Free 8 1/2 x 11 Templates - LOTS of PHOTOS!

So I've been doing a lot of spreads lately that have a lot of photos. Like--A LOT. When I search for pages with lots of photos, I can never find anything that looks like what I do. So...either I'm totally out of fashion or I'm just freaking awesome. I choose to believe the latter.

At any rate, I've decided to share a few more of my templates with you. A few things to keep in mind about the way I do this:

1. These files are set to 11x17. This means that when you finish creating your page, you have to divide it into two 8 1/2 x 11 pages. I do this by going to Image>Canvas Size and changing the settings to 8 1/2 x 11. To see how this is done, watch the video I created here, which shows how to turn a template into your own page.

2. Often I have the borders for pictures as a different layer--that way you can recolor it and add styles to it easily. Use the paint bucket or double click on the layer and go to layer styles to make it look the way you want.

3. Any flowers or silhouettes you see can be removed to add your own elements and silhouetted photos--they are there only to give you an idea of where to put your elements.

4. These templates are designed to flow easily across both pages--pay attention to the guides and choose your pictures carefully for the photos that are near the center or edges so that nothing of importance will be cut off. Some photos are purposely in the margins.

So, below are four new templates, and following that are some examples of what the templates look like when completed! Just click on the photos to download.

Template #10

 

Template #11

 

Template #12

I love this one--it has 27 photos in it! Perfect for when you have a lot of cute photos that don't need to be very big. I used this to show a ton of pictures of my kids playing in the water all summer.

 

 Kit: Turn up the Heat by Lindsay Jane at Gotta Pixel

 

Template #13

 

 

11x17 (8 1/2 x 11) Freebie Templates by ME!

So I decided to create a few templates. I've only done a few in the past--including my Maternity ones you can find here. But I was looking though some of my work lately, and realized that I really DO pack a lot of pictures onto a page. So I created some templates based on pages I have already created in the past.

These are for 8 1/2 x 11 pages--but it's one 11x17 file. You just divide the page in two after you've finished it to print or upload. There are so few templates out there for this size, and I'm always having to adjust those 12x12 pages, so now it's YOUR turn, you traditionalists! Ha!

If you have never used templates or would like a refresher course on how to use them, read Lesson 24 which explains the process in detail. The files you will be downloading are PSD files for Photoshop. Just click on the pictures below to download! Hope you enjoy these freebies!

**Update - I have also created four more templates AND created a video that shows how to use a clipping mask to create a page. You can find it by clicking on the image below:

Template 1

Template 2

Template 3

Template 4

Template 5

Remember, a template is nothing but a JUMPING OFF POINT. Although you could certainly do your page exactly as mine is here, you can change it as much as you want. There are things like the elements and the silhouette in template 4 that are there just as ideas or placeholders for your own elements from the kit you are using and your own pictures. For me, templates are great for when I'm just out of ideas and every page is starting to look the same. You'll also notice that every one of these templates has LOTS of pictures. Even on an 8 1/2 x 11 page, you can still fit a lot of pictures. They don't ALL have to be large pictures--just highlight your best ones in the bigger photo spots. If you use the clipping masks as explained in Lesson 24, you could easily whip out a page in 10 minutes using one of these templates.

Here are the pages that I based these templates on. Sorry for the poor quality on the last two-they are screenshots from Cherishbound. The original files were lost when my hard drive crashed, so I no longer have the .psd's or the .jpgs for them. (trying not to cry...)

Template 1

Note: The photo frames on this page are from an actual kit. This kit is called Pocket Full of Posies from Elemental Scraps. It's long gone and so is the site, but I love that I have used this kit SO many times and you'd never know it.

Template 2

Used A Touch of Class kit, also from Elemental Scraps and one that I bought years ago. Used A LOT of actions on this page. Oh Atomic Cupcake, how I miss you...I used the Foil action from that site to do the Memorial Day Weekend title.

Template 3

This is with the kit Do it Yourself by Connie Prince--she is one of my absolute FAVORITE designers!

Template 4

I didn't use a kit for this page! I created the background, obviously based on my my daughter's shirt. I created the ribbon myself a long time ago using some long lost tutorial. I like how it turned out!

Template 5

This is a real favorite of mine. I used the kit Cheeky from Designs by Krista, which, by the way, I think you can buy for $1.00 right now! I really love the font of my title--it's called Beyond Wonderland.