Eniko's Playhouse

Happy National Scrapbooking Day 2012!

I created a very special challenge for National Scrapbooking Day at Let's Scrap and if you haven't already joined in the fun, you should! The challenge is to:

Scrap Yourself Scrapping!
This is the layout I created to inspire you. It's about the "Scrappin' Fridays" I host in my studio at my house...it's full of joy, color and inspiration...and lots of paper!

I created my very first scrapbook sketch for the members to use as their prompt, guide and  jump-off point for this challenge,:
Scrapbookers are generally so busy photographing and scrapping their families, pets and special events that they themselves are often left out of photos and scrapbooks. Am I right?

Since scrapbooking is such an important part of our lives and daily activities, it is only fitting to pay homage to our favorite passion on National Scrapbooking Day!

But as any decent challenge, this one comes with some really great rules!

For this challenge, you must use the sketch above to create a layout about yourself scrapbooking! To enter the contest & to qualify for a really fun prize, you must be a member of Let's Scrap (it's fun & it's free!) and upload your finished layout to the Let's Scrap Gallery before midnight (central time) on May 8th. -Here's the link to sign-up!

SIGN-UP at LET'S SCRAP!

Other scrapbook buddies may appear in photos on your layout, if you wish, but there must be a minimum of 2 images of you scrapping to qualify!

Since this challenge pays homage to scrapbooking, I thought it would be fun to use as many scrapbooking techniques as possible. So…you must use at least 8 out of the 12 scrapbooking elements/ techniques listed (please list the ones you used in the comment section when you post your layout):

Alpha Stickers

Banners, Flags or Pennants

Brads or Eyelets

Buttons

Chipboard

Flourishes or Scrolls

Flowers

Inking

Matting

Metal Clip, Stick Pin, or Staples

Stamping

Twine, Baker’s Twine, or Ribbon

(For my example, I used all 12 -just for fun…see if you can find them all…tee hee!) I also had photos taken of me scrapping this very same layout! LOL!

Complete rules and regulations are posted in the Let's Scrap Forum. Look for the Discussion: {Inter}National Scrapbooking Month, then for INSM12#2 Challenge by me!

Have a Fabulously Happy & Productive National Scrapbooking Day!

Happy Scrapping! ~Enikö

Co-ordinating Scrapbook Papers with the Colors on Your Photos

If you read my last post, you know all about my sister Ildi's beautiful autumn wedding in the woods of New Hampshire. It was a glorious day, blessed with perfect early October weather, and foliage kissed with the colors of the season. The wedding began with a procession...first the guests, then a little while later, the musicians...creating the sounds of woodland elves. Led by Ildi's son, Brooks (so handsome in his suit and fedora), keeping time on an over-sized drum, the flutist and the fiddler followed. Ildi's beautiful brunette daughter, Julia, was flanked by Erick's stunning blond daughters, Trina and Britta. It was evident at once that the guests were in for a treat...this was no ordinary wedding. Strolling hand-in-hand...coming up the path, were the beaming bride and groom.

I wanted to capture the magic of that procession in my scrapbook layout. The colors of the forest, the golden glow of the late afternoon sun shining through the foliage, the mystical way the guests heard the music...faint at first, building mystery and anticipation as it grew louder and louder...until the musicians finally appeared. I wanted to harness that feeling that we all felt when the lovely bridesmaids entered our vision, their sequin-speckled gossamer shawls all a glimmer. -And how it took our breath away when we spied the happy couple...with Ildi's golden curls shimmering in the sunlight, along with the gold thread that ran through the velveteen cape she wore...a gorgeous bouquet in one hand, and the other clinging onto her handsome betrothed.

How does one begin to tell such a story on a scrapbook page? I gravitated toward a Martha Stewart cardstock, resplendent with colorful sparkling butterflies that seemed to portray the kind of "magic" that I wanted to recreate...too busy, but I really wanted to make it work, if only as an accent. There was also a great color that seemed to go with the jacket I was wearing in the photo.
I find that the best way to sort scrapbooking papers for a layout is to simply lay the photos over them. While I loved the butterfly papers, they lacked the impact I was going for. There was a lot of blue in the photos, so I tried some beautiful flocked papers in two different blues.
Pretty, but too soft...perhaps a little washed-out. My next strategy was to focus on the foliage in the photos. Perhaps I could recreate the feeling of the forest with the right papers.
I loved the brightness of the creamy yellow paper with the flora & the fauna because it picked up the flickering sunlight in the photographs. I also liked the more subdued green-tinged papers that had a beautiful feel, but were a tad too "quiet". Then, there they were...the perfect papers that represented the autumnal glory of the forest, without overwhelming the photos, or underwhelming the beauty of the occasion.
(Please click on the layout to view it in its full splendor!)

