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CZ Design

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

March 31, 2011

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

Openingpage

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:

Layout 
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.

CZ_FreebiePREV

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.

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

 

 

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Comments

  1. Robyn W says

    March 31, 2011 at 5:06 am

    thank you Cathy…..

    Reply
  2. Pam says

    March 31, 2011 at 5:49 am

    Your templates are wonderful. This is a great gift . Thank you Cathy

    Reply
  3. helena says

    March 31, 2011 at 5:57 am

    another wonderful design, thankyou

    Have just been doing my The Monthly for March – loving those templates – 4 pages per month.

    They are making me take more portrait orientation photos which is giving me a fresh eye – big thank you

    Reply
  4. Amy Stackhouse says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:00 am

    Thank you so much for your tutorials. I have several photoshop instruction books, but it’s in watching you that I learn the most (and the best) tricks.

    Reply
  5. madeline St onge says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:04 am

    Love the page you did. Thanks for the template
    Have a wonderful day today

    Reply
  6. Jill Broyles says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:08 am

    Thank you. You are truly wonderful. Have a great weekend.

    Reply
  7. Barb M. says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:23 am

    Thank you! I can’t wait to play with this template over the weekend. And a belated happy birthday to Aiden.

    Reply
  8. Lori P. says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:25 am

    Fantastic templates, Cathy! Thank you for cheering-up my rainy, cold Thursday with such a great gift!

    Reply
  9. Dorothy F says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:53 am

    Thanks for the great video, it was very helpful and also for the free template. I love your stuff.

    Reply
  10. Cheryl says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:56 am

    Hi Cathy
    Thank you for another great template with helpful tutorial. I love your designs and all the details you include. Thanks again.

    Reply
  11. Barb says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:58 am

    Oooooooh, I love this layout… you’ve got some mad scrapbooking skillz, Ms CZ! Great job putting that heartwarming blog post onto a page. And thanks so much for sharing your template with us. <3

    Reply
  12. Jennifer Larson says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:59 am

    This IS a terrific page! And thank you for the freebies!

    Reply
  13. mona says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:18 am

    Thanks, I love your templates!

    Reply
  14. Cheri says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Love your templates Cathy! Thanks for the freebie!

    Reply
  15. Maureen says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:36 am

    Thank you very large Cathy! I think I may even go hybrid myself with this one but printing the digital patterned paper to add on top of the white.

    Reply
  16. hollycorbett@bellsouth. net says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:37 am

    Thank You Cathy!
    Very inspiring and beautifully done! Enjoy your weekend!
    Holly Corbett

    Reply
  17. dawn says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:39 am

    I love what you did with the photo and your sweet words. Thank you so much for sharing a template with us.

    Reply
  18. Marg VP says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:56 am

    Love your work Cathy. I’ll be putting these to good use. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  19. Kristyn G says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:04 am

    Thanks so much for the templates!! Love them! your are fabulous!

    Reply
  20. Lori says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:08 am

    Thank you!

    Reply
  21. Melanie says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:10 am

    A big THANK YOU!

    Reply
  22. Kay Gregory-Clark says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Thank you, Cathy! I have a new lace edge punch ordered and this is perfect for it. Also, thanks for a dark, cold, drizzly day!

    Reply
  23. char says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Thank you Cathy! My first born was 15 two weeks ago too so I will definitely use this template to document this.

    Reply
  24. Saskia K says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Thank you, Cathy!
    Have a wonderful day!

    Reply
  25. Theresa says

    March 31, 2011 at 8:54 am

    Thank you so much! Now I’m off to scrapbook… 😉

    Reply
  26. Myra says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Woo hoo! Free template!

    Reply
  27. cathy says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:11 am

    Yes, mad skillz indeed. But i just LOVE that feeling of walking by and admiring pages. Love.

    Reply
  28. Laura says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Thanks, Cathy.

    Reply
  29. Pat B says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:30 am

    So inspiring..thanks, Cathy.

    Reply
  30. Stacey says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:31 am

    Thanks very much for the freebie and the constant inspiration!

