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Are there any tricks to picking out coordinating papers? I seem to spend hours trying to match up colors, patterns, textures for my images.
I always tell myself to pick out the papers and then color the image to match. But the image ends up picking the colors as I color.
I have a lot of paper!! Its just never have what I need.
Bonnie
I always color the image the way I want it to look and then find the papers to go with it. I know others do it the opposite way.
This happened to me today -- I had colored the image in a purple shade and turquoise, and then didn't really have paper to "match." I ended up with a deep purple base, matted my image and sentiment with a light turquoise shade of patterned paper, and lighter purple cardstock, and had white as an accent.
But since I didn't have a strong patterned paper for the background, I stamped a bold image in Versamark on the card base.
When you don't have paper that coordinates with your colors, you can consider making your own patterned paper with stamps!!
Also sometimes good strong contrasting or complementary colors will see you through. You could also cut panels of coordinating cardstock pulling colors from your image.
I'm not big on precise matching -- as long as it "goes" together.
HTH -- I'm sure others will have great suggestions!
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Honestly this is why I went SUO a long time ago. I got so tired of having to find something to go with this or that...and I wasted so much money because I didn't use most of what I got. I know it may not be a good solution for everyone but I had laugh when I read your post because I've soooo been there:-) Now, I know all my stuff matches and I do better with fewer choices...I can thank my OCDness for that, hehe!
there is a lot to be said for buying kits (flourishes is releasing a series this week) or going with a company like SU that sells coordinating products.
Or you can buy a paper pack like Cosmo Cricket sells and use all the papers in the pack together. Try putting together one larger scale pattern with smaller scaled patterns.
That said, I rarely use patterned paper. I just never know what to do with it.
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I'm just starting to use patterned paper. I always had trouble too. I'd say go with a company like PTI or SU that does it for you. I'm not sure if PTI has their own line of dsp but their ribbon, buttons and paper match.
I get waaaaaay to overwhelmed otherwise and don't create.
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I tend to pick 1 main color I want to use and then find patterned paper and stamp to coordinate. My general rule of thumb is that if it's pleasing to my eye, hopefully it will be to somebody else's. I used to spend soooo much time worrying about putting together the right color combos. I find myself picking either colors from the same "family" i.e., purples, blues, reds, etc. or contrasting colors i.e. brown/turquoise, red/black. This seems to make it a little easier. I also "ask" a stamp what color it wants to be - lol, I then mark a piece of scrap paper with those colors, go to my paper stash and find what contrasts or compliments.
Hope this helps. Happy stamping!
Honestly this is why I went SUO a long time ago. I got so tired of having to find something to go with this or that...and I wasted so much money because I didn't use most of what I got. I know it may not be a good solution for everyone but I had laugh when I read your post because I've soooo been there:-) Now, I know all my stuff matches and I do better with fewer choices...I can thank my OCDness for that, hehe!
I'm with Minders. Before I decided to go mainly SU with cardstock and pattern paper, I spent a lot of time trying to get things to match just like you. Then they never really match quite right. As soon as I used SU's pattern paper with coordinating cardstock, my cards look instantly soooo much better! Seriously, stop wasting money buying the paper stacks. I would rather do without than to throw good money away like that.
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I should clarify that I still waste money by buying stuff and not using it (or using much of it). BUT at least I know it all matches if I SHOULD or WANT to use it, LOL!:twisted:
...
I always tell myself to pick out the papers and then color the image to match. But the image ends up picking the colors as I color. ...
It's good to hear some people color their images first, since I do it that way, too. Other threads have said it's easier to pick the papers first, then match the image's colors to the papers. Since I usually have a preconceived idea of how to color the image, picking the papers first just doesn't happen all that often. :rolleyes:
I struggle with matching myself, mostly because I feel like it needs to match perfectly and I spend more time trying to get two pieces of paper than I do anything else! I do try to buy coordinating papers to make my life easier but I have tons of single pattern papers that I am trying to use up but it can be frustrating. Sometimes I color first, sometimes I pick out paper first. Good to know I'm not alone!!
Hi,
First I should say that I typically spend way too much time laboring over a single page...and I don't think you'd know it when you see the outcome.
I start with my picture and try to pick out a color scheme from that, usually two or three colors. If one color in the photo predominates and is a high impact color/shade, I'll choose that as my accent color. For an accent color you can pick a small print/pattern/texture or a solid. I then will select a complementary color for my "large" color on the page. I may go totally opposite the accent or even just the lighter version of it. Finally, I try to find something, probably a neutral to tie it together. Or, if I like just the two colors, use the embellishments to tie it together. It depends on how colorful my photo is and how many photos I'll have on the page. There are some patterns that are quite graphic, like a small, gingham check, polka dots, candy cane or repetitive stripe, that can be used more easily that one would think to match a larger print and a solid. It's kind of like using them as a neutral.
Last, I think that this month's Scrapbook Etc. has an article on just this topic.
mob
I usually try to pick my papers first then colour my image. However, if I'm bored, I will colour my images before I even have a plan for them. When I use one these images and can't find a patterned paper to go with it is where the beauty of digital papers comes in. I literally have thousands of papers at my fingertips (yes, I have that many on my computer :oops. And if I find one I like but its not quite the colours I want, I can re-colour them to match what I need.
Like Joan B I rarely use patterned paper as a matt or layer; I have several packs of paper that are lovely to look at but never match what I want so I am using them up in other ways such as origami flowers! I usually use a stamped background (using an ink lighter/darker than main focal image) on plain cardstock or use several coloured pieces of cardstock as layers and ink the edges. I find that method so much easier than patterned paper
I'm addicted to patterned paper (just take a look at my gallery LOL!) and probably use it on 90% of my cards....and LOTS of it. I think mixing and matching is something that you learn over time.
I used to use papers from the collection packs at first but now I feel I have an eye for it and mix and match from all different manufacturers.
After spending hours trying to find paper to go with a stamped and colored image, I now pull out some papers in the colors I want to use and then stamp and color my image - sort of a compromise but it works for me.
Trying to put colors and patterns together
. And if I find one I like but its not quite the colours I want, I can re-colour them to match what I need. 
