2008 in Review Template

Happy New Year!

I knew I wouldn't get back here before Christmas, but I really wanted to get this template done before the new year started. Looks like I made it in the nick of time! I love doing these "year in review" layouts, so I thought I would make a template to make it easier. Of course I can never do anything quickly when it comes to scrapbooking, so the actual layout took me a long time to do. You can see that by all the little details I had to add to my sample layout. I sure have a lot of scrapbooking files! Anyway, you don't have to be quite as detailed as I was when you do your layout.

So here's my last template of the year!

2008 In Review Template

And here's my layout...

(see what I mean?)

As 2008 draws to a close, I just want to thank all of you that have visited my site this year. It's been so much fun to make all of these templates, and I love to read all of your kind words. I hope in 2009 to find more time to make even more templates for you to enjoy. I hope all of you have been as blessed as I have this past year!

Here's the link to the template

Enjoy it and I'll see you all next year!

Lori

Christmas Card Template

Hello! Hello! I'm still here!

Sorry I've been away for so long! My life has been crazy busy! And of course it will only get worse now that the holidays are rapidly approaching. I really wish I had more time to devote to this site because I really enjoy it and love to hear from all of you.

I know I'm not the only one who is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Or should I say "turkey" since Thanksgiving is next week. Sorry, it's gross either way. I'm sure most of you are busy beavers too. (What's with all the animal references?)

Anyway...

I thought I would help you get a head start on your Christmas cards by providing this cool template. I really had fun playing with this when I was done with the template. It's a great way to share a bunch of photos with your family and friends and wish them a happy holiday season. I made the template a 5"x7" size, but feel free to resize it. You may want to make it a 4"x6" size to save money on envelopes and stamps. You can also use the card as part of a Christmas layout if you want. Be creative!

Here it is...

And here is my Christmas card...

You can download the card template here.

Ok, now I really want to see some of your cards, so please send me some of your finished work!

And if I don't get back here before Christmas...(but I'll really try)

I hope all of you have a wonderful and blessed holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

Lori

2009 Desktop Calendar Templates

So I thought I'd do something a little different this time. I've noticed that a lot of sites are coming out with their 2009 calendars and templates, so I've decided to share mine with you! These make great gifts, but be sure to make one for yourself too!

These templates are 5"x7" in size. I like this size better than the popular CD calendar size that you see everywhere. Mainly because they are bigger! I put my finished calendar pages in a plasic frame like the one below. You can find them at any office supply store, or at places like Target or Walmart. They are only about $4.00 each.

To use these templates, simply choose your favorite photo, digital papers, and elements, and place them into the appropriate layers. Voila! Instant desktop calendar in no time! I make these every year for not only myself, but for my dad and my father-in-law, whose birthdays fall just before Christmas. They are always a big hit.

Here are a few samples of how you can use these calendar templates. You can keep it as simple as you want, or add more papers and elements to your liking.

This one is very basic, but classy. Maybe better for a man,

or someone who likes a modern touch.

I've added just a couple of things to this one, a digital paper

and a photo overlay. Still pretty simple.

This one I added a few extra elements in addition to the digital papers.

So, just have fun with these and get as creative as you want with them. Also, I'd really love to see some of your finished results. Please send me some samples! I haven't made my calendar yet, so maybe you guys can inspire me!

Here is the link to the calendar templates.

Have fun with these!

Lori

Template #27

I'm back!!! Hooray!! Sorry I was gone for so long, but ever since we got back from our vacation, my life has been extremely hectic! I'm hoping I can still find time to make these templates because I really enjoy it.

I did find some time yesterday to sit down and get one done! Yea! I was looking at an old copy of Digital Scrapbooking magazine, and basically made a template from the June/July 2007 cover.

So, here it is:

Template #27

And here is my layout using this template:

And, of course, here is the link to download this template.

Have fun with it, and I'll try my best to not be gone so long!

Lori

Template #26

Well, things have calmed down quite a bit since my last post. All of the fires that were burning near us are either 100% contained or close to it. The air quality is still pretty bad because of some other fires burning more west of us, but at least we are out of immediate danger.

I will be leaving for vacation next week, so if you don't hear from me for a couple of weeks, that's why. I thought I would squeeze one more template in before I go.

I drifted back to the circles theme a bit on this one. Hope you all like it! Here it is...

Template #26:

And here is the layout I created with it. Yes, it's another one of me as a child. I'm having so much fun playing with these pictures! I may have to make a Shutterfly book order eventually!

You can download this template here.

Have a great rest of your summer! See you in a few weeks!

Lori

Template #25

Ok, so I know I said it wouldn't be so long before I posted a new template, but unfortunately we had a bit of a scare lately with the fires. Last Friday, the winds shifted towards us, and two of the fires burning in our area were heading our way! We had to pack everything up and be prepared to leave. Luckily, our area received a huge amount of air support, lots of planes and helicopters dropping water and retardant, and the winds finally shifted away from us, so we never had to evacuate. Whew! That was close! So needless to say, I haven't been in a real creative mood lately. However, I did manage to sit down the other day and get a bit creative, so I do have a new template for you!

