Using Older Ideas with New Products
Fall collections are some of my favorites to scrapbook with, and this week on Scrapbook Live, we’re going back to a beautiful Creative Memories Blog project from 2020 featuring the (now retired) Hello, Autumn collection.
One of the things that immediately caught my attention about this fall scrapbook layout is the color blocking along the top and bottom of the page. The original project created those colorful borders by cutting multi-hued variety mats into strips and alternating the colors across the page. While we may not have those exact mats anymore, the design is a great example of how we can look at an older project and recreate the idea with products we already have.
Recreating the Color-Blocked Look
For my version, I’ll be using the beautiful fall colors in Creative Memories’ Autumn Abundance collection. Rather than relying on a mat that already contains several colors, we can create the same effect ourselves.
By cutting strips from coordinating tonal papers or cardstock, we can build our own color-blocked border. This is also a fun opportunity to play with color combinations—whether you want a traditional fall palette or something completely different to coordinate with your photos. The important part isn’t matching the original layout exactly. It’s identifying the design element we like and figuring out another way to create it.
Take Another Look at Your Variety Mats
We’re also going to talk about variety mats—and specifically, using them for something other than matting photos or journaling. Some older Creative Memories variety mat packs included full patterns such as plaids, stripes and tonal designs without journaling areas or decorative elements interrupting the pattern. Those mats can essentially become small pieces of patterned paper.
In fact, the original Hello, Autumn project uses variety mats throughout the layout—not only for the colorful border, but also behind the photos and even to cut the circular embellishments.
So, this might be a good week to dig through some of those older mat packs! Instead of asking, “Which mat works behind my photo?” try asking: “What else could I make with this mat?” A great pattern could become a border strip, a decorative layer, a punched shape or another small design element on your page.
Join Me for Scrapbook Live
During this week’s Scrapbook Live, we’ll use the original Hello, Autumn layout as our starting point while experimenting with different ways to recreate its colorful borders. Bring along some coordinating tonal papers or cardstock and take a look through your variety mats—you may discover a few patterns you’ve been overlooking!
As always, you can follow the original project closely or simply use it as inspiration for a layout that works with the supplies and photos you already have.
Video Demo: Creating Color Blocks with the Creative Memories Cover Sheet
Fall Scrapbook Layout: Download the Handout
Need New or Retired Creative Memories Supplies?
Please consider shopping with me when you shop Creative Memories online! You can also shop my personal inventory of new and retired Creative Memories supplies (click the blue button below).
