How to: Patterned Paper on ANY Card

How big is your patterned paper stash? Mine is HUGE!!! I struggled for a long time on whether to get rid of all my patterned paper or attempt to use it. I decided to use it. I’ll probably never use all of it but I can use it on any card I make.

When I first started making cards, I used patterned paper all the time. I didn’t know anything about making cards other than it was a folded piece of cardstock and a sentiment. The more I learned about cardmaking the more I learned the importance of white space. I lost the love of patterned paper on my cards. Sad day! So what happened to rekindle my love of patterned paper? I figured out how to strike a balance between white space and patterned paper.

Here are a few examples of what I’m talking about.

Guidelines for using Patterned Paper on ANY Card

• Select a pattern that is an appropriate size for the main focal point of your card. If your main focal point is small, then keep your pattern small. A large pattern will overwhelm the main focal point and take away from it instead of enhancing it.
• Make sure the colors in the patterned paper coordinate with the main focal point. It doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy but you don’t want the colors in the patterned paper competing for focus with your main image.
• Mixing patterned papers is okay! Just make sure the tone of the colors is similar to each other. What I mean is one pattern shouldn’t be brighter than the other.
• A simple black and white striped, dotted, or plaid strip is always classy.
• Use subtle patterned paper for a die cut. For example, die cut grass from a green on green plaid patterned paper. (Try saying that five times fast! HA!)
• Remember…rules are made to be broken! If you like how it looks, that’s all that really matters.

Two ways I like to maintain white space

• Use a white card base. Cut down your patterned paper so there is a white border showing around all of the paper.
• Mount your focal image on a white background. This separates the focal image from the patterned paper.
• Don’t be afraid to use patterned paper on your cards. It is an amazing way to add beauty and depth to your card. The simplest way to make sure the pattern doesn’t overwhelm your main focal point is to maintain some white space on your card.

Have fun with patterned paper!  That’s the most important part of making a card.  White space gives your cards that clean and simple look.  It also provides more opportunities to use patterned paper on your card.  Take advantage of it and make those cards fantastic!  I’ve included some links to some of my favorite patterned paper pads, including a paper pad dedicated to black and white stripes and dots.