Scrapbooking With Your Computer : Creating Layouts With Layered Templates (Video Tutorial)

Today I want to share a video tutorial (see below) that walks you through the process of creating a layout using a layered template in Photoshop Elements.

I have come to love layered templates. They are one of my favorite things about digital scrapbooking. They work so great as a foundation for your stories. I like that they take some of the additional thought out of the design process and let me focus more on the words and the photos.

To assist you in the learning process I am including a freebie layered template that is the same as the one I am working with in the video tutorial. Click the text below to download to your computer:

AEdwards_RememberThisFreebieLayeredTemplate_PREV

AEdwards_RememberThisFreebieLayeredTemplate

Here's a look at my completed layout:

Supplies: Cardstock: Michelle Martin Just Linens No. 1; Pattern Paper: Katie Pertiet Krafty Ledger; Capturing Brush & Template: aliedwards.com

Because I am an advocate for not reinventing the wheel I am going to direct you to a previous layered template tutorial for specific written instructions on working with layered templates and a step by step walk-through with images using a different template. The steps and the process are essentially the same. Go here to access that tutorial.

Here are a just a couple quick tips from today's video tutorial.



  • Shortcuts in Elements for masking one layer into another: (mac) command + g and (pc) control + g.

  • Use the eye-dropper tool to select colors from your photos to recolor embellishments, accents, etc.

  • Don't forget to make a new layer when you placing a brush design on your layout - this gives you the ability to move it around without it being stuck on a layer with other elements.


  • Don't make things more complicated than they need to be.



I strongly suggest clicking the link below to watch this tutorial on Vimeo or download it to your own computer. The tutorial lasts just about 40 minutes (it's literally a step by step through my process).




Ali Edwards Digital Layered Template Tutorial from Ali Edwards on Vimeo.

Enjoy this tutorial and free download. GO TELL A STORY.

For other posts in my Scrapbooking With Your Computer series go here.


Today is Simon's 8th birthday. We've got some fun things planned for him, including taking cupcakes to his classroom. I can't believe it has been 8 years. What an amazing journey it has been so far.

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

101 thoughts

  1. Expat says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday, Simon! 8 is a great age!
    Thank you Ali for the tutorials.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Baggsy says…
    01/21/2010

    Thank you so much for the lovely template. Happy Birthday to Simon. Have a great day celebrating.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Sylvia says…
    01/21/2010

    Awesome tutorial, Ali!!! Thanks so much for this wonderful template :) Happy Birthday, Simon!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Gabi says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday, Simon!!! Have a great special day!
    My son turns 6 just in 4 days, I can't believe how fast the time flies!
    Thank you for this awesome template, Ali. Lately I can't imagine scrapping without them, they just save so much time!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Jane Toft says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday to Simon! 8 is a big year in terms of growing up in my experience :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Susan says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday to Simon! Thanks for sharing your gifts with us! Have a wonderful day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Jan C. says…
    01/21/2010

    Thanks for the template. I used your December Daily templates to create probably 20 layouts this Christmas, and loved them. Never really used templates a whole lot before I tried the daily layout project, and I am hooked now.
    btw, another shortcut on the mac for masking layers together is to hold down the Option key, hover your mouse over the line between the two layers you want to join, and click.
    Happy birthday to Simon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Lori says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday to Simon! I can't believe it's been 8 years either; I feel like I've watched him grow through your wonderful words and photos for most of those 8 years. Thanks for allowing us to come along for the ride, Ali!
    Lori

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Lisa Kisch says…
    01/21/2010

    So kind of you to offer this, Ali. Thank you. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Kim K says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday, Simon! Cupcakes in the classroom...doesn't get better than that!
    Thanks for this tutorial, Ali! You're the best!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Christine Villacarlos says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday, Simon!
    Thanks for the tutorial and the freebie, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Kristyn G says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday Simon!
    Ali, thanks for the great layered template! I really appreciate all of the work you have put into this series. Have a great day with your little man!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Cynthia Friese-Hassanein says…
    01/21/2010

    Oh this is such a great series!!!!! Templates I agree so allow you to get to the story. When I was traditional scrapbooking. I would spend so much time on designing the lay-out. And now I am totally into layered templates. There is so many options to make them your own. Happy B-day Sweet Simon:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. debbi g. says…
    01/21/2010

    WOW!! Thanks Ali..Happy Birthday Simon!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Gail E says…
    01/21/2010

    Thanks so much for the tutorials, Ali. Learning this has been one of my goals this year so I truly appreciate your time and effort.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIMON!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. marsha j says…
    01/21/2010

    happy birthday Simon!! wow, he is growing up. i remember one time i took cupcakes to school for my son and he wanted me to make cooked frosting for the cupcakes. i think i even had to go to the store to get a cake mix first, also. i think the cupcakes were for a halloween party.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. jlwagner00@hotmail.com says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday Simon! My little guy is 8 today too! Who knew 8 years would go so fast.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. fred says…
    01/21/2010

    hello Ali,
    thanks a lot for this very interesting week !
    do you know if free actions from Totally rad Actions are compatible with photoshop elements 6 ?
    fred

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Wendy says…
    01/21/2010

    Thank you for the wonderful template. I'm a huge fan of all of your designs and supplies.
    Happy Birthday Simon! I hope you have a wonderful day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. KathleenA says…
    01/21/2010

    Simon, Have a very Happy Birthday!
    Ali, the timing of these posts could not be better for me. I got Elements for Christmas and signed up for Jessica Sprague's up and running class and this information is a perfect compliment. Thanks so much for sharing this information and for the free downloads! I have to agree, after I completed my first lesson of the Up and Running class, I saw how much easier it was to design the pages, or use a pre-desinged page, and I really did focus much more on the story. I included more journaling in my first digi layout than I have in ANY of my traditional layouts.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Lauri says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday Simon!! I hope you have a GREAT day! My oldest son's due date was January 21st...1992. Instead, he was born on January 31st!! And he is now about to turn 18! There's nothing sweeter than a son when he is between the ages of 7 and 11...enjoy!!
    And thanks for the digital guidance and template! So fun to play with!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Afusomax says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy Birthday Dude! 8 is great!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Taraleigh Gray says…
    01/21/2010

    Birthday wishes to Simon! Hope he has a great day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Dana N says…
    01/21/2010

    Happy birthday Simon! Have a great day.
    Thanks Ali for the template!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Jacky S says…
    01/21/2010

    Thank you for sharing all this...it is sooooooooo helpful.

    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.