Creative Card-Making Tips (Nov. 02)
Courtesy of AccuCut.com

- Follow the Golden Rule of Patterned Papers and mat your page elements with a coordinating solid paper to provide a visual space. Matting will make each element "pop" off the page.

- Want a fool-proof way to mix patterned papers? Reach for tone-on-tone patterned papers. "Tone-on-tone" simply means one color patterned with a lighter or darker tone of the same color, for example, a light pink and dark pink. Do remember that matting on a solid is imperative with any pattern mixing, even subtle tone-on-tones.

- While tone-on-tone colors add a subtle touch, brightly colored patterns have a striking effect. When combining two brightly colored patterned papers, choose patterns that are small and subtle so the effect is eye-catching but not overwhelming. Often scrappers will say their pages look too busy with patterned papers, when really it's just a matter of putting the right paper in the right place. Generally, larger patterns act as the background while smaller, brighter patterns are prefect for matting.

- Another simple technique is mixing dark and light patterns for subtle dimension and contrast. How can you tell if a pattern is dark or light? Does the paper look predominantly light or dark? Place light patterns next to dark ones for maximum contrast and impact, layer them or place them side by side as a paper quilting for beautiful effect.

- Combining floral patterns with geometrics is a simple way to achieve a balanced effect on your page. The trick is to use papers with the same colors in the same tones. Pair a tone-on-tone geometric with a soft floral pattern for an easy, elegant mix.

- Another way to strike a balance on your page is to combine large and small patterned paper prints together. Try pairing a large geometric print with a subtle "scuffed" patterned paper, keeping the colors in the same family. Again, larger patterns make wonderful backgrounds, while smaller patterns are better mats and accents.