Can you say Page Templates?

I am in love with Page Templates. While I love quick pages (already completed layouts), sometimes you spend more time searching for what you need when you could have just created it yourself. Page Templates make it fast and easy to create a page that is still your own.

I have spent the last couple days downloading (free and purchased) page templates. I have over 30 of them on my computer. Today I organized them into folders by the number of photos on a page or 2-page spread. This is sort like how Becky Higgins organizes her sketches in her first "Sketches" book. It's how I start a layout much of the time.

Also, while in this process, I realized that Jessica Sprague had mentioned Digital Page Templates in the April edition of CK. How did I miss that? Anyways, she has a tutorial on the CK website on how to use the templates along with some free samples created by Jen Caputo. I think I've pretty much mastered them. It really is quite simple. Just remember the command "Ctrl+G" (or Alt, hover, click--that's how Jessica does it).

Off to play with my new page templates...

Still Researching...

Okay, so I know I haven't created anything lately but I feel like I have a grasp on the basics of Photoshop Elements 6.0

Yay me! (as London Tipton would say--I have a six-year-old so of course we keep up with the Disney Channel, but if you don't understand this, it's okay.)

I'm still doing some research and learning as much as I can. I recently purchased Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 2 by Jessica Sprague and I have to say that I love her teaching style. The book-a-zine (as they are called) is packed with tons of 3-step simple tutorials on how to do things like:

• Blend a photo into digital paper.
• Rotate the letters of a title to fit around a circular shape.
• Place a semi-transparent punched embellishment over a photo.
• Customize the colors of digital patterned paper.
• Use a digital corner rounder.
• Create a custom brush from any image (including stamps!)
• Create a shaped photo collage.
• Overlap photo edges with digital patterned paper and digital rub-ons.
• Create a layout using a digital template.
• and much more!!!

The first challenge I want to tackle is to create a layout using a digital template. I've seen lots of these I like. The hardest part of scrapbooking for me is coming up with a creative basic layout with which to start. I never have a problem choosing colors, paper, or embellishments but I think using these templates as a springboard will help me be happier with what I have created and create faster.

Thanks Jessica for such a great book!