Freebie Download to Celebrate {Inter}national Scrapbook Day!

The Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine NSD Blog Party
Scrapbookdimensions.ning.com is a site hosted by Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine. We are the first and only magazine dedicated 100% to hybrid which is Scrapbooking with a Techno Twist (the best of digital and traditional methods combined). This is your destination for meeting like-minded scrappers for daily fellowship and inspiration. Join our community of over 800 scrappers. Get my freebie at the end of this post.


Visit these blogs to get your free card sketch/template
List of {Inter}National Blog Party Peeps:

• http://jshahin.blogspot.com/
• http://everydaydigitalscrapbooking.blogspot.com/ You are here
• http://mphoinix.blogspot.com/
  

• http://sarahpspdevotee.blogspot.com/
• http://angeltown.typepad.com/
• http://www.bitsofivory.com/wordpress
  

• http://www.scrapevangel.blogspot.com/
• http://karensdreamingbig.blogspot.com/
• http://www.michellesink.com
  

• http://www.digiscrapchat.com
• http://angiehinksman.typepad.com/time_on_my_hands/
• http://myfrogprince-and-i.blogspot.com/
  

• http://cactusmango.blogspot.com/
• http://www.thejulianablog.com/
• http://www.elementalscraps.com/blog/
  

• http://theshakerkitclub.blogspot.com/
• Sandy's blog
• http://www.flutterinbygirl.blogspot.com/
  

• http://www.just-jana.blogspot.com/
• http://www.scrapbook-trends.com/
• http://countrylivs.blogspot.com/
• http://bunnykissd.blogspot.com

Here is the DOWNLOAD

Thanks for visiting! I hope to see you at

Scrapbook Dimensions Social Network!


Visit the EDS Blog Archives

10-Minute Cards - Download Until November 14th

Scalloped Card Template
by Julie Ann Shahin, Founder

This week we had a reader ask for printing tips. After downloading today's template, continue on to Susan's Tips for Printing.
Enjoy!

Credit: April Staker Signs of Fall Kit
Inked Edges: Mandy Steward Inked Edge Style Tool 1801 at Scrapgirls

Credits: April Staker Damon Kit
Inked Edges: Cheryl Barber Inked Edges 4101 at Scrapgirls


Mention this ad and get free May Arts Ribbon with your first order at The Shaker Box!

Download Here
Please leave a comment if you download. Please do not share this in Yahoo groups. Instead, please direct them here to the blog to encourage us to provide more freebies.

This Week: Free Card Layered Template Sketches!

Free Card Template

by Maggie Lamarre, Creative Team Member

Credit: Sponsor April Staker Damon Kit
Inked Action Style: Cheryl Barber Inked Edges 4101 at Scrapgirls

Mention this ad and get free May Arts Ribbon with your first order at The Shaker Box!

Free Download Here

Back to Basics: How to Unzip a File

Digital Scrapboking for Beginner's

How to Unzip Digital Scrapbooking Files

Downloaded from the Internet

by Julie Kelley, Creative Team Member

So, you've got the "digital bug" and you can't wait to get started creating beautiful layouts!! Here are a few steps that you need to follow before you can use those beautiful kits!!

• There are so many free kits available to new digital scrappers, the one that gets lots of people started is Shabby Princess. Her beautiful free kits were the first that I used, and were an inspiration for me to go on and buy lots more!!
  
• The basic idea of downloading and unzipping your files is the same whether it's a free kit, or one that you pay for... Here's how to open all the goodies that you have!

For this example, I will walk you through downloading, unzipping and opening your new files! I'll be demonstrating using the set of templates that I created for another tutorial here on EDS. I'm using a PC, and Windows XP. Some operating systems unzip files automatically, if your does, then you can skip those steps!


First, click on the download link, it will be somewhere on the internet page, if it's in a store, sometimes they will send you the links in an email, and sometimes once you check out, the download links will be displayed immediately. It depends on the store, and which check-out system they use. When you click on the link, the following box will open up:

• Click "Save" or depending on your operating system, it may say "save as."

• A new dialog box will open, asking you where you want to save the file. Choose where you want to save the file, and click on "save" again. It is totally a matter of personal preference where you save your files. I usually save all new files to my desktop, that way I can easily find it and unzip them immediately. If I tuck it away to unzip later, I often forget, and if there is any kind of problem with your files it will be more difficult to rectify if you wait. There are times when the internet connection gets interupted, or there is some other kind of downloading problem, and you won't actually know about it until you unzip the file (more about unzipping later).

• Most digital kits and elements come in a "zipped" format, which allows you to download a compressed version of the kit, and makes the file size a little bit smaller.
  
• In order to use the kits, you need to uncompress them. Your zipped file will look like a file folder with a zipper on it.

• Right click on the zipped file, and choose "Extract All" which will open the extraction wizard, click "next"

• In the next step, choose a destination (I usually keep it on the desktop, and then move it later so that I can sort it), and then click "next"

• The last window that will come up asks you to simply click "finish" you can choose to show the extracted files, or unclick that box to not open the file at this time.

Here is a layout I created using one of the templates we just downloaded! I used some photos from our summer vacation, and the fabulous "Delicate Vintage Floral" and "Overlay Frame Swirls" by our sponsor http://scrapkit.nl


If you found Julie Kelley's tutorial useful, please leave her a kind comment! Thanks!

Want more free card and layout sketches?

Free Templates by Di Hickman
If you can't get enough templates, you need to sign up for Di Hickman's newsletter on her blog. She offers a card and a layout template. If you email her, she would probably send you the template out early before she sends her newsletter to let you submit a layout for her to post along with her sketch.
Check it out!

Layered Templates 101 - Internet Finds!!!

