Digital Scrapbooking Software

I use Creative Memories Storybook Creator and Photo Shop Elements (an older version). Creative Memories is so easy. It comes with some free papers embellishments and fonts. You can use templates or create your own. You can also change the color of papers.

I also subscribe to Scrap Girls. They let you download a free element or paper 6 days a week if you get their newsletter. I've accumulated quite a bit of free things from them. There are a few sites that give papers, alphabets and fonts away for free.

http://www.scrapgirls.com/
http://freedigitalscrapbooking.com/

Have Fun! I then take my pages and load them to Shutterfly. You can use them in photobooks. Shutterfly also has come out with a custom system that gives you a lot of flexibility but you use their fonts, papers and embellishments..

Hope this helps!

I love Creative Memories. I use the Memory Manager program to store my photos, edit them, and change them in a hundred different ways. For example, my MIL had a photo of her parents that was taken in the 60s. Her dad passed away just after that photo was taken. But the photo was horrible: someone had written where/when it was taken in ballpoint pen right over the front of the photo. The whole left side of the photo was kind of turquoise-smeared. And her dad was standing in such a way that it looked like an old gutter or drain pipe was coming right out of his head. With Memory Manager, I got rid of the turquoise color, got rid of the ballpoint pen printing, and took the drainpipe away, using their tools (and I have never done this before; I am not a photographer or experienced with any kind of photo software. I just watched their tutorials.) Memory Manager allows you to store, date, label, rate and inventory all your photos.

Then I use Storybook Creator to make the scrapbooks or project photos. After I'm done editing, I send the photo to Storybook Creator. There are some pre-designed pages but I never use them. I start with a blank page. But there are beautiful papers and design elements to use. Or you can use images from your own camera, or from the internet. You can just buy the basic program, or you can purchase additional papers and design elements. They also have a lot of free designs, pages and elements.

Storybook Creator uses the fonts that are on your computer. I go to dafont.com and find all kinds of free ones.

I think that the quality of Creative Memories products is worth the small initial investment. Their customer service is great. I recently had to move my software from my old computer to my new one and they walked me through every step.

Also, if you're doing digital scrapbooks, once you submit your finished project to Creative Memories, it's stored there and you can reprint it later if someone wants a copy. It's not just for scrapbooks - I've done graduation announcements, gifts and all kinds of other projects using the software.

I personally prefer photoshop elements. Then I can play with the pictures all I want and I can layer it and give it depth. Plus I have a huge list of places I've gotten paper and elements and everything like that for free. The only thing I've ever payed for is the initial cost of photoshop elements that I could for half price because I didn't buy the newest version I bought the year old version and I've never had to buy a second one and I've put it on 2 computers and had it for 3yrs. Then I've payed to publish books but I've usually gotten those when they are on sale. Everything on the internet works with photoshop so it's really easy to use. I even have a tutorial I could send you along with the list of free places to download free papers, elements, fonts, etc. Then you have complete free reign on your scrapbooking papers. Whatever your mind can create you can do on photoshop. PS my email is lizardping44 at gmail dot com. I'd love to help you get started with photoshop. It's changed my scrapbooking life.

I use Shutterfly. Free reign to do anything to the pages now. I know it isn't software and is a website, but with the photo storage and the books come out great I love it.

heritage makers is way awesome. to find out about the program and how it works you can contact:

Katie Tyler, Personal Publishing Consultant, www.legaciesthatlive.com

good luck!