managing downloads how and where???

[bclady]

I am a total scrapbook virgin and have yet to create my first page so please pardon my complete ignorance. Could someone please explain how to download all the kits, embellishments, images etc.. involved in scrapbooking. I guess I am confused because there are different terms for things.. layouts, album, kits, sigh.... I would really appreciate it. Seeing all the fun links but not being able to do anything with it is really frustrating.

With heartfelt appreciation.


bclady

[cats4jan]

Most scrapbook kits contain background paper - elements/embellishments (like buttons and ribbons and hearts) - and sometimes fancy sayings.

What I do is download the kit - by choosing save - and putting it on the desktop.

Most of them are zip files - which need to be "unzipped."

right click on the icon of the file that appeared on the desktop after it was "saved"

and unzip it

Then move the unzipped files to a folder you've prepared - either under documents or pictures or whatever.

I like to unzip the files - look at what is in the file - and only move the elements I like - discarding the rest.

I would start with freebies - so if something happens during download, you don't freak about possible loss of what you've purchased.

The parts of a kit are used to create scrapbook pages - very much like you would paper scrap.

You choose a background paper - you bring a photo onto it - you bring elements/embellishments onto it

The good thing about digital scrapbooking is the freedom you have to resize and move things around until you love your page.

terms:

layout - means just that - how you layout your page - you can get predone layouts where you just add photos onto a page and you're done

kit - a grouping of things that all go together because of theme and color - designers make kits and offer them for sale or for free

Go to a site that has scrapbooking freebies. Download a kit and work with unzipping it - getting it into files where you can find them again -

Open a project in your graphic design program - use one of the background papers from the kit - add a photo - add the embellishments - add some text

you have a layout - you have a scrapbook page

This is a hands on kind of learning hobby. You have to just jump in.

[bclady]

Thanks Janice. Do you put them under certain folders so that it shows in the pallets menu under "backgrounds" or just leave them in a folder?

[PattyD]

I just posted this to another thread but so you can find it easily I've re-posted it here too-
I use the organizer and it works great. I tag everything in the digital scrapbook kit with the kit name first and the theme (Christmas etc.) Then I tag according to type-paper, clip art etc. I also tag by color but that's not really necessary with the ability to change the color so easily.
This way when you want to find all your paper just click on paper and there it all is. If you want to find all your Christmas stuff just click on Christmas. If you want your Christmas Paper click on Paper and Christmas. It's pretty cool!
Have fun!
Patty

[bclady]

Thank-you. I am beginning to work things out. It isn't easy.

[PattyD]

It's a lot easier if you can find a partner to do it with or a good source of information all in the same place. I keep saying I'm going to write a book on this and maybe in the future I will!!!
Keep trying and practice! Don't give up!
Patty

[bclady]

THANK-YOU I have figured it out :) :)

[cats4jan]

Glad you figured it out.

I used to store my things by what they were - backgrounds togehter, etc., but then realized that if I wanted to post something on a forum, I needed to give credit to the artist, so I started filing them under the artist's name and website. And another thing I realized, that by separating the items, when I wanted to do a coordinated project, I had to search out what went with what.

I think the idea of printing a cover sheet for each kit is the most viable way of handling the organization.