Simple Stories Bloom & Grow - With Sketches - Part 2

Hi, Lynn here! Back with the second of my July blog posts, continuing the theme of sketches and the delightful Simple Stories - Bloom & Grow collection. If you'd like to go back and read the first July post, you can find it HERE (where you'll find a list of links to sites with sketches).

The first layout for today - using another sketch from Page Maps (May 2016).

As you can see from the sketch below, instead of having a large mat around the layout I have used four strips of Dig It! paper. These are raised up on corrugated cardboard, which is hidden underneath, but makes a firm support to a large area of paper. This was mounted onto a sheet of White Bazzill Cardstock. I cut down on the number of squares of patterned paper inside the frame as I felt it would have been too busy, concentrating on using them to mat my photo.  I also changed to position of the title.

I used the following from the Bloom & Grow Collection (mostly scraps of what I had used on the previous two layouts I shared on 8th July.) For the title and the images I added:

·        some elements from the Bits & Pieces pack

·        the Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers sheet

·        Expressions Cardstock Sticker

·        and some Enamel Dots for the nail heads.

For my second layout I used a double page sketch from Let's Scrap.

I followed the layout of the sketch with a few changes. I used two sheets of White Bazzill cardstock as a base and Stonewash to mat my photos. I inked bricks and vine leaves through a TCW stencil (Mini Tuscan Wall), using Distress Inks (Antique Linen, Crushed Olive and Brushed Corduroy).

Where diamond shapes were indicated I have made a trellis using the scraps of Dig It! paper and a Sizzix -Tim Holtz Alterations - Frameworks Die - Lattice.

I made my title, date and all the flowers and other images with the Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers sheet and the Expressions Cardstock Sticker sheet. I used 3D foam to add dimension to the layout.

Here is each page separately so that you can see more detail.

With six papers from this collection I was able to complete three single and one double layout – with plenty of scraps left over. There are also plenty of the stickers, alphas, bits & pieces and enamel dots, so I picked out another single sketch for a final layout.

This time I used a sketch from Sketch Savvy.

I created a large shape in the background where the Mickey face was suggested on the sketch with a large stylised flower. I made a template from paper and drew around it roughly several times using Distress Markers. I picked out a palate of colour closest to that of the collection - Fired Brick, Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive, Faded Jeans and Spun Sugar. 

I added in some of Chin Up Buttercup! Paper, and the rest was all scraps from the above.

I hope you found this and the previous post interesting. Please share anything you create with this collection or the sketches. In the mean time take a look at some of the sketches available by following the links. 

Thanks for looking

Lynn x

Simple Stories Bloom and Grow - with Sketches - Part 1

Hi, Lynn here! Today is the first of my July blog posts, and I have been using the delightful Simple Stories - Bloom & Grow collection.

At a recent crop, we talked about where we get inspiration for our layouts, and several people said that they like to refer to sketches. There are plenty on offer, and I’ve included a few links below, which I like to use.

Sketches give a great starting point, especially when you lack motivation. They can be followed to the last detail, or you can simply use them to get you started, then develop your layout in your own way - maybe a block of four small photos could be replace by one larger one or you can try flipping the sketch image to give a different perspective. Many of the sketches are designed for 12" x 12" layouts, but could easily be adapted for smaller square pages or for a different format such as A4.

Sketches can be black and white illustrations or elaborate colour diagrams. They might have no notes, or there may be lines and words to indicate where papers, photo, journalling and title go, Perhaps there'll be little details of patterned paper, and some sketches will show details of embellishments such as flowers or ribbons.

Here are a few resources I think you'll like:

• Page Maps who have been offering sketches for 10 years, 
• Let's Scrap have a lot of double page layout sketches, if that is your favourite way of scrapping and also if you need to use several photos. 
• Creative Scrappers - Creating with Sketches have downloads that you can print out to make a book of sketches. 
• Bo Bunny have a few sketches on their blog. 
• Other useful sites include Sketch Savvy, Scrapbook.com and SBC (Scrapbook Challenges).

Here is my first layout using a sketch from Page Maps (March 2016)

As you can see from the sketch below, I have remained fairly true to the plan this time, with only a few of my own little twists. I used the stitching but added flowers where hearts were indicated. I used the patterned papers to create blocks of colour in a similar pattern to the sketch. Instead of two small photos, I used one much larger one and I changed the position of my title.

I used the following from the Bloom & Grow Collection - The base is Bee Happy, for the blocks I used both sides of Green Dot / Yellow Dot, both sides of Let it Grow, Puddle Jumper and various bits from 4x4 and 6x4 Vertical Elements Sheet. I also added some elements from the Bits & Pieces pack, the Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers sheet and some Enamel Dots. Finally I added some American Craft Foam Thickers for part of the title.

For my second layout I used a sketch from SBC (471)

The biggest difference in this sketch to the layout is that it uses three photos, rather than the one I used. In my variation, I used white Bazzill cardstock, trimmed down and mounted onto Navy Dot / Red Dot. I stitched the paper strip cut from Puddle Jumper paper before attaching the bubbly sticker strip from the Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers sheet. The title is created with the Expressions Cardstock Sticker sheet and some American Craft Chipboard Thickers.

I hope you found this post interesting and that you like, and maybe use the sketches and layouts. I will be back later in the month with more sketches for inspiration. In the mean time take a look at some of the sketches available by following the links above - and do share your creations!

Thanks for looking
Lynn x