    Reply
  31. Connie says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:38 am

    Thanks for being so generous! You rock! I have been wanting to try a little hybrid stuff and now I’ve got something to practice with and inspire me to move forward!! Happy Friday eve!!

    Reply
  32. Vickie says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:39 am

    Great template! And free to boot. Thank you.

    Reply
  33. MarionW says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Thanks, Cathy! I also have to tell you that your Amazing template is my go-to template (it was another freebie). Despite the many digi classes I’ve taken, if I want to put together a quick page, I always come back to “Amazing” – whether 8.5×11 or 12×12, horizontal or vertical, it is so flexible! Thanks again – you rock!

    Reply
  34. Tracy L says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:44 am

    Thank you! I have an idea for this! Which is a BiG start for me!

    Reply
  35. Kelly says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:50 am

    Thank you! I love that feeling also..I often ‘admire’ my pages by looking at them often when they are done. Such a wonderful feeling!

    Reply
  36. ale says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:52 am

    love this layout, too.
    thanks for template, cathy!

    Reply
  37. Karen says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:04 am

    Thanks for the freebie and your ongoing inspiration to us!

    Reply
  38. scrappysue says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:14 am

    Thank you so much Cathy, your page does indeed rock!

    Reply
  39. Sharon in CA and OR says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:16 am

    Thank you Cathy..you have every right to feel proud. This page does Rock!!

    Reply
  40. Nicky Hurt says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Thank you, CZ! Your designs seem like “why didn’t I think of that?!” Love them! 🙂

    Reply
  41. Kelly says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:43 am

    hell-o. i love your page, too. and really, how could you not be inspired by a cutie patootie kid (and photo) like that. keeping it simple is where it is at. thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  42. Jennifer says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:47 am

    don’t you just love it when you’ve made something that you can’t take your eyes off of? thanks for the download! 🙂

    Reply
  43. Juanita says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:49 am

    Thanks so much for sharing. I have learned so much from your videos.

    Reply
  44. Rhadonda says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:00 am

    Thank you so much for giving US a gift on Aiden’s birthday! Win-win.

    Reply
  45. Joyce says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:20 am

    Thank you so much for the template and video! Happy birthday to Aidan! I absolutely love what you wrote.

    Reply
  46. DanaN says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:23 am

    Thank you for another great template. My dd will be eight in a few weeks so I’m going to make a page like yours. 🙂

    Hope Aidan had a great birthday!

    Reply
  47. cathy says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:25 am

    love to hear that!

    Reply
  48. Bea Medwecky says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:30 am

    Cathy, I haven’t commented in a while, but I still enjoy reading your blog on a daily basis. Thanks for the free template. And I just love your videos. Have a happy day.

    P.S. My son is 25!! today. I can not even believe I am old enough to have a son that is a quarter of a century old!

    Reply
  49. Ashley S. says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:41 am

    You’re amazing. Thanks so much! I love this.

    Reply
  50. Jan says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Your words in this layout are PERFECT! As the Mom of 3 teenagers, it expresses exactly how I feel. I totally get it. I have tears in my eyes. I wish I had written it. BRAVO to you. Happy (belated) Birthday to Aidan. And thanks for the free download that I added to my collection of stuff to use someday!

    Reply
  51. amy isley says

    March 31, 2011 at 12:08 pm

    Thanks so much for the templates:)

    Reply
  52. Sheri Elmont says

    March 31, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Love this template! I’ve been scrapbooking my friend’s blog as she has such wonderful journaling about her family. Things that would get lost in future years. I’m dreaming of owning Photoshop and this will help when I do. Thanks!

    Reply
  53. Debbie Servantez says

    March 31, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    Awesome…can’t wait to try! (She is beautiful…happy birthday to her!)

    Reply
  54. Jules says

    March 31, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    I love your templates, thank you so much for another wonderful one!

    Reply
  55. PattiP says

    March 31, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    Thanks for the template! Your templates are my favorites always. I use them very, very frequently.

