Tutorial: Creating Your Own Digital Scrapbooking Birthday eCard

In this tutorial, I’m going to teach you how to make your own digital scrapbooking birthday cards you can send like an eCard.

For a long time, I made my own birthday cards, which required me to be organized ahead of time to ensure the greeting arrived on time. Over time, I changed from the traditional card to an email greeting – an eCard – that included an inspirational quote and a birthday joke. I liked that this option allowed me a little extra time if I missed mailing the card in time. Recently I began creating a digital eCard that I would send via email with a small note explaining their greeting can be saved into their photo gallery to use as a wallpaper for their device. While this option also gave me that bit extra time, I liked that it became a treasured memory that is already scrapped and can be enjoyed for years to come.

Now, I will take you through the simple steps to make your own digital birthday wish. I have made two eCard layouts, one using the JIF6: 4×6 Birthday eCard kit for a quick and easy place to begin and the second with the Out in the Yard Collection Biggie to scrap my own design. The finishing paragraph then refers to both layout options.

Layout 1

Creating an eCard using the JIF6: 4×6 Birthday eCard kit allows you to simply add your photographs and/or greeting text. You can use it as a starting point and add some of your other favorite scrapbooking elements to make it your own. The JIF6: 4×6 kit resizes perfectly to the 640×960-pixel, 320-ppi resolution.

• Open the file, JSM_BdayEcard_JIF6_4x6_Layout.psd. You will see each item is on its own separate layer (see the screen shot below). Each of the three card layers also have a photo layer above with the shape ready for clipping your photograph.
• Add photographs of your choice to the PSD file. Ensure that each photograph layer is placed above the corresponding photo layer.
• To clip a photo to the shape on the layer below, hold the Ctrl button while clicking on the layer with your photograph and select Create Clipping Mask. (In Photoshop Elements, highlight the photo layer and click Ctrl+G.) Do this for each of the three photo layers.
• To add your greeting text to a card instead of a photograph, turn off any of the photo layers to reveal the journaling card. Click on your layout using your Text Tool and begin typing your text. Adjust the size of your text and placement to fit on the journaling card.
• When you have completed your eCard, save your file before resizing your layout.
• To resize your layout, choose Image Size from the Image menu. Insert the following dimensions: 640 pixels wide, 960 pixels high with a resolution of 320 ppi and select OK.
• You will now save a copy by selecting File > Save As. Change the file name to reflect the change of size. I like to use the word “iPhone” to replace “4×6.” Choose something that has meaning for you and click Save.

Layout 2

To design your own birthday eCard, use any of your favorite digital scrapbooking elements. I have used the Out in the Yard Collection Biggie in this example with the “happy birthday” word art from the JIF6 kit above.

• Open your photo editing software and create a new file with the following dimensions: 640 pixels wide, 960 pixels high, and a resolution of 320 ppi.
• Create your design as you would for any of your scrapbooking layouts.
• For more information on creating digital scrapbooking layouts, visit the Scrap Girls University.

Layout prompts

The following ideas may assist you in creating your unique birthday eCard:

• An inspirational quote
• A birthday joke
• Sharing a favorite memory
• Including memorable photographs
• Cite an “On This Day” event from history

Finishing

When you have completed your eCard, save your file and then save a copy as a JPG file. I like to include the word “final” in my file name so I can easily tell the difference between my original PSD file with layers and the flattened final JPG version.

You are now ready to compile your digital scrapbooking birthday eCard email, attaching your JPG file to surprise your recipient with your unique birthday eCard. I hope this has inspired you to create something a little different to send as a birthday greeting.

Enjoy brightening someone’s day!

Tutorial written by Jacqui Smith
http://www.scrapgirls.com/AboutUs/AU_JacquiSmith.htm

Layouts in this tutorial are created using Photoshop CS5 on an Apple computer. The dimensions used in this tutorial are for the Apple iPhone 4 and tested on a 3GS.