The bold energy of neon colors is unparalleled. We are seeing their appearance in fashion and in papercraft products. It doesn’t take bravery to use these bright colors. It just takes a little know-how.
You can find neon colors gracing patterned paper, tapes, paint and mist. Some colors are bolder than others. Used without care, neon tones can overpower your project. Let’s explore how we can harness their energy.
Supplies
Cardstock- 1 sheet of black and 1 sheet of white
Neon paint or mist- at least 2 shades.
Neon tape( optional)
Naked chipboard
Embellishments
Stencil
Step One When choosing your photos, look for black and white images, images that are energetic or bland images that are about an energetic story. Neon colors also work well with summer photos. You could use them for beach layouts, playground photo ops, or water gun fights. I chose this rather bland photo of my cat. There isn’t a lot of color in the photo. The neon will help it pop. My cat is watching us swim in our pool. The action isn’t evident. Using the neon will help add energy and a fun summer feel to the layout.
Matting the photo with black cardstock will help keep it from getting lost in the bright blend of color. Black defines areas while absorbing a little of the neon glow. If necessary, you can later matte die cuts or letter stickers as you embellish the layout.
Step Two Use the paint and a stencil to create a fun background. If using a shape, such as the doily used here, try to keep in mind where you might want to place the photo. Think about placing color strategically to create movement. I created a sort of diagonal flow with the green paint, for example. Also consider overlapping the edges of the cardstock canvas. Your goal is to create a dynamic design. If you are using a paint dauber, you can add a few splats to the canvas as well. Make sure everything is dry before you proceed.
Step Three After you adhere the photo, begin creating a shelf underneath it. You can use tape, bands of pattern paper or ribbon. Neon washi tape is a good option. I found thin neon marking tape in the sewing section of my local craft store. If you have white ribbon, you can use mist or paint to add color.
Step Four If you don’t already have neon embellishments, you can custom color your own. I colored some naked chipboard and a wood veneer camera. Other options would include creating your own flowers or adding paint splatters to pre-made flowers. Some jewels work well at picking up the neon glow surrounding them. Pastel jewels often work the best.
Step Five Layer in your embellishments and add the finishing touches. As you complete this step, take the colors of your background canvas into consideration. Look for opportunities to add visual triangles. For example, I created a triangle on my layout with the purple doily, the house and the small purple jewel on the camera. Due to the bright nature of neon colors, you may find that a minimal amount of embellishing is required.
Neon is fun to use and it definitely packs a punch. Use black to help diffuse its energy in key spots. Don’t feel like you need to stack on layers of embellishments. The placement of your design elements should be thoughtful, but you don’t need to use a lot when working with such a bold color.
What Momo Thinks by Christy Strickler Supplies Cardstock: Colorbok; Letters: American Crafts; Pen: Sharpie, Signo; Chipboard: Maya Road; Paint: Hero Arts, Ranger; Stencil: Pink Paislee; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Jewels: Making Memories; Stickers: American Crafts; Other: tape
Additional Resources
Color My Word: Neon Pinterest board
Under InSpection: Hero Arts Neon Ink Daubers
Trackbacks/Pingbacks