June 23, 2008

Hybrid Scrapbooking: Love Your Printer Without Scorning Tradition

By Kara Hiltz

PrinTales: Christi Snow of Altered Ambitions Combines Handwritten Journaling With Printed Photos and Papers

Old habits die hard. Many crafts enthusiasts resist the trend toward modern technology for their crafts projects.

But Christi Snow of Altered Ambitions exemplifies how you can combine the traditions of old with the convenience and durability today's printers provide.

Christi has worked with paper crafts for over a decade, but she only started using her printer five years ago. Now she prints all of her own photographs — and even her own scrapbook papers. "Printing my own papers from digital files ... gives me a lot more freedom to create in the middle of the night when inspiration hits, but the craft store isn't open," says Snow.

There's a time a place for every method. Snow recommends using printers for smaller paper crafts because most (affordable) printers cannot print on paper larger than letter size. She uses an HP Photosmart C6280.

Printing your own photos and papers saves you money once you experiment with your printer and learn how to use all of its features. And you'll also help the environment by printing only what you need, points out Snow.

Snow attributes most of her printer frustrations to poor planning. But you can always find a workaround if you stay flexible. "When I run out of a certain color, I can just alter my project to feature a black-and-white photo versus the color version," offers Snow.

For The Love of My Printer

To emphasize how she embraces technology while remaining true to the spirit of scrapbooking, Cristi created a special project for us that we're honored to display in this issue of PrinTales. Titled For the Love of My Printer, it showcases Cristi's trusty HP printer set in a melange of tastefully arranged scrapbook papers and adornments. Of course, you could use any photo for this arrangement. To do so, simply following the instructions below.

Supplies

• 4x6 digital photo of my printer printed on HP Premium 4x6 Inch Photo Paper
• White cardstock for printing your own scrapbook paper
• Mod Bebe digital papers by Andrea Victoria
• Making Memories Glittered Chipboard Alphabet
• Making Memories flowers
• K&Company brads
• Unity Stamp Company Little Labels 2
• Brown inkpad
• Marvy Uchida Scallop Circle Punch
• Martha Stewart Scallop border punch    

Instructions

1. Print a 4x6 inch photo using the "Best" quality settings on your computer.
2. Print four digital papers using patterns of your choosing. You'll need two of them in letter size and the other two smaller. Print the paper using "presentation" quality settings onto white cardstock. "I use my digital paper JPEGs just like I would digital photos. Then I can print them in different sizes."
3. Assemble the layout together as you would any other using the example as your guide for placement.

We would like to thank Cristi for sharing her artistry and creativity here, and hope it inspires you to create something special with your printer.

About PrinTales
If every picture tells a story, then every printer must contain several bookshelves' worth. In PrinTales, we bring these stories to you by profiling people who use their printers in a creative manner. Think of it as "once upon a time" for the digital generation.

• June 30, 2008 Susan Westberg

  Yeah Christi! I was checking out what other people had created and here you are, being interviewed right above me! Great little layout. :) - Susan