How to Organize Digital Scrapbooking Supplies

Digital scrapbooking includes the creative fun of traditional scrapbooking but with reduced time, space and money costs. However, the need for organization is still an issue with digital scrapbooking even though most supplies are now electronic.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with at least 256 KB RAM
• Digital supplies
• Time to organize

Instructions

1. Take inventory of all digital scrapbook supplies. This includes digital camera, scanner, software discs and manuals, CDs and DVDs used to house back-up items and supplies and completed pages/albums and electronic supplies.

2. Designate a directory folder on the computer's hard drive for electronic supplies. Organize physical equipment, printer, computer, scanner and software, so it is all together and easily accessible. A small bookcase or desk with a hutch would help organize a space for the equipment, and these items are inexpensive at retailers like Target, Wal-Mart and Ikea.

3. Place all digital scrapbook supplies into one newly created directory folder on the computer. Having all the materials in one place makes it easier to organize and easier to see what needs to be categorized and how best to categorize the supplies. Name the directory something meaningful and recognizable like "Digiscrap."

4. Create subfolders within the directory to categorize the supplies. Create and name separate folders for the digital elements: e-Cuts, kits, papers, photos and finished pages or albums.

5. Make another layer of subfolders within the digital elements, photos and finished works folders. The simplest way to organize the materials within the category folders is by theme or style. A theme-based subfolder structure places all holiday materials in a folder separate from the birthday material in each category folder. If necessary, these folders could be further divided; Christmas, New Year's and Easter within the holidays folder. Organizing based on theme rather than chronological order or manufacturer is easier to maintain and creates better consistency across all subfolders.

6. Test the organizational structure by placing newly downloaded digital supplies into the new folder system. Download a digital layout kit for the 4th of July on a digital website such as digitalscrapbooks.com. Open the C:/Digiscraps/Digital_Elements/Holidays/Misc._Holidays/Digital_Kit and save the downloaded item in this directory.