Design paper baffles me...

[Inkin One]

Anyone else with me? I have such a difficult time incorporating it into my cards. It always seems to look messy or odd..or maybe I just don't really know what to do with it. I have difficulty adding backgrounds into my art work as well..maybe that is why I like portraits?

Any tips on adding that little extra to the cards...??

[buggainok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inkin One

Anyone else with me? I have such a difficult time incorporating it into my cards. It always seems to look messy or odd..or maybe I just don't really know what to do with it. I have difficulty adding backgrounds into my art work as well..maybe that is why I like portraits?

Any tips on adding that little extra to the cards...??

I love using pattern paper on my cards. I usually coordinate it with a border mat in one of the colors, then choose my image colors accordingly.

Take a stroll through Michelle Wooderson's blog for inspiration on using pattern paper. She does beautiful work, and uses pattern/design papers a lot on cards:

Mish Mash

[Angelnorth]

I rarely use patterned paper - I like what other people do with it but I generally suffer brain freeze if I try to use it myself (and it takes twice as long to produce anything which is drastic when you're a slow crafter in any case!). I think we're all just different and what works for one person is not necessarily right for another - just enjoy what you do and don't feel you should be more like others.

[winnieu]

I pick a few colors out of the patterned paper I want to use..I mat it one of them as it makes it less "busy" to me. I make embellishments out of it...One of my holiday cards I cut christmas ornaments out of it and mounted themt to a solid color background ...

[mastamper]

Kristina Werner gave some tips on what works for her in her "Friday Focus" series:
Friday Focus

[Jennifer R]

I started out as a scrapbooker so I have the opposite problem...I have a harder time NOT use patterned papers.

I would suggest that you buy some collection packs where they do all the matching for you. All of the papers in the pads/packs match pretty well so you don't have to think about it too much.

Most of the cards in my gallery have tons of patterned paper if you want some inspiration (although I think my last few were actually cardstock and stamps only).

[maryrose]

I think it is so much easier to know what colors and papers you want to use before you start stamping and putting a project together. It is way harder to stamp and pick colors and then try to find a paper to match. I think one key is to decide if your paper is going to be the star or your image/stamped art is going to be the star. Otherwise, the two elements are competing for attention.

[fairsinger]

I love using patterned papers in my scrapbooks, but have a hard time using them in my stamping. My original SU demonstrator (who taught me most of what I know about stamping) didn't use them much, so I am just not always sure what to do with them. I also find I have a hard time matching colors and patterns (I have the same problem with clothing) so the only way it works easily for me is if something is clearly the same color or if I buy a coordinating set. I've started embossing solid-color cardstock or creating my own stamped backgrounds more and find that works better for me than trying to match patterns to my paper and stamps.

[Cook22]

Try using sketches from the sketch challenge here or elsewhere. They really help me use DP whereas my own personal style tends to be not to use it much.

[Cartermrc]

It's those huge designs that stump me and I try to avoid them. The scale is way too large for cards.

[rusticus]

Like Angelnorth and one or two others I rarely use patterned paper on cards; some people can use it very effectively but not me so I avoid it. I love paper though and tend to use it in other papercrafts such as making ornaments with it or for origami projects.
I also find that in paper packs there may be one or two that I like but I'm stuck with all the other sheets so now I don't buy it.

[jackie1]

I have bought, tried using and still do not do well with designer paper. When I was buying only SU cardstock I would get some of the designer paper that coordinated, but I found it to be such a waste using the one side and covering up the other. The only kind of designer paper that I use occassionally now is the glitter paper because that can work with almost any thing that I stamp. I would much rather take some cardstock and stamp a design on it and use that instead of the designer paper. I guess like everything else with this craft/hobby we each have our only style and that is what makes each of us different.

[cobby]

I tend to buy more than I use. I guess I am a designer paper "collector" !
When I use it I tend to only use one pattern at a time. I admire those that can mix patterns on one project and not have it look too busy! Even if I try to use paper all out of the same pack, I just don't like the look of too many patterns at once.

Like others mentioned it is fun to use it as an embellishment; for instance paper piece an open area of a stamped image instead of coloring it in. Or at this time of year making ornaments or other decorative items for around the house. OH... and sometimes I cover composition notebooks with a paper I really love!

[elmo98ca]

I love the cards with all the different patterned paper and marvel at how some designers can take the different patterns and meld them into a gorgeous card. I don't seem to have that same creative ability, yet I don't understand why I keep buying more.

[tiggerificandi]

I have a ton of background paper and you know I just don't use it hardly at all. I do however like to use background stamps, especially versa mark so it is not noticed so much.

[DianeinSparks]

I pick my patterned paper first and then decide what stamps, embellishments, cardstock will go with it. I rarely use more than 2 patterns on a card, more than that would make it hard for me to coordinate them.

[stamphappy1650]

I love designer paper. There are certain papers that just lend themselves to my style of stamping. I remember back in the day when we didn't have background paper and we had to make our own. Now it's such much easier to grab a piece and go.

