very addictive. I still love that cardstock, but I've gone back to total digital. Still have the cardstock - can't seem to get rid of it.
Don't judge your beginning work too harshly. We are our own worst critics when it comes to this stuff. What others find truly beautiful, we are busy nitpicking. LOL
As for ease of use - digital beats paper anytime. You really need to have a dedicated room so you can keep your paper supplies out and handy - otherwise jumping in to do a little scrapping is too difficult when things are put away. That's why digital works so well - no muss, no fuss - easy access. And you can't beat the flexibility to change your mind a dozen times.
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 29, 2021 12:23:33 GMT
Beginning - pcCrafter era (they're out of business now) - I love their work - too bad they're gone This was also the beginning of exploring PSE. You can tell Heavy on the layer styles, gradients, brushes Didn't know anything about scrapbooking kits then - so all the backgrounds were custom made using PSE tools    |
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 29, 2021 14:38:35 GMT
My next PSE phase was pulled pixels... They are everywhere in my layouts from that time photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/2104/pulled-pixelsPulled Pixels from photo as background There's also another technique on this one - that is one photo divided among all those squares Not sure how I framed those squares - interesting look OK OK - I'm done - I do believe your eyes are glazing over |
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 29, 2021 18:47:48 GMT
The photos showed up when first added to imgbb, but now they are not showing with Chrome on a Mac
I can't see things on Safari either
EDIT
Shut down Mac, now I can see images with Safari but not with Chrome
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Post by jackscrap on Nov 29, 2021 20:38:36 GMT
I can see all your images this morning via safari on my iPad. I often look back at my digital pages and can’t remember how I achieved something...then end up experimenting and getting something completely different.
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 29, 2021 20:57:06 GMT
Jacki - your experience is same as mine. In trying to duplicate something, I end up with something entirely different. Often times for the better
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Post by cats4jan on Dec 2, 2021 12:22:14 GMT
Seems I've told the story of my 'journey' on another thread... What I found there was an example of hybrid greeting cards - wish my filing system was better - I couldn't find this photo on my hard drivesorry for the quality - it's a screenshot of a screenshotThese are examples of my method of hybrid - create the card with PSE, cut it out and glue it to cardstock  |
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Post by hmca on Dec 2, 2021 19:44:30 GMT
Your homemade cards are really special, Janice. Bet people enjoyed and looked forward to receiving them each year.
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