Hi All! Katie Ehmann here with you for a week filled with the beautiful, the versatile, the jack-of-all-trades, the mother of all scrapbook supplies--patterned paper! Pretty paper is what sucked me into this hobby, and it keeps my creative mojo on its toes with its never ending patterns and multitude of uses. I'm pretty sure I have over one billion sheets of patterned paper, each one prettier than the next. Here's what is on the docket for the week:
- Monday: Scrapbook Layouts made with 99.9% paper
- Tuesday: Home Decor
- Wednesday: Party Fun
- Thursday: Giveaway Day (!!!) Featuring the gorgeous Darling Dear line from Studio Calico
- Friday: Holiday Trimmings
So, let's jump in, shall we? Patterned paper is often a key ingredient in the recipe of a well crafted layout. It works as a layer, a graphic element, an embellishment, a journaling spot, a title, or an overall complement to that perfect photo. More often than not, I begin my layouts by weeding through my billion-paper stacks and choosing a few pretty papers that work with my photo. I'll then select some embellishments, arrange everything on my page, add a title, some journaling, and I'm good to go. For this week, however, I decided to challenge myself to create some layouts that used 99.9% patterned paper--as backgrounds, as embellishments, and as titles. And I got some of my talented WCS teammates to play along!
Punches and Shapes
For this layout I cut strips of paper and weaved them together to create a unique patterned paper background. I embellished with more patterned paper punched into stars, and added a title. Hidden journaling is tucked behind my photo. Using foam adhesive can help turn paper into a dimensional element on your page. Using a die-cutting machine, like the Silhouette Cameo, can quickly turn paper or cardstock into a title.
I broke out my star punches and foam adhesive on this Halloween layout as well. This time I used the stars and the negatives to add even more interest.
Emily S. used punches and negatives on her layout, "Daddy Kisses." And could the photo be any cuter? Seriously!
Paper Strips
For the next layout, I used the cut-off strips from the bottoms of 12x12 patterned paper and adhered them in a striped pattern on grey cardstock. I added my brief journaling to one of the strips, added a small button and a die cut shape, and called it good. Super simple, but a fun way to show off this instagram pic from last Thanksgiving. Plus I used those strips that I'd otherwise have tossed in the trash.
I also used left over strips for this layout, but these were created when I used an edge punch to make some confetti. They were so pretty I couldn't bear to throw them away, so I glued them down, added some stars punched from vellum and more paper, cut a title, and again hid my journaling behind my photo.
Emily S. also rocked the patterned paper strips in this layout:
Blocks and Layers
Patterned paper can also be used in blocks or in layers on a layout to give it a clean, graphic feel. Deb's layouts use blocks and strips of paper to complement her photos beautifully. I love her bold, graphic, signature style!
Emily S. showcased patterned paper on these layouts by also choosing big blocks:
And on this layout by using smaller squares:
Amy used smaller, more organically shaped patterned paper pieces on her layout. I love how she used the twine to "tie-in" her title!
Thanks for joining me today! Have you made layouts with 99.9% patterned paper? Leave me a comment and tell me about it! I hope you'll be back each day this week for more pretty paper projects!
