Online classes are a wonderful resource for scrapbookers of all types, and the past few years have brought an abundance learning resources to all of us via the internet. I (Katie) love to learn new techniques and find ideas and inspiration to keep me motivated in my memory keeping endeavors. I’ve developed quite an addiction to online courses because they have helped me grow as a digital scrapbooker (and a photographer) in many ways. I’ve taken several courses over the past few years for my own personal benefit. I never intended to be a “reviewer” for these classes and I paid for all of them out of my own pocket. In fact, for online classes I use a different user name because I’ve always felt a little nervous signing up as “Katie the Scrapbook Lady”, for some reason. lol! 
Just too much pressure I guess. I wanted to be sure to clear that up and let you know that just like all of our other reviews posts here at The Daily Digi, this one is honest and unbiased.
I truly have had good experiences in all of the online classes I have signed up for to this date. Some have been better than others, but I have always learned something valuable. My only complaint about online classes is that sometimes I never get around to completing them – but that is totally my fault! lol! I often bite off more than I can chew and signing up for too many classes at one time makes it impossible to focus on any one of them. I learned this the hard way last fall when I enrolled in multiple classes at once. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with all of them so I looked for courses that would keep the materials accessible to students on a long term basis so I could go back later on to work on the lessons I missed. The problem is, I keep forgetting to do that! So I’m hoping this post will help me as well!
There are several communities that offer online learning courses that range in price from free to hundreds of dollars. The classes vary from a download that you can work along with at your own pace to an ongoing course that last months or even a full year. Here are some of the ones that I have attended and that have caught the attention of our team members here at The Daily Digi.
.
BIG PICTURE SCRAPBOOKING:
- URL: http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/
- Blog: http://bigpicturescrapbooking.typepad.com/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/bigpicturescrap
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27796198718
- Newsletter: sign up when creating your free account or by editing your existing account information
- Current Instructors: http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/teachers.php
- Current Class offerings: http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/search.php
Overview: Big Picture Scrapbooking offers expert instruction and a unique approach to scrapbooking that unlocks a person’s true creativity, allowing you to easily tell scrapbook stories around life’s special moments so you can ultimately find more satisfaction in life.
Launched in November 2005, we are the first dedicated online scrapbooking education program with members around the world. Our growing community is all about helping you find and explore your creative potential.
We provide a wide range of educational instruction—from free self-paced projects to progressive multi-week courses—but it is our liberating philosophy and approach to scrapbooking that sets us apart and enables you to unlock your ability to easily create stories out of life’s special moments.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
- Everyday Adventures by Tami Morrison April 15-May 14, 2010
- On Being a Mom by Autumn Baldwin Instant Download
- Family History Simplified by Georgana Hall Instant Download
- Marking Milestones by Elizabeth Dillow Instant Download
- Family Gratitude Spinner by Ali Edwards Instant Download
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Introduction to Digital Memory Keeping by Lisa Cohen Instant Download (FREE)
- Personalizing a Digital Scrapbook Page by Lisa Cohen Instant Download
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- Picture Spring by Tracey Clark April 1-30, 2010
- Get great photos with any camera by Elisha Snow May 13-June 9, 2010
- Get out of auto mode by Elisha Snow May 13-June 9, 2010
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend:
- Yesterday + Today by Ali Edwards (not currently available) – this was the most amazing class I’ve EVER taken online!
- Design Your Life by Cathy Zielske (not currently available) – great way to learn design principles that apply to scrabooking.
- Me the Abridged Version by Cathy Zielske (not currently available) – a super fun class!
- Cut the Crazy out of Christmas! by Georgana Hall and Debbie Raymond (not currently available) – tons of great ideas for celebrating and simplifying the Christmas season.
Free classes to try:
- Scrap Happy by Stacy Julian Instant Access
- Mini Memories by Stacy Julian Instant Access
- It’s All About Me by Stacy Julian Instant Access
- Kid Perspective by Deanna Lambson Instant Access
- Introduction to Digital Memory Keeping by Lisa Cohen Instant Access
*See opportunity to win a free class at end of post!
.
GET IT SCRAPPED:
- URL: http://debbiehodge.com/
- Blog: http://www.debbiehodge.typepad.com/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/GetItScrapped
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/getitscrapped.debbiehodge
- Newsletter: http://ow.ly/1rrTx
- Current Instructors: http://www.debbiehodge.com/xcart/home.php listed in sidebar
- Current Class offerings: http://www.debbiehodge.com/xcart/home.php look in sidebar for more classes and workshops.
