6 ways to use digital products without Photoshop

Hi there! One of the greatest/worst things to ever hit scrapbooking is Photoshop. This program has literally changed the scrapbooking game. There are now ENDLESS possibilities of ways you can edit photos. There are people who scrapbook exclusively in photoshop. Which brings me to digital products. Woah. There are entire companies based solely on digital products. Which is amazing! These products are more affordable (sometimes free!), reusable and can be customized to any stretch of the imagination. BUT! Photoshop has also completely overwhelmed and ostracised many of the more traditional scrapbookers, those who aren’t as tech savvy or those without the time to devote to the intensity of photoshop. So, I am here to show you 6 different ways you can use digital products in your scrapbooking without photoshop, needing a degree in IT or if you are in a pinch for time or just want to use your digital elements in a new way!These weekly cards can be found here (for free!) by Caylee Grey!  A quick note: When saving digital elements you must save them as jpegs to use these techniques.1. First, my favorite technique. Add the digital element in an app. All you need is a smartphone. Apps like Mystic, Over or photoshop (a MUCH simpler version and only $5 for your phone) allow you to quickly add digital elements to photos with only a tap or two. Here is a step by step photo tutorial using Mystic for how I created this photo or here for a step by step video tutorial. In short, you save both photos to your phone and upload the digital one in the app under the ‘handwriting’ choice. Done. Beautiful. Simple.2. Print directly onto patterned paper. This one only takes a few attempts at figuring out your own printer. Run a piece of plain paper through to figure out placement and you’re done. I literally use the program Paint to print these. Yes, that program you used as a kid to make weird spray paint looking art on because it was the only program that came with your computer. I open the photo in Paint and choose the size I want to print. Do a practice run and then insert my pretty paper when I’m satisfied.3. Print on vellum. This is the greatest trick I have ever learned as a scrapbooker! Follow the steps in number 2 to print on vellum instead of paper and then lay it over a photo or paper, etc.4. Fake a digital overlay. To make this card, I simply printed the digital element on computer paper and then cut very closely around the letters, adhered it and was done.5. All hail the white space. I love printing on good, white card stock. Whenever a project is just too busy, this is a great way to calm things down.6. Design your own background. I followed the same steps as before, printed on white cardstock and then watercolored these very trendy stripes. The possibilities with white space are limitless…oh the places your scrappy imagination can take you…    I hope you have found a new way to use your digital elements that are quick, easy and stretch your stash a little farther. I can’t wait to see what you make! Have more ideas? Share them in the comments so we can all use them!