Show & Share | Simply Shabby 3×3 Accordion Album

Wowza – where has the past month gone?  Between all the end of school-year activities and the baby boom that is also known as June, I’ve been busy busy busy!

Hopefully you’ve had a moment to check out the new mini-square accordion album templates in the store – these things are wildly popular and just as cute as can be!  Being that I am still in the “honeymoon” stage with this new product, I thought I’d put up a very basic “Simply Shabby” accordion album template for this week’s freebie template.

The colors of the background and the borders are changeable – the sample show is a modern gray on gray color scheme, but the true possibilities are endless.  For some color inspiration, I suggest you check out Portrait Allure’s posts on the subject – some great ideas!

DOWLOAD LINK | Simply Shabby 3×3 Accordion Album Template

available until 6/30/10

Show & Share Wednesday | 3×3 Brag Book Template

I’ve always been a fan of the little Ventura 3×3 mini-albums made by Renaissance Albums (find them at albumsinc.com). If you aren’t familiar with them, definitely check them out as they make a fabulous bonus or gift item and are the perfect size for a purse (so your client can show off your beautiful work to all of their friends!)

To obtain the 3×3 prints, I use a 10×13 template that has ten 3×3 squares. This is perfect to upload to the lab (I always get lustre coating!) and then I just trim down to size with my Carl 18″rotary trimmer. I put a foil sticker in the back of the album that has my logo on it (I get my logo-labels from Rubber Duck Design) and slip the whole thing into a 5×7 organza bag from Papermart.  Oh, and don’t forget to put a few business cards in there for your client to give to their friends!)

DOWNLOAD LINK – Collage Connection 3×3 Brag Book Template

Link expires 3/31/10 at 11:59 PDT.

Show & Share | 3-Panel 5×7

I recently sold a gift certificate for my baby’s first year plan and the gifter asked if there was a way to create an item that the recipient could actually unwrap at the shower. My solution was to create a 5×7 collage of images from a baby’s first year series and then the gifter could put it into a 5×7 frame and wrap that up as a gift, along with the gift certificate itself. The gifter was thrilled with the idea and I was rather pleased with how it turned out – so I thought I’d share it!

The 5×7 collage includes three panels with the shabby border – there is also a set of traditional solid image frames if you do not want to use the shabby borders. (Note: the background used in this image is not included.  Font shown in sample is Bickham Script Pro.)

DOWNLOAD: 3-Panel 5×7 Collage

Expired on Friday, March 26th at 11:59pm.

Show & Share Wednesday | Digital File Packaging Kit

I keep it VERY simple when it comes to my digital file packaging – everything can be done in-house by me (I print with an Epson R1800 printer) so that I am not waiting on items from my lab or if I have a hiccup with something (i.e. the CD doesn’t burn properly) I am able to make quick adjustments and not fall behind on my workflow for that client.

Here are the supplies I use:

DVD Cases – Uline.com (I love that I can include a 5×7 card that contains a usage release letter and printing instructions on the inside of the case.)

TaiyoYuden/JVC White “Printable Hub” CD – Meritline.com

Epson Premium Matte Paper – Amazon.com

As I mentioned, my printer is an Epson r1800, which I love, though I don’t really need the wide format option.  What you want is a printer than can accept printable CD/DVD media and I recommend checking out the Epson models for this feature.  If you get a printer that can print the media, but may not do that great of a job printing the covers, you can upload the covers to the lab of your choice, which I have done before.

For this weeks Show & Share, I have my DVD Case template along with my printable CD/DVD template.  The standard “how to use our templates” instructions are included, but if you have any questions, please let me know. :)

DOWNLOAD LINK – will expire on Tuesday, March 9th at 11:59 pm MST. EXPIRED!

COVER

Back                           Spine                      Front

Sample CD (showing with “printable hub”)

Show & Share Wednesday | Basic 16×20 3-Image

Last week on The Collage Connection’s facebook page I asked for requests for upcoming Show & Share templates. Heike asked for a basic 16×20 template, so hopefully this is what she had in mind. :)

DOWNLOAD LINK Expired!

Download will expire on Tuesday, February 20 at 11:59 PM MST

View all of our 16×20 Collage Templates – 16×20 Set I and 16×20 Set I {Rounded} are now $10 off!

What I love about the 16×20 templates is that you just have to rotate them and you have a whole new look!

Photoshop Tip: To rotate your canvas, go to IMAGE>ROTATE CANVAS> and then select one of the options.

Show & Share Wednesday – Promotional 20×30 Collage

I came across this great blog – BRAND CAMP BLOG – and they had a nice entry about how to promote your portrait business in a cost effective manner. As I read, my eyes zoomed right in on the headline “When it comes to displays, rely on collage to sell your work.”

A single 20×30″ canvas featuring your favorite four to six images and logo will go a long way toward selling your work.  Buying 6 20×30″ canvases for a space is going to put you back $600-$800, a costly solution when you plan to change the images out every four to six months.

DING DING DING! Gee, I know a thing or two about collages and thought that this would make an awesome Show & Share Wednesday item. :)

So here you go. This is actually the 20×30 I will have printed as either a flat-wrap canvas or gallery wrap canvas for a couple of silent auctions I have coming up this spring.

DOWNLOAD LINK – EXPIRED!

Download will be active until Tuesday, February 9th at 11:59 MST.

Show & Share Wednesday | 10×20 3-Image Maternity Collage

This is one of my favorite collages for maternity clients.  It’s a simple, 3-image collage featuring the quote “Where there is great love, there will always be miracles.”  So sweet for expectant parents. The collage is not just for maternity, however – you can alter the quote or arrangement of the images to suit any need.

I hope you enjoy!

Download has EXPIRED!

Link for free download will expire on Tuesday, February 2nd at 11:59pm.

Photoshop template for photographer, maternity pregnancy collage

Show & Share Wednesday – Rugged Boy Birth Announcement

I am super excited to introduce a fun line of birth announcements, so I thought I’d start off with a freebie announcement for this week’s Show & Share.

This is set up as a boy’s announcement but the colors and text can easily be modified for a girl. Be sure to check out the other birth announcement templates in the store!

DOWNLOAD HAS EXPIRED

Free Download Expires on Tuesday, January 26, 2009.