Mixing Patterns

Good morning!  I have another card that my upline (Winona) made to share with you this morning. This was another one that was inspired by the Pattern Mixing Class we took at convention in the summer.

I thought I would share with you some of the things that I learned at this class and this card is a great example of what we learned.

First of all there are different types of patterns when you look at our designer series paper:

1. Subtle:  This type gives a classy, sophisticated feel to the project.  Patterns tend to be smaller and more subtle.  A good example of this would be Twitterpated or Comfort Cafe.
2. Bold:  This type has lots of contrast and makes a bold statement, like Patio Party.
3. Motif:  This type uses images or themes and tend to be more fun and whimsical.  Examples of this are the Storytime and World Spectacular dsp.

We learned that there are a few rules of thumb when it comes to mixing patterns.  Remember these are only guidelines – you don’t have to stick to them.  Play around with them – you will often be able to tell what works and doesn’t by whether or not it’s pleasing to the eye or just doesn’t look right.

1. It tends to be easier to mix when you stick with the same collection of dsp. 
2. Limit the number of patterns to no more than 4.
3. Create a contrast by using different types (subtle, bold and motif)
4. Use different amounts of each pattern.

So lets take a closer look at the card.

This card definitely has a fun feel to it.  It uses the themed dsp pack – World Spectacular.   And if you look closely it uses different amounts of the different types of patterns in the pack. So the little yellow strip would be the subtle paper, the ticket paper would be a little more bold and then the one in the background is the motif or ‘way out there’ pattern.  By mixing those patterns in different amounts – it makes the card work!

So what do you think – are you ready to play with your papers?  I’d love to see what you come up with!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sherry