Why I scraplift & use sketches...............

My brain is very random today.
Full of all kinds of thoughts.......more specifically.............random thoughts
Ever have one of those days?

So, for a couple of weeks now, my brain keeps going back to why I use sketches & scraplift and I have this urge to explain, though I really don't know why, because it doesn't matter to me what others think, but here goes:

I like to scraplift for a ton of reasons. For me, scraplifting is rarely an exact lift. In fact, I usually take a layout & when all is said & done, you can't tell I used another as a guide at all. In these cases, the scraplift is more of a "sounding" board for my ideas. Regardless, some of my reasons are listed below:

1) I like the color scheme used
2) I need to use the same number of photos on my layout
3) I have those same products & boy do I need to use them. This has been my biggest one of late. I don't think people grasp exactly how much product I truly have. In fact, it's border line obsessive & to think there are starving countries & I don't say this lightly. So, as I see layouts in mags using products that are collecting dust in my scrap room, I want to dig them out, use them & move on.
4) I love the technique or embellies used, which means I really scraplifted the use of embellies, but not necessarily the layout.

Sketches...............these are a whole new animal in themselves. I used to have the hardest time w/them, but I find them liberating. I know lots of people have a hard time w/them, but once you get "used" to using a sketch, it can be very liberating. Take my layout I posted last night, using the Sketch This sketch. If you look at the sketch, it might be hard to see their sketch in my layout, BUT, it was my sounding board. You will be amazed at how easily the ideas start to flow once you have an idea & that is the wonder of sketches. They provide a wealth of ideas, whether it's the photo placement, number of photos, embellie ideas, techniques you don't normally use, etc. If you haven't tried your hand at sketches, check out my links on the right. My favs are Pencil Lines & Sketch This, but there are a TON of them out there & I'm not here to advertise for any one or other. Even ScrapBooks Etc. has some in every issue, as does Valerie Salomon & Basic Grey.

So, now that you know why I scraplift & use sketches, please sleep better tonight. I know these thoughts have caused much tiresome nights. In the meantime, while you are sleeping better, I have a house to clean & maybe some scrapping to do. And for those that wonder.............."how the heck does she find time to scrap?" That answer is simple: I make time for what I want to do & I'm a VERY efficient person:)