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Free Scrapbooking Software Sources

By Article Expert on Nov. 19, 2009.

If there’s one great thing about scrapbooking, it’s that this is a very affordable hobby that shouldn’t take a huge chunk out of anyone’s budget. However, as inexpensive as it is, many scrappers are still looking for a free scrapbooking software to use to design digital scrapbooks and pages. While there may be many options out there, it’s surprising where and how you can find free scrapbooking software either online or in the stores. The key is first knowing what to look for!

What this means is that digital scrapbook pages don’t need to be designed with free scrapbooking software or any other program specifically designed for scrapbooks. You can actually create great pages using a variety of programs and adding your own design elements. For example, instead of specifically scrapbooking software, you can try Microsoft Publisher which is a software program designed to create graphics like business cards, advertisements, flyers and brochures. This software also works well for designing scrapbooking layouts because it can work easily with added photographs, clipart and text boxes. You may already have Publisher installed on your computer! So while using some good quality free scrapbooking software is one idea, learning how to use Publisher may be an even better idea. You can easily import your photograph, place a border around it, add some wording with a textbox, and move things around as you please. When you print your page you can even add more elements such as ribbon or eyelets for a nice texture as well.

You could even find a scrapbooking software program already installed on your computer.  Photoshop and Photoshop Elements can be used for digital scrapbooking.  You can take online digital scrapbooking classes that specialize in using Photoshop for scrapbooking, like jessica sprague free class. Jessica Sprague is a contributing editor at Creating Keepsakes, and she also teaches photography editing tips.

You can also find free scrapbooking software if you look for software that doesn’t actually advertise itself as being designed for scrapbooks. Programs that are designed for marketing materials work well for scrapbooks. There are also many places that have free clipart, free fonts, and other free design elements that are perfect for scrapbooks. By collecting enough of these elements, you can design your own digital scrapbook albums. Some even design scrapbook layouts using Microsoft Word, once they have learned the skills to move different elements around the page. You can even shop for affordable and sometimes free scrapbooking software if you go to discount places like eBay or even the bargain areas of your local computer store.You might be looking for discount scrapbooking supply?There is an almost unlimited number of software programs that you can use to create scrapbook layouts if you take the time to learn more about these programs.

How Many Cricut Cartridges Do You Own?

By Article Expert on Nov. 19, 2009.

How many Cricut cartridges do you have for your Cricut machine?Whatever your answer is, it’s certainly unlikely that you have all of them!  Using a Cricut machine is one of the best ways to update your scrapbook pages and because of that, the manufacturer is almost always offering new Cricut cartridges.They offer many licensed characters like Big Bird from Sesame Street, Cinderella from Disney or Hello Kitty, as well as holiday cartridges like Christmas and Halloween in addition to many different fonts for lettering.

One of the great things about Cricut cartridges is that they also offer many shapes as well as letters.  This is one big thing that sets them apart from other machines.You will be able to easily design albums using theme-specific shapes, like sports albums with footballs, hockey sticks or basketballs - or even vacation scrapbooks with beach theme shapes like seashells, sailboats or beach balls.  This means that with Cricut cartridges you don’t need to fumble with awkward and difficult to use stencils, cutting your paper by hand and coming up with imperfect shapes and papers.  You can even find “indie art” cartridges that offer shapes of guitars, skulls, hand grenades, and all those other difficult to find shapes that are perfect for your particular scrapbooks. You’ll also be able to cut out a variety of letters in creative fonts for all of your wedding scrapbooking quotes.

Cricut offers such a wide variety of Cricut cartridges that you might be surprised at all the new ones they have every time you go to shop.Whether you are designing scrapbook albums for yourself or with your children, you are sure to find something that is just perfect for your project and create more scrapbooking tips.

Designing a scrapbook album the old-fashioned way, that is, using cutouts and stencils and just searching for the right shapes for your page is okay, but usually the more options you have the better your page layouts will be and the more enjoyable scrapbooking becomes.  Using a variety of Cricut cartridges with your cricut expression machine 29 will enable you to find just the right embellishment for your pages, no matter what the theme of your book.You will also be more efficient and save time by no longer having to cut every shape and letter out by hand.  This will enable you to complete more pages in the same amount of time which means you’re spending more time being creative with your albums.  So how many Cricut cartridges do you have?Whatever your answer is, you could very easily find many more than would be just perfect for your scrapbooking projects.

The Versatile Cricut Machine

By Article Expert on Nov. 19, 2009.

Do you have a Cricut machine? If your answer is no, then the next question is, why not? For scrappers, crafters, anyone planning parties or gatherings or if you just want scrapbooking layout ideas, these little devices are the perfect die cut machine for creating amazing letters, shapes, and so many other embellishments. There are a few different varieties of the Cricut machine, some which are perfect for hobbyists and then others that rival any commercial grade die cut machine.

The smaller Cricut machine, the Personal Electronic Cutter machine, works well for hobbyists. It offers literally hundreds of designs and letters that range in size from one inch to over five inches! Of course any crafter or scrapbooker would love to have this machine, and it makes a great gift for those you love to do crafts. Larger Cricut machines, like the Expression or the Create machine, are great for those more serious about their die cut projects whether they be for scrapbook albums or party decorations. They’re also perfect for teachers looking for classroom décor, an idea that’s also great for those who homeschool their children! You can use the 12×24 mat to make letters and shapes up to two feet large! Just think of the creative banners, letters, centerpieces, decorations and other projects you can create with a Cricut machine like that.

When you purchase additional cartridges for your Cricut machine you’ll have even more choices of die cuts available. You can even purchase licensed characters and cartridges such as Sesame Street, Hello Kitty, and Disney. Imagine what fun the kids would have creating their own Hello Kitty characters and shapes or cutting out their favorite Disney and Pixar characters as well! And for the grownups there are home décor shapes available for a Cricut machine, as well as many perfect for other scrapbook pages. These include beach scenes, sports, holidays, wedding, and even indie art that includes skills, guitars, and flames. Whatever your scrapbook or craft project, you’re sure to find something perfect for you with cricut sale!

And once you’ve created your pages with your Cricut machine you can also use binders and covers that are perfect for your scrapbooks. Your cricut electronic machine couldn’t be more versatile.

If you do buy a Cricut machine, it’s an investment in your hobby that will last for many years. There is virtually no end to the variety of die cuts and shapes available and you’re sure to enjoy using it for years to come!