7 Quick Title Tips for the Digital Scrapbooker


One of my least favorite things to add to my page when I'm making a digital scrapbook page is the title. I love alphas but placing all the letters, arranging, resizing, shadowing, etc...It just seems to take too long. I have a few techniques I use when I'm in a hurry to make a title and I don't feel like fussing with digital scrapbook alphas. I already wrote a tutorial on one of the ways I make my own titles here but that's not the only technique I use. Let me show you a few more.

Here's a page where I didn't really make a title. I thought the little tag that said forever would work perfectly on this page. I also added another tab to include just a little bit of journaling and another one to add the date. That's all this page needed.
Big Photo Fun Templates by Scrapping with Liz and Vintage Sprout by the Scrap Orchard Designers.

Sometimes I just use the included text title layer (always included on my templates) and type in my title and change the font to fit the page. On this particular page I blended the text in with the paper just a bit to make it looked like it was stamped. Check out this tutorial for an easy way to blend your text into your paper.
March Blog Template by Scrapping with Liz (available in my store soon) and Leavin' On a Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette

On this page, I used a purchased layer style. Layer styles are great because you can add cool effects text and clipping masks that are already on your page. I like Mommyish for layer styles. I usually tweak them a little to get just the look I want.

Weekly Project Templates 4 by Scrapping with Liz and Capture Life: April by Tracie Stroud

If you need help installing layer styles check out this video tutorial from SuzyQ Scraps and while you are at it be sure to download the free kit. It comes with a set of drop shadow styles (which would be similar to how you would use other styles) and you can practice installing them and using them.

On this page, I just simply added a title to the tab on the top.
Template coming to my store soon! Helping Hand by Designs by Kat (retired)

Here I just added another title with a simple font on a tag that came with the kit.
Double Monthly Challenge Templates 3 by Scrapping with Liz and Little Miss Sunshine by Megan Turnidge and Tickled Pink Studio

Here I used a word art that was included in the kit.
Freebie Template on my Facebook Page and  Best Day Ever by Amanda Heimann and Word Art from Great Escape by WMSquared.

And I think it's safe to say that sometimes you just don't need a title. Sometimes the photos speak for themselves. In this case, I just added a bit of journaling.
Fancy Templates by Scrapping with Liz and Beauty from Within by Megan Turnidge.
So here's a recap of ways to add quick titles to your pages (in no particular order):

1. Type your title and use it as a clipping mask. Add some extra detail by adding inner shadows or a stroke. Tutorial Here: Making Your Own Title
2. Use journal bits that are included in kits.
3. Use a font and blend it in with the background. Check out this tutorial by SuzyQ Scraps: Fonts Don't Float
4. Use Layer styles on a font. Check out this video tutorial by SuzyQ.
5. Add a title to a tag.
6. Use already made word art.
7. Let the photo speak for themselves.

Hope that will help you speed up your scrapping a little bit.
-Liz

Making Your Own Clipping Mask

I've had a few people ask me how to make their own clipping masks to fit certain types of frames or outlines.  So here's a video tutorial showing you a simple way to make your own clipping masks for your photos or papers. I'm using Photoshop CS3 but it should also work in Photoshop Elements.




Here are the products I used in the tutorial:


And here's another product that would work well for making your own clipping masks:


Hope it helps!

March Scrapping

It's time to review what I've scrapped over the last month.

I did manage to scrap 10 pages. I'd say that is pretty good considering I released new templates every week in March, homeschooled 4 children, managed to keep said children fed and in clean clothes and also managed to keep my house looking halfway decent! Yeah, I would say that is a pretty good scrapping month...even though I feel way behind.

Here's what I scrapped during March 2012 with a few older pages that I scrapped for my 2011 album that I couldn't show you because the templates hadn't released yet.

These first two were of pics I took this February. It was such a funny day. One moment we were swimming at the rec center not having a clue that it was supposed to snow, then I look outside and the snow is coming down! As soon as we got home the girls bundled up and went outside to play.

Snow Picture:
Scrapping with Liz April Template Challenge and Snowflake Dreams by Tickled Pink Studio

 Swimming Picture:
It's All in the Angle by Scrapping with Liz and Loveable (February 2013 SO Mega)

The next few are pages of Lydia's Album. This has really been my focus this year. I have so many pics from our trip to China that I want to scrap. I'm getting closer to getting it finished.
Scrapping with Liz March Blog Challenge Template (will be available soon in the store) and Leavin' on  Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette

Big Photo Fun Templates by Scrapping with Liz and Vintage Sprout (March 2013 Mega)

Using the Template from the Vintage Sprout Collab and Delightful by  Designs by Megan Turnidge 

Remember That Templates by Scrapping with Liz, Great Escape by WMSquared and Leavin' On a Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette

Bunch of Photo Templates by Scrapping with Liz, Great Escape by WMSquared and Leavin' On a Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette

Remember That Templates by Scrapping with Liz and Best Day Ever by Amanda Heimann Designs

Bunch of Photos Freebie on the Scrapping with Liz facebook page, Best Day Ever by Amanda Heimann Designs and  Word Art from Great Escape by WMSquared.

Photo Strip Templates by Scrapping with Liz, Great Escape by WMSquared and Leavin' On a Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette

These were pages I scrapped back in December when I was finishing up my 2011 Album. I haven't shown them to you yet so I thought I would include them in this post.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 2 by Scrapping with Liz and Hip Holiday by Bella Gypsy Designs

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 2 by Scrapping with Liz and Sugarberry Kit by Sugary Fancy Designs

Even though I feel really behind on all my scrapping I need to tell myself to just keep going. There's no point in quitting just because I'm behind, right? That would just make it worse. Plus I did 10 pages this month, I'd say that's pretty good!

-Liz


© Scrapping with Liz
Maira Gall