Two-page Week, Part 5 - Simple Stories product challenge

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It's time for the Simple Stories product challenge! We're sharing another round of projects from the challenge today. We also have another challenge for you and a bonus sketch!

If you missed the product challenge for Card Week, Simple Stories has provided a kit of the same materials for each member of the Sketch Support Creative Team. Together with the October sketches we are going to show you how using the same products and even the same sketches can produce so many different results.

Since it is Two-page Week all of the projects we are posting today are based on Two-page Sketch #20.

Two-page Sketch #20

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

"Now We Are Six" by Christine Chain
Supplies - patterned paper and stickers: Simple Stories; cardstock: Bazzill Basics; corrugated letters: Jillibean Soup; number stickers: October Afternoon; other: pop dots

1) I eliminated the photo block of six photos on the right page and just used a single 4" x 6". I've been waiting to come across the right design for my "Now We are Six" idea and this fit the bill, as long as I made that change.

2) I added the strip of number stickers across the top because I wanted to bring some more color behind the title.

3) I didn't do any extra embellishments on the rectangle on the left. The Simple Stories papers were already decorated, so I worked with what was there. I did add the "good times" sticker (on top of a label printed on the paper). I used the "happy birthday" sticker along the bottom to tie the block to the photos and I popped it up as well.

4) I punched the "happy day!" label out of a sticker that was a different shape.

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"Landon's First Birthday" by Christina Hoffman
Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterend paper, alphabets, stickers: Simple Stories; Embroidery thread: DMC; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Variation #1: I flipped my sketch.

Variation #2: I used word stickers instead of a strip of paper below my pictures.

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"Happy Birthday" by Carolyn Wolff
Supply List - Background Paper: Lily Bee; Cardstock: Bazzill; All Other Products: Simple Stories; Stamps: My Favourite Things; Floss: DMC.

This was really fun!

Variation #1 – I only used 1 4x6 photo. I changed the rest of them to smaller photos (around 3x4).

Variation #2 – I eliminated the six 2x2 photos and replace it with one of the Bingo cards on one of the pattern papers.

Variation #3 – I made the 4x6 photo a real focus and used one of the paper elements to create a frame. I added a border on the left side of the left page and embellished with the banner stickers and the cake.

Variation #4 – I didn’t add all the strips that are shown on the sketch on the right page. I used the striped pattern paper and it did the job for me.

Thanks for the inspiration Allison and thanks to Simple Stories for letting me play with their awesome collection!

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"Never a Dull Moment" by Shari Thurman
Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Simple Stories; Alphabets: American Crafts; Zipper Trim: Maya Road; Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Dark Brown); Border Punch: Fiskars; Thread: Coats & Clark; Buttons: Unknown; Burlap: Unknown

Variation #1 - I kept the horizontal strips in the same place for the most part, but I replaced the 1" strip at the bottom with patch work strips that I made by cutting squares from different papers and stitching them together for a different look.

Variation #2 - I substituted two of the vertical strips of paper with zipper trim.

Variation #3 - Instead of using 2 x 2" photos as shown on the sketch, I replace them with two 3 x 4" photos instead.

Variation #4 - I covered a heart with burlap for added texture and stitched a banner across the top.

Variation #5 - I embellished the burlap heart with a stitched "3" that I cut out of one of the papers and added some buttons, rather that using hearts and journal strips. I also added buttons in two other places on the layout to create a visual triangle.

Variation #6 - My title is in the same location, but I curved the word "Never" for added interest.

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"Opening Presents" by Allison Davis
Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Simple Stories; Cardstock stickers: Simple Stories; Alphabet Stickers: Simple Stories

For my layout I went with a simplified version of the sketch.

Variation #1 - I used only two strips along the bottom of the pictures. I kept the 1" strip and then used a 1/2" striped strip instead of the 1/4" and extended it across the whole layout.

Variation #2 - I completely removed the vertical strips of patterned paper and the strips along the top of the pictures.

Variation #3 - To fit the birthday theme I created a little cluster of presents in between the title and journaling.

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"Happy First Birthday" by Megan Bickers
Supplies Used - Cardstock: Bazzill (green, red, brown); Patterned Paper: Simple Stories (Happy Day); Ink: Ranger (Walnut Ink Distress); Adhesives: Ranger (Inkssentials Matte Accents), Scrapbook Adhesives (Foam Squares); Tools: Basic Grey (Paper Files), WeR Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper); Other: EK Success (chipboard number), Crochet Thread (Red), American Crafts (Precision
Pen-Black).

Variation #1: For my title, I layered a premade sticker from the Happy Days kit onto a chipboard number covered with coordinating pattern paper. The sticker was adhered with foam squares.

I love how the little flag that says "happy" on it worked so well to layer over the chipboard.

Variation #2: Instead of using the large heart accents on the first page, I used a 6x8 Photo Mat Element from the Happy Day collection.

I grouped a calendar also cut from the Journaling card elements paper along with one of the swirl and cake stickers for my main accents. I wrapped red string around three areas on my layout for interest.

Variation #3: I varied the photo placement on my layout. Instead of using small 2x2 photos, I created a photo mat and used two larger photos above and below the mat.

Variation #4: Instead of using lots of vertical layers under the smaller photos, I cut a journaling card into two sections and used it at the top and bottom of my smaller photo strip for my journaling. I also cut some thinner pattern paper strips to fill in the gaps on the side of these photos.

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"Goodbye Sickness" by Amy Roller
Supplies - Cardstock: Close To My Heart; Patterned Paper and stickers: Simple Stories; Mini Staples/Stapler: Tim Holtz; Ink: Colorbox; Border punch: Martha Stewart

Variation #1: I changed several of the picture sizes and added an extra one next to the title and one in place of the large embellishment on the left side.

Variation #2: I ran my title all the way past the journaling area across the second page.

Variation #3: I left off the vertical stitching.

Variation #4: I added numbers to the picture groups that correspond with them journaling strips.

Variation #5: I used a border punch along an extra strip I added across the bottom of the page.

Variation #6: Because I added the numbers to the pictures, I left off the cluster of embellishments on the bottom right side.

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Now it's your turn!

This week the challenge for you is similar to the challenge we took on. It combines both Simple Stories and Sketch Support sketches. You can use the sketch we've been using this week, Two-page Sketch #20 or you can use the new bonus sketch...

Two-page Sketch #21 (based on Simple Stories 4 x 6 journaling card elements)

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

The challenge is...

• Create a layout using Simple Stories products and either Two-page Sketch #20 or Two-page Sketch #21.

After you have created your layout, upload it to our Sketch Support Gallery (make sure you put in the description that it is for the Sketch Support challenge) and then post the link to your layout in the SS gallery in the comments.

This week we are giving away a copy of collection pack of Happy Day from Simple Stories to the winner of the challenge. You have until Friday, October 21 and we will post the winner on Sunday, October 23.

We look forward to seeing your creations!

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