Overview: I’m Debbie Hodge and I own Get It Scrapped! As I watched my friends get digital cameras, I saw them become overwhelmed by the quantity of the photos they now had—to the point that they stopped putting them into the photo albums they’d once kept. I love process (I have an MBA with a concentration in Operations Management) AND I love scrapbooking. I felt like if people just had a “method to the madness” they’d see it was doable–and then they’d get to enjoy the actual making of scrapbook pages.
Since the fall of 2007, I’ve been teaching online classes. Along with an awesome team of crafters, scrapbookers, journalers, and photographers I teach and share information so that anyone who’d like to start memory keeping can do it quickly, easily, and well. We offer free resources and instruction, an active community in the forums with challenges, sketches and online events as well as paid classes that are top-notch.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
- Get It Scrapped: Travel and Vacation by Debbie Hodge Instant Download
- Get it Scrapped: Scrapbooking Events by Debbie Hodge Instant Download
- Get it Scrapped: Everyday Life by Debbie Hodge Instant Download
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Digital Techniques for Art Journaling by Pattie Knox April 5-April 22, 2010
- Shuttefly Savvy by Pattie Knox Instant Download
- Digital Scrapbooking with Templates by Pattie Knox Instant Download
- Mad Digital Skillz by Pattie Knox Instant Download
- More Mad Digital Skillz by Pattie Knox Instant Download
- Still More Mad Digital Skillz by Pattie Knox Instant Download
- Even More Mad Digital Skillz by Pattie Knox Instant Download
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- How to Use Your Camera by Katrina Kennedy March 15-April 19, 2010 (but it looks like you can still sign up)
- Beginning Photo Editing by Lynn Weber Instant Download
- Intermediate Photo Editing by Lynn Weber Instant Download
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend:
- Your Life Captured through the Lens by Katrina Kennedy (not currently available) – I really enjoyed this class and I learned a lot about how to “make” a great picture!
- Your Kids Captured through the Lens by Katrina Kennedy (not currently available) – great ideas for taking pictures of kids of all ages!
Free classes to try:
- The Street Where You Live by Jane Howden –FREE in the forums
*See opportunity to win a free class at end of post!
.
JESSICA SPRAGUE:
- URL: http://www.jessicasprague.com/
- Blog: http://www.jessicasprague.com/ and http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/Jessica_Sprague
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=588621963
- Newsletter: http://www.jessicasprague.com/ sign up box on lower left sidebar
- Current Instructors: http://ow.ly/1rER5
- Current Class offerings: http://ow.ly/1rEzv
Overview: You are already sitting in front of your most powerful tool for capturing, recording, enhancing, and sharing your memories. My goal is to help you learn how. JessicaSprague.com is the home of the BEST online digital crafting classes, and I’m so excited that you’ve made it this far! At the heart of it all, our site is about telling the stories of our lives, and we use several tools to help us accomplish that mission. First up is software! Second, you’ll need some instructions. As a trained instructional designer, a passionate teacher, and a graphic artist, I offer the BEST digital scrapbooking instruction anywhere. The proof is in the thousands of students who are now making beautiful scrapbook pages to tell their life stories!
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
The classes at JessicaSprague.com all require use of some sort of digital program (Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, Illustrator, etc.) A series of Scrapbook Alchemy classes are offered for hybrid scrapbookers.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Up and Running with Photoshop (or Elements) by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
- Now We’re Rocking with Photoshop (or Elements) by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
- Digi in Deep (Photoshop or Elements based) by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
- Extraction Secrets Mega Lesson by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
- Type + Writer by Jessica Sprague and Liv Esteban Instant Download
- Type + Writer 2 by Jessica Sprague and Liv Esteban Begins April 5, 2010
- Beautiful Evidence by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
- Illustrator 101: Designing for Yourself by Carina Gardner Instant Download
- Illustrator 102 Tips and Tricks of Drawing by Carina Gardner – Begins April 1, 2010
- Brush Abilities by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- Oh Shoot! Beginning DSLR Photography by Candice Stringham – July 2010
- Photographing People: Portraiture 101 by Candice Stringham – May 2010
- Photo Editing: Frame-Ups and Special Effects by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend:
- Up and Running with Photoshop (or Elements) by Jessica Sprague Instant Download – this class really helped me get comfortable with using Photoshop Elements.
- Now We’re Rocking with Photoshop (or Elements) by Jessica Sprague Instant Download – good resource for further learning.
- Digi in Deep (Photoshop or Elements based) by Jessica Sprague Instant Download – lots of “Aha!” moments for me with this class!
- Oh Shoot! Beginning DSLR Photography by Candice Stringham – really incredible class. I learned a lot about my camera and photography!
- Photographing People: Portraiture 101 by Candice Stringham – great tips for portraits!
Free classes to try:
- Hybrid and Digital Quick Start by Jessica Sprague Instant Download
- Occasional free classes are offered so consider subscribing to the newsletter if you are interested.
