Once a month learn how to use scrapbook sketches and adapt them to fit different styles, photo sizes, and themes. Sketches = endless scrapbooking ideas with little effort. Sketches do all the heavy lifting allowing you to have all the fun!
Today my layout is all about finding inspiration in one section of the sketch and extending it to create the whole layout. With this sketch you can easily take one side and use it as the design for both pages.
Here's the sketch that I have used as the starting point for each layout this week:
You can also grab the Sketch Support #19 Bonus Sketch Examples!
This month it is a 3-page PDF of 22 different sketch options. That makes 23 sketches for this month of Sketch Support. There are options that show how to change up the papers, use more photos, use less photos, use only 4 x 6" photos, there are three one-page options, and then an 8-1/2 x 11" option. The fun part is that you could use each option as a layout on its own, but you could also mix and match different options for endless possibilities!
Supplies used - Cardstock: American Crafts; Patterned paper: We R Memory Keepers and Echo Park; Chipboard word (adorable): Bella Blvd.; Alphabet stickers: Simple Stories; Cloud and sun cut files: Jen Martakis from the Silhouette Design Store; Chipboard flowers: American Crafts; Embroidery floss: DMC; Computer font: Century Gothic
Variation #1 - Using one section of the sketch for the whole layout.
With this set of photos I had printed them in all 4 x 3" and while I could make that size work for both sides of the sketch, I really liked the idea of arranging all of them in a similar photo block to what you see on the left page of the sketch. When I have photos that are all the same size, especially a smaller size, I like to arrange them all together in one block like this.
Looking at my layout and the 3 x 3" photo arrangement on the sketch, my layout follows that design concept almost exactly, it's just been extended across both pages. The great thing about this sketch is that you can do that with both the left and right page for a completely different spin on this design.
Variation #2 - Adding individual mats for each photo.
I mentioned that I was working with 4 x 3" photos, but that's not the size I ended up using on the layout. Because I was only using that photo block on the left as my design, it left me with very little paper incorporated into that design. I decided to crop my photos down to 3-1/2 x 2-1/2" and use a 4 x 3" photo mat. This gave me an opportunity to add in some patterned papers and colors while still following that photo block concept. Individual photo mats are a great way to work in some colors or highlight a few favorite photos within a block.
Variation #3 - Changing elements to fit the theme.
Instead of going with coordinated clusters on the bottom left and top right of the photo block, I decided to create a "scene" on my layout.
On the left I cut out tree branches from a patterned paper and layered them over each other. My hope was that they would look like trees to go with my theme. To add some texture and detail, I added a stitched border on the large leaves.
On the right I used my Silhouette to cut out some clouds and a sun, and again, adding some stitching for texture and detail.
Scenes are fun to create in scrapbooking and it's really easy to do. The way I approach it is for things on the bottom edge of my layout I think about things that would typically be on the ground or at the bottom of something like...
• flowers, trees, and grass
• cars, trucks, tractors, and roads
• dogs and cats
• water, waves, splashes, and fish
• houses or cities
For things on the top edge of the layout I think about things that would typically be in the sky or above something like...
• clouds, birds, and the sun
• airplanes, spaceships, or UFOs
• stars and the moon
• boats (on top of the water)
Those are just a few ideas. I'm sure you could come up with many more to fit practically any theme.
Variation #4 - Adding a title.
Since I only used the photo block on the left page, I was left without a title. To me, the best fit was with the journaling. I had moved my journaling block up to better fit with my design and my title fit in that space comfortably. If I was using a smaller title, I could have also placed it near the clouds on the right. But, I like that my title mentions the tree and is placed near the tree.
That's all for day 3! Tomorrow will be another layout based on this sketch!
Want to see more? Find me on...