Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Sketch Week, Part 3

You've probably noticed from the last two layouts that the background piece is one of the main things I altered on the sketch this week. Today's layout is yet another way to change up the look with, (or I guess I should say without) that background.

The sketch that is the starting point for all five layouts this week.


Layout #2 - Go Cardinals!

Supply list - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Fancy Pants (red), My Mind's Eye (dotted); Word stickers: Making Memories; Alphabets: American Crafts

Variation #1
So far this week I've shown you how much you can do with that background piece and all because it's just that, the background. There isn't anything on the layout design-wise that relies on that background. Today I've gone in the opposite direction of enhancing that piece like I have on the last two layouts and completely removed the background.

My reason for removing the background had to do with the pictures I wanted to use on my page. They were full of bright, bold colors and looked even brighter against the white cardstock, which I loved.

Because the background requires two pieces of paper, this is a great option for those times when you are kicking yourself for not picking up two pieces of that patterned paper. There are plenty of pictures, embellishments and additional pieces of patterned paper that your layout shouldn't look too bare without the background.

Variation #2
If you remove that background piece and do feel that it looks bare you can always add more pieces of patterned paper. On my layout I added another strip across the bottom of the page. You could add a lot more than I did too, like maybe three 1" strips.

Variation #3
Stacey and I ended up getting a chance to go down on the field before the game and I got one particular photo that I just instantly fell in love with. It captured a piece of the incredible beauty of Busch Stadium and you can see a glimpse of The Arch in the background. I knew that I wanted this photo to stand out on my page and one of the easiest ways to do that was to enlarge it.

The adjustments to include a 5 x 7 on the left page were very minor. I lost a little bit of space for my title but it happened to work out perfectly with the photo I was using. I just extended my title across the bottom of the 5 x 7.

Variation #4
Around the 5 x 7 I created a collage of smaller photos and included pieces of one of our tickets from the game. I always like to include memorabilia on my pages when I can and I was so happy when I found these tickets tucked into the pocket of my suitcase. They helped to complete the collage of photos on the left page.


Variation #5
I stuck with the circles on the sketch for my embellishments, mostly because of well, what else better to embellishment a page about a Cardinals game without baseballs. On the right page I used larger baseballs than the one of the left page. This was to help fill all that white space on the right page.


How to make the baseballs:

• You need three different sized circles for the baseball and then one extra of the largest circle you are using for a template. I like mine to be about 1/8" to 1/4" different in size.

• I always recommend inking the edges when layering pieces like this. It helps each individual layer to stand out.

• Lay the three circles on top of each other with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on the top. You might want to use removable adhesive if you have it.

• Use the extra circle as a guide for your stitched lines by laying it over the three circles and tracing around the edge of it.

• On the top circle, the smallest, pierce holes along the pencil line. Also add in holes for the "v" part of the stitching.

• Using three strands of embroidery floss, stitch along the lines using a back stitch. When you get to the edge, make a small indention on the edge and wrap your floss around to the back and adhere.

• For the other two circles you only need to stitch those four little lines that you made with a pencil. There's no need to stitch anymore than that since it will be covered by the circle above it.

• After all the stitching is done, adhere them all together with foam adhesive.

Variation #6
I still had one more ticket from the game that I was determined to use on the layout. I didn't really want to cut this one up so I used it as a decorative piece behind the title.

Day three = third chance to win the American Crafts and Sketches for Scrapbooking giveaway.

142 comments:

Rachel said...

I love those baseballs! Definately going to try that out!

Sharon said...

great layout! I really like the look of it without the background paper!

Nicole Michelle Gray said...

What a a great layout. Love the baseball.

dawn said...

Your photos on this layout are so cool especially the one with the arch in it. Love that you used the tickets, I have to remember that. The red letter stickers are so cool and shiny love them. I agree no background is needed. Love that it's a page about you and Stacey.Great job on the baseballs, I've done that before but instead of stitching just used a red pen. Thanks again for a fun week of ideas.

LeAnne Smith said...

Love your layout! I can always use ideas for baseball since our world revolves around it with two boys that play!! TFS!

Kelly said...

oh my, I love those handmade baseballs! I also like the title in the two colors and fonts. Your pics really do pop on the white background.

Lynette Jacobs said...

Now here is another reason why I love your sketches and your layouts....it is ALL about the photos and not ALL about the embellishments. Another beautiful layout, I love the baseballs and I love that you used the tickets on your layout.

Tiffany said...

I never would have thought of removing the background. So clever!

tape said...

This looks fantastic... love the baseballs!

Ginny H said...

Love the stitching on the baseballs!

Anonymous said...

