Sara's Blog

I’m a self-described Paper Addict—and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one around, right? (I’m also a pretty good paper collector.) One thing I love to do with patterned paper is to mix it, combining different patterns together on a card or layout. It’s a really versatile technique, and you can mix and match as much (or as little) as you like.

LeNae’s Mother’s Day page is a good example of minimal mixing… because the swirl border paper is so strong, LeNae chose to add a smaller pattern (tone on tone dots) only on the bow accents she made from the Fold-It Bows template.

You could also mix bold patterns, like stripes, with a “textured” paper, as LeNae did on her “thankful” layout. I love how the stripes make a focal point for her photos and journaling, while the “mesh” textured paper is a subtle background that still has loads of texture.

Laura, who did this card, went a bit bolder with her mixed papers, combining two different background papers on the front of her card and two more patterns for the Scandinavian Heart focals. It all works because of the common denominator, the color yellow. Take a look: Each of the patterned papers has a tinge of yellow, and the chalked yellow butterflies and “thank you” message pull it all together. The “thank you” is matted on blue, which contrasts perfectly with yellow.

Thanks, Laura and LeNae, for this week’s inspiration!