There are an infinite number of time-saving templates out on the market right now. Here are some of my favorite templates that you can find online. If you know of a great template, free or for sale, please feel free to share the links in our comments today!

Perfectly Pieced Templates #1

$5.99

Love the look of quilts or a pieced background? Now you can achieve the same look on your layouts with ease! It's also a fun and easy way to test out color schemes for actual quilts before you make a cut or stitch!

Each template comes with a PSD file with layer styles applied, a layered TIFF file, a flattened PNG file and each layer as a PNG file.

Contains the following quilt patterns:

Irish Chain,
Double Irish Chain,
Trip Around the World,
Rail Fence,
Barn Raising and
Log Cabin Star.

Finished sample shown on preview are created with papers from my Sweet Daisies and Little Gingham Dress Page Kits. Also try my line of fabric textured paper packs, Off The Bolt!

ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Sage $3.49
Oooh, look at the bordered papers you could make, or flower patterns, lots of dots, the possiblities of combining these ScrapSimple Paper Templates is limitless. This is a set of SIX 12 x 12 digital sheets (300 dpi png files) ready for you to create your own unique paper sets.

ScrapSimple Templates are designed to work with popular software programs including Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro among others. Includes instructions with step-by-step screenshots and sample ideas.

ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Retro Waves $3.49

Add a modern flair to your digital pages with this set of retro embellishment templates.

Includes ten embellishment templatein png format.

Speed Byte No. 04
LT86455 Designer: Pattie Knox $2.50

If you're suffering from a case of "scrapper's block" or just need to create a layout in a hurry, "Speed Bytes" are the solution! The basic framework of the design is already in place for you. Load one of these layered .psd files into your program and "cut" your own papers and photos to the shapes in the template quickly and easily.

Illustrated directions for use with Photoshop CS/CS2 and Photoshop Elements 3/4 are included.

Try rotating the template in different directions, add or subtract components, and add your own embellishments to create a layout with your own unique touches.

Speed Byte No. 4" is a full 12" x 12" - 300 dpi template and includes space for l large photo and an optional smaller photo. Text paths are included for several lines of shaped text. Just replace the sample text with your own! "Inked" outlines of the flower and stem are also included on separate layers.

PLEASE NOTE: The text paths are not editable in versions of PS prior to PSCS or PSE2. File Size: 1.6MB

Paper Reveals Layered Template Pack
LT891900 Designer: Katie Pertiet $4.99
Paper reveals made easy with layered templates! Simple 'snap' your paper to the layer and presto--paper reveals! 4 - layered Photoshop files. WILL ONLY WORK WITH PHOTOSHOP AND PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS. File Size: 10MB

Quick and Easy - Quick and Easy - Quick and Easy !!!

Tantalizing Templates

Photoshop Tutorial

by Beth Price, Creative Team Member

Editor's Note: Please check out our Team Search!!! Please submit your written tutorial to be considered by June 27th! Thanks!!!!


Today's Tips: Using some of the amazing digital templates available, we can create beautiful shaped background papers and fill them with flourishes. This tutorial features last month's sponsor Kim Hill at CG Essentials!

To create a scalloped paper shaped layout:
1.Open a new file with transparent background:
FILE>NEW>BLANK FILE
be sure transparent is selected under background contents.


2. Open the scalloped template you want as your shape for the background. Here I used a template by Rhonna Farrer.
3. Open the patterned paper you want to use for the background.

4. Make sure the colored paper is layered on top of the template in your layer palette as shown:


5.In PSE Select LAYER>GROUP WITH PREVIOUS
In PSCS2 LAYER>CREATE CLIPPING MASK
In PS LAYER>GROUP LAYERS

6. Now your paper should have taken on the form of the template below. You can move the patterned paper around if you want to position a pattern.

7. When you’re satisfied with the position, merge the layers.

8. Use the same steps to create colored flourishes, and layer them on the page.

Please leave feedback for Beth as we work hard to bring you free tutorials! Thanks!!!

How to Create a Template from One of Your Scrapbook Layouts

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial and Free Template

by Amy Duquette, Creative Team Member

When it comes to creating sketches and templates from scratch that is so not a me thing. I am not a planner in that respect. My layouts take on a mind of there own after I get a few elements on the page so creating unique and never before seen templates is not something I think I would excel at.

BUT...

I CAN make templates to share with others using my already completed layouts and now you can too after reading this tutorial. :)

There are a variety of ways to do this but I am a simple person and like to take the easiest way possible to do things so that is what I did.

Steps (for Photoshop CS)
1. First thing you need to do is open your layout. I used the original .psd of my layout and flattened the layers. Then SAVE AS...making sure to name it something other than its original name.

2. Add a new layer and fill it with a shade of grey, black or white. Then label that layer you "Background layer". When you are finished hide this layer by clicking the little eye beside the layer in the layers pallette.

3. Add a new layer above your background layer. Take your rectangular marquee tool and make a shape similar to that of your photo. Fill it with white and free transform it so that it is the same as your photo on your original layout.

4. Add a new layer and repeat step 3 for EACH of your elements and fill them with a different shade of grey.

5. You can use your Custom Shape Tool to add extra emellishments for visual purposes (see my template with the circles for buttons and the custom shape for a flower) but usually these layers are deleted and the user will add their own embellishments when they are using the template.

6. You can now add a title or journalling block. Just add a new layer and type "Title" then free transform it and move it to where you would like it to go.





7. Now you can make your "Background Layer" visible again by clicking on the eye beside the layer. This step lets you double check to see if you missed anything.

8. Now that your template is complete you can delete your original layout layer (should be the very bottom one) and save your template as a .psd.

Here is my original layout and my finished template! Simple yet effective! I have included the template as a freebie (below) for you so enjoy!




Download Amy's Template Here - and please leave a comment!

Thanks~!