Sketch Thursday : 8.18.11

This week's sketch is based on this layout from the July Inspiration Gallery from ES design team member Waleska.  That single horizontal band containing her photos, journaling and embellishments?  Love the composition!

This sketch has room for three photos, but as I told my sister-in-law last week when we were scrapbooking together, think of a sketch as a starting point.  Whatever inspires you to create, go for it!  Rotate the sketch, flip it - it's YOUR layout!

By now, you know that I normally scrapbook with typical size photos, usually 4x6 and 5x7.  For this layout, I used three 4x6 photos and simply cropped two of them smaller to eliminate extra background and keep the focus on my daughter blowing out her birthday candles.  Instead of a journaling block between two of my photos, I created a strip for my title which I then turned into a candle to coordinate with the subject of my layout.  Inspired by Waleska's banners along the top of her layout, I included three of my own and then also trimmed the edge of my tape and journaling block to match.

I've always loved Waleska's style and love that this sketch had me thinking a bit outside of my box.

Elle's Studio product used : 2011 Monthly Pennants, Lil' Snippets: Labeled - Yellow & Orange,  Handmade Layers Pennants - Birthday and Handmade Layers Large Journaling Tags. 

Other product used : Studio Calico's Boardwalk kit.

Our July Guest Designer, Jen Gallacher, took at turn with this week's sketch.  I love that she used the sketch to create a layout that maintains her usual design style. 

Jen says, "I pretty followed the sketch in its entirety as I love 8 1/2 X 11" layouts and the sketch was right up my alley. I did had a half circle sub title at the bottom of my page and added my title letters to the hanging banners. But I really enjoyed this sketch and will definitely use it again as inspiration for an entirely new layout next time."

Elle's Studio product used : Handmade Layers Large Circle Journaling Tags, Handmade Layers Pennants - Blank, Handmade Layers Pennants - Inspiring and Make A List Journaling Tags.

I really like this monochromatic take on the sketch from design team member Allison Waken and how she spread her title work over a large area within her design. 

Allison notes, "I loved the overall feel of this sketch and wanted to keep it pretty similar. I started off with my photos (Fujifilm Instax prints) and went from there. I decided to move the pennants to the other side of the layout to balance out the other embellishments I had added."

Although similar to Waleska's original layout in that it features ink splatters on a white backdrop, this layout from design team member Marcy Penner.  I love how Marcy moved the location of her pennants and strung them together with thread.
Marcy comments, "Right away I was inspired by the banner in the sketch.  My intention was to place it exactly as it was in the sketch... but as is often the case... this changed as my layout when along."
Looking for an incentive to use our sketch this week? We can help with that! Post a link to your layout created using this Sketch Thursday sketch for your chance to win a $5 ES gift certificate. Link must be posted by 11:59p on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.

Gift certificate can be used towards purchase of products only and can NOT be used for shipping charges. Gift certificate balance must be used in a single transaction.

Congratulations to last week's winner :

Marie, please e-mail the following information to : info [at] shopellesstudio [dot] com by 8.24.11 and we'll get you your gift certificate!

Name :

Contest : 8.4 Sketch Thursday