Are you ready to see what I did with this:
I’ve got a little video for you that shows you my process.
I hope you don’t mind puns. I can’t resist them.
I (mustache) you a (question)
What did you make with your five products? Which products did you use? Show me what you can do!
There are so many ways you can adapt this sketch to fit what you have. Some simple changes in products and photos, and it becomes an entirely different page.
First let’s remind ourselves how a strict interpretation of the sketch looks:
This is how a strict interpretation looks, in digital form:
Very different from the first page, just by using different papers and photo.
Now, how about a 12×12 instead of an 8.5×11? And down the left side instead of the right, with no strip separating the photo and journaling? Yep, same sketch. Same structure. (I used less product so more attention would be paid to the story and the jokes on the background paper. I love elephant and chicken jokes.)
Here’s another version on the left, where the journaling/photo mat has been extended the height of the entire page, and the journaling is on strips, instead of being separated from the photo by strips. 
One more left sided version, where the photo/journaling mat is now layered pieces of paper instead of a single piece, and the journaling has been replaced by a photo. Three tags anchor the center strip, and give me a place to add just a touch of journaling.
Now, we’ve got the photo/journaling mat in the center of the page, and the dividing center strip has been turned into layered strips, anchoring the title. Instead of a single photo, there are two photos grouped together at the top. 
Now that we’ve brought the title down off the top of the page, let’s take it all the way to the bottom, and widen the dividing strip, so that it’s big enough to act as a journaling spot as well. 
We can even turn the photo/journaling mat in its side, and turn the journaling spot into a pocket for hidden journaling.
Now that you’ve seen this sketch, and how it can be adapted and adjusted to fit your supplies, what are you going to do with it? Show me what you make! It’s time to get scrapping!
PS If you would like to make your own digi page you can download the zipped template here: sketch 1.psd
One of the simplest ways to start creating a page, whether you’re new to scrapbooking or have been doing it for years, is to start with a sketch. Some people call sketches page maps, some call them layout designs or templates, but they all refer to the same thing: a simplified line drawing that shows you where to place paper, photos, journaling, title, and embellishments.
Let’s start with a simple one, so you can see a sketch in action:
We’ve got a background paper in the light purple. When you’re putting your page together, this can be a solid cardstock or a patterned paper. Just make sure as you build your page that you’re using papers that are stiff enough to support your photos and endure living in your albums.
The light blue is a combination photo mat and journaling spot. For this particular page, I had a lot to say, so I designed a large journaling spot, and room for one 4×6 photo.
The title fills the space above the photo mat, and there is minimal embellishing with two strips of ribbon/washi tape/paper, and a teeny tiny heart.
This is how it looked after I was done:
As you can see, simple design can be beautiful. You don’t have to use a lot of techniques or embellishments to create something you love.
Now, you could make a ton of pages using this design, and simply because you use different papers and photos, they will all look different. Not only that, you can also think of each piece as a simple place holder, and vary what goes into each place. For example, the journaling block could be a spot for another photo, and the strips could become spots for journaling instead of just being embellishments.
Use this sketch, and see what you can come up with. I’ll show you lots of variations on this page on Friday.
You can do this.
How did you do with my challenge to you? Did you make a page with only ten words on it?
This is what I created:
Do you see the small little tooth at the end of toothless? It’s actually a little piece of plastic that was stuck on my son’s new watch to keep the battery from engaging. He finally started to wear it yesterday, and of course left the little piece of plastic behind.
I found it while wiping down the bathroom counter today, and when I saw it, I immediately thought “tooth!” Since this same son had recently lost his two front teeth, it seemed appropriate to make a page about his gap-toothed grin.
I narrowed my choices to a single kit that my local scrapbook store had put together with Studio Calico products, and tried out a new punch I got for my birthday (thanks Mom!) and searched for a photo or two of him with his gap. These were as good as I could find. I was sure I’d gotten a good gap-photo, but no such luck. And both teeth are well on their way in now, so no re-creating photo possibilities.
A few distressed edges, a little pleated paper ribbon, some salvaged scraps (note the tiny hexagons, from the border punch!) and ten words later, and a page is born.
My ten words? “Toothless. Hopefully you won’t need braces like your Dad did.”
Quick, simple, and communicates more than just look at these crazy kid photos. You can journal. You really, really can.
One of the things that can interfere with scrapbooking is choosing which photos to print. If you are like me, you’ve got hundreds (or thousands! yes thousands!) of digital photos to sort through before you can even get to scrapbooking.
I can see you getting overwhelmed just thinking about it. 😉
Take a deep breath, and let’s keep this simple. Pick a set amount of time to work on your photos. Fifteen minutes. Half an hour. Last night, I decided to listen to a podcast while choosing photos to print. (Among other things. My ability to stay on task lately has been abysmal!) Then narrow down what you are going to look through. I chose to narrow my field to photos taken the first quarter of last year, when I realized I hadn’t archived most of the photos from last year. Then I started flagging the particular photos I wanted to upload so I can print or archive them. Here, let me show you:
Did that give you an idea on how to go about choosing photos to print?
I focus on choosing photos that
a: tell at least one story. more is better
b: show personality
c: make my heart go pitter-patter
I do NOT print every photo I take. Did you notice that I have 888 photos in just that quarter alone? I will never ever scrapbook all those photos. Never. And I am okay with that.
I don’t even print every photo I upload. Some of the photos I upload will not make the cut as far as printing, but because Shutterfly has free, unlimited storage, I use them as an additional place to archive the photos I love.
There are lots of other photo printing places out there. Choose one you love, and USE it. You’ll never get any scrapbooking done if you don’t have photos to use!
Don’t give me any excuses. You CAN do this.