Color palettes set the tone and the mood for your projects. Selecting the perfect colors for a project can be challenging and even intimidating for both experienced stampers and novices. I find myself conducting a never-ending search for fresh color ideas. Use materials you find in your everyday life to create color palettes for your projects. Inspiration can be found in everything from ribbons to scrapbook paper.
Matching your inks, paper and embellishments to a color palette from a ribbon is an easy place to start. I search clearance aisles and upscale fabric stores for small samples of gorgeous ribbon. When I’m ready to create a stunning card, I start with the colors in a beautiful ribbon. Adding the ribbon completes the project as an ideal finishing touch.
Using ribbon may be the easiest place to start, but multi-color inkpads are a close second. The benefit of creating a color palette from the inkpad is that you know the inks will look great together. The options are endless. You can use the palette to select the papers and embellishments. You don’t have to use the inks at all. Or you can use the inks on plain white cardstock to fully reveal the striking color combination. Of course, selecting the papers based on the inkpad and using the inks is the perfect recipe for a fabulous creation.
If you really want to create a project with the "WOW!" factor, visit your local hardware store or paint store. Many paint companies offer paint chips with samples of coordinating paints. Search through the paint chips until you find the colors that suit the mood of your project. All that remains is to match the paint chips to the papers at your local craft store or scrapbook store. The folks at my local scrapbook store are always willing to help me find the perfect matching shade of cardstock.
While you are visiting your local craft store, visit the scrapbook paper aisle. Use these lovely papers to create your own color palette. Scrapbook suppliers are working hard to make color selection simple. You can find complete lines with florals, plaids, stripes and solid colors that coordinate with each other.
Occasionally we all find ourselves staring at a blank page without any idea where to begin. One of the ways I jumpstart my creativity is by looking through my "Cool Colors" files. I collect magazine ads, paint chips, fabric swatches, and paper pieces with notes like "try lime green and watermelon together." Once I select a color palette, the rest of the project seems to fall into place.
You’ll find that it is so rewarding when you choose colors that seem to strike a chord together. Next time, color your world a little differently.
