Digital Scrapbooking Free Resources Where To Find Templates Elements And Printables
Digital scrapbooking has become a popular hobby for crafters and memory keepers who want to preserve their memories in a creative, customizable format. Across the internet, numerous blogs and websites offer free digital scrapbooking resources, from templates and elements to printables and alphabets. These freebies allow scrapbooking enthusiasts to experiment with new styles, expand their creative options, and create beautiful projects without financial investment. This article explores the various types of digital scrapbooking free available, where to find them, and how to access and utilize these resources.
Types of Digital Scrapbooking Freebies
Digital scrapbooking freebies come in various formats and styles, catering to different preferences and project needs. The most common types of free resources available through scrapbooking blogs include:
Digital Scrapbooking Templates
Templates are pre-designed layouts that provide the structure for scrapbook pages. They typically include placeholders for photos, text, and embellishments. According to the source materials, many blogs offer free templates as part of their regular content or special events. Kate Harrison Designs, for example, offers "a growing library of over sixty free digital scrapbooking templates" available in multiple file formats including .PSD, .TIFF, .png, and .page. These templates are designed to "help you create scrapbook pages in a flash" and are suitable for both beginners and experienced scrapbookers.
The Cherry On Top Designs also provides free templates, including a "lovely cute and quirky digital scrapbooking template with Santa hat, elf hat and elf shoes." During special events like blog trains, designers often create themed templates that participants can collect by visiting each blog in the sequence.
Digital Elements and Alphabets
Digital elements are decorative components that can be added to scrapbook pages, such as frames, borders, icons, and themed graphics. Alphabets, as the name suggests, are letter sets in various styles that can be used for titles and journaling.
Kate Harrison Designs offers "a selection of digital scrapbook alphabets, elements, overlays, papers and doodles to add a little hand-drawn whimsy to your pages and projects." These resources allow scrapbookers to customize their pages with unique decorative elements that match their personal style and the theme of their project.
Trixie Scraps participates in blog trains where designers contribute various elements, such as alphabets, that follow a specific color palette or theme. These coordinated elements help scrapbookers create cohesive pages with a unified look.
Printables and Journal Cards
Printables are ready-to-print designs that can be used for various purposes beyond digital scrapbooking, including party decorations, home organization, and paper crafting. Journal cards are specifically designed for pocket scrapbooking systems and typically measure 3×4 inches or 6×4 inches.
Kate Harrison Designs offers "ready-to-print bag toppers, bookmarks, journal cards and other quick and easy printable projects." Their journal cards are designed specifically for pocket scrapbook pages and come in standard sizes that fit popular pocket scrapbooking systems.
Bringing Home Ezra provides various printable resources that can be used for both digital and paper crafting. Their offerings include blog headers, blog buttons (referred to as "blinkies"), and printable baby shower invitations with options for boys, girls, and even specific themes like LSU Tigers. These printables can be customized by adding text and images, making them versatile for different purposes.
Subscriber Exclusive Content
Many scrapbooking blogs offer additional freebies exclusively to their newsletter subscribers. This serves as an incentive for visitors to sign up for regular updates and special offers.
Kate Harrison Design has "The Doodle Den," which offers "a selection of doodles, stamps and alphabets available exclusively for mailing list subscribers and members." This exclusive content provides added value for subscribers and encourages ongoing engagement with the blog.
Where to Find Digital Scrapbooking Freebies
Digital scrapbooking freebies are distributed through various channels, with blogs being the primary platform. Several types of events and regular features make these resources available to the scrapbooking community.
Blog Trains
Blog trains are collaborative events where multiple designers contribute themed freebies that visitors can collect by visiting each blog in sequence. These events often follow a specific theme or color palette and occur on a regular schedule.
The Cherry On Top Designs participates in blog trains, offering "fabulous freebies going back nearly 10 years." These blog trains typically include templates, elements, and papers that complement each other, allowing scrapbookers to create coordinated projects.
Trixie Scraps also participates in blog trains, such as the "DST January 2013 blog train" and special events like the "Stars Blog Hop." During these events, designers contribute themed elements that visitors can collect by following the designated route through participating blogs.
Blog Hops
Blog hops are similar to blog trains but often have a specific purpose or celebration. They may be timed around holidays, special events in the scrapbooking community, or launches of new products.
Confessions of a Homeschooler mentions participating in the "Jessica Sprague Certified Digital Designers Blog Hop," where "each blog is giving away a FREE mini-kit to create this super awesome collaborative Christmas Treasures Kit." These blog hops often have a limited timeframe during which the freebies are available, creating urgency and encouraging timely participation.
Scrapping with Liz participates in the "TLP's It's About Time: Yesterday freebie hop," which is held in anticipation of Digital Scrapbook Day. These events typically offer themed freebies that align with the occasion.
Regular Freebie Features
Some blogs have regular features where they offer freebies on a consistent schedule, such as Freebie Friday or other weekly/monthly events.
