Articles : Tutorials - Hybrid

Hybrid Heritage Mini Album

Yes, you can use those digi designs in your paper scrapping!

Do you see the new digi designs and drool over them, but then give up the idea of using them because you are a paper scrapper?  Or, are you a digi scrapper who would like to make more out of the digi designs you have downloaded?  Then, this class is for you!  You will learn how to download, unzip, and print out the digi designs so that you can use them to make a hybrid chipboard mini album.  When you are finished, your album will look something like this:

Step 1:  Download the digi item you want.  For this class, I will be using Silvia Romeo's "Craquelure" kit.

You can put it in your cart, pay for it, and download it here:  http://www.acherryontop.com/digital/company/silvia_romeo_designs/cat/kits/9004950.  After you add it to your cart and checkout, you will see the download button.  Then, click on download.  When the box comes up and asks you if you want to open or save, choose save, and then select the folder you want to save it in, by clicking on the arrow on the right of the Save In line at the top of the pop-up window .   I have a separate folder for My Downloads on my computer.

Step 2:  Unzip the file.  Most computers already have this software on them.  Just go to the folder where you saved the file and click on it.  You should get a box asking you where you want to unzip or extract the files.  It will default to a folder, but you can select Browse and then choose any folder where you want it to be.  I have a Digital Scrapbooking folder that I set up for this.

Step 3:  Print the items you want to use.  You will need at least one paper for each page of your album, plus any embellishments that you want.  Also, you will need to print your photos.  If you have your own photo editing software, you can use it, but I will be giving directions for printing this in Microsoft Word, which is a common program most PC users have.  If you have a Mac, choose whatever program you use to print photos. 

Step 4:  Open up Microsoft Word (or your own digital editing program, if you know how to use it).  Go to File>Page Setup (top left), and change your page margins to .25, so you can maximize your paper.  (When the box comes up that says the margins are too small, click Ignore. ) Choose to Insert>Picture>From File from the tabs along the top.  Then, navigate to the folder where you saved your unzipped files, and select a jpeg to place on your page.  To resize it, you can right-click on it and select Format Picture.  Click on the tab that says Size and type in the size you want. (For example, my album was 6 x 6, so I changed all the papers to print that size and sized the elements accordingly.   While you are formatting the picture, select Layout.  Click on the box that says In Front of Text. Next, click on the box that says Advanced. Then uncheck the box that says Move object with Text.  Click Okay and return to your page, where the selection boxes around your image should be hollow, now.  This allows you to drag and position it wherever you want on the page.  I begin positioning at the bottom right because the automatic placement is top left and it is hard to get to your pictures formatted when they are overlapping.  Here are some examples of what I chose to place on my pages and print. 

(I used my wide format printer, so I could fit more papers on a page.  With regular 8.5 x 11 printers, you will only be able to print one 6 x 6 paper and some embellies per page!)

Hint:  You will not want to print items that involve alot of intricate cutting, unless you want to spend time on intricate cutting!

Step 5:  Print your page(s) that you have arranged, best setting, using a good quality smooth, white cardstock or thicker paper.  I recommend matte finish if you use photo paper.

Step 6:  Select the photos you want to use.  They can be pre-printed or ones that you print yourself now.  Crop them on your computer or by hand, so they will fit on your pages.

Step 7:  Cut out all of your images, using scissors and/or an exacto knife.

Step 8:  Gather other scrappy materials that you think will go with your printed images.  Here I have some Bazzill cardstock, Prima Forever Flowers, and ribbon by Inque Boutique.  I also used some miscellaneous rhinestones, Stickles, and seed beads for the flower centers, and some K & Co. sticker words that I had in my stash.

Step 9:  Cover all of your chipboard pages, using the papers you have printed and your choice of adhesive.  I like the Tombow Mono Adhesive permanent tape runner for this.  You could also use Mod Podge or Xyron, etc.  You will need to measure and punch/cut the holes for the first pages and the last pages, if you have one with reinforcing grommets.  There is really no easy way to do this.  I marked the papers in the center of the holes, punched them out with a paper punch, and then trimmed the holes larger with scissors, so they would fit over the grommets.  Then, I glued the papers down.  For the inside pages, you can glue them down, then use your hole punch to punch out the holes (do one side at a time, so you can see them from the other side.) 

Step 10:  Layout your photos and embellishments on the pages, using your creativity and scrappy skills!  There are hundreds of ways to use these digi designs and yours most certainly does not have to look exactly like mine!  Include extra supplies as you need them.  I have not used some of the more intricate designs, because I didn't want to cut them out.  Those of you with advanced digi skills may want to use those elements to mat/frame your photos and then print them with the photos already inside.  The window frame could be one that you could easily do this way, although you could also print it and use an exacto knife and ruler to cut out the insides and lay it over your photo, like I did.

Step 11:  Add journaling with pens, markers, stickers, and/or rub-ons or computer printed journaling.

Step 12:  Ink the edges of your pages with a coordinating ink.

Step 13:  Tie some ribbon or fibers onto the rings to give it a finished look.  If you want to protect the album better, coat each page (except for actual ribbon/3-D items) with 2 or 3 coats of Mod Podge or spray varnish, letting it dry between coats, before putting the album together.

About the author ...
Laura (Art_Teacher) has been an ACOT member since July of 2003, a digi CT member since May of 2008, and she has been scrapping for 10 years and digi-scrapping for two. While she really likes the versatility and organization of digi scrapping, she just loves to "fondle" her supplies, so she will always be "bi-scraptual!" She is married and has one spoiled Golden doodle named Paisley. When she isn't scrapping, she enjoys making ceramic pottery, reading, playing and listening to music, and watching way too much t.v.!

Submitted by Art_Teacher