Hybrid 101: Card Making

More and more traditional paper crafting manufacturers are offering digital versions of their papers and embellishments. Check out the designs from Basic Grey available right here in the Digichick Boutique! Add that to all the beautiful digital kits available through the many talented designers, especially those at The Digichick, and it opens up tons of possibilities for creating with designs that really motivate you.

Let’s start with what we mean by “hybrid paper crafting”. A hybrid means something of mixed origin or composition that adds variety or complexity to a system. In art a hybrid would be a project that blurs the lines between traditional boundaries of artistic media. For the paper crafting world, hybrid projects are ones that involve the more traditional paper crafting elements with digitally produced papers and elements. Some artists may even incorporate metal, paints, ceramics and other artist media as well as techniques such as distressing, decoupage, painting, sewing etc.

The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations and creativity. So go ahead and get creative! You can gain inspiration here at The Hybrid Chick Blog or in our gallery here. When you do create a project, we would love to see it, you can share it in the gallery as well.

If you have strictly been a digital scrapbooker, you’ll really enjoy hybrid crafting as it lets you make a mess with glues, paints, gel mediums, fabrics, metals, you name it! There is so much fun to be had.

OK, ready to make a card? Cards are one of the easiest, yet very versatile projects that allow you to explore hybrid crafting. Here is what you need:

digital scrapbook kit, papers and/or elements
photo editing software (ie, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, Creative Memories, etc)
scissors, trimmer
adhesive
printer
paper
ribbons, trims, other elements if desired

For my card I used digital papers and elements from the Winter Berries Boutique Collab kit.

I designed my card in Photoshop. I like to layer it the way I expect to construct it so I can get a preview of the finished project.

Once I am happy with the design, I get ready to print it out. You can see along the right hand side that I have each item of the card on a different layer in Photoshop. This allows me to move them about. So now I separate the items that I want to be able to cut out individually for printing.

In the image above, you can see that I have moved the elements on my Photoshop canvas so that they will print and be able to be cut out. I have an inkjet printer. When I print my digital items, I like to use Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte. I have found that this dries quickly and gives true colors.

After printing, cut out the paper pieces and elements. Apply any techniques such as edge punches, distressing etc. I used a Martha Stewart edge punch on the greeting paper strip.

I like to ink the edges with a soft chalk ink. I used Colobox Chalk Ink. Inking the edges adds a bit of definition and dimension to the finished project.

Now it is time to construct the card. Use a piece of coordinating cardstock or a premade blank card. Layer your card front onto it using you favorite roller adhesive to attach it. I ran the upper 2 layers of paper through my sewing machine before adhering them to my card front. This hides the back side of the stitches when you open the card.

Next layer the accent pieces on the front of your card. I used foam squares to adhere the snowflake and make it pop off the card. Add your embellishments such as ribbon, gems, etc. Add a score line to fold your card if needed.

On my finished card I used ribbons, rhinestones by Queen & Company and Websters Pages and a stick pin from Jenni Bowlin Studios to give it the finishing touch. You can make your card as intricate or as simple as you would like.

Once you give hybrid crafting a try, you’ll see that it opens many creative opportunities for you. So go ahead, get messy and have fun!

Hybrid 101: Card Making

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