Love the stitching on the baseballs, love the really small pictures and I love that you scrapped the receipts for your tickets/seats. You really don't see many layouts anymore with receipts, tickets or napkins from places, etc. I think those also tell the story.

Christina Hoffman

Erin said...

It never occurred to me to remove the background completely. Great idea! I also love the baseballs.

Precious Memories Scrapbooking & More said...

looks great w/o the background paper & love your little baseballs

April said...

Another fabulous creation! I loooooooove the way you made the baseballs...very creative!
- April W

Heather K said...

That layout is fabulous and I will definitely be saving the instructions about the baseballs, I have so many little league seasons to scrap.

kroller said...

LOVED LOVE LOVE the baseballs..have a ton of Spfld Cardinal pics, (grandma and pa have season tickets every year)and I will be trying this for sure! Thanks for sharing~! Those pics are awesome.

NICOLE said...

LOVE LOVE THE BASEBALLS!

nanapatty said...

Another great layout! Was excited to see that you did a layout on my favorite baseball team and will incorporate your ideas when I do my Cardinals game 2 weeks after you were there.

Christel said...

There's so much I love about this layout...the dimensional baseballs, bright colors and how you added the tickets to the game. Thank you for the instructions for making the baseballs too. :)

Jody B. said...

I have to agree with everyone else, I love those baseballs. I also love that you used so many pictures along with the tickets.

Bettyann said...

I love the simplicity of this layout, but yet so complete! As always, it is so inspiring to see your variations from the original sketch, and it helps me be willing to learn flexibility with my own pages. As always, THANKS!

MeganL said...

I could not wait to get on the computer this morning and check in to see what you had posted. Thank you for all the inspiration! The baseballs are such a great touch and the layout is yet another clever way to use the sketch. You Rock!

connie said...

I love how you didn't use the background paper, included the tickets to the game and of course the baseballs.

Sarah Harwood said...

I love those baseballs. They will be awesome on my son's little league pages. Thanks for the great idea.

Catherine Chiarino said...

I love those baseballs! Gorgeous pictures of busch stadium!

Laura said...

The baseballs are really cool and the layout has a totally different feel without much patterned paper. I like it!

Michele Mc said...

This LO is great! Love the photos, the tickets used for embellishments and the baseballs.

Question - when you do stiching on your layouts, you are piercing the holes by hand? Amazing - everything is so perfect! I just saw the Sew Easy for the first time the other day - Santa needs to bring you that for Christmas! :)

Sue Althouse said...

With those colorful photos, a white background is surely the way to go! Love the baseballs!

Anonymous said...

The baseballs are so creative!! thanks for all the good ideas!!

CodyandTraci said...

I love the baseballs. Now I have to figure out how I can use them living in a house with no baseball fans. Thanks again, Traci

Anonymous said...

great baseballs!

Miss Misi said...

Great look without a background and love the photos!

lesley said...

One of the things I love best about your layouts are your homemade embellishments. Not only are they budget friendly and one of a kind, but so so cute!

Amy13 said...

I would have never thought to eliminate the background paper. Yet another way to adapt the sketches!

Yvonne said...

Removing the background and letting those vivid pictures lay against the white background is very eyecatching. I love it. I am also glad to see the tickets in the layout. So many of us have become afraid to use these items because they are probably not acid free. Lots of times I find something I would like to use in a layout but I am reluctant since I spend a fortune keeping my albums acid free.

Therese said...

I absolutely LOVE those baseballs!! You make the best embellishments. This layout is much more versatile than I thought. So glad that you have these Sketch Weeks - it makes me see the unique twists we can do with your sketches.

Karen Fink said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the baseballs!!! Perfect for us MN Twins fans with our first year of outdoor baseball!!

Unknown said...

I love layouts where the photos are the star! Thos baseballs are amazing!

Amy said...

Love the layout - the baseballs are so cute! Great ideas!

Gretchen Lindsey said...

What a great topic! Love the cardinals. A great layout to celebrate a great day!

scrapinbabygal said...

This is my favorite so far!! I love how you got so many pictures and the colors really pop!!

Just Sew Sue said...

Love that pop of red and the baseballs. Fabulous.

Bev said...

Love how you used your pictures on this layout. The baseballs really do pop--like how you did them!!

Kristi said...

very cool. I may try this one!

Steffanie said...

Love those layered baseballs---so cute!

Anonymous said...

Love your use of "made" embellishments. They look great, not too difficult to make and make your layouts stand out.

Kathy R

Linda E said...

Love the photo collage variation on this week's sketch. Can't wait to start scrapping!

LouAnn said...

Thanks for tips on making the baseballs. With one boy already playing and two others waiting to play I can definately see using those on layouts.

