LTieu-BTP-pixel-and-paper-series

The Pixel and Paper Series highlights digital techniques and products for scrapbookers like you and me. I believe that everyone should consider digital elements to be a part of their scrapbooking toolbox, so let’s learn together what the possibilities are. Each week, I’ll be sharing the opinion of a real-life scrapbooker to reveal how they use digital in their scrapbooking. Each post will also offer a freebie download to help you get started on your pixel and paper journey. Enjoy!

Introducing… Monica Bradford

Headshot-SidebarMonica Bradford is a scrapbooker and teacher with a blog about finding and using inspiration. I had the pleasure of designing her blog theme and love all that she shares regarding scrapbooking inspiration. I decided to ask her about digital versus paper scrapbooking…

 Monica says:

I’m definitely what I would call a hybrid scrapbooker. My end result is paper 90% of the time, although I do occasionally do digi pages. But I use my computer 100% of the time when I’m scrapping. I always edit my photos a bit in PSE and often also use digital collage templates to get more photos on one 4×6. I prefer to scrap on one 12×12 page so using digital collage templates allows me to put many more photos on a 12×12 page without interrupting the design.

I also consider Pinterest a digital tool for me. Once upon a time I used to get magazines and put post-its on my favorite pages. Now I search blogs and pin them to boards on Pinterest. It keeps my inspiration organized in a way that is easy for me to find, and use, later. I almost never start a layout without first scanning my Pinterest boards.

I also sometimes use digital template designs as sketches. I don’t print them out, but I look at them and then replicate the design onto my page.

And then of course, I use apps on my phone that assist my scrapping. Mainly photo apps like Camera + which I often use to take pictures, but I also occasionally use Evernote to keep track of scrapping ideas. And I use Momento to document funny things my kids say, which I can then turn into scrapbook pages later.

I would say that my computer, the internet, and my phone are essential tools in my scrapbooking life. Even though I am primarily a paper scrapper. 🙂

Technology and Inspiration

Monica is a great example of someone who uses technology to collect, organize and use scrapbooking inspiration. Pinterest is super popular and it’s simply a digital way to collect inspiration. As Monica stated, we used to do it manually, but now there’s a faster and easier way. Again, we see how technology can help us be more efficient and organized for our crafting and scrapbooking.

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via ScrapInspired.com

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via ScrapInspired.com

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via ScrapInspired.com

Try It For Yourself

When it comes to inspiration, anything and everything can be a starting point for our scrapbooking and memory keeping. Sometimes we have to be on the lookout! This week, let’s share our pinterest accounts and inspire each other in our scrapbooking. Feel free to leave your pinterest links below. I’m also on pinterest and if you like printables, be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter for new designs, links to freebies and the latest from yours truly.