Sketch Week #3 | 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.

Sketch Week is here! I love this week! There's just something about sharing a new sketch with you all that makes me happy. It gives me all the scrapbook-y warm and fuzzies!

If you are new to Sketch Week, here's what goes down. Over this week I will share one sketch and three layout variations based on that sketch. The point is to show you how versatile scrapbook sketches are and how you can adapt them to fit your needs.

First things first, let's check out the new FREE sketch I'll be using as my starting point for each layout.

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

My first layout is a fairly close representation of the sketch with a few minor adjustments to fit my photos and theme.

Variation #1 - Replacing a few strips with a line of shapes that support the theme.

If you are looking to add a little more detail to your layout try replacing some strips with small shapes. You can do this with either horizontal or vertical strips on any sketch.

My hearts are the same width as the strips they replaced so there were no extra adjustments needed to accommodate them. I finished the look with a stitched line, sometimes two, going through the center or side of the hearts.

You can try this with many different shapes like:

• hearts

• stars

• flowers

• circles

• triangles

• arrows

• hexagons

• snowflakes

• squares

Variation #2 - Replacing a small photo with a larger photo.

I used another 3 x 5" photo in place of the 2 x 2" photo on the rectangle piece.

I wanted to highlight my favorite photo of the bunch and use it on that rectangle piece with the title. When it came down to it, that photo just didn't work cropped into a square. I was losing the whole theme of the page (stuck on you) when I tried to crop it down. My solution was to keep it as a 3 x 5" photo and adjust the title, embellishments, and journaling to fit.

I still end up with this rectangle piece that highlights my title and journaling, it's just been altered to accommodate my needs. There are lots of ways you can mix things up without losing the general design of the sketch.

Variation #3 - Replacing embellishments.

I used hearts instead of the arrow strips on the sketch. Mine are slightly smaller than the arrow strips. I felt like there were so many different patterns of pretty paper that I didn't need to rely on those embellishments to bring that finishing touch to the layout.

Be sure to check back on Wednesday for Day 2 of Sketch Week!

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Simple Stories So Happy Together; Stickers and chipboard embellishments: Simple Stories So Happy Together; Fonts: Freestyle (stuck, you), Blackout (on), and Century Gothic (journaling); Embroidery floss: DMC