How Do You DO That? Digital to Printables

With the release of the NEW Spring Circus kits, there are always question HOW to use the kits if you are not a digital scrapbooker or digital diva!

When you print out these digital files & craft with them...it's called Hybrid Crafting...& that's what we'll be talking about today.

Basically, you can use all of the kits to print out & enjoy, except the actual Brush files. So....here's a little help on HOW to do that!

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Ok, the first kit I want to talk about is the Paper Card Printables kit...These are offered in PDF format which can be opened in ANY program! Yes, ANYONE that has a computer & printer can use these at home. 

Once you download your kit, unzip it & then OPEN up the PDF file. Now, depending on what kind of software you have on your computer, your PDF file will open up & you just send it to your printer & print off.

IF you choose to use these kits to print at a office supply store or copy center, be sure you are familiar with the licensing....some stores will ask you about it.  Our personal license states in sections III & VII that as long as you are not changing anything & only printing for personal use....no commercial use/compensation.

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This Card kit is designed with 2 funky 5x7 fold over cards with a cute little stamp on the back. The edges have some word art that can be cut out & used for the inside of the card...or other projects. So, print out, cut & fold for easy & gorgeous cards!

The above image with the Printable Journal cards has got to be my fave.  Small 'playing' cards can be used for journaling, note cards, labels, or how about sewing them together for a cool & funky banner?

And the last sheet in this kit is the plain cards: Invitations, greeting cards...whatever you want!

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These were designed to be a one sided card, post card, or even a photo card for your scrapbooks! The bottom greetings are sized perfectly for the shape of the banner....It would be cool to *pop* them up on there! I envisioned these blank insides for a photo, a handwritten note, or IF you are savvy...you can OPEN up the PDF file in Photoshop & apply one of the Spring Circus  brushes, Tattoos, or just type a message on there and then print out!

Also...one of the great things about printing at home is the various printing mediums out there. I LOVE experimenting with printable fabric, sticker paper, window decals, tattoo paper, iron on transfer paper, clear transparency paper or even clear sticker paper! Have fun with these! 

Now...all of the other digital kits can be used as digital art OR they can also be printed out. For example...

this gorgeous Spring Paper kit can be printed out on gorgeous ink jet matte photo paper.

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& WOW...it's amazingly gorgeous! This kit comes in JPG files which are just like Photo files. So, how ever you print your photos (at home, Costco...or my fave: Persnickety Prints) you can just upload them as you would your photos. See? not so scary, huh?

The other kits: Borders, Tags & Tattoos are all in colored PNG files. Now, think of PNG files as Clip Art. You can actually print them out as you would Clip Art....so, any program you use Clip Art in (like Word) you can just use the PNG files to resize & put on an 8 1/2 x 11 page.  Cool, Huh?

The only kit that can't be used in other programs is the Brush kit...since the ABR brush file is specifically for Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.  

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But, I do have to say...if you are DYING over the designs & want them in black...as Clip Art...you CAN still purchase the kit & use the black PNG files as Clip Art. *just sayin'*

OK.

Now...a word about paper.

All inkjet paper is not created equally. I've had people emailing us with questions as to WHY the color isn't as it appears on the monitor...chances are (IF your monitor & printer are properly calibrated) it's your paper choice. I LOVE this paper: Epson Presentation Paper. It's just plain paper weight, but the colors are rich & beautiful...not washed out or too faded. *sometimes you may want that look, so keep that in mind*  See the bottom paper? It's printed out on plain inkjet copy paper...Look at the others...much more true to color...bright, rich & soo lush!

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I also have an Epson R2000 printer, so keep that in mind, too. You may need to do some of your own experimenting to see what papers work best with your printer.

For card stock weight, I LOVE this paper: Epson Premium Matte Double sided photo paper. Again, rich gorgeous color. And double sided means you get the same quality on each side...so fun!

Don't mind me...I"m just printing out all of the Spring Circus stuff to create.... Have an uplifting & inspiRing weekend!

DIY Christmas...Christmas Cards

I love this time of the year....the whole process of family Christmas cards! I love to do-it-myself with all of the Rhonna Designs options..it's sooo easy!

I couldn't be happier with our family photos this year....so, I wanted to share a few shots! 

all photos my my amazing friend, Amanda Hendrickson.

I'll stop there, so as to not overload you.

I just designed the cards; did them myself (i'll wait to show a sneak peek of my DIY) & it was fast & easy...I uploaded to Persnickety Prints & since they are local...I get to go pick them up at 5:00 today...talk about FAST!  If you are on the lookout for a good printer for your Christmas cards...they deliver all over! So...order! You will NOT be sorry!

