Sketch time!

Confession: Busy patterned papers scare me!!

They are so pretty, but they intimidate me.

Most of the time I want to frame them & hang them on a wall rather than scrapbook with them.
Usually when I do use them on a project, I cut them up first and just use pieces of them.
BUT there are so many great patterned papers in February's kit and I really wanted to challenge myself to use entire sheets of paper rather than cut them all up!
So I came up with a simple little sketch that I hoped would help me use some of those patterned papers.

This was the first layout I made based on the sketch. I put a solid cardstock against the busy patterned paper to help my pictures & journaling stand out against the patterned paper.
I ended up using 2 pictures instead of just one.

And I made sure to mat them with a white border so that they too would stand out against the busy patterned paper.
I love that piece of plaid patterned paper (October Afternoon) and I think I managed to use it without the rest of my layout getting lost in it!
*****
This was the next layout I made.

I stayed very close to the sketch on this one and still used the solid cardstock to help set off my pictures & journaling from the busy patterned paper.
{how cute is my little grandmother??!!}
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And one more layout using the sketch...

I detoured a little more from the sketch on this one.
I got crazy and centered everything instead of having everything on the right side of the layout!!
{hehehe}
The background paper here (Jenni Bowlin) is not quite as bold & busy as the patterned papers I used on the previous layouts.
So I took the liberty of using a couple other subtle patterned papers to anchor the picture & journaling rather than using plain cardstock.
I like how the picture still manages to stand out though!
{or maybe that is because there are a couple of goofballs in the picture so you can't help but notice it!}
*****
Well I hear that February kits should be in your hands by now!
Enjoy it!
It's a good one!
And if you need a sketch to get you going, I hope you will use this one!
Link us up in the comments here if you make something.
I would love to see it!
:)
gretchen

Christmas inspiration!

I don't know about you but I enjoy scrapping current pictures.
I would much rather scrap recent pictures I have taken than dig up ones from a couple of years ago.
I love scrapping stuff while it is fresh in my mind!
Like right now I am eager to scrap pictures from Christmas!

{no, I am not yet sick of red & green, Jingle Bells, and cinnamon-scented candles!}
So I have some layouts for you to inspire you to get your Christmas pictures scrapped!
Don't wait!
Scrap them now!!
:)

*****
Here is a fabulous one that Keri made using the December kit.

What a great idea to scrap the destruction that happens to the pretty living room after the presents have been opened!
I am pretty sure my living room was not as recognizable as Keri's was!!
*****
Here is a 2-pager from Christmas a few years ago.

Here's one with lots of journaling.
I find I can fit more journaling on a page if I type it out rather than writing it by hand.
{darn large, loopy handwriting!}

This last layout is based on this sketch from the November/December issue of Creating Keepsakes.

Don't forget about sketches if you are trying to get alot done in a short amount of time!
They are an easy starting point for a layout!
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If you are as eager as I am to scrap Christmas pictures, I hope this helps get you going!
Merry Christmas!!
{just a few days late}
and happy scrappin'!!
:)

A bit Sketchy.

Hi everyone! Charity here to give you a little sketch inspiration. Actually, I wanted to share a great card sketch from one of my favorite sketch sites, card positioning system blog. Here's the sketch I used from their site..



I used the wonderful November kit from here at Midnight Rooster (so, you're getting a sneak peek - don't you love that silverware stamp!) for my card. I think this sketch could work as a jump-off point for a layout as well. On my card I used a large circle in the center instead of a rectangle.

Here's my card



Have a great day, Charity

One last sketch for the week

Here is one last sketch for the week.  This is one of the June PageMaps by Becky Fleck.

I changed it up a bit. Here's how:  I flipped it upside-down, turned an 8.5x11 2-pager into a 12x12 1-pager, changed the sizes and layouts of the photos, and moved the title toward the bottom of the layout.

 

I took these pictures while travelling in Scotland in May 1997.  This little statue immediately caught my attention.  The story is even more incredible.  You can read a more complete account here.  I didn't include any journaling on the layout, since the sign does a good job of summing it up:

John Gray

Master of "Greyfriars' Bobby"

In 1858, John Gray, master of

"Greyfriars' Bobby," was buried in the

grave marked with a red granite stone

on the left-hand side of this walk. -->

"Greyfriar's Bobby," after 14 years

of faithfull devoition died on the grave

(and) was buried nearby."

Here are some close-ups of the embellishments on the left side of the page.

As promised, there will be a giveaway as part of this post.  The contest will actually span the entire week.  Here's what you need to do:  Create a layout or card based on one of the two sketches posted this week.  Then, come back to this post and leave a comment which includes a link to your project.  I will pick a winner next Sunday.  And the prize?  All the products needed to recreate both of the projects that I posted this week.  (There might be some other goodies thrown-in, too. ;)

Good luck!  I'm looking forward to seeing your creations!!

*hugs*

Michelle 

As promised...

As promised, here is that super cute sketch.  It is one of the new card sketches from PageMaps.  I *love* Becky Fleck's sketches - for layouts and cards! 

And here's a close-up of the butterfly piece and gathered ribbon.

I will be posting a layout tomorrow night using one of the June layout sketches, so stay tuned! =)

*hugs*

Michelle

Midnight Rooster First Sketch Inspiration

Hello everyone, welcome to the grand opening of the Midnight Rooster blog!!  I am very exited to be the first DT member to post something that will hopefully inspire you to get creating. 

I am big on sketches.  One of my favorite sketch artist is Becky Fleck. Her Pagemaps are world-renowned for their total awesomeness. I used this sketch of hers to create my layout.

Of course, I used the Midnight Rooster's "First Midnight Run" kit and add-on and a few things in my stash for this layout.  I love how easy it is to get started with a project with a sketch, I just need to find the photos in this case, because the supplies are already waiting for me in a box!

This is the time and place for me to go completely gaga over the Rooster stamp.  What can I say, that rooster is beyond extremely cute. Since it is a solid silhouette, there is very little work involved, meaning, I don't have to color it. I just stamped on my layout as seen here. 

I hope you enjoyed this little post and will now be itching to get your First Midnight Run so you can start your First Midnight layout :)