Monday, December 13, 2010

Sketch Week, Part 1

A new Sketch Week is upon us! Five new layouts, two fantastic Guest Designers, and a new sponsor:


 I don't know about you, but I'm ready to jump right in and get started.

Do you know what the most exciting thing about January is? Well, other than the big ball dropping excitement of 2011? The newest edition of Sketches for Scrapbooking, Volume 7, will be available! The sketch this week is a sneak peek into our newest sketch book and one of my favorites. I think I end up calling every sketch my favorite.

The sketch, from Sketches for Scrapbooking, Volume 7, that is the starting point for all the layouts this week.

This sketch is available to download and print by clicking on the printable sketches link.

Layout #1 - The Christmas Card Mess


Supply list - Cardstock: Bazzill, everything else is from the Jillibean Soup Christmas Chestnut Soup collection.

One thing I use often in the design of my patterned papers is strips. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is I like so much about using them. It could be that it's an easy way to include lots of different patterns, or maybe it's because it is an easy design solution, or it could be that maybe, just maybe, I have a sub-conscience fear of running out of paper. Either way, I love them. With the sketch this week I've tried to show different ways to enhance those strips and incorporate some different ideas in their place.

Variation #1 - When it came to picking out my pictures for this layout I realized I didn't have a lot of horizontal photos to choose from. Even though the right page is all horizontal photos this wasn't a problem at all. I decided to have one of my favorite vertical photos printed in an 8 x 10, crop it to 3 x 10, and use it for half that block of photos. You could always use an 8 x 10 cropped to a 6 x 10 for that whole block but on my layout I wanted to get some pictures of Jackson in that area too. To complete the block of photos I used two 3 x 5 photos.

When there is a block of photos, like the ones on the right page, there are so many combinations of picture sizes you can use. It's just like a puzzle and figuring out what size goes where to complete your photo block. I always start with the biggest photo first and then figure out what else I need to fill in the rest.

Variation #2 - On the left page I used three 2 x 2 1/2 photos instead of one 2 x 2 1/2 and one 4 1/2 x 2 1/2. Again, my lack of horizontal photos made it difficult to crop a 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 photo plus I wanted to squeeze in an extra in that spot.

Variation #3 - Speaking of extras, I added another photo over the empty space on the horizontal photo on the left page.

Variation #4 - One of my favorite kinds of patterned papers are the ones that have designs that are easy to cut out and use individually. It's such an easy embellishment. The Christmas collection from Jillibean Soup that I used had several like that including one with different shapes and sizes of wrapped presents. I cut out a variety of the presents and used them in place of the bottom strip on the sketch.


I didn't worry about them all being placed perfectly even and layered some of them with foam adhesive.


This was a really easy way to add a fun, eye-catching touch on the layout instead of the simple strip on the sketch.

Variation #5 - Because there was so much going on with the presents on the bottom I kept my embellishments super simple. I didn't even add the circle behind the title since it was right on top of the presents.

Variation #6 - I added an extra strip of green cardstock above the striped strip. After I add the presents along the bottom and the title there was a lot of green along the bottom but not so much near the top. I wanted to kind of balance out the colors so I thought a small, simple strip of green would do just that.

Variation #7 - I used journaling strips instead of the journaling block suggested on the sketch. I tend to use journaling strips more than any other format for journaling mostly because I like it that way.

The journaling format is always an easy one to change up. It's probably the one area on the sketch that I pay the least amount of attention to.

That was a lot of variations!

The December sponsor, Jillibean Soup, has put together a great giveaway for this week.



This is definitely one of my favorite Christmas collections this year! How can you not love the presents, the snowmen, and the gloves! You should take a peek at the Jillibean Soup blog today. I spied some pretty awesome holiday ideas with this collection.

Plus I'll be giveaway a copy of Sketches for Scrapbooking, Volume 7. Whoever wins will be one of the first to get it!

Here's how the giveaways work during Sketch Week: 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.

Happy Monday!

131 comments:

Nicole Michelle Gray said...

Oh what a cute layout. Love the pictures.

Scrapthat said...

I had heard a couple months ago that 7 would be out this January!! So thrilled it was not just a rumor! Great sketch as always! TFS

Stacy said...

Yeah! Sketch week! I love this one, I may have to try it this week! Super cute LO as usual!

MegL said...

Great sketch I hope to pull some paper to play along and I am so excited about the new book!

Anonymous said...

I love this paper line!! I also love the presents on the layout it is so cute!!

Anonymous said...

The layout is so cute. I love this collection from Jillibean Soup...have purchased several sheets already.

The best news is another Sketch Book. I have finished using volume 6 but I am excited for volume 7. YEA!!

Linda from KS

Aphra Bolyer said...

Love this sketch and those JBS papers are just perfect!

julie.schellin said...

