I was introduced to Photoshop Elements in August of 2007 and at that time I was so computer illiterate that I could not even open an email attachment! I really started digital scrapbooking in December of 2007 (7months ago) and have taught myself how to use the program. I realize that it will not be as easy for everyone to get into the digital groove, but the hard work was worth the feeling of accomplishment!

I started my digiklik studio business in order to have the girls over for laptop crops. I want to teach the program and provide a beautifully decorated, fun, and “scrap” free place to work on preserving our memories.

If you are not sure that Elements 6.0 is the best digiscrapbooking program, just look in the magazines or google it, you will find that it is the industry standard (with the exception of full photoshop). You can be as simple or as creative as you want; there are no gimmicks that trap you into proprietary digi-elements.

I don’t sell this product, but I do recommend it because I hate to see people getting started in a program that will not grow with your future creativity. To see some of my digi layouts, check out the gallery tab in the navigation bar.

I ask this question because I realize that many of my friends are paralyzed when it comes to technology! My son is entering the 5th grade this year and has already made a couple of digital scrapbook pages! It is really not that hard if you give it a try.

I am offering instructions and laptop crops to make it easier to transition into the digital world. There are so many great templates out there to get you started so that you will look like a pro even before you know what you are doing.

Digital Scrapbooking will sharpen your mind while you are having fun & preserving your family memories. Learning technology can be fun if you have great layouts to prove your progress. Give it a try…………..my 5th grader did it, you can too!

How many times have you gone on a family trip and realized when you got home that you only had close up photos of your kids and no backdrop of your location or all backdrop and tiny people! I just went on a trip to Disney and Sea World and took about 600 pictures! On this trip I decided ahead of time to make sure to take photos of my surroundings (with no people) and lots of close ups of the ones I love! The key is to get context…my layout of the kids swimming at the pool will have a seperate picture of the beautiful clubhouse and palm trees. I also took close up photos at “Minnie’s house” in Toon Town, I was able to crop the fun “paintbrushes” in her art room and use them as a page element! I even took close ups of the adorable ride signs at Sea World and will crop those to use on the page of them riding that ride!

Most of my photos of the kids are close up, catching their excited expressions.  I am delighted that I did not end up with a bunch of pictures where my children are tiny dots. With the separate “location” photo, I don’t  have to lose my background just to zoom in on the kids! Get creative and take lots of closeups of flowers, architecture, landscape or even a sand toy at the beach and make your own unique decorative elements that have meaning! With digital, it opens a whole new world of opportunity using the selection, zoom and crop tools.

Look for some of the layouts from our trip in the coming weeks in my gallery.

Today in the wacky world of mothering 4 boys, I found myself up at 5:45am in long johns and five layers of clothing! Today was “homeschool day” at the ski slope two hours from our home. This year I took my 4th grader and my 1st grader and left the five and three year old with my husband (who works from home). It was a long day, but so much fun! It is great to get out of the routine once in a while and let loose.

Here are three things that I tried today and highly recommend:

1. Get yourself a pink spiky hat…it’s fun, and the kids can see you from anywhere! (my spikes are 8″ long and the front of the hat says “mental”…which is embarrassingly true!)

2. Hike any distance to get a photo…even if you are putting your life in the “skis” of out of control beginners (you can’t miss getting the shots of their first ski…I consider myself a rebel)

3. Make sure to yell “yeeee haaaaa” at the top of your lungs . This was the best feeling, I highly recommend it. For those of you who do not live in the South you can just say “waaaaah whooooo,” I bet it will give the same desired effect.

Have fun when fun happens! Love ya, Mama

I love, love, love all the fabulous designs and colors of all the elements and backgrounds that I can choose from to make the perfect digital layout. I enjoy searching galleries and seeing all the countless ways to make a unique design out of the same freebie web challenge!

Imagine the creativity of our Creator! He is an artist, just like you and me. He loves the unique; His creations are special and designed for a specific purpose. He made it all for us to enjoy! I hope that you will take a look around you and see all the creativity made by the Hands of the Father who loves us enough to make such beauty for our delight!

Isaiah 45:18

I am now totally hooked on digital “scrapbooking” and I want ALL of my friends to get kliking! I say, “No more scraps!” I say, “No more mess!” Therefore, all my fellow paper scrappers, put down your scissors and get kliking! As a matter of fact, I think I am going to personally start a neat revolution where “scrap” will no longer be needed, unless we are talking about feeding the dog under the table!

I personally am eliminating scrap from my life, whether in reality all over my “cropping” floor or in my virtual world of digital design, there is no need to have or speak about”scraps” ever again! So digi klik chiks, join me in the tech world and enjoy the scrapless existence.