I find that I either use it a the focal piece and just add a little embellishment or to compliment a stamped piece.

[Inkin One]

Thanks ladies. I have been lurking around and found some really cool and useful ways to get rid of... I mean use... of some of this paper . When I first starterd a couple of years ago..I fell into that awful trap of " I NEED IT ALL...and now I am trying to use it all so I can get new. I don't mind letting the kids cut up and "create" with this stuff so much anymore..


Thanks for all the help! You ladies are great!!

[Jill with a G]

I am also addicted to designer papers! I love them! I usually pick my designer paper first, then the coordinating cardstock base. I then find coordinating cardstock panels. The Sketch challenges here on SC often incorporate really cool designer papers. I did taper off buying so much of it. Only when it really appeals to me and I think of how I can use it, then I buy it. My favorite thing to do in scrapbook stores is to browse the designer papers. I have to have a lot of time for that, LOL!

[Allistamps123]

I had a hard time for years and just didn't use it. I've gotten more comfortable with dsp lately.

[PedalPower]

I love it...but I find if I buy small 6 by 6 paper pads, I do better coordinating it because those lines of paper tend to "match" each other. The same is true for SU or CTMH and the DP that they sell. That's a better way to start than to just head to the open stock of paper by the sheet.

[kspiv]

I do too. Most of my cards are free of DSP. And alot of times I make my own for cards using just the colors and stamps I want. I do use it for scrapbooking tho and I am in the same boat as others....too much DSP, not enough projects to use it on! I am going to start using it more and selling some of it. I am going to just start making scrapbooking layouts to use some of it up and also going to make more 3-D and gifty stuff with what I have, since I cant seem to use it on cards and like it.

[tiggerificandi]

Hey, I decided it was time to start using up this paper and made the Haven't Used It 2 card swap to use up some of the things I have gotten but not used yet. Come join me if you like. Link is in my signature.

[CraftyMel2]

I tend to use the patterned paper for layering tags and such. Also for boxes if it is heavy enough. I also have a hard time coordinating so I always get the ones that are coordinated for me! I love all things polka dot so I will use the dotted paper for borders around solid colors.

[StickUps]

I love mixing patterned paper. Nearly every card I do has pattern paper in the background or paper pieced into the stamp image. I use a lot of 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 paper packs because the patterns are scaled down for cards rather than 12 x 12 scrapbooks and because the colors/patterns are already coordinated for you at least a little.

Quilters have been matching patterns for ages. You can get some good ideas from looking at some of your favorite old quilts.

[stampwithjoanne]

Go to "Gallery" then on the far left side of your screen under "search" type the name of the designer paper. It will pull up all cards where that paper was used (and, of course, the person who posted the card identified and spelled out the name of the DSP).

I go there all the time for ideas!

Have one demo who uses DSP all the time with cards. Now, I can't hardly make a card withOUT DSP!

[Crafts]

I sort of eased into using patterned papers. I started with very subtle patterns that looked like textures. The green layer on this card is an example. As time went on, I gradually did more cards with bolder patterns. Now, like Jennifer R, I'm having a harder time not using it.

[Trish8994]

What brand of cardstock do you all use? Can you get it at Michael's or JoAnn's? These are the only two craft stores near me.

[SophieLaFontaine]

I have a hard time using patterned papers too. First, it hurts me to cut it. So I will only use scraps of it that my friend plans to throw away. Second, I hate even using some of the scraps, because the patterns are SO PRETTY!!! It could be a card front all by itself. Am I actually supposed to cover up part of it??? Never never!! So I only use the "uglier" scraps that my friend plans to toss. How sad is that? I have patterned paper from nearly a decade ago.

I'm toying with the idea of buying some of Bazzill's textured monochromatic cardstock - but still debating whether I can actually cut that up too. And cover up that beautiful texture?! Dunno if I can do it!

[Hunterri]

I love using my DSP, but I make sure i have matching cardstock and inks so it all looks good, and once I've placed that hard first cut (oh the pain!) it's easy.

Or just be a CAS girl and be proud of your unique style!

[jennv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampwithjoanne

Go to "Gallery" then on the far left side of your screen under "search" type the name of the designer paper. It will pull up all cards where that paper was used (and, of course, the person who posted the card identified and spelled out the name of the DSP).

I go there all the time for ideas!

Have one demo who uses DSP all the time with cards. Now, I can't hardly make a card withOUT DSP!

Great idea. Thank you!

[tiggerificandi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trish8994

What brand of cardstock do you all use? Can you get it at Michael's or JoAnn's? These are the only two craft stores near me.

I prefer to use Stampin Up cardstock. I will sometimes by white super heavy weight cardstock at an office supply store like Office Max, Office Depot, or Staples.

[buggainok]

I posted when this thread first started and just got caught up with all the replies. If anyone has pattern paper you don't think is suitable for cards, try making envelopes with it. Almost any pattern will work on the inside of an envelope and is more interesting than white, lol.

Here is a really great tutorial for making envelopes of any size, without even measuring:

The Scrapinator: The Easy Peasy 3 Minute Envelope