Stay Inside the Lines: Make Patterned Paper Work for You

Patterned paper can be tricky. There are all sorts of decisions to make when you add a piece of patterned paper to a layout. Finding the right pattern and the right colors; figuring out how much to use; deciding whether to overlap it, mat with it, or accent with it-it can be mind-boggling. Give your mind a little break, and see how you can make patterned papers work for you.

1. Mat photographs within elements of the patterned design. In the layout, "Chinese Dinner," I used the pre-blocked paper to determine the size I cropped each photo and also used the set spaces to define my journaling and title blocks.
   
   
   
   
   
   Examples:
   Karina by Andrea Steed
   Waiting for Baby by Andrea Steed
   
   
2. Cut along the edges of a pattern to create an interesting border. For "Pretty Kitty," I used a craft knife to carefully cut around the pre-printed circles in the patterned paper. I then placed the photograph behind the patterned paper so that the scalloped border would frame the picture.
   
   
   
   
   
   Examples:
   Diva by Dreamweaver
   Shine by Trish Dykes
   Lauren's Birthday Luau by Polly McMillan
   Puppy Love by [K1] Polly McMillan
   
   
3. Add embellishments to key spots in a piece of patterned paper, such as gems to the center of printed flowers. In "Chicago," I added a bosher and rhinestone brad to the center of the printed flower for added dimension.
   
   
   
   
   
   Examples:
   She by Kristi1229
   Big & Beautiful by Yazbelle
   Tickled Pink by Yazbelle
   
   
4. Journal along the curves or lines in a pre-printed design. I used a tone-on-tone effect with colored markers to create the layout, "Midnight Buffet," by journaling around each of the printed circles.
   
   
   
   
   
   Examples:
   Picking a Pumpkin by Yazbelle
   Park by Andrea Steed
   Turning 6 by Ramona Greenspan
   Briana/Name by DesignsbyBriana
   
   
5. Extend the design to the background of your layout with ribbon, doodles or other accents to add a handmade embellishment. In "Fourth of July," I added a ribbon border along the top photograph imitating the stripes in the patterned paper design.
   
   
   
   
   
   Examples:
   Oh Babe by Andrea Steed
   
   
6. Choose a patterned paper with a title and quote already included. This layout, "Family," took no time at all. I added the large photo, a flower embellishment, and let the printed background do all the work for me!
   
   
   
   
   
   Examples:
   Live Loud by Dreamweaver
   Your Road by Dreamweaver
   All Boy by Dreamweaver
   10 Years by Yazbelle

Don't re-invent the wheel; use what those fabulous designers have given you! Take some pre-printed patterned paper and make it work for you.