Pattern Pizzaz

This month's Papertrey Senior Design Team challenge was to use four or more patterns on a project. You know that I love to make my own patterned paper so this challenge was a fun one for me. Today I'll be using Papertrey's Floral Fusion stamp set. Those that attended the CHA Super Show were able to acquire this stamp set at the Papertrey booth.

I started my project by cutting lots of 1" x 4" strips of Vintage Cream cardstock. Using Papertrey ink colors in Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado, Aqua Mist and Spring Moss, I stamped a different pattern on each of my cardstock strips. I also added in some fun polka dots from Polka Dots Basics II in Summer Sunrise ink.

By using a single stamp design and single ink color, I was able to create what looks like individual patterned paper that was cut up for each of my cardstock strips. I love the look of this because it looks like I chose papers that came from a coordinated paper pack. But for a fraction of the price. I could have also stamped full sheets of my patterns to create a one sheet wonder....this would be great if you needed lots more of the patterned paper.
Next, I assembled my cardstock strips onto 4.25" x 5.5" Kraft card fronts. I did not worry about spacing the strips perfectly, I went for a quirky look by just attaching them randomly. Edges of cards were inked with Vintage Cream ink.

Next up, I made some sentiments using images from Floral Fusion and Ripe Avocado ink. I used a scalloped rectangle punch and rectangle border stamps from Borders and Corners: Rectangles.

One of the hardest things about using lots of patterns on your projects is making it all look good. And not like a mismatched mess. One of the best ways to tie all of the elements together on your project is by matching items of the same/similar colors. Papertrey makes it super duper easy peasy to do this because of all of the coordinating products we offer. Today I'm matching up some buttons but you could easily match up inks to ribbon, cardstock, Copic markers, etc.

To finish up my cards, I let my patterned paper strips steal the show. I kept my sentiment pieces fairly small and used Vintage Cream Sheer Stripes ribbon that stayed neutral and sheer. My cards have FIVE different patterns on them, but they don't look to *busy* at all. Actually I think they look very soft and pretty, just the look I was going for.

So I hope you try your hand at combining patterns on your projects. Don't be afraid, you can do it! Here's some other samples I made some time ago. For these projects, I used Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper as my base paper, then stamped images on top.

Very different patterns and colors, but it all works because I used color and coordinating products to tie it all together.

Hope you give it a try! For even more inspiration on using multiple patterns on your projects, visit these Papertrey designers' blogs:

Nichole Heady

Becky Oehlers

Heather Nichols

Lauren Meader

Lisa Johnson

Wendy Sue Anderson (Distinguished Guest Designer)