AND, if you are local...Amanda is a fab photographer! 

Ok..so, tomorrow..I'll show you a DIY gift I'm making for my kids with these photos...

AND...there's a coupon & giveaway! 

so...stop by tomorrow!

until then....

Spark no. 2 Vol. 4...Persnickety Prints

( photos by Chari Pack of Persnickety Prints! Thank you!)

One of the things that just *made* Spark so inspiring was seeing these huge, gorgeous & vibrant signs all over...Spark Quotes for classes & just to inspire!

Persnickety Prints was one of our creative partners & they printed these 30x40 signs for us to hang all over. I designed them with the Spark Digital kit that I used in my mini class & they turned out so FAB! I was /am in LOVE with the quality, the color & the vibrancy!

 (photos by Leslee Keckley, with Jessica modeling....smooches &THANK YOU!)

 We even used them for our hello my name is: name tags.... See how fun & cool they mad the tags?  

I was/am so impressed with Persnickety Prints! A huge thank you to cute Chari & Kenny for doing such a wonderful job on it all! Isn't she darling? We love her!

And...speaking of Persnickety Prints...we featured them in our Live Webshow on Wednesday night when we had our House of 3 Halloween Kick off! 

Did you SEE the amazing metallic prints of the NEW Phantom Large Canvas art? Ohhh....my. Run on over to the House Inspiration blog to see more about it. I"m in LOVE & sooo excited to decorate for Halloween!

...this day will never happen again....

This is a quote that always pulls at my heart strings when I think of my kids.  Especially the First Day of School.

School is back in session & I'm still in denial.  I really do love having my kids at home during the summer...we had such a great time. They are all at such fun ages & we love being together. 

But, getting photos of them is difficult now. Admittedly, I've put them through many photoshooots that may have tainted their love for smiling for the camera.

So, for the first day of school I was lucky to get just a few good shots. I'm excited to get these blown up & printed on metallic paper. I'm in LOVE with Persnickety Prints. LOVE. They are

1. speedy 

2. gorgeous quality

& 

3. friendly...they are just cool people!

So, I'm thinking blown up to a 12x12 & putting them in our huge glass frames you can see here. 

Wouldn't that be cool? I mean...come on...$1.99 for a 12x12 print?
yea....I think it's a great way to remember this day forever. 
Have a fabulous last day of August!

digital designs & at home printing

I have loved answering questions on formspring lately. I do get a lot of the same questions, so if you don't see your question answered, hopefully I've answered it in another person's question.

But, sometimes a question just needs more of an answer than on the formspring forum. Like some of the biggest questions I get about using House of 3 digital designs:

How do you print?
What kind of printer do you use?
How much ink does it use?
What kinds of papers do you print on?

How do I print? I print at home usually. Part of the creative process I enjoy so much is actually seeing it come out of my printer. I seriously get giddy & do a happy dance when I see it! So, you better believe I've done my fair share of finding the best papers, inks, printers, & experimented with it all!

What kind of printer do I use? My love: my Epson stylus printers! I've had several, but the one I've been using for the past 3 years is the R1800. It's been a dream. I have loved the rich, vibrant colors I get & when I want to print large format I want to sing its praises. When I print regular format, I still sing its praises.
But, alas, I have printed the life out of that baby! It's seen its last days. *mourn* Thankfully, Epson is having a FABULOUS rebate sale on their R1900. yeeehaw! So, yea, I will continue to print with my fave printer: Epson!!!!

How much ink do I use? Well, for those of you that have purchased my 100 Creativity Exercises & watched the bonus video...you saw how many ink cartridges I had stacked up. That's a common site in my studio! *wink* I was NOT exaggerating! I do a LOT of printing, troubleshooting, experimenting & so I use a LOT of ink! So, for typical use I would say I go through about a new set of cartridges every couple of months. But, to me, it's well worth it!

What kinds of paper do you print on? This is one thing I love about printing at home: the various mediums I can use in my printer with the House of 3 digital designs! From clear sticker paper to transparencies to white sticker paper to heavyweight matte photo paper to fabric papersfine art papers!

Printing at home & House of 3 digital designs go hand in hand. & for my hybrid craftiness, I adore the endless possibilities for printing the digital designs on just about anything that my printer can handle!

What are YOUR favorites about at home printing & House of 3? You might just find someone will *win* some House of 3 wall art! *wink* talk to me, girls! Leave a comment here!