Understanding Acronyms

If you are just discovering the digital scrapbooking world, you may be wondering what all of the various acronyms mean. Below are the basic meanings for the most common acronyms you will find. But it is important that you take the time to read each designer's terms-of-use for further restrictions. 

TERMS OF USE (TOU)

Each digital product you download will usually contain a TOU. In the TOU, the designer will explain what you are able to use the product for. Below are a few of the common uses allowed by digital scrapbooking designers.  

*PERSONAL USE (PU)

A PU product is for personal use only. This means that you can use the product to create layouts, scrapbooks, printed crafts, etc. for your personal use. You cannot use PU products to create items for others or for profit in any way. 

*SCRAP FOR HIRE (S4H)

A S4H product is for personal use and can also be used to create for others. Some examples of this would be if someone hired you to create layouts for a personalized scrapbook or make party invitations for them using the S4H product. More often than not, it is asked that each layout, party invitation, card, etc. be unique for each person that has hired you. You would also need to create items that are in a flattened format, such as a layout, or a printed item, such as a scrapbook. You cannot share individual parts of the product with others. S4H does not mean that you create items, such as quickpages, to sell online over and over.  

*SCRAP FOR OTHERS (S4O)

A S4O product is very similar to S4H, but you cannot make a profit from the items you make for others. An example of this would be to create layouts as gifts for family. 

*COMMERCIAL USE (CU)

CU products can be used to create products, such as elements or papers for scrapbooking kits, that you plan to sell for PU/S4H/S4O. They cannot be used to create another CU product. 

*COMMERCIAL USE FOR COMMERCIAL USE (CU4CU)

CU4CU products allow you to create another CU/PU/S4H/S4O product. The designers' terms often do not allow the product to be used to create another CU4CU nor to be sold as is. 

I hope this has shed some light on the differents digital scrapbooking terms-of-use. Whenever you are in doubt about what a designer allows their product to be used for, it is best to email that designer directly. 

Make Your Photo Colors POP

One of the easiest ways to choose a kit for our photos is by theme. If it is a birthday photo, we choose a birthday kit. If it is a school photo, we choose a school kit and so forth. But if you really want to make your photos pop, choose a kit with similar colors as the photo.

I created this layout using my Safari Adventure kit. The blue, red, yellow and white really worked well with the icing colors he has all over his face and hands.

This layout was created using Touched by a Butterfly's Flowers for Friends. She designed this kit specifically for our CT, Theresa (aka basicbear2) to scrap photos of her daughter. Notice how her hot pink hair really pops up off the page with the pink colors of the kit? 

If you have some wonderful examples of this technique, please share your layout in our Daisies & Dimples Gallery, then post a link to it in the comments below! We would love to see it!

Have A Plan!

I am sure you have experienced or heard the horror stories from fellow scrappers about a computer or EHD crash. If this has never happened to you, then it is only a matter of time before it does. Any time you are dealing with electronics, you run the risk of losing your valuable photos and digi-supplies. It is important that you create a backup plan and stick to it so you don’t lose anything should your computer or EHD malfunction.  If you don’t have at least 2 copies in 2 different places, then you are at risk!

ORGANIZING

I keep a folder on my computer called SAVE. As I collect new photos, layouts, designs, purchases, etc. through the month, I place them here in organized folders. Then once a month, and sometimes sooner, I create copies of everything in that folder in 2 or more places. 

Below are some options for making backups. Be aware that all can fail in one way or another. It is important to create a backup using more than one option to be sure you have at least 2 or more copies of everything.

OPTION #1: External Hard Drive (EHD)

EHDs are a great way to store your photos and supplies on.  There are many inexpensive brands to choose from and can run off of your USB port. I have heard of other scrappers buying 2+ so they have several copies of their photos and supplies.

OPTION #2:  CDs & DVDs

This is one of my favorite ways for backup. I personally use DVDs, since it has a larger storage capacity. I burn everything onto 2 DVDs, so there are duplicates should one of the discs gets damaged.

OPTION #3: Printing

Don’t hoard all of those photos and layouts. Get them printed! As you take photos and do layouts, upload them to a photo printing site and have your most precious photos printed. Should something happen to your other photo and layout backups, there will be a copy of it on the printing site. Few sites keep the full size photo, so downloading it back onto your computer probably won’t work well. But at least it will be on a site where you can have hard copies made.

OPTION #4: Online Backup Services

I have not used any of these online services, so I can’t give much advice on which company to choose. Many scrappers do use one or the other online backup sites. Here are some popular providers to choose from:

* Carbonite

* Mozy 

* Backblaze 

* Crashplan 

If you know of other backup option not mentioned here, please share in the comments!