As a frugal mother, Sharon had to admit that she never got into scrap booking over the years because one visit to a scrap book supply shop sent her into sticker shock. With three kids and a limited budget, she knew she couldnt afford all of the supplies and tools that she would want to use. So her childrens photos remained in shoeboxes.

In 2005 she discovered a digital scrapbooking kit, the practice of creating scrap book layouts on a computer using digital images. Sharon pulled out her shoeboxes and spent weeks at the computer scanning in every memory. The kids started to think Mom was going a bit mad though when she started to scan everything else she could get her hands on.

She scanned all kinds of fabric, curtains, blankets and scarves. She scanned greeting cards, calendars, wall paper and macaroni and cheese boxes. If it fit onto her scanner, she added it to her digital scrapbooking kit.

Then, with a simple image program, she went to work.

Without scissors or glue or double sided tape, she created page after digital page. With every new layout she thought up she felt like she was getting away with something sneaky. Surely she should have to pay someone something for all of the fun that she was having?

Digital scrap booking has matured to the point where you dont have to find out own digital crafting elements, you can find some online for free and other image sets you can pay for.

As to be expected, digital image sets are far less costly when compared to purchasing paper and fabric and accessories. It really is an attractive alternative to someone scrap booking on a budget.

Sharon keeps her digital projects strictly on her computer, using the layouts as a screen saver slide show. Many others choose to share their creations online or even to print out their layouts and bind them together in a book.

If you would like to try your hand at digital scrapping youll want to check and see what kind of image manipulation software you have on your computer. If you dont find something appropriate you can download a copy of the free public license graphic software named Gimp.

Learning to work with digital scrapbooking kits will take some practice, but youll have fun in the process and soon be creating fun layouts for your memories.