4 posts tagged “templates”
Another template from Scrapbook Elements
Designer Penny Springmann
Released March 2007
Price $5.00
Cost Per Item n/a
As templates evolve, they are being packaged with little extras that you can leave on the template or add to your go-to stash. Every template in this kit has a bonus which you can use again and again, keeping LOs fresh.
Template 3 is my favourite; it would make a very clean LO but the brush strokes and the chosen paper would stop it being clinical. It was hard for me to pick a favourite LO from this pack; each template has something very positive to recommend it.
One sentence A versatile template kit which can be used again and again
From Scrapbook Elements
Title Swift Scrap Square Templates # 4
Designer Christina Bartholomew
Released March 2007
Price $3.20
Cost per item N/A
Four templates on this latest template kit from Christina Bartholomew. The first template has space for up to 4 photographs in rectangular and square format and at least four papers. The second template has space for one large round picture, three small ones and three papers. The third template is a fairly bog-standard large single picture LO. The fourth template is definitely the best of the bunch, the most versatile and the reason that I would buy this kit. I like to spin my templates (maximum value!) and this one is usable from any angle. If you remove the two pictures from the right hand side you can have a huge picture/lots of small pictures LO. The left hand side shapes can be used for journaling, pictures or small papers or a combination of all three.
One sentence A good addition for template collectors
A new release from Designer Digitals
Title A Mother's Love Layered Template Book
Designer Katie Pertiet
Released 24 March 2007
Price $24.99 (includes a voucher for 30% off an 8x8" Shutterfly photobook [expires 5/14/07])
Link Here
Cost Per Item Not Applicable
Site Blurb - "A complete 20-page scrapbook in layered templates. Each page has
different word art related to mothers, children and love. Also includes
flourishes, frames, fasteners, stitches and buttons in a cohesive,
classic design making the perfect gift!
And to make it even better, the set includes a 30% off an 8x8" Shutterfly photobook [expires 5/14/07]! File Size: 29MB"
Designer Digitals and Katie Pertiet know what their customers need before their customers even know that they want it. Justified text trails, printable tag templates and amazing brushes, they cover all these and much much more. Unfortunately this review blog only covers kits and templates, so let's dive into this template book.
I have several Shutterfly 8x8 books and I think that they are marvellous. Unfortunately, I printed them all out and it was only when I received them that I realized that an 8x8 photobook cut off the edges of all my 8x8 LOs. Not a cheap error to make. Luckily I was too delighted with actually seeing my LOs printed out (so delighted that it was only the thought of being locked up that stopped me running out into the street and showing my book off to random strangers) for that to bother me. It doesn't say in the blurb if the templates are "true" 8 X 8s or "Shutterfly" 8x8s. If it is being packaged with the Shutterfly voucher (which is a great touch by both Shutterfly and Katie Pertiet) I would hope it was the latter, or both.
The templates are a good mix of single picture and multi picture LOs. I would resize the small picture on the last page; a picture that small might get "lost" in a large 8x8 LO. The templates favor a clean and mimimalist LO, so if you are a fan of "I paid for 20 papers in this kit and I will use them all if it kills me" scrapping you may have to do a bit of freestyle shoehorning in to add extra papers. I can't read the quotes on the previews, but I will assume that they are all tasteful and suitable - can't imagine anything else from Designer Digitals! The joy of templates means that if you don't like or want them, or want to use this book for another reason, they can be binned.
The problem with most of us digiscrappers is that we love doing LOs of other people but really struggle doing LOs featuring ourselves. I would feel weird doing a book saying how wonderful I am as a mother, so would rely on someone making it for me. Seeing as there is more chance of my husband orbiting the moon under his own steam than taking up digiscrapping and making me a book like this (which I would sob like a baby upon receiving and then treasure it forever) I would use it to make a beautiful gift for my friends and relations who are mothers.
One Sentence Great idea from Katie Pertiet for making a moving Mother's Day gift.
So, here we go, first review. All pictures are for information only and belong to the sites and the designers named.