    And thanks for the scrapping inspiration you give us via your blog. What can I say? I’m a fan!

    Reply
  56. Angelica says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Thank you so much for the template! Can’t wait to try it out:)

    Reply
  57. Karen Lazar says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Love this template, Cathy! Thanks so much. My oldest child just turned 18 and is going away to college this fall. My other child is 13 going on 20 so I can so identify with your feelings! Enjoy your next 3 years with Aidan. Thanks again. I love your templates and I am going to buy the little labels too.

    Reply
  58. cathy says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Hey Bea, havent seen your name in a while! : ) Nice to know youre still out there. Happy day to your son. : )

    Reply
  59. cathy says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    you can always try a free version of Photoshop Elements for 30 days! Just to play. Its available on the Adobe Elements website!

    Reply
  60. Rhona says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    When I saw your freebie today I knew I wanted to use it straight away because I loved the layout you had completed. My layout was a complete scraplift (apart from the label)and finished in record time – thank you so much!
    I’ve put a photo of my layout on my blog. xx

    Reply
  61. cathy says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Aw, thanks Patti!

    Reply
  62. cathy says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    What is your blog link?
    : )

    Reply
  63. Amy says

    March 31, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    thanks cathy!! i’m going to use your template to document my daughter’s 3rd birthday. love your blog and appreciate your humor and honesty!

    Reply
  64. Abby P says

    March 31, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    Over-flowing with gratitude…..once again, total perfection!

    Reply
  65. Judy says

    March 31, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Ok – I’ve been following your work for years and yet today was the first time I heard your voice. How fun – to put a voice with a face! Love, love your work. It inspires my scrapbooking, my design of various work flyers and such. And what a doll you are to give us a template for free – thanks!!!!!

    Reply
  66. Sandy says

    March 31, 2011 at 4:42 pm

    Cathy, your layouts always remind me of how much I enjoyed “Simple Scrapbooks” and how much I miss it. Thanks for keeping it simple, and for sharing your amazing talent with us!

    Reply
  67. Christina says

    March 31, 2011 at 4:46 pm

    Thank you! It’s always fun for me to see how other people work and do things. I learn something every time… “every day is a school day ” 🙂

    Reply
  68. Tiffany H. says

    March 31, 2011 at 5:08 pm

    I love how the photo goes into the text box…adds a bit of interest to the page. Thank you for sharing the template.

    Reply
  69. Brigette Lomax says

    March 31, 2011 at 5:28 pm

    thanks for the template. i am enjoying getting more involved with using digital templates.

    Reply
  70. Mari says

    March 31, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    Love your style. Thanks for the template and the tutorial.

    Reply
  71. Rebecca says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    Thanks for the fabulous template! 🙂

    Reply
  72. Pedroza says

    March 31, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Thank you so much for the template. Great, I get to learn one more trick from you using photoshop elements.

    Reply
  73. northcarmen says

    March 31, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Thanks so much, Cathy!! 🙂 I think I might turn the letter I wrote for my daughter’s 1st birthday into a scrapbook page with your template. 🙂 A nice, quick project for the weekend, and a lovely addition to her album. 🙂

    Carmen.

    Reply
  74. Amy says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Thanks Cathy 🙂 I hope you know that week after week you provide such an enormous amount of inspiration to so many scrappers throughout the world, I certainly appreciate dropping by over here for various forms of inspiration and entertainment! Thanks for your generosity … now to make the time to put this beauty to good use …. hmmmmm 😉

    Reply
  75. Kim says

    March 31, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    I love this layout! Thanks so much for the free template! 🙂

    Reply
  76. Maria says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    Thanks Cathy! I would like to ask you a question. I am having difficulty uploading the pages to scrapbookpictures.com. I believe I have to flatten the layers, but what do I do after that? I feel like this is a silly question, but I have so many finished pages that I am just waiting to print. Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  77. Sue says

    March 31, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    I love your uncluttered, clean designs! Thank you for the freebie!

