Quick Sketch Challenge - Using Arrows on Scrapbook Pages

Using arrows and brackets on scrapbook pages is a fantastic way to draw the eye to exactly where you want the attention focused on your layout. On Jennifer's page below, she uses lots of arrows in different sizes and patterns to point to the focal point photo of page 2. You can save this set of patterns to your computer by clicking on it to bring up the full size image. Then, right click on the full size image and select "save as" to save it to a folder on your computer. Print it out on cardstock and cut out the arrows so that you can trace them on different patterns of paper. You can also resize the pattern in Word and print different sizes of arrows for your scrapbook page layout. Also visit Free Patterns for Scrapbook Pages.

Scrapbook page sketches are simple drawings of a scrapbook page idea that give you a basic plan while letting you fill in the colors, patterns, and photos to fit your theme. This sketch of a double scrapbook page layout, has room for 4 pictures and lots of room for embellishments and journaling. You could use a variety of embellishments for both the stripe across the bottom and also the circles shown on the sketch. Ribbon, patterned paper, or a punched cardstock trim would be great across the bottom of the layout. Buttons, jumbo brads, shrinky dink buttons, flowers, etc. can be used where the circles are shown on the sketch. You can find many, many more free sketches here on About.com Scrapbooking.

Jennifer's page uses blues in cardstock, patterned paper, and buttons to accent the swimming theme of the scrapbook layout.

Scrapbook Page Supplies Used: Patterned Paper - Basic Grey Hopscotch Line, and Hopscotch Element Stickers; EK Success Large Edger Punch, Making Memories Sweets - Funky Vintage; Cardstock -The Paper Studio, and Brother P-Touch Label Maker for the journaling.

In the close up of the first page of the double page spread, you can see that Jennifer used a Paper Edger Punch from EK Success to created a scalloped, decorative edge along the bottom of the patterned paper strip that runs across both pages. She then accented that strip of paper with a series of three buttons to give the page dimension. When she added her photos, she cut one of them so that it connects page 1 to page 2 of the layout. Notice how she chose a photo that would work well for this because it did not have important features right at the cut line. Journaling was added to the layout using a label maker. The arrows begin on this page and continue on to the next page of the layout.

To complete the scrapbook page, Jennifer added the rest of her photos, strips of journaling, and the last couple of arrows. One more button on page 2 ties together the embellishment theme from page 1.

Now that you see how Jennifer has used this sketch, give it a try on your next scrapbook page layout!