When we scrapbook, we usually choose to work with a diverse palette. Many paper collections feature a variety of prints and colors. Sometimes, to pack a punch, it’s best to whittle down your choices to just a neutral plus one color.Earlier this year, I found myself inspired by images from the United Kingdom. I noticed a common theme appearing in many of the photos. The backgrounds were relatively neutral while a pop of red appeared in the form of a bus or telephone booth. Red is a dramatic color. It’s a wonderful way to add energy to your layouts. Let’s see if we can replicate the same look on a layout using just red and tan products.
Supplies
Patterned Paper with neutral designs, or a variety of book pages and ephemera
Photo(s)
Red and beige patterned paper and embellishments
One 12×12 sheet of cardstock
Step One We will start our layout by building a neutral background on a sheet of cardstock. I used a mixture of old book pages, ephemera and neutral toned patterned paper. Notice they are all comprised of a variety of beige tones. As I created my background, I rotated the paper and ephemera in a variety of directions. Some are right side up while others are on their side or even upside down. The goal is to cover the cardstock in a haphazard manner that makes it look visually interesting.
Step Two As you begin layering your red patterned paper over the background, keep the photo placement in mind. You only need a few red pieces at this point. I chose patterns with a strong, masculine feel since this layout was about my son.
Step Three After adding your photo to the layout, use embellishments to add a few more red items. We are layering in stages.
Quick Tip: I had used a chunky bingo card as part of my neutral background. The photo would have hung over the edge and looked odd. I added a little chipboard to the back side of the photo where it hung over the bingo card. This supported the photo where it hung over the edge. At the same time, this helps give more dimension to the layers I am creating on the layout.
Consider how one item looks over the top of another. I like to alternate between the reds and the neutrals. I also like to layer a solid colored item over a busy pattern. I feel it helps the eye to rest a little.
Step Four After adding your journaling to the layout, add any last minute finishing touches. I love to use journaling strips on my layouts. They are a great way to add another simple layer while using up some of my scraps. My finishing touches were a few buttons and a simple jewel.
This layout really packs a visual punch despite the fact that I focused on only two colors. Red and tan have a way of warming up black and white photos. You can use a color photo, but the results may not be as dramatic. Use texture, pattern and tone to add more depth to two tone layouts. The right patterns are essential to unifying the story of your layout. Think about how different this layout would feel if the patterned papers were full of doodled, free flowing designs. Even though you are using only two basic colors, the gallon/quart/pint rule can still apply. In this case, I used a gallon of tan, a quart of red elements with patterns, and a pint of elements with solid colors.
Multimedia Kid by Christy Strickler Supplies Patterned Paper, Ephemera, Badge: Jenni Bowlin; Letters,Stamp: American Crafts; Flowers: Webster’s Pages; Buttons, Stickers: Basic Grey; Jewel: Prima; Punch: Fiskars; Other: twine, digital stamp
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