Here it is:

Template #25

And here's my layout using the template.

It's yet another one of me as a child. This is my older sister and I at the beach.

You can download this template here.

Here are some photos from our local paper that show some of the fire activity in our area. The fire crews have been doing an amazing job around here! I think in our immediate area there has not been any houses lost. We are very fortunate because I know in other parts of the state, there has been many houses lost and even a few lives...

It looks like they have a pretty good control on the fires near us, so I don't think we are in any immediate danger anymore.

So, on that positive note...

I hope to be back here soon with another template for you all!

Until then...enjoy this one!

Lori

Template #24

Hello! I'm still here! I haven't disappeared!

Sorry it's been so long, but things have been a bit hectic around my house. Some of you may have heard about all the fires burning in Northern California. Well, guess where I live? Yeah, we have about 150 fires burning in our area right now. Thankfully, none of them have been a threat to where our house is; however, we do live in an area that has a high fire danger, so we need to be prepared just in case. So, we've been busy gathering all of our pictures and such (especially my scrapbooks!) and getting them all consolodated in one area just in case we have to leave suddenly. I've also been busy the past two weekends attending a coaching clinic. I'm a soccer coach, and the class was for me to get a higher coaching license. Great class, but very tiring!

Today I wasn't feeling all that great, so I decided to use that opportunity to sit down at the computer and be creative! I wanted to do something happy an upbeat, so I stuck with the circles. This template is so fun to play with! The layout I did with it is another one of me as a child. Another fun photo that I love! I hope you have fun with this template too! Here it is...

Template #24

And here's my layout:

You can download it here.

Have fun with it!

I'll try not to be away so long next time!

Lori

Template #23

I really wanted to post sooner, but I was busy with the last week of school, and I've been making some Father's Day albums for my dad, father-in-law, and my hubby. Now that school is out, and I'm pretty much not working this summer, I will hopefully have more time to scrap and make more templates! However, there is that list of summer projects I made for myself to finish...

The photo that I used in my sample layout is one of me from when I was about 8 years old. I've always loved this photo and have wanted to scrap it for a long time. When I saw Gina's new kit called "Penelope" at Digital Design Essentials, I knew it would be perfect for this photo. I really love how this layout came out. It's my current favorite.

I've also been into circles lately. I went from squares, to rounded squares, to circles. Circles are fun! I hope you guys can make some fun summer layouts with this template...

Template #23

And here is that layout that I love so much!

(aahhh, wasn't I cute?)

You can download the template here.

Have Fun!

Lori

Template #22

I love to browse around digital galleries for inspiration for my templates. Most of the time when I find a layout that I absolutely love, I'm able to change it up and do my own version of it without copying it. However, this time I loved the layout so much that I didn't really want to change it much. So, I will show you the layout I used for the inspiration as well as my own layout. Here's the bad part... I don't remember where I found the original layout, or who did it, so if anybody knows, please let me know!

Also, I've added a PSP version of the template as well as the PSD version. I know some of you use Paint Shop Pro for your scrapping (I use both myself). And I actually make all my templates in Paint Shop Pro, so they start out as a PSP file anyway. I just haven't figured out how to use my templates in Paint Shop Pro, so I use my Photoshop instead.

So, here is the template:

Template #22

And here is the original layout I found somewhere in cyberspace:

And here is my version:

You can download this template here.

Have a great day!

Lori

Template #21 and the Winners!

Sorry I didn't get the winners posted sooner, but I've been extra busy lately, and my husband has been working on his masters online, so he has been on the computer a lot.

Before I post the winners, I do want to give you all a new template. I kept to my philosophy of "simplicity is best" on this one. Here it is:

Template #21

And here's the layout I did with it...

You can download this template here.

Ok, now on to the template challenge...
First, I want to thank the ladies that entered.

However...

I only had 3 people send me a layout!!! What's up with that? I had 149 of you download it!
I did appreciate all the birthday wishes, but I was hoping for more entries.

So, for the 3 ladies that did send me their layouts, they all will receive my first digital kit, "Mayflowers".

Here's the layouts that they sent in...

by Cyndie

by Tanya

by Rachel

Thanks again you 3 for your entries! I loved all of them.

I hope everyone enjoys my newest template too.

Remember...I love to see what you do with them!

Have a great day!

Lori

Template #20 and a Challenge!

Whew! I did it! I made it! And I'm exhausted!

So, here's the deal...

Today (May 7) is my 40th birthday! (ugh, that hurt to say).

So, in honor of my big day, I have not only a new template, but a challenge as well. And the best part is coming later in this post. (Hey, don't scroll down just yet!)

First, here is my latest template:

Template #20

And here is my layout using the template:

And, of course, the link to the template is here.

Now, onto the CHALLENGE...