.
RENEE PEARSON:
- URL: http://www.reneepearson.com/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/reneepearson
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reneepearsondotcom
- Newsletter: join by registering on the site
- Current Class offerings: http://www.reneepearson.com/classes/
Overview: Renee Pearson’s online learning community for digital scrapbooking and photography related courses.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
The classes at Reneepearson.com all require use of some sort of digital program (Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, Illustrator, etc.) The upcoming “Just the Basics” course would work well for traditional scrapbookers who want to try Photoshop Elements for hybrid or digital scrapbooking purposes.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Album Magic: A step by step course in album creation by Anna Aspnes April 14 – May 4, 2010
- Step-by-Step Design with Illustrator: A beginning Illustrator class by Laura Coyle April 16 – May 13, 2010
- Collage 101: A beginning course in digital “mixed-media” by Renee Pearson April 8-28, 2010
- Just the Basics Ma’am: Photoshop Elements for Crafters by Renee Pearson coming in June 2010
- The Photoshop Brushshop by Tiffany Tillman coming up in Summer 2010
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- Click It Fix It: Creative Photo Editing with Adobe Camera Raw by Tiffany Tillman May 3-16, 2010
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend: I have not taken any classes at ReneePearson.com but I would like to! Steph has taken a beginning digital scrapbooking class from Renee (taught at another site) and thought it was very well done. The lessons were manageable and would be great for someone just starting out.
Free classes to try:
- There are some free video tutorials in the “Study Hall” for registered members of the site.
.
LYNDA.COM:
- URL: http://www.lynda.com/
- Blog: http://www.lynda.com/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/lyndaDotCom
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lyndadotcom
- Newsletter: http://www.lynda.com/news/newsletter.aspx
- Current Instructors: http://www.lynda.com/home/Authors.aspx
- Current Class offerings: http://www.lynda.com/home/ViewCourses.aspx
Overview: Learn the latest tools and techniques with access to 759 online courses and counting! Get unbiased, clear, and comprehensive training in 3D, audio, video, photography, graphic design, web and interactive design, business, and development from expert instructors, 24/7.
Please note – This site is subscription fee based instead of charging for individual courses. All classes are on-demand
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
Not applicable
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Adobe: CS4 (or your version) category
- Adobe: Bridge category
- Adobe: Elements category
- Adobe: Illustrator category
- Adobe: Photoshop category
- Adobe: Photoshop Lightroom category
- Corel: CorelDraw category
- Corel: Paint Shop Pro category
- Corel: Painter category
- Google: Picasa category
- Design Principles: Color category
- Design Principles: Typography category
- Digital Imaging category
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- Apple: iphoto category
- Apple: Aperture category
- Digital Photography category
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend:
- I’ve tried some of the free tutorials and they are great! Now, I just need to subscribe so I can get the full experience. I keep putting it off until I have a month with more free time so I can get the most out of my subscription. Not sure when that will ever happen though! Steph has had a membership off and on for a while and has learned a lot, especially more intermediate and advanced techniques. Anytime she wants to knwo how to do something, this is where she goes.
Free classes to try:
- Many courses have at least a few free tutorial lessons to try so explore the links at http://www.lynda.com/home/ViewCourses.aspx
.
KELBY TRAINING:
- URL: http://www.kelbytraining.com/
- Blog: http://www.scottkelby.com/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/KelbyTraining
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KelbyTrainingcom/291006760327
- Newsletter: http://www.kelbytraining.com/ sign up on bottom of main page
- Current Instructors: http://www.kelbytraining.com/online/index.html
- Current Class offerings: http://www.kelbytraining.com/online/classes.html
Overview: At first glance, you might just see a company that trains people to use Adobe Photoshop. There’s nothing special about that; there are plenty of companies that train Photoshop users. But look a little deeper, and you’ll see that Photoshop isn’t just a software program to us. It’s in our DNA. It’s part of who we are and why we’re stoked to come to work every day. That’s what makes us different. Sharing our secrets, our shortcuts, and a better way to do the coolest techniques isn’t just our job. It’s our passion. We flat out love this stuff.
Since 1993, we’ve assembled a team of the most uniquely talented, highly creative, and passionately driven Photoshop experts we could find. That’s our secret ingredient for teaching Photoshop. The leader of this collection of total Photoshop freaks is Scott Kelby, our creative visionary and the world’s bestselling author on Photoshop. He’s won legions of fans around the world with his passion, his vision, and his amazing way of making Photoshop make sense. His easygoing, plain English, step-by-step style has transformed how people learn Photoshop and he still guides everything we do each day.
When a group like this comes together, made up of real people who are genuinely committed to breaking the mold and changing the way we all learn Photoshop, something very special happens. They don’t create “good solid training.” They create kick-butt training. Period.
