December Daily 2010 | Ideas For Using The 6x8 Layered Templates (+ Video Walk-Through & Tutorial)

First off I wanted to say thank you to those of you that requested these 6x8 layered templates. After playing with them today in preparation for this post I can definitely see them coming in very-handy for my album.

Today's post includes two videos. This first is a walk-through of the ways I plan to use these 6x8 layered templates and the second is step-by-step instruction in Photoshop Elements.

Let's start with a little walk-through video:

Ali Edwards | December Daily 6x8 Template Walk-Through from Ali Edwards on Vimeo.

And here's a video that walks you through using the templates in Photoshop Elements:

Ali Edwards | 6x8 December Daily Layered Template Tutorial from Ali Edwards on Vimeo.

Here's a look at the ideas I covered in the above videos:

IDEA #1. Use as an overlay on a full page photo.


Inside the layered template package there are two pages that are designed specifically to use for full-page photos. Any of the others could also be used by hiding/removing the image boxes (the yellow photo boxes).

Here's what this one looks like after printing and cropping from the 8.5x11 sheet of photo paper:

And as a spread with the 2010 date overlays:

The page with the #2/right-hand side of the spread might include:


  • another photo or more than one photo

  • handwritten journaling

  • journaling from my typewriter

  • something that came in the mail or other little pieces of paper from the day

  • a photo with journaling


IDEA #2. Print the photos on photo paper + print the frame on cardstock.


Use the layered template to just print photos. Mask your photos (command G on a Mac or control G on a PC) into each of the squares and print on photo-paper (turn off the overlay layer before printing by clicking on the "eye" next to the layer in the layers palette).

Turn the overlay layer back on (and turn off your photo layers) and print on cardstock. Crop images from photo paper and adhere onto cardstock background.

Here's what this one looks like after cropping and before adhering the photos on the cardstock:

This is a really great option if you want to add more dimension to your album. Use foam dots under the photos to have them stick up off the page. There's lots of possibilities with this option. The best part is that the basic design is already decided allowing you to focus more on the images and the story.

Here's what it looks like as part of a spread with the transparent page in-between:


IDEA #3. Print the frame and photos on photo paper.


The super quick and simple option is to just mask your photos and print on photo paper. Add other digital elements or not. Add traditional embellishments after printing or not.

Here's what it looks like after being cropped from the 8.5x11 photo paper:

And a look at this one in the spread:

Want more information or additional video tutorials on digital and hybrid scrapbooking? Click here to access my Getting Started With Digital Scrapbooking tutorials.

ADDITIONAL SUPPLY INFORMATION
Photo Paper | Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl 8 1/2 x 11
Printer is a | HP Photosmart B8550
Trimmer | Fiskars Desktop Rotary Trimmer

If you've got any questions about this process let me know in the comments. I hope you're getting excited!

For more on December Daily go here.

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107 thoughts

  1. Lisa R says…
    11/30/2010

    Hi ALi,
    I have Photoshop CS5 that I mainly use for photo editing. I am familiar with the layers used in that, but I have never delved into digital scrapbooking. I watched the video you made and loved it, however, I was unable to figure out how to apply your instructions to regular photoshop. Would it be worthwhile for me to invest in ELements, too, or is there a tutorial that can show me how to do it in regular photoshop?

    Thanks,
    Lisa

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/03/2010

      Hi Lisa - which part did you have trouble with? You definitely don't need Elements if you have CS5. I use CS4 normally but use Elements for the video tutorials (more people have it than the CS versions).

  2. December Daily | Ali Edwards says…
    11/30/2010

    [...] Ideas For Using The 6×8 Layered Template Package (+ Video Walk-Through & Tutorial) [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Susi says…
    11/30/2010

    I am really loving the videos. When I first became interested in memory keeping years ago, I was too intimidated so I collected a few things here and there and bought magazines for a few years. I'm so glad that beginners and experts will all get something out of your videos. Thanks much.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Sharon E says…
    12/01/2010

    Hi Ali,
    This will be my first time doing a December daily. I am very excited!
    My question is, how do I get the 6x8 template from photoshop onto a 8.5x 11 paper for printing at a photo developer with out changing the original size?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/03/2010

      Hi Sharon - my suggestion would be to create a new file that is 8.5x11. Flatten the 6x8 when you are completely done with it and then use the move tool (black arrow) to move it over on the 8.5x11 and then save as a JPG for uploading.

