Sketch Week, Part 1

After spending last night sick I'm hoping that Sketch Week will make me feel better! Thank goodness for laptops and warm, comfy blankets.

Can you believe that in January it will go from Sketch Week to Sketch Month? That alone is enough to already have me feeling a little better.

For the last two Sketch Weeks the sketches have been a little heavy on the design side. I tried on a few of my layouts to show you ways to simplify it. This week I'm doing the opposite. The sketch is on more of the simple side and I'm going to show you some ways to amp it up. And on Friday, I'll introduce you to this week's Guest Designer, Carolyn. Trust me, you'll love her layout!

We've also got a new sponsor for November, American Crafts. They've put together a fabulous giveaway for this week!

The sketch that is used as the starting point for each layout this week.

 • The sketch is available to download and print by clicking here. The printable version has the full sketch with all the measurements and placements.

Layout #1 - S.D.C. Ball Park

 

Supply list - Everything is from the American Crafts City Park Collection.

Variation #1
One thing I love about sketches with a large background is the many, many possibilities you have to play around with it. Because it is behind everything on the layout you can do almost anything without having to adjust anything else on the layout. On today's layout I used 1" circles in place of the background block of paper. Together all of the circles are the same size as the block of paper, it's just divided into several different pieces.

I had decided circles would be a fun addition to the page and would be a good support for the theme of the layout and the pictures. Any shape would work for this. Just think of any small shape punches you might have like stars, hearts, squares, butterflies, etc.

Variation #2
Because I had so many circles on the background I tried to stay away from using circles for my embellishments as well. With the busy background I went with simple tags in the three embellishment areas.

Variation #3
Even if you aren't completely comfortable with changing up the elements on the sketch, (like adding more paper, using larger embellishments, removing elements, etc.), you can always get a different look by simply flipping the sketch. Flipping the sketch, like I have done with mine, is incredibly easy to do and gives the layout a different look.

Variation #4
There are always ways to add enlargements to a sketch and usually it only takes a few minor adjustments. I substituted a 5 x 7 for one of the 4 x 6 photos. If you think about it, it's only a 1" difference which isn't really a lot.

Variation #5
Number five is actually two variations in one because they both worked together. Because I added the 5 x 7 I ended up leaving myself very little room for my journaling. Instead of trying to squeeze a few lines of journaling in above the picture and limiting my story I decided to use a smaller photo for the other 4 x 6 photo. This gave me plenty of room for the journaling beside the 5 x 7 and above the smaller photo.


Now, take a look at this awesome giveaway from American Crafts...

That is a ton of product - cardstock, patterned paper, lots of embellishments, tags, brads, ribbon, journaling stickers, Thickers...it is a lot of stuff! And you can never, ever have enough Thickers!

In addition to the American Crafts giveaway I'll also be doing a giveaway for a copy of Sketches for Scrapbooking, volume choice is all yours.

I'll be posting everyday, Monday - Friday. All week you'll have a chance to leave a comment and next Monday I'll post the winners. You can leave more than one comment through the week to be eligible (five days = five chances to win!) but not on the same day.