Sketches!

We scrapbookers often suffer from "Scrappers Block" - that paralyzing condition where our creative juices are dried up and we simply can’t seem to create a scrapbook layout that we enjoy.

My best solution is sketches!

A scrapbook sketch is a basic line drawing of a page layout that we can use as a blueprint or guide to create our own pages. The sketch can be used over and over again and still create a completely different design simply by changing the colors, themes and papers we use each time.

Here’s an example of a Becky Higgins sketch and a page that was created using it as a guideline. This example is taken from the Becky Higgins Creative Sketches II book recently released by Creating Keepsakes.

I LOVE sketches! I feel so creative when I pull out my Sketches Notebook - I created a 3-ring binder with printout of all the sketches I can find, plus all the ones I've created. There are enough ideas in this notebook to keep me scrapbooking forever!

I found some great sketch grids over at Planer Pages for both 12x12 pages and 8.5x11 pages. I keep a few copies of these blank grids in my day planner and sketch an layout idea when I see something that inspires me. I’ve also found many wonderful websites where talented artists post their sketches for scrapbookers to use. Here are a few of my favorites:

Scrap Maps
My Scrapbook Sketches
Scrapbook Sketches Blog
Layout Blueprints
Floorplans
Memory Creators
Sketch Lover

So next time you have a case of "Scrappers Block" check out the latest sketch ideas to get you motivated and scrapping again!

Talk to you soon!
~Pam