Themes, layouts and inspirations
After a request from a tornado victim in Alabama enquiring about products related to disasters, Ali Edwards created this set of hand written word brushes. She is offering them as a free download on her blog. Click here to see what Ali had to say and to download the brush set.
If you worry about mixing patterns start simple by using three wide strips of paper with tiny designs on a background like Becki did here. She added stitching around the edge of each one and included pastel pink and teal with traditional Fall colors that work perfectly with the clusters of embellishments. Watch her process video at the Scrapbook and Cards Today blog.
I love pattern paper and also use a lot of it on my scrapbook layouts and I try to use different patterns on the same design but mixing patterns is a bit of an art form, you can’t just throw a bunch of pattern papers together and hope they look good. They should have the same tones in the colors (maybe don’t mix pastel with neon), the same size of designs (big and tiny prints might throw off the balance) and similar themes or occasions (birthday and Christmas might not go too well together). Of course there are no hard and fast rules and rules can be broken so experiment and see what you think looks good together. But if you’re looking for some inspiration in mixing patterns let’s check out some layouts for Fall and Halloween that mix together patterns perfectly.
Paige is amazing at mixing patterns and this pumpkin page is stunning! She stitched together loads of tiny squares of Fall and Halloween themed paper with a zig zag stitch and then placed it behind the opening of a large die cut pumpkin shape, which is also stitched around the edges. The bottom corners have photos and clusters of embellishments and another corner has the journaling. Find more info at the Paige Taylor Evans blog.
Creating a grid is another simple way to incorporate patterns, here Nicole also used photos as part of her grid design. Notice how she added additional layers of accents over each rectangle, popping many of them up for dimension and putting a large die cut title across the center. Take a closer peek at A Cherry on Top blog.
Gloria started with a pretty floral print for the base of her design adding a wide strip of plaid vertically down the center and sewed thin strips of another pattern between the two. Her photos are front and center with tags tucked behind and one up top with lots of adorable Fall chipboard elements and sentiments. She breaks it all down at the Simple Stories blog.
Julie chose a smaller grid of 4 patterns with the photo but really drew attention to it with a scalloped frame of another pattern, notice how each one has either teal or orange for a trendy color combo. She included lots of chunky embellishments like wooden leaves, buttons and acorns, chipboard images and a frame, thick lace, crocheted bow and a metal clip. Learn more at the Hey Little Magpie blog.
Mady create a Traveler’s Notebook set of pages in a junk journaling style with a collage feel and torn pattern papers. She even adhered her photos with patterned washi tape too. There’s botanical and butterfly accents and a pocket for journaling as well. She breaks it all down at the Cocoa Daisy blog.
Kristin’s layout is wonderful, filled with Bee inspired hexagons. She used a die cut file as a template for the stitching and then die cut all the hexagons from many different pattern papers in fall colors and bee themes. She tucked Sunflowers behind her photos, a few bees buzzing around and added a fun wooden title too. Find all the details at the Traci Reed Designs blog.
Melissa created an amazing Halloween design using a pumpkin template that also has a fun sunburst around the edges. Inside the pumpkin she placed her traced and cut out photos (this is a fun way to use up lots of pics on a single layout) and on the outside used spooky Halloween pattern papers. Watch her process video at the Creative Memories blog.
Eva’s fa-boo-lous Halloween layout uses a partial sunburst pattern cut from the white cardstock base. The edge of each section is stitched and behind each section are different pattern papers along with embellishments in colors that coordinate with each patterned triangle. The black and white photo sits in the center with the title and journaling right below to balance the design. Find directions at the Pinkfresh Studio blog.
Tara used so many different patterned papers for her colorful Halloween front porch page. The background is made up of paper strips, all the title letters are die cut (and stitched) from different patterns and even the pumpkins are patterned with stitching. There’s also journaling sticker tabs, buttons and Fall embellishments. Watch her process video at the Pretty Little Studio blog.
I hope you’re Fall is filled with lots of pattern and color!
-Heather
Looking for scrapbook pattern papers, we recommend A Cherry on Top.com
Thank you SO much for these. My daughter lost her home and belongings in the 4-27-11 tornadoes in Alabama and now that our “to do” list is slowing down (thought the insurance still hasn’t gotten her into an apartment), I’ve been working on turning the photos of it all into a book for her. My idea is to show her lovely first home bought less than a year ago, then the destruction and then the rebuilt home to focus on the positive and praise God for saving her life so miraculously.
I was so surprised you thought to make these and they are PERFECT!! Love your hand writing too. I’ve already added them to many of the pages I’ve made, but I wonder if I could impose on you for just one more word? Shock. We are still in shock as it’s been too busy to process what’s happened. I would LOVE the word “shock” to add to her book. I know you’ve already done so much, but if it’s possible, I sure would appreciate it. I don’t have a tablet or I’d try to make it myself, but then the handwriting wouldn’t match anyway…
God bless you and everyone who is suffering from any kind of disaster, health (I have 2 loved ones in hospice right now and one who’s been bed bound for 2 yrs. now) or natural. pain is pain. Loss is loss. Grief is grief. God bless us all! Thanks!