Note: PSPX was used to create this tutorial; there may be slight variations in other versions. In addition, depending on how you have your workspace set up, it may be in the default settings, your screens may look slightly different from mine. I have customized my workspace to the way I like it, but that is another tutorial!

The ScrapSimple Paper Templates allow you to create custom layouts quickly, and the more you use them, the easier they become to use!

Open the Background Template (Part B), duplicate it and close the original background layer. There are many ways to add the background paper to the template; I will go over the two I use most.

Option 1

1. Activate your Selection Tool's Magic Wand and select the background. You will have marching ants surrounding it. I used Match Mode: Hue, Tolerance: 0, Feather: 0 and Contiguous: unchecked.

2. Activate your Move Tool. Use the browser to find a background paper and drag it from the browser to your template. Make sure it is the top layer and that it covers the entire template. You could also double click the paper in your browser, and after it opens, Copy> Paste As New Layer (Ctrl+L) over your template. I find this method easier as it centers the paper for me. Write down the paper designer and close it. Clear clipboard by going to Edit> Empty Clipboard.

3. You should now see the marching ants on your paper layer. Go to Selections> Invert (Ctrl+Shift+I), and just the inside of the window should have the marching ants. Delete, and your window is now transparent. You should now have two layers that look the same, your template on the bottom and your paper on the top. Selections> Select None (Ctrl+D) to remove the marching ants. With the top layer (paper) active, Layers> Merge> Merge Down. Your paper is "pasted" to the template! Save your work!

Option 2

1. Activate your Selection Tool's Magic Wand and select the background. You will have marching ants surrounding it. I used Match Mode: Hue, Tolerance: 0, Feather: 0 and Contiguous: unchecked.

2. Open a paper you would like to use as your background and minimize it. Click your Materials Palette and go to the "Patterns" Tab by right-clicking the background properties box. Click on your paper in the tab and make sure your "Scale" is set to 100 and "Angle" is 0, click "OK."

3. Activate your Flood Fill Tool (Paint Bucket) and pour your paper onto the template. Save your work!

Open your Photo Layer (Part A), duplicate layer, close original. Browse to your photo and drag it onto your template or Copy> Paste As New Layer (Ctrl+L) onto your template. Clear your clipboard. You may need to resize your photo to fit the template. If so, activate your Pick Tool. Make sure Mode is set to "Scale," grab corners and drag in or out to resize, making the photo just a little bigger than your window template. If you need to see where the template is, activate the template layer and you will see the pick toolbox around it.

Move your photo to where you want it to be cropped, turn off the Photo Layer by clicking the eye on the Layers Palette. Activate the Template Layer, click anywhere in the transparent area with the Magic Wand to select. Activate your Photo Layer, turn the photo back on, the marching ants are around your photo and the transparent part. Hit Delete. Your photo is now cropped to the same shape as your template. Selections> Select None (Ctrl+D) to remove marching ants. Layer> Merge Down, Copy> Paste As New Layer (Ctrl+L) onto your background layer. Move it to cover the transparent window on the background. Clear your clipboard and save your work!

I want to put a small border around my photo to keep it from blending into the background before adding it to my layout. Turn off the Photo Layer again and activate the Template Layer. Select the Photo Template with the Magic Wand so that the marching ants are just around the photo window. Go to Selections> Modify> Expand. In the new box that opens, set the number of pixels at 20 and click "OK." Your marching ants have moved away from the photo window just slightly.

Activate your Flood Fill Tool (Paint Bucket), choose your border color from the Materials Palette and fill the selection with your chosen color. I chose white. Selections> Select None (Ctrl+D). Turn the photo back on. You now have a border around your photo. Selections> Select None (Ctrl+D), Layer> Merge> Merge Down, Copy> Paste to your background layer. Clear your clipboard and save your work!

Open the Scrollwork Frame Template (Part C) and Copy> Paste onto your layout, it should center perfectly. If you drag it on you will have to move it into position. This example is with the scrollwork and without my added white border.

I wanted to use a paper with the Scrollwork for a little more texture and interest. I selected the Scrollwork by clicking on it with the Magic Wand, Copy> Pasted a new paper over it, Selections> Invert (Ctrl+Shift+I) and Delete. Selections> Select None (Ctrl+D), Layer> Merge> Merge Down. These are the same steps as Option 1.

Copy> Paste to your layout and add text, other embellishments, drop shadows and your layout is complete!

As you use the ScrapSimple Templates more, you will be able to flip the templates around, add texture and depth, and make unique layouts no one else can duplicate! Total control of your scrapbooking!

Layout by Dee-Ann Decker

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Layered: Scrollwork and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own: Journal Boxes are also available.

Tutorial by Dee-Ann Decker