Templates

There are so many great templates out on the market but why buy them when you can make your own for a fraction of the cost! The best thing about making your own templates is you can have just the design you want in the size you want.

If you have some ugly cardstock that you won't use on your pages (like neon!!), using it for stencils and templates puts it to good use. The downside is that the cardstock won't be as durable as plastic.

For small stencils, such as die-cut shapes you can use coffee can lids. Some people use the side of plastic gallon milk jugs. My favorite thing to use is plastic notebook dividers. They are already the right size and punched to fit in a binder for storage! You can get them clear or tinted in different colors. Just make sure you get the kind you can see through!

To make alphabet templates simply find a font you like and use a program such as MS Word. You will need to use the "Word Art" feature so that you can print it in outline form to save ink. Type up the alphabet and include numbers and symbols if you want. Change the font size to make your letters as big or small as you like. Depending on the size of your letters, you may have more than one template for just the upper case. Print out the page and tape it to the back of your plastic notebook divider. Use a craft knife (like x-acto) to carefully cut out your letters. (If using cardstock, just print directly on the cardstock and cut out.) Voi-la!

You can use cookie cutters to make shape templates . I've also used stamped images by just following the outside of the stamped shape. You can also use punchies by scanning and enlarging them!

Color-blocking templates that help you plan layouts are about $6 each. You can make your own for about 50¢ each!! Again you can use your ugly, dust-collecting cardstock or plastic. You can look at the ads for color-blocking templates for ideas on laying out the blocks, or come up with with your own. For 8 ½ x 11, simply use the plastic notebook dividers and use a ruler to draw out your plan on a sheet of paper. Tape the design to the back and cut your template out. For 12 x 12 size templates, I found that the Generations 12 x 12 memorabilia pockets work well. They come 3 in a pack and when you cut the pockets apart it will give you 6 pieces. They are even 3 hole punched so you can store them in a 12 x 12 binder! I was able to carefully take the pockets apart at the side seams then cut the bottom on the fold. Draw your layout design on a piece of 12 x 12 paper or cardstock that you don't want, tape it to the back of your plastic sheet and cut it out! Now you have your own color-blocking templates at a substantial savings!