Picky about Printables

When I first started seriously scrapbooking in college, I never really understood why people would use printables.  Printers in my college days did not print with the same quality that they do now, and I never understood why I would want to use a cheaply printed paper image in my crafting.  Fast forward to today, and printables and digital files are all the rage, and I totally understand why:

• At-home printers do an excellent job of printing crisp, clear images
• There is less waste!  Instead of buying a bundle of paper for one specific image you want, you can simply purchase that image online for a cheaper price.  Also, there is less physical waste with no packaging materials being thrown out.
• You save money by owning digital products that you can print for personal use as many times as you want.
• This is a great way to save space, especially as I see so many crafters trying their hardest to de-stash.  Working with digital files and only printing what you need saves valuable space in a small craft room.
• It is easier to support small businesses this way!  There are so many amazing small business owners that do not have the money or resources to create enough physical product to make it available around the world.  Previously, we may have missed out on the artistic contributions of these business owners, but using printables, we can support small businesses all over the world.
• There is immense freedom in being able to manipulate the size, the material, and the opacity of printable images.  While I may prefer to print on sticker paper, someone else might prefer heavy cardstock.  Or, perhaps you want to create an image transfer on wax paper, or even create a temporary tattoo!  There are so many options and your creativity does not have to be limited by a pre-packaged item.

Printable files and digital images are especially useful in Bible journaling, because the products available in big-box craft stores are generally limited in this niche.  You can find online products that range from very specifically geared toward a particular verse to general beautiful images that you will be able to use over and over.  It’s all about what suits your taste the best.  Check out “Sunday Secret #4” for some ways that I enhance die-cut pieces!

My mom’s Bible study is currently working through “The Story”, which is a more narrative interpretation of the Bible.  This week, we covered the downfall of the Israelites and Isaiah’s warnings to the people of Judah to change their ways or they would soon reach the same fate.  The catalyst for God removing the Israelite people from His presence was their insistence on having a king rule over them.  They felt strongly that they would be unable to survive in their world if they didn’t have a king leading them.  They ignored the fact that they had the ultimate King to look to for direction.  Instead, they insisted on misplacing their faith into human hands.  While watching the companion DVD series last Wednesday morning, the author of “The Story”, Randy Frazee, spoke the phrase “No king but King Jesus”.  He reflected on how the story of the Israelites may have been radically different if they had just kept their focus on the King that had rescued them from Egypt.  When we put God on the throne of our lives, we put ourselves in the best possible position for success.

As I sat down to journal a page in Isaiah last week, printables were the perfect option for me, not only because they were beautiful, but because they allowed me the time to reflect on a very specific question.  What kings am I currently putting above King Jesus?  Maybe social media?  Maybe my children?  Maybe the “me” time that I so desperately seek out?  These were all things that I was able to contemplate and pray about as I sat down to cut out the abstract flowers from the “OLW” set from A Pile of Ashes.

The construction of my page was very simple.  I didn’t choose a specific verse, but rather the whole of Isaiah 40, where he speaks to the attributes of God, and how no other being is on the same level of majesty and power.  I cut out a simple gold crown from a piece of metallic gold cardstock and used it as the primary focal point on my page.  Then, I scattered the cut flowers around the page, layering them around the crown, and placing them in two other places around the page.  This created an artistic triangle that is very pleasing to the eye.

I added a title using multiple alpha stickers and stamps, and then added a bit of Distress ink to connect the groupings of flowers.  In retrospect, I wish that I had put the ink down before adhering the flowers in place, but it all worked out in the end.  As a final touch, I used the new Amen stamp from the Illustrated Faith “Mark Maker” kit to bring in even more navy blue.  Plus it seemed like an appropriate way to cap off the time of prayer!

Are you a printables kind of crafter?  How do you prefer to use digital files in your crafting?  Let me know in the comments below!  You can always check out some of my favorite crafting resources by clicking the links on my Resources Page!

I am a member of the A Pile of Ashes Sticker Squad 4.0.  The file used in this posting was sent to me for free, but my opinions are my own.  Also, if you hop over to Ashley’s shop, use code Elisa15 for 15% off of your order!

Keep it creative,

-The Scrappy Wife

Products Used:

• The Illustrating Bible
• “OLW” printable set from A Pile of Ashes (Use code Elisa15 to save 15%)
• Gold metallic cardstock
• Alpha stickers from my stash
• Distress Ink in milled lavender
• Distress Ink in chipped sapphire
• Mark Maker Stamp Set from Illustrated Faith