Sketch Day!

Oh how I love playing with sketches!  Sometimes I stick very close to the sketch and other times it becomes a jumping off point (and then doesn't resemble the sketch at all), but both begin with the inspiration that a sketch gives.

First up today is a sketch from Shawn at NUTS ABOUT SKETCHES.  If you haven't checked out this site that has TONS of sketch inspiration, then you've been missing out.  But no worries, just head on over and pick a couple favorites to try.

Let me help you start.  This is the sketch this week:

And here is my layout that I created with this sketch as my inspiration:

Can you see the sketch?  I turned it 90 degrees to the right.  Why?  Because I had horizontal photos to work with, not vertical.  Simple!

Another sketch related project I have been working on is Project 12.  I think originally this was designed for you to complete one double page layout of each month...meaning photos from that month.  I'm not quite using it that way.  I rarely have the right photos at the right time.  But in the end, I have 12 double page layouts of things I love and they are lovely and COMPLETED! :)  So I win, no matter what!

This is February's sketch:

And this is what I did with it:

These photos are so precious to me!  Last fall our 18 year old beagle "Bo" was just enjoying the sun and spending a lazy day around the porch.   Dave had the other dogs away on a hunting trip and Bo was lavished with all the attention just for him.

Bo is Reuben's dog and he's a great rabbit hunter, but he is now retired.  Our sweet Bo had many of the problems accompanying old age.  A bit of arthritis made him a little slower.  He became blind in one eye.  His hearing was not what it used to be.  But what a sweet dog.

I looked out the window and saw Reuben playing with Bo.  Hanging out in the grass just loving being together.  So I ran and grabbed the camera.  Of course Bo got all the special treats that day too and it was fun to see he still had a little spunk and a whole lot of wiggle in his hind end when he knew what was coming. :)

Sadly our sweet Bo passed away this past winter.  For the last couple of years, we knew that at any given time this may happen, but it is so hard to look out at his little home and know that he is not there.

I have never been so happy to have seized the moment and taken a few random, everyday type of photos.  Don't be sad, but rejoice with us that we had an extra long 18 years of life with him.