{please excuse the odd bulleting in few spots -- i'm trying out the new typepad}
When I first started scrapbooking and shopping for
papers, I gravitated to eye-catching patterns with motifs like flourishes,
stars, paisleys, and florals. The dots and stripes weren’t as interesting to
me, I didn’t see why I needed them, and I rarely bought them unless they were
on a double-sided piece.
Somewhere along the way, I started realizing that the
dots and stripes were essential to the kind of pages I really love – pages with
multiple photos and multiple pattered papers and layers. I've come to appreciate the way dots and stripes can do the following:
- add design interest,
- create movement, and
- set tone
---------WITHOUT detracting from my photos or creating too much busy-ness on my usually full pages. On this 2-page layout, I've got 10 photos, a pocketful of memorabilia, and three different patterned papers. But it's not cluttered. Note that two of those patterns are sedate and linear dot arrangements.
Take a look at these paper collections by American Crafts (Tea Party) and Crate Paper (Little Sprout). See how the strong motifs are balanced by stripes and dots. See also the different tones that are set by color, pattern regularity, and dot/stripe size--more about that below.
ABOUT STRIPES
There are millions of ways to create and vary striped (and dotted) patterns, including:
- stripes ranging from strong lines or bars to motifs arranged in rows (i.e., a row of flowers or stars)
- stripes with regular
widths or varied widths; these widths may vary in an obvious pattern or
they may seem more haphazard
- they may be
arranged in a pattern of colors or more randomly
- they may use many colors or just a few; a tone on tone pattern is usually more formal and elegant
- mixing stripes:
- with prints: the key is balance; stripes go well with botanicals and florals; avoid geometric and swirled patterns as they may be overwhelming
- with other stripes: use stripes of differing colors and sizes; like ticking with a bold pattern
ABOUT DOTS
- dots respond to
a wide range of color treatments, each of which conveys mood; for example:
- multi-colored=funky
- pastel shades=formal
- bold, monochromatic colors = retro - dots can be
styled in several ways; which, again, affects mood
small or
large
- random or arranged in evenly spaced rows
- mono, two-tone or multiple colors
- small repetitions – timeless (like dotted Swiss)
- convey mood and tone (colors, pattern variations, and size can all affect the tone you set).
- with dots:
- pale clearcolors on white = clean, cool, fresh, transparent quality, playful cheerful
- black dots on bright clear colors = slick, stylish mood
- white dots on vivid brights = clean vital sporty
- black dots = aggressive, urban
- add movement (with both stripes AND with dot patterns that have strong linear arrangements)vertical = more energy; horizontal is restful
In "Doing It" horizontal strips of paper contain vertical stripes that add energy. What's more the eye will move straight down the column of photos with the help of these strips.
In Seder Anticipation, again, there are horizontal strips but these contain horizontally running stripes. The result is a calming and more formal page.
- use as a border; use to define a space
- create a background or mat
- provide subtle design interest; i.e., smaller, two-color or two-tone, regular pattern
- make a bold statement; i.e., large, irregular, multi-color dots or stripes
- make the perfect accent; incorporate into:
- backgrounds
- tags, strips, covering for other embellishments (i.e., bare chipboard)
- patterned paper blocks that "fill in the grid"
- borders and edging strips
- "throw pillows:" small perfectly placed accents.
Great post. I'm popping in from SITS to say HI
Posted by: Suz | July 24, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Thank you for that great tutorial. I think it is the only one on the Web. The three parts with the picture are in my files, now.
You make me happy :-)
Posted by: Retro Jordans | September 03, 2010 at 09:33 PM