I know it seems a little odd to some, but yes, I am a paper/hybrid scrapbooker playing along with a totally digital challenge. Let me set the record straight right off the bat. My goal isn’t to try to win the Cropped challenge. Quite simply, I just want to play along and see how I can adapt the challenge to a hybrid layout. If you are not familiar with Cropped, you can find out a bit more about it at Pixels and Company. Essentially, each round we will be given a list of ingredients or techniques to use on a layout. We have a set time frame in which to complete the layout. As I am writing this, I have just finished round 1.
The round one challenge called for the use of ingredients from ten different Pixels and Company designers along with the four mystery box ingredients. All of the materials should be from Pixels and Company. I knew from the onset that I would not necessarily meet that requirement. Certain materials just don’t translate well to hybrid layouts. These include: buttons, twine,ribbon, brads, staples, and sequins. I still desire to use some of these items on my layouts. When I do, I opt for the real thing from my paper supplies.
The first ingredient I chose was a template. I chose the alphabet second.Choosing the right template was a challenge. I needed one that would look ok when printed to an 81/2 x 11 size. I don’t own a wide format printer. I also knew I wanted a grid style template. My goal was to fit the magic ingredient papers along with papers from at least 8 designers. That way, I could knock the designer requirement off the list and be free to select whatever embellishments I wished.
The Weekly Roundup Grab Bag turned out to be a good choice for me. Though it’s a 12 x 12 layout template, I could add the papers and easily print them in a size that would be usable. I repeated the mystery ingredients papers a few times through the grid, then chose papers I felt would compliment them. I had to learn to clip the papers to the shapes in the template. It’s something I had never done before. Most of the time when I scrap a hybrid layout I just print out the papers on 4×6 or 81/2 x 11 papers.
I printed the grid to an 8 1/2 x 11 size piece of cardstock. I could have just glued this grid of papers directly to the layout, but I wanted more dimension. It had a very flat feel to it. My next step was to cut out each box.
Once the boxes were cut out, I adhered chipboard to the back of each box. I like the dimension that chipboard adds to a layout. I also feel it’s sturdier than foam dots. I have discovered that layouts I made with foam dots are now flat after being in my albums. Next, I inked the edges. I could then reassemble the grid onto my 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock.
The resulting grid was quite obviously a bit smaller than it’s 12 x 12 beginnings. However, it provided me with a bit of white space in my layout design. After matting the photo, I added a piece of chipboard to the back, giving the page just a bit more dimension. I affixed the photo on top of the grid, trying my best not to cover too much of the blocks below it.
Now it was simply a matter of embellishing the layout. I created an 8 1/2 x 11 blank page in photoshop, then added in my chosen embellishments. These included the final mystery ingredient as well as embellishments from a variety of kits. I also added in the letters for my title. I chose the Zephyr alpha for it’s blockiness. It would be easy to cut out if my time was limited.
Good Times by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Letters: by Kara Dudley, Digital Papers and Embellishments from these kits: Cropped Collaberation, Focus Click Repeat, Piccadilly. Lucky Patterns, Vintage Findings-Gold Papers, Far Far Away; Other; Sequins
Once I printed and cut the embellishments and title, it was easy to finish off the layout. The only non- hybrid product used were the orange sequins. I like the slightly wonky feel of the grid. I always have issues with putting things on straight, but I have learned to like the character that adds to my layouts. I was a bit strapped for time when I was finishing off the layout. I kind of wish my journaling was a bit more prominent. Overall though,I enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to the next Chopped challenge.
Additional Resources
Clip your Paper or Photo to Any Shape In PhotoShop Elements
The DigiScrap Geek Podcast: I Live on the Edge
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