The colors of these background papers were perfect for the atmosphere I was going for! They picked up the various colors in the photos, the matting, the journaling blocks and the flower embellishments. I used the sketch (by Cheri O'Neil) that we were assigned for the week at Let's Scrap... I edited my photos down to the ones that pertained best to the theme of the Procession, and added some really great journaling to describe the moment. I added just enough bling to represent the sparkle of the day and some butterflies to mimic the magic. I'm so pleased that it all fell together so beautifully...just like the Procession.

Thanks for visiting, and do leave a little comment, so I know you've been by...

Happy Scrapping! -Enikö

Do Journal on Those Scrapbook Pages!!!

How many of you fabulous memory-keepers and scrapbooking enthusiasts journal on your scrapbook pages? Just as I thought...you don't like your own hand-writing...you don't know what to write...you don't know where to begin, so you just skip that part. Well, I'm here to convince you to mend your foolish ways!

The scrapbook layout above illustrates how journaling can be incorporated attractively into your layout. The red journaling block on the left, fits into the design in the same way another photo would, and it acts as a color accent, in addition to giving the viewer important information about when and where these photos were taken. The title simply states: Sweet: The Sweet Days of Summer, and leads into the journaling below the large photo on the right. It talks about the sweet days of summer becoming shorter and shorter, giving way to Autumn chill, and how my precious 2-year-old grandson, Rigel, was so mesmerized by my sister Ildi's colorful Zinnias that were taller than he. -It identifies the subject of the photographs, and also tells the story of why I found this moment so special that I wanted to capture it and preserve it forever.

In addition to the wonderful way the journaling contributes to the story telling, it also enhances the design of the layout. Stamping the first letter of each line helps bring the eye to it and also distracts from the possibly less-than-perfect hand-writing. (By the way, it definitely helps to lightly draw-in pencil lines to keep the writing straight...or hold a ruler in place to guide you as you write.) Extremely self-concious scrapbookers should type their journaling, as opposed to not including it at all!

In my Scrapbooking 101 series on Enikö's Playhouse, back in 2010, I wrote about the importance of journaling in scrapbooks:

I didn’t always journal, but when I heard that a friend tossed away her deceased mother’s old photo albums because she didn’t know who the people in the photos were, I went back and identified all the subjects of my photos and I began journaling my recollections of past events to include on my pages.

When journaling, think of the 5 “W”’s: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. It is important to jot down names, dates and locations, but don’t forget to personalize your scrapbooks by including your personal thoughts and feelings about a particular event or gathering. If you are shy about sharing your personal thoughts, you may include them in envelopes or pockets on your page to be read only upon invitation. Many scrappers prefer to use poems, captions or lyrics instead of their own words, but it is nice to use a mix. Also, no matter how you feel about your handwriting, know that it is a distinct part of you and your character and be sure to write at least some of your journaling in your own hand. You may write directly on the background paper, or work a journaling block into your layout using a tag or a piece of cardstock, or anything that will hold text.

I recently posted a challenge on Let's Scrap, using the layout above (inspired by a Let's Scrap sketch) as an example of good storytelling. -I thought I'd share bits of it with you here (-and do think about joining in on the challenge):

I've noticed that many of you here on Let's Scrap are quite accomplished storytellers, and others of you are shy about journaling on your scrapbook layouts. This challenge is designed to remind you that scrapbooking is first and foremost a form of storytelling. From the photos we choose, to the title we select, to the words we write on our journaling blocks, each element plays an equally important role in the telling of the story.

For this challenge, I want you to focus on storytelling. Choose your photos for your layout wisely, and as you make decisions about what to place on your pages, keep in mind the 5 W's...Who, What, Where, When, and Why...of the story. Each element that you add to your layout should contribute to the telling of the story. So here are the rules:

1.) WHO -Somewhere in your journaling, identify who the people in your photos are. (Future generations will want to know.)

2.) WHAT -Choose a Title that answers the "what" of your story ("What is this Layout about?") -in a minimum of words.  -It doesn't have to be literal, it can be whimsical, or even the title of a song, but it should give the viewer a snapshot of what you intend the focus of your layout to be, or at least pique the viewer’s interest.

