Category Archives: sketch

Nov3

Giving a Sketch a Twist

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Giving a Sketch a Twist

You’ve already seen two cards based on this sketch from Becky Fleck’s Page Maps 2. (affiliate link) Let’s look at one more version, shall we?

card 3 from skecth

Obviously different from the two previous cards, right? But if you look at it, it’s still patterned strips to one side, and focal point on the other. This time however, it’s rotated 90° and the strips are the sentiment, instead of the focal point.

The other two cards in comparison:

card from sketch 1  card 2 from sketch

Today’s tip is all about improving image quality when you stamp. Before I stamped the sentiment banner, I tested it out on a scrap piece of paper. It’s ALWAYS a good idea to test stamp when you’re breaking out a new to you stamp.

I am so glad I did because I discovered this:

imperfect stamp

What’s that? Why yes, there are low spots in the stamp! Sometimes it doesn’t matter how good you are at stamping, because you’ve got an imperfect stamp! This was a fairly easy fix. I used a fantastix from Ranger and added ink to the spots that didn’t transfer from the stamp. You could also use something like a small, stiff, paintbrush or a fine tipped foam makeup brush to fill in the missed spots. The final image looks fine, don’t you think?

card 3 close up

 

Let me know if there are any design rules or techniques you’d like me to cover for you this month.

And if you want to get one of the cards I make in the mail, make sure you’re one my email list by signing up here.

Nov1

Welcome to November!

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Welcome to November!

It’s November, and this year, that means cards. Lots and lots of cards!

Why cards? This is after all a SCRAPBOOKING site.

Well, there are lots of reasons. Mostly its because cards are a great way to practice new techniques and design principles in small, easily digested doses. Design principles that work for cards, also work for scrapbook pages, they just don’t feel as overwhelming with the smaller size. Techniques that you can practice and star on a card make excellent embellishments and backgrounds for scrapbook pages.

Make sense? Shall we get started then?

Today’s card (and the next two days as well) is based on a sketch from Page Maps 2. (affiliate link)

Wait, is that glitter on there? It really does get everywhere.

Wait, is that glitter on there? It really does get everywhere.

As you can see it is a very close interpretation of the sketch. But if you look closely at the sketch and break down its components, you’ll see there are many different ways you can use this to inspire a card, or even a page.

You can interpret the bottom half as strips of scrap patterned paper, washi tape (as I did here), or even as one big piece of patterned paper. The border can be anything from a piece of ribbon, to enamel dots to nonexistent. The sentiment can be words, or a focal image, with all sorts of embellishment options.

Today’s tip: You can make a typical sized card by cutting any piece of 8.5 x 11 paper in half, and then folding it. You can make a card front to adhere to your card base by cutting a piece of cardstock to 4 x 5.25. (You can get four of them from an 8.5×11 piece of paper, and six from a 12×12.) Having a card front means you can experiment with techniques without ruining a base, and you can hide things like the ends of ribbons or brad legs. No awkward ends or sticking out hardware makes for a more finished and professional looking card.

Don’t forget! If you want to get a card from me in the mail, make sure you’re on my e-mail list. Sign up here!

 

 

Feb8

Using a Sketch

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Using a Sketch

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.

sketch 1 pic

First let’s remind ourselves how a strict interpretation of the sketch looks:

IMG_4366

This is how a strict interpretation looks, in digital form:

true blue_final

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.)

DSCF2119 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. 100_7229

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.

IMG_3800 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. IMG_1444Now 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. IMG_1279We can even turn the photo/journaling mat in its side, and turn the journaling spot into a pocket for hidden journaling.IMG_1291

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