Here I’m going to put together a scrapbook page on the fly so you can learn several different techniques that you can use specifically with Photoshop to get it done.

First, find a few images from your File Browser that you want to use. Crop them down to size with the crop tool and press enter to focus on the subjects.

With the moVe tool, go ahead and drag in several different images/layers from open documents that you’ve chosen will fit in this image.

Now you can go ahead and rotate each or any of them with your transform options (Ctrl T) or edit: transform menu. You’ll almost always want to rotate Something in most of your scrapbooks.

Here I’ve got this layer placed right above a scrap of paper after being scaled down. It’s OK to have images at different sizes. Always think of which is your most important one though and you’ll want that as your largest, most featured one.

Here I'm trying something out by creating a ‘clipping mask’ or clipping group by pointing as shown...

and then Alt Clicking. This will put the photo layer ‘into’ the visible layer beneath and mask any area that is outside of the layer beneath.

This is a scrapbooking method that I haven’t seen done yet and am just trying this out right now so feel free to use it.

If you understand layers well (you will if you have my Basic Photoshop training), you can easily select (make active) them, move them and rotate them.

Here I’m rotating this scrappy layer to align more to the horizontal couch image.

Now I’m rotating the couch layer to kind of fit on top of this scrap of paper layer after highlighting the layer in the layers palette to work on it.

I’ve also used the clipping mask (in Photoshop CS) Layer: to fit this image into the pixels shape of the layer directly beneath it (the scrap of paper). This is a handy technique that you can use.

Now I’m making the main layer active in the layers palette by clicking on it

and putting that one into a clipping mask/group with the larger paper scrap layer beneath it.

You’ll note in the layers palette that I have another layer above it..that’s ok, because several layers can be in a clipping group as long as the bottom layer is the target (keep clipping the layer above your target into the layer below).

That layer is simply some additional shadowing or filling onto the scrappy layer (which I could have merged earlier).

When you create a clipping group/mask go ahead and make one of the layers active and move it around to see what happens.

Try both the clipped layer and the target layer and move them around to see what happens. You’ll want to link them together if you want to keep them together.

Try this on different layers of your clipping masks. You can always un’clip’ them by placing the cursor right on the line between them and Alt clicking.

Here I’m rotating a set of the flower bouquet which may not have been merged yet since I am working on a layered .psd file.

Here I’m adding a pizza wedge embellishment to work as the corner to a scrap or photo. This is used quite often in scrapbooking as a placeholder to hold the photo/scraps in place.

Here I’m getting rid of the clipping mask to reveal the original photo as normal and independent and then scaling it down to have it fit and look like a regular photo onto the scrappy edge.

Understanding even a few of these basic principles and elements should have you creating your own scrapbooks in no time at all; especially when you have the elements. I’ve created lots of these elements and templates on Scrapbook Templates for you to get moving..they are royalty free.

You will also have to unlink them if you have linked them in order to move the photo layer separately.

Go ahead and add a drop shadow to the photo layer and the scrap paper layer if you haven’t done so already. This is MANDATORY...no j/k but it makes it a lot more realistic and helps complete the effect of making a digital scrapbook realistic. Have your images ‘pop out’.

Here I’m pulling in another scrappy background element to use as a backdrop.

If you’re using multiple layers, you may have to change the order of this layer in the layers palette so that it appears beneath the layers you want it to appear beneath.

You can use the Hue adjustment technique taught in other tutorials to get the color of that scrap layer to match with your current working color theme.

Go ahead and add some text (a definite MUST) to your scrapbook to help describe the situation.  It becomes 'word art' when it fits in perfectly.

Another technique you can do is to drag this type layer to the new layer icon and with the moVe tool, drag it around to different places and lower the opacity to have it blend into the rest of the document. This will make your scrapbook a lot more professional looking.  Make sure your journaling or text is complementary to your scrapbook page.

Here I’m using the same font (I need a good collection still!) and creating a date type layer and then going to the styles palette to add a layer style (pre-programmed) that I like to add some more interest to the type layer.

And whammo! Some more of the basic elements and principles of using Photoshop to do your digital scrap-booking.

Nobody can do your precious memories better than you once you have the materials and knowledge!

If you're ready for some SERIOUS digital scrapbooking tutorials then check out the link.