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.

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 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 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.

This 6 photo sketch requires very little measuring of your papers.  The circles are 2 sides of a 12 inch circle. The large strips are both 6 inches, with 1/2 inch strips layered on top of them.  From there you really could arrange your photos in whatever way you like.

The first example is just like the sketch.  I used 3 patterns and 4 solids.

The 2nd example is one of those layouts that combines 2 sketches. You can see the influence of this sketch, with the side circles, but there are also the strips from Sketch 22. The pictures on the right side of the page are in a classic arrangement that works for almost any sketch. I used 4 patterns & 3 solids.

Time for another big circle sketch! The circle in this sketch is 12 inches wide, though of course you can make yours smaller or bigger.

For the 1st example, I followed the sketch pretty closely (adding 1 picture, but making the circle and embellishment). I used 4 patterns and 4 solids.

For the 2nd example, I changed things up a little.  My photos didn’t work for the sketch’s layout, so I did my own thing, though the layout of the papers are the same. This example uses 6 photos, 5 patterns, and 1 solid.

This 10 photo sketch uses 2 focal photos. Turning them different ways keeps them from competing with each other much, and adds visual interest.

The template can be downloaded here.

In the first example, I did not use 5×7 photos as shown in the sketch, but matted my regular 4x6s in a 5×7 size. Doing that gives me room to play around with the embellishments, which I love. I used 5 patterns and 2 solids.

The second layout is a re-creation of the first, done digitally for a photo book. I altered the sketch again, this time making the focal photo on the left larger (10 inches long), removing one photo on the left, and changing the size (again) of the right focal photo to allow for more embellishments.  Credit for these beautiful papers and embellishments goes to Kelly Jo.

This post was updated on September 25, 2010.

This 5 photo sketch leaves lots of room for embellishments, or even more photos.

In this example, I used more large words as my embellishments.  There are 4 patterns and 3 solids.

This 8 photo sketch does not require severe cropping of at least half of the pictures.  The larger photo, as in any sketch, can be replaced with a regular size photo that is matted well.

In this example, you can see that I switched the sides of the sketch,
mostly to show time progression of the photos.  I also played around
with the sizes of the photos some, because I wanted to add in more
embellishments and quotes.  I used 4 patterns and 2 solids.

This 5 photo sketch is more about the layout of the papers than it is the photos, because the photos could be arranged in just about any way, using more or less.

In the example, I used 4 (busy!) patterns and 3 solids.  If the colors had not been so limited, the papers would’ve been too busy to use together, but I think it worked in this case.

This 8 photo sketch has my favorite big circle component, but used in a different way.  The large focal picture on the left side is intended to balance the big circle.

In the example you can see that I used 3 photos bumped against each other in place of the 1 large photo, but with the same visual effect.  For this layout, I used 5 patterns and 2 solids.