That small
word "FRESH" carries a tremendous amount of weight in
scrapping. Just as American Idol is searching for that singer
with the "it" factor, we too (as artists), are on a continuous
search for something fresh in our layouts that make them stand
out.
If you
look up the word fresh, the dictionary includes such definitions
as: not encountered before, not stale, refreshed or having
newly arrived. All of these perfectly describe today's hot
trend of fresh colors - bright! Oranges, yellows, pinks and
greens - the bolder the better. Play with unique color
combinations and shake it up with poppy red or teal or try
exciting themes such as tropical shades of rich yellow, deep
green and vibrant orange. A great way to experiment with colors
is by mixing and matching shades from the largest box of crayons
you can find.
Look for
color inspiration outside of scrapping magazines. Ads and photo
styling in mainstream magazines use beautiful color schemes that
can be incorporated into your own creations. Also note the
pattern of text, photos and other elements used and then adapt
them into your layouts. Always practice good execution - often
with bright colors, smearing of inks and glues really stand
out. Take a few extra seconds to make sure your layout is clean
and free of smudges.
If you
consider yourself strictly a scrapper or a stamper, don't be
afraid to take your creativity to the next level. Scrapbooking
and stamping are now peacefully co-existing and both offer
wonderful magazines for inspiration. Great layouts from a
scrapbook magazine can easily be adapted to cards and vise
versa.
Remember
that a great creation can be brought down by out-of-date colors
in the papers and embellishments you choose. Just as the
fashions from the 80's are out of place today, so are some of
the colors and decor that were trendy back then. So, using the
upbeat colors of today will surely add splash and spice to your
summer layouts!