    Reply
  78. diane says

    April 1, 2011 at 1:26 am

    thanks Cathy…juist what I need to kick start my scrapping weekend 🙂

    Reply
  79. Karen F form New Zealand says

    April 1, 2011 at 2:30 am

    A beautiful page – you write so well – so from the heart and it shows . Thanks for the inspiration and sharing your thoughts and thanks for the template I so love your simplified approach.

    Reply
  80. Cathie in Ut says

    April 1, 2011 at 8:06 am

    Although I don’t use photoshop I love the idea and I bet I can adapt my Word program to do a similar thing!
    Thanks for the idea
    PS I am a new reader of your blog and will be coming as often as I can!

    Reply
  81. cathy says

    April 1, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Maria, you need to save the file as JPEG format to upload. : )

    Reply
  82. cathy says

    April 1, 2011 at 8:35 am

    Thanks so much!

    Reply
  83. Rhona says

    April 1, 2011 at 9:15 am

    It’s http://rhonacs-lifeingeneral.blogspot.com
    🙂

    Reply
  84. Marty G says

    April 1, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    So COOL! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Reply
  85. KathyinMN says

    April 1, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    your tutorials rock. Thanks for helping me learn PSE. Seriously. =)

    Reply
  86. cathy says

    April 3, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    Oh, what a sweet sweet baby! : )

    Reply
  87. Melissa says

    April 3, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    I’m a long-time “blurker,” first-time commenter, but I had to finally say that I think you are awesome, and I really love your style. Plus, freebies – excellent! Thanks!

    Reply
  88. jill says

    April 4, 2011 at 3:05 am

    ty!

    Reply
  89. cathy says

    April 4, 2011 at 7:57 am

    Well thanks! And thanks for coming out of the blurkdom! : )

    Reply
  90. Cari Cummings says

    April 4, 2011 at 8:10 am

    Cathy,

    Thanks so much for the free template! Do you teach Photoshop elements classes or do you have any suggestions for where to look for instruction?

    Thanks again,
    Cari

    Reply
  91. cathy says

    April 4, 2011 at 9:44 am

    Hi Cari, right now Im not teaching any classes. However there are some resources.

    1.http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/GettingStarted.html

    2. ReneePearson.com and JessicaSprague.com both offer excellent workshops to teach beginning digital!

    3. I have a series of videos on Vimeo that might teach you some as well.http://www

    videos

    Good luck!

    Reply
  92. Rhona says

    April 6, 2011 at 3:52 am

    Thanks Cathy, we think so 🙂 x

    Reply
  93. wenjing says

    April 7, 2011 at 3:08 am

    Edit this paragraph brand strength

    Reply
  94. magento themes says

    May 11, 2011 at 6:10 am

    Lovely templates for business sites. Try out for some other templates for your business at http://www.magento-themes.jextn.com

    Reply
  95. Allen Helms says

    June 25, 2011 at 1:18 am

    Impressive … It worked great … and I am clueless within it’s all this stuff HTML!, but much great more offer freebie template here freebie template , weekly freebie Thank you … I used a model of your too and so far everything I tried from your site is so easy to do with the instructions you give !!!!! I can not thank you enough! 🙂

    Reply
  96. Freebie Template says

    June 25, 2011 at 1:55 am

    Wonderful post mate. You almost covered everything,but much more updates freebie template here http://www.freebeeking.com/ .Cool hints and collection of variety of options and layouts. Very nice one

    Reply
  97. cathy says

    June 25, 2011 at 7:52 am

    enjoy!

    Reply
  98. Jaqlene says

    August 10, 2011 at 3:54 am

    Nice design’s guys! We might try to work a reference to this one into our blog post about wordpress designers later next week. I especially like the soberness of your color scheme, which is soothing to eyes, and text is very much clear and easy to read and moreover all this for free.
    http://www.juggernautwebsites.com/vancouver-web-design/web-design/

    Reply
  99. Ad Design says

    December 28, 2011 at 5:39 am

    Nice One Thanks to give this information

    Reply

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