a whole new world...

I have discovered a whole new world of things I had no idea about...digital scrapbooking. Now, I've known for awhile about digital scrapbooking -- that it existed. But I had no idea that there were so many websites out there that offer "freebies" -- elements you can download, free of charge, that allow you to create a scrapbook page/layout using Photoshop or some other comparable software program just like if you sat down at your craft table with a blank album. You would take your items/elements that you bought at AC Moore or Michael's and lay them out on your blank page in your album and create your scrapbook page/layout. It's the same thing with these "freebies". The possibilities are ENDLESS!

It is, in fact, how I created this particular blog -- the header at the top, the circular pattern background with the torn edges...it was all created with freebies that I found online. And since my friend, Holly, had a birthday this past Wednesday and she already has her gift, I can (finally) show you this little project I've had in the works for a while:

This is Holly's brand new baby girl, Caitlin Grayce Byrd, and I thought it would be special to try my hand at digital scrapbooking, to a certain extent, with this project. The actual photo itself was one I took at the hospital right after Caitlin was born and I edited it in Photoshop using a technique I recently learned (the black & white photo with just a bit of color -- love that effect!). I was going to just give Holly the photo framed, but then when I discovered this whole new world of digital elements, I thought I'd do something a little more for her. Happy birthday, Holly!