This 6 photo sketch uses almost full-size 4×6 photos, and 1 5×7, placed in blocks to make a big visual impact on each page. The matting on the photos on the left side is part of the design, but not required.  And, as always, remember that if you don’t have a 5×7, you can use a 4×6 and mat it more than once to get the same effect.

This layout really uses the patterned paper as a design element, eliminating the need for many other embellishments. I used 6 patterned papers and 1 cardstock, but since the patterned paper was all double-sided, I didn’t have to buy as many pieces as I otherwise would’ve.

This 4 photo sketch is fairly simple, as far as how much layering there is of the background papers, and the layout. But the unexpected shape of the large flower, echoed across the layout by a smaller flower, really does alot for the layout.  To make the flower, you can use a template, or freehand it, or print a shape from your computer, trace and cut.

For this layout, I used a template for the large flower, then cut the smaller flower out of the patterned paper (the only place that pattern is seen on this layout). Not counting that small flower, this layout uses 3 patterns and 2 solids.

Here’s another 10 photo sketch.  Ten is the 2nd most popular number of photos for my sketches!  (Eight is tops, so far)

This layout is 8 photos, because I combined the strip on the left and used part of a brochure in that place, and on the right I shortened the top right photo and added a small one under it. The photo on the bottom right is a postcard, which allowed me to include a perspective I otherwise couldn’t. Don’t be afraid to use postcards and brochures on your layout (the title on this one is also from a brochure)! There are 4 patterns and 2 solids used here.

This 12 photo sketch came from one of my fastest layouts ever. I hope it works just as fast for you!

This layout is only 10 photos, since I used one of the circles for journaling. You’ll also notice that the other small circle is not a photo, but a patch I bought at the aquarium.  I didn’t measure it at the time, but thought it was about 3 inches.  Since I use that size so much, I must have an eye for it, because that is exactly what the patch size was!  There are 3 patterns and 3 solids used here.

This 10 photo sketch is all about blocking. The paper is blocked on the background, and the photos are blocked on top of that. The blocked strip at the bottom helps the eye move across the layout, while the half circle behind it helps anchor the strip.

The simplicity of the sketch was perfect for keeping the focus on these photos.  One difference you may notice is that I used 2 quarter circles instead of one half circle.  I goofed and didn’t make my original circle large enough, so I cut it up and turned the pieces around to get this look. You’d never know, if you hadn’t seen the original sketch and if I hadn’t told you, though! There are 4 patterns and 3 solids used here.

You ask, I try to answer! I had a request for a sketch that used an 8×10 photo on one side, with several others on the 2nd side.  This 8 photo sketch is the answer to that request.  The weight of the large circle on the right helps balance the size of the photo on the left.

In this layout, I used a 5×7 photo, plus a large-scale embellishment, instead of the 8×10.  Using a busier pattern behind it helped take up some of the visual space that was left by using a smaller photo.  I used 3 patterns and 2 solids.

This 11 photo sketch was inspired by scraps!  Yep, scraps. I was given some scraps by my friend Christine, and decided they were enough for a layout, just as they are.  All I had to do was figure out the arrangement… and here you are!  The half circle on the right side of the layout is actually cut out of the larger piece of paper, but you don’t have to do it like that if you don’t want to.

The layout is different from the sketch in that I only used 8 photos. Using fewer photos allowed me to have a larger title, to include the cute crab embellishment (I couldn’t resist, even though I haven’t used a die cut in years!) and to include more journaling (part of the Sea Lion brochure). I used 3 patterns and 3 solids.

This 9 photo sketch is another with my favorite things… circles!  I really try not to use them all the time, but am always looking for new ways to do sneak them in. The 4 photo block on the left balances the large background circle on the right.  Either side could hold it’s own as a single page layout, if you’re into that sort of thing.

In the layout I only used 7 photos, replacing one with a journaling block and another with a favorite of mine… a flower embellishment.  There are 4 patterns and 3 solids in this layout.  (And since so many have asked… the pictures were taken at sunset on Asilomar Beach in northern California, with a Canon DRebel.)

This 10 photo sketch has 2 focal photos. The left focus is enhanced by heavy matting, while the right is a larger format photo. The background is mostly just that… background that is there to anchor the photo arrangement. That doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, though!

This layout only used 7 photos.  In the 8th photo space (the 5×7), I used part of a program from the ceremony we attended. It is often daunting to include the program and multiple photos, which is one reason I wanted to show that it can be done and still look good. I replaced the 9th photo with a date/time journaling block. This layout uses 3 patterns and 1 solid.

This 9 photo sketch includes 4 uncropped photos, 4 smaller squares, and my favorite 3 inch circle. The circle is mirrored on the right by another hidden partially behind the journaling block (which could be another photo, if needed).

On this layout, I used only 6 photos, 2 of which I matted side-by-side to take up one space in the sketch. I used embellishments in the places of 2 more photos, and omitted the photos above the title altogether, because of the size of my title.  I used 4 patterns and 2 solids.

This 11 photo sketch uses my favorite 3 inch circles, but you could easily make them squares, if you prefer.  It also makes use of barely cropped or not-cropped-at-all photos for the most part.  And don’t forget that if you don’t want to use a 5×7, you can put a heavily matted 4×6 in that space.

The sketch was inspired by this layout by Robin S.  She used 3 patterns and 2 solids.

This 17 photo sketch shows that it is possible to make use of several patterned papers and embellishments, and yet still get lots of photos on a layout.  The key when you are taking the photographs is to not zoom in on your subject in every picture.  Make your zoomed shots count!

The sketch was created from Robin S’s layout here. She used 4 patterns and 3 solids, plus lots of fun embellishments!  And can I just say that I love that she used a paper line that has alot of pink in it for a fishing layout that is male-dominated?

This 9 photo sketch is a first for me.  It is the first time I’ve
created a sketch without having already created the layout.

Here is the layout I ended up creating from the sketch idea.  As you can see, the only thing that really looks like the sketch is the background papers.  That’s what happens when I create a layout from a sketch instead of vice versa… the sketch ends up being inspiration for a layout that may barely resemble the sketch itself!

This 9 photo  sketch is another that is based on a layout by Robin S.  I was attracted to it, of course, by the big circles!

The first example is Robin’s original layout. She used 5 patterns and 4 solids. You may recognize the photos and papers from Sketch 23, as this was another set of photos we worked on together.

The second example is my take on the sketch. I still used 9 photos, but the arrangement is completely different. Also, I flip-flopped the layout of the papers, to make them work better with my photos. I used 5 patterns & 2 solids.

This 8 photo sketch features a classic layout element on the right page. I call it “The Spiral”, and have used it on many layouts. “The Spiral” almost always consists of 2 verticals and 2 horizontals, arranged as above, usually with some kind of embellishment (or another photo) in the middle.

The example uses 4 patterns and 2 solids.  The focal picture isn’t a 5×7, so that there is room for journaling.