My layout today is based on a sketch from Sketches for Scrapbooking: One-page Sketches, Volume 1. This book came out in 2011 and was Scrapbook Generation’s first one-page sketch book. If you have this book and want to see which sketch I used, it is the sixth sketch in the book. If you don’t have the book, you can purchase it here:
While I do enjoy creating one-page layouts from time to time, I typically am more of a two-page scrapbooker. I usually have so many pictures that it’s hard to narrow it down and fit everything on one page. A lot of times I will take a one-page sketch and transform it into a two-page layout. You can do this with any one-page sketch and it’s super easy to do.
Here are a few tips:
• Extend the design by repeating it across two-pages. My layout today is a good example of this. I took the background design and repeated it with pictures. You could also repeat the background design with more papers and add photos on top.
• Stretch the design by lengthening the elements on the page. Just imagine you are grabbing one edge of the design and pulling it so that it stretches across two pages.
• Mirror image the design by creating the one-page layout on one page and then flipping it for the second page. When doing this I will often shift the design towards the middle of the two pages to create one big design, instead of two separate designs.
• Use the one-page design as is and then add a large photo block on the second page.
Here’s how I changed up the one-page sketch to work on my two-page layout:
The first thing I did was change the size of the background pieces. They were originally 4 x 4”, but I changed them to 3 x 4” and added a few more pieces. I mimicked the same 3 x 4” design with pictures on the right page.
The reason I changed the size of the background pieces is to better accommodate my pictures. With a square photo I had to have so much empty space in my photos, with a vertical rectangle I was able to better crop down to include a closer look at my chubby-cheeked son and his cute expressions while still having his whole body in the picture. I love both 4 x 4” and 3 x 4” sizes of photos because they are so easy to substitute for one another without sacrificing design or space. If you have a photo better suited for a square use a 4 x 4”. If you need a vertical (portrait) or a horizontal (landscape) rectangle go with 3 x 4” or 4 x 3”.
I also changed the location of the title, added a few 2 x 2” photos and some extra embellishments, and used larger journaling strips.
Sketches, to me, are so fun to use because they can minimize the amount of time you spend planning and putting together a layout, but also because they are so versatile and flexible to your own personal style and preferences.
Papers and embellishments are from the Kaisercraft Hide & Seek Collection.