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Join Katie, Steph, Peppermint, and Liz Albers from Scrapping With Liz as they discuss everything you can think about TEMPLATES! From the why’s to a few how’s and everything in-between.
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You can download the show by right clicking and saving this link(right click and select “save link as”.
Joining the Discussion:
Steph
Katie Nelson
Peppermint Granberg
Liz Albers
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Picks of The Week
Peppermint: Amy Martin’s Templates
Katie: Shabby Miss Jenn’s Templates
Steph: Meredith Cardall’s Cut-Away Calendar templates; pretty and basic
Liz: MCP photo editing video tutorials
About using tablets for certain functions… I was just thinking that when you can talk to your tablet, you can probably do a whole lot in an easier fashion, even without the keyboard. Siri!!!
I agree! I love Siri on my iPhone 4S, and now want her on my iPad 2. I would just tell her what kind of page I want, point her to the photos and digisupplies, and let her go to work while I sit back and relax. LOL!!
Really enjoyed listening to this week’s show. I was intrigued by the discussion about the potential to someday digiscrap on tablets. Right now however, I find that tablets are really geared at consuming content rather than creating content. Usability will need to dramatically improve to entice me to spend more time creating on my iPhone or a tablet as I really like having a keyboard, but I really liked the idea of using a tablet to review twitter, facebook etc. before settling down at a “real” computer to focus on work.
I don’t usually use templates, although I don’t see any problem with other people using them. If that’s what makes you happy, then go right ahead. I don’t use them because one of my favorite parts of scrapbooking is designing the layout. Sometimes it doesn’t always come out looking like it belongs in a magazine, but that’s okay with me. I like to do it myself. The two times I have used templates it was because I was just extremely stuck with what to do with the page I was working on. Opening up a template and starting that way helped me get past the “mental block.” But in general, I like to allow myself to take the time to lay it all out on my own.
I really loved this show being that I’m a self-proclaimed template tart!
I love Liz’s templates and have many of them so it was cool to hear her on the show. I’m also a fan of Janet Phillips two page templates. I love templates that hold a lot of photos. Cindy Schneider’s templates are awesome too! Cilenia Curtis at Digitals makes some awesome artistic and nature themed layered templates or templates+. Those are the kind that come with extra goodies on them and look more like quick pages but they’re layered and customizable. The layered StudioDD templates at Designer Digitals, which are mostly created by Kayleigh Wiles using Katie Pertiet’s products are also faves of mine. I’m collecting them all and there are already over 100 of them. Yikes! I guess I have a problem too! 
Great show ladies, as always! Happy Halloween to all!
PS… Just a head’s up that the show abruptly ended when Steph was talking about her pick. At least the iTunes version did.
That happened to me, too. So I wondered if maybe when I downloaded my internet connection fizzled out. I’m going to redownload in a bit
I will fix it when I get home tomorrow night. My internet connection here is super painfully slow (I can’t even get the first minute of the show to load).
The host that we use for the shows has been really, really wonky lately as well and doing some crazy things with the shows, so I’m not sure if it is on our end or theirs, but I can’t do anything without faster internet.
Sorry everyone!
It’s all fixed guys!
Just a quick tip for anyone who subscribes through iTunes. To redownload the show, first delete the episode in iTunes. Then, collapse the subscription listing so the episodes are hidden. Next, OPT+Click or ALT+Click to expand the episodes. When you do, iTunes will add the episode back to the list and you can click GET to redownload.
Thanks for this, I was coming to mention the abrupt end of the show on my iPhone. I just ended up listening to the last couple minutes on the site here, but these instructions are good if I ever need to do this again.
off topic here…sorry.
I am in the process of trying to capture stories of my mother’s childhood for the next generation.
Do you have any tips or tricks how to draw out or encourage someone to tell their story?
My mother is a very introverted person with her emotions, and I recently discovered she has a treasure chest of memories that you put in a scrapbook..yet they mean nothing to use because we have NO clue who is in the photos or why she even took the photos in the 1st place.
lol—to share a funny. She is in a bathing suit on the driveway with white bobby socks and tennis shoes…posing! Granted, she was in High School but still funny to try to understand her sense of humor.
thanks, carry on.
sorry for the typo’s above…where is the edit button.
My mother is a very introverted person with her emotions, and I recently discovered she has a treasure chest of memories that SHE put in a scrapbook..yet they mean nothing to US
I’m in a similar situation and hoping to videotape my mom as she tells the stories behind photos with the camera on the photos and capturing her audio. I’m considering the Zoom audio recorder mentioned by Izzi on an early show. Then, eventually, I’d like to make a dvd for all my siblings edited with her stories and photos.
