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A long time ago, someone shared some tips for making a color combination work. It was worded in percentages--a certain percent of your base color, etc. I was telling someone about that recently and wanted to look it up again. Could we start a thread like that?
This is not about favorite colors. This is not about suggesting color combinations. This is not just about color wheel theory, though some of that belongs here. It could be about pattern matching, but only as it relates to color.
Here are some tips to get us started:
Fall Back on Black--I remember this one from a challenge a long time ago. When you need to make a color combo pop--add some black. Maybe a lot or maybe just a touch. Outline something. Make black the whole base. Use a black embellishment. You would be amazed at the difference this makes. (from Jaime, one of the dirty girls)
Stamp your sentiment or line images in a color--not just in black or brown. It brings a whole new dimension to your card--and in many cases, saves a lot of coloring, because it is complete the way it is.
I have sticky note on my monitor with those percentages!
60% dominant color
30% secondary color
10% accent
But I’ve also seen the advice to simply make your secondary color no more than half of your primary and your accent color no more than half of the secondary.
I have sticky note on my monitor with those percentages!
60% dominant color
30% secondary color
10% accent
But I�ve also seen the advice to simply make your secondary color no more than half of your primary and your accent color no more than half of the secondary.
Thank you! This is exactly the advice I was remembering! So helpful!
I thought of another one (as I was using it today). Use your markers to make a faux background match on images you are cutting out. For example, on this card, I colored the same color as the background between the slats on the swing. This tricks the eye into seeing what it expects to see there. Sure beats leaving them white or cutting them out! Swinging in the Clouds by ruby-heartedmom - at Splitcoaststampers
Yesterday, I was making a card with a color combination that should have worked--I was using a color combination of Real Red, Island Indigo, and Basic Black (with hints of Pool Party), but it just wasn't popping. I fell back on a shadowing (or outlining) technique. And Poof! It Popped!
I have sticky note on my monitor with those percentages!
60% dominant color
30% secondary color
10% accent
But I�ve also seen the advice to simply make your secondary color no more than half of your primary and your accent color no more than half of the secondary.
I have sticky note on my monitor with those percentages!
60% dominant color
30% secondary color
10% accent
But I�ve also seen the advice to simply make your secondary color no more than half of your primary and your accent color no more than half of the secondary.
Trivia note: A long time ago in the youth of our hobby/addiction, we also referred to this as, Quart, Pint, & Cup of your card colors.
For anyone else trying to find this article, you have to go under the craftsy.com blog and do a search.
By the way, I definitely want to thank you for starting this thread! I remembered there was something like this that I had seen somewhere but could never find it again!! This definitely makes putting color combinations together much easier!!!
Sometimes a color challenge just gets my goat and I don't see how in the world I would want to feature that color combination on a card front. Taking a cue from interior designers, I pull a full sheet of each color out and lay them together on the table where I will see them throughout the day. Every so often, I put a different sheet on top to maximize its effects.
Sometimes they grow on me. Sometimes they don't. I often start to see things in the combo that I didn't see at first, or think of a specific type of card the combo would be good for.
One thing is for sure, I now dress differently and use colors together in my home that I wouldn't have put together in the old days. I've learned and grown from the color challenges. Thank you hostesses, for stretching us!
One thing is for sure, I now dress differently and use colors together in my home that I wouldn't have put together in the old days. I've learned and grown from the color challenges. Thank you hostesses, for stretching us!" Ruby-heartedmom you inspired me with your comments. I need to follow your example.
I'm a teacher, so I have a LOT more time to make cards in the sweet summertime. Here's a little summer habit I have developed that makes me better with color. I play the challenges through the week. I try to play each challenge in the most recent color challenge colors. Sometimes it isn't possible. But what I have learned is that the more cards you make with a color combination, the more possibilities you see. It shapes my thinking in different ways when I try to use the color combo more than just one time. In the end, my favorite with that color combination is usually one of the last cards I make with it--not the first.
Here's your tip for the week--y'all feel free to add ideas too. I started this thread so I could learn something new from other people, not so I could do all the talking.
Today I made a card and wanted to use this week's colors which are Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, and Very Vanilla. In trying to use the colors I realized the sky would be too dark (not enough contrast) if I used Mint and Vanilla wasn't the right choice either. So I used a lighter shade of Mint--Sea Foam. The hint: stay within the color family, but feel free to use a lighter or darker shade of the color in a challenge. The same thing happens naturally when you watercolor with the colors. Here is my card: Louisiana Bayou by ruby-heartedmom at Splitcoaststampers
Your card looks great! However, I noticed another color combination in your card that also looks good with the Sea Foam/Mint color. That's the bluish-gray color that you used for the seaweed or plants hanging over the limb. So, that blue- gray color, the mint/sea foam, & pink colors all seem to coordinate
together, especially since the gray color has a touch of the greenish-blue color. In other classes, (if I'm remembering correctly ) isn't it so that instead of black, you can use gray to coordinate when paired with lighter shades of colors. I believe that I'm correct with this. Or am I having an Alzheimer's moment?? Can someone please let me know whether I'm correct with this or not.
In other classes, (if I'm remembering correctly ) isn't it so that instead of black, you can use gray to coordinate when paired with lighter shades of colors. I believe that I'm correct with this. Or am I having an Alzheimer's moment?? Can someone please let me know whether I'm correct with this or not.
You are correct. I didn't think of that, but it would have been less harsh than the black.
also, some of the advice can be broken -- a rainbow colored card for example. in some ways the rainbow set of colors becomes the dominant color even though there are many colors.
I think!!!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
also, some of the advice can be broken -- a rainbow colored card for example. in some ways the rainbow set of colors becomes the dominant color even though there are many colors.
I think!!!
Camouflage would be another example of what you are talking about.
Here's your tip for the week--y'all feel free to add ideas too. I started this thread so I could learn something new from other people, not so I could do all the talking.
Today I made a card and wanted to use this week's colors which are Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, and Very Vanilla. In trying to use the colors I realized the sky would be too dark (not enough contrast) if I used Mint and Vanilla wasn't the right choice either. So I used a lighter shade of Mint--Sea Foam. The hint: stay within the color family, but feel free to use a lighter or darker shade of the color in a challenge. The same thing happens naturally when you watercolor with the colors. Here is my card: Louisiana Bayou by ruby-heartedmom - at Splitcoaststampers
When you mentioned those colors for the challenge, I thought ugh, but when I saw your card I said marvelous!!! Great job and super hints.
Tips and Tricks for Color Combinations
