Sometimes, you want to take your time and create something elaborate … and sometimes, you just need something quick. But just because you need it fast doesn’t mean you want to sacrifice the cute factor. That’s what today’s post is all about!

Welcome to the January installment of Think Outside the Album, where we look at different ways to take our digital supplies off the scrapbook page and instead, use them to make the rest of our world just a little bit sweeter! This month, we’ll show you how to use digital journaling cards to create quick and cute note cards.

Hand-written notes aren’t as common today as they once were, given the prevalence of email and text messaging, but that just makes them more special. Whether you’re sending a thank-you for a gift received, a “thinking of you” message to someone who needs a pick-me-up, a note to your child’s teacher, or little “I love you” messages for your child or spouse, taking the time to create something physical – rather than just digital – will really make your message stand out.

The digital journaling cards available at the Sweet Shoppe are the perfect size for a short, hand-written note. Best of all, the design work is already done for you! Let me show you three different ways you can use journaling cards to create note cards: single-sided, double-sided, and folded.

Making a Single-Sided Jotter from digital Journaling Cards

A single-sided jotter-style card is by far the easiest to create. Simply open your preferred page layout software – at different times, I’ve done this with Photoshop, InDesign, Publisher, and Word – and create a new blank page. Then insert the journaling card image. Copy and paste the image several times to fill up your page; how many you can fit on a page will be determined by what size you want your cards.

Created with Vintage Farmhouse Cards by Studio Flergs

Then print on good-quality paper, trim, and you’re done!

Created with Vintage Farmhouse Cards by Studio Flergs

Created with Restart Cards by River Rose Designs and My Oasis Journal Cards #1 by Traci Reed

Making a Single-Sided Note Card from digital Journaling Cards

Take your notes up a notch by using cardstock instead of paper, print a full-card design on one side, and add your handwritten note on the back.

Created with As Sweet as Can Bee Cards by Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Created with Shadow Words Pocket Cards 1 by Meagan’s Creations

Created with Lemonade Season Cards by Clever Monkey Graphics

Making a Double-Sided Note Card from digital Journaling Cards

To elevate your note-giving-game even further, print two journaling cards front-and-back to create a double-sided note card. This may require some test prints to determine how precisely your printer aligns a two-sided print, but the trial and error will be worth it!

Created with Always: Trust Your Wings Cards by Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Created with Art Maker: Transform (Cards) by Little Butterfly Wings & Studio Basic Designs

Created with Hey Tough Girl – Cards by WendyP Designs

Folded Note Card

If you want to create a traditional folded note card, you can use digital journaling cards for that, too. Simply set up your two-page design like this:

Print it double-sided, and you’ll wind up with this:

Created with You Are the Moon: Cards by River Rose Designs

Or, if you prefer a side-fold card rather than a top-fold card, set up your page like so:

Print and trim, and you’ll wind up with something like this Valentine’s card I made from three pre-designed journaling cards:

Created with To My Valentine { Pocket Cards } by Ponytails Designs

Speaking of Valentines, remember that you’ve got just over two weeks to get ready for the holiday. The digital kits available in the Sweet Shoppe make it easy to design your own custom valentines! Check out this fun Valentine’s card created by SugarBabe Mary, perfect for a child to hand out in class:

Sometimes you want to take your time and create something elaborate … and sometimes, you just need something quick. Remember that the professionally-designed journaling cards available for purchase in the Sweet Shoppe can make it quick and easy to create jotters, note cards, and even Valentines. So have fun with your printer and some cardstock, and be sure to snap a photo and share it with us in the Gallery. I can’t wait to see what you create when you Think Outside the Album!