4 Important Lessons I’ve Learned from Past Mistakes

Shorten your digital scrapbooking learning curve with 4 valuable lessons that will help you enjoy the process while not being afraid of making mistakes. It's all about learning and having fun!

Lesson 1: Concentrate on the memory keeping, not the design

I love pretty layouts, I really do! But, I also have to be realistic. If I want to capture the memory, I don’t have hours to design a page from scratch and finesse it to perfection. Trust me, done is better than perfect!

Lesson 2: Play around and don’t be afraid to make mistakes

Mistakes are the best way to learn in digital scrapbooking, as well as in life. One of the beautiful things about creating digitally is there is always the “Undo” Button! Some of my best layouts have come from “Happy Accidents” as I let myself experiment and try out new things.

Lesson 3: Always proofread your pages and double-check your project

Before you send your pages to the printer, you’ll want to make sure you proofread for any spelling errors including title, dates, and journaling, making sure the font is at a desired size for ease of readability. As the eyes age, you’ll need a larger font rather than a smaller one. Be sure to make sure you have not duplicated pages, missed pages, or have pages out of order when printing an album or photo book. Lastly, check your printer specs to make sure all your background papers bleed to the very outer edges of the printing surface and none of your important details are too close to the trim edge. The printer is often close but not exact.

Lesson 4: Never Stop Learning

I love learning new techniques, and yes, after 30 years of designing digital art in Photoshop and 10 years of digital scrapbooking with FOREVER Artisan, I am still learning new things – it’s wonderful! It keeps me challenged and motivated! The more I learn and practice, the more efficient and productive I become. Over time, your confidence and skill level will grow, too!