Templates are blank designs that you put your photos, papers, and embellishments into the layers using your photo-editing system. They can be a scrapbooker's best friend in saving time, and a key to having more fun with this hobby. These ladies each used templates in various creative ways to make hybrid projects that are fabulous.

From re-printed calendars to make a layout, to quick pages for mini calendar gifts, to a wonderful fridge planner - these inspiring ideas are sure to get your mojo flowing in 2011!

Year of You by Cathy Pascual

Supplies: Paper: Crate Paper, Alphabet Stickers: Making Memories, Die Cuts: Making Memories, BasicGrey, Stickers: Crate Paper, Gems, Brads: Making Memories, Photo Paper: Epson, Other: foam adhesive. Digital Supplies: Template: 2011 DIY Calendar Kit by Paislee Press (Oscraps), Software: Photoshop CS2, Fonts: RM Typewriter.

Design Notes: For this hybrid page, I decided to print smaller versions of a 5 x7 hybrid calendar I made. I thought this would work well with the calendar background paper. To fit all the photos on one page, I printed out some smaller than others. I loved seeing a year's worth of photo on one page!

Journaling: Twelve months of you. I love seeing how you have changed (and not changed) within a year. Same beautiful face, but doing so much more than photos could ever show: walking, talking, understanding more, exploring, developing your own personality. These photos are part of the calendar I made for 2011. I'm looking forward to capturing a whole new year of you!

Hybrid Mini Calendar for 2010 by Jan Barlow

Supplies: Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View, Other: various buttons, trim, stickers. Digital Supplies: Kit: No. 01 Mini Calendar by Michelle Filo featuring designs by Michelle Coleman (Little Dreamer Designs), Kit: Elemental Extras - 2010 Calendar, Stamps: Classic by Miss Mint (peppermintcreative.com), Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0.

Design Notes: I created my own triangle stand from cardstock based on a design shown in Michelle Filo's download package. The fun of the project was just using whatever I had sitting around. Jan made several of these to give as gifts! What a delightful little calendar!

Weekly planner for your fridge by Sara Lively

Supplies: Other: laminator pout,  self-adhesive magnets. Digital Supplies: Kit: All About The Wordplay by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Kit: 365 Remembered v.2 [February] by Lauren Reid, Kit: Doodle Me by Lauren Grier (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, Fonts: DJB Kristie,  DJB Tweenybopper by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Scrap Kids, 1942.

Design Notes: Templates are not just for LO's! I used a template by Lauren Reid to make this weekly planner, which after digitally decorating and printing, I laminated so I could use a dry erase pen on it. That way, I can use the same planner week after week – very environmentally friendly! I also popped magnets on the reverse so I could stick it to my fridge, to make it easy to find too. Remember to add as many important numbers (like the doctors) as possible before printing.

Journaling: Simply the days of the week, and journal spot titles, like ‘Shopping List’.