Hello everyone and Happy 4^th of July!  I do hope you are enjoying your long holiday weekend.  Today I’m back to share the 7th sketch in the

Here it is:
 

This design was inspired by an advertisement that I saw in a magazine.  I admit that I don't remember which ad, or which magazine!  I just remember liking the simplicity of the shapes and their arrangement and I thought it would make an excellent sketch for a layout.  I used this week's sketch to make this layout documenting our family's love of pickles:
 

I make these refrigerator pickles every summer and everyone in our family loves them.  They are really simple and easy to make; visit my blog if you'd like the recipe.

Joining me this week in our sketch challenge is Ella Friend, Valerie Mangan.  If you are familiar with Valerie's work, then you know that in addition to creating beautiful layouts Valerie is also an extremely talented card maker.  To mix things up a bit, I asked her to use this week's sketch to make a card:
 

and here is a closer look:
 

 Isn't it beautiful?  Valerie said, "In addition to being a very useful tool for layout making, page sketches are great for making cards too! Donna’s sketches are no exception. In fact her clean, linear designs are a particularly handy jumping off point for cardmaking. In scrapbooking and cardmaking I’m a huge fan of the grid so this sketch was especially fun to work with. I tried a few literal interpretations but thought for the smaller scale of a card, breaking the grid with some circles might be more interesting. While the 2 circular elements are completely different, the 2 patterned paper squares are the same and in monotone pattern to reinforce the grid and anchor the main design element. I put my sentiment in the same place as the title."

 
Are you ready to hear about the prizes this month?
 
The winner of this month's challenge will win a copy of my eBook, Stretch Your Sketches
 

and this vintage inspired prize package
 

 
It includes patterned papers from Making Memories as well as embellishments from American Crafts, Kaisercraft, Prima and Cosmo Cricket; plus there are glassine envelopes, shipping tags, safety pins and twine.  Notice too, the Addy Sentiments Stamps from Studio Calico, these are the same stamps that Valerie used on her card. 

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.  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 July 31, 2011, 11:59 pm PST.  The winner of each month will be chosen at random and will be announced here on The Daily Trumpet.  Prizes will only be shipped to U.S.addresses.  In the event that an international participant wins, she'll receive an Ella gift certificate, and a new winner will be drawn for the physical prize.

Remember, there will be two sketches posted each month.  If you create two layouts, one from each sketch, you will have two entries which will double your chances of winning!
 
I hope you all will participate with me and make a layout based on this sketch.  If you are playing along here is a button for you to post on your blog.
 

***Winner of June's Stretch Your Sketch Challenge is Ella reader di_turner!***
Please email me at donnajannuzzi(at)gmail(dot)com to receive your prize.