the hybrid chick

Are you completely new to the idea of hybrid? Are you not even sure that you know what the term “hybrid” is supposed to mean? Well, in the world of digital scrapbooking, that’s what we call it when someone takes a piece of digital paper or an embellishment and turns it into a real, physical paper creation using a printer, glue and scissors. It’s now a hybrid creation—a mix of “real” and “digital” scrapbooking stuff.

What’s the benefit of hybrid scrapping and papercrafting? Well, it shares a lot of the same great benefits that you get from digital scrapbooking. For starters, one little piece of digital paper lasts forever and can be used again and again. And every thing will always match with a little color correction in your photo editing software. Is there a paper you love but it’s just “too pink” for your project? Lighten it up a little! Or change it to blue. The power of Photoshop is so exciting when you combine it with papercrafting—so many possibilities.

And just think: you can print the same little project 100 times if you wanted to! Make a ton of baby shower gifts or birthday presents for friends or something for everyone on your Christmas list. It’s so easy. You can personalize everything, too. Add a name, a date a photo—you name it! For example, check out this adorable gift set that Editor Jen Tapler made for her hubby for Valentine’s Day.

Combining your computer with your paper projects make for endless possibilities! And what we hope to do here is show you what we’ve done with our computers and printers to help spark your own imagination so that you know just how to try these things out for yourself.

So, where to start? Well, a few of our Editors have been hard at work writing articles for you all about the basics of hybrid to help you get started! You’ll find these posts listed for you above where you can always refer to them. And you can jump right in with the first article that’s all about Getting Started With Hybrid! Editor Kelleigh Ratzlaff has detailed for you what sorts of supplies you’ll find helpful as you begin your papercrafting adventures.

We also have two designers at The Digichick Boutique who specialize in easy to make hybrid products: Melissa Wilson and Kelleigh Ratzlaff!

Mel has designed several darling “kid friendly” hybrid projects including: My Color Book, My ABC Book and this adorable My 123 Book:

Kelleigh specializes in creating these “magical” little templates for making your own gift boxes that you can cover in digital paper and then print out! She’s made several adorable little boxes, such as her Puff Box set, her Milk Carton set and this Flutter Top Box set:

These are just a few of the things we’ll be showing you how to put to good use. Other posts here at The Hybrid Chick will feature completely organic projects that our Editors have created from scratch using items from The Digichick Boutique! We hope to inspire you and encourage you to try these things for yourself. We know once you do, you’ll be “bitten by the bug” and as twitterpated as we are!

Happy creating!

Other Articles by Nicole Seitler:

• Spotlight on: Kellie Mize Designs - February 27th, 2010
• Hybrid + Stamping = The Perfect Touch - October 1st, 2009
• Mini Envelope Mini Album - August 10th, 2009
• Diaper Bag Tag - August 7th, 2009
• Try your hand at a Hybrid Layout - May 2nd, 2009