TNS - Sketch Challenge, April

[Meg]

I'm so excited to see so many 2 pagers in the gallery these days! I think they are such a great way of really capturing a memory and using all those zillions of photos we digital camera users are apt to click!

This month's sketch challenge comes with a personal challenge! I didn't like any of the sketch's I was coming up with, so we're going to be using one from Creating Keepsakes' Becky Higgins. And you know what that means? It means I'm personally challenging all of you to send your pages in to be considered for publication!!!

The due date is in May, so you have all month to do this and still have plenty of time left over to submit. By doing the challenges in this forum, you're telling me you can be considered an advanced scrapper, so use those fabulous skills of yours and get published!!

Here's the sketch and the publication instructions:
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8788/2pgsketchaprilmegxx1.jpg

These sketches are for the December 2007 issue. You aren’t required to use seasonal pictures, but they are a plus.

December 2007: The enlargement on the left page is balanced with several smaller pictures on the right page of this layout. Notice how the enlargement is part of one, large block that also includes the title and journaling for the layout. The 3 strips going from the left to right page are just to help visually tie everything together. Due May 14, 2007.

When your layout is complete, e-mail an electronic version to editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com. Be sure to include "Becky's Sketch" in your subject line. Note: Attached files MUST be less than 300K. Include a supplies list for the layout as well.

Have fun with it, and good luck to you all!

[cherebus]

great way to get us motivated

[Meg]

All right, the challenge is on!!

I've done one to get you started, AND I've already submitted it! Let's go, DSPers!

Boredom & Beauty (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=177545&cat=500&ppuser=6894)

[PurdueLiz]

Oooh great challenge Meg. And I love Becky's sketches. Thinking of photos...

[Donut]

Oooh I love that sketch Meg!! I really enjoyed using last months and have been hanging onto a set of photos for this....I can't wait to get started!!

[Corgi Lover]

Well I have never done this so here is my first attempt! I hope I am doing it right! I would love to know your thoughts :)

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=177863&cat=4046

[shazzt]

Great idea Meg - I have always loved her sketches :)

[Donut]

Meg I have a question.
When using that sketch, if it is going to be submitted, do the measurements have to be the same as shown in the sketch, ie 6x8 photo on the one side and 3x3's on the other or is it still ok to use poetic licence so to speak and just use it as inspiration and a guide??
I am working on mine now and that was just wondering about that!

[Meg]

Great question, Pam! Personally, I think those sizes are a guide line. I know when I look at the LOs picked for publication each month, there are usually several that are quite different, with different sizes, extra elements, etc. In the page I did as example, I kept the sizes pretty close, but I turned the left page to fit my horizontal photo.

That said, I think it's important that the sketch inspiration be obvious. Someone should be able to look at your layout and see it's "bones". Normally, I would say let your inspiration run away with you, but when submitting for something this specific, honor the inspiration of the original artist (Becky Higgins) by staying true to her design.

So, did I double talk enough for you, LOL!? Do your photos have to be exactly 3x3? No. Should there be six photos/elements on the right page that are all approximately the same size? Yeah, I think so.

Hope this helped a little!

[Donut]

Thanks Meg! Thats what I was hoping you would say!! :)

[willjenni]

Thanks for the info...I now know why I'm hanging onto all of those sledding pictures that seem outdated already! Can't wait to work on this!

[sammdc]

wow I am on holidays for 2 weeks so will give it a go

[photoqueenphoto]

What a great sketch - I can hardly wait to give this a try. Fran

[Many Feathers]

Thank you Meg for another great 2 page sketch...and instructions on how to submit it for a contest! Wowza!

Here's the beginning of mine, which I would love comments on before I submit... :-)

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=178872&nocache=1

MF

[photoqueenphoto]

Here is mine - thought I would try and get some cc's before I submitted it. Thanks for looking! Fran
PAGE 1
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=178885&cat=1348
pAGE 2
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=178886&cat=500&ppuser=51256
PAGES 1 & 2
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=178888&cat=500&ppuser=51256

[cherebus]

I actually got around to scrapping my son's birthday with in a few months of it happening instead of a year later like usual. This was good motivation.

Birthday Number 3 (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=178974&cat=500&ppuser=3440)

[shazzt]

Here is my one - thanks Meg I needed a push to scrap all these photos from our visit to the Easter Show:
Ester Show 2007 (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179490&cat=4046)

[*Amanda*]

I've never done a challenge here before, but here is mine. I am going to submit it later today. I would love some feedback!

Page 1: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179586&cat=500&ppuser=71697

Page 2: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179587&cat=500&ppuser=71697

[pspcandee]

Well this only took me 6 hours, and I'm still not sure I'm happy with it so ALL cc's are very welcome please???? Here's pg1 (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179724&cat=4046) and pg2 (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179725&cat=4046)

[KY Bumpkin]

Here's mine!

Tube Fun (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179730&cat=500&ppuser=15642)

[ChristineG]

Here is mine.

Easter Joy (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=180054&nocache=1)

Meg, I have a question about submitting, can you submit more than one? I would like to do another one, with Christmas pictures, since this call is for Dec publication, should I submit both or just the seasonal one? Thanks!

[Meg]

Go for it!! Submit lots!

Actually, for most magazine calls, they request that you send no more than five. But definitely two is fine, go for it!

[willjenni]

Here is my two page layout! I've never done anything like this before so I'm going to wait to send it for a couple of days in case anyone has some input...but I promise to send it! Is it better to break it up into two pages or is it alright to send it like this? Thanks ahead of time everyone! Jenni :-)
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=180151&cat=500&ppuser=32857

[pspcandee]

:cool: Ok, I'm sent....

[ScrapMel]

I loved this sketch - and I kNEW I had to use these Easter pics (so can't really send them for this call!) - but this sketch fit these pictures so very well, had to use it for them
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=180993&nocache=1

Meg, I just want to say thank you so much for this forum - I am really getting into using sketches now, and so I like being able to come to this thread and see which one you have posted - and the ad challenge is just WONDERFUL!

[willjenni]

Eeek! I just sent it in! Why does this make me nervous?? Thanks for the comments on the layout guys. It motivated me to send it in. I just love this stuff!
Jenni :-)

[Meg]

Melanie! I'm so glad you're enjoying the Next Step challenges!! I'm working up some new ones, so hopefully we can have a fun, exciting (and busy) summer!

And those of you that have already submitted your pages...:clap: WAHOOOO!!!! Good for you!! I found that once I started submitting, I became a lot more critical of my own pages (in a good way) and really started stretching toward the next level.

KEEP GOING!!!!!

[mariafer]

My first time to join your Next Step challenges an this was definitely fun and I am seriously thinking of submitting it :)! LOL! I really like her sketches and usually use them but don't ever send them in so we will see if I do...

Anyway here it is... http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=181359&nocache=1

[willjenni]

Thanks for thinking of more! I absolutely loved doing this! In fact I went to the CK website and found another one to do and enter....really fun and I like the sketch idea. Thanks for bringing us into this! Jenni :-)

[Heidi_G]

Ok so I am looking for some CC before I submit. I like this second layout much better than my first, even though its not very Wintery.

My second layout:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=181531&cat=500&ppuser=46890

My first layout:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=180009&cat=500&ppuser=46890

TFL

[kiwi2us]

I'm working on a two page spread for this challenge but i have a problem. I dont have enough RAM to deal with keeping both pages open at once. How do I get the strips across both pages to line up perfectly? I've used the guides for the two that are straight across but i have one that needs to go on an angle

[Whisper Pink]

Well here is my take on the sketch for April...not sure about submitting it, not sure I like the top right corner of page one very well. I will still probably write to Ray to get permission to use him as my model just in case I tweek it some...any CC would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Ray Bethell~Kite Champanion (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=181668&cat=500&ppuser=29653)

[Whisper Pink]

Kiwi...I did them as one LO on a 12x24 so that I could line up everything easier. I will separate them when I go to print them. Not sure if that helps...

[dagwood]

Ok so I am looking for some CC before I submit...I must admit that I am shaking in my boots....never done anything that needs to be submitted before but what have I got to lose...http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=181700&nocache=1

I did mine on 24 x 12 page but found when I uploaded that I lost a lot of pixels so had to resize to 12 x 6....

[kiwi2us]

Here is my take on the sketch. Not sure whether I should submit this for publication, but I sure had fun interpreting the sketch.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=182003&cat=all&limit=last1

[LoraSpeiser]

Hi Everyone :)

This is only my 5th digital layout ever, so please be gentle :) It is also my first double page one. I made all elements myself, and I used 1 Obsidian Dawn heart brush on my ribbon.

I am new to Digital Scrapbooking....but I am not new to PhotoShop :) Here is the link to my layout...
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=182979&cat=500&ppuser=91608
:love1:

[chris.orrell]

I'm working on a two page spread for this challenge but i have a problem. I dont have enough RAM to deal with keeping both pages open at once. How do I get the strips across both pages to line up perfectly? I've used the guides for the two that are straight across but i have one that needs to go on an angle

Hi, I do my 2 page layouts as one(16x8) document and then when I am finished I cut it in half,( by opening a new 8x8 and dragging it over and saving and then moving it over and resave the other side), hope this helps.

[Meg]

You all are amazing!! Great work, all of you!

There will be a new sketch up in a couple of days, but I wanted to remind you that you can submit to CK until May 14th, so keep going! If even one of us gets published out of this challenge, it will be a huge success for all of us!

[Many Feathers]

Thanks Meg, for the reminder. I will finish mine up and submit it... gotta just do it! :-)

[Donut]

I was about to submit mine, and came here to check I had the info right and found that I seem to have forgotten to link my layout in this thread!
Here they are -
page 1 - http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179279&cat=500&ppuser=14007
page 2- http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=179278&cat=500&ppuser=14007

[ScrapMel]

Okay, I followed Meg's suggestion and submitted mine ....

[willjenni]

Good deal! It's darling layout! WTG!! :-)

[ScrapMel]

But now I am nervous! I am always afraid I haven't read the proper procedure for submitting - and even if I did, what good would it do? You know that vicious cycle of never thinking you are good enough! lol!

[willjenni]

I understand...I was a wreck until I submitted it and then I had this feeling of relief! Finally decided it DEFINITELY wasn't getting published while sitting on my hard drive so what's to loose....OH! For all of you interested in getting published! I have a FUNNY story!! My mom works at an Archiver's store and one of her customers had a layout make the COVER of a Creating Keepsakes special edition magazine...she is on cloud nine, but here is the funny part....they never contacted her to tell her that it was even going to be in the magazine. She found out when she received an e-mail from CK telling her that her subscription had expired and there was a picture of the new book with her layout in the e-mail. Wouldn't you just about have a heart attack!!?? Gave us all a great laugh and story to share!

[Marriedin79]

Here are my two pages:

Left (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=184242&cat=500&ppuser=17857)
Right (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=184243&cat=500&ppuser=17857)

Any and all CC is welcome and will be seriously considered.

[willjenni]

I have to make a correction in that story about the gal and her cover layout being published...it was Scrapbook Trends...not CK. Have to make sure I get my magazine right!! :-)

[chris.orrell]

hi here is my effort, hope it's not too late. i haven't submitted it to CK as it looks a bit lame compared to the others that have been posted.:o
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=184411&cat=500&ppuser=21593