One of my favorite creative exercises is starting with a scrapbook sketch. A good sketch provides structure while still leaving plenty of room for personal touches and creativity.
For my double-page Christmas layout (below), I was inspired by a sketch created by Stephanie Buice. What immediately caught my attention was the arrangement of the triangles and layered embellishments. The design provided the perfect opportunity to create a festive holiday layout while making good use of papers already in my collection.
Rather than reaching for all new supplies, I combined current products with several favorites from my stash. The triangle design allowed me to incorporate multiple 4″ x 4″ pieces of Designer Series Paper, making this a great layout for using smaller paper pieces that often accumulate over time.
I also enjoyed mixing old and new products throughout the design. The Dreamy Snowflake Dies and the Scalloped Christmas Cheer Stamp Set added fresh seasonal details, while retired DSP, buttons, ribbon, and a few older dies brought additional texture and personality to the pages.
While this layout is a little busier than my usual scrapbook style, I think the festive patterns, layered embellishments, and holiday colors work perfectly together. Sometimes Christmas memories deserve a little extra sparkle, layering, and fun!
One of the things I love most about scrapbook sketches is that they act as a creative roadmap. You don’t have to copy every detail. Instead, you can use the sketch as a starting point and adapt it to fit your photos, supplies, and personal style.
If you have a collection of patterned paper you’ve been saving, consider pulling out a favorite sketch and seeing where it takes you. You may be surprised at how quickly a layout comes together.
Supplies Used
- Dreamy Snowflake Dies (168384)
- Scalloped Christmas Cheer Stamp Set (168538)
- A Stitch Season DSP (168223)
- Retired Seasonal DSP
- Spotlight on Nature Dies
- Basic Borders Dies
- Basic White 12″ x 12″ Cardstock (166782)
- Real Red Cardstock (102482)
- White Glitter Paper (stash)
- Assorted Dies (stash)
- Buttons (stash collection)
- Ribbon (stash collection)
Creative Tip: Don’t overlook those older embellishments. The buttons on this layout add texture, color, and charm while helping reduce stash clutter at the same time!
