Hello all! Toiny here with a quick little rundown on how I template. I’m starting with Bryony’s, Heartstrings Scrap Art, wonderful template set: A Little Bit Arty 7 and our LAD: Peaches & Cream.

The first thing I do with every template I use (it’s my “magic” trick) is change all the Layer Eye Icons to red.

  • Click on the top layer in your Layers Palette
  • Scroll down all the way
  • Click on the bottom layer, while holding down the Shift Key
  • This selects all the layers in your template

With all your layers selected:

  • Right-click on the layers palette
  • A pop-up appears
  • Choose Red (or any of the color choices)

Now all your Eye Icons are Red. These are your Template Elements.

To keep this post short(ish), I’m assuming you know some of the simpler steps involved.

  • Drag in your favorite Peaches & Cream paper to set your background
  • This is Jen Maddocks paper 5
    Note: the eye icon for this new layer has no color! This is how you easily & visibly discern between template pieces & your choices

I’m combining a bunch of steps in one screenshot here, bear with me?

  • I’ve dragged in PapierStudio Silke’s accent & used it to replace the Template Watercolor. Again, note that the eye icon is colorless for my new element choice.
    • I’ve kept the Template Watercolor in place, but turned off
      Note: the eye icon is red, but the eye itself is OFF.
  • I did not replace the Template Paints, but I used a clipping mask to recolor each one.

You can continue working from the bottom up, but I prefer to work from the top down in my templates. Of course, after I replace the background & paint elements. I like to use the same butterfly if a template has more than one butterfly element.

  • I dragged in PapierStudio Silke’s lovely Peaches & Cream butterfly element
  • I resized the new butterfly element by dragging the sides smaller
  • I moved the Shadow Style from the template butterfly by
    • Click & Hold on the Shadow Style fx
    • Drag to your new butterfly element layer

Once the shadow style is in place, I duplicate my new butterfly element.

  • Right-click on the new butterfly element in the Layers Palette
  • Choose Duplicate Layer
  • Click OK in the pop-up box
  • Move your Duplicate butterfly element to the 2nd template butterfly location on your workspace, using the Move Tool
    NOTE: both template butterflies are turned off, their eye icons are not visible

I repeat the “butterfly” process with the Template Big Flower elements. I’ve dragged in a lovely Peaches & Cream blossom by Manu Scraps. I’ve already dragged the Layer Style and duplicated the new flower element. This time I’m moving the new flower element quickly & accurately by using the Alignment Tools in the top menu.

  • Select the Template Big Flower element; and
  • Select the new flower element by Manu (hold down the Shift Key)
  • Make sure you are on the Move Tool
  • The Alignment Tools will be in your top menu
  • Click on both Alignments you need
    • I need Align Right; and
    • Align Bottoms
    • This may vary for you depending on your element location in the work space

Now repeat the process by again duplicating the new flower element.

  • Select the Template Big Flower element; and
  • Select the new copy of the flower element by Manu (hold down the Shift Key)
  • Make sure you are on the Move Tool
  • The Alignment Tools will be in  your top menu
  • Click on both Alignments you need
    • This time I  need Align Left; and
    • Align Bottoms
  • You cannot see my new copy of the flower element, it’s hidden under the Template Big Flower
    NOTE: at this point I DELETE the Template Elements as I work

That’s it! Continue adding elements & replacing the template elements with your own. You can delete or turn off the Template Elements as you work. I find that by deleting the Template Elements, I can easily see what I’ve replaced and what I have not replaced by looking for the Red Eye Icons.

You can get Bryony’s entire A little bit Arty #7 set for only $1.00 through Monday April 25, 2022 use coupon code LADARTY7