I was talking to a fellow scrapbooker while at a crop on Friday. I was complaining about how hard it was for me to write on a tag when I am so used to typing directly on my scrapbook pages. I just had to finish my 4-year-old daughter’s little 6×6 album I started in March this year. It was an experiment of sorts. I have become a digital scrapbooker and so all of my scrapbooking gear is sitting unused on the shelf. My husband asked me one day just how much money one costs versus the other. So I did an experiment.
As part of the experiment, I bought a small 6×6 album ($5) printed my pics at Costco ($7) and got to work. My mom gave me some of her paper (she’s quite a scrapbooker herself) that all coordinated, and I started making a book about Lucy’s birthday. Right away, I ran into peeves. For example, I’m used to being able to move something if I place it down crooked. As I was placing paper onto the album pages, I placed one down crooked and it would have ripped my paper if I removed it. Arrrgh! Then there were a few pics that would have fit better if I were able to shrink them as I cropped them. Then, when I got to the adding text….typing is so much easier!
So that project I started in March, I am just finishing in November! I don’t think I saved any money doing it that way either. My costs went way over the $5 for the album. I couldn’t resist buying sticker sheets to decorate it. ($4) The album didn’t come with page protectors and so I bought a roll of laminate to put on the pages when I finish($7). (probably will go to waste…) I bought a roll of adhesive to stick down the pictures ($4). I also used about $8 in 12×12 papers that my mom gave me. So that album cost approx. $35 to make! (and it’s not protected from damage or guaranteed like my hardbound books are.)
So the cost of one of my 7×5 hardbound books (hostess special) was only $10 at the time. That’s great! Of course regular price is a bunch more, but I always find a way to get my books on a special.
Experiments aside, I just need to mention that Lucy loves her new book. She carries it with her everywhere and shows everyone! That’s the same response that I got from my 9-year-old when I made her a hardbound book of her own. I guess the difference worth mentioning is the ease of completing one over the other! With digital scrapbooking there’s no MESS! I can work on it more often and I don’t feel so disorganized when I’m finished scrapping!
Post me a comment about what you think about digital vs. paper scrapping!
Filed under: Musings, digital scrapbooking | Tagged: digital scrapbooking, hardbound storybooks, paper scrapbooking
Found you! I enjoyed reading your musings … I agree with the organizing and disorganizing of the scrap book supplies – my biggest pet peeve about it all! I will definitely be checking in on your blog frequently, not only to keep up with the family but for all the great tips! See you next week!