From blog to layout (plus a freebie template download for you!)

I love when something you write on your blog inspires you to take it one step further and move it into the scrapbook realm. I always thought this would happen with much more frequency than it does, but que sera sera. When it does happen, it's a happy, creative thing.

That said, after writing Aidan's birthday post, I knew it was a stop, drop and save kind of story, and that's exactly what I did. Here is the resulting page:

 
Click on the image to see a larger image in a new window.

I created a design that let me copy and paste the words from my blog post, then dress it up very simply with a photo and some patterned paper. A true hybrid creation. And I'm sorry, but I love this page. I keep walking through my dining room/scrap room, looking at it, and thinking, "Hello! Scrap skills are in the hizzouse!"

Today I've got a free template download of this design for you, my awesome blog readers, as a thank you for all you contribute here, your comments, your support, your encouragement—it has meant and continues to mean a lot to me.

There are two templates in this package, one is an 8.5 x 11 that looks like my page, and one is a 12 x 12 with the same overall design, but including a few more spots for photos.

You will need Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to open and use the templates. Download the package by clicking on the link below:

Download CZ_FreebieTemplates

This is a very simple design to use for creating a hybrid page. After you open the file in Photoshop and type in your journaling and title, you simply turn off the photo layer and send your file to print. Then trim a photo to size and paste it onto your page. The text box on the design is set to have an indent so the photo can jut into the text space creating a wrap effect.

I used a PNG file for my title from my Little Labels 1 Brushes and Stamps set. It's a set of little labels to use on both digital and hybrid pages. Here's a short video showing how to drop a label in and then erase part of the outline frame on the free template to create the same look I did.

Working with templates and PNGs from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

Enjoy the templates and if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

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LAYOUT SUPPLIES: Little Labels No. 01 (Cathy Zielske) • patterned paper (My Mind's Eye) •  Threading Water Paper Punch (Fiskars) • Archer font