Do you feel like you are kinda cheating....

[junebug]

when you use templates? i have been using them a lot lately. i can't seem to do a page on my own lately. i don't know whats wrong, lol. but when i get comments on my template pages i almost feel guilty, lol. anyone else feel like this?

[lauren grier]

well.. seeing that using a template is 326236263262626x harder for me.. no lmao

[Darcy Baldwin]

Nope, not at all. They're no different than using any other tool, and if they help accomplish my goal - getting my family's memories onto the page, and into our books to enjoy together, they're the perfect tool for me!

[ZaCola3]

NO WAY!
I think that in the last 6 months templates have come SO FAR! I have been buying and using them like crazy! There are some FABULOUS template designers out there (we have a few here), that cater to my style of scrapping so I don't feel any feelings of guilt or a sense of cheating about using them!
Check out my gallery in the last few months and you will see that using templates in no way takes away from the style I enjoy scrapping!

[nesser1981]

No, because I still feel like they are usually my style.

[kaylaugh]

no, I usually tweak them in some way. I'll replace elements, rotate something, resize something. IF I managed to find the perfect template that needed no alterations AT ALL I'd be proud of my amazing shopping skills!

Kristi

[Gemma]

Originally Posted by nesser1981

No, because I still feel like they are usually my style.

Same here.

I LOVE templates, although I try not to use them as much as I want, lol.

[Kim Mauch]

I used to feel like it was cheating. Of course, I used to take many many hours to do a page (a few years back). Once I started using templates, I make tons more layouts than ever before. I love templates now, because my memories are getting scrapped and pages come pretty easy now.

I also really love how templates can push me outside of my normal style. For example, Cindy's templates allow me to create a page with lots of elements and layers. If I tried that on my own, it would be disastrous.

Kim

[NeverendingJen]

no, because I still am doing what I want to do-scrapping my memories.

[carrie1977]

Not really...half the time I start using a template I end up changing the whole thing to where it usually doesn't look anything like it. It just kind of gives me a jump start.

[Keely~B]

Originally Posted by lauren grier

well.. seeing that using a template is 326236263262626x harder for me.. no lmao

That

[Giseli Freitas]

Sometimes, yes. But I always try to change the template a little bit, by spinning it, adding stuff, etc. This way I feel no guilty at all!

xoxo

[SirScrapalot]

Originally Posted by NeverendingJen

no, because I still am doing what I want to do-scrapping my memories.

I totally agree...IMO, years down the road, my DDs will not feel shafted if I used a template...plus between working full time and designing, using templates makes getting pages done a whole lot easier.

[lovely1m]

No way! I LOVE templates. I love changing them to fit me. I never just use a template and leave it at that, I remove things, add things, flip them, resize, whatever fits.

[MamaBee]

I don't think so either... most of the time... LOL! I have way too many photos and memories that I want to get down that I need something to speed up the process. But there is that tiny thought in the back of my head that it's going to be my roadblock for getting on a few dream CT's that I have my eye on... and my ultimate dream... SugarBabe...

[Traci Reed]

NOPE!!! Sometimes layouts build themselves with the kit I'm using, some need extra help...I guarantee that in 10 years, I won't remember whether or not I used a template and my kids..why would they even care?

[nun69]

I don't think so....most of the time though I forget I have a HUGE stash!!!! if I am really stuck then I will use them!

[SmallMoments]

Oh heavens no. Some days templates are the only way I get anything done!

[Kara]

Originally Posted by MamaBee

I don't think so either... most of the time... LOL! I have way too many photos and memories that I want to get down that I need something to speed up the process. But there is that tiny thought in the back of my head that it's going to be my roadblock for getting on a few dream CT's that I have my eye on... and my ultimate dream... SugarBabe...

That.

[Sheana]

Not at all! I love using templates- they help me scrap outside of my usual scrapping style or try something I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. Plus, they're wonderful when I can't find my scrapping mojo and still want to scrap.

