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Get the mini paper pads with coordinating colors and patterns, all the work is done for you. Or, if you must get 12 x 12 papers, just choose from the same collection. All papers have the manufacturer's name and the line of papers printed along the bottom or back. HTH.
In addition to looking at patterns in the same line (as suggested by KatarinaM) I look for patterns with the same dominant/background color. I might mix a floral design with a striped or dotted design (or use the striped and dotted designs together). Scale is important too. I usually break the two patterns with either solid cardstock or ribbon.
I've found that playing with different combinations can be fun and result in lovely mix-and-match cards. Maybe you can try this with your scraps and see if you get anything you like. If so, then figure out why you like it and you'll have another clue for choosing coordinating patterns.
I tend to stick with papers in the same color "family" or choose colors that are directly opposite. The old color wheel idea. I.E. several shades of purple that I like (color family) or black and white, red and black (direct opposites).
For prints, I agree - play around with scraps or lay the papers at a store one of top of the other and see what pleases your eye. If you like it - mix it!
If I use 2 or more different patterned papers, I, too separate them with solid color cardstock, ribbon, etc. I also like to use one patterned piece of paper and slid it in between a couple solid colors that I pull from the pattern.
Hope that helps.
I personally don't do matchy match so I have this challenge a lot. What I do is select a colour in the paper that I have set my mind to using, then I find paper that has that colour (or as close a match as possible) and then I will use that colour as my layering colour as well.
So if I have a paper that has light blue in it, I find other designs with the same light blue, and then mount my paper onto plain cardstock of the light blue showing on the edges.
Also a trick if it's not that close a match...make a bigger mount for the second paper to be on, so instead of 1/8 or 1/4 edge around the paper go for 1, or even 1 1/4 of plain cardstock around the edge, it helps the eye not to focus on it not being exactly the same colour.....well it works for me! lol
Some time back there was a challenge which was to combine papers, and there was a brilliant link to a tutorial. I thought it was Julia S but I can't find it on her blog.
I'll do some searching when I'm on the phone to my dad later, and post if I find it.
by clicking on the "Mixing Patterns" link LaLatty posted I got to the tutorial on Ellen Hudson; so I thought I'd just post the direct link here. In Touch: Mixing Patterns by Julia Stainton
Might not be the one Cook22 is looking for but it's a good read....
I found this article (Mixing Patterns by Julia Stainton posted on Ellen Hutson's blog January 15, 2010) by following a link in the second thread Patty (laLatty posted)> perhaps it's what Sabrina is hoping to find?!?
That is the one I'm looking for - I remember the Sugar Rush. I think maybe with the forum formatting being on-and-off AWOL I didn't see the link when it was all pale and not bold.
Thank you for saving my sanity .
I've always been taught to use one small print, one medium size and one large. or in fabric design, one small floral , one stripe, and one large floral or all over plaid design. Most times I stay to the same color pallette but have used a range of colors that compliment each other using same theory of design
Last edited by TeresaLynn; 03-28-2012 at 03:10 AM..
Reason: splg
If you go to the blog Mish Mash blogspot she puts lots of patterns together. I look at some of her combinations and think wow they seem like they don't go together but she has a way of mixing her patterns and they look great. She has a eye for doing this.
the 'rules' i go by are use one paper with a large pattern, one with a small pattern and a paper thyat you could calla solid. i also tend to use just one floral or fussy design and one geometic so stripes, spots etc.
i also use papers from the same collection/pad together so i know the colours will match/co-ordinate.
I don't have any coordinating packs, but if I were just starting out, I would go that way. If the OP is like me and has purchased from here and there (mostly at the buy one get on free bins), when I need to combine different printed papers, I get all the related colors out (I store them that way, which makes it easier, but still they don't all actuarially GO together.) I lay them all out on floorer table (most often the floor) and find which one really look good together in the proportions that I want to use. It takes me a long time as I am a match-matchy person. However, I have learned that they don't really have to be a perfect match (thank goodness) as you can see in the attachments of a stand up card i did for Easter. The dark color in the print on one paper was really a reddish/chestnut brown, but I actually used Early Espresso that side by side did not match, but I think it turned out OK. What do you all think?
For got to say the background was closer to Kiwi Kiss, but I used Old Olive. Actually I don't think anything actually matched!!!
Last edited by jeanne3579; 03-29-2012 at 07:25 AM..
Reason: Forgot to add more comments
I usually start with patterned paper with a variety of colours in it and then pull out the understated colours for my other layers. It packs a punch and it allows me to uses scraps of other lines. I try to stick with one or two busy papers and then add either smaller patterns or geometric patterns to go with it (I'm not fussy). I end up playing with a bunch of different scraps and just place them over my main base paper and eyeball it from there. It's a crapshoot with me really ;)
I usually start with patterned paper with a variety of colours in it and then pull out the understated colours for my other layers. It packs a punch and it allows me to uses scraps of other lines. I try to stick with one or two busy papers and then add either smaller patterns or geometric patterns to go with it (I'm not fussy). I end up playing with a bunch of different scraps and just place them over my main base paper and eyeball it from there. It's a crapshoot with me really ;)
wow you have a real eye for mixing papers ,your cards are lovely! thanx for sharing your tips xx jo xx
I usually start with patterned paper with a variety of colours in it and then pull out the understated colours for my other layers. It packs a punch and it allows me to uses scraps of other lines. I try to stick with one or two busy papers and then add either smaller patterns or geometric patterns to go with it (I'm not fussy). I end up playing with a bunch of different scraps and just place them over my main base paper and eyeball it from there. It's a crapshoot with me really ;)
mixing papers