Please note - This site is subscription fee based instead of charging for individual courses.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
Not applicable
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Photoshop courses (8 pages worth)
- Photoshop Elements courses
- Illustrator courses
- Corel Painter course
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- Digital Photography courses (8 pages worth)
- Lightroom courses
- Aperture 3 course
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend:
I bought myself a full year subscription at the beginning of this year and I’m just starting to delve into all the great material at Kelby training, I’m not sure I can get through it all in just one year! Here are a few classes that I’ve taken so far:
- Elements 8 for Digital Photographers by Lesa Snider – I’m only about halfway through this course right now because it’s massive! (and very educational!)
- Lightroom 3 Beta Power Session by Matt Kloskowski – I just started this one on Saturday and I’ve already learned a lot. Matt is THE expert when it comes to Lightroom!
Free classes to try:
.
CREATIVE TECHS:
- URL: http://creativetechs.com/training/
- Blog: http://creativetechs.com/tipsblog/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/creativetechs
- Facebook: http://ow.ly/1rFsy
- Newsletter: sign up at http://creativetechs.com/training/calendar/ in sidebar
- Current Class offerings: http://creativetechs.com/training/calendar/ and completed classes available for purchase at http://creativetechs.com/training/category/course-archives/
Overview: Our little worldwide classroom has been growing fast. Thanks in large part to an amazing community of supporters that has grown up around this project! We’re balancing how much we can give away for free without undermining the economic engine that keeps this online classroom running. We make our money (and pay for the classroom) through people who purchase the downloads for these courses. While the live classes are free, the downloads contain exercise files, higher resolution and iPod versions of the video recordings, and other extras. The more downloads we are able to sell, the more live classes we’ll be able to present for free.
Please note – if you attend a live webinar the course is free. If you want to access the download later on, you will need to pay for it.
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to all types of scrapbookers:
Not applicable
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to digital scrapbookers:
- Full Photoshop Master course (6 months) by Jason Hoppes for purchase
- Illustrator 10 week course by Steve Laskevitch for purchase
Current or upcoming classes that appeal to photographers:
- Fundamentals of Digital Photography free webinars starting weekly on April 7, 2010. Must attend live webinar to get class for free.
- The John Greengo Photography Show – next episode March 31, 2010. It looks like you can watch back episodes for free as well.
- Lightroom course by Steve Laskevitch for purchase
- Before Digital : A Short History of Photography for purchase
- Digital Photography 10 week course by John Greengo for purchase
- Digital Photography 4 week course by John Greengo for purchase
- Lighting A to Z by Rosanne Olson for purchase
- Photoshop CS4 Photographer’s Handbook by Steve Laskevitch for purchase – 2 classes are left to attend live for free (including 1 today!)
Classes I’ve taken and would recommend:
This site is brand new to me so I have not attended any of the live webinars or downloaded content. I plan to try it in the future!
Free classes to try:
They are all free if you attend the live webinar version!
.
* We have some awesome giveaway prizes today thanks to the generosity of several of these online learning communities. Here’s what we have to give away:
One free pass for “Digital Techniques for Art Journaling” with Pattie Knox starting April 5 at Get It Scrapped.
One free pass for the photography workshop with Tracey Clark: Picture Spring at Big Picture Scrapbooking. Class is scheduled to begin April 1st
One free pass for Collage 101: A beginning course in digital “mixed-media” Instructor: Renee Pearson at Reneepearson.com
One free pass for Album Magic: A step by step course in album creation
Instructor: Anna Aspnes at Reneepearson.com
One free pass for Step-by-Step Design with Illustrator: A beginning Illustrator class
Instructor: Laura Coyle at Reneepearson.com
One free pass for Click It Fix It: Creative Photo Editing with Adobe Camera Raw
Instructor: Tiffany Tillman at Reneepearson.com
That means we will be drawing (randomly) 6 different winners from the comments on this post! Just leave a comment telling us something you would like to learn (it can be in a class from the drawing or a different class not listed, but needs to be scrapbooking related). Be sure to specify a couple of choices for the drawing – for example: if you don’t own Illustrator, you should mention that so we don’t award you the free Illustrator class if you win.
All eligible comments must be listed on this post before midnight EST on Wednesday March 31, 2010. Winners will be announced on Thursday April 1, 2010 (no kidding!)
Share This Using…
thanks for the great run down – i just upgraded to PSCS4 and see there are a heap of new features… and i have no clue how to use them!
Thanks for the post – great info!! I would love to win a class! I don’t own illustrator and probably won’t be taking photos in raw at this time. All the other opportunities sound fabulous. Would love to learn to use my Nikon D70 in other modes besides auto! I could really use some help with journaling and with digital and hybrid scrapbooking.