  5. Angela Norris says…
    12/03/2010

    I bought and downloaded the 6 by 8 templates and have watched the video but even with my husbands help we don't seem to be able to work out how to use them.I have photoshop elements 6 and when I go to edit I can't find any 'group with previous' and Control G has no effect. The photos won't fit the photoframe horizontally. Please could someone help!!
    Thank you
    Angela

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/03/2010

      Hi Angela - are you on a Mac or a PC? To mask the photo into the boxes did you try hovering your mouse between the two layers, holding down the option key until you see the two little circles, and then clicking on the line between the two layers you want to mask?

      Tell me more about what you mean about the photos not fitting the frame horizontally? Are they too small when you drag them onto the template?

  6. Erika Bates says…
    12/06/2010

    Hi Ali,
    Thanks for the great vids and ideas! I've been using the templates a ton already but i'm having one problem. When I print them they are too big...not a ton, just a 1/2 inch or so, but i have to trim them down and i'm losing frame etc that way. The same thing has happened when I create a new blank at 5.5 x 6.25 to make a collage etc for the large box on the dated overlays...too big and cropping again causes me to lose part of the images. Am I doing something wrong when I print?

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Ali says…
      12/06/2010

      I'd check your print settings. Sometimes the scale to fit media box gets checked (or unchecked - can't remember which one right now) that can skew the actual printed size. Look around for anything that references "page scaling" and mess around with that :).

    2. Erika Bates says…
      12/09/2010

      Thanks for your idea Ali. I've been playing with this for 3 days now and here's what I've discovered now...when I tell my printer (HP B209a) to print as "general everyday printing on plain paper" it prints at 6x8. If I try to set it to photo paper it prints 1/4 inch too big on each side. Guess it's not a PS problem after all. I know our printers are different, but do you (or anyone?) know anything about fixing that? I guess I can just print as everyday..seems to look ok...shrug
      thanks for your time!

  7. Roberta says…
    12/06/2010

    Hi Ali, First off thank you so much for your inspiration and guidance I have a few of your templates and would love to buy more. For some reason when I drag my photo to the template it goes behind and I can't remember what I need to do to bring it on top. Could you give me advice? Thank you for all that you do!
    Thanks,
    Roberta

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. December Daily 2010 | Day Thirteen | Ali Edwards says…
    12/14/2010

    [...] digital layered template set to create the first page. I followed the same set of steps as I did in this tutorial post (printing photos on photo paper and the frame layer on [...]

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Heather M says…
    12/15/2010

    Hi Ali!

    Ok...I KNOW I've seen you post it before, but for the life of me cannot find it tonight---What size are you printing photos/trimming papers for the numbered pages? Like for the advent calendar page...the whole page is 6x8 but what did you trim the calendar page to, to fit in the little squares? Like a 5.5 x 6 something or other?

    Thanks a bunch! LOVE LOVE LOVE your album! This will be my first year making one and I've got tons of pics from December already, so putting them in the pages shouldn't be a problem...just sizing them right to fit! ;)

    Happy Holidays!
    ~Heather

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      12/16/2010

      Mine are 5.5 x 6.25 - it's not a perfect fit but seems to be working just right.

  10. Natalie says…
    07/28/2011

    I am going to be using this for December 2011 and am really excited. Is there a hole punch that is designed for this 8" length page? How did you know where to punch the holes? Thanks!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Melissa Carroll says…
    11/26/2013

    Oooh! I know what I'll be watching while the bird is in the oven on Thanksgiving! Thanks for sahring.

    Reply 0 Replies

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