Scrapbook Sketches

I can never get enough scrapbook sketches!

I love scrapbooking and scrapbook sketches are my favourite source of ideas and inspiration.

I’ve been scrapbooking for almost seven years, but only discovered sketches about three years ago, and they have literally changed the way I scrap. I have so much more fun now and can create fabulous layouts so much faster than before.

So what is a scrapbook sketch?

A sketch is a simple plan that shows us at a glance all the different elements we need to create a layout and how to arrange everything so it looks spectacular.

For example, the sketch above shows us that the main feature of this layout will be two matted vertical photos. You can also see you will need:

a) a piece of patterned paper or piece of cardstock to place underneath everything towards the top left corner of your page.

b) two strips of cardstock or patterned paper to create the backdrop for your title

c) a journaling block

d) three circular embellishments

So before you have even started scrapping you know exactly what is going to make up your page. Plus, you can scrap with the confidence that it is going to look fabulous.

Before I discovered sketches I would waste so much time trying to figure out what was going to work on my page. I would shuffle things around for hours trying to get things just right. It actually got a bit embarrassing. I would go scrapping with friends and would hardly manage to scrape together one page by the time they were on to their third or fourth.

Not anymore though. Sketches have given me confidence in my ability to create layouts I can be proud of by giving me the starting point I need. I don’t have to worry about the nitty gritty boring details of how to arrange things on my page so I have much more time and creative energy to explore different colours, play with different patterns and try all those fun new techniques.

Scrapbooking is just so much more of a buzz now as I can focus on all the good stuff.

If you are new to using scrapbook sketches, you may want to follow the sketch guidelines exactly, until you become more comfortable with them. But, once you’ve done a few pages, you’ll find yourself modifying sketches to suit you.

Some ways you may wish to alter a sketch design include:

a) Try rotating the sketch or using the complete mirror of it. It will create a new perspective and feel like a completely new design.

b) Remove any element from the sketch that doesn’t suit you, or add an extra element or two of your own to make it more individual.

c) Change the shape of some of the elements in the sketch. For example, you may wish to replace a square shaped object with a circular object for a more flowing design.

d) Replace a photo with a journaling block. If you have a lot you wish to write about a particular event, you may need a significant amount of journaling space on your page. Choosing a sketch featuring one more photo than you need and replacing one of the photos with your journaling block should give you all the space you need and help you create a very personal and unique design.

These are just a few ideas. The possibilities really are endless and that’s what I really love about sketches. Sure, they give you a fabulous starting point for your layouts but you still have so much creative control and your layouts will still reflect your sense of style and personality.

There are many places to find scrapbook sketches. Many scrapbooking websites have sketches of the month features. There are also several books that have been published by authors like Becky Higgins.

My favourite book is 500 Scrapbooking Sketches by Jennifer Gormly. The collection is so big that I never run out of inspiration. There is always something to inspire me and kick start my next page.

If you love scrapbooking and are looking for fresh ideas, give scrapbook sketches a go. You’ll soon be scrapping up a storm and having so much fun in the process. Be warned though – they are HIGHLY addictive!