One of my favorite things about printable art is that the image you download doesn’t have to have just one purpose. Print it on different papers, change the size, crop it, layer it with other materials, and the same piece of artwork can become something completely different.
If you’ve ever downloaded an image because you loved it, only to wonder Now what do I do with it?, here are five ideas to get you started.
1. Make a Handmade Card
A printable image can make a beautiful focal point for a card, and you don’t need an elaborate collection of supplies.
Print the artwork a little smaller than your card front and mount it on cardstock, handmade paper, or a contrasting background. Try tearing the edges instead of cutting them for a softer, more organic look. Add a simple greeting, a piece of ribbon or thread, or a few stitched details if you want to take it further.
The artwork does most of the work. Sometimes the simplest card is the most striking.
2. Add It to a Junk Journal
Printable art and junk journals are natural companions.
Use the full image as a page, or print it smaller and turn it into a pocket, tuck spot, journal card, or decorative element. You can also crop just one interesting part of the image rather than using the entire thing.
Try layering it with old book pages, handmade papers, fabric scraps, stitching, stamps, or bits of ephemera. Once you begin cutting and layering, the original printable becomes part of something entirely your own.
3. Turn It Into a Small Art Print
Not everything needs to become a craft project.
Sometimes all an image needs is good paper and a frame.
Print your artwork on heavyweight matte paper, watercolor paper, or another surface that complements the style of the image. A 5 × 7 print in a slightly larger frame with a mat can turn a digital download into an inexpensive little piece of art for a desk, shelf, gallery wall, or gift.
And because you’re printing it yourself, you can change the paper or size to suit where you want to use it.
4. Use It in Collage or Mixed Media
This is where you can really stop worrying about preserving the original image.
Tear it. Cut it apart. Cover part of it. Draw over it.
Use just the raven, flower, mushroom, building, or other element that caught your attention. Add paint, ink, charcoal, stamps, fabric, handmade paper, stitching, or whatever else happens to be on your worktable.
You can even print the same image more than once and use pieces from several copies in a single composition.
Digital artwork doesn’t have to remain precious. Once you’ve printed it, it can simply become another art material.
5. Make a Journal or Notebook Cover
A favorite image can also become the starting point for a handmade journal or notebook.
Use the full image as the cover, or mount a smaller print onto cardstock, book cloth, faux leather, or another sturdy cover material. Add stitching around the edge, layer it over decorative paper, or create a simple frame around it.
You can also print the artwork on lighter paper and collage it directly onto the cover with matte medium.
The result can be anything from a simple little notebook to a heavily layered art journal.
There Really Isn’t a “Right” Way to Use a Printable
That’s probably what I enjoy most about digital art.
The file may be the starting point, but what happens after you print it is entirely up to you. The same image might become a card for one person, part of a junk journal for someone else, and a framed print hanging on the wall for someone who doesn’t consider themselves a crafter at all.
So print it. Cut it. Tear it. Stitch it. Frame it. Layer something over it.
And don’t be afraid to make it your own.