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!
It's time for another round of Sketch Support! Yay! This month is a little different with a mini version of Sketch Support since it's so close to Christmas.
This month I've got a new, FREE one-page sketch and I'm sharing three different layout examples Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday that are all based on that one sketch. Then next week I'll share the YouTube version of Sketch Support. It might be later in the week than usual.
Here's the sketch that I have used as the starting point for each layout this week:
You can also grab the Sketch Support #16 Bonus Sketch Examples! These PDFs have been in high demand and I get messages and emails daily from people who are enjoying them.
This month it is a 3-page PDF of 23 different sketch options. That makes 24 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 four two-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: Simple Stories and Echo Park; Alphabet stickers, chipboard pieces, stickers, and die cuts: Simple Stories; Snowflake wreath cut file: Paige Evans from the Silhouette Design Store; Snowflake cuts files: Echo Park from the Silhouette Design Store; Embroidery floss: DMC; Computer font: Century Gothic
Variation #1 - Changing the background to a different shape.
One of the first ideas I had for using this sketch was using a circle design while still following the general concepts from the sketch. I still followed the sketch closely, but everything has been adapted to fit a circle. There are three layers of circles:
• A large background (brown)
• A photo mat (cream)
• A base for the photos and strips (not shown)
While it might look like this would be complicated to create, I promise it's not at all. I used my Silhouette to cut a cardstock circle that would act as a base for the photos and the strips.
First I arranged my photos on the circle. I used the negative cut out to lay over my photos and the circle base to make sure I wasn't going to cut off any important parts of my photos.
Then I adhered my photos to the circle and then flipped it over to cut off any that was hanging off the edges, using the edge of the circle base as my guide.
I followed this same method for the strips. My strips are cut slightly longer than the space left on the circle base. I adhered them and after they were all on the circle base I flipped it over and cut off any that was hanging off the edges.
Trying to create that circle with individual pieces without a circle base would have been very difficult! Anytime I'm trying to combine elements to create a shape I'll almost always use a base to help ensure that everything comes together perfectly to complete the shape.
Variation #2 - Adding a large background piece.
After I had picked out these photos I thought I would have a little fun with the snow theme. My original plan was to create one large snowflake to act as a background, but when I was looking through my snowflake cut files I came across this snowflake wreath. It felt like this wreath style was going to be much better for my plan than the single large snowflake idea.
Funny story: the paper I originally picked out for the snowflake wreath was orange. There is a tiny bit of orange in Drew's coat and I thought it would be a fun color to highlight, especially for snowflakes. It was a little different since it's not the typical snowflake color. I cut the wreath out of the orange and loved it, however, when I turned it over to add the adhesive I saw that the backside of the paper was a really nice cream color. I ended up liking it even more than the orange and decided to use it instead.
To give the snowflake wreath some texture and detail I added hand-stitching on the top of it. Not gonna lie, this took a really long time. Because the snowflakes are so detailed and somewhat small I had to use shorter stitches. I wish I could tell you it was boring and painful, but I love stitching and I welcome long days of it anytime!
Variation #3 - Changing element to better fit your theme.
I swapped out the stars for some snowflakes to go with the theme of my layout. I arranged them in the same corners as the stars on the sketch, but rounded them to frame my wreath design.
That's all for today! Check back tomorrow for layout #2!
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