by Debra Fuller

Like most traditional scrapbookers, at some point I started to use my printer for producing more professional-looking journaling and text box elements. This took the design of my pages up a notch from the home-grown look to be more polished and professional. The next steps did not come easily, quickly or without setbacks, but since those 'text box' days I have learnt that a printer is my best scrapbooking companion. Combined with a graphic design software package I am now able to produce myriad different effects and styles using printed page elements.

What had previously held me back from filling my albums was a lack of 'scrap' worthy material. I was never a good photographer, I owned poor equipment, and when I did take pictures I never took enough to get hold of those one or two great shots. Now, working in an eclectic fashion between the digital and the traditional, I have been able to scrapbook what I previously felt was un-‘scrapable'. All those forgotten memories and pictures can be brought to life with the aid of the following design ideas.

As well as solving this problem, my printer has allowed me to create so many different looks and styles. Combining the traditional with the digital creates endless opportunities to explore with each new project. A perfectly two dimensional seamless look can be easily arranged or a page that uses digital elements on all levels is just as easily produced. Personalising all aspects of a page design is one of my greatest joys. Combining traditional items like cardstock and patterned papers with my own printed ideas and images, I can produce layouts that are 'mine' on all levels. From the background, through the middle ground elements to the foreground, what was once off limits becomes easily manipulated.

The following pages explore some of the concepts behind using your printer as a scrapbooking tool. Having available a wide format printer (that can handle a 12in page) is a wonderful asset but there are many ways to achieve a similar look to backgrounds and other elements that small printer owners can explore.

Printing text, designs or photographs onto traditional scrapbooking elements

This layout is a bold look at what can be achieved with this technique. The black and white image was printed directly onto a complete sheet of weathered patterned paper. Before printing the photograph, white and coloured text was added to the image.

Print photomontages – collection of smaller photos to make a larger one

The montage was printed on a wide format printer. To achieve the same look, combine several photos into rows, then print and assemble directly on the page, ensuring that the seams match up. These types of montages work wonderfully as background images or can take pride of place on the page. They can run across the page or vertically to create a border.

Tip: Most photo editing software packages allow you to move photos/layers from top to bottom and back again. Rather than cropping each photo to size, use this option and the re-sizing tools to create the perfect fit.

Print titles and stretch cut titles

Printing titles directly onto a background page is one of the quickest ways to create these page elements. The alternative to doing this is to select a favourite font, print in reverse and hand cut for a classy result. Use a stretch cutting technique to achieve a title that spans wide page borders. Print the letters for your title onto a smaller piece of cardstock, then hand cut and position to span the width of the page.

Tip: Make sure not to leave too much space between letters. (You may need to enlarge them further to avoid this.)

Combining text and images

Another fun idea is to combine descriptive text with your photographs to produce unique images and backgrounds. This page has been achieved with a few editing and printing tricks. For those without access to a wide format printer, setting a custom print size is the answer. Placing your images into ‘landscape' format will enable you to achieve a full 12in print. If your printer does not allow this function, change the paper size to ‘legal' or ‘foolscap'. This will extend the printing area to up to 35cm in a landscape orientation.

Whole page work

While the popularity of fully digital scrapbook pages is growing explosively, a marriage of the two is another option that can be adopted. This page uses computer work for the main images (the prints of the hands) and has added embellishments and enhancements that reflect traditional elements. The combinations possible for creating this type of layout are literally endless.

Repeated elements

Printing scrapbooking elements is an easy way to repeat and therefore reinforce a theme. This page has a printed background, middle and foreground. The images combined with colour shift the focus from the group picture to the highlighted individual.

Tip: Consider using different media to achieve this same effect – canvas, acetate, vellum and fabrics are just some that can be explored.