In This Issue

"Picture Perfect..." by Lianne Carper

12"x100' Rolls of Double Sided Matte Available

We now have 12" rolls for your convenience. 

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Digital Scrapbook Techniques!

Lianne Carper, one of the 3Scrapateers, has been shooting and printing digitally since 2001.  She is a current customer of Hawk Mountain Papers and I appreciate the time she has taken to share her business, passion, process, and insight into this digital scrapbooking world.

Do you shoot digitally or scan or both?

All of my current photos are taken digitally as they have been for 6 years now.  I have scanned in a few old photos to use in layouts as well, but because scanning is tedious in my opinion, I still have tons of photos that need to be scanned sitting in archival photo boxes.  

Are you still using the Canon i9900? 

Yes - I absolutely love my Canon i9900.  I've told so many people about it and persuaded several to buy it, I should earn their next top model free. Wouldn’t it be nice if it worked that way?  I was amazed at the quality of my printed12x12 layouts.  I always preferred the matte paper.  Once I received a sample pack from Hawk Mountain Papers, I found my favorite and haven't switched. I use the 12x12 if the layout is just for my own personal scrapbooks, but if it's a layout that I'd like to share with my parents and in-laws, I use the 13x19 so that I can print out the 12x12 for myself and 2 6x6's on the same sheet.  A definite money saver.

How did you get started with digital printing/scrapbooking?

I was raised in a very crafty family and my mother always involved me in the crafts she was working on.  I always wanted to get involved in scrapbooking, but the expense of having all the neat tools was just too much.  So, I used my graphics program to create my own scrapbooking supplies before I ever knew anything about the wonderful world of digital scrapbooking.  I was involved in a Paint Shop Pro learning group and because some of the things I created and shared through that group looked like digital scrapbooking, one of the ladies introduced me to a computer scrapbooking yahoo group.  That was all it took. I knew I could make my own as well to suit my photos and personal taste.  It wasn't long before I started selling at an online digital scrapbooking site. I met a few ladies online who I instantly felt a bond with and www.3scrapateers.com was born.

Do you have any advice for the many students/novices printing their own work?

Experiment - a lot of people are afraid to stray from their printer manufacturer's paper line when there are some superb papers out there that will give your prints a rich feel and will not damage your printer.  Find the combination that works best for you.  Try printing at different print qualities as well.  I've found on my Canon i9900 that as long as there isn't a photo being printed, I can use the standard setting rather than high quality and get beautiful prints with rich color.  I do usually step up to he high quality if there's a photo being printed though.

What is your favorite part of Digital Scrapbooking?

The versatility and the challenge.  I love being able to create something digitally that people look at and think that there is no way it's digital. Learning how to apply realistic shadows is the most important factor in making a digital layout look like a paper layout.  I also put that enthusiasm into every element and paper that I create - I want you to wonder if I scanned in an item or created it,... it's rare you will find anything scanned in anything I've created.

What do you like the least?

The perception by many that digital scrapbooking isn't real or as widely accepted.  I've found very little that can't be recreated digitally.  I believe we're all doing what we love - preserving our memories for future generations.  It doesn't matter how we do it, as long as we enjoy the process. 

What do you like the most about Hawk Mountain?

I love the quality and thickness of the paper that I get from Hawk Mountain Papers.  The prints come out so detailed and the colors so rich and vivid. The prices for such quality paper can't be beat.

I would love to hear about how 3Scrapateers started.  What sets you apart?

(We) started shortly after Brenda, Stacey and I met online.  There was an immediate bond and we set out to form a community that we could promote and be proud of in hopes to entice more people into the wonderful world of digital scrapbooking.  We welcome everyone - from the experienced paper scrapbooker to the person wanting to create their first layout digitally who knows nothing about a graphics program.  We have such a warm and friendly family atmosphere at our site, which is what we try hardest to maintain.  Everyone tries hard to create their first few layouts and sometimes it can be very intimidating to post your first layout.  We try to help them overcome these fears and realize that we're all here to do the same thing - create memories for our future generations, learn new and exciting techniques to do this and find a few friends along the way.  As our site has grown, we've had the pleasure of forming true friendships with many people that wouldn't have been possible had it not been for our site - several of which we've had the opportunity to meet in person as well.  It's a special feeling as well when you see all of the bonds forming in the forums, galleries and chat rooms and hear of people meeting face to face.  These are friendships that 3Scrapateers helped create.  So many of us open our lives up to each other when we share our layouts online and many times, you can watch a family grow up and feel like you know them all personally simply by being involved in such a wonderful community.  This family atmosphere is where 3Scrapateers shines like a diamond.