[heathergw]

Originally Posted by NeverendingJen

no, because I still am doing what I want to do-scrapping my memories.

Ditto!

[Chantal Miller]

I don't consider it cheating. But I know how you feel. When you get compliments and you just don't feel like you 100% derserve it

[4noisyboys]

Definitely not. I do credit them all the time too, so it's weird when someone comments about my design or composition. LOL! I try to always read credits so I know if it's your design or not.

Also...I don't feel guilty for using papers and elements that someone else has created. Each part of it is created by someone else, but it is my layout. My photos, my choice of papers, elements, and anything else I want to add or delete from my page.

I love templates and I'm so thankful to all the fabulous template designers out there for creating some amazing designs to help me make my pages for my family!

[neenee]

I don't think so at all. Personally, I find templates very hard to use. Which is why being a template designer works so well for me as not many of my layouts use templates. When I do use one, it is either Cindy's or one that fits my scrapping style. Many of the cookies from SSD and some of the designers I CT for will have templates that work well for me.

I do love using them when everything goes well as it saves me about 30 to 45 mins on the 2 hours + that I typically spend on one that comes from my imagination.

[Sarah8914]

I don't think it is or care when anyone else does... but when I am using templates, I feel like I'm cheating even if I don't think it is cheating (if that makes sense).

But I LOVE LOVE LOVE my pages with templates. they come together faster and look better, so I won't stop.

[Balinda]

not at all..I look at it as a tool to build your pages and those are really the ultimate goal...pages of memories for your family....

[rochelle789]

I use templates almost exclusively and never once have I thought I was cheating. There are no rules for scrapping, in my mind anyway. I say, do what you want and have no shame.

[Katie]

Nope. Pretty much only use templates now. I'm slow anyway, but I get more pages done when I use a template. Pretty much every page I do now is with one of Cindy's templates. Love 'em!

[Lizzy257]

I've been using templates a lot lately too. But I don't feel like I'm cheating - after all, that's what templates are designed for - to help you build your page! Honestly, a lot of the time, my page ends up looking nothing like the template anyway, so I don't worry about it. If it helps be get more pages scrapped, then I'm all for it

[pewtertm]

No, I don't look at it as cheating. I love templates, and have been blessed to be on several CTs for template designers (and AmyM, I MISS you!!!!)
I think it's probably been a hindrance for making some of those dream CTs...but oh well...it's who I am right now

[kscwgirl]

nope. Never. I big fat templates. It might cost me a ct or two.. but so be it. I make the templates my own anyway... and admittedly a lot of times I delete everything but the photo spaces. I have SUCH trouble resizing/cropping a photo to make it fit.. I need those little black boxes.

[starxlr8]

I don't ever scrap without a template now, though about 50% of the time its with one of my own.

To me, putting down b&w clipping masks and element placeholders first (when not using someone else's template) helps me to make sure my page is balanced. There's no distraction of colors or shiny things.

[krystalhartley]

No. No no no no no. BUT...I suck at using them--extremely template challenged. They are not time savers for me just yet.

[suze]

I don't feel bad at all either.

I don't use templates much, and I use to use my own, but I still feel its cool

[ColleenSwerb]

I live for templates. Lately, I've had so much going on that my mojo is barely even there. In the past few months I've started using templates even more to actually SCRAP pages, and I'm even more obsessed with it now. I just love them.

[nikkiARNGwife]

I love templates

[cheltzey]

I like creating my own design, but there are days (many of them!) when it's just not going to happen. I use them especially for multi-photo layouts. It saves me so much time.

[Kjersti]

I have a hard time when it comes to getting multiple photos on a page so templates have saved me! I love them!!

[rach3975]

Originally Posted by 4noisyboys

Also...I don't feel guilty for using papers and elements that someone else has created. Each part of it is created by someone else, but it is my layout. My photos, my choice of papers, elements, and anything else I want to add or delete from my page.

