Sketch Week, Part 5

Today is guest designer day! Let's see, this woman not only taught me how to scrapbook but also how to tie my shoes, how to make the best peanut butter cookies in the world, and how you shouldn't color on your next door neighbor's house. If you haven't figured that big brain puzzler out yet, I'm talking about my mom.

I'll never forget the day she became my boss...and today I got to become hers. I love it! And she'll never admit it but I think she was a little nervous about being a Sketch Week guest designer. Of course she had no reason to be. She's one of the best scrapbookers I know and doesn't get enough credit for it. I probably shouldn't have said that last line, I'll never hear the end of it.

The sketch that has been used for all five layouts this week.

Layout #5 - "We Adore Him" by Debbie Sanders

Supply list - Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye; Butterflies and flowers: Prima; Alphabet: Pink Paislee; Border punch: EK Success; Jewel: KaiserCraft

So let's say you aren't into the big swirl of small elements going across the page. Well today shows how you can still create a simple, beautiful, well embellished layout with the same sketch. This layout has a completely different look than the sketch but you can still see where the idea came from.

• Variation #1
The biggest difference on this layout is the lack of the big swirl across the page. Instead, she used butterflies, flowers, and her journaling space in place of the three biggest circles on the sketch.

You would think removing that big swirl would almost make the layout look a little plain but it's doesn't at all. This is perfect for the more simple scrapbooker, a beginner, or just someone who doesn't want to mess with all those circles. You can see on her layout that just using those three big circles as embellishment areas totally works.

• Variation #2
This layout is also another great way to get by with only needing 4 x 6 photos. They aren't quite 4 x 6 photos but they can easily be cropped down from a 4 x 6 without losing a lot of the picture. For the two photos on the left page she used 4 1/2 x 4 and on the left a 4 x 5 and a 5 1/4 x 4.

This is also another layout of proof that you can always use the photos you want to fit the sketch. Just like other layouts this week, this layout has a vertical photo. Trust me, it's easier to make the sketch fit you than make you fit the sketch.

• Variation #3
The journaling would have worked on this layout as it is on the sketch but I love that she moved it to complete the visual triangle of elements on the page. I think a lot of times people tend to think that the visual triangle has to be made up of embellishments but it doesn't at all. Embellishments work great for making up the triangle but there is so much more that can be included. For example, on this layout the colors of the elements make up the triangle. Two blue flowers and the blue journaling circle make a visual triangle and that's not the only one. The two cream colored butterflies and the cream colored "Adore" in the title make up another.

• Variation #4
One of my favorite parts of the layout is the decorative strip across the bottom in place of the striped strip on the sketch. It's add such a beautiful look to the page and fits perfectly with the pretty butterflies and papers.

She also did a great job of adding some simple finishing touches to the layout. The jewels accenting the decorative strip and the stitching above the 12 x 6 strip. Both of them were perfect details to add to the layout without being overwhelming or distracting.

Don't forget today is another day to win a copy of Sketches for Scrapbooking!

The winner of yesterday's book is...

Crystal aka Caitlynsmommy said...
I LOVE the swirly fall leaves. I cant sew/stitch but thanks for the inspiration, maybe I can do faux stitching or something else!

You can email me at alidavis1919@hotmail.com with your shipping information and which volume of Sketches for Scrapbooking you would like.

Have a great weekend! Check back on Monday for the Sketch Week wrap up, the start date for November Sketch Week, and one more giveaway.