I would love love love Album Magic {because I still have yet to actually complete an album!} and the Step-by-Step Illustrator class {because I own Illustrator but have NEVER even opened it…yes I’m ashamed!}
Thanks for the chance!
Fabulous post. I work in PSE7 and have taken many of Jessica Sprague’s classes, one at Get it Scrapped and a few at BPS. They have all been great. I’m currently taking a hybrid class at BPS. I don’t own Illustrator but would love to win any of the other classes. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win!
I just became a hybrid scrapper and would love to win a class! It’s a whole new way of being creative!!
I’d really like to know anything I can possibly learn about scrapbooking. I’ve taken a few classes from some of these great teachers and would love to know more!! Thanks for a chance to win!!
I love taking online classes but like you I tend to sign up and then not complete them lol! I am currently signed up to do the Picture Spring class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and I am so excited. I am also proud of myself that the class I am currently enrolled – in taught by Shimelle Laine (http://www.shimelle.com/)- that I have kept up with it and I will actually complete it. Thanks for the opportunity to win one of these wonderful classes. I would be happy with any of them.
Wow what great information. I have only ever taken a journaling class over at ScrapMatters from Chelle. That was awesome so I can only imagine how good these classes would be. I have been wanting to improve my photography. I don’t have illustrator – hope to in the future but not yet!
What a gem of a read. I’ve been thinking to myself that I ought to take some classes. My interests are varied and would love to learn everything from taking better photos to post-processing to finding inspiration for pages to efficient workflow. I’m fascinated with design and color principles. Just anything and everything above the beginner stages would be fascinating.
I love classes, I love learning.
Last year I did the Candice Stringham Oh Shoot Course and a few other little ones. Would love the chance to do more. All the above appeal to me.
Thank you so much for a wonderful list of classes. Any of the classes sound great but I have to say my choice would be the album class. I am a single mom of a daughter adopted from China (6 years ago) and she is still waiting for her first scrapbook. I tried traditional scrapbooking but got so overwhelmed I just stopped. I have been creating digital pages for a year but just don’t know how to start an album. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to learn either Art Journalling digitally or Illustrator – thanks for the opportunity !
So glad to have found you. Patti’s art journaling class & Tiffany’s photediting classes, are on my wish list!
What a WONDERFUL post! I love seeing all of these classes at the different sites. I am a life-time learner. I would love to win Renee’s Collage class. I’ve been wanting to sign up for that one. I am already in Tiffany’s Click it Fix it class. So except for that one, I would LOVE to win any of them!!!! Love photography, love digital scrapbooking, LOVE LEARNING! Pick me!!
I love taking online classes. Have tried Renee Pearson and am looking forward to some of these others, particularly on developing my journalling abilities.
Katie – awesome summary – many i hadn’t heard of so thx…also it looks like we have been in a few classes togther:) i would love the chance to win Anna A’s class as i love her style, or Patti’s Art Journalling as that is a real struggle for me on each page but definitely Tracey Clark’s Photography class because i am pretty sure my camera has more than ONE button and she could help. thx tons, C
I’d like to learn how to design my own digital elements. Like how to turn a photo of a favorite chair, toy or other item into a graphic element that i can use in scrapbooking, card making etc.
I would love to learn how to take better photos for scraping, improve my journaling content or get a better handle on illustrator. I know a little of each but i know with practice i could learn “more better”
I would love to learn how to use Lightroom, I have the beta version, but I have no idea how to use it!
The album magic and the camera raw class sound amazing!
I know bits of this and that but I would like to systematize my knowledge of Photoshop. I also would like to learn more about photography.
Another fantastic compendium of usefulness! You guys rock!
I got Photoshop Elements 7 for Christmas years ago as a gift from my husband and then he bought me the new Elements 8 this past Christmas. I don’t know the first thing about it! I’ve read tutorials and still don’t understand. So… I would love to take Tracey Clark: Picture Spring class for two reasons: I love spring and this class would help develop a deeper meaning of the season and it’s a part of Big Picture Scrapbooking. I’ve been wanting to take a class there for a long time but just haven’t signed up.
What a great list of resources. I love on-line classes and have taken several. The two that “call” to me most from your prize list are Album Magic with Anna Aspnes and Art Journaling with Pattie Knox.
Thanks for the comprehensive list of sites that offer classes. I’ve been a PSE user for a few years, and would like to take the “plunge” into PS CS4. I know there will be a lot new to learn with that new software!
I love making albums. Something hybrid would be fun. Also, I want to get my feet wet in Illustrator. Actually, any workshop would be wonderful!
I would be interested in learning more about using Illustrator and also overcoming my trepidation at moving my Nikon d80 off of “auto” setting!