Confessions of a Homeschooler mentions "Freebie Friday" events, where they share themed templates and resources. These regular features give visitors a predictable schedule to look forward to when seeking new free scrapbooking materials.
Designer Websites and Shops
Many digital scrapbooking designers offer freebies directly on their websites or as part of their online shops. These freebies may serve as promotional items to showcase the designer's style or as samples of products available for purchase.
The Cherry On Top Design Studio offers free templates and also has a shop where they periodically run sales, such as a 50% off promotion on "all kinds of new Christmas and holiday designs." This approach allows designers to attract new customers with free content while also generating revenue from premium products.
How to Access and Use Digital Scrapbooking Freebies
Accessing and using digital scrapbooking freebies typically follows a straightforward process, though there may be some variations depending on the blog or event.
Downloading Freebies
Most freebies are available directly for download from the blog posts. Designers typically provide a direct download link or instruct visitors to click on an image to access the file. For example, Bringing Home Ezra instructs readers to "click on the image to enlarge and then save to your computer" for their printable resources.
Some freebies may require visitors to sign up for a newsletter or provide their email address before accessing the download. This is particularly common for exclusive subscriber content or larger freebie bundles.
File Formats and Compatibility
Digital scrapbooking freebies come in various file formats to accommodate different software preferences and technical requirements. Kate Harrison Design offers templates in multiple formats including .PSD, .TIFF, .png, and .page files, allowing users with different software programs to access the templates.
For users new to digital scrapbooking, Kate Harrison Design also provides tutorials for using templates in popular programs like Photoshop Elements, Craft Artist, and Artisan/Storybook Creator. These resources help beginners get started with digital scrapbooking using the free templates available.
Using Printables
Printable freebies can be used in various ways beyond digital scrapbooking. Blog headers from Bringing Home Ezra, for example, can be used as blog backgrounds or as inspiration for designing custom headers. Blog buttons ("blinkies") can be added to blog sidebars using HTML code provided by the designer.
Printable invitations and decorations can be printed on "heavy cardstock or nice matte finish photo paper" for best results, as suggested by Bringing Home Ezra. After printing, users can customize them further with their own text and images.
Time-Limited Offers
Many freebies, particularly those associated with blog hops and special events, are only available for a limited time. Scrapping with Liz notes that "the freebies for Part 1 are only available through October 3rd at 11:59 pm EST." Similarly, Confessions of a Homeschooler mentions that free mini-kits from the "Scrap Scrap Scrap Blog Train" would be available "through October 18."
These time-limited offers create urgency and encourage timely participation in blog hops and events. Visitors need to be aware of these deadlines to ensure they can collect all the freebies they're interested in.
Popular Digital Scrapbooking Free Blogs
Based on the source materials, several blogs are known for offering digital scrapbooking freebies:
The Cherry On Top Designs
This blog has been offering freebies for nearly a decade and participates regularly in blog trains. They provide free templates and occasionally run sales on premium products. Their holiday-themed templates, including a Christmas template with Santa hat, elf hat, and elf shoes, are particularly popular.
Kate Harrison Designs
Kate Harrison Design offers a wide variety of free resources, including templates, elements, alphabets, and printables. They maintain a growing library of over sixty free templates and provide tutorials for beginners. Their subscriber-exclusive content in "The Doodle Den" provides additional incentives for newsletter sign-ups.
Scrapping with Liz
This blog participates in special event blog hops, such as the "It's About Time" series in anticipation of Digital Scrapbook Day. They offer free templates during these events and encourage visitors to sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about future offers.
Confessions of a Homeschooler
While primarily known for homeschooling resources, this blog also participates in scrapbooking blog hops and offers Freebie Friday features. They have collaborated with other designers on collaborative Christmas kits and participate in events like the "Scrap Scrap Scrap Blog Train."
Trixie Scraps
Trixie Scraps participates in various blog trains and blog hops, such as the "Stars Blog Hop." They offer themed digital elements and alphabets that follow specific color palettes or themes, allowing scrapbookers to create coordinated projects.
Bringing Home Ezra
This blog focuses on printable freebies that can be used for both digital and paper crafting. Their offerings include blog headers, blog buttons, and invitations that can be customized with personal text and images.
Conclusion
Digital scrapbooking free blogs offer a wealth of resources for memory keepers and crafters looking to enhance their projects without financial investment. From templates and elements to printables and alphabets, these freebies provide endless creative possibilities. Blog trains, blog hops, and regular freebie features make it easy to discover new resources and stay inspired. By understanding where to find these freebies and how to access and use them effectively, scrapbookers can expand their creative options and create beautiful, personalized projects. Whether you're a beginner looking to try digital scrapbooking or an experienced enthusiast seeking fresh ideas, these free resources offer valuable opportunities to explore new styles and techniques.
Sources
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