Hybrid Tutorial: Using One Image to Create a Traveler's Notebook Spread PLUS Editing a Digital Stamp, Creating Text Boxes and Digital Vellum!

Hey Hey Hey Scrappy people! I’ve got a fun and easy tutorial for you today on how to make one image a full page spread in your traveler’s notebook, how to edit digital stamps, create a text box, and add digital vellum like I did on this layout below!

There is a step-by-step tutorial below, or you can watch this video if you prefer!

Cropping Your Image to Traveler’s Notebook Size

Step One: A standard traveler’s notebook page is sized at 4.25in wide by 8.25 in tall so in order to make one image a double page spread, you need to crop the image to 8.5 in wide (2x4.25) by 8.25 in tall. The resolution should be set at 300 px/in for the best quality print.

Side Note: Since this will be going in a traveler’s notebook, anything in the center of the image will be in the “gutter” of the TN, so make sure there’s nothing important (like someone’s face!) that’s going to get cut in half!

Editing a Digital Stamp

Step Two: For this spread, I added a free digital stamp from Paislee Press (which you can find here in my Covid-19 Freebie Roundup) but the words on the stamp were stacked. Since I wanted them to span the spread, I needed to edit the stamp. Using your rectangular marquee (or polygonal lasso tool for more complicated selections) draw a box around the portion of the stamp you wish to move or edit.

Step Three: Using your move tool, drag the selected portion of the stamp to where you want it to be.

Adding a Text Box

Step Four: To create a text box, select your type tool and click and drag with it where you’d like your text to be to create a rectangle. This will confine your type only to that rectangle you drew automatically.

Adding Digital Vellum

Step Five: Since the text was hard to read, I needed to add some digital “vellum” underneath to make it more visible. Using the rectangular shape tool, draw a box under your text that is just slightly larger than the text box itself.

Step Six: To make it look like vellum, drop the opacity of the rectangle lower. I chose 50% but it really is personal preference depending on your photo. You can adjust the opacity in the layers palette or just hit numbers on your keyboard while the rectangle is selected (5 on the keyboard = 50%)

Preparing Your Final Image for Print

Step Seven: Now that the layout is done, we can go to print it! Change the canvas size (Image>Canvas Size) to 8.5x11 (or whatever your international paper size is if you don’t do 8.5x11.)

Step Eight: Print your image on a nice, high quality glossy photo paper. The higher the quality, the thicker the paper and the better it will hold up over time. Then trim down the middle at 4.25 in and adhere to your Traveler’s Notebook. You can now add more embellishments or leave it as-is!