KB and friends offer quirky, nostalgic kits. A selection of this week's new releases are:-
Title Happiness is... a boy
Designer Jennifer Schmitt
Released March 2007
Price $4.50
Link Here
Site blurb - "With a combination of red, yellow, blue, brown, and green this kit is just right for scrapping the pics of your little man. Includes 2 wordart titles, 5 descriptive word embellishments, 5 ribbons, an airplane, car, tricycle and car, 2 journalling sheets, 19 papers (all 12x12, 300 dpi), and several other decorative items to embellish your layouts. Thanks to Atomic Cupcake for the actions used! Also check out Happiness Is...A Girl for all the little princesses in your life."
As always for KB and friends kits, the elements on this kit are lovely. Their motto is "It's all about the elements" and they are true to that motto. The transport elements are retro without being twee and can be re-used on many different styles of layouts. The pins and staples are also versatile for many different LOs, but as I am a bit of a lazy scrapper I'd have liked to have seen a "pierced" pin as well. I'm a sucker for the chipped metallic action from Atomic Cupcake, and it is used well here on the square buttons. They complement the transport elements very well. The inked edge journalling boxes look as if they have been ripped out from an old school journal and hand-stamped, a good touch. I like the zips, which could be used in a funky manner to join different papers in your LO. The ribbons are sufficiently different from the papers so that they won't be lost when used on them.
My biggest bugbear is beautiful kits with only a few papers, but this kit delivers plenty of great papers. The main colours - brown, red, blue, green and cream - are used well, and there is a proportionate mix of plain and patterned papers. The starred paper in particular jumps out at me, and makes me think that these papers could be used in a very funky LO if you have a family member in the military.
Summing Up
One Sentence I don't have boys to scrap for, but if I did I would imagine getting a lot of use from this versatile kit.
Designer Carol Baumann
Released March 2007
Price $3.00
Link Here
Site blurb "Sorry about the name of this kit. While working on these little flowers the oldies station I had on played an old Elvis song - "Don't Be Cruel". The play on words was too much to pass up. Crewel work is a type of embroidery that has been around for hundreds of years. It's done with a special two ply yarn called crewel and the result is a rich, heavy texture. I hope you enjoy this digi version of a vintage craft. 4 different floral corners, 10 flowers, 3 leaves, 4 stems / not shown on preview, 1 Postcard back, 4 heavy linen backgrounds, 5 vintage ads - 4 are for needlework products and I couldn't pass up the fifth. It's for Prof. J.H. Austins Hair Food and wait until you get a look at the product results!"
Carol Baumann is a new designer to me, so at first I thought the mix of elements in this pack was a bit strange, but the more that I look at it the more charmed I am by it. It can be used in so many different ways. The flowers of course are beautiful and shouting to be used in LOs and also printed out for other crafts - book covers, labels for needlework tins, etc. The adverts are great. They could be used straight-faced in a vintage LO, or could add a funny twist to any "All about me" LOs. Imagine a Bad Hair Day LO with the Hair Food Ad, or a LO about an untidy house, or a particularly bad sewing or cooking experience accompanied by the Housewife ad.
Summing Up
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One Sentence An eclectic mix of flowers and ads in this fun yet traditional element kit.
Title Janna's Templates Set 9
Designer Janna Billman
Released March 2007
Price $5.00
Link Here
I absolutely adore templates. I love digital scrapping, but do not have the designer's eye that leads to absolutely amazing LOs. I struggled for three months them admitted defeat and started using sketches. When templates became popular I did a dance of joy.
I own a few of Janna's previous template kits. These are great, ideal for Spring and Summer LOs. I'd have liked another multi-picture template, but that is just me. Single photo LOs are more popular with the designers, and seem to be published more. Potato, PoeTAHto. All the flowers make it more suitable for nature LOs or Girls LOs. Although, the beauty of layered templates is that those layers can be removed and replaced with something more boy-friendly.
One Sentence Another fun and functional template kit from Janna.