Digital Journaling sounds just right. Would love to go digital with my art journals.
I NEED some good classes – and time to complete them. I would love to win! Thanks for all the work putting together such a great and comprehensive list. I will need to PRINT IT OUT!
Album Magic sounds like the course for me – I love (mini) albums but have difficulty completing them! I don’t own Illustrator.
Entry bookmarked — I knew about a couple of these, but had NO IDEA there were so many resources out there. I’m all over that art journalling class. (I came to scrapbooks by way of keeping an art journal for yeeeeears.)
What an amazing resource! I really found this useful and will be coming back to register for one or more courses based on your feedback.
I have taken classes at SpragueGround and loved them. Would love to take a photography class to better learn how to use my digital camera.
I have had some of the digital classes from Jessica Sprague on my wishlist for some time now. I need to just take the time to fit them in. I would also love to take the Photography classes by J.S. Of course, any class won in a giveaway is a double bonus!
oh i hope im lucky! i would love the click it to fix it class! I finally got the guts to get an slr and would love to learn how to improve my photography in photoshop elements
Thanks so much for all that information on online classes. I’ve only done evening classes in how to use Photoshop – some good stuff and some that I’ll never use, but it wasn’t geared to scrapbooking. I’m about to switch to a Mac, so it would be useful to have classes that covered Macs as well as PCs. Learning to use my camera better (not just in auto) would be great, as well as PS4, how to make elements, templates …..
I loved this post. I am very simple in my scrapbooking, and have never researched the numerous classes offered online. I guess I knew they were out there – but boy are there ALOT! This has opened up all sorts of possibilities for me – thanks for the info. I would be interested in any of the classes taught (although I do not have Illustrator). I am always wanting to learn new techniques to improve on my photos and/or scrapbooking. Thanks for all the great info.
I am only self taught in Illustrator and photography, so those are classes that I’d love to take. I saw that Jessica Sprague now has 2 different Illustrator classes so I am considering signing up for those.
I would love to take any of the classes, especially the illustrator and photography classes! I’ve taken classes at JessicaSprague and just loved them!
I am always eager to try out new things, whether it be a paper/ink technique or a way to improve and use my photographs to tell stories. [I don't have Illustrator, nor do I currently have a camera that can shoot in RAW.]
I would love to learn more photo editing trucks from Tiffany. The few tips she added in her 25 days of templates have been very valuable. Any if the classes would be great except I don’t have illustrator.
I’m so intrigued by Digital scrappin …. always looking to learn more about photoshop!!
Thanks so much for the detailed information. I wasn’t aware of two of those sites but have thoroughly enjoyed classes at Jessica Sprague, BPS and Renee Pearson. I use PSE for PC and don’t have Illustrator. I would be very interested in the Album class or the photography one.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Thanks for the wonderful round-up of classes — this will be very useful! I would like to learn more about the best workflow to use on digital pictures, from uploading to saving. I would love to win a spot in Tiffany’s Click It Fix It class as my first choice, or Renee’s collage class or Patti Knox’s art journaling class. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for the excellent class summaries. I’m saving this as a resource. I’d love to win either Tifany Tillman’s Click it and Fix it Class, Patti Knox’s Digital Techniques for Art Journaling, or the Anna Aspnes Album Magic Class.
Thanks
I want to learn how to do my own text paths, how to blend a picture better, how to design… I really want to learn anything that will make my scrapbooking better. There is tons of stuff I don’t even know I want to learn yet. Bring it on!
Thanks for the chance to win.
I am planning to buy Photoshop with my tax refund this year, so I would love to win a free beginning scrapbooking with Photoshop class!
What great info! I have taken a couple Jessica Sprague classes and loved them. Very good visual aids and wonderful projects. Have wanted to take a Renee Pearson class but have the same problem as Katie finding the right segment of time that is open. I too have a tendency to start great out of the gate and then not finish all my later classes. Those that have the ‘forever available’ clause are my only picks.
I would love to learn to make my own templates and am having trouble doing the photo block with lettering underneath to which the entire photo clips. Not happening for me. Also, have CS3 and am scared to death of it so I am still using PSE 5. Help!
Wow! Thanks for the great listing of all those classes. Great resource! I’d love to learn more about photo editing, and also loosening up my scrapbooking (more art, less rigid rules). BTW, I don’t have Illustrator. Thanks for the great giveaways!
I’ve taken several classes, but love to keep learning new techniques! I’m trying to improve my photography skills right now and wasn’t able to catch any of John Greengo’s digital photography classes – I’d definitely be interested in joining the class.
I’ve learned so much about digital scrapbooking/PSE in the past year. Next, I would like to take a beyond the basics type of class and a class to learn how to edit photos with ACR.
