I know this is going to sound really stupid, and all, but I am serious. I've never been good at putting colors and patterns together. I bought me a color wheel thinking that would help, but I don't understand that either, lol at myself. I want so bad to put some pages together but I don't know what kind of paper patterns etc I can put together. What I think looks good others prob won't think so. I am constantly looking at ya'lls layouts and magazines which gives me really good ideas but when I actually sit down to do it, I can't. I could open a store in my room. Any ideas?
Funny you'd mention the color wheel. I got one sort of free in a big box of misc. crafts I bought. I just started trying to use it. I do find it helps in finding colors to go together. Mine has lines that point to different colors and calls them things I can't remember off the top of my head. It's really helped me put colors together that I never would have normally.
Most of the time for LOs I start with a piece of patterened paper that I like and just match card stock, ribbons, embellishments from there. You don't really need to worry about what others think just yourself.
I'll get my color wheel out and see if I can help make more sense of it later when I'm done running kids around.
It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of your colour/pattern combinations sweety - it only matters if YOU like them. There's no law that says you can't put a floral next to a plaid, or use more than two patterned papers on a page...
I've found that the best way to make a good colour/pattern combination is to start with one element that you want to use on the page (it could be your photo/s, or an embellishment you particularly want to use), then put that next to all the different cardstocks in your collection until you find one you like. A lot of them will look awful but some might be possibilities - put them aside and lay your item down on each one in turn and decide which one YOU like the best. Pick that cardstock up and try more papers against them both and keep on going until you get enough.
Tammy, firstly I would say that you and the loved ones you make the LO's for are your no1 customers! In other words - what do YOU like? In my opinion that is the most important. If you find pleasure when paging through your album, you've achieved your goal. Also it reflects your personality and makes it unique.
I also find my inspiration from mags and other peoples LO's they share. Sometimes they think of stuff I never would have thought of and then I just adapt those ideas to my liking - that's what so fun and cool from being on this group ;))
The only other thing I do is to take my lead from my pictures - I know this is elementary - but I do try to match the colours (or shades therof) and if I really want to use a coloured or patterned paper that does not match those pictures - I change them to b&w or sepia or even to other hues. I'm almost finished with another LO for my Moms Wedding Album and I've changed the picture to a yellow hue. I'll probably post this weekend. Just have to do the journaling.
I also like to use one colour - but in a range of different shades. Say for example - red cardstock mixed with white and pinkish patterned paper. Then matting the photos in a combo of white, pink and red cardstock. I know this is old school - but the result always looks pleasing to me :) I think this is where your colour wheel could come in handy - to use the colours surrounding the main colour you choose on the wheel. I've also heard that if you want a bigger contrast you can choose the colour directly accross the main colour you use on the colour wheel to really make your LO POP - but for myself - I like something more subtle - again this is only subjective.
HTH!! and by the way - I always think your LO's look great!
I think you said it all. I do occasionally make an album for someone else, but most of my work is for me to enjoy. So it really only matters what I personally like. As for 'old school' I keep coming back there also. I do like to try new techniques and supplies. And I am a 'tool freak' (according to DD). If you saw the totes I still have to empty you would really understand this. I think the magazine LO's are sometimes just too artsy. They are out to sell products and they get us. I can't see spending $8-$10 or more on a single LO. Can you imagine just how expensive an album could get? Someone told me a $5 LO is a good medium. I think that is way too much also. A 30 page album would cost $150.
I also like tools, and in that way, I don't mind spending money, because I see it as an investment. But I won't spend a fortune on paper, cardstock and embelishments. I really wait for sales and you usually can get the stuff you need for a fraction of the original price. So I'm a real Sale Queen! LOL
An album can really get expensive, especially considering the time and effort that goes into it. But $10 on a single LO is just crazy in my opinion.
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