I was so excited to have the opportunity to write an article for this month’s Ella eZine! I’m a big fan of Lain and Angie so this was a huge thrill 🙂 My article covers a number of hybrid how-tos. Please go check out the eZine, and my article. I’ve got a bonus idea that I’m going to share with you here.

Shaped text or in Photoshop text on a path is fun way to add interest to your journaling. In the next layout I used a tree shape to hold my journaling in keeping with my Christmas theme. You can create your own text paths of any shape using Photoshop (but not Photoshop Elements). I like to do things the easy way and use pre-made text paths that are available to purchase.

Supplies: cardstock (Core’dinations) + patterned paper (Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon) + chipboard alpha (Basic Grey) + Ticket (Jenni Bowlin) + font (Century Gothic) + digital text path (Text Bytes No 19 by Pattie Knox www.designerdigitals.com) + digital embellishment (Jolly Little Friends stickers by Mindy Teresawa www.designerdigitals.com) + digital cluster frame (Stacked Photo Clusters no 3 by Katie Pertiet www.designerdigitals.com) + software (Adobe Photoshop CS4) + plastic (Shrinky Dink) + 12×12 layout

Here’s how:

1. Create a new file in Photoshop (11×8.5, 300 dpi)
2. Find a text path template in the shape you want to use. Pattie Knox has a wide variety of text path templates called “Text Bytes”. Open the template and drag the desired path onto your layout.
3. Select the text layer and replace the sample text with your own.
4. Print and add to your layout.

You might also notice that I used a few other digital techniques on this layout – I used a digital frame for my photos and I also printed out a digital embellishment (the elf was a sticker that I printed on shrinky dink plastic.

I’ll be back later in the week with some layouts that I did with the December Scrap This Kit. It’s such a fun kit with loads of Crate Paper North Pole collection and lots of other goodies!