Why digital scrapbooking? Is it cheaper than traditional scrapbooking?

I've been scrapbooking for a good 15 years and love the traditional method as well as the digital method. Recently I've gotten into the "hybrid" method which is 70% digital and 30% traditional. That being said, I can't really print photobooks (which really are inexpensive) because I prefer thicker loose prints to be able to add embellishments the traditional way. So I recently purchased a wide format printer in order to print on thicker paper. Yes, it's a big investment but in the long run it's cheaper. Here's why I say that. I'm getting ready to print a scrapbook of my new little nephew. So far I have a good 40 pages!! I've checked various photo websites and the prices are outrageous!! The cheapest I've seen is $5.39 per 12 x 12 print! That's a whopping $215.60, plus shipping. Just printing these pages twice would amount to what I paid for my printer. Yes, I have to buy paper. Yes, I have to buy ink. But, on average I'm saving $80. I have to print my pages anyway so why not do it saving money. I really believe digital scrapbooking is cheaper. And to have the ability to share the pages/albums with friends and family that aren't close by makes it even more worthwhile.

There is a web site cozi.com that you can set-up albums with different friends and share pics with those friends. I believe this site is free. The site is secure each of you have to have a password to access an album. Pretty Cool!

While you learn to do digital scrapbooking, then you learn how easy it is to create nice layouts. I started doing layouts, then I went right into creating layouts. If you are frugal & enjoy being creative, then this is an awesome way to do this. I'm creative naturally, so it makes it easy to create, I create my own layouts & my own kits. While there are various programs out there to help you with your creativity, to create & to apply photo's to quick pages & to Scrapbook Kits: digitally speaking of course. There are also many tutorials out there. You can print your layouts, already done & you can print it out on regular 12x12 paper. I enjoy doing both, because they are fun. With Digital Scrap Kits & Creative programs, the creativity is limitless. I do digital scrapbook Kits & Layouts for my scrapbooks & I make cards, for people.

Making a digital book costs less than $2 a page on average. And, you can get lots of free digital graphics to use on the books. My favorite place to make books is RocketLife because you don't need to have an additional scrapbooking software program - their program is free and easy to use. The average cost of a traditional page is well over $5 - some even say it's closer to $10 or $15 although I have a hard time believing that. The reason the digital books look expensive is that you are getting a whole finished album at once. So, you have to pay for it all at once rather than dripping in bits and pieces of traditional scrapbook products. But, you usually get about 21 pages in an 8.5 x 11 book for around $40 with additional pages being about a dollar each. It's really pretty inexpensive when you compare it to traditional scrapping. The cardstock alone is at least 65 cents.