Great list and info!
I would love to almost any class, I do not have Illustrator, but any other class would be great. Thanks for the article.
I’d love to learn advanced scrap-art techniques by Ali Edwards or Cathy Zielske. I’m pretty good with programs like PS and Illy, and what I want to improve is the artistic side of scrapping.
I would truly like to learn how to get my photos to print how they look on my screen. But since that isn’t a class, I would choose how to use my CS3 better (brushes, actions, well anything!!). Thanks for this great review and the chance to win. I don’t own illustrator and have taken Anna’s class (it rocks btw!).
Wow! What a great article! I love online classes! Right now I would like to learn more about the Illustrator.
Thanks for this great chance to win! 
I’d love to win any of them. I do have Illustrator. I’m planning to sign up for Album Magic so that would be my first choice. Great blog post!
Great post – as usual!
I´m not picky – i´d go for any class posted…Illustrator – hmm got it but got no clue whatsoever what to do with it…
Haha I left a comment earlier without reading about the giveaway first.
I don’t own Illustrator! Haha. Okay, so I’ve looked at two of the sites listed so far, and I already know about JessicaSprague, and I am amazed at how much more stuff I can learn! I don’t digiscrap anymore, but only because I have so many things going on that I am not able to set aside time for this wonderful way of documenting our lives.
I love a-ha moments while learning! I’d like an advanced Photoshop class to improve my skill set. I grabbed the Lightroom beta on your rec, but haven’t had a chance to dive in. Thanks for the looong list of resources!
Thank you for this post. I have a ton of tabs open in Firefox right now of classes I want to go take a look at. So many sounded interesting to me. I also would love to learn how to use Illustrator.
I’ve taken almost all of Jessica Sprague’s courses and highly recommend them, I learned SOOOO much! I’ve been eyeing Album Magic: A step by step course in album creation, Instructor: Anna Aspnes at Reneepearson.com for awhile, as I’ve really wanted some help putting together an album and not just pages here and there.
I am dying to take Candice’s Protrait Class. I am an online class addict over at Jessica Spragues and wouldn’t change it for the world. =)
wow what a list, i so need to organise my digi files so i can scrapbook some completely digi…..just dont know where to start
Thanks for listing all the amazing resources available to those of us in the digital world. I’d love to take a class! Thanks for a chance to win.
Wow, I would LOVE to be able to attend several of these classes…the Digital Techniques for Art Journaling with Patti, or the Album class with Anna, or the Illustrator class with Laura or the Collage class with Renee!!! Not so much the photography classes…I don’t do RAW photos and I’m pretty okay with all the other editing processes. I’ve taken classes at ReneePearson.com, at Get It Scrapped, at Creative Techs and several with Jessica Sprague. They have all been great experiences!!!
Wow, I’m still just on the first site on your list and I am already learning something! Thank you so much for putting this together. I’ve only enrolled in classes at JessicaSprague so seeing all these alternative sites that offer similar and additional classes is just so amazing. Thank you so much!
I would really enjoy learning more about digital collage—the techniques look so very cool! I do not own Illustrator, and I am already registered for the ACR class with Tiffany Tillman.
Just want to thank you for this extensive list. I think all but one or two are way to advanced for me or I don’t have the software, but just wanted to say thanks for this great resource.
These sound great, thanks so much for the chance!
WOW!! That’s a lot of fabulous classes!
I love, love, love Renee Pearson and have wanted to take her collage class since the first time she offered it! She has such an incredible gift… I would love to sit at her feet and learn a thing or two (or a hundred!!) (And actually… winning any of those classes would be amazing!!)
Great collection of classes you have reviewed— thanks!
I need to learn how to use my dslr camera in manual.
I would love to learn how to better use all the features on my Nikon DSLR as well as PSE 8 for digital scrapbooking. I do not own Illustrator. Thanks!
What a great list you’ve put together! Now I need to do some link clicking!
I’d love to win one of the classes, although I don’t own Illustrator. I would love the photogrpahy class or the RAW photo-editing one. Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for collecting this information into one place! I have taken from some of the places you mentioned, and the others are on my “wish list!” I love the fact that online digiscrap and photography courses enable me to learn loads on my own schedule – perfect for where I am in life right now!
I do not own Illustrator but do love using my PSE and DSLR to record our family’s memories. My top two class preferences from the generous “prize list” are: “Click It Fix It” and “Album Magic.”
Thanks for the helpful article and a fun drawing!
This is a fantastic list of classes! Thanks for sharing that list as well as offering the class drawing! SO exciting!
I can think of two things I would really like to learn more about. The first one is how to edit my photos, and the second it how to take better photos. I would love to win any of the classes, but my top two choices would be Tiffany Tillman’s Click It Fix It, and Tracey Clark’s Picture Spring.
