Do my photos have to be digital, or can regular paper photos be used?

Any type of photo can be used in your personalized scrapbook, photo gift, framed print or card/announcement.  Full-sized digital photos can be sent to me via e-mail or burned to a CD and mailed to me.  Paper photos will either need to be scanned by you (300 dpi) and sent to me via e-mail or CD. You can also mail them to me for scanning.  See pricing page for this service.  Other items such as newspaper articles, report cards, medals and other memorabilia can also be included in your albums.  They can be scanned or photographed. I can only accept full-sized, high-resolution images, as these are necessary for a high-quality final product. If you have any questions about photo formats and sizing, I am happy to assist you.

What does the final product look like?

All of my scrapbooks, framed prints, and photo card designs are 100% digital, so the final product is a photograph.  There are two creative styles that I use.  One is graphic and looks like pages you might see in a magazine.  The other style uses digital papers, ribbons, and embellishments which look like 3-D layers on a traditional paper scrapbook page.  Framed prints are professionally printed as photographs in the preferred size. These are prints only and frames can be purchased separately.   Scrapbook albums are hardbound books with glossy pages, similar to a yearbook. These are also referred to as coffee table books. See photos of actual books in the Scrapbook Gallery and framed prints in the Framed Prints Gallery.

How long does it take to receive my final product?

Framed prints, photo cards, and purses will normally be designed within one week (a preview will be sent via email for your approval) and received by the customer within two weeks.  This timeframe depends on shipping so it is approximate.  In high volume times of year (such as Christmas) turnaround time may be longer.  I will inform you of this at the time of ordering.  Scrapbooks take longer, depending on the total length of the book.  A 20 page book can be completed within one month.  If the photos need to be scanned, that would add to this timeframe.  Let me know if there is a deadline on the project and I will do my best to provide a quick turnaround.

Do I have to purchase prints?  Can I just print it myself?

I prefer that you purchase the prints through me, so I can ensure that you receive a high-quality final product that will last.  All of my items are professionally printed, sent to me for inspection and then sent to you.  When items are printed on a home printer, the ink does not last as long and is prone to fading, especially when displayed in the sun (as a framed print would likely be).  That being said, if you would like me to send the design to you for printing, it can be emailed or uploaded to your preferred online photo lab.  This does result in a faster turnaround time, since the item can be sent via the internet.  In this case, there would be special pricing since the print would not be sent to you. Contact me for a custom quote on this type of request.  

Is there a discount if I order multiples of the same design?

Yes, there is a discount listed on the pricing schedule that reflects multiple project pricing. This is one major advantage of digital designs.  All of the design work is done once and is easily duplicated.

What is journaling and who provides it?

Journaling is the story that your pictures tell and is one of the most important, if not the most important, aspect of your custom scrapbook. It is a written account of the event in the photos including names, dates, places, etc. Your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will appreciate reading the stories that you include in your book. You will need to provide the who, what, when, where, why, and how of each group of photos and any other stories that you want included.  You can also include any favorite quotes, songs, etc.  Your page can include as little or as much journaling as you want. You can also visit the scrapbook gallery for details.

You can write the information on the back of photos, include sticky notes, or type the journaling to go with the photos. For digital prints, it is best to create a key with the file name and relevant journaling. This also helps with putting the photos in the correct order.

How many photos fit on a page?

This depends on the style you choose for your pages. Usually, a 12x12 album will hold between 1-4 photos per page, or 2-8 per 2-page layout. The number of photos per page depends not only on the style of the page, but also on the size of your pictures, as well as whether or not you choose to have some of your pictures resized or “cropped.”

I want your pictures, not embellishments, to be the stars of your scrapbook pages. If there is a picture that I feel represents the layout particularly well, I may choose to enlarge the picture for the layout. An enlargement would obviously affect the number of additional pictures that would fit on a page. I will give you an estimate on the number of pages needed for your album after assessing your photos during the initial consultation.

Can I see some of the pages of my scrapbook before it is completed?

Of course! I will e-mail you previews to be sure that I design your scrapbook pages or photo cards the way you envisioned. At that time we can discuss any changes to the design or layout. I will also send you a final preview of your layouts so you may check for any errors prior to printing.  My number one priority is designing a final product that you will absolutely love and be proud to show off to your family and friends!

How do I pay for my rapbook album?

I accept Paypal (online payment), credit card, cash, personal checks (allow time for check to clear before item is shipped), money orders and cashier's checks for the payment of your album. For scrapbook orders, I require a deposit of one half of the total before I begin designing.  The remaining balance is due prior to printing the final product (once the pages have been proofed and approved by you). On other items such as framed prints, t-shirts, and announcements, I will design the item and show you a preview for you to approve.  The total is due prior to printing and shipping the final product.