Paper Plus Pixels
I know when I first started hearing and seeing the term “hybrid,” I thought, “That sounds hard, I can't do that!” The word sounds so scientific or technical, not to mention somewhat botanical. But when it comes to scrapbooking, “hybrid” is much simpler than it sounds! It simply refers
to scrapbook pages that combine the traditional paper-and-glue approach with computer techniques—whether for journaling, titles, page backgrounds, accents, or photo enhancements. In this article, I’ll show you three easy ways to add digital elements to your paper pages without having to use expensive and complicated software programs, like Photoshop or Paint Shop. These elements will add interest to your projects (at very little cost) and spark your creativity too!
Print Your Own Labels
Labels make it easy to make room for journaling or a title, and many traditional scrapbooking companies offer decorative label stickers and chipboard for sale. But I have another solution; there are tons of free printable labels available online!
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Supplies: cardstock, patterned paper, Thickers, chipboard camera (American Crafts) • font (Century Gothic) • free printable digital 3 x 5 label (www.kaylaaimee.typepad.com) • 8½ x 11 layout by Jody Wenke |
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On this layout, Jody Wenke added a FREE printable label from Kayla Aimee (to download, click here!) behind her title to help it stand out in a grid of uniform squares. I’ve seen Jody create really interesting titles using shapes in place of letters, but using a camera instead of the “O” is one of her best yet. So clever!
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Supplies: patterned paper (Jenni Bowlin Studio, K&C CO) • labels (Just Something I Made) • stickers (October Afternoon, Studio Calico, American Crafts) • border punch (Fiskars) • paint (Making Memories) • Machine Sewing Vintage • Typewriter • 8½ x 11 layout by Nicole Harper |
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In another example, Nicole Harper used free printable labels from Cathe Holden at a blog called “Just Something I Made.” Nicole printed the labels on her printer; then she cut them out and ran them through her old typewriter to add her journaling. The imperfect typing and the staggered journaling bring a sense of quirkiness to this fun page.
To see the large collection of label offerings I’ve spotted over the years, visit
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I think these labels and journal spots from the Got Crafts? blog are just darling. I love the artisan shapes and especially the star journaling block. |
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At the Giver's Log, you'll find beautiful, multi-colored labels to add to your pages. In the pictured example, the designer printed them on sticker paper, making them easy to adhere to her envelopes. |
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Try Text in a Circle
Forget the $500 design software. Standard word-processing programs like Microsoft Word have all sorts of tools that you can use to experiment with titles and journaling on your layouts. Have you ever used the text in a circle option? It’s easier than you’d think.
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Supplies: patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket) • label (Cosmo Cricket) • buttons (October Cosmo Cricket, Jenni Bowlin Studios) • chalk (Pebbles) • brad (American Crafts) • digital frames (Katie Pertiet for Designer Digitals) • font (Rockwell) • 8½ x 11 layout by Celeste Smith |
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I used Microsoft Word to create this circular frame, which doubles as a title (“yard work”) and as an eye-catching accent—while also adding energy and movement to my page. Round elements, like the frame and the buttons, are a great way to counterbalance the square and rectangular shapes that dominate most scrapbook pages.
To create text in a circle using Microsoft Word:
- In a new, blank document, click on the “Insert WordArt” icon or Insert > Picture > WordArt
- Select the sample that looks like an arch; type in the text you want.
- Your text will display as an arch in your document. Click on the image and make sure the WordArt tool bar is appears. (If it’s not visible, go to View > Toolbars > WordArt.)
- On the toolbar click the “WordArt Shape” icon. (Not sure which icon to choose? Hover your mouse over each icon to learn which is which.) After you click, you should see several different shapes. Select the one that looks like the letter O.
- Click and drag the handles on the corners of your WordArt to resize the circle or adjust its shape, from oval to perfectly round.
- Click on the paint bucket icon on the toolbar (or click Format > WordArt) to change the color and font of the text, or to resize the circle to an exact numerical measurement (e.g., 5 x 5).
- If the words are taller and thicker than you’d like, but the outer circle is the appropriate size, click Edit Text and add more words. If the words are smaller than you’d like, but the outer circle is the appropriate size, reduce the number of words to make the remaining words appear larger.
Note: Depending on your version of Microsoft Word and your computer platform, the above steps may vary significantly.
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Supplies: cardstock (Bazzill Basics) • chipboard (Maya Road) • patterned paper, stickers (October Afternoon) • font (Century Gothic) • 12 x 12 layout by Vivian Masket |
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Vivian Masket rounded up her text as well, creating a lyrical page title (“Our house is a very, very, very fine house”) that sets off that adorable chipboard house. She repeated the circle shape with a green, circular sticker in the upper right corner, which draws the eye diagonally through her design.
Open Digi Elements in Microsoft Word
There are countless free kits available online; almost every digital scrapbooking website or store has a free section. But have you ever wondered which is the easiest way to use these digital elements on your paper pages? Well, I’ll show you how to open and print certain digital pieces right out of a word-processing program.
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Supplies: quote block (Unknown) • patterned paper (K & Company) • cardstock (Bazzill) • digital paper (Ladybug by Marie Stones at freedigitalscrapbooking.com) • embroidery floss (DMC) • font (Rebecca's Birthday from kevinandamanda.com) • 12 x 12 layout by Trish Harwick |
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Trish Harwick opened the red digital paper in Word and printed it. The red paper acts as a base for her photo, journaling, and assorted decorative elements. I love how she matched the title font to the quote block. The rich colors and stitching make this layout an eye pleaser!
To open and/or print a digital element using Microsoft Word:
- Unzip the file(s) you downloaded and save them in a folder on your computer.
- Open a new, blank document in Microsoft Word and go to Insert > Picture > From File.
- Navigate to the folder that contains the digital elements and double click the element (or click Insert, depending on your version of Word) to insert it into your Word document.
- To resize the element, right click the image and select Format Picture. Click the Size tab to change the height or width of the image, but be sure to keep Lock Aspect Ratio checked. (You can also resize the image by clicking and dragging the handles on the corners of the artwork while holding the shift key to keep the sizing proportional.)
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Supplies: patterned paper (Imaginisce) • acrylic sticker (Imaginisce) • letter stickers (American Crafts) • travel stickers (EK Success) • photo corners (Fiskars) • journaling template (Title•Journal Blocks Number One by Ali Edwards for designerdigitals.com) • font (CAC One Seventy) • memorabilia strips • 8½ x 11 spread by Aly Dosdall |
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Aly Dosdall used an inexpensive, pre-designed digital journaling block to jazz up her page. First, she opened the digital file in Word and resized it to fit her page. Then she added her journaling right to the block by layering a text box over the top of the purchased artwork (Insert > Text Box) and typing away. Alternately, you could print the element and handwrite your journaling in the blank space.
BONUS IDEAS
Enjoy "A New Day." The talented team at Sweet Shoppe Designs created a FREE kit especially for Ella readers a couple of months ago. See examples of layouts and download the kit yourself by visiting this past blog post.
If you missed the first article in Celeste Smith's two-part hybrid scrapbooking series, make sure you also read "Free Photo Fun: Pimp your pics with these free online tools," featured in our April issue.
Catching the Digi Bug?
If Celeste's article inspired you to wade just a little deeper into the digital waters, make sure you pick up Renee Pearson's fabulous photo-editing resource, Special Effects for Digital Photos.