Unknown said...

I love this page! I especially love the baseball ideas. Both of my kids play baseball/softball. It's always great to get some new ideas to spruce up their seasonal pages!

Melissa said...

I love this layout! I sometimes have trouble thinking outside the box with a sketch, so it's great for me to see your variations. Love the bright colors against the white cardstock. It's also cool to see how you easily expand the number of photos on the sketch.

Luv2talk said...

It's amazing how your LOs can look fabulous EVEN WITHOUT BACKGROUND PAPER! Way to put together a well designed page that is all about the pictures!

LauraJ said...

How fun is this one! Great layout, love the baseball & the use of the tickets!

Erica Hettwer said...

Love this! You guys got some fabulous pictures! How long do these layouts take you?

Karen B said...

I love how you used the tickets in the layout and limited the background. Awesome!

AmyInKy said...

With two baseball players in my house, we have seen our share of games! I am so going to lift this one! LOVE it and those baseballs are great.

Wendy said...

Spectacular! I love the use of the ticket memorabilia and the handstitched baseballs are a great touch!

Anonymous said...

I love working from sketches and really appreciate how you explain your process as you work from yours. This is a very eyecatching layout. Those baseballs are so fun!

Anonymous said...

Love the baseballs!!! Your so creative

debbie susee said...

Love it! Very eye catching.

MistyR. said...

As a native St. Louisian who attends a ton of baseball games, I love having some fresh ideas to scrap all of those baseball pics. The baseball embellishments and the inclusion of the tickets are awesome!

Lu L. said...

What a unique way to do those baseballs!!

Lulo

Abbey said...

My sis is a big cards fan and would love this. I, meanwhile, do like the look without the backdrop too.

Judith said...

This looks so good. Love the baseballs.

shelley said...

Great layout!! Love the baseballs.

CreativeChretin said...

Im always super impressed by your stitching!

Karina said...

I LOVE those baseballs !!! I have to try them !!!

Karina

Janelle H. said...

With lots of baseball pictures still to scrapbook, I'll have to try your 3D version! Thanks once again for another great idea!

Rebekah said...

I love the use of no bachground - a great way to highlight your photos!

KarlaW said...

I am SO stealing your idea on the baseball! Only I'm going to make a softball for my daughter's page. Thanks!

Brenda said...

Great layout. I think you really made your pictures stand out. I especially love the baseball.

Jade Cook said...

The white background really goes well with this LO! I love the baseballs! very creative!

RacheT said...

LOVE the baseball embellishment & not using the background. Sometimes it can be too distracting and the pictures disappear.

Jodyjane said...

Wonderful! Love the simple white background. Makes the pictures stand out!

Kristina said...

Love the stitching on the baseballs! Perfect!!

Jen said...

Love how you collaged all the photos and tickets together, and the stitched baseballs are perfect!

dlhfks said...

The baseballs are adorable!

Jennifer said...

I love the creative baseballs you made; they look great!

AmyBug said...

The baseballs are great. You are so good at using what you have instead of buying embellies. Thanks for all the tips.

*The_Fisher_Family* said...

I love it! You did a great job.
Thanks for sharing so much detail on how you do things it really helps when planning a similar scrapbook page.
Megan

Lisa C. said...

Great layout! I love those baseballs! My hubby and son went to a Yankees game when we visited NY this summer. Now I can't wait to scrap those pics!

Michele said...

Get out! I'm actually putting together yet another baseball layout (nephews are into it big time) and was running out of ideas for embellies. Ahha ... those baseballs are so great!

Michele

Kapoor's said...

I love the letters. The whole layout is awesome!!!

Jennifer DeWolfe said...

Awesome layout! That baseball is such a cool idea! I will definitely have to try that!

Tasha said...

Love it! I wouldn't have thought to take out the background piece but it really works!

likearose said...

Love the layout and the baseballs. Can't wait to make some.

Thanks for the instructions!

Kate aka stinkydudette said...

You always amaze me with the different interpretations of one sketch! And that hand-stitched baseball's super cute!

Mandi said...

Amazing job on the stitching!!! Love it!

Colleen said...

Thank you for posting this! I feel like I NEED to use pattern paper behind my pictures and this just gave me the freedom not to. Love the baseballs, too!

Laura said...

Love the baseball - thank you for the details in making it.

julie.schellin said...

What a bright fun layout! Thanks for a another chance to win!

cowie28 said...

Really cool baseballs and I love that you included your tickets. I always try to fit them in my layouts.

Unknown said...

Another cute layout:-)

Shari Thurman said...

Love your 3D baseballs. You always make the best embellies.

