LOs from scratch

Being a former template designer, I tend to create a template first without the elements--pretty much papers, photos, journal cards and title. You saw with my Love layout, I made that in to a template first because I had to do it without color in order for me to see how I was going to birth that layout without distractions.

But then there are those times, with like Studio Basic and sometimes Wendy, where I just wing it and start placing things left and right--you know, everything but the kitchen sink! It is with these ones, if I like the layout, I'll turn them in to templates for future use.

I guess it depends on the kit and how I'm feeling it. I'm strange, I'm sure! :blink::D
 
Jlmurrell said:
When making a layout from scratch, how do you add the textured edges on your papers... stamped/scalloped/torn, etc (anything but the basic straight edge)?


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stamped - use brushes to make your stamps/edges on their own layers and then clip whatever you want to them.

scallop - make a scallop. Take your circle brush and adjust the spacing. Drag the brush to make a straight line (hold "control"). You'll have dots moving along the page. If you want a straight line on the one side, take the rectangle tool and make it the length of your scallop. Once evenly lined up, merge. Fill in any holes where the circles and rectangle meet.

torn - I have an action for that. I make whatever line (straight or not) and then run the action. It's from Atomic Cupcake, no longer in business. But there are plenty of designers who sell CU tears that you can purchase and add to your edges.
 
I am one of those who totally wing it, unless I am using template. I usually do paper and photos first, then elements, starting from the bottom up. So, I'll do the paint, scribbles first, before other elements.
 
kelley said:
This is so intriguing to me that you pull all your ellies onto the page at once!! What program do you use to do that? I use my "place" shortcut for every ellie and place them one at a time.
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I use Photoshop CC. I just highlight them all and drag them onto my layout all at once.
 
Here are a few tutorials that might be helpful, based on some of the questions that have come up in this thread.

This one explains how to use clipping masks:

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2017/01/using-clipping-masks/

This one focuses on making your own scalloped edges:

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2011/12/make-your-own-scalloped-edges/

We have a whole tutorial section of the website that I've found extremely helpful over the years. You can use the search function if you're trying to find something specific.
 
I'm pretty much the opposite of everyone in that using templates makes scrapbooking HARDER for me. Scraplifts are fine because I feel so much more freedom, but something about a template feels like too many rules. I LOVE the final results, but the whole process is completely overwhelming to me.

My "winging it" looks something like this:

Choose pictures and kit
Background paper and all pictures applied
Find a photo flow that works for the page
Add some more papers shaped with layer masks
Add in journaling
find my favorite elements that will fit and bring them in
Place where they make sense.
Look for what's missing (need some more of this color there, need some more elements there, that paper was too busy try another, etc)
Add a date

Call it done and don't over-question myself. Done is better than perfect. I think templates bring out the inner-perfectionist in me
 
kendallt said:
Here are a few tutorials that might be helpful, based on some of the questions that have come up in this thread.

This one explains how to use clipping masks:

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2017/01/using-clipping-masks/

This one focuses on making your own scalloped edges:

https://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2011/12/make-your-own-scalloped-edges/

We have a whole tutorial section of the website that I've found extremely helpful over the years. You can use the search function if you're trying to find something specific.
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Thanks for referencing these, Kendall!! :wub:
The tutorials are invaluable!!
 
jak said:
I totally wing it! I have no ideas in my head whatsoever when I start a page. I have a photo and a kit and then I start dragging things on to the page from the kit and moving them around until I like what I see - so basically whatever elements, papers, etc are in a kit determine what direction my page takes!
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This is pretty much what I do. Invariably, I end up using only a few elements. I am a very simple scrapper. Although I have hundreds of templates, I really don't even think to use them. LOL That's probably because I started out as a paper scrapper. Also, when I started digital scrapbooking, I don't recall seeing any templates, so I had to wing it.

Why do you make your own template? Why don't you just crop photos and papers that you use into the size that you want? I have, though, clipped papers to papers I have cut because I change my mind.
 
kelley said:
When I scraplift, I like to save the layout I'm lifting and open it in PS. I then place it on top of my background paper and reduce the opacity way down so I can just barely see the photo spots, main ellie spots, etc. Sometimes I'll rotate it.
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I've always done this too, probably because I take a scrap lift a little too literal.
As for free scrapping I wing it unless I'm doing a pocket page if it's going to be a pocket layout I create a template first. I've really gotten into free scrapping with no template lately.
 
Rubia Padilha said:
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No! I just keep adding everything I want, where I want!

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What she said!:thumbup:
 
I wing it. I love using templates if I'm not sure what I want my page to look like, but I spend forever on a template layout vs a wing it one. When I wing it, it just sort of forms as I make it and it's quicker than a template. Weird really.
 
I find it really difficult to scrap without a template anymore. Generally I'll end up making a template first (which I find easy, strangely enough) and then scrap a page with it, or I'll just use another designer's template. I think it feels like too much pressure when I start placing photos and such without a plan. Probably the perfectionist in me. LOL
 
I find more freedom within structure than I do in ENDLESS possibilities and options. My brain shuts down when there are too many choices, so I find templates extremely helpful. And I have no problem modifying them to suit my needs, so there is freedom there, too.
 
I do a little of both depending on my mood. I tend to make more shapes ahead of time if I'm going to add a lot of paper to my page.
 
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