Happy Friday! It's my turn for Papertrey Ink's DT Tips and today I'm celebrating the patterns and textures of Autumn. I love fall crafting and the variety of ways you can bring a bit of Autumn into your handmade creations.
I'll do my best to explain how I love to mix my patterned paper and textures. The first thing that drew me to paper-crafting was, in fact, the patterned paper :). This stuff is like candy to me and I can hardly create without incorporating a bit of it.
On my first card, I have used the darling Shape Up Series: Pumpkin and Pumpkin Sections. I started with a base of Stormy Sea cardstock, knowing I would love little pieces of it peeking through as I layered on my sections. I then selected my materials. Corrugated cardstock is a must in my craft supplies. I love its simplicity but also the way it can create character and interest so easily. You'll notice that sections of my pumpkin and the Enclosed: Leaf (veins) are cut from corrugated cardstock.
I also selected a tiny floral...florals are also a must when mixing and matching. For this project, I needed a small floral because I could see that a large floral would be too busy mixed with my woodgrain, small polka dots, and plaid. So when selecting your patterns, it's important to make sure that you've got a balance. If you go with a large plaid like I did here, a smaller floral and polka dot would help balance it, instead of creating competition and noise between the patterns. My sentiment comes from the Autumn Scarecrow stamp set, my flourish across the bottom is from the Autumn Adornments, and my stamped leaves are from the Forest Floor: Autumn stamp set and dies.
On my next card, I have used the cute, cute, cute Apple Prints stamp set and coordinating dies. I just knew these little apples would look sweet as can be cut from plaid and polka dots.
I used two plaids/ginghams on this card, which I normally wouldn't do when mixing patterns. But, you can see that one is darker than the other, for a more subtle pattern, and the other is brighter and tipped on a diagonal, which takes on a whole different feel. Try this:)...it's a fun way to use plaid paper.
One of my images is solid and was stamped, and then at the top is a simple, bitty polka dot. I generally don't use large patterns on small die cuts, because you can lose the shape of the die from time to time.
The tops of each apple was cut from Spring Moss felt which adds texture and softness. Love felt! In the background, I used the Frame it Out: Many Blessings stamp set, stamping in Classic Kraft ink on a Mix and Mat: Brackets die cut.
My last card reminds me of everything I love about Autumn...it just has a cozy, warm feel to it, which is what the textures and patterns do...they make us feel something.
I began with a Mix & Mat: Postal Die and then used the Window Works Die to cut a window in the center. I layered it over soft, tan gingham paper. I needed my background to be soft, in order to allow my pumpkin to show up properly and not get lost.
I then used a tiny floral paper and the Polka Dot Parade #8 die to cut my pumpkin, using dark green felt for my leaf, and corrugated cardstock for my stem. My Ocean Tides felt heart was cut using the Traveler's Journal Passport Cover.
My sentiment comes from the Sunflower Harvest stamp set and the floral vine across the bottom from the Autumn Adornments stamp set. Once again you'll notice that I added in a tiny polka dot from the Bitty Big Honey Nut collection and I added a medium size floral to compliment it, but not overpower.
I hope that gives you a little peek inside my brain:)...it's kind of something that you feel your way through and get the hang of with practice and lots of fun experimenting.
Supplies are all listed for you below and I'll answer any questions you might have...just send me an email to [email protected].
Enjoy your day!
Melis
