STORY OF THE PAGE: We did a Christmas card photo shoot at the end of October and had some tasty little outtake photos and I wanted to make a page about it. I have come to both love and dread this day. Dread, only because I know my family may not love this process as much as I do. Sometimes I feel like it’s a chore for them. I always warn them well ahead of time, giving them ample time to mentally prepare for the 15 minutes it takes to get ‘er done. Maybe they’ll look back and take a revisionist approach to it all, remembering how fun and silly it was to do this. There were a number of years I didn’t do holiday cards. I went through a period of feeling very Scrooge-like. I’m not going to do cards! What a waste of time and resources! Then I got over myself and remembered: this shit is fun. End of story.
The other thing that brings me joy? Recycling. If this page looks familiar, it should as I’ve used it here and in the Fall Issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. I had a handful of fun images to work with and I wanted a simple collage to house them. That’s it. If you told me this was the only layout design I could use from now until eternity, I’d probably say, “Okay.”
If you are one of those memory keepers who feels pressured to always be original every time, I get that. I know this. I live this every week as a professional, highly trained scrapbooker. But when I do what I really want to do, like the layout you see today, I feel really happy about it. And happy in a hobby is good.
JOURNALING READS: Every year I give the family fair warning: we are going to do our Christmas card photo. I tell them, “I’ll only take 15 minutes of your time, but I need you to be relaxed and focused, on command!” This year, we had to schedule it around Aidan being home for a visit. Aidan C. helped us out by pressing the button on the camera. And as usual, that special Zielske magic thusly ensued. Thanks, Zielskes! (Oh yeah, and a little Photoshop magic never hurts.)
DESIGN STUFF: This page features a very symmetrical balance. If you sliced it down the middle, you’d have equal visual weight on either side. Symmetry feels good to the eye. It feels strong. It feels stable. The other thing I’ve got here is simple repetition. I added my favorite little reindeer PNG stamp to the top and bottom. I repeated the color red with the reindeers and the patterned paper. And, a little green in the title and the date. That’s it. Repetition of elements reinforces the visual message: these things go together, creating a rhythm and allowing the page to feel unified.
TECHNICAL SHIT: This page was created using a layered template as the base. Rather than turn this post into a massive how-to, I have a video that explains how to use a digital template to create a scrapbook page like the one you see above. But what I thought would be more fun to show you is a time-lapse video of putting today’s featured page together. Maybe fun isn’t the right word. I’ll let you decide.
Make a Page Monday: A Time-Lapse Video from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.
SUPPLIES:
The Designer Digitals 4th Quarter Sale is on through the end of the week. Save 40% on everything in the store. Shop my collection here.
heidig says
Can you make this post “pinnable” – is that a word? I like to keep your tutorials on Pinterest. Please and thank you – oh, and really great page!
Cathy Zielske says
Heidi, they are pinnable! If you look below each post, you’ll see a tiny pin it button. I had this old plug in that had a hover over image pin function, but it applied it to everything—ads, supplies list images, etc—and I didn’t like it.
Also, if you hover near a photo, there will be a tiny Pin It button that shows up above the image. Try that and let me know!
heidig says
Thanks Cathy – I was thinking more along the lines of the tutorial that shows how to use your layered templates than the time lapse video (not that it wasn’t entertaining!). I actually ended up downloading it. I do see you have a complete tutorial section on your blog which is a huge help. Thanks for the heads up.
Lori says
Love this page! Is the link to the reindeer in a post? I bought your merry hipmas set and can’t wait to use them.
Cathy Zielske says
Yes, in the Supplies. There is link to the digital brush set. 🙂
Brenda says
Can you share with me if these 8.5 X11 templates can be resized to 6×8? Sorry, I’m brand new to digital Scrapbooking and PS Elements and I’m not sure what can be done yet.
Cathy Zielske says
Hey Brenda,
It’s tricky, because the sizes do not correspond proportionately. So the short answer is no.
You could size it down, but you’d have to tweak stuff, probably delete some stuff. Etc.
I’m planning to design some 6 x 8 templates. Might even have some for sale this coming weekend.
Brenda says
Thank you for answering my question! I think I’ll wait for your new 6×8 templates! I’m so excited, I can’t wait for their release! ☺️
Cathy Zielske says
The first set will come out this weekend. The series is going to be called “Six by Eights” and the first set will just be image templates that you could easily use with any 3 x 4 and 6 x 4 card sets.
kybarb says
FYI–the link to the Basic Grey patterned paper is for a package of 25 (I think) sheets!
Cathy Zielske says
Whoops! Didn’t catch that. Thanks!
Michelle says
Love this one! I especially like Cole’s face in the picture with the skull! Cracked me up!
Patti says
I love this one and just bought it and a bunch of others at DD! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂 You Zielske’s are hilarious. Just saying….. 🙂
Cathy Zielske says
Why thank you, Patti. 🙂
Carol says
What a great idea of using the mat and knife to cut!! So tired of my paper cutters being slightly off, which I always notice because I’m OCD with that sort of thing.
Cathy Zielske says
This is exactly why I have used this system for years!
Cathy Clifford says
Hi Cathy…just wanted to ask if you had a video on how to make your 8.5×11 templates to be a 12×12 template? I’ve just bought this template (love it!) but I mostly work in 12×12 size (I’m putting them all into a printed book.) so was wondering if there was a way to do it!
Thanks for all that you do.
Cathy
RitaQ says
Hi Cathy… Not CZ here but I have seen a number of scrappers use Cathy’s 8.5×11 templates as is and then put the entire finished layout on a 12×12 background paper. Simple solution rather than trying to resize. I’ve done this a bunch of times. HTH 🙂
Cathy Zielske says
Hey Cathy,
What you can do is open the template, resize the Canvas to 12 x 12, then make the Background layer larger to fit by dragging the corner handles to each edge. If you’re happy with the white space, you’re good to go.
Or, if not, you can select ALL the layers and increase the collection size of the content a little bit. That’s how I would do it.
Cathy Clifford says
Thanks Cathy…I should have thought of that!!! As the kids say Duh!! Thanks anyway, have now re-sized my template.
Stacy says
Ur awesome. If I lived in MN, we could totally be friends!!
RitaQ says
Ah Cathy… love this Monday Make a Page. You inspired me to digitally finish my family VK at the lake pg – sort of a quick hit of the highlights. But still not (but almost) inspired to pull out the scrap paper so neatly organized by color & theme!
Cathy Zielske says
Excellent! 🙂
A&M Momma says
Hi Cathy! If I wanted to make this exact page in PSE, do you have a white digital paper I could buy? Or can you recommend one? I can’t seem to find a perfect white cardstock for digital pages. Thanks!
Cathy Zielske says
I’m a fan of Katie Pertiets Just Linens line, the white in this one: http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/supplies/product_info.php/products_id/8850
I have a set of basics, and the white in it is pretty good, nice and neutral, but has some texture. http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/supplies/product_info.php/products_id/16723
Rhadonda says
If you didn’t have the scallop blade in your trimmer would you have used it for your photos? Just curious why the exacto knife? Cleaner cut? I have one but rarely use it.
Cathy Zielske says
Cleaner cut. Every time. 🙂 I buy a pack of 100 No. 11 blades and I use one per project, sometimes more. Because I use so little product, I focus on the details of a clean cut. 🙂