Do you ever have trouble selecting colors for a layout? I usually have a problem narrowing down the list, but my choices for any layouts this weekend have to be simple. I will be doing any crafting with one hand because I had rotator cuff surgery yesterday. Luckily, it’s my left shoulder, but hunting and pecking with my right hand alone makes my typing almost as bad as ever. My BFF Roxi, the typist extraordinaire, would laugh at me more than ever if she could see me now, pecking on this keyboard and wearing my pink polka-dotted pj bottoms with my hubby’s black and tan Hawaiian shirt which is about the only thing that will fit over my sling.
Trust me. These pieces looked hideous in real life until I pulled out some of the colors and realized I had the making's of a great color-combo.
These three colors were pulled from my awful outfit using the color selector in Photoshop.
However, this brings me to a topic near and dear to my heart: color selection. Some of us just can’t pick a good color combo to save us, and that goes for me too, with 35 years of design experience. Some days are just off-color! The following are several ways to ease the pain of color selection.
1. Look in your closet. Is there a color combo that jumps out? Is there one printed piece that you bought just because of the fabric colors? If so, use that for your inspiration. If you love wearing it, you’ll love it in your scrapbook.
2. Check out your photo albums. Find a photo with colors you love and use them for your next page layout.
3. Think outside the box. Pink is the first color we think of when it comes to girls. Blue is first choice for boys. What if your daughter has the most amazing blues eyes in the world, or your son has beautiful pink cheeks? Blue on your girl’s page and pink on your boy’s page are going to make those features pop. Who cares if the colors are traditional, based on the sex of your child? Who made up that list anyway?
4. Read a magazine. Pay attention to the ads that catch your eye. Chances are, it’s either color or layout design that made you look. The sponsor paid some big bucks for this design expertise, but you get this double-doozie for the cost of the magazine.
Keep a little journal (spiral notebook, post-it notes left in the pad or, in my case, whatever is handy at the moment) to sketch out the layout of the ad and make notes of the colors. Put it somewhere safe so you can find it when you need it.
This journal was originally a spiral photo album.
Which brings to mind another idea. I keep a journal of favorite quotes, scraps pulled from magazines and anything else I find inspirational. When my Creative Muse takes a vacation, I pull out my Artist’s Journal and browse until inspiration hits. I even jazzed up the front cover with some of my favorite papers and stamped dominoes for more inspiration.
Try these tips and see if you don’t get a little inspiration. Have a great weekend. I know I will!
Hi Candice,
I’m sorry to hear about your surgery. I hope that you’re doing great in no time! Although, speaking from experience I have desiged some fabulous projects sitting in my recliner after a surgery. Take care of yourself and let me kknow how you’re doing.
Hugs,
Lisa Rojas
Stampin’ Queen Creations