Scrapbook Color Combinations by Sandy Keene

COLOR INSPIRATION

Mosaics can start with a favorite photo, a wonderful outdoor setting or a stack of pictures just screaming to be merged together into a fabulous mosaic.  We are going to talk about color.  Who doesn’t respond to gorgeous saturated colors?

I was recently in Arizona for the first time.  I was so excited to get to go out west as I am an East Coast girl.  My nose was pressed against the airplane window looking at the landscapes and terrain that were definitely different than what I was used to.  When my travel partner asked me to go to the Desert Botanical Gardens, I was curious to see what a desert garden would look like.

I took many pictures but one picture jumped out of the stack.

The colors of the flowers in the foreground against the blurred color of the cactus in the background were so beautiful to me.  The photo looked like I knew what I was doing instead of the snapped completely lucky shot that it truly was.  I had to celebrate that! I sent the photo file off to Costco and asked for my favorite enlargement size 8x 12.

Then I chose a few colors to be my focal colors.

I went with this golden yellow, reddish orange and amethyst.  I also knew that I would slip in some of the pink tones as an accent color.  Had to!

I chose 12×12 Mosaic Moments Grid Paper in Black.  I knew those jewel tones would pop right off the black background and add depth to my project.  I love flowers on black mosaic paper – it just may be my favorite combination. My center photo covers 6 squares by 6 squares (6 5/8″ x 6 5/8″). The rest of the photo area is covered wth one inch squares.  If you do not have 8 x 12 enlargements, you could also use a 8 x 10 and a couple of 4 X 6 to achieve a similar look.

I filled in the bottom of the mosaic with three colors of patterned paper (Daisy D’s Gypsy Paisley collection) tearing and inking the torn edge and papers in random spots to add pink tones with Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick).

I added three glossy brads in the same colors, stamped the edges in a botanical flourish using black ink, stamped “Botanical”, wrote “desert” and added an orange lacey cardstock edge at the bottom for added interest.

In case you are wondering what that gorgeous carribbean blue mat is behind my mosaic – it is the NEW Mosaic Moments Cutting Mat  WOW! Talk about color inspiration – if you are thinking about a cutting mat or want to add a new one to your collection of Mosaic  Moment Mats, I highly recommend this one.  All of the wonderful attributes of the old mat AND it is pretty just sitting on your scrap table!