Oh I totally get the pronunciation issues. But I’ve been using templates in Pagemaker, Microsoft Word, Publisher and other programs for years. At my graphic design job we said “template”, not “templet”.
Maybe it’s ’cause we are Aussies?
I love hearing everyone’s accents and the way they use words… for eg I’d always coming down the pipe (short for pipeline) rather than coming down the pike (turnpike). But now I’ve looked it up it coming down the pike seems to be a southern US phrase?
Anyway, I love the show and always enjoy a little bit of etymology!
English is so confusing! What about the word contemplate? Spelled the same as template but they are said differently? I still like my way better. lol!
Guess what Peppermint….
http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2011/10/new-product-has-arrived/js-bh/
eeep! I may have to try this…I only just started looking at this PL stuff last night and it’s all so pretty!
Ohhh, I know. I spied that on Facebook this past week. I was just saying to a friend the other night that I’m considering doing NO year-long projects next year and being more “fly by the seat of my pants”. But you never can tell with me.
ah yes. I’ve never done a year long project but I’m thinking Project Life stuff may work for all my old photos that I’m too lazy to scan…
Loved the show. I use templates a lot, and I frequently find inspiration from the templates themselves. I’ll see a shape or a layering pattern and it can really spark my creativity. I tend to turn layers off more than resizing or rotating to make a template my own. When I am done, I always feel like the page truly belongs to me.
I thought I would share a layout with you (it even uses one of Liz’s templates). It was inspired by a layout I saw where the user had saved for web with the template’s default text boxes turned on (instead of the layer with her own journaling). I think it was actually a mistake, but I thought it was a great idea for a layout celebrating templates. One of the text boxes in my layout has the default text, although I did change the font.
http://scraporchard.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=107620&title=for-the-love-of-templates&cat=500
Loved the show and the topic of templates. I will freely admit that I was a template “hater” for quite a bit of time. It wasn’t that I thought it was “cheating” or not scrapping, I just couldn’t wrap my brain around using the outside the box. While many people feel freed by templates, I felt oddly restrained. You’ll never guess what changed my mind. About 4 months ago, I challenged myself to use only templates and scraplifts for an entire month. I managed to scrap about 30 layouts or so that month and didn’t use a template twice I believe. But more importantly, I grew to love templates! Now it is usually the first place I go for inspiration and I am loving my pages. Now I can focus on the story rather than the composition. I would say to everyone who has difficulty using a particular kind of product, challenge yourself to use it for a month and might be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy it!
Had to laugh at your pronounciation discussion. I always blame my “issues” on learning to read during the time that they were teaching sight reading only and so I didn’t learn phonics until I had to teach my oldest when we started homeschooling. Also, now that I live in Maine, instead of Seattle (a little jealous of Steph) there are words that are pronouced different here (i.e, roof, aunt, etc.). Great show, as always! Thank you!
Quick chime in:
I don’t use templates, but after this episode I might. But I had to say that until I took Steph’s free class at BPC layers were a complete mystery to me. Once I took that class I actually understood PSE layers, and had a solid foundation on which to start digi scrapping on. I send every one I know who expresses an interest in digi scrapping, or learning layers in PS/PSE in general to that class. I referred to the class and handout many times during my first few months digi scrapping. OK, back to paying attention in class now…
I never used sketches when I primarily scrapped with paper; I started to use them for digi-scrapping and now I use them often for both. I almost never use templates — the couple of times I’ve tried they seem to be just as much work, if not more, than simply referencing a sketch!
After listening to the show, I’m wondering if my problem is the way that I approach them — I’ve never thought about altering the templates as I use them since, in my mind, if I’m going to manipulate the elements then I might just as well use it like a sketch and not fuss with all the extra layers.
Peppermint’s comments have me wondering if maybe I haven’t found a template that matches my style closely enough for me to not want to change it around. I confess that the two layouts I made using actual templates are both ones that I am less happy with compared to the ones where I used the templates as a sketch inspiration. (I am not *unhappy* with them, but they are not on any of my favorites lists. LOL)
This show has given me a lot to think about; I may have to break out a template or two the next time I scrap and see what I can do with them besides “drag-and-drop.”
Thanks for all the great ideas!
I can so identify, I used to love Becky Higgins sketches and now adore Janet Phillips templates ( we in South Africa say “templet” too, only not when saying contemplate) for the same reasons. Double pagers, focus on the photos with enough space for the journaling.
The designers that I create for do not mind us using templates as long as we credit the kit maker and template designer when uploading to galleries. However when the designer wants to use our layouts for promotion of their kits, then they don’t want to have to credit outside template designers, so for those I create my own. I am often inspired to create my own templates from a stunning layout that resonates with me and inspires me and then I just tweak it and make it my own.
