Oh, definitely! You can't achieve that w/o going deep into mixed media with paints, etc. I love that about digi scrapping.
That's so interesting, Rae. I also taught classes at a couple of brick-and-mortar stores - Joan Etc. was one of them and another one was a local mom and pop store. I started my design team ventures at that store and had so much fun. I agree, it was really fun to teach people how to do different techniques, especially beginning scrappers. I was on several design teams and received boxes of scrapping goodies about once a month. It was extremely hard to let go of my "machines" and I kept a couple of them. I still have a big box of paper that I can't bear to get rid of and lots of other odds and ends if I get a yen to work in my Travelers Notebooks, but I'll never go back to paper scrapping either.
That's interesting that some of you started right out with digi. I think that was a little "before my time". It was just starting to scratch the surface and the paper scrappers weren't terribly fond of it when I was deep into paper scrapping. Look at me now.
This is exactly me, Cindy. I always tried to emulate my paper pages and sometimes (not very often) I still do. I started paper scrapping after my first grandchild was born and he's 25 now. I think I switched to digi in about 2011, but was still doing a little paper scrapping. I'll never go back, unless to work in my Traveler's Notebooks, which I do occasionally.
I love hearing about how everybody started. I had a dedicated scrap room - it made quite a mess, you know. I could just shut the door at night. When we downsized and I lost my scrap room, I started really thinking about going digital. It's a no mess way to scrap and I've really never thought of going back. Your DD sounds like a try paper scrapper.
Oh my goodness, what a terrible thing to have all of your scrapping stuff stolen. I went to a few crops and some of those women came in there with several totes on wheels. They must have brought their entire scraproom with them. It's a big decision to go digital and I went back and forth too for awhile. I don't miss the mess, that's for sure and we can do so much with digital, like you said. My scrapbooks are so thick you can hardly get them closed. Lots of layers even back then.
Kay, one of the things that got me to thinking about this topic was a layout I was working on last night. I was so picky about everything when I paper scrapped - I had a little tag (last night) with nothing on it. I would NEVER have put a blank tag on a page back then. I ended up putting a cute little button on it and a bow. I'm influenced a lot by my paper days. Sounds like you are, too. I got my digital camer in about 2000, but I was only paper scrapping then, so had to have the pics printed out. The big "event" was when I got my Canon Rebel in 2008 - I was still not totally into digi, but sort of playing around with "styles" and "actions". When Becky Higgins came out with Project Life, in about 2010, 2011 (I'm not sure) it was just on the iPhones/iPads. That was my big intro into digital scrapping. Then she finally made it available on the computer.
In 1998-99 I got into designing linkware sets for people to use on their blogs/websites in exchange for linking back to my site, and then in 2004 I switched over to digi scrap designing and have done some layouts, but I never got "the bug" for creating layouts, it was really just the paper that I enjoyed. I still have a TON of scrapbooking paper that I can't get rid of...that was such a HUGE investment...I could NOT go into a craft store and NOT buy at least a few 25cent papers while I was there 
I always loved looking through the paper arts magazines and drooling over stamps in the store! I still have my stamps somewhere, too! 
I think I had about $1000 worth of stamps when I finally sent them off to Salvation Army. I had buckets of stuff. Papers, ink, scissors, gel pens, markers, stamps, and the heat gun for embossed and all the powders that went with it. Oh it was fun. But no craft room so I had to haul it out and put it away every single time. I loved it! Made all 75 Christmas cards every year. This was in the 90's early 2000's. Then in 2011 I was introduced to Heritage Makers, online digital service that you subscribed to and owned nothing. Didn't even need software to run it, just a computer and photos. Very much paper style made digital. Just over a year ago, I found ScrapGirls and there my journey really took off. I had to buy everything. 
WHAT but oh its been fun. I learned so much yet still had the paper style going. Small background paper behind photos. Limited stickers. Journal. Yep looked like paper but who knew there were other ways to do things. SG showed me some fun tips n thing and the ladies were amazing with this super newbie. While I did digi layouts and books, I feel my true digi journey started a year ago. Here I have learned some amazing things too and how to blend better and now I can create art. Yet my personal books still look like paper layouts. I will never go back to paper though as I think I made four books in the years of paper but since digital I have 50 books or so. Its so much faster and easier just picking up my laptop, plug in EHD and off I go. I have 4 stamps I kept for my calendar. I mark birthdays with a balloon and anniversary with hearts. I have two ink pads. Forever Digital now.
You must have a LOT of stuff, Tracy. I never was a big stamper. I did more when those acrylic blocks came in and I could see what I was stamping. LOL I still have my embossing powders and heat gun and my distressing inks. I still can't part with my stash of papers, either. I have always loved paper and still do with digital. I'm like you - I have SO many books since I went digital and didn't have that many paper scrapbooks, because they took so long to do.Oh yes, paper scrapping. I think I kept some of you in business with buying stamps!
I hear you about the toll it takes on the hands. I started getting arthritis in my hands too and all that punching (when I made books and altered things) was getting harder and harder. I agree about digi scrapping in lots of ways, but that was a big one for me, too.
Oh my goodness, you brought back the horrors of scrapping on my dining room table. Oh, the mess and having to drag it all out and put it all away. I did that for about 2 years and what a drag. It was wonderful to get a real scrap room. I still dabble with my Travelers Notebooks and will occasionally make a card, but it's rare for the cards. I took some classes too plus watched a lot of videos. I was obsessed with Anna Aspnes' style of art and wanted to create art like that.
