Sometimes a template can be more than just a sketch. Especially in digital scrapbooking, there are many varieties to chose from:

● paper templates to create various paper effects such as holes in your paper

● photo templates like storyboards, or layer masks to create a blending effect with your photo

● border templates such as a scalloped border which is quite popular

● card, craft, and hybrid templates

● text templates especially shaped text for Photoshop Elements users

● shape templates such as pumpkins and snowmen, or icons and symbols

The next three layouts demonstrate the use of shape templates to create beautiful pages. ova used an Altered Art Smart Start template to make the rolling birdcage her own. Candy used a large heart puzzle template to make a very sweet family page. Georgia used a girl symbol template to make an eye-catching page about her niece, adding just the right embellishments!

I Love You by zotova

Digital Supplies: Templates: Altered Art Smart Starts No. 6 By Tangie Baxter Designs (Scrapbookgraphics), Hearts: Hand Cut Collage Fodder: Hearts By Tangie Baxter Designs (Scrapbookgraphics),, Border, papers: Art Journal Caravan 2011 Provisions {Parcel 05} By Tangie Baxter Designs (Scrapbookgraphics), Software: Adobe Photoshop CS4, Fonts: BetinaScriptExtraCTT.

Editor’s Note: This layout by zotova caught my eye because of it’s whimsicality. I love how she made the template into an artsy page, filling the birdcage with collaged hearts. She also added in personal photos into the hearts for a fun and creative result!

Journaling: Present freedom to the feelings and tell: I love you!!!

Pieces of My Heart by Candy Risher

Digital Supplies: Kit: Frolic by Sweet Tomato Designs (Polka Dot Plum), Template: I {Heart} You Template Set by Sweet Tomato Designs (Polka Dot Plum), Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Fonts: Sunshine in my Soul, Sketch Block.

Design Notes: I used the magic wand to select each piece of the puzzle heart and used the individual pieces as clipping masks for my pictures and papers. I just centered the picture over the piece I wanted it to cover and used Alt+Command+G to clip the photo to the puzzle shape. I also used that technique for the paper strips behind the heart. This makes using templates super easy!

A Girl Thing by Georgia Visacri

Digital Supplies: Template: Boy and Girl Things by Studio Basic Designs (DigiscrappersBrasil) Papers: Plaid Addict by Rachel Young (The Lilypad), Silly Girl Kit by Jenn Barrette and Valorie Wibbens (The Lilypad), Dwell Kit by Creashens (Catscrap), Kitschy Kitchen Kit by Jenn Barrette and Sahlin Studio (The Lilypad), Flower: Vintage Stacked Flowers by Kitschy Digitals (Jessica Sprague), Stitches: In Stitches - Brights by Robyn Meierotto (Design House Digital) Ribbons: Ironed Flat Ribbons by Gina Miller (The Lilypad), Apron String Ribbons by Gina Miller (The Lilypad), Journal Card: Kitschy Kitchen by Jenn Barrette and Sahlin Studio (The Lilypad) Buttons: Thrift Store Grab Bag by Kitschy Digitals (Jessica Sprague), Crown: Ultimate Art Doll Collection by SherrieJD and Tangie Baxter (Scrapbookgraphics), Alphabets: Sporq (Dafont) and Pea Nicki (Kevin and Amanda), Photoshop Action: Little Honey Bee my My4Hens Photography and Torn Paper by Atomic Cupcake, Software: Photoshop CS3.

Design Notes: I've always enjoyed working with digital templates: they allow us to create our pages faster and easily and also, to taste how it is to scrapbook in someone else's style and try a different design from our usual one. I think this one was just perfect to talk about my niece's love for girly things, she's so little and already loves everything that almost every girls like their entire lives: pink, jewelry, shoes, clothes, etc etc. I used a font for the title to create a retro feel.

Journaling: cute colorful clothes, nail polish, sunglasses, shoes shoes shoes!, glitter, pink and purple, pearls and fake jewelry, lip gloss, princess bed...