Sketch week AND Jillibean?!? LOVE!

Lisa G. said...

Great LO...the pictures rock..so fun! Can't wait to get my hands on #7! :)

Just Sew Sue said...

Another great sketch. Love those corrugated alphas but I haven't seen the red version before so will be looking out for some on our trip to the US starting Wednesday.

Yvonne said...

Two of my favorite things...Christmas and the color red. I love the layout.

Catherine said...

This is total inspiration to get at my pictures from 2008/09.

Megan B said...

I just love sketch week! :) This one is another great one! I really like how you arranged the photos on the layout and all the presents along the bottom!

Christel said...

Great sketch and another great layout! I agree, this Jillibean Soup collection is very cool. :) I love all of your sketch books and can't wait to get #7 next month.

Irma said...

I just got my 1st sketch book #6, and it's a favorite already! I'd love to get the #7 too, can't wait!
Great sketch and Jillibean Soup...so much goodness in one post!

Ginny H said...

Yeah for Sketch Week! I love the kraft backgrounds in the Jillibean Soup papers!

Laura T. said...

Love the sketch and your layout. The kit is beautiful too.

April said...

This is fabulous!!!
- April

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new book. always look forwad to sketch, and realloly like this sketch.

LouAnn said...

Volume 7 already? Wow, that's great! So glad to have sketch week here again.

ScrappinKaren said...

Love the sketch and the variation. The paper from Jilibean Soup is great! Can't wait for Vol 7 to be available!

Mary Pat Siehl said...

oh wow this sketch is just too cute! going to have to try it out!

Heather K said...

The sketch is wonderful and if it is a preview of what is to come in Volume 7, I will be one of the first in line to order it.
That is a great sketch and I love the pictures.

Unknown said...

Yay, sketch week! Looking forward to seeing this week's take on your sketch. I've already done 1 layout from the last sketch week, excited to see how this one goes!

Anonymous said...

Great layout!! I can't wait to see what's next. Thanks!

Jennifer D

Kim M said...

Ooooh, Jillibean Soup, I love their papers! I really like how you cut out those individual presents out of the pp for the layout. I have those papers and I am so lifting that idea.

nanapatty said...

More inspiration because of another sketch week. I like the variation of the presents or another embellishment as the striped paper. Thanks!

Arjanne said...

I really like that collection by Jillibean Soup! Love your layout, with all the handcut gifts!

Sarah Mullanix said...

Such a great sketch, I'll definitely be using it this week maybe even today, and awesome JBS prize pack!!

Lara said...

Very nice layout and prize! Looking forward to the week:) I need to add volume 7 to my christmas list.

Luv2talk said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE sketch week!

Thanks for providing a printable sketch for us. You also make it super easy to print out. I'm 'tech challenged' and I can still get your sketches to print out perfectly every single time. THANKS!

Your sketches are my favorite 'go-to' resource for inspiration. LOVE LOVE LOVE your work!

Lona said...

What a great sketch and line of paper. I can no longer scrapbook without one of your sketches in front of me. They have made my life so much easier.

lonaritchie@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Always enjoy looking at your layouts and ideas. Would also love Sketch Book 7. Enjoy the holidays.

Lori H.

Scrappinwendi said...

What a great Christmas gift, sketch week! I love the little gifts you cut out from the Jillibean paper. Cant wait until tomorrow for the next installment

dawn said...

Hooray for sketch week. I love this layout and JB is my favorite blog, I follow it everyday. This is my favorite paperline right now, and I want it so bad. Love that it's not all the red/green typical Christmas colors.

Drew and Jackson look so big in these pictures, it's going by way to fast. I can imagine the fun and noise in your house xmas morning.
Hooray for another sketch book, you are simply amazing Allison!!

dlhfks said...

I love Jillibean paper, but I am excited more about Sketch Book 7.

Julie said...

Cute sketch- and yipee! about another book!

Anonymous said...

So happy to hear that book #7 is available soon! I think your sketch books are involved in at least 75% of my scrapping these days. And gorgeous layout, btw.
~Erika

sandra said...

Luv the sketch ... cute layout!

Deb said...

Can't wait to see the book!!!

Jody B. said...

I just got Vol. 6 and can't wait to get Vol. 7 now! Cute layout too!!!

Jill Sarginson said...

I LOVE this sketch and your example. The papers are fabulous too! I am SO excited for the book! Good luck to all!! :)

shanna said...

great layout love the colour scheme

Jennifer DeWolfe said...

Another great sketch Ali! I love the use of the 8x10 on it! So cute! Can't wait for the new book!

Tiffany said...

Love this sketch! I can not wait for sketch book 7!

Maggie Lamarre said...

this is a fabulous sketch, I need to get my pics in order..
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com

Laura J said...

