Welcome to the My Sketch World Blog Hop

Calling all layout sketch lovers! We’ve asked our designers to choose their favourite layout sketch and challenge their partner to show you ways to create fabulous layouts, each with their very own a twist!  Our international designers on this hop are:

My Sketch World 

Ann Jobes

Bev Code

Christa Uttley (you are here)

Cindy Noesen (go here next)

Deb Long

Ginni Gass

Joan Borgelt

Malin Rimby

The MSW details:

1. Visit each blog and leave a comment. Read carefully, there may be individual requirements as some designers are offering little prizes of their own!

2. After you have visited each Designer's blog come back to My Sketch World blog and let us know what you thought. Part One of the hop ends Monday, December 5th, 11:59 EST.

3. Everyone who posts a comment on each blog will be entered to win! Winners will be randomly chosen.

4. To receive an additional entry, scraplift a layout and link it back to the My Sketch World blog (in your comment) and tell us what inspired you!

5. Have fun! Be inspired! Part Two of this hop begins December 10,2011.

My challenge partner Joan gave me this gorgeous sketch:

Joan challenged me to distress and distress and distress; as we all like to do. I DO like to distress and I must admit that I have made two attempts at this challenge. I used the same photo but with two sets of paper. My first attempt I chose Fancy Pants St. Nick paper and a photo of my son and my Mom. The St. Nick paper is gorgeous and really lent itself to the distressing but I must admit I couldn't get the layout to come together. I actually deliberated for THREE WEEKS after I got the paper down!

In fact, it was THURSDAY this week and I still didn't have my post ready!   I decided to start from scratch. So I threw out the Fancy Pants! The design you see below does not include much distressing except some inking of edges. I have failed miserably in Joan's challenge to me but this attempt came together in in under an hour and I really am happy with it.  I hope you'll be inspired to distress and try this sketch.

Here's the final design:

I had some beautiful Bella Blvd. Christmas Wishes paper and added some doodle bug twine in a pattern around the outside of the large circle.

I also used my Silhouette to cut a funky Christmas tree and heart. I added some Liquid Applique to the branches and heat it with the heat tool so it looked like snow.



Here is the completed little Christmas tree.

I also chose two kinds of red glittery letters (Thickers and MMBI) as well as these awesome little letters from Lily Bee in black for my title. I really like how they flow together with the different fonts.



I hope you let this design and the process inspire you. Remember: if something isn't working, don't be afraid to start again til you get it right!

A Prize you say?

In addition to the prize offered at My Sketch World, of a $10 to A Walk Down Memory Lane, I am offering this gorgeous prize pack from Authentique to inspire you! If you would like to win, just leave me a comment and if you become a follower and let me know you did, I will give you another entry! If you are already a follower (Thanks So Very MUCH!) let me know that too! I will choose a random entry from all comments left here and announce it on my blog Tuesday, December 6th. Be sure to leave me an email address or blog address so I can contact and thank the winner!

Go and see my friend Cindy next!

Keep doing what you love!

Christa