Posted on October 9, 2025October 23, 2025 by Meggan Jacks — Leave a comment

Scrapbook Live: Sketch Warm-Up for the October 2025 Virtual Crop

Creative Memories October 2025 Virtual Crop

This week during Scrapbook Live, we’re revisiting a favorite layout idea from the Creative Memories June 2020 Virtual Crop. This single-page sketch is the perfect “warm-up” project to get our creative muscles moving before the October 2025 Virtual Crop, which kicks off Friday, October 10th at 3pm PT.

Grab your favorite collection, a few coordinating papers, and get ready to stretch your creativity—I’ll even show you how to turn this single-page design into a two-page layout with a simple twist!

From Single Page to Double: The Mirror & Rotate Trick

If you’ve ever wished a one-page sketch could magically become a two-page spread, you’ll love this approach! After creating the first page, we’ll take the sketch and mirror it from left to right, then rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise.

This easy adjustment keeps the flow of the design while creating a cohesive look across both pages. It’s a great technique to use when you want your pages to feel connected but not identical—perfect for showcasing multiple photos from the same event or theme.

My “Rules” for Using Sketches

I like to think of sketches as creative springboards rather than strict blueprints. Here are my personal guidelines whenever I use one:

Start with inspiration, not obligation.
A sketch gives you structure, but you don’t have to follow it exactly. Adapt it to fit your story, photos, or favorite tools.
Use what you love—skip what you don’t.
If part of the sketch doesn’t speak to you, leave it out! A sketch should simplify the creative process, not complicate it.
Let your photos lead the way.
If you’re working with specific photos, use them to guide your layout choices. Adjust tool, paper and embellishments choices so your images are the star of the page.
No photos yet? Let your papers and tools inspire you.
When I don’t have photos in hand, I build around my favorite punches or papers—but I always keep photo placement in mind so everything will fit beautifully once the pictures are ready.

Join the Fun + Download the Handout

I’ll be walking through this sketch step-by-step during Scrapbook Live, and you can follow along using the free downloadable handout linked below. The handout includes the original June 2020 sketch, page measurements, and notes on how to mirror and rotate the design to create the two-page version.