Fun layout, fun sketch! I do have one request though...for layouts where the journaling's not easy to read, could you share it? Don't think I'm some crazy person wanting to be up in your business, lol...I just admire the way that you design your layouts and am curious about the way that your journal and record your memories...I learn so much from your sketches and am sure I could get some great journaling ideas from you as well.

AlanaM said...

If that's a mess, then it's a cute mess.

debbie susee said...

Yea! Love sketch week and Jillibean Soup! <3

shelley said...

Very cute layout. Love the pictures of your boys they are so cute.

PamSpradlin said...

Cute layout...love your cutout embellishments.

Erica Hettwer said...

This is adorable! Can't wait to see the rest of them. :)

rollerscraps said...

These papers are so cute! I can't wait to use some of them and can't wait for VOL 7!! LOVE this week because each day begins with a dose of inspiration from your pages!

mmspiker said...

Love how you used the presents instead of a strip. Can't wait to see Vol. 7!

Lori said...

great sketch and layout - love those pics!

Kelly said...

Yeah, sketch week! love the texture of the "cards" letters and the presents!

Kim said...

ooooh, LOVE this sketch. I'm gonna use it right now....sooooo glad I'm home today to play.

ruth said...

Did you say Volume "7"? :) Yay!!! I love Jillibean Soup and love what you did with the sketch....once again!

Robin W. said...

I've been waiting for this months sketch week :) I'm also so happy to hear that you have a new sketch book out--what a great start to a Monday morning!!

connie said...

Cute LO! Can't wait for Volume 7!!

janet said...

what a GREAT sketch. love the layout and all the JilliBean goodness...what's not to love..

tape said...

Great changes! Love the title & embellies!

holly b said...

Woohoo! It's sketch week again. I've already incorporated this sketch into my next planned layout.

Iara said...

what a great idea for a layout, I have lots of leftover photos too and thought about doing a layout with them and yours is just the perfect inspiration! thanks for the chance to win!

Christine said...

I love the sketch!

Arianne said...

Love this new sketch; gotta use it soon!
And that Jillibean christmas-line is amazing!

Jennifer said...

I love sketch week! Great idea to cut up the patterned paper and use it as embellishments.

Kristina said...

YAY for Sketch Week! Those presents are adorable on this layout ... I think I may have already bought this paper. Now I have to go look!! Great job... as always! :)

Steffanie said...

Love it, Ali! Your boys are so adorable, even if when they are NOT cooperating! Thanks for another great start to Sketch week!

Janelle H. said...

I love what you did with the present paper to make your bottom strip - and what perfect timing! I just bought some of the very paper used in your layout about a week ago as I loved the Kraft colored background!!

Melanie said...

Cute layout! I love the Jillibean Papers too!

reen said...

I really like the pictures you chose. And the Jillibean paper looks so nice on the layout. I like the more subtle colors.

CodyandTraci said...

Beautiful as always. Love the presents.
Thank You! Traci

Laurie Wright said...

I just love your sketches. I can't wait the next one!

Michele said...

Sketch week, Oh yeah! Another great sketch ... you know when a sketch really speaks to you, well this one won't shut-up! LOVE, love, love it! I'm gonna play with this one right away!

Michele

Janet's Joy said...

Sketch week and Jillibean? What could be better than that?

wendy said...

Woo-hoo for Sketch Week!!! This is an awesome sketch. Can't wait to give it a try.

Unknown said...

photos are adorable as always!!!

Mrs. Weddle said...

love love love the sketch! i can see so many ways to use it and with my one page obsession too. and the story is cute too. :)

AmyBug said...

What a fabulous layout. I love how you got the cropped 8x10 on there. What an awesome giveaway. I have tried the blue and tan corrugated alphas and love them. I spy red ones laying there...thanks for the fantastic chance!

Pokey Puppy said...

As always, great inspiration and motivation! The variations give me confidence to put together my own version. Thanks!

Karri AF said...

Another great sketch - great inspiration!

Erin said...

I somehow forgot that we were having a December sketch week. I was beyond excited when I took a peek at your blog this morning! Also can't wait for the next Sketch book to be released!!! Love this new sketch!!

anet said...

I love the Jillibean, love your sketch, love your layout, and totally love the fact that there is a Sketches for Scrapbooking 7!! A must have!

Anonymous said...

As always, great layout! Super excited about Sketches #7!

Kristan G.

lesley said...

Beautiful and brilliant!

Manhattan Mandie said...

Love the new sketch and the layout is amazing!!!! Can't wait to get my hands on Vol 7!!! And I LOVE Jillibean Soup!!!

Marcia said...

Love this layout. The colors were great. Thanks for sharing.

Merri Lynn said...

Fun layout with cute boys. Did the "mess" work itself out?

