Hi folks! To kick off national letterwriting month and I consider it also send your cards month, here’s a super simple Mother’s Day card you can make. I am really big on using digital elements because of the ease of being able to download them immediately and also because I can create my own matching designs if I’m missing something. However, I also love the real paper, textures and touchy-feeling elements of handmade cards. So the best of both worlds in my opinion would be hybrid cards! Combining both sides of cardmaking I think really maximizes the potential for all of us to create. To start this lovely month of stationery and card goodness here on BackToPaper.com, here’s a super easy peasy way to use digital elements. The idea is to make a simple card by combining elements digitally for printout, but then adding a real-life embellishment to bring out the handmade feel.
To make the card above I used the free Sketch Tulips digital element from Hero Arts, my own designing in Photoshop and simple embellishments I had lying around already.
- I wanted a distressed style, so I created the faded music paper background in Photoshop and put that behind the Sketch Tulip element in Photoshop.
- Then I added a simple sentiment to the bottom with the basic text tool and added a drop shadow in white – so really it’s a glow to make the words pop a bit more.
- I planned to add embellishments in the middle, so that’s why I left the space there, so now my is ready.
- I printed out onto white cardstock in the size I wanted for my card.
- I cut out the graphic a bit smaller than my white card base and added some dimension by inking and distressing the edges.
- Then I added my real-life embellishment of string with a bright button around the center with a simple bow.
- I glued that whole finished panel onto my white card base and tah-dah! All done!
Really easy, right? You can download the faded music paper background I created below, just click for high-resolution JPG. Feel free to use for your personal projects or paper crafting projects. I know sometimes it can be intimidating to use Photoshop or related programs, but this same card could have been done by simply printing all elements out and cutting them out individually to combine by hand as well. I really like simple hybrid cards like this, especially if you need to make 50 thank you cards, for example. You can quickly print out 50 copies of your design. I hope this will inspire you to use those digital elements out there and make a hybrid card. Enjoy and stay tuned for more hybrid projects like this one 
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15 Comments
Hi…I’m here from the Yahoo group and this is just fantastic! Great digi image and I love how you layered it on the sheet music paper
That is simply beautiful……
ohh, I love the watercolor look of the flowers!
Lovely card! Thank you for the download. I was just looking for something like this earlier in the week. Timing is everything!
Thanks everyone!
Oh!!! thanks for the music sheet! What a pretty card!
I love your card, and I really appreciate the music
file you shared.
Thanks for the music note background!
Stunning work Helen! I didn’t know Hero Arts had joined the digital realm – woohoo – like I need any more temptation.
Lovely card.
I just LOVE this! Congrats on the HA tweet!
Love your blog, too! I’m so glad I found you!
Great card, I thought I recognized those flowers as Hero Arts – didn’t know they had digital too. Thanks for the download – my daughter is into music so I can definitely use that. I’ve just fiddled a little with digital but I do enjoy making collages and I can use that as a background.
Thanks everyone! Glad you can use the free digital download
Thank you so much for the music sheet. I have been looking all over for something like this. I’m so happy I came upon your site.
thanks again,
bobbi
You are very welcome- glad you can make use of these items!