Kraft paper is one of my favorite canvases. It has a tendency to warm a page up and make it feel cozy. It also works well to tone down busy patterns in much the same way that black does but without the intensity. I tend to go on spurts in the use of my scrapbook supplies and sadly, kraft hasn’t been in my go to list for a little while now. Discovering the Kraft Plus challenge group is going to change that though. Kraft is definitely back in the rotation.

Their first challenge just posted and it is a color palette. Kraft plus challenges is based in Australia, so this palette reflects their current summer season. However, that doesn’t mean you have to use it for a summer layout. I realized I had quite a few scraps with just the right colors in my January Cocoa Daisy kit which happens to focus on being cozy in cool weather. Perfect. Now I was all set to tell the story of how our tiny little island cat gets cold easily and needs a morning snuggle from time to time.

Cold Kitty by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: JBS Mercantile, Basic Grey, Cocoa Daisy;Letters: October Afternoon; Wood Veneer: Crate Paper; Ink: Versamark; German Foil: JBS Mercantile; Button: Webster’s Pages; Punch: EK Success; Die Cut: Basic Grey; Based on a Page Maps Sketch; linking up with Kraft Plus Challenges

I had a sheet of sweater print paper left over from a previous JBS Mercantile kit. Initially, I wanted to use it as the base. However, the rules state that the base must be Kraft. I decided to trim the base down and layer it within two sheets of kraft paper. The added machine stitching really helps to create that cozy feel. Since the paper isn’t winter themed, I added a German Foil snowflake. The use of the sparkly, acrylic buttons also add a slightly chilled feel to the page. It’s a nice mix of cozy and cool. Perfect to document a tropical winter in the Caribbean.

I know that color palettes can sometimes feel a bit intimidating. However, there is a huge advantage to working through one. Once you have completed one page, that color story sometimes stays stuck in your brain. Without realizing it, you may just very well make your next page or two using the same palette. This very thing happened to me. After creating the above layout just for fun, I set off to work on my page for Layout a Day. Without realizing what I was doing, I used the Mango Breeze palette again.

Story Time by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn, Heidi Swapp, October Afternoon,Crate Paper; Letters: Elle’s Studio; Stickers: October Afternoon; Enamel Dots: My Mind’s Eye; based on a Page Maps Sketch

This is the wonderful thing about color palettes. They can be used to tell stories from so many topics. Here we have two layouts: one about a cold kitty and one about my son reading a book. Totally unrelated and yet, the palette works for both of the pages.

I am looking forward to seeing what future challenges arise from Kraft Plus Challenges. How about you? Will you be playing along?

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