I do not own Illustrator, but all of the other classes (well, that one does too) look amazing!
Thanks again!
What a review! I would love to learn more about using my camera, especially editing in RAW format.
Thank you for this awesome contest. \o/
So… I would love one free pass for Collage 101: A beginning course in digital “mixed-media” with Renee Pearson.
=)
Georgia.
Great article! I’ve taken a lot of the classes, but I’d love to take more classes at Get It Scrapped, like Pattie’s Journaling one or the Digital Skillz classes I haven’t taken yet. I’m also waiting for the upcoming Aperture 3 course at lynda.com.
Thanks!
Thank you for all the great information. Once again I was reminded that I need to learn how to get more out of my SLR….
Thanks for the great summary of classes. Makes me want to go take some more great classes. I would love to edit my photos in batches (or at least quicker than I do now). I only have elements.
Thanks for the amazing list of classes. Would someone please take my family away for a brief time so I could do some of them
? I just finished Cathy Zielske’s Design Your LIfe and it was amazing. I love the fact that BPS offers “lifetime” access because of course I got behind 
Mary
What a great article and summary. I thought I knew all the classes out there and I learned a lot! I have already taken Album Magic and am signed up for Click it fix it and I don’t have Illustrator. So…I would love to have Patty Knox’s journaling or Tracie’s photography class. I am trying to improve my photography this year. There is so much to learn!
Thank you for this awesome contest.
Thanks for the run down on classes and for the awesome giveaways!
I’d like to take a class of better enhancing my photos in order to create better layouts.
Thanks!
I’ve taken several classes with Jessica Sprague and loved every single one of them. I’ve also taken several classes with BP and eh, not so much. But I really appreciated this article.
I would like to see a class offered with a more adult theme. I love kids, don’t get me wrong, but my family is grown and I can’t possibly be the only one out there? So I’d like to see more adult themes and how to make my digital layouts less “cartoony” and more “paper” looking.
Thanks for a great article and for the opportunity to win some great prizes!
i would LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVEEEE the album magic class. this is one of the things i REALLY want to learn…how to do theme albums in a comprehensive way:)
pick me, pick ME PLEASE!
Wow! This was one of the best posts ever! What a wealth of information. I will re-read this post and refer back to it for future reference when considering my next class to take. I have loved taking a couple classes from Jessica Sprague and would love to take more classes. It empowers you! While I’d love to learn more about designing, I don’t have illustrator yet. Big picture scrapbooking has always looked appealing to me. Do you think they will re-offer the classes you took???
What an amazing post! I’m definitely keeping this one in my keepers.
I’d love to learn more about creating full albums…my daughter just turned 1 and it’s time to really focus on making her 365 album!
I’ve taken tons and tons of online classes at BPS. I need to get into Jessica Sprague or Renee Pearson and learn some digi stuff now.
I love online classes (especially photography and digital scrapping ones). This list is great, as there are a couple of companies I didn’t know about (that i’m going to check out).
Wow! What a fabulous article! I want to try all these! Thanks so much for the info!
I commented earlier, but I just noticed the dates on the post:
“All eligible comments must be listed on this post before midnight EST on Tuesday March 31, 2010. Winners will be announced on Wednesday April 1, 2010 (no kidding!)”
Oops. March 31 is on Wednesday and April 1 is on Thursday.
lol! I will go in and change those dates
creativetechs is AWESOME! I did their 6 month photoshop course, for free. Oh WOW, the guy knows everything. And they have a watercolour (not photoshop, real paint) coming up. I did the last one, it helped me so much with colour theory and inspiration for my designing.
I don’t know about any of the others, but I’m going to check them out.
I love the idea of taking online courses. I’ve been to a few live training sessions, but it’s hard to maintain a good pace when the students absorb material on different levels, according to their experience and abilities. I totally want to take some online courses. I’ve tried Jessica Sprague’s free classes, and enjoyed them. I wish I had an unlimited budget to hop on all the sites you’ve shared and just GO FOR IT!
Thanks for the detailed info. I’m sure I’ll be referring back to this post!
Great giveaways thanks! I would love to learn about digital collage.
Great Info! I have pse 8 and would love to learn to use it better for scrapping and photography.
I would love love love to learn how to use illustrator.
Wow. It was great to see these all listed in one spot. I am definately considering a few courses now. Thanks for the great info!
This has so much great information! Thank you for taking the time and compiling it. Great prizes by the way!
I would love to learn what all the dials on my camera do and how to get the best out of it. (I don’t own illustrator.)
Thanks
This is a great resource. I love classes. Thanks
Wow, what a great review! I can’t wait to try some of these classes. Thanks for doing this Katie.