Hi!
This scrapbook layout was actually completed quite some time ago—even the birthdays documented on the page are already several years in the past. Happy to share it with you today 😊
I fell in love with the pattern on the background paper and its beautiful combination of soft pink and deep teal. I don't often use such bold patterned papers in my layouts, but every now and then it's fun to create something a little different. To tone down the busy background, I added a dark teal square in the centre, which I think worked really well.
Since the background paper has such a strong design, I kept the embellishments to a minimum. I lifted a few partially cut flowers on top of the central square to connect the background and the square. I also extended the floral pattern by adding a couple of die-cut branches. They blended into the background a little too much, so I highlighted them with white paint to help them stand out.
I love bold colours and patterns, but sometimes a paper I absolutely adore turns out to be surprisingly challenging to use. A strong pattern can easily overwhelm a layout if you're not careful. One way to balance it is by adding solid-coloured elements that coordinate with the background paper, just as I did on this page. Another great option is to "whitewash" parts of the the background by applying a light layer of white gesso. This softens the pattern and creates a calmer base for your design.
Do you like strong colours and/or bold patterns? How do you keep a layout from looking too busy? Share your thoughts!
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