Saturday 3 March 2012

Digi Tips Week... Day 1

Hello. Hope you are well.
I though I'd have a digi tips week this week, sharing some thoughts and ideas about digital kits and products and creating hybrid cards. I hope some of you may find it useful.
Today I thought I'd start with the basics - using digital papers.
All the Screenshots show me using Microsoft Word.
I use a LOT of digital papers, so I had to find ways to make it economically viable. I have some tips for you where money is concerned... although it is not as expensive as you may think.  I have to replace my inks about 4 times a year - seriously.  And remember I use a lot. :) I have a Canon inkjet printer - nothing special or fancy - and it doesn't seem to guzzle ink.
My best tip is to plan before you print.  If you know you are making a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4" card - the standard American notecard size - then print only enough paper for the card.
Resize the patterned paper...
First, I import my paper into Microsoft Word.
Then, I resize it to 5.4 x 5.4" (click on the picture and format it.)
Picture 1
Here's a close up...
Picture 4
Then, I crop from the left or right to make it the correct width.
Picture 3
Close-up:
Picture 5
I always find that when I use 6 x 6 papers, I am left with loads of strips as I tend to only use enough to cover a notecard. This way, you waste no paper at all. Better for the environment as well as saving money. Yay!
AND, when I have a few cards planned, I use a single sheet of paper to the maximum. :)
I know that I'll have a margin behind the patterned paper - I always do.  So I only need my paper to be 5.2 x 4".  I can therefore print 4 sheets of patterned paper on one 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of paper.
Picture 7
This means you hardly waste any paper at all.
And, if I want a bigger sheet of paper - say I'm making a square 5 x 5" card - then I use the rest of the paper to print a few extras...
Picture 8
OK - there are my tips of the day.
And now, here's a card made using some yummy Hero Arts digi papers.  Like all the samples above, I used the Pool kit and the Earth kit for this card, combining it with stamps from My Happy, Just Because and Good Friends.
DSC02670
Hope you found something of use here... more to come in the next few days. :)
And please email me if there's something you'd like me to write about - I've not pre-prepared these so will be happy to help (if I can... I am no Photoshop expert I'm afraid!)
Supplies

21 comments:

Barb said...

I'm still a bit afraid of digi stuff, but it is so great to know you do it all in Microsoft Word, Lucy! With everyone talking about Photoshop and more expensive programs, I'm glad to know that when I'm ready to try, I can use Word! Thanks so much for taking the time to share all the info and great tips! Love your gorgeous card, by the way! :)

Lin said...

Thank you so much, Lucy.....this is really helpful to me and I look forward to more from you! Love your card today, too - the bird is so cute!

Brenda said...

Thanks a stack Lucy! This is definitely helpful and motivating in a way as I have stayed away from digital paper I guess I was mostly concerned about how it would eat up the ink! Also, I need to check my printer because my paper does not come out flat, it rolls a bit on the edges. Would love to know what actual paper you print it on? Lovely card btw, but they are always lovely!

Linny said...

I like to use Word too. So I think you will be helping me too. As I just print the 6x6 or 8x8 pattern. thank you. Lindax

Dawn T said...

This was great Lucy. I wondered how you got them to the 5.5 x 4.25 size. Mine always seem to be square. Now I know! Awesome. Into my book marks for future reference.

Gilda said...

This is a great idea, Lucy! I love using digital kits and i know I'll be learning lots from you this week.

Efrat said...

What a great idea for posts. I love reading how other people do things. I was really interested to read it's not taking up too much ink. I am always afraid it's not economical because ink is so expensive (but then again, I have an HP - so that might be the difference). Now I will give it a try :-)

I would love to hear what kind of paper you use.

Janet a.k.a. swanlady21 said...

Thanks for the printing tips Lucy. So appreciate. I hope to try it out soon.

Lizziski said...

Thank you so much for this digi help guide ... I needed it. And would appreciate more of the same. You are my favourite card maker x

Anette said...

Thanks Lucy, this was a great idea, I will be following this week very closely! LOL!

Wendy M said...

What a great tip can't wait to see the rest of the tips, I have a ridiculous amount of digital products but always end up not wanting to print a whole A4 because of waste so this is great, thanks :-)

mel m. m. mccarthy said...

This is a wonderful resource. A whole week? You are THE best! Love your gorgeous card. You always make such unique and stunning things.

Tigriswillreign said...

This is such a perfect idea! I've always been too intimidated to use digital papers (and even stamps) because I'm unfamiliar with the concept and rarely at the computer when in a crafty mood. Digital papers now seem the only way to go!! I hate the wastage (even though I save pretty much everything!) Digital looks so flexible! And all I have is Word (I'm no Photoshop person, either) so this is the perfect tutorial!
So I'd love to see a tut using other digital products and your creative process.

Victoria said...

Lucy this is really helpful, thanks!
Can't wait to see the rest of your tips.
I always look forward to seeing your beautiful cards.

D said...

thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonderful tip today. I have printed it for my notebook. I also use Word...I don't like all the photoshop, etc. programs. I look forward to other tips for using Word.

pcm said...

i have not really ventured into the digi world but I do love that you use microsoft word instead of some expensive publishing program that i'd have to buy. I might just have to break out of my little non-digi bubble....

Judi said...

Thank You, Lucy! I have been a bit afraid to venture into the digi world -- your cards however are SO beautiful, and these tips today make it look not-so-scarey! Thanks so much -- looking forward to whatever you can share. :)

donna mikasa said...

Such a great tutorial, Lucy! I love to see how a digi pro prints papers--so very helpful!

Trish said...

Hi Lucy,
I've been a follower of your blog for a while and really love your style of card making. I've even downloaded a few digi kits that you recommended, BUT, I've no idea how to begin. So I for one am delighted with any help- as basic as possible please and so happy you are using word as the others scare me!!
Looking forward to learning more so that I might eventually take the plunge for myself.
Thank you.
Hugs,
Trish

Sue McRae said...

Even though I've done some digi crafting I'm always looking for great tips and techniques that I may not have thought of. Thanks for sharing!

Nicky said...

Merci beaucoup pour cette astuce.
j'avais déjà tenté dans Word, mais je trouvais le dessin déformé. Mettre 4 feuilles sur une page est une bonne idée. Merci pour vos freebies.
cordialement,