4 Ways to Use One Photo On A Multiphoto Template

So I am sure that by now, you all know that I love to use templates.  They are the backbone of my scrapping process, and I don’t know that I would be able to get as many layouts done as I do without them.  Recently, I have become really inspired by the templates by Cindy Schneider at Sweet Shoppe Designs.  These templates are incredibly layered and detailed, and I love them…except for the fact that they usually have 2 or more photo spaces in them.  This becomes problematic, seeing that I usually work with one photo per layout.  Today I wanted to share with you the 4 ways I get around using multiphoto templates with only one photo.

1. Repeat the photo – this is probably the most obvious, but really works.  Often, especially when I am working with a photo I really like, I will just repeat the photo.  By doing this, I not only fill up the photo spaces, but I emphasize the photo I am using.  You can see this technique in my layout, “Sunny.”
2. Replace the photo with elements – I usually use this technique when the kit I am using has a lot of great elements I want to use, or I need to use to enhance the feel of the layout.  For example, with this layout “Curious Keira” I really wanted to emphasize the flowers on her dress and the floral patterns and floral elements in the kit, so I took the placement of the secondary photo and replaced it with a cluster of the flower elements.  In most cases, you can make it look as though the secondary photo wasn’t even there in the first place.
3. Replace the photo with a journal spot – This is the easiest of the approaches I’ll use to replace a photo in a template.  Often, journal spots are similar in size and shape to photos, so I can easily use them instead of photos.  In this layout, “Mother,” I actually created my own journal spot by placing a frame in the photo spot, and then putting paper behind it.
4. Just take the photo out – This is the best thing about templates.  When you are working with a template, and you find something that you don’t want to use, you can just take it out!  Often it takes a little maneuvering to get the other elements and photos fit once you take something out, but it’s worth it to be able to use the one picture I wanted to use.  In “We Like Peanut Butter and Jelly” I took out the second photo, and flipped the main photo to help fill the space.

These are just a few of the many ways you can work templates to fit your scrapping needs. What methods do you use to make templates work for you?  Let’s talk about it in the comments!