March Sketch Challenge

t's time for the March sketch challenge! Ronda is joining and inspiring us with another one of her fabulous sketches. I'll be back later today with the March Die Cuts Challenge.

Share your layout via the inlinkz tool at the bottom of the post and you could be chosen for a blog spotlight and collection of your choice. You have until Tuesday, April 16 to enter. The winner will be announced along with our next sketch challenge on April 17.

Building layers comes to mind with this sketch.  Go beyond layering patterned paper and bring play into the mix.  Maybe the background is one piece of patterned paper on the top half and a second underneath with the middle layer holding it all together.

The center photo is a 4 x 4 photo that could easily be a group of four 2x2 or even a 4x6.  Arrows are in so repeat those shape around your page!  But most importantly have fun with the sketch and really challenge yourself.

Supplies:Collectable-Notable :'Wonder’ decorative brads; Collectable-Memorable:'I’m With' Together patterned paper; Collectable-Remarkable: ‘Smile’ label stickers; ’Authentic’ Genuine patterned paper, ‘Authentic’ chipboard, ‘Authentic’ Tiny word stickers, 'Day' decorative brads, ‘Day’ Dates patterned paper, ‘Day’ Daily patterned paper; 'Handsome' enamel dots; Decorative Tapes:Red & Black; Misc: book paper, punch, black pen, sewing machine & thread

My son Anthony has one year left in high school.  I can see the weight of the world on his shoulders trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life.  They are so excited to move on and yet so scared by the possibilities.  As he chooses his path, his university, his degree, and really the rest of his life choices, I just want him to be happy & authentic.  It’s all a mother could hope for her children.

  

I decided to cut up the authentic genuine paper and layer the rulers as stripes.  After finding the placement of colors, I tucked in the book paper under some of the rulers and then stitched all the pieces down.  I love how it add layers to the simple background.  Layering embellishments really give this layout texture and creates movement.  The black & white photo really enforced him standing at a crossroads.  The die-cut became my title as it was the perfect pop of color on the photo.

 

I love My Mind’s Eye enamel dots.  I usually scatter them across my page replicating paint splatters.  This time I decided to place them all in a row just like how they are on the packaging.  I love how the they get bigger towards my focal point, my photo. 

The word stickers are a great way to add in visual interest to your journaling.  Draw lines on your layout with a pencil.  Write out your journaling with a pencil as well.  Next use your word stickers to replace some of your journaling erasing the lines and words as go.  Once you filled in some words, go over your penciled journaling with a pen.  Let the pen dry and then erase all the pencil marks. 

 

Enjoy the sketch, can't wait to see what you come up with this challenge!