Thursday, July 30, 2015

Color pops! Or: thoughts on color-"rules"

Hello everyone,

I'm back with another bunch of cards and I'd like to talk about color today. You know I am crazy about colors - there are some colors I use every day (like aquas/turquoises) and some I hardly ever use (purples and soft pinks). So let's see what I put together today :)

1) Use your least favorite color in small amounts... But dare to get out of your comfort zone.
I got this super cute Monster at the Stempelbar in Berlin and the sweet illustrator who was working there that day said "You can put something in his mouth, too!" and at that moment I had to have it. I cut a slid and gave him a little envelope. :)

Hands down - I struggle with purple. I see it on projects and think it looks lovely, but I find it doesn't look too good on my creations. So I tried to just use a pop of it.
love bold yellow-greens with aqua and even if I don't like purple a lot - that little splash of seedless preserves goes so well with these! it's there, but it's not all over the card - one way to incorporate colors out of your comfort zone.






Pile it on - thinking of you


2) Reduce colors to small areas if they're super bright
I'm totally into yellow right now. I have to control myself to not put yellow onto EVERY SINGLE CARD. But well, it's summer, so maybe I should just let go and go for yellow all of the time :)
If you're combining suuuper bright colors your card MAY look a little wild in the end - reducing the color to only a small area can help :)
(Well, this is not a rule at all. I actually saw many cards with LOTS of bright colors, but this is an EASY way to keep a nice balance with bright colors)




Addicted to CAS - Chevron
Happy little stampers CAS challenge - Stamping
Less is more - Snippets


3) Make your image pop with a subtile background
Coloring images is so much fun - and I love this new stamp  So i had to color it with my new Copics on my way back from Berlin. /The sentiment is from Create A Smile and says "Oops, belated...")
If you have an image with lots of different areas and colors, keep your background pretty simple. A subtile pattern that coordinates with your used colors will help make your image pop!





Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes


4) Don't let color and texture compete against each other.
Competing design elements might be a problem when it comes to cardmaking.
I have this crackling paste and I really wanted it to shine. So I thought focussing one one color (I mixed that crackling paint with salty ocean distress ink) would help draw attention to that texture. Brown/wood/kraft is a nice contrast, but not as "In your face" as a bright pink would be - if that makes sense :)



Challenge up your life - wood/ cork


So these wer just some thought on color combinations - let me know what you think about it and what you struggle with most.
Do you have certain colors that you struggle with? Or do you struggle with a goof balace. I've been there. I still am, now and then. But I find that practice improves a good sense for balance and combos.

Thanks for taking the time to read this through and visiting my little blog!



22 comments:

  1. WOW! Christine you've been super busy here but with such stunning, striking and totally outstanding cards.
    I love each one, so unique and clever and awesome colours.
    thanks so much for linking up and playing along at Less is More and ATCAS
    Sarah x

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  2. Absolutely incredible cards!! Wow!!! Looooooooove all of these tips!! I want to write thEm down so I don't forget! Ha!! You're a card magician!!!!!!

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  3. You're killing me with all your wonderful cards...such awesome inspiration!

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  4. What a lovely selection of cards .... the car card reminds me of Penelope Pitstop from Wacky Races! Love your LIM entry

    Kathyk

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  5. Hi Christine, what a fab set of cards. I really couldn't choose a favourite - they're all great. Sue

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  6. Fabulous selection of cards Christine . . . and fantastic tips! You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing! Have a lovely day! Hazel xx

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  7. Hachz ... eine Karte schöner als die andere! Und sooo tolle Tipps, vielen Dank! Klasse, dass du deine letzte Karte bei unserer Kork/Holz-Challenge mitspielen lässt!
    Liebe Grüßlis, Manu

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  8. These are such adorable cards - love them all. Thanks so much for joining us this week at the Pile it On Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)

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  9. So wunderbare Karten. Eine schöner als die andere! Aber am aller allermeisten mag ich das Kummermonster. Auch wenn es nicht so aussieht ;-) aber es heißt ja so.
    LG
    Tanja

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  10. Oh man, ich bin wieder ganz erschlagen von deiner Produktivität. SOOO viele schöne Karten. Ich kann mich gar nicht entscheiden, welche ich besser finde. Und deine Tipps sind wunderbar. Vielen lieben Dank dafür.

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  11. They are WUNDERBARE KARTEN
    sooo sweet so cute and all with vibrant happy and summer color
    I will CASE ing your card ...may I...
    great post Christine..
    hugs aus Munich
    Monika

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  12. This is an awesome lineup of cards, Christine! I love each and every one of them and you've given such good advice! Thanks for sharing with us at Happy Little Stampers!

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  13. What a great set of cards, they're all great. :)

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  14. Fantastic mix of cards Christine. As you said, balance is really key to designing a card, and you have balanced all of these perfectly. I love your mix of colours, layers and textures, while maintaining a CAS look that has a lot of impact. Thanks for all the tips. I struggle with using some colours as well ... purple definitely is a bit scary for me, although I love it. Will try incorporating using just a small amount. Thanks for playing along at Happy Little Stampers. xx

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  15. oopps ... thanks for playing along at ATCAS too! xx

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  16. WOW! I love your cards! And the crackled background is really beautiful.
    Thanks for joining us at CUYL!
    Hughs from Germany
    Steffie

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  17. These are fabulous Christine, you always create nothing less that the best :) Thank you for sharing with ATCAS!

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  18. Christine, your cards are fantastic. I love the way you layer elements and colours and your colouring is amazing.
    Thanks for sharing at Less is More and Happy Little Stampers.
    Anita x

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  19. Ich bin einfach hin und weg!!! Und sprachlos! Na, fast! die sind wiirklich toll!!! Vorallem der Hase mit der Blau-Braun-Kombi.. einfach umwerfend! Du bist echt die Meisterin

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  20. superb array of cards.. Thanks for sharing your card at ATCAS

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  21. I absolutely adore your monster card! AHH! So fabulous!!! Thanks so much for this yummy eye candy!

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  22. Christine, dein grünes Brief-Knusper-Monster ist klasse!
    Dieser und ähnlich süße Stempel stehen schon sei ner Weile auf meiner Wunschliste für die Stempelbar... Muß da dringend mal wieder hin - wird Zeit, dass die Sommerferien zu Ende gehen ;-)

    Jippieh! Gelb (Sonne) und leuchtendes Grün (Pflanzen) sind tolle Farben für den Sommer - sie verbreiten bei mir immer gute Laune!

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