Hybrid scrapbooking has been a wonderful boost to my resource of supplies, but sometimes, it just falls flat. Literally. Images can lose texture and shine.I also like to create 12×12 size scrapbook layouts. However, I can only print in 8.5 x 11. Sometimes, elements are very tiny and I fear they just won’t print and cut properly. So how did I manage to overcome some of these challenges of hybrid scrapbooking? Let’s find out.
Challenge One: I create 12×12 scrapbook layouts but the largest paper I can print is 8.5 x 11 inches. What do I do if I want to cover a larger section of my 12×12 canvas with a specific patterned paper print?
The answer is simple. You can print two 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of paper and piece them together. The trick is to find the right pattern. Some patterns will match up well and the seam won’t be obvious. Others are more difficult to work with.
The text paper from Traci Reed Designs Star Light Star Bright kit was a great candidate for paper piecing. The trick is to trim away any of the text design that overlaps the edges you want to piece together.
You can see here how I trimmed away a small sliver which leaves two white sections of paper. I glued each piece of patterned text paper together onto a sheet of 12×12 cardstock. There is no design to match up and the solid paper will fit together nicely.
I used the same method with the purple strip on the right side of the scrapbook layout. The difference this time was that I made sure the design matched up from one piece of paper to the other. The seam is slightly more evident but it still works. IF you really want to piece two sheets together but the patterns don’t match, use something like a ribbon or a patterned paper strip to hide the seam. Smaller seams can be hidden with embellishments or journaling blocks.
You can see an example of how I used ribbon to hide a seam here.
Challenge Two: I love the way glitter and gold elements look in the digital kits. However, when I print them, they appear dull and often lose some of their texture.
You can give both texture and sparkle back to glitter elements. Try finding a glitter glue in a color as close as possible to the printed digital element. In addition to adding texture and sparkle back to your hybrid item, the glitter glue will add texture.
I like to use Ranger’s Stickles line. If you can’t afford a lot of different colors of Stickles, start off with the Diamond color. It’s a white/clear glitter glue that picks up the color of the item you add it to. It also adds a hint of golden shimmer. I began with it in my collection and slowly added just a few other colors( mostly colors I use often).
You can see an example of how I added back golden glimmer here, complete with video tutorial.
Challenge Three: I love flair badges. However when I print them they look flat and dull.
Fixing flair badges is simple. I use a dimensional glue like Glossy Accents. The glue is designed to dry in such a way that it does not run. It can though, cause some types of paper to buckle a bit. To keep the paper from buckling, adhere a piece of chipboard underneath the badge. This will also give it a bit more dimension when you add it to your layout.
Challenge Four: I love all of the small bits and pieces that come in a digital kit. While I can use similar items from my supplies, sometimes I wish I could use those tiny pieces in the kit.
I used to think I couldn’t use some of the small items such as sequins or enamel stickers that are often part of a digital scrapbook kit. I chose to experiment with the small sequins and stars from the Star Light Star Bright Kit. I did not reduce the size when I place them in my Silhouette software. The Silhouette’s Print to Cut feature has removed any doubt from my mind that it is indeed possible to print and then cut extremely small objects. To add a bit of dimension and shine back, I once again used the Glossy Accents.
Use your judgement when choosing smaller items to print a cut. Plain enamel dots or ordinary sequins are probably best supplemented by physical product from your supplies.
Hybrid scrapbooking doesn’t have to lack dimension or texture. As I continue to experiment, I have been creating a basic tool kit of supplies that I can grab while creating hybrid layouts. Each time I find a new solution, my tool kit grows. At the same time, these tools allow my hybrid scrapbooking process to become faster.
What are your hybrid scrapbooking challenges? Is there something you would like me to help you solve? Let me know by commenting.
Sleep Tight by Christy Strickler |Supplies Digital Kit: Star Light Star Bright by Traci Reed Designs; Jewels: Pinkfresh Studio; Glitter Glue: Stickles; Other: Glossy Accents
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