Featuring Pattern #135

The Power of the Pattern
The pattern for this week’s feature is #135. It’s one of my favorites because I like that section of “steps” across the page that makes a wonderful spot for so many things. Today I’ve used it for travel destinations, words related to travel and graphic embellishments.Let’s begin with layout one “She Colors My World.”

LAYOUT ONE She Colors My World

 

Three things contribute to the power this pattern brings in this layout. First, there is the use of the white grid space and second, the bold primary colors and third, the graphic embellishments to go with the subject.
When working with colors I often turn to a nice white grid to show them off. Publisher D&K’s trademark is their use of white space in their books. So next time you are inclined to pass on using a white grid paper think twice and see how striking a page can be on white.

Photos of my granddaughter coloring allowed me to re-use a crayon theme I once did for a Design Team color challenge…it also lead me to my choice of pattern for this week.

Here’s the original layout and a link it you’d like to see more of the details. I began with this pattern but tweaked it to fit my photo choices, but today, I’ve stuck to the pattern!!

http://www.journella.com/storyboard/fullview/id/9670/Crafts-Scrapbooks-2012-MMDT-May-Challenge-#1

For this page I have used bold primary colors to create the crayons and with scallop blade scissors a ¼” color ribbon strip to center on several white squares like a scribble across the page. Increasing the amount of white on a page adds to the power of the colors of the embellishments. You see the grid and at the same time it also becomes a part of the background.

I used the 1×3 die from Die Set B to cut the body of the crayons, and a ¼” strip of black cardstock cut down the center with zig-zag scissors to imitate that famous crayon. The crayon tip is a single 1” color tile that I have snipped at the ¼” mark on either side and in the middle of the ‘top’ then take my straight-edge and line the marks up and cut away the rest. Then I just use the first as a template as I cut the remaining colors. Mount them on top of a white paper tile and it’s finished.

Additionally by using the Corner Tiles die set I fill the one mosaic section with a wide chevron stripe.

Instead of choosing one color for the base of the title block I decided to carry the color theme across the page and trim the title to leave a colorful edge below and adhere. The title is one I created digitally and printed on photo paper for a nice glossy look.

LAYOUT TWO Road Trip

Bold colors, strong contrast and patterned paper are the power in this layout.

Once again bold colors will help power up this pattern. I began with the pattern paper ‘Road Trip’ by Reminiscence. I really like the words arranged in random directions and font styles across this 12×12 paper. I have several papers I really love and at the same time, hate to use because it requires covering up a lot of what you like about the paper. Anybody else out there feel like that?

The patterned paper has a variety of sections I like, choosing one was a challenge. I have ‘fussy cut’ a few sections to get the words I wanted to include and have covered the entire 1” tile sections not with photos but the patterned paper for an overall look.

I chose Mosaic Moments 12×12 grind in Sunshine, a bold yellow color that complimented the pattern paper wonderfully. Black mats and tiles add strong contrast. The paper is busy but the solid black mats and steps keep drawing your eye back to the pattern.

Heading out on a road trip is one of our favorite things to do. Along the way we sometimes only have one or two photos from the various stops until we get to our final destination. This time I have three photos of three stops and have created a page that will make a nice beginning page to more layouts from the same trip.

Admittedly, at one time I was not a real fan of the 4×6 photo print. While it is a larger photo (nice) it took up too much space on a layout (bad) and I wanted to get as many photos on a page as I could. So, many of my prints were done in the 3.5” x 5” format. This being the case…it’s going to be interesting cropping to fit the pattern. Fortunately it provides the perfect place to label the photos once they are mounted on black cardstock. White gel pen journaling stands out and keeps with overall look of the page.

The 1×3 steps were cut using the 1 x 3.25 strip die and black cardstock. Three have been debossed with Tim Holtz’ Expedition set of debossing folders. The other three contain the names of the stops along the way printed to resemble road signs.

LAYOUT THREE Three Niagara Falls

The power in the pattern this time comes from the teal tiles and tiny butterflies marking each of six spots we visited on our trip to Niagara Falls, Canada. Your eye follows the butterflies (Amuse die) as they cascade down the teals on the Dark Spring Green Mosaic Moments Grid Paper. Tiny liquid pearls dot the butterflies as heads for their bodies.

The third layout follows the pattern the closest with the use of seven photos and four mosaic spots.

Again I’m using 3.5” x 5” photos mounted on the 3.25” x 5.5” teal bases. This time there is no border of color around each photo only a 1/2” section of teal cardstock for labeling the photos. The three larger photos are group photos of the family while the photos in the mosaic sections represent a corresponding photo…the girls at the falls at night and the falls, the flowers from many gardens around town, the white river rapids and the boys along the white water walk, the butterfly gardens with the butterfly markers along the tags.

The use of the 1” grid die allowed me to line up and choose the section I want to use like to center the butterfly that is tucked inside the green foliage giving its own square to be highlighted. The 1×3.25 strip die to cut the teal tiles for the steps.

 

Once again we’ve shown you three ways one pattern can be presented to achieve different looks and bring power to the pattern with enjoyable results.

Have fun finding the power of the pattern you choose to work with and remember, we’d really like to see what you are doing! Share with us on Facebook…or maybe join us on Journella?

Andrea Fisher