When I think of hybrid scrapbooking, I usually include ideas like using a computer to create journaling for paper projects, or printing digital layouts and adding physical embellishments to give them more of a 3D feel. While preparing to teach a digital class at a local scrapbook store, I stumbled upon a different take on hybrid that has given me some great ideas for breathing new life into older paper projects.

The Paper Layout That Needed Help

When looking through my 12×12 paper layouts for candidates to scan during a “Scanner Magic” class I was teaching, I found this “Stars” page I made a number of years ago. I really liked the layout and remembered spending quite a bit of time punching out all of those star dots from yellow paper before adding black cardstock behind the punched paper and a ribbon.

Oh, but the photo! It is embarrassing that I used it, as it is too dark and came back from the printer very orange. I knew I could make the photo better with some tweaking in Photoshop.

Simple Layout, Badly Printed Photo

The Digitally Enhanced Layout

I scanned the 12×12 paper layout using my 8.5×11 sized Canon flatbed scanner. (I’ll blog about my favorite way to do this soon!) This gave me a TIF format digital version of my layout that I then altered in Photoshop. Here are steps I took to create the new “hybrid” layout.

Photo Fixes

I found the original photo, which was also digital. (yea!) Using Photoshop CS3, I opened the digital photo by itself and was able to make a series of color and lighting adjustments. I used the “Levels” adjustment to lighten the image and a blue Cooling Filter to counteract the overly warm tones. (I also added a Cooling Filter later to the scanned paper as well.) My final step was a slight Smart Blur Filter to smooth out some of the graininess from the dark exposure.

To Change Levels: Layer >New Adjustment Layer > Levels
To Add a Photo Filter: Layer > New Adjustment Layer >Photo Filter
To Add a Smart Blur: Filter > Blur > Smart Blur

The digital photo did not have the printed border I still liked it, so I just opened the scanned TIF layout and placed the fixed photo over the scanned version, being careful not to block the old border.

More Digital Additions

While my original intent was to just have a scanned version of the layout with a better photo, my digi fingers found a few more things to add to the layout. I felt the layout lacked a few white elements to compliment the glowing stars in the photo background. Here are four more things I did in Photoshop to digitally enhance the layout.

1.) Digi Tag

I added a small curled note from my Stitched Journal Tags embellishment kit and typed “Argentina 2005” using one of my favorite fonts, “Paulinho Pedra Azul.”

2.) Copying the Ribbon.

Using the Magic Wand Tool in Photoshop (settings: 30% tolerance and contiguous checked), I was able to select the white ribbon and copy it. I copied this selection to a new layer (Layer > New > Layer Via Copy) and moved this new ribbon over the corner of the curled tag.

3.) Fireworks Brushes

CD’s with Photoshop tutorials and tools often come with magazines. I had installed a few free brushes from Issue 28 of Photoshop Creative Magazine and included were some “fireworks” shaped brushes I thought would be fun to try. I stamped the burst shapes with the Brush Tool about 6-7 times using various sizes and white, lavender and peach colors.

4.) Custom White Star Brush

Again using the Magic Wand Tool but with a few different settings, I selected the circles from one of my black punched stars. I made my own custom Photoshop brush and with the Brush Tool stamped a few white versions.

Here are the details. With the Magic Wand Tool (with contiguous unchecked and the scan layer selected), I clicked on one of the black circles from the larger top stars. This selected all the circles on the page and anything else with a black color. Since I only wanted one star’s worth of circles, I switched to the Lasso Tool (Intersect Selection setting), and loosely drew around the star. Now with only 1 star of circles selected, I made my own brush. (Edit > Define Brush Preset…) I choose this brush and stamped a few white versions.

5.) Word Overlay

I typed the word “Stars” in the “Snell Bt” font and made it transparent so the paper and journaling were still visible.

I am now much happier with the layout and the photo. While the photo will never be stellar, now I can actually see us! The new color accents and digi details were just fun to add.

I probably would not have re-made the paper layout ever again because of all the punching, but now I have already reprinted the new layout since its digital.

I will definitely be taking a second look through more of my paper layouts to see if I can bring to them a bit of digi magic and make some new hybrid creations!

Supplies:
Paper Layout Supplies:
Paper – Marcella by Kay
Black Cardstock
Karen Foster Punch
White Ribbon

Digital Supplies:
Stitched Journal Tags by Bevin Dunn
Photoshop Fireworks Brushes – Free in Issue 28 of Photoshop Creative Magazine

This project uses the Marigold - Printable Card Kit No.1 to create a vintage inspired thank-you card. This card was big hit at the Creative Diva - Girl’s Night Out in Tucson Arizona, held at the Melting Pot Restaurant.

Tools and Supplies

Step One:

Punch a hold in the middle of the Thank-You journal area, about 1/4″ from the top.

Also punch a hole in the card about 1/2″ from the top of the peach stamped frame.

Step Two:

Place Thank You paper over the front of the card and line up the two holes. Insert brad from the front and fasten it on the inside of the card.

Step Three:

Use your decorative scissors and cut around all four sides of the stamp to give it a stamp-like edge. While you have your scissors, you can also cut the edge the of envelope flap to match the stamp and give it a deckled edge.

Step Four:

Peel paper backing from foam square. Place foam square on the back of the stamp and then position stamp over the card and place to the left of the thank you area. Then you are finished!