Sketch Week, Day 3

The last day of Sketch Week has arrived and I have my last layout to share with you. It's crazy to think that Sketch Week won't return until 2014 and there will be some changes to it then. It's nothing major, I'm just going to be incorporating the concept of Sketch Week into the magazine. The great news is that there will be more layouts than the three that I have been doing! The only thing that is really going to change is how much I share here on my blog. Most of Sketch Week is going to move into the magazine. This shouldn't be a big deal because the magazine is free! F-R-E-E. Free.  It's the same concept, just a different location and one that will be easily acessable to everyone.

If you haven't had a chance yet to check them out be sure to visit the links below to see more layouts based on the free November sketch. Today I'm adding the wonderful and talented Andrea Friebus to the list!

Andrea Friebus

Christy Arthur

Ruth Bonser

Jennifer Larson

Lynette Jacobs

 Scrapbook Generation's Free November Sketch

*Download by clicking here.

 

 

 "A Cake For Grandma"

 

 

Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Simple Stories; Alphabets: October Afternoon (a, for) and American Crafts (cake, grandma); Stickers: Simple Stories; Jewels: Kaiser Craft; Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink; Embroidery floss: DMC

Variation #1 - One of the biggest changes on this layout has to do with the pictures. I always like to show how easy it is to simplify a sketch. I know there are a lot of scrapbookers out there that aren't too fond of the smaller 2 x 2", 3 x 3", etc photos. Just because a sketch has those sizes, whether it's just a few or a whole lot, you can always adjust things to bigger sizes like 4 x 6" or 4 x 4".

I followed the pictures sizes suggest on the sketch for the two 3-1/2 x 5" photos and the top row of photos (the 4 x 4", 6 x 4", and 4 x 4"). The biggest change I made was to the bottom that was filled with 2 x 2" and 3 x 3" photos. I basically just copied the top row of photos and used it in place of the smaller photos. Since I wasn't really taking up more space, I didn't have to adjust anything. 

Variation #2 - I love finding ways to incorporate the theme of my layout into the design. Technically we do that all the time if you consider themed patterned paper and embellishments but, that's not really what I'm talking about. It's more than that. For example, on my layout today I used birthday candles in place of the squares. 

 

 

I used 1/2" strips, hand stitching, and circles with stickers and jewels to make the candles. 

 

I love finding elements like this on a sketch that I can really play around and get creative with. Just think of the possibilities: baseballs, small Christmas trees, flowers, a road with cars, trucks, and buses driving on it, snowy hills (made with wavy strips), pumpkins, falling leaves, waves with fish, or music notes. There are endless possibilities! 

Variation #3 - This is the second biggest change I made, I removed all of the background papers. I tend to go more minimal when it comes to patterned paper. It's not that I don't love paper (trust me, I have an addiction to it), I just tend to lean more towards using less. With this layout in particular, I wanted the main focus to be on obviously the pictures but also the candles. 

Variation #4 - I moved the journaling area. I had intentions of having a 4 x 4" journaling block on the right page, below the top 4 x 4" photo but, I saw that 4 x 4" card with the cake and had to use. It was so perfect for the page. I decided to use it and move my journaling below the two 3-1/2 x 5" photos. I also switched to journaling strips.

These aren't really variations but instead things that I kept the same:

I kept two of the smaller 2 x 2" photos and placed them beside the cake 4 x 4" card.

I also kept the title in the same area as suggested on the sketch.

The gold glitter letters have a special meaning on this page, kind of a personal touch. I used them because my mom has a strange obsession with gold glitter. Since the page is about her birthday I thought they would be the perfect little personal touch!

Have a great and safe weekend! Be sure to check back on Monday to see the giveaway announcement!