LeAnne Smith said...

I love seeing how you tweak your own sketches to make it work for you! Love the Jillibean line, especially the corrugated alpha's!

TFS!!

Tammy said...

So happy it's Sketch Week! And I can't wait for your new sketch book, woo hoo! I love your sketches because I get so stumped on scrapping multiple photos. This LO is great, and I love strips too! (I also love how you cut out the little presents.)

Samantha Taylor said...

Love the sketch and the LO! So excited to hear that Volume 7 will be coming soon too!!!

Lu L. said...

I love to come here and read about your variations. You explain things so well!

Lulo

Carolyn Wolff said...

I love Jillibean, I love this collection, I love your sketches and I am so excited about volume #7! I love sketch week :)

M Salazar said...

Cutting out shapes from large pattern paper makes such a cute border, can't wait to get some of this paper and try it out.

Erica Marshall said...

Great sketch and layout variations! Love the Line of paper/embellishments from Jillybean Soup!

RT said...

Beautiful layout and gorgeous Jillybean Soup collection.

Melanie said...

Love the sketch, love the colours! Cant wait for book 7 :)

Colleen said...

I have to be honest and say I was actually kinda surprised you cut the presents out and didn't completely make your own, as you so often make your own embellishments. Cute layout, can't wait to see the rest of the week!

kimmcc69 said...

Fun layout. I really like this paper line and what you did with it.

Cynthia Baldwin said...

Wonderful layout and sketch! Jillibean creates some of my favorite scrapbooking products. Thanks for the chance to win!

Kate aka stinkydudette said...

That's so cool!! Looking forward to all the sketches AND Jillibean! Love your layout!

Linda T. said...

I just posted on Jennifer McGuire's blog that the Allison Davis sketch books are my "go to" inspiration books, SOOOOO I'm thrilled 7 is coming out!

Sonya said...

Great layout! I love the kraft papers and embellishments.

Unknown said...

Great sketch!!!! Love all the variations. I think I'll be using this sketch over and over. Love Jillibean goodies you used too!!!!

Mandy said...

Love the sketch! Cute layout! Congrats on the new book!

Sue Althouse said...

Love the sketch and your layout! Very excited to get my hands on book 7!

Michele's Scrapy Creations said...

love it! Thanks for sharing!

michelesscrapycreations35 at yahoo dot com

Marcia S said...

I like how you cut up all those presents instead of a border. How cute is that? And thanks for explaining your thought process on things and why you do what you do.

Rebekah said...

Love the cut out Presensts!

Stephanie said...

What a great layout! Love the sketch and that paper line! I plan on lifting your layout to the tee!

Jennifer said...

I'm always inspired by your sketches and your layouts. Thanks for the chance to win.

Judith said...

Another great sketch and I love Jillibean Soup so a perfect combination.

Anonymous said...

I've been waiting for sketch week!!! so glad it's here!!

Christy said...

These pictures match my challenge to take a pic of my two year old with my 7 year old together. Glad I am not the only one having problems. Great layout.

Sharon said...

What handsome boys!! Love the fun look of the layout :)

kfqamie said...

another great one! Thanks Alison!

JLC said...

Thanks for incorporating a sketch using more horizontal 4x6 photos! The photo-on-photo really makes the page "pop".

Brooke Gale said...

Love Jillibean Soup and Ali Davis Sketches...what a great combo.

Precious Memories Scrapbooking & More said...

this is a great sketch, deffinetly printing this one...the pics of the boys are just adorable!!!!

Kim Morrow said...

I just discovered sketches and I love them. Great blog and beautiful sketches. Thanks for the inspiration.

Amy from KC said...

I just love all of the jillibean soup corrugated products! What a great Christmas gift they would make...could someone please tell my husband?

Unknown said...

What a great layout and fun sketch!!! Love the gifts:-)

Michele Mc said...

I don't like being out of commission during sketch week. But now I catch up to do so that's always fun! I love this sketch - mostly because of the number of photos included (and what adorable photos they are)! Love the colors and the present embellishments. And the title is really cool - I don't mix fonts nearly enough.

Anonymous said...

Sure would like to win--love the snowmen! This layout is great and can have a lot done with it.

Christine Rantz

Ann said...

Would love new sketchbook, and the Jillibean Soup pack would be OK too! Great photos on that wicked layout!

Lisa P said...

Love Jillibean Soup and excited about the new sketches book. I love sketches!

Janelle said...

I love these sketches and I have used almost all of them so far. Thank you so much for posting them!

Amy13 said...

It's hard to focus on anything else when you throw #7 out there! Can't wait!!!

Julie G said...

great sketch once again Ali. i'm so looking forward to book # 7 in a few weeks.

Raimi said...

so fun! i love sketch week.