I love the description that templates are like sketches on steroids. Yes please, I’ll have me some more of that!
Thanks for a great show, can’t wait for the one about design teams.
This episode reminded me of my very first digi purchase back in 2006. I had never been a paper scrapper, and had a background in Photoshop, so I didn’t know that sketches were, well, just sketches. I assumed that a sketch was a layered template. So, I purchased a very expensive set of sketches from a popular designer only to find out they were flattened JPGs. I was so disappointed! Templates have come so far since then and I love them. They are such a time saver.
I’m not too worried about coming up with a unique page design. I love being able to take something that I already see will work and just tweak it as I see fit. Time is a premium, so I rely more and more on templates all the time! My favorite templates are those that come in a big pack with many different photo number options so that I can create a consistent look throughout an album, rotating and flipping the templates to create different looks within the same “design” so to speak.
Loved the discussion on templates. I for one use templates 90% of the time but that being said at least 50% of the time you won’t recognize which template I’ve used when I’m done. My question is when do I stop giving credit to a template designer??? Or do I used “inspired by” when I feel I have altered them beyond a significant point.
For Katie and her love of big pictures have you seen these templates from AprilLisa Designs – http://www.gottapixel.net/store/product.php?productid=35163&cat=0&page=1 (large pictures and plenty of paper layers!).
I usually use a template when I have a kit where I want to use a lot of elements. I don’t feel comfortable clustering myself much so a template gives me more confidence. I’m also finding them easier to use in PSE10 than in PSE6…maybe it’s just the app but I’m so glad I upgraded.
I finally got this episode in! I’m glad I did. I’d never thought of merging templates… Great idea!
I don’t think I could ever scrap on a tablet, but my husband has one and I do like it for watching movies/tv on the go (when he lets me borrow it). I check email on my iPhone so I am sure I’d love that on an iPad.
Peppermint, great pick! I was at the DSD sale this weekend and although I am new to Amy’s stuff, I fell in love. Her style (and yours) is that same style that just speaks to me. It’s simple, clean, and organized which is everything I want to be (ha ha!)… I’ve been on a kick lately to get back to my original style of creating simple yet stunning layouts. I love to cluster too (I love most styles of scrapping) but this has always been my favorite.
Thanks Liz for the photography tutorials… I am a visual learner myself.
One mention I’d like to make… you guys referenced a couple of shortcuts in the program (cnt/alt/g will group, L in illustrator makes a circle)… If you ever have time on an upcoming show, I would love to hear more about favorite shortcuts and time saves for both scrappers and designers using our favorite programs.
Thanks again for the great show!
I love templates and have only in the past year realized how versatile they can be. I took a small class by Kayleigh Wiles called template manipulation that got me thinking about how I can change and rearrange templates. I also find it helpful to look at template challenges to see side by side comparisons of how people can make one template look so varied. Not to mention for those of us like me who are design challenged (seriously I am), it is a tremendous starting point.
I also like Studio DD, Katie Pertiet and Anna Aspnes templates. This is because of all of the extra elements, brush work, blending masks, frames and other assorted goodies that are included. I often will take elements from the templates to use on other pages.
I’m finally getting around to listening to this post. I’m surprised that you all continue to use different shortcuts for different programs. Did you know that you can change the shortcuts in Photoshop to be anything you want? You can make them the same as Lightroom if that works for you. Go to Edit-Keyboard Shortcuts and you have the flexibility to change any shortcut or even create a shortcut for something you do regularly that Adobe didn’t think to make a shortcut for!
I love the Digi Show, but this episode is by far my favorite. I really don’t know what it is, maybe it’s just because I love sketches and templates so much. I really related to alot that was said.
I am currently enrolled in Katrina Kennedy’s Exposure class, Kayla’s Finding your Photo Flow class, I’m in the process of taking Kayla’s free organizing in LR class and I’m patiently waiting for Katie’s Round-Up class to start. For the longest time I have felt like I have this hobby that I do a whole lot of talking about, but have nothing to show for it. You guys have inspired me in so many ways. I’m hoping by the beginning of 2012; between my new photography skills, Wendy’s actions, being organized in LR and Katie’s Round-Ups I’ll be ready to scrap so my loved ones can actually touch and feel my hobby instead of just hearing about it.
I know you guys probably tire of hearing this but I really do appreciate all you bring to the digi community. Since discovering you guys way back at the beginning of 2011, I feel like I’ve become a whole lot smarter.
Thanks again,
Tina in Texas
We never get tired of hearing nice things!
Thanks so much!