3.) WHERE & WHEN -Record where and when the event, moment, outing or memory occurred.

4.) WHY -Most importantly, in your journaling, answer the question "why?"...this is crucial to story- telling. Your journaling should reveal why you selected this particular story to tell. Why is this story important to you? -It gives the viewer an insight into who you are and what you care about.

As you see in my example, I chose a catchy title that piques curiosity, I identified the people on the photos, I recorded the date and the location, and  I wrote about the interesting fact that in my native Hungary, the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday, is known as "Flower Sunday". Most importantly, I described why this day was so special to me...that it was one of the last outings of its kind that my dad and I enjoyed together, due to my father's increasingly debilitating Parkinson's Disease.

I've heard scrappers complain about "writer's block" and needing prompts to get ideas for their journaling. It's fine to use catch-phrases to get you started, such as: "I will never forget..." - "The last time I saw her..." - "On one sunny afternoon..." but I find that if you just think of it as story-telling, the words flow quite easily, most of the time. If you do get stuck, lyrics from songs, or lines from poems or movies often do the trick. I remember a layout I did for a client about their summer home on Martha's Vineyard and I used "Our House is Very, Very Fine House..." (by David Crosby) as the title, and I believe I used another couple of words from that great song somewhere in my journaling on the layout as a tie-in. -Perfectly legitimate, as long as you give proper credit to the author.

So that about covers it...I hope I've managed to convince you of the importance of including the written word in your memory-keeping and that perhaps I have inspired you to jot a few things down on your pages.

I hope you leave me a little "blog love" to let me know you've stopped by, and don't hesitate to ask me for help if you feel "stuck", or have questions, but do journal on those scrapbook pages!

Hugs, Enikö

The Versatility of Scrapbooking Sketches

This is my first blog post since being appointed Design Team Member at Let's Scrap, the wonderful international scrapbooking club that encourages member participation by posting weekly sketches and other challenges to spark creativity. So exciting! I thought it would be fun to illustrate the versatility of these sketches, just in case you had the false impression that it somehow cramped creativity. The sketch above, by the talented designer, Cheri O'Neil, was the one that we needed to use for our Design Team application submissions. So this is how I interpreted the design: As you can see, I used the sketch quite literally here, but the selection of papers and other elements made it completely mine. Also, I chose to tweak certain elements, such as using the sun image on the left instead of the suggested photo corner. I also opted to run the circular images across the entire strip, instead of stopping short of the edges, as the sketch suggested.

Being the over-achiever that I am, I submitted a second sketch...this time flipping the design around, and creating a soft, elegant tone, as opposed to the bright and lively mood of the layout above: If you pop over to take a peak on the main page of Let's Scrap, and scroll down, you can see the other submissions by the newly appointed Design Team. You'll notice that some of them used the sketch merely as an inspiration, others used only one side of the sketch to create a single-page scrapbook layout, instead of the double-page design that you see here.

Well that's all for now! I'm off to tend to my Design Team duties...I've been elected to post the first Design Team Challenge of the new team! -I'll be posting that soon!

Thanks for visiting and I wish those of you who celebrate it, a blessed Easter!

Hugs, Enikö

Scrapbooking Friends at Play

I love little point-and-shoot cameras that tuck away neatly in a handbag...ready to snap a photo at a moment's notice. It enables us to capture moments such as these and saves them forever in our archive of fun activities.

As we await the arrival of spring here on chilly, windy Martha's Vineyard, I am reminded, as I scrap these fun-filled photos, of the abundant opportunities for play during the summer months here. Because we are mainly a destination for summer vacations on our 30-mile island, winters can be a bit bleak once the majority of businesses lock their doors for the season, so it is wonderful to relive summer memories, helping us to "hold on" just a little bit longer.

This particular playtime was at the Opening Night of Trio in Edgartown. In a truly brilliant concept...the newly opened Black Sheep gourmet cheese shop and charcuterie, transforms every summer evening into Trio, a wine and cheese-tasting, small-bites eatery. My friends Cassie and Robin joined me for a wonderfully memorable evening where we laughed and played and ate and drank and laughed and played some more.

-Just a little reminder to keep that camera with you and that spring is surely on its way.

Hugs, Enikö

(Just a little mention that this layout was inspired by a sketch challenge on a great scrapbooking site that I encourage you to join, called Let's Scrap...loads of scrapbooking fun!)

More Art-Cards: Card-making with an Artistic Flair

So the fabulous month-long Let's Scrap Blog Hop is over and I am in card-making withdrawal. I managed to juggle a busy work schedule, Valentine's weekend, an Academy Awards Party, doctor's appointments & all the other trappings of life and somehow squeezed out enough time to complete 18 cards. -Not much to boast about considering that so many others made the maximum 50 cards that were offered up in inspirational sketches on the various stops on the Hop, but honestly, I had a ball and am very proud of the artistic flair I gave my humble 18. I thought it would be fun to share some cards, along with the sketches that inspired them. This is one of my favorites. I made this card for my dear friend, Annelle (a very talented Penny Rug designer), who cared for my children during my Newport restaurant days, and played jazz for them every night during dinner. She and I enjoyed several Newport Jazz Festivals together, and this card plays tribute to those days. So this sketch, created by Debby D. of Let's Scrap was the one that inspired the layout for the card. Just to share the thought-process with you... First, I found the fabulous image of the jazz singer and the jazz musicians in the Curtain Call collection of the wonderful scrapbooking paper company, Graphic 45 and gathered all of the other elements that I planned to use.

I'm not sure what made me think of the sentiment, but Annelle is a highly spiritual person, and her heart is abundant with love, and she surrounds herself with music, so it fit: "Love is the Music of the Soul". I cut that out of red paper with my Cricket die-cutting machine. I also knew that it would make a stunning statement if I colored the songstress's lips in bright red glitter...it would emphasize the passion in her heart and add drama to the card. It was close to Valentine's Day, so adding the heart was a no-brainer. I covered that with the same red glitter, as well as the heart-shaped pin...and voila!

I guess my initial inspiration comes from the graphic images I find in my stash of scrapbooking supplies (that, or a great sentiment I might come across). It is only after I have an image in mind that I match it with a card sketch that will lead me in the direction of the final layout...at least that's how I operated during the February Blog Hop. This next card is a great example of that. I found a unique graphic of a bird flying over a botanical image (from Graphic 45's Botanicabella collection) and it just fit a quote that I particularly liked. "Nothing is too Wonderful to be Real"...isn't that the loveliest sentiment ever?

So I matched the idea to the sketch you see here on the left. There are no strict rules when it comes to sketch inspirations...the only rule is to use the sketch design as a guideline for the layout. The design can be flipped, inverted or altered in any way that suits the user. As you can see, I only used one sentiment, instead of the suggested three, but I used the idea of the three identical shapes (though in different proportions) in my design. I also raised the three square shapes on pop-dots to add interest and dimension.
An interesting note about turning accidents into positive elements: The cool printed tissue tape on the far left was added because the card tore at the crease when I scored it a bit over-exuberantly. Also, the tear above the sentiment was originally not intentional -it was simply an accident. I decided that instead of trimming it straight, I would emphasize the tear by inking it. I then inked all my edges for balance and consitancy. -Often it's the "oops"-s of a project that will end up giving it depth and character. I really love the way this card turned out, don't you?

Cassie, if you're reading this...this card was inspired by you. Cassie has decided that she's had enough of Boston winter and has booked a flight to the Caribbean to get some "beach time". I've been dieing to make something with Graphic 45's Travelogue collection (which I won in as blog candy a couple of months ago) so it was the perfect motivation in combination with this card sketch:

The sketch is simple, which I love...it allows for creative tweaking & interpretation. (Incidentally, these were concerns when I first entered into "sketch" territory...I was afraid that using another's sketch for inspiration, or guidelines, or design, would somehow impair my own artistic sensibility or creativity. -But what I found was that it pushed me, instead, in areas of creativity that I may have otherwise not entered into and challenged me in ways that pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to see beyond my own limitations.)

So I picked my background paper and  my graphic image...the sentiment was easy...the word "BEACH" said it all. I also wanted to add the lacey element that appeared on the sketch without being too "girlie" (which Cassie is not), so I simply used a paper punch to "imitate" the lace in the sketch. The only tricky piece was the "fussy cutting" of the Bird of Paradise flower that I thought the card needed for color balance. What do you think?
I just love the colors and the textures and even the simplicity of this card.

I will end this post with my Oscar Party invitation. (I will post more cards really soon...I promise). Many of you know what an avid movie-buff I am. -Not sure why that is, but I LOVE the cinema! Every year I host an Oscar Party for my like-minded movie-loving friends. This year, my favorite movie was Hugo, by Martin Scorsese. I had a feeling that Hugo would do well at the Academy Awards, but that more than likely The Artist would win the coveted golden trophy (which is exactly what ended up happening). This following card, inspired by the sketch on the left, was a tribute to the silent era of Hollywood, as well as to these two amazing movies that honored it.

The images are, again, from Graphic 45 (it just so happens that their papers are exceptionally artistic and I find myself being highly inspired by them). The graphics I used were from the Curtain Call collection...the central image of the moon is one you might remember from Georges Mellie's movie, "La Voyage du la Lune"...and featured in Hugo. The filmstrip images of silent movie stars was a respectful nod, on my part, to the theme of The Artist. The image of the watch is also reminiscent of Hugo's theme. (It's fun to scroll back & forth between the sketch & the finished card to see what elements were adapted in what way.) -I think you'll love this:

So I think I will pause now & announce the winner of the LEAP 46 Blog Hop Candy. Here's Jim, pulling the winning name out of a hat:

And the winner is...(drum roll, please)...

CATHY!

Congratulations, Cathy! Please leave your address on the Let's Scrap website, or email it to me directly, and I will send the goodies right out to you.

More cards in my next post, stay tuned...

Hugs, Enikö

Gear-up for a Spectacular Month of Card-making!

I'm so excited! As one of the 50 international blog hostesses, I am busy gearing up for the upcoming Let's Scrap (http://letsscrap.ning.com/) "Leap Around the World" February blog hop!!  This fun-filled Card-Making Event with fabulous give-a-ways will start at 10:00am on February 1st and end on February 29th at 11:59pm (central standard time).

I sure hope you join me in this big hop!  There are several things you can do RIGHT NOW to be prepared:

1. Make sure you are signed up as a follower on my blog. Just look in the upper right-hand corner, where it says "Google Friend Connect" and click on "JOIN THIS SITE".  In addition, it's  convenient to subscribe via e-mail so that you will never miss one of my blog posts!
2. Get your scrapping area in order and locate all those paper scraps & ribbons & wonderful embellishments you have been stashing away...you will need them because the blog hop is all about making CARDS!
3. Hop on over to Let's Scrap and sign-up for a free membership. Once you sign-up, you will have the ability to upload photos or scans of the cards you make. Let's Scrap is an amazing community of supportive women from all over the world with a passion for scrapbooking, who thrive on inspiring and encouraging each other.
   

So now you're ready...

Just a few more details... Once you have joined Let's Scrap, you will receive links to all 50 host blogs. Each blog will feature a different card sketch intended to inspire your card design. In the words of my dear scrapping friend, Kay Wallace: "At each blog, you will get two chances to win some blog candy (aka: booty, prizes)!  Do the math! You will have 100 chances to win free stuff...and good stuff, too!  This is also the perfect opportunity to restock your card stash!"

Don't be overwhelmed...you are doing only one card at a time!  Our hope is that you will visit every blog, but remember, you have the whole month of February to do this and you don't have to make all 50 cards...just join in the fun!

 N.B. -Be sure you are using Google Chrome or Firefox as your search engine.  Internet Explorer (IE) does not always "play nice" with Bloggers!

Get ready, get set...let's scrap! -Enikö

Childhood Wonder is Captured in Sketch-Inspired Layout

Have any of you ever used a a pre-designed sketch as inspiration for a scrapbook layout?  Scrapbooking off of someone else's sketch design has been a challenge for me (since I normally work so organically), but since I like to push myself out of my comfort zone occasionally, I made a commitment to give it a whirl. (I wrote about my first sketch-inspired experience in an earlier post: Sketch-Inspired Thanksgiving Layout).

I have since discovered a wonderful website called Let's Scrap, whose sole function seems to be to inspire fellow scrapbooking enthusiasts through weekly sketch challenges (with enticing prizes), group projects, blog-hops and on-line encouragement. I must say that it has been an amazing experience connecting with hundreds of women that share my scrapbooking passion. Scrappers from all over the world log-on regularly to share their traditions, familly events and life-experiences in addition to their artwork. Truly fabulous, inspiring and gracious women; I already feel like I have made some enduring friendships.

The sketch above is the one I chose when I decided to join in and rise to the sketch-inspiration challenge. I chose this sketch over others because I had recently received a stack of photos from Shutterfly of my darling grandson, Rigel, who at age four, was completely enamored by his Grandpa Jim's garden railroad during his visit last summer. I had the correct number of photos the sketch called for and I had the subject matter, so all I needed was the perfect paper to get my scrapbooking project going. Once I had the paper, I allowed the sketch, the photos and the story guide me. This is what came out of it: (click on image to see larger)
The paper and the embellishments compliment the colors in he photos...the title summarizes the story...and the photos capture the exhuberant movements of awe-struck little boy and the pleased, quietly observing grandfather in the background.

I scanned-in this layout before I added the journaling, but on the bottom strip of patterned paper I added my cherished memory of the occasion, "It was with great delight that I watched 4 year-old Rigel bond with his Grandpa Jim over Jim's Garden Railroad." On the left side I added, "July 24th, 2011, Martha's Vineyard, MA".

"So what did the pre-designed sketch contribute to this layout?," you might ask.

It's impossible to know how this layout would have looked if I hadn't worked off of a sketch (hey...great idea for another challenge...do two layouts of the same event -one designed organically, and one using a sketch), but I do know that I most likely wouldn't have added some of the embellishments where I did...the circle, for example...yet it works so well there. -And I definitely would not have thought to place the plaid ribbon near the bottom...which I think brings all the other elements together beautifully. I also may have used a shorter title and may have not spanned it along both pages.

But I did do all those things and the result is just lovely, don't you think? I love how the movement of the letters in the title reflect the movement of Rigel in the garden. I love how I matted the main photo on the left to make it the suggested 5"x7" size (since all my photos were developed 4"x6") and I love how I needed to crop the photos on the right to make them fit into the "size-equation". I also love how seven photos fit so perfectly and naturally on one layout, and tells a complete story.

I can't resist posting my favorite photo from the layout:
I simply love the captured movement of Rigel suddenly turning as he hears the approaching train engine.

But then there's this one -where his inquisitive nature is so very much on display-

On this following photo, which I shot from my bedroom window, Grandpa Jim's face says it all...
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you'll check-out Let's Scrap and their many discussion groups and inspirations. Also, keep on the look-out for Let's Scrap's Blog Hop, coming in February. I will be hosting one of fifty greeting card sketches and inviting you to join in -creating and posting your cards, making you eligible to receive a nice gift.

I'll keep you posted!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Bloggers! Live an inspired life in 2012! -Enikö

Sketch-inspired Thanksgiving Scrapbook Layout

In 2008, while my dad was recovering from hip surgery at my home on Martha's Vineyard, we opted have a quiet, relaxed Thanksgiving...just the three of us...my dad, Jim, and me. It turned out to be one of the more pleasurable of Holidays. -No traveling hassles, no hoopla; just a fabulous feast and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I wanted to capture the essence of that dinner...focusing on the feast and the three people who shared it.

There are many approaches to layout design. My method is generally very organic. I select the photographs I wish to scrapbook and I allow them to spark my creativity. Usually the colors that are most predominate in the photos determine the color scheme of my layout, other times, my paper choices might be motivated by the theme. Once my papers & pictures are laid out, an artistic spark ignites, and I scurry about, gathering embellishments that might support my layout. I am driven by story telling, and inspired by my passion to tell the story concisely and well in a double-page spread.  

I've seen scrapbook classes that teach sketch-inspired layouts, and have seen scrapbook layout sketches in magazines, but never quite understood why anyone would approach scrapbook layout design in that fashion. Certainly, I have sketched other designs...room design, for instance, jumps into mind. While working as an assistant interior designer at Island Interiors, LLC, sketching was an integral part of designing, but pre-sketching for scrapbooking? Hmmm... Then I stumbled upon a website called Sketch Inspiration, where they post a new sketch every Sunday in an attempt to inspire their followers. There's always a nice little scrapbooking gift offered by a sponsor to add enticement, so I decided to step outside of my comfort zone & give it a try for the Thanksgiving layout. This week's challenge was Sketch #247: Because I'm used to creating double-spread layouts, the idea of using only one 6"x4" photo was truely daunting. I could do it if I had the right photo, but none of the images from that day where sufficient to tell the story of our simple, but bountiful three-person feast. -So I found a way to follow the sketch, and to incorporate all of the photos of that day that I wanted to include, as well:
Well, what do you think? How'd I do?

I'd like to wish you all a Blessed Thanksgiving and a bounty of inspiration...wherever it may come from!

With Gratitude, Enikö