LizzPrints blog

Hey, all you busy husbands, fathers, children and friends with Moms in your lives!  Listen up. If you only have time to go to the card store, browse the Mothers Day card shelves to find a card that comes reasonably close to expressing your feelings, stand in line to pay for it, bring it home and then sign it moments before giving or sending it, this project is for you.

I’d like to show you how to spend that precious time making a Photo Book, instead. Especially if you never take care of the family photos. The element of surprise (shock?) in receiving a custom-made, cloth-covered, archival quality photo book from you, is sure to make this Mothers Day very special.

This blog post is dedicated to my mother.

(To read more, click on the “Read the full content” link.)

 
Page background designed from the photo using camera crop and kaleidoscope features

Have you noticed that repeating an image in a pattern creates visual interest well beyond that of the single image alone? (Surely I am not the only person whose brain and eyes are wired this way.) A simple square transforms into a visual masterpiece as the repeating motif of a quilt. A simple symbol into a formal necktie pattern or a themed scrapbook background. A few irregular flecks of colored glass into a kaleidoscope’s mesmerizing facets.

I’ve used the pleasing look of symmetry and balance in a way that scrapbookers, traditional and digital alike, will find easy, fun, artistic and complementary to a wide range of page design styles. The images were digital photos I’ve taken, and the awesome kaleidoscope patterns are made before the photos ever left the camera. No photo editing application was required to do it. The results were one-of-a-kind, effortlessly color-matched elements that were used in digital scrapbook pages, or, that were printed, layered, journaled and embellished using traditional scrapbooking techniques.

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“Read the full content” link. )

Various scrapbooking elements made from photos

Have you noticed that the ubiquitous little business card is going strong into the digital age? Well-designed business cards can ease important first impressions or become reminders to stay connected, whether in business or personal relationships. They are a much better way to share communication links than scraps of paper, like the kind in the crevices of my wallet. Ever rediscover an ancient scrawled cell phone number, disconnected from its owner’s name? A name, but no idea where you met? Can’t find that letter with the url to see the photos of the new baby?

I’d like to share a technique that lets you think outside the 2 by 3 ½ inch box, to personalize what you want to say, and how you want to say it. Inkjet printing your own business cards gives freedom to customize and update messages as often as you like. No minimum 100 card order, either. The small business card format is simple and uncluttered, so a small effort goes a long way.

An important bonus of this technique is the use of full-bleed designs for a professional look, without those nasty lines around the card edges, from slight misalignments, that the human eye is so very good at noticing.

(to read more, click on the “Read the full content” link)

If you think making personalized photo cards at home from your digital photos would be more painful than having a tattoo removed, prepare to be surprised.

There are now tabletop photo printers that don’t even need to be connected to a PC to make photo cards fast, simple and great fun. I could think of no better reason to give it a try myself than to make this year’s Valentine’s Day cards so unique, that they may end up in scrapbooks, albums or photo frames.

(to read more, click on the “Read the full content” link)

Fun photo cards are designed with text, drawing, clip art and frames.

Party Invitation in Embossed Pocket

How can they possibly outdo themselves this year?
When I opened my invitation to this year’s annual department holiday party, I found this elegant card, beautifully inkjet printed and embellished with ribbon by my friends Lisa & Kalli. They gracefully agreed to share their creativity here with the LizzPrints community.

Holidays are busy times, and it just isn’t an option for most of us to make all of our cards by hand. So combining classy store-bought blank stationery with personal finishing touches can be a great way to go.

“We really wanted an elegant look this year.”

(to read more, click on the “Read the full content”  link)

The bling factor of CD's and DVD's has inspired all sorts of artistic uses for them. From goofy to stunningly beautiful. Why not use them to embellish DIY cards and scrapbooks? After seeing the cool new colors of LightScribe CD's, I was inspired to design a DIY holiday greeting card with an enclosed photo CD that is even more than a thoughtful way to enjoy shared memories and a digital photo archive. It is also a cool element of the card design.

I went with 8 ½" x 11" half-fold photo greeting card paper for a few reasons. Standard CD's are 4 ¾" inches in diameter, so quarter-fold is too small to cover the CD. Also, I like the vivid colors that result by printing on the photo side of the media. There is plenty of room for handwritten signatures inside. And finally, since I seem to be envelope-challenged, half-fold inkjet greeting card paper comes with envelopes (woo hoo!). I used HP white/half-fold photo greeting card media, but the ideas here work for other brands, as well. The paper is scored for easy folding. Take it from me. No good will come of folding the card before all the printing is done

I started with a sheet of blank, scored white cardstock. Envelopes matter. In the excitement of getting started, I initially skipped a critical step, to first make sure I had an envelope that will match the finished folded card size. A Darwin award moment.