The tradition of the last day of Sketch Support is always about showing how the size of the sketch doesn't have to determine the size of your layout.
Here is the two-page sketch I used for the starting point of each layout I'm sharing this week.
You can download the full sketch with measurements and placements by clicking here.
Supplies used - Cardstock: Bazzill and American Crafts; Patterned papers: My Mind's Eye, Pebbles Inc, Simple Stories, Kaisercraft, Echo Park, and We R Memory Keepers; Stickers and summer die cut: Simple Stories; Wave cut file: Amy Robison; Flourish cut file: Echo Park; Glitter: Stickles; Glimmer brush: Wink of Stella; Nuvo Drops: Tonic Studios; Embroidery floss: DMC; Computer font: Century Gothic
Variation #1 - Using a two-page sketch to create a one-page layout.
I had these two photos of Drew at the beach that fit perfectly with the left side of the sketch so I opted to use that as the starting point that my page design is based on.
I always say, I never let the size of the sketch determine the size of my layout. You can always, and I mean ALWAYS, make a two-page sketch work for a one-page layout or vise versa. The easiest with two-page sketches is to split the layout in two and use one side for a one-page layout and that's exactly what I did here.
Variation #2 - Using horizontal strips in place of a large background.
I wanted to do something a little different than just a solid, one-page background like you see with the large background on the sketch..
These photos are a favorite of mine largely because it captures the beautiful range of colors in the water. Destin, Florida has the most beautiful water! If you haven't noticed yet, I love it there!
I decided I wanted to try to mimic that range of water color in my background and create this blend of colors from the sand to the darker, deep waters you see in the picture. Obviously, horizontal strips were the best way to achieve that with papers. I used 18 different papers cut into 1/2" strips to create a 9 x 9" square for my background.
To add some texture and dimension to that background first I added coordinating colors of embroidery floss to add a hand-stitched line on a few of the strips.
Then I used little wave die cuts in the same papers and layered them on top of the coordinating strip.
Variation #3 - Using smaller photos in place of larger photos.
I used 3 x 5" photos with a small mat in place of the two 4 x 6" photos. I love the 3 x 5" size and use it often when I have two photos. It's like the Goldilocks of photos for me. Not too big, not too small, it's just right. I also love that they can easily be cropped down from a 4 x 6" print if needed.
Because the photos are only slightly smaller than the photos on the sketch, no other adjustments are needed.
Variation #3 - Tilting photos.
I decided to tilt and slightly overlap my photos. They are still placed in the same general area as the sketch, they just take up a little less space. I tend to do this when I have two photos on a one-page layout. Plus, with this layout, I wanted a lot of the background to show.
Variation #5 - Replacing the vertical strips with different elements.
I opted to remove the vertical strips because, to me, they just didn't go with the horizontal "scene" style of background. Instead, I added a set of word/phrase stickers in a way that kind of leads up the page. To me, that kind of replaced those vertical strips by having elements in that same concept, without covering up so much.
I know that's kind of a weird variation explanation, but to me it serves a similar purpose as the vertical strips did.
Variation #5 - Moving the title and adding journaling.
I moved the title to the bottom of the photos instead of the top. I wanted to create a white, wave embellishment to go with the white cap of the waves in the photos. I thought it would be a great way to highlight my title. Having it at the top of the photos just didn't work with the scene I had going on in the design so I decided to move it below the photos.
I swear, glitter never looks as good in pictures as it does in person! It's looks so dull here!
I had to find a home for my journaling since the left side of the sketch doesn't have journaling on it. With the move of the title, that opened up the perfect spot for a few journaling strips.
That brings us to the end of Sketch Support, but no sad face yet! The video version is next! Check back Monday to see it.
Want to see more? Find me on...