Here's what I want you to do:

1. Download Template #20

2. Get as creative as you can with it. I kept it very basic, so you can turn it, flip it, add more photos, etc.

3. Send me your finished layout by next Wednesday, May 14 to loriboka@hotmail.com

4. Everyone who sends me a layout will receive a FREE Quick Page like the one I used in my layout. (See example below)

5. And here's the big surprise... I will select my favorite 5 layouts from the ones sent to me, and these lucky 5 will receive...(drum roll, please)

My First Ever Digital Scrapbooking Kit created by ME!

Yes, this is what I've been working on for the past couple of weeks. It was so much fun to make, but, oh my gosh, so hard! I've never made a lot of these things before, so I spent hours searching for tutorials, and endless trial and errors before I was happy with the finished kit. I hope you all like it!

So, put on your extra creative cap, and start working on those layouts! I can't wait to see what you guys do with the template. Remember, everyone who sends me a layout gets a free quick page like the one below:

Ok, so that's it! I've turned 40 and officially lost my mind!

Good Luck and Happy Scrapping!

Lori (40 and fabulous!)

Template #19

Sorry I haven't posted a new template in awhile! I've been busy working on something that I hope I can incorporate in my next template. Don't be surprised if it's awhile before I post again. Don't worry, I'll be back! (I sound like my governor. haha.) I'm just hoping I can pull this off! I would tell you what it is, but I don't want to spoil it. Keep your fingers crossed with me!

Now on to more important stuff...

I actually whipped this one up pretty quickly. Yea, I was surprised too! I hope you enjoy it. And, yes, this is the last of the skiing photos, so I'll try to make my next template completely different.

And here it is:

Template #19

And the layout I created with it:

You can dowload it here.

I'll try to hurry back!

Lori

Template #18

Even though I enjoy making all these templates myself, I'm always on the hunt for more free templates. And I'm sure you all love to find more free templates as well! I recently discovered a couple of new sites that offer more free templates. Chrissy W. from Digital Candy offers some free templates. You will find the links to her freebies on her blog. I also found a bunch of free templates at M Originals. She's got up to 32 templates there! I haven't checked them all out, but I really like some of her most recent ones.



But, since you are here to check out my latest template, I won't keep you any longer.

Here it is...

Template #18

And here is another skiing layout I did with this template:

You can download it here.

I may just do one more template that is like these last three.

I've had enough of the skiing photos!

Enjoy!

Lori

Template #17

So, I started working on this template and realized it's kinda similar to my last one. I think it's because I'm still scrapping my kids skiing photos, and I wanted them to go together somewhat. So, you may notice a theme starting here. I do still have more skiing photos to scrap, so my next few templates may look similar to these last two. I guess it's a good opportunity for you to put together your own theme with these! Sound good? Good!

So, here it is...

Template #17

And, of course, the layout I created with this template:

You may download this template here.

Have a nice day :)

Lori

Template #16

Wow, two templates in one week! Aren't you the lucky ducks?! I have a bunch of photos of my kids skiing that I want to get scrapped, so I've been busy making templates to scrap those photos.

I've also added some new photos to my slide show. Most of them are my own sample layouts from the templates, but I also added one from Brenda, who used Template #10 to create an adorable layout of her daughter. Thanks Brenda! I'd love to add more of your layouts to my slide show, so send me your samples!

Now on to the important stuff...

Here's Template #Sweet 16 :)

And here's my layout sample:

You can download this template here.

Time to get those creative juices flowing!

Enjoy!

Lori

Template #15

Wow, I can't believe I've already done 15 templates! I'm also surprised at how many of you have come to my humble little space on the web to download my templates. Thanks again to you all and for all your kind words!

Do you realize that Mother's Day is right around the corner? Still at a loss as to what to get mom? Well, I have a great idea! Since you have 15 templates to work with here, why not create a theme album for your mom?! And if you really want to step it up a notch, have your layouts made into a book from Shutterfly. I've done a couple of these books for my sisters, and they turn out beautiful! They have such great quality. (And, no, I don't represent Shutterfly in any way, shape, or form. I just love their photo books!) Plus, if you have a mother-in-law too, make one for her as well! You'll score some major extra points with her!

So, to help you along, here is Template #15:

And here is the layout I created using this template:

You can download this template here.

Have fun with it!

Lori

Template #14

So I've decided to jump on the bracket bangwagon. I keep seeing brackets everywhere in the scrapping world. I've been having fun playing around with them, and you'll probably see more templates by me that include brackets. I did have a bit of a bracket teaser in my last template. But here's my first bracket template:

Here's the layout I created with this template:

You can download this template here.

Let me know if you are liking the brackets.

I'll be happy to include them in more of my templates!

Enjoy!

Lori

Template #13

Thought I would post a new template before the weekend, for those of you that like to scrap on the weekends. If you need some papers and elements for this one, go over to Little Dreamer Designs and check out their Apprentice Gallery. There are some really great mini kits in the Week 4 gallery. And they are all free!

So, here we go...

Template #13

And here is the layout I created with it:

Here is the link to download this template.

Have a great weekend!

Lori