Take a look at the magazine stand and you will see that everyone is talking about it. From Martha and Oprah and beyond, the story is COLOR. For a designer – no matter if you’re a pro or a home crafter – color can be a big subject. After all, color can be the easiest way to create something delightful. And it can also bring a project down fast. So choosing a color pallette can be a daunting task.
But have no fear. There are many tools out in the “world wide web” that can aid in choosing and using color. I was recently inspired by a blog called Inchmark. (hosted by Brooke Reynolds) Brooke was the senior art director for Martha Stewart. So you can imagine that there are some very inspiring goodies over there. I am really moved by her color stories. A simple set of fabric swatches that represent a color theme. Simple yet brilliant.
So to draw upon my love for both fabric and papers, I created a simple color story of my own. I decided to work on a little swatch card that could hold both fabric and paper. Working on a small canvas like this is much less daunting than trying to create a color scheme on a larger scale. And considering that I tend to very heavily lean toward pink, this was a much needed excersize.
Once I created these little swatch cards, creating from that point was a breeze. I created these “everyday moments” cards.
And also this layout.
For more of color inspiration, check out these blogs and color tools all available online.
Inchmark – Home to color “Color Stories” along with colorful and inspiring projects.
Colour Lovers – a place to check out a world of color, compare color palettes, submit news and comments, and read color related articles and interviews.
Adobe Kuler – a great tool for creating color swatches online. You can also download an Adobe Air version so you can have your favorite color combinations right on your desktop.
Color Schemer – This is a great tool for the color phobic. Click on a color and a set of coordinating colors appears.
Heather Bailey – Fabric designer and avid crafter, Heather’s blog is visually stimulating and enticing.
For more of color inspiration, check out these blogs and color tools all available online.
Inchmark – Home to color “Color Stories” along with colorful and inspiring projects.
Colour Lovers – a place to check out a world of color, compare color palettes, submit news and comments, and read color related articles and interviews.
Adobe Kuler – a great tool for creating color swatches online. You can also download an Adobe Air version so you can have your favorite color combinations right on your desktop.
Color Schemer - This is a great tool for the color phobic. Click on a color and a set of coordinating colors appears.
Heather Bailey – Fabric designer and avid crafter, Heather’s blog is visually stimulating and enticing.
I love to try to incorporate some of the “real stuff” onto a layout. In this layout, I used sand from the actual beach we went to.
Supplies: cardstock, letter tile (Bazzill Basics)
I started by adhering all my pictures down. The strip of pictures on the left is adhered on the 4×12 strip of the same cardstock. (It is actually a flap that opens up to reveal journaling. )
To make this very simple page even more memorable.. on the flap, I created “sandpaper” around the photos with sand that actually came from the beach. Brush the page with liquid adhesive, and sprinkle on the dry sand. Let dry, and brush off the excess.
I love the way stitching looks on paper. But when trying to create a sewn cover on a thick material, like this notebook… machine sewing just would not work.
A simple solution is to just fake it! I started by taking a piece of Kraft cardstock {that matched the cover of the notebook} and glued all the little paper strips to it. {a great way to use those scraps} I ran that through my machine, then…adhered the whole “faceplate” to the cover of notebook. Now there is no surface safe from paper stitching. This works for all types of thick chipboard, board books, or anything you want to have machine stitching on a thick surface!
Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the My Little Shoebox prize! Winner announced tomorrow along with a new weekly giveaway.
Ever since I was a child… long before I started “scrapbooking” in the way think of it today… I was fascinated by photocorners.
You know, those little triangles that held the photographs in place. While doing some “spring” cleaning in my studio… I came across a pile of these simple paper wonders. A rediscovery of sorts. Use them for a cool retro modern feel to your layouts like this one below that I created for the Scrapbook Trends blog.
Photo corners also add a little extra touch to cards.
And finally, how about using them to accent strips of patterned paper or quilt block style layouts.
Simple, inexpensive… rediscover photo corners!
Supplies used: Patterned papers, journaling cards, etc: Elle’s Studio. kraft cardstock: JilliBeanSoup. black ribbon: Nashville Wraps. photo corners: Canson. other: crepe paper
Let’s start with the winner of last week’s Echo Park Paper Sweet Summertime complete set!
The winner is…
email me or send me a Facebook message with your address to claim your prize! My email is {anacabreradesign at gmail.com}
This week’s giveaway…
SCHOOL’s OUT prize pack! It is time to celebate the summer with My Little Shoebox! If you have not seen this line, you are going to go bananas! To enter, leave a comment on any “Creative Daily” blog post between now and Thursday of next week. You can enter everyday! Winner will be announced on Friday.
Mondays – especially unseasonally cold ones like the one I am experiencing today… are not really condusive to creativity. Ususally I have way too much to do to take on anything that would take more than just a few moments.
So I decided to spruce up this picture frame that has been on my wall for some time now. I just added the three little rubons to the bottom corner, and it totally spruced it up, making it perfect to showcase this picture of “the Boy”.
I didn’t need to buy anything. The frame was already on the wall, and I had the rub ons in my stash! Go grab a frame, rub on some love – then back to the Monday grind stone!
PS there is still time to enter to win the Echo Park Paper prize package. Leave a comment on any “Creative Daily Post” and be entered to win. I will announce the winner this Thursday and a new giveaway on Friday!
Supplies used: Rub ons (Hambly Screen Prints)
For more instant craftification using rub ons, check out these links:
