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!
I took it to theme-extreme for the last layout!
Here's the sketch that I have used as the starting point for each layout this week:
You can also grab the Sketch Support #21 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 papers: Simple Stories, Little Yellow Bicycle, and Echo Park; Large lemon slice cut file: Paige Evans from the Silhouette Design Store; Smaller lemons cut file: Amy Newhouse from the Silhouette Design Store; Foam alphabet stickers: American Crafts; Word stickers: Simple Stories; Heart punches: Martha Stewart and Fiskars; Nuvo Jewel Drops: Tonic Studios; Font: GoldenRuleSketch; Embroidery floss: DMC
Variation #1 - Using a two-page sketch to create a two-page layout.
I think when it comes to using sketches for different sizes of layouts, going from a two-page sketch to a one-page layout is the easiest. You usually have three options:
1. Use the left side.
2. Use the right side.
3. Use a combination of the left and right side.
Of course there are more options and possibilities depending on the sketch, but those three are the main, most common approaches to converting a two-page sketch into a one-page layout.
For my layout I decided to use the left side of the sketch as my inspiration, minus the smaller section of the large background piece.
Variation #2 - Turning elements into themed designs.
I often love to find ways to transform elements into big themed designs. That seems to be the place where I most enjoy creating. I love pushing my creative brain to come up with ways to incorporate the theme of my layout into the design.
I found this really cute lemon slice cut file (the large one) and I decided to use it in place of the arrow strips. While it doesn't look anything like the strips, it covers close to the same general area as the strips do, so it works. Whenever I get a little crazy with a sketch, I aim for things being positioned in the same general area and when you do that, it usually all comes together without needing special adaptations or adjustments.
To really highlight the outline of the lemon slice I added some hand-stitching along the whole die cut.
Variation #3 - Use three photos in place of one.
I had three 2-1/2 x 3-1/2" photos that I wanted to use for this layout and while that's quite a bit more than what you see on the left side of the sketch, there's plenty of room to accommodate a few more.
I overlapped and tilted them so they come somewhat close to the same placement as the 6 x 4" photo on the sketch.
Variation #4 - Adding extra details.
I knew I was going to use the big lemon slice, but I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do with this design. I happened to remember that I had created a lemon layout last year and I had kept all of the leftover lemons that I had cut with my Silhouette. I always over-cut whenever I'm creating cluster designs because I never know just how many die cuts I want to use so I had quite a bit of those lemons left over. Lucky me! They were perfect for this layout and I had actually used some of the same papers so they all matched and coordinated quite well.
I arranged the lemons all around the curved edge of the large lemon slice. I have some that are flat on the layout and they have been cut with the same curve of the edge of the lemon slice so that I could place them right up against the edge and give the appearance that they are tucked underneath.
I adhered a few lemons with foam adhesive along with some punched hearts to go with my "Lemon Love" title.
Variation #5 - Adding a journaling spot.
Since the two-page sketch has the journaling on the right side and I used the left side I had to find a new home for my journaling. The easiest place to me was just above the photos. To help the white journaling strips stand out, I added a yellow mat to each one.
That's brings us to the end of the layout portion of Sketch Support, but there's still more coming up next week with the YouTube version. Be sure to check back on Monday!
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