Jan 25, 20213 min read

Sketch Support #17 | Learn How to Use and Adapt Scrapbook Sketches | Day 1

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!

The first Sketch Support of 2021 kicks off today with a new, FREE two-page sketch and I have created four layouts examples, all based on that one sketch. I'll be sharing a layout Monday through Thursday and then next Monday I'll share the video version of Sketch Support on YouTube.

I really enjoyed the details of this sketch so I'm very excited to share it with all of you! It's a fun one!

Here's the sketch that I have used as the starting point for each layout this week:

You can download the full sketch with measurements and placements by clicking here.

You can also grab the Sketch Support #17 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!

You can purchase the bonus sketches by clicking here.

Supplies used - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Pink Paislee and We R Memory Keepers; Chipboard "sunny": We R Memory Keepers; Chipboard alphabet: American Crafts; Chipboard frames: Simple Stories; Alphabet stickers: Simple Stories; Wooden pieces: Simple Stories; Word stickers: Simple Stories; Gold hearts: American Crafts; Wave border strip: unknown; Nuvo Drops: Tonic Studios; Embroidery floss: DMC; Computer font: Century Gothic

Variation #1 - Flipping the sketch.

I flipped the sketch from left to right to keep Drew from facing off the right edge of the layout. This is the most common reason I will flip a sketch. It's the easiest solution to keeping your subject from directing attention off the layout.

It probably would have been fine to keep the sketch as it is because even though Drew's body is pointing towards the right, his face and his eyes are forward and not towards the right. But, since flipping the sketch is so easy, I went ahead and placed those photos on the left side just to avoid the situation all around.

Variation #2 - Simplifying the sketch.

The big eye-catcher (and my favorite part) of the sketch is the 12 x 12" section of circles. There are so many ways to play around with that detail and the easiest way is to simplify it by using a single 12 x 12" sheet of patterned paper. It takes this sketch from something that is a little more time consuming to quick and easy.

I decided to add some extra details to the patterned paper I used.

I added some hand-stitching to help outline the wave design. I have three different colors of embroidery floss to help match the different shades of green and blue.

Then I used my favorite Nuvo Jewel Drops in Sea Breeze and Aqua Plains to add some water droplets.

Variation #3 - Adding extra photos.

I had a four 2 x 2" photos that I wanted to include on my layout so I added them in with the embellishments. That's a handy thing about 2 x 2" photos, they are small enough that you can mix them into embellishment clusters quite easily. I didn't have to make any adjustments to help them fit in.

I also added some chipboard frames for a little pop of color. My photos don't have a lot of color to them so I thought these frames would be a good way to help bring attention to those areas.