CP Creative Weekly :: Pattern Paper Challenge

Who doesn't look at a quilt and think, "Now that would be great on paper!"? Whether you're at Flickr, Pinterest, or some sew savvy blog, you can't help but notