Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Sketch Week, Part 2

We're going from a mess yesterday to trouble today. Apparently this week is all about documenting Jackson's stubborn toddler ways.

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


Layout #2 - Choo Choo Trouble


Supply list - Cardstock: Bazzill, yellow patterned paper: KI Memories, everything else is Jillibean Soup

Variation #1 - Sometimes I don't have a super technical, design influenced reason of why I changed something on the sketch. Sometimes I change something just for that, a change.

On the right page I used three 4 x 6 photos instead of one 4 x 6 and two 3 x 6 photos. I could have easily cropped the top and bottom photo to the size recommended on the sketch but I was wanting to change it up a bit. I wanted to see how it would look to stretch that column of photos to the edges of the page.

This is an easy solution for those pictures that you don't want to or can't crop and there is no need to worry about the large background rectangle the photos are on. You can easily remove it without altering the whole layout because it's a background piece. Or you can even do like I did and add 1/4" strips on the left and right of the photos in place of that background piece.

Variation #2 - On the left page I used a wallet size photo in place of the 2 x 2 1/2 photo. Both boys were on the edges of the photo and I needed the whole picture to support my story so there was no cropping that one.

An added bonus is that the wider picture covered the seam between the two papers for my large arrow.

Variation #3 - I really had a lot of fun creating the arrows on this page. Not only are do they add a different look to the layout but they also support the story. Jackson couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to ride the train or not and was so back and forth. The arrows going in different directions was a way for me to incorporate the theme of the layout into the design.

The arrows are all made from the same size of strips on the sketch. To make them I cut my strips and then a square from each paper as well. Then I cut the square at a diagonal for the arrow point. When you put them together you might see a little bit of a seam but with most papers it doesn't stand out too much. One thing to watch out for, if you like to ink the edges of your papers, is to not ink the edges that will go together (the seam between the arrow point and the strip). That way it looks more like the arrow is one piece instead of two.

Variation #4 - I did use the circles like suggested on the sketch except mine are a little smaller. I also added in some corrugated arrows from Jillibean Soup.


One thing I really like about the corrugated pieces from Jillibean Soup is that they take color so well. I added chalk ink to the arrows and used paint on the title pieces. 


I moved the embellishments that are to the left of the title on the sketch to below the title. If I would have kept them to the left of the title I would have been covering up more of the patterned paper arrows than I wanted.

I always say, when it comes to moving things or using different sizes, as long as it's in the same general area it will work. I don't know if I would call the arrows by my title as being in the same general area as on the sketch but because it's still near the title, there aren't any large gaps between elements, and it still completes the visual triangle on the page, it totally works.

Day two means it's your second chance at the Jillibean Soup and Sketches for Scrapbooking giveaway.

107 comments:

dawn said...

I love love the arrows in this layout. Love the JB supplies, they are my all time favorite!!! The title is perfect. Sorry that Jackson gave you such a hard time, toddlers are like that though. Wait till he's big enough to read this layout, maybe he will laugh. Have a great day.

Kelly said...

love the color on the corrogated letters!

Sonya said...

Great use of arrows

ruth said...

Cute idea to do the arrows where the paper strips go. :)

Tiffany said...

I love the corrugated arrows. Really cute layout.

sandyh50 said...

I love the arrows and the choo choo!
cute,cute, cute!

Just Sew Sue said...

The arrows give great movement to the page and I love how you've painted the alphas.

Anonymous said...

Love your arrows in both directions. The jillibean products are great on this layout.

Awesome work.

Lori H.

Jessie said...

Love the arrows

Mandy said...

Love the color combo! THose arrows are Awesome!

Sue Althouse said...

I think the arrows are lots of fun!

AmyBug said...

The alphas are so cute and I like the fun way of how they are placed. One thing I like is you document all sorts of things - the good pictures and not the best! That's more real life.

Megan B said...

I love the corrugated alpha title and those arrows are awesome!

ScrappinKaren said...

Love this variation on the sketch! Great idea to document those "not so special" moments with our kids.

Patricia M. said...

How cute! Love the colors and all the different textures on the page. Adorable.

janet said...

love, love those corrugated alphas.
your movement on the page is GREAT.
thanks for sharing!

tape said...

Great ideas here again and a cute page with lots of texture!

Melanie said...

Love the variations on this.

Scrapthat said...

Cute! Love the arrows and the texture on the Jillibean soup is fabulous!

Anonymous said...

Really like this layout, especially the arrows.

Christine said...

i love it all!

lesley said...

This LO is great, from the arrows to the patterned paper to the cute little boy at the center of it all!

Michele's Scrapy Creations said...

just love this layout! I'm marking this to use if we ever come across choo choo train with mykids. lol

Kristina said...

The arrows are so cute! All the corrugated items are adorable! And love the inking across the top of them. That's a great way to make them be part of "your" layout. Great job!

Marcia S said...

Love the corrugated pieces and it's great that it takes color so well.

PamSpradlin said...

Love those arrows, love those letters.

anet said...

love the Jillibean - again. Great work!

kimmcc69 said...

I am so glad to see I am not the only one that documents the not so pretty moments of life too. Another great layout. I love all the arrows.

Shari Thurman said...

I like that all your papers and pictures aren't matchy-matchy. The train they were playing on had a lot of bold blue and green grass. You balanced that by adding complementary amounts of red and yellow. You used the quart-pint-ounce-pinch proportions on your scrapbook layout beautifully.

Leslie said...

After working crazily on my daughters wedding (that is this Saturday) and spending several hours at the hospital waiting for my sister in law to get out of surgery, I finally was able to look at what you have done for sketch week! I love this hobby, it brings me peace. Layouts are great!

Erin said...

Love this variation!! The arrows are a terrific replacement for the strips running across the back of the layout. Really love the cardboard letters, as well. Great job, as usual.

nanapatty said...

The balance of photos, paper, embellishments, and white space is perfect on this layout.

Rebekah said...

I am such a 4X6 scraper, so I love the variation on the right page!

Janelle H. said...

Love the use of the arrows for the strips! Your sketches are always so flexible!

Ginny H said...

I love the arrows and that kraft/red polka dot paper! So cute!

Arjanne said...

The arrows are a great idea!

AmyInKy said...

Love the use of arrows. I just picked up that package of Jillibean corrugated shapes over the weekend. ;)

Luv2talk said...

Well, I finally did it. I actually did my own "severe" variation on one of your sketches (out of necessity.) I used your sketch as a starting off point and made the necessary alterations as my pictures dictated. Thanks again for all the inspiration and the tools to bring it to life!

Lara said...

i like how you colored the corrugated letters and shapes. Really brings out the texture.

debbie susee said...

Once again...amazing!
Love those jillibean soup corrugated elements.

Anonymous said...

Another great layout! I love the arrows. Love those jillibean embellishments.

Jennifer D

Lu L. said...

I'm with everyone else who loves those arrows...great touch.

Lulo

Arianne said...

Love the photos!

Heather K said...

The arrows create such a different look on the page and like you said go with the theme of the layout so well. Look that corrugated alpha also, gonna have to keep my eyes open for those letters.

Merri Lynn said...

sure do like the arrows--what a great way to keep with the title and jornaling. Those corrugated arrows and alphabets look fun.

Jennifer said...

I love the arrows.

Laura J said...

Wow, I really like the arrows and how the three photos extend to a full column!

Erica Hettwer said...

Love this one, Allison!

shelley said...

love the arrows. never would have thought of that.

Judith said...

I love the use of all the arrows.

LouAnn said...

Can't wait to get a chance to play with this sketch. Love the arrows and the corrugated cardboard.

CodyandTraci said...

The arrows really make this layout fun. Thanks again, Traci

Karina said...

I love arrows in this layout, and -again- how versatile your sketches are !!!

Thanks again,

Karina

Kim M said...

Love all the arrows and how you distressed them, very cute!

Laura T. said...

Gosh how I just LOVE your sketches. I can't wait to get a gift card for the holidays so I can purchase some of your sketch books. Love how you used the arrows in your layout.

Annelies said...

Gorgeous layout! I'm also into white backgrounds recently :)

Jennifer DeWolfe said...

The arrows really draw your eyes in! Another great layout Ali!

Christel said...

Great layout! I love all the arrows and corrugated elements.

Hannah Clark said...

I really love the arrows on this layout! Beautiful sketch!

Cynthia Baldwin said...

Love the arrows in place of the strips for this page! Thanks for the closeups, too...the bit of color on those corrugated surfaces is cool!

M Salazar said...

Love the arrows in place of the strips. They could be used on so many different layouts. Thanks for the great idea.

MarciaD said...

How cute! Love the use of the arrows to support your theme.

April said...

What a great layout!!
- April W

Jody B. said...

I have to agree with everyone else...love the arrows!

Wendy F said...

So cute! I love the arrows! Thanks for another great design!

Michele said...

Whew, finished a layout using this sketch last night ... just HAD to! And now this ... I could have used arrows ;). Another winner Ali.

holly b said...

Loving all the arrows! Putting this on my list of things to try!

Anonymous said...

Great use of the arrows!!

Christy said...

Love the way you did the arrows. Very nice. TFS.

Jennifer said...

Love the arrows on this. Perfect embellishment for your layout.

Karen Fink said...

Gorgeous layout and variation of the sketch. Wonderful as always.

RT said...

Great Layout!

molitva said...

I need to get some corrugated pieces! They look fantastic on your layout, and seem to go really well with paint!

Unknown said...

Great layout! I love the arrows - don't think I've ever used them but looks like I'll be tryin them out sometime soon...

Anonymous said...

Very cute. I only wish I could read the journaling. I see Jackson as the typical toddler...he is a cutie.

Linda from KS

Colleen said...

Love the big arrows!

Melanie said...

Great layout! Love all the arrows!

Steffanie said...

Love the arrows! THis is darling, Ali!

Tammy said...

I love the arrows in your LO. I also like how you used 4X6 photos, since that's usually what I scrap with!

Unknown said...

Wow! Would love to win Sketchbook #7! You are so talented.

mmspiker said...

Such simple alterations really change the look of the page, adding an arrow to the end of the strip really makes it look completely different from the sketch. Thanks for the ideas!

Kate aka stinkydudette said...

Love the use of arrows!! Thanks for being a constant source of inspiration!

Sharon said...

I always wonder what to do with arrows!! Great layout!

Aphra Bolyer said...

The arrows are awesome! Perfect for your photos. LOVE the corrugated shapes....hadn't thought of chalking them. Thanks!

Manhattan Mandie said...

This is so cute! I love the arrows, that is one element that I rarely think to add... I think I'm going to challenge myself to add some arrows today...

connie said...

I have to agree I love the arrows and the way you use them.

Stacy said...

Very cute!

Shannon said...

I love the arrows!

JLC said...

Altering the strips into arrows really adds to the mood and theme of the photos! Love this variation!

Brooke Gale said...

I love the layout! I hope I win....I would love to have a sketch book of my very own ;)

Unknown said...

what a fun layout:-) Great use of arrows!!!

Precious Memories Scrapbooking & More said...

gr8 idea with the arrows to support your story...dont you just love their undecidedness (is that a word??) LOL gr8 layout!

Staci

Yvonne said...

The Terrible Twos with all the mood swings can really give you some good photo ops. I love the corrugated imbelishments.

Lisa G. said...

Great embellies! :)

Michele Mc said...

Aww... poor little guy! (I can say that because I didn't have to deal with the tantrum... although I have experienced many with two girls.)

Love the arrows on this one. Very nice JB product!

Forgot to say for Monday's comment how excited I am for version 7!!

Meg L said...

This is so cool. I love the arrows. Great layout...thanks for doing this. I look forward to it so much.

Samantha Taylor said...

So stinkin' cute!

Anonymous said...

I really like the alphabet and arrows being the same. It helps tie things together.

Christine Rantz

dlhfks said...

Love the use of arrows. All your cute little boy pages make me wish I was scrapping the toddler years again instead of sports and dances. Enjoy them, they grow up too fast.

Ann said...

Super fun layout!

Lisa P said...

I'm in love with all the arrows on this layout! Love it.

Unknown said...

oh no! choo choo trouble!! cute layout

Amy13 said...

Love all the arrows on the layout.

Rebecca H. said...

Corrugated letters are great! Makes me wonder if that old paper crimper gathering dust in the closet could help me create something like this! Thanks!

Julie G said...

Ali another amazing layout. i never thought to paint the jillibean corrugated stuff before - i love this idea

Raimi said...

looks fabulous!

scrapinbabygal said...

WOW!!! The use of arrows is brilliant and the color scheme works perfect!