Photobooks? Ah, but where to have them printed and what size, if you'd like a scrapbooker's alternative to the 12x12" format! After devouring reviews (TechRadar and Digital Camera World) and sites (Blurb, Jessops, Albelli, Photobox, Bob's Books et al.), and scuttling down alleyways into dead-ends with Incompatibilities between versions of hardware, software and Javascript, I have finally slid to a halt at Blurb's 8x10" portrait offering. It's a tad smaller in format than the Mollie Makes craft magazine - but as Mollie's editors manage to pack in quite a lot, I am hopeful it's a size that will prove flexible.
Having made a clutch of Photoshop/Photoshop Elements templates, I am happy to share them with you (downloads below). I've experimented with copying the layers into an 8.5x11 page and they work well there too, giving a nice spacious margin; they can also be enlarged with the Transform/Scale tool (105%) or by selecting all layers, clicking and dragging. For those of you who either scrap, or are thinking of scrapping, digitally in a pocket style, the photo spaces are the same proportions as those offered by Becky Higgins.
Here's the clean Simply Modern version with a slim whisper of white between the photo or journalling spaces ...
Should you like a hint of a rounded corner, with just the outer ones shaped, this Simply Modern Soft collection might suit you ...
And if you like to go the whole hog, with every corner rounded and a drop shadow to boot, the Simply Modern Curve could be right up your street ...
Downloads here in zipped files ...
Download SimplyModernA-J
Download SimplyModernSoftA-J
Download SimplyModernCurveA-J
Thank-you for all your good wishes for my back (much better) and the visit to the Littlies (delightful). And yes, the Baltic in winter has a bleak beauty of its own! Here's a quick peek of last Monday ...
Wishing you a warmly creative week, and see you soon?
Lovely to hear you're on the mend. The close up of that face is fab.
Posted by: Kjjc | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 12:15 AM
Thank you so much for the templates...I scrap in 8.5 x 11 and absolutely love your templates!
Posted by: justasiam | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 12:36 AM
so glad you're starting to feel better. and wow - what a great share! you're (almost!!) making me wish I was still into scrapbooking!
Posted by: Mary | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 01:07 AM
Alexa, Thank you for the templates and I'm sorry to know about your back but happy at the same time for your recovery. :)
Posted by: Tracy | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 01:18 AM
Oh my, how generous! This might just be what I need to get going on a photo book I've put off for nearly two years now! Love your photos, and it looks like you had a lovely time. Hope we'll hear more about it soon.
Posted by: Karen | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 02:43 AM
I created a very similar set of templates in the book module in Lightroom and did a 300 page book using them! They are so versatile and simple, aren't they?! It takes away the whole agonising about what template to use. I actually rotated mine to landscape because that's how I do my vacation albums.
I love your outer rounded corner version. Very elegant. And very kind of you to share!
Posted by: Esther A | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 06:27 AM
The Baltic in winter? "Brrrr!" she thinks, as she looks out of the window at blue skies and a hint of sunshine this morning.
Posted by: Ruth | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 09:54 AM
Wonderful templates, the rounded corners are a lovely touch. The "Project Life" style of scrapbooking makes it a lot easier these days. As for the raindrops on your camera creating imperfect photos, if my understanding is correct, that's part of the joy of Wabi Sabi :) P x
Posted by: Paul | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 10:14 AM
I'm hoping your next visit to the littlies will be a bit warmer!!
Posted by: Jacky S | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 11:24 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your photoshop templates! Glad to hear you are feeling better :)
Posted by: Michele | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 01:24 PM
Oh, wow..you are clever! Very clever!
There's a lovely tint to those photos? A kind of perfect Baltic shade I think
Posted by: Sian | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 04:28 PM
These are beautiful templates Alexa. Thank you for sharing. You know how keen I am to hear progress on your book! I love what you create. I'm also really enjoying your new blog design.
Posted by: Abi | Monday, 02 March 2015 at 10:48 PM
It always amazes me how people like yourself can produce such incredible templates for us readers to download. I wish I could. Me and Photoshop do have our successes however commonly I am left very irritated at my inability to produce the things exactly as I like.
Ah well, if in need come to Alexa
Thank you
Love Jo xxxx
Posted by: JO | Tuesday, 03 March 2015 at 09:32 PM
I love your blog header. Your week looks lovely and you have captured the cold perfectly, raindrops and all.
Thank you for the downloads.
Have a great week :-)
Posted by: Jen Hart | Tuesday, 03 March 2015 at 10:05 PM
Thank you, my friend, for your encouragement to keep blogging. I've decided to stick with it. At least for now. Trying... Glad we are doing this together - side by side. ;^)
Posted by: Relyn | Wednesday, 04 March 2015 at 04:19 PM
Gorgeous templates Alexa, perfect for 8.5 x 11 or 6x8, love them.
Claire
xx
Posted by: Claire | Wednesday, 04 March 2015 at 06:40 PM
So glad to hear that you are on the mend. Thank you for the templates - on my list for this year are several 8.5 x 11 digi scrapped photo books to be printed as Christmas presents. I shall be spoiled for choice!
Posted by: Missus Wookie | Wednesday, 04 March 2015 at 06:56 PM
Oh! Thanks for sharing those templates…now, if I only knew how to make digital LOs/pages…on my "list" for 2015! Also, enjoyed the glimpse of your weekend with the Littles and glad to read that your back feels better. Take care!
Cheers~
Posted by: Honore Francois | Wednesday, 04 March 2015 at 10:57 PM
Thanks for the templates!!! We're snowed in here today, so I'm catching up with blog reading.
Posted by: Melissa Gross | Thursday, 05 March 2015 at 03:38 PM
Glad to hear that your back is mending. Love these templates. I just had a book made from my February CY 365 photos, a small one from Apple. I have started a book with Blurb so am glad to hear that you would recommend them. I have another idea in my head so have downloaded your templates , thanks so much. Oh! glad to hear that your weekend was lovely.
Posted by: Miriam | Sunday, 08 March 2015 at 06:42 PM
Glad to hear your back is on the mend and that you had fun with the Littlies.
Posted by: Becky | Sunday, 08 March 2015 at 08:34 PM
These look great,but I fear they are a bit technicallly beyond me!
Rinda
Posted by: Rinda | Monday, 09 March 2015 at 07:07 AM
Photo grids, text and a white background ... you really can't go past it. These look fabulous. I hope you don't mind me linking these on pinterest and my blog.
Posted by: Melissa | Saturday, 14 March 2015 at 12:27 AM
Lovely templates - thank you!
PS Sometimes rain drops on the lens create a beautiful foggy effect! (Yes, I speak from experience!)
Posted by: Prairie Jill | Saturday, 14 March 2015 at 03:27 AM
I can sympathize with the back and good to know you're on the mend! Thank you for the lovely templates… I have had good experience with blurb books. I also just made books through Artifact Uprising but don't know if they ship to the UK.
Posted by: SueTR | Tuesday, 24 March 2015 at 01:31 PM