Card Week, Part 5 and a Sponsor Giveaway

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I always say it, just because it's a card sketch doesn't mean you have to use it for a card. This design in particular is incredibly easy to adjust to a layout and you have plenty of room to add several photos and lots of space for journaling. We've got two one-page layouts to share with you today based on the card sketch that show just how easy this sketch is to use for a layout. 

Card Sketch #5

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the card sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar.

"A Perfect Day to Spend Time With You" by Katrina Hunt
Supplies -  Patterned Paper: Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker (We Are Family collection); Alphabets: American Crafts Thickers and Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker (We Are Family, Max and Mollie, Beatrice collections); Twine: The Twinery (Baker’s Twine in Honeydew); Border Punch: Martha Stewart;  Ink: Cat’s Eye Chalk Inks; Adhesives: Scotch ATG, Glue Dots, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L; Photo Editing software: Lo-Fi

I was going to make a card, I really was. Then I started thinking and that usually gets me into trouble! I went a totally different direction and made a layout. The layout follows the sketch somewhat, you just have to look at it. There are a lot more elements on my layout than the card, but just think of the picture being the “message” and the kites being the “swirl” and then you will definitely see where I got the layout from the sketch.

• Variation 1 - Layout not card
• Variation 2 - One of the center papers is a rectangle with a border, not a square
• Variation 3 - Added more elements than just the swirl, including the houses, trees, and kites.
• Variation 4 - Message is a picture and the title is above the picture

I had fun with this one, it came out totally different than what I had thought of, but I like it!

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"Jackson and His Pack Pack" by Allison Davis
Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Studio Calico; Alphabets: American Crafts and Jenni Bowlin; Word stickers: 7Gypsies; Tab sticker: Studio Calico

I pretty much kept to the same proportions as the card sketch for my layout but did make a few adjustments.

Variation #1 - Instead of using two pieces for the top square on the sketch, I used a several different sizes of papers. It was actually one of those good mistakes. I measured my paper wrong and was left with a piece way too short. I decided to make it work and ended up happy with the way it all turned out. I love it when that happens!

Variation #2 - I used a picture in place of the message on the sketch. I still have somewhat the same strips as on the sketch.

Variation #3 - I added my title and journaling in place of the flourish on the card sketch. I love using things the kids say as the title on my pages. On this one I used the way Jackson says backpack (pack pack) in my title.

To help the red letters stand out I added hand stitching to the middle of them.

Variation #4 - To finish the layout I added three embellishment areas. One is a group of three stars right next to the title. The second one is stars, a tab sticker, and some work stickers above the photo.

The third one is another group of stars, an apple cut from patterned paper, and some more word stickers just below the journaling.

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My Unibind PhotoBook Creator book and a giveaway.

These is no doubt that kids say some pretty funny things. I know in our house, it seems like the boys say something everyday that makes us laugh whether it's the way they phrase something or pronounce a word. When I realized just how easy it can be to forget those silly and adorable little phrases, words, and conversations, I started to record them. I would write them on old receipts stuffed in my purse, share them on my blog, or write them in a notebook at home. 

I figured it was finally time to compile some favorites of my oldest son's silly sayings into a book. 

I used the 4 x 6 hard cover and printed the title of my book onto Sticky Back Canvas. Before I added the canvas to the cover, I frayed the edges a little.

The first page of the book is just two short phrases that sum up what the book is about.

I used card sketch #5 as the inspiration for my design. I used the same block with rounded corners and then moved the strip across the middle behind the block. I followed this same design for each page of the book but switched up the colors of the block. 

Each two-page spread in the book contains a picture on the left and the quote on the right. What I love about the 4 x 6 book is that you can just stick your pictures in. No cropping, no designing, super simple. I, however, did add some design to the book since I wanted to include quotes from my son. I used the Sticky Back Canvas for each quote page. I love the texture of the canvas and the fact that I could stick it to the back of the photos without making the pages too thick. 

Here's a look at the inside pages:

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I encourage everyone with young kids to make a book of their funny sayings. Like I mentioned before, they are so easy to forget and it's amazing the joy they bring to you when you do remember. Just the other night my husband picked up this book and chuckled the whole way through it. 

It's Sponsor Giveaway Time!

Would you like to be able to make your own hard cover books from the comfort of your home with this awesome machine? 

We are giving away a Unibind PhotoBook Creator today! 

You'll get the PhotoBook Creator and it also comes with layout software and a hard cover photobook! To be eligible for the giveaway leave a comment on this post and we'll randomly select a winner. You have until Sunday and we'll post the winner on Monday.  

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