I paper scrapped before I digital scrapped, and I still have a whole room devoted to papers, glues, and ribbons. When I switched to digi-scrapping, I really and truly believed that it would save me money. But the truth is that in addition to kits, there are so many other cool things to buy that it's really easy to let your scrapping budget get out of control. So I've been making a list of things I would buy if money were no object. Santa, I hope you're reading. (I've been very good this year.)
1) Go Media's Affliction Font. This vintagey, grungy font is calling my name. And, at only $9.99, I really should break down and get it.
2. Art Rage 2.5. This easy-to-use painting program is getting rave reviews on all the scrapping boards. It can be used to produce realistic paint strokes, glitter, stencils and more. The metallic paint options look really cool. At $25, it seems like a steal.
3. The new Picture Yourself Creating Digital Scrapbooks book by Sally Beacham and Lori Davis. The accompanying DVD contains 13 kits from 7 designers, fonts from Larabie, Kingthings, Melissa Baxter, Miss Tiina, Robin Rowlands, Hoodsy and from the authors, Sally Beacham and Lori Davis: assorted plugins and utility demos, Paint Shop Pro scripts, other miscellaneous scrapping stuff and some tutorials. You can pre-order it now from Amazon for only $19.79.
4. Shoebox Reprints Scanning Package. Janet Phillips at Scrapbookgraphics recommended this service on her blog, and I've been wanting to try it ever since I read about it. For $99.95, you can fill a box that they provide with your old photos, and they'll scan them onto a disk. Shoebox Reprints say you can fit about 1,600 photos into one of the boxes. And, the price includes shipping. Wouldn't it be great to have all you old photos backed up?
5. Preset Viewer by TumaSoft. Preset Viewer is the first product that will allow you to view, organize, key word, sort and export NOT only brush files (abr), but also patterns (pat) and custom shapes (csh). Plus, Install with just a click OR export your favorites as either brush (abr) files or PNG files! Wow, it would be great to finally get my brushes and patterns in some sort of order. This product is on sale at Scrapbookgraphics for $39.95 through Dec. 31.
6. I've heard nothing but good things about Al Ward's Photoshop for Right-Brainers: The Art of Photo Manipulation. Available at Amazon for $26.39, this 334-page how-to book covers everything from blending to art techniques to packaging.
7. Now, if Santa's feeling really generous, I think the new Apple all-in-one iMac is cooler than any computer has a right to be. But with a starting price tag of $1,199, I think I'll have to be satisfied with my Compaq laptop. In the meantime, I just like looking at it. The geek in me thinks it's gorgeous.