That's what I was going to say. I love templates, and the pages I make with them are usually faster and more attractive than the ones I make without them. Look at the variety of LOs that can be made with any one template--some of them will be amazing, some will be mediocre. That depends on the choices the scrapper makes, like which photos, papers and elements. So I still feel like it's MY layout, even if it started with a template.

[sidsymarie]

I'll go against the crowd on this one and say that YES, I do feel like I'm cheating when I use templates. But only when I'm doing CT work. If I'm creating a page for myself, I LOVE LOVE LOVE templates and do consider them just another tool for scrapping. But if I'm creating for one of my designers, I feel like the page should be 100% that designer's stuff, so using a template by someone else takes away from that.

[msbrad]

NO- I am extremely grateful someone else's brain assisted mine with a kick in the butt to get moving faster.

I scrap so slow, unless in an SS!

However, I mostly adjust the template to suit my page.
I even change my own templates, from when I first made them.
m

[schock77]

Yes... but I'm SO busy lately with work, selling my house, building our next house, the kids and their activites, family...well you get the idea... the templates keep me going. Otherwise I wouldn't have the time to scrap very much if at all and then I'd miss out. I say, as long as you credit them, USE 'EM and don't feel guilty!

[beaucat]

I do wish that I created more layouts without a template but I really don't enjoy the design process. I enjoy picking the kit and photos and building the page but not doing the layout if that makes sense. Without templates, I wouldn't get much done... I've been scrapping for myself more though lately and haven't even been posting most of them to galleries so I figure if templates help me scrap my memories then so be it!

[Mandy Reger]

I agree with everyone who said no, I love templates, they make things so much easier! I also design my own, but I love that you can take that extra time away and create a page so quickly!

[mscrafts8]

I love templates! If I end up creating the page from scratch, it takes me a lot longer - and all my pages look the same. I use them more for the photo placements and ideas on some of the layers. I usually end up flipping them or changing them somehow so they are not 100% the same.

[sevenupps]

I still do my own thing with it, so no. They are there to inspire us, right? That is why I was so happy Cindy is selling her amazing templates here because I love her style!!!

[junebug]

wow! didnt expect so many replies, lol. honestly i scrap more for the creative outlet than about scrapping memories. that sounds bad, but no one hardly sees my pages but me unless i make something hybrid for my mom. so maybe thats where the guilt comes from, lol. one of these days i may end up printing a photobook of my favorite pages but until then its just fun for me.

[joelsgirl]

Originally Posted by Sarah8914

I don't think it is or care when anyone else does... but when I am using templates, I feel like I'm cheating even if I don't think it is cheating (if that makes sense).

But I LOVE LOVE LOVE my pages with templates. they come together faster and look better, so I won't stop.

This is SO how I feel Sarah! But the truth is, unless a layout just comes to me, it's not fun to start with a blank slate. I enjoy the process SO MUCH BETTER if I can focus on my pictures, my stories and the yummy kit I'm working with instead of the design process.

[kscwgirl]

Originally Posted by junebug

wow! didnt expect so many replies, lol. honestly i scrap more for the creative outlet than about scrapping memories. that sounds bad, but no one hardly sees my pages but me unless i make something hybrid for my mom. so maybe thats where the guilt comes from, lol. one of these days i may end up printing a photobook of my favorite pages but until then its just fun for me.

You don't print them or show them to your kids?

[crystalbird]

Originally Posted by rach3975

That's what I was going to say. I love templates, and the pages I make with them are usually faster and more attractive than the ones I make without them. Look at the variety of LOs that can be made with any one template--some of them will be amazing, some will be mediocre. That depends on the choices the scrapper makes, like which photos, papers and elements. So I still feel like it's MY layout, even if it started with a template.

I totally agree. Even if you don't modify much of the template, there is still so much variation in what you do with it that can make it great or just so-so. I'm with Kellie - most of the time I enjoy the process better when I have a starting point to go from.