Unknown said...

oooh i just love those baseballs!!

kimmcc69 said...

It always amazes me how different all of your layouts can look using the exact same sketch. Love this one. I can see a scraplift of this one in my future.

senora_x said...

I was so excited to check out today's sketch and see it was about my favorite team the cards! Great pages!

Anonymous said...

I always love your handmade embellishments. Another great page.

Laura Stewart said...

love the baseball!

Scrapgirl3 said...

I love how you can completely change the feel of a layout by changing some small details. Thanks for sharing and reminding us how to think differently!

Merri Lynn said...

Love the use of memorabilia--I am kind of a sucker for such things too.

Christine said...

lovin' the baseball layout!

Kim M said...

I love how you used the foil letters. I always think of using them on holiday layouts and now I can picture them in a completely different light. I also liked how you didn't use the pp for the background. Adding more stuff to the layout is always what I want to do but really the less is more concept can work just as well. Thanks again for getting me to think outside the box.

Marcia said...

As an avid Cardinal Fan this one of my favorites.

MaryBez said...

Another great layout....thanks for the directions on making the baseballs.

Melanie said...

Great sport layout! I like how you included your ticket too!

Susan said...

Great layout! I love the shiny letter stickers.

holly b said...

Very cool! Love those baseballs. Thanks for another great sketch and example.

ScrappinKaren said...

Great layout and variation ideas! I am always looking for more ways to include memorabilia in my layouts!

Cindy Leggett said...

Absolutely love the baseballs. I seriously need two of your photos. I love the shot with the arch and the one of the stadium sign. When we were there did not think to take shots like that.

ruth said...

I love how you include the memorabilia....that's often overlooked in scrapbooking these days. Perfect!

Carolyn Wolff said...

Great layout! All I have to do is convert you to a hockey fan and I will be set for layouts!

Katrina Brockway said...

Another great variation. That center picture of the field is awesome!

Christina said...

Love that dimensional baseball! I'm going to try that with a basketball for a layout this weekend.

Anonymous said...

That baseball is the best!

Rebecca H, said...

Oh my- must go make baseballs right now! I love those! Thanks!

Lisa G. said...

Love it! The baseball's are awesome!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE those little baseballs!!!

Michele's Scrapy Creations said...

love those baseballs@

Mom2TwoBoys said...

I love that you take everything to the next level. The stiching alone was great...I would have never thought to add the dimension. Beautiful!

wendy said...

Your handmade embellishments are awesome!

Michelle said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the baseballs! Great simplicity with the sketch! Love it!

Manhattan Mandie said...

Love this! The colors in the photos are so brilliant that I LOVE that you used a white background! The embellishments are so fun too!

Arjanne said...

Such a great page!

Lara said...

as always very inspiring! Thanks Ali!

Joanne said...

I love this layout! I love how you completely removed the background paper and let the vibrancy of the photos stand alone! Fabulous :)
Joanne xo

Unknown said...

Loving all of the variations on this sketch

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had an awesome time at the baseball game! I love the baseballs!

Stephanie said...

Wow! love how you did the pictures in this one & of course the baseballs!

Lydia said...

Love the baseballs! And the tickets incorporated in. So nice!

Vanessa said...

Loving those baseballs!!!

Scrap Adikt said...

Awesome baseball lo!!!

Teri said...

Those ARE awesome baseballs! I love your style!

Annelies said...

Great layout! I've just followed an album track with white backgrounds on every layout. Looks good and goes so much faster! Perfect to catch up with my photos!

Arianne said...

I love that baseball; just an awesome idea!

Allison Davis said...

Michele, yes I do it all by hand. I'm not sure what I think about Sew Easy. I've used tools similar to those before and they didn't work the way I expected. I do plan on getting one to test it out though. I really hope they work better than the one I tried!

Erica, I would say on average one to three hours. This page in particular didn't take that long. I would guess close to an hour or a little bit longer.

Cindy, if you really do want to use them you are more than welcome to. Email me and I can send them to you. :)

Thank you everyone for the compliments. :)

Penny{scraps} G said...

Love what you can do with white cardstock backgrounds! Super cute baseballs!!

Molly said...

Ok, REALLY loving the baseball on this! WOW! So cool!

Samantha Taylor said...

Fantastic LO! Love that baseball!

Tammy said...

omgosh I just saw this LO. I lived in STL for 22 years and I LOVE the Cardinals, I haven't been to a game there since I moved 10 years ago, but I'm still a diehard fan. I love your LO, this is my fave!!

Izzy said...

The baseball is genius!

janet said...

oh la la! love those baseballs, and such great detailed instructions..thank you! AWESOME layout!

Jen said...

those baseballs are cool!