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Post by justcindy on Apr 18, 2017 19:51:38 GMT
I've been scrapbooking off and (mostly)on for over 20 flippin' years! 2011 was one of the roughest years of my life, and it really crushed my creative side, as well as many other sides...but that's another story. The next summer, I decided to give myself a project to help dig myself out of the pit that was 2011, and started the album from our vacation to visit my dad in Hawaii about 10 years prior. I got my inspiration to jump in from my very first Shimelle class, I think it was The Perfect Collection, as well as a mini class she did with a "formula" for collecting the supplies and creating a page with 1, 2, and 3 photos. The inspiration worked, and I finished that Hawaii album and love it! The other day, I was playing in my craft room, and the thought occurred to me, that I don't know how long it's been since I've done a page "cold turkey," without a sketch or any other kind of inspiration to get me moving. I wonder, is it now just a habit, that I have to have a starting point handed to me, or a matter of convenience, so I don't waste time trying to re-invent the wheel? I know in the end it doesn't matter either way, but it just made me think about my scrapbooks that I did before pinterest, before I knew what an online scrapbook class was, etc. I'm happy with about 80% of the ones I did in that "era," about the same percentage of the ones I do these days, with something to get me going. Yes, there are some that I absolutely freaking CRINGE while looking at through my hands hiding my face in embarrassment! LOL!! What do yall do? Do you usually have enough ideas on your own without having to have a sketch in front of you to get started on a page? Do you feel like it's cheating to copy a sketch? ( I don't, just throwing another possible viewpoint out there) I wonder what would happen if I took a couple pictures, and a few pieces of paper that I love, and just...started cutting and sticking.....at this moment I feel like I'd end up drawing on one of my old standby layouts for whatever orientation my photos are....and then....get stuck......and cave and look for a sketch that resembles the mess I'm currently making on my desk!  How often do you rely on or use sketches to get you going? I feel so lazy, now that I've realized I've pretty much depended on them for a long time to do anything. I want to break out of this habit, just to see what's in my brain...what things I've picked up and has made it into what is my style. Nothing earth shattering, just curious about your sketch habits and freestyle abilities! |
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Post by caspad on Apr 18, 2017 20:43:07 GMT
I'm totally a sketch lover. I haven't made a page without a sketch in a decade!
I like having a starting point or a recipe to work with. A sketch gives me direction with how many photos to edit and what sizes to print and how much space I need for the story.
Along the way I'll add my own twist by changing up things and adding my style that way.
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Post by Linda on Apr 18, 2017 21:06:47 GMT
I'm a mix - some days, like today, I just pull photos and paper and cardstock and other stuff and pull a page together.
Some days, I pull photos and then start looking for a sketch that works for that number/orientation of photos and use that to jumpstart the page - doesn't always look like the sketch in the end.
Some days, I grab my colourblocking templates or my pages by design templates and use those to start the page - either on their own or with the help of the idea book.
Some days I feel like I've done way too many 3-photo pages in a row and they are all starting to look the same so I grab a sketch to mix stuff up.
I always start with photos though...
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Post by Linda on Apr 18, 2017 21:08:23 GMT
I do find that having used sketches so much over the years, I've incorporated the design principles from the sketches into my own layouts - and my layouts overall are better designed (laid out) even when I'm not using a sketch because of using sketches if that makes sense
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Post by grammadee on Apr 18, 2017 21:26:37 GMT
A mix for me as well. I often just grab the photos and start moving them around on the page. Then start adding in everything else. I like sketches when I am trying for a particular effect, or feeling rusty, or trying to shake up my style. Sometimes I see a sketch or a page that really draws me in, and I feel I just have to try that design. Then I choose the papers and other elements first, and the specific photos later. I agree with linda that using sketches and lifting other people' designs has actually helped my own design process. I used to freeze if I didn't have a sketch, and draw my own if I coulnt find one, but now I am much more comfortable rearranging the elements themselves until I like the look, before gluing everything down. And I've been known to lift up some glued pieces if I get a brain wave after I thought I was finished! |
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Apr 18, 2017 22:30:07 GMT
I find sketches helpful when I have extra space on the page, which seems weird to say, but I stick so many photos on my pages that a sketch isn't necessary.
When it's just one or two photos and lots of empty space, I can always use some help figuring out a nice presentation. I love the sketch challenges!
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Post by marg on Apr 18, 2017 23:44:47 GMT
I don't usually use a sketch, but I do look at pages on YouTube to get inspired first, and then use that as a basis for a starting point.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 7:26:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2017 0:48:19 GMT
I'm about half and half. I start free style but often resort to sketches when I'm not happy with the way they look. I'm mostly a 11x8 size too, and use a lot of 5x7 pics...so they are a no brainer.
Not cheating...not lazy. Is there such a creature as a lazy scrapbooker?
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Post by refugeepea on Apr 19, 2017 0:59:21 GMT
How often do you rely on or use sketches to get you going? I feel so lazy, now that I've realized I've pretty much depended on them for a long time to do anything. I want to break out of this habit, just to see what's in my brain...what things I've picked up and has made it into what is my style. Nothing earth shattering, just curious about your sketch habits and freestyle abilities! I'm like you, but I do not enjoy designing the page. I like to find a sketch or another layout and copy that. I enjoy picking the paper and embellishments, and then putting it all together. I have tried it the other way and it drove me nuts. I do scrapping as more of a crafty thing, not to be creative. I don't consider myself to be a life artist.  |
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,975
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Apr 19, 2017 1:14:49 GMT
I use completed pages that I see online as "sketches", mostly. They never turn out how the completed page is, so it is not like I am copying their work exactly. It is more a live starting point. It saves me a lot of time, but I also design my own sometimes. It kind of depends on what inspired me to make a page in the first place.
No I do not think it is stealing. No one would ever say my page and the other page are twins.
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Post by JaneB on Apr 19, 2017 6:10:29 GMT
I use sketches quite a bit, but often change them to fit my page size - 6 x 8 horizontal, for photo book printing. I pre-make my weekly journal templates, so I don't have too much fussing to do.
For cards I use other designs as well as sketches to create. And similarly, if i see a pattern idea I like I'll make my own version to print and cut.
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Post by anniefb on Apr 19, 2017 6:30:41 GMT
A mix for me. I do use sketches when I'm a bit stuck but often change things around. Plus I scrap mostly 9x12 so if it's a 12x12 sketch there's always some adaptation required.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,479
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Apr 19, 2017 9:52:03 GMT
I mostly just move things around the page until I find a composition I like but I really like sketches for breaking me out of my comfort zone. I find I repeat the same general page designs over and over so sketches are helpful for letting me see other ways to lay out the page.
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Post by mikklynn on Apr 19, 2017 15:27:25 GMT
I usually just create the page on my own, but then I find myself in a rut. That's when I break out the sketches or layouts I've printed for inspiration. I often just recreate the title or embellishment cluster on a my layout.
I get inspiration from a daily email from scrapbook.com.
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loco coco
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,662 
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Post by loco coco on Apr 19, 2017 15:31:14 GMT
I scraplift actual done pages more than I use sketches. I like to see the colors, diff textures, etc used to get ideas. I actually find black and white sketches difficult to use
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Post by LisaDV on Apr 20, 2017 16:22:33 GMT
Freestyle girl for the most part. I just don't think about it for my pages unless I'm doing a challenge or I'm really, really stuck.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Apr 20, 2017 17:48:38 GMT
I finally realized (I think last year, maybe late 2015) that is what was holding me back.
I could never get what was in my head to paper, no matter how vivid the image was.
Now with pinterest. I find something I like I print it off and go from there. I create better. generally never looks the same as what I started with. But it gives me a starting point.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 20, 2017 18:31:06 GMT
How often do you rely on or use sketches to get you going? I feel so lazy, now that I've realized I've pretty much depended on them for a long time to do anything. I want to break out of this habit, just to see what's in my brain...what things I've picked up and has made it into what is my style. Nothing earth shattering, just curious about your sketch habits and freestyle abilities! I'm like you, but I do not enjoy designing the page. I like to find a sketch or another layout and copy that. I enjoy picking the paper and embellishments, and then putting it all together. I have tried it the other way and it drove me nuts. I do scrapping as more of a crafty thing, not to be creative. I don't consider myself to be a life artist. ^^^ I agree with the bolded text above. I like the crafty process associated with the paper, embellishments, and shuffling papers back and forth. I don't enjoy looking at a blank page with a pile of photos. I used to think it was 'cheating' or being lazy, but I finally realized that designing layouts is something I very much dislike, and that's perfectly okay. I also tried to make every page or layout COMPLETELY original because I thought I 'had' to for some reason-- But that preconception was sucking the joy out of the hobby for me-- I'm really glad I got over that unrealistic expectation. My 'creative' side is fed by doing other papercrafting projects, doodling, etc. or art journaling. |
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