Hi Everyone!  I’m back today with this month’s second sketch in our new challenge series.
 

In case you missed out on the first sketch you can see it and read more about the series here.  Let me remind you of the prizes for this month.

This month's prize is a free copy of my eBook, Stretch Your Sketches 
 

plus a $10 Gift Certificate to Ella's eBook shop
 

Alright, let’s get to this week’s sketch.  It features two 4 x 4 photos with the title setting on top of the photographs and with the journaling just below.
 

 For the 8.5 x 11 version I took the two 4 x 4 photos and replaced them with one 4 x 6 photo. 
 

From the original 12 x 12 version of the sketch I made this layout.
 

I didn’t edit my photos before printing, I just trimmed two 4 x 6s to fit the sketch.  And in fact, it worked well for these photos because my son and I were facing the ocean with the beach’s parking lot to our backs – not very picturesque.  Trimming the photos actually got rid of a lot of the visual noise of the original images.  Design-wise, I could have chosen to scrapbook just one of these photos, but I wanted to scrapbook both, one with my son’s somewhat grumpy face and one with him smiling and so this sketch worked out perfectly in that sense too.

Fellow Ella Friend Monika Wright created this layout using the 8.5 x 11 version of the sketch
 

Here is what she had to say about her layout and the sketch that inspired it, “Even though my journaling takes a more prominent place in the layout than the original, I followed the sketch pretty literally. I had forgotten that I had the "W" letter sticker and it fits so perfectly as a title for my page. I scored and folded my cardstock, then punched it, placing it on my page. Using my paper piercer made sewing the border with the embroidery floss through the kraft go so much easier.
 
I adore a sketch that allows me to interpret it to best fit my story and my photo. I could have added more embellishments, I could have not added a thing other than the title and the journaling... either way would have been just right. This sketch will definitely be in my arsenal of "go to" designs as I think it is a versatile concept.” 

Here is one more version of the sketch
 

Feel free to use any version of the sketch, or adapt the sketch to fit your needs.  There is no wrong or right, sketches are meant to aid the creative process.  Use the sketches as a starting off point and then let your photos, products or story guide the rest of your design choices.

Want to join in the fun?  Here's how to play:  First, create your layout based on the sketch.  Next, post it to your blog or any online album and be sure to mention where you got the sketch in your post or caption.  Third, come back to this post and share the link to your layout.  All entries must be posted by April 30, 2011, 11:59 pm PST.  The winner of each month will be chosen at random and will be announced here on The Daily Trumpet.

This is the second sketch posted for the month of April.  Remember, there will be two sketches posted every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from now through September.  Stop by to see a brand new sketch and layouts created by me and the Ella Friends using the sketches.  Along the way I'll share my favorite tips and tricks for getting the most from your sketches.

I hope you all have fun with this week’s sketch.  I can't wait to see what you do with it!

***Winner of seat in photo finish class from Friday giveaway is Ella reader sdebevec***