Today is the monthly Senior Design Team challenge for Papertrey Ink.

Our challenge from Nichole was to  pair four or more different patterns on a single project, making them all work harmoniously together!

I thought this was a super fun challenge, as I know many of you ask yourself about HOW to go about such a venture! I mix, match and pair patterns all the time! I began my creative ventures as a Quilt maker, and to me, that was the best part! Mixing and matching all the various fabric patterns and making them work!

Here is my snippet of patterns-up close

I used a total of 6 patterns for my creation-from 5 different paper packs.

My tips for mixing patterns:

1) Pick a main pattern as a start point.

This will help with the color palette, and will enable you to pull out other colors from that start point.

 In this case my start point began with the dotted leaf pattern from the Father Know’s Best collection.

By choosing this I knew I would pick up the Summer Sunset color from other patterns, as well as Dark Chocolate.

Also seeing the dots I knew I could pull more papers with dots-such as Chocolate Remix, and Bitty Dots 2008! 

2) Put the patterns together, and move them around. See what looks and feels like a harmonious match/mix.

For instance, I wouldn’t put the flower pattern, next to the bitty squares pattern. It would just meld together or disappear! It would also look too heave on one side of the card, with so much of ONE color in ONE area.

3) Layer more simple patterns next to busier patterns, so it looks more harmonious.

As you can see, next to my BUSY patterns, I used paper that picks up on the pattern, and is less “busy” So, since there were dots on my leaves, I layered the polka dot paper next to the leaf pattern. On the other side, I went with a faint pattern by using Bitty Boxes. Next to the dots, we get back to a faintly patterned paper, the on to a butterfly border, which continued with the dotted pattern.

4) Use a variety of pattern scales.

We have little boxes, large leaves, bitty dots, larger flowers, then little butterflies in this.

Also use a Larger portion of ONE color, then smaller portions of other colors from the main pattern.

As presented in my card above.

The eye travels from the flower on the left, over the patterns, then rests on the sentiment on the lower right.

It all just flows!

5) Don’t be afraid!

That is the #1 thing holding people back from attempting to mix and match! Just got for it. If you get a paper pad with various patterns in it, each holds some variety of the same colors, start by mixing and matching the patterns in the same pack! Then later, as you grow comfortable, mix different paper packs together, as I did here . When you have a company, like Papertrey Ink, who used similar colors in their paper pads, it is easier to combine the various patterns!

Now I didn’t want you thinking I went with a easy color combo, to make it easy on myself, so I will share another card I did for the last Papertrey ink release, using a paper pack from another company-with some Papertrey Ink paper

This used 4 different patterns!

The bitty dots and bitty sqaures from Papertrey Ink, then the striped for my panel, and some other patterned paper for the “hot air balloons” from K& Co.

This project began with the stripped paper, then moved along from there! All using the same tips I posted above. I used larger scale patterns, with smaller scale patterns,  and pulling colors from the stripes, it all just worked!

Do you realize there are color 8 color combinations in this one?

Raspberry, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Orange, Black, Red, Blue, White!

All used in various scales, making it all just work!

So now it is your turn to give it go!

Be sure to check out the other  design team member blogs for more ideas!

• Becky Oehlers 
• Nichole 
• Heather Nichols
• Lauren Meader
• Lisa Johnson
• Michelle Wooderson

and our Guest Designer Wendy Sue

I really hope you are inspired by my projects today! I enjoyed sharing my own tips that I use when combining patterns, colors and scale.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Well I hope those of you, like me, stuck home during CHA, are finding things to do! I have been creating up a storm here. The creative juices are slowly flowing in between taking care of everything. I’m just pretending Jay is at work, and its a normal day! LOL! I have had a few play-dates for the kids to keep them busy, so that has helped too.

 I have a FAB weekend planned here, as it is our towns annual Hot Air Balloon Rally! We have a huge turnout each year, and it is just a blast!

It is the one thing I look forward too each summer. It is also a bit sad because I know summer is ending soon.

Amber was DUE on Balloon Rally the year she was born, so I always remember the way I felt that year! She was actually quite late, arriving August 13th! I was about as big as the hot air balloons that year! I do recall eating 3 pieces of fried dough during the course of that day! LOL! It was my LAST excuse to eat like that-and boy was it yummy!! I planned my eating this week around indulging at the Rally this year. I won’t go overboard, but I AM having my fried dough, with Nutella on it 😀 Oh! How yummy.

I can’t believe I have to start school shopping soon. My kids are still in Summer School! LOL! Anywho…….

Time to kick off the next day of Sneak Peeks of the NEWEST C.C. Designs stamp sets!

 The images will all be released Monday August 3rd. Be sure to check out the C.C. Designs blog, each day, for your chance to WIN the set revealed. They are ALL fab.

Today is AmyR’s Sympathy Sentiments set.

There are several really nice sentiments for the saddest of occasions. Finding the right words when someone loses a loved one is truly a difficult task, but this set makes it easier.

Amy included a pretty flower branch in this set too. To me it looked like a Cherry Blossom. (I’m not a flower person, so if it’s not, sorry! But to me, that was my thought when designing this card)

I stamped the image onto shimmery white cardstock, and cut out a circle around it. I love the branch hanging off

I then layered some pink colors

Simple layout, but I really loved it.

Well that does it for me today. I have much to do. Lots of fun to be had with the kids. I hope to get some photos for ya! Really cool stuff 😀

Tomorrow is our weekly challenge, and I have the Senior Design Team Challenge from Papertrey Ink-so see ya then