Janie's Jewels & Jems, LLC: Digi-Scrapping using TEMPLATES...

There are times when I love using templates... and my favorite template designer is Binty Designs (see the layouts of our SD vacation, and our boy's early year adventures following these few template tips).

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TEMPLATE TIPS: Open up the Template psd 1st. Do a SaveAs and rename it. Then open your photos (edit as desired), then pull them into your template psd. Then pull in your elements & papers, placing them in the layers above the template layer they'll be going in (you can always pull them in any ole' way if you like, but then it takes a lot longer to click & drag them into place because you have to scroll with them to get them in the proper layer). SAVE YOUR FILE. Then start playing!! FREQUENTLY save your file. You never know when your program might freeze on you... believe me, it's NOT FUN to lose your artwork cuz you forgot to save it since you started!! So, save, Save, SAVE your file!!

Sharing this tip because I began a couple of layouts yesterday (using my 'normal' approach) and decided after pulling in all the papers & ellies that I wanted to use a template. It ended up taking much longer than it usually takes when using a template... so thought I'd pass on what I learned... and HOPEFULLY I'll remember for the next time :-)

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MY NORM: The above is the opposite of how I usually do a layout. I normally create a new file (12x12, 300dpi), open & edit photos (making sure they're also 300dpi and resized accordingly), pull them into the new SB file. Pull in the papers & ellies that I like (sometimes I start with the "entire" kit). SAVE FILE. At this point, I place my cursor on the little check boxes to the left of the layer thumbnails and I click & drag to hide ALL the embellishments (or elements as they're referred to in digi-scrapping). I work on the photo placement (with or without frames/masks). Then I play with placing the ellies... SAVE FILE. Then I play with the papers... layering, blending, etc. SAVE FILE. When everything is in place and I'm happy with the LO, then I give it the finishing touches... the special effects (drop shadows, beveling, strokes, glows... whatever works to make the right things POP). SAVE FILE. Then I merge all the visible layers, delete the hidden if I missed any, resize to 72dpi and SaveAs PNG file. Then I do a SaveForWEB and select JPG and 600px, apply & Save. This gives me a high quality photo for uploading to my FB albums (using the PNG) and the right sized JPG for uploading to my digi-galleries.

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WINDOWS 7: Before we got our new PCs, I was using dual monitors (17") and loved being able to have both file explorer open to the directory of the kit I was using and PSE and drag things across the screens... windows large enough to actually SEE everything. Now, with W7... I have a widescreen monitor (23") and can split my screen lickity-split and do the same thing (dual-monitors using only 1). The way-cool thing about W7 is you don't have to do all the sizing by hand... you just click & hold the windows icon button (usually between control & alt on the lower left of your keyboard) then click the left or right arrow (depending on which side you want the open window to snap to). It's great!!

And now for the layouts using these great templates by Binty -- btw, she's got a fantastic retirement deal going on thru the end of March that includes some of her templates along with several kits that I've used before.... totally worth checking out... it's amazing what she's bundled for only $5!

I did the following layouts using Binty's January, February & March 2012 GrabBags (come with a full kit, set of templates, alpha(s) and usually an extra little goodie or two).

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Love to Read

Be Like Daddy

credits: Everyday Templates Vol3 (March 2012 grab bag) and Home Sweet Home kit
(Jan 2012 grab bag) by Binty Designs, font - Steamer

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Hospital Adventures

credits: Binty's February 2012 Grab Bag! plus Enjoy Life Everyday Addon (freebie)
font - OCR-A II

Peter's 1st Birthday

credits: Binty's February 2012 Grab Bag! plus Enjoy Life Everyday Addon (freebie)

fonts - problem secretary

Jonathan's 3rd Birthday

credits: Binty's February 2012 Grab Bag! plus Enjoy Life Everyday Addon (freebie)
fonts - Ravie, SBC Love Mom

Andrew's 4th Birthday

credits: Binty's February 2012 Grab Bag! plus Enjoy Life Everyday Addon (freebie),

fonts - SBC Stone Inscription, Schindler

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Smokey and Bear Country USA

credits: Colors of Summer kit by Binty Designs, Everyday Templates vol.1#4
(Jan2012 Grab Bag) by Binty Designs, font - Gabriola

Black Hills - SD Wildflowers

credits: Colors of Summer kit by Binty Designs, Everyday Templates vol.1#3
(Jan2012 Grab Bag) by Binty Designs,
fonts - Gabriola, Geometr231 LtBT, Herald, LokiCola, Jokerman, Mandingo

SD Bear Country USA