The Daily Digi has been a part of my everyday life since the very first day it opened its virtual doors on January 1, 2009. I reflected on what I have learned from the site and was amazed by all the ways that TDD has changed my scrapbooking for the better!
The Daily Digi Gave Me More Time
TDD showed me how to unzip supplies faster: Without TDD, I wouldn’t have known about unzipping software. I use UnzipThemAll and it’s amazing! It’s a real time saver after taking advantage of a big sale. I especially love the option to automatically send the zips to the recycle bin after extracting all the files.
TDD does the Shopping for Me: I love the Funtastic Friday posts where Steph and Katie sum up some of the week’s best deals and new products. So many great new digi supplies, highlighted in one spot every week!
TDD taught me all about templates: Without a doubt, templates make me a faster scrapper. They are such a great creativity starter! For new digi scrapbooker, learning how to use clipping masks, as used with templates, is a key milestone on the path to creating great pages.
The Daily Digi Made Me More Organized
TDD taught me about organization software: When I first started reading the TDD, I was at the point in my digital scrapbooking where I knew I needed to get organized, but hadn’t done it yet. Through TDD, I eventually settled on ACDSee and a keyword tagging system.
TDD encouraged me to use photo organization software: TDD gave me the push I needed to buy Lightroom – and I haven’t looked back! I can’t imagine trying to organize my photos without it now. It’s even become my primary photo editor! (Recently I posted about how I use Lightroom for photo management.)
TDD provided me with information to find a good back-up system: TDD has talked about back-ups many times. After my EHD failed, I was so happy that I had a back-up plan in place!
TDD showed me a better browser: I was stuck on Internet Explorer for a long, long time. It wasn’t that I loved it – rather the time of switching my bookmarks and re-associating all my user names and passwords seemed too daunting. One day, I got brave and switched to Google Chrome. It’s wonderful! Everything Katie said about it and more!
TDD helped me use Google Calendar: My whole life became more organized when I started using Google Calendar. Now I have calendars for myself, my kids, and creative teams. I can see at a glance what’s coming up and it’s accessible on any of my devices.
TDD gave me ideas on how to save my stories: Because of Katie’s post about her way of tracking memories, I keep a running list of stories to tell and leave it on my Google Drive. I can access it from anywhere and add items to the list. Now, when I go to scrapbook, I can always find a story or topic on the list that I want to scrap.
The Daily Digi Made Me a Better Scrapper
TDD taught me how to shadow: My first digi layouts were flat, as in no shadows at all! TDD has tons of great articles on shadowing. Great shadows are possible!
TDD showed me some great tricks: My all-time-favourite Photoshop tricks for digi scrappers are highlighted in TDD articles:
- Fonts Don’t Float
- Making An Alpha Out of a Font
- My Favourite Template Trick
- Cut Out Words
- Text In a Path
- Puppet Warp That Thing
- Inner Shadows
- and so many more!
TDD inspired me with examples of great scrapbooking: Every time Katie hosts one her Play It Again scrapbooking articles, I get excited! I love to see the different takes on the same photos and journaling.
TDD showed me where to print: I loved the printer comparison that Steph did – and now I’m sold on Persnickety Prints. I’ve been so pleased with the quality of my pages – and with their speedy shipping, even to Canada. I also learned that a little page sharpening goes a long way!
TDD showed me some great fonts: I love to journal on my pages. I want them to be legible and easy to read. TDD showed me some great journaling fonts and reminded me that larger journaling is easier to read – because my vision isn’t getting any better as I get older! 
The Daily Digi Keeps Me Informed About Hot Trends
I have been introduced to so many great web sites, projects and products through TDD. Here are just a a few:
- Feedly
- Project Life
- Scrapstacks
- Springpad
- Ali Edwards’ Week In the Life Album and December Daily Album
- Rad Lab
- and so many more!
The Daily Digi Saves Me Money
TDD has the The Digi Files (still the best deal in digital scrapbooking!): You get SO much for only $7.50. I love to “try on” different styles each month and be inspired by the new kits and templates. When I look my scrapbook album, many of my favourite pages are made with products that appeared in The Digi Files.
TDD shows me the sales: Whether its on the regular Funtastic Friday posts or on special event days like Digital Scrapbooking Day, TDD is right there, telling me where the best deals can be found.
The Daily Digi Makes Me Happy
I’ve been reading TDD since day 1 and it is still the first place I go every morning. I can’t wait to see what new tips, products and inspiration the team is going to share that day. And even though I contribute to the monthly Playbook, I still read it from beginning to end to see what tips the rest of the team is sharing that month.
This post just shows you the “highlights” of The Daily Digi! There is so much more! Many of the most informative articles are listed in the Tutorials section above. I encourage you to browse through TDD archives (in the right column), especially if you’re new to the site. You’re certain to discover some new tips and tricks to help you with your memory keeping.
Thank you for reading!
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I totally agree.. As I read each item, I said “me too!” TDD rocks!
Forgot to mention that I had the honor of introducing a friend to digi and TDD is the one place I told she has to be! She joined yesterday. Welcome Stacy!
Well said, Heddy! I agree with everything you and also all the commentors say. I too check TDD every morning, refer interested scrappers to TDD and most importantly–I keep advancing my knowledge and enjoyment of scrapbooking with all the knowledge I acquire at TDD. Thank you all!
Heddy, I’ve been a member for five months now and I am so inspired by all the posts on the DailyDigi blog. But yours will be my go-to tool. You’ve have just saved me years of searching and experimenting!! Thank you!
So well said, Heddy! Your post could’ve been written by me (only I couldn’t have written it nearly so beautifully). If it weren’t for The Daily Digi, The Digi Files membership and The Digi Show, I think I would have given up on digital scrapbooking a long time ago. As a frustrated paper scrapper turned digi/hybrid, TDD saved my hobby. I have learned SO MUCH from all who contribute to TDD and by listening to Steph, Katie, Peppermint & guests each week on The Digi Show — and it is no exaggeration that The Digi Files are THE best deal in digital scrapbooking. I’ve not only gotten to try some amazing products for a super low price, but I’ve been introduced to some amazing designers and have become some of their best customers in the process!
Love, love, LOVE The Daily Digi!
I don’t know how far back I go with TDD but I read it every day. I love the new supplies every month and can’t think of a better deal. I’m still way behind on my scrapping but it’s getting better. I’m actually thinking about all those photos I took and had printed before digital and how I’m going to scan them (new FlipPal) and start working on them as well as all my digital photos.
Couldnt have said it better!
TDD has been a part of my life ever since their first week! I’ve learned lots and have an amazing collection of digital kits and ideas because of coming here every day! Thanks to you, Heddy, and all of the TDD team.
Hip hip hooray for the Daily Digi! It’ s my “go to” for all resources! I love having Christmas every month too!
I first discovered TDD when searching for reviews about printing my albums, and haven’t looked back. It was shortly after that I purchased my first Digi Files subscription, and the website has introduced me to so many new-to-me designers. I always refer new scrapers your way… so thank you.
I just checked out Katie’s template trick and that is the best thing ever. A lot of templates have way too small photo spots for me and I never thought about just increasing the size of the the whole thing. Fabulous! Now I can use all those templates for tiny pictures no problem. Thank you!
Yes, the Daily Digi rocks in every way!