Templates is a great help to jumpstart your creativity.
I love to scrap with templates. To me, a digital scrapbook template is a great help to get my creativity started. Very often I start with a template, but after a while my layout look totally different from were I started. But that does not matter, as long as I am happy with the result. Here is how to do it!
The template used in this tutorial can be downoaded from the freebies page
Start by opening your template and the papers you want to use. With the first paperlayer highlightened in your template, click and drag a paper in to your template. To click and drag any items into your layout, you should have the move tool selected. PSE will automatically center your paper or element if you hold the SHIFT key when you let go of you mouse.
In this layout paper number two in the template is a clipping mask.
Highlight the layer you want your paper to cover, and click and drag it into your template. Then, highlight your new paper layer and press CMD+G. This will give your new layer the shape of the layer beneath it. This gives you the opportunity to move your paper around inside the clipping mask.
When you are satisfied with the look you can press CMD+E to merge the paper layer with the clipping mask.
Repeat the same process until all layers are covered. There is an optional way to paste your photos into a selection. You can select the shape you want to paste your photo into, by clicking the shape with the magic wand tool. You can also make a selection by pressing the CMD key and the thumbnail of your layer at the same time.Then open your photo. Make a selection of the hold photo by pressing CMD+A(or just select a part of your photo with the "rectangular marque tool"), press CMD+C to copy, then go back to your template and choose "Paste into selection" from the edit menu(SHIFT+CMD+P).
You will now see the marching ants around your photo and as long as you see them, you can move your photo inside the frame/shape until you are satisfied. Press CMD+D to deselect. NOTE! When you choose deselect, you can no longer move your photo inside the frame! When all paper and photo layers are filled, just add embellishments, text and drop shadows of your choice.
Here's my finished layout.
Credits for the layout: Papers, tag and jewels from Meredith Fenwick's Everyday Inspiration Collection. Oval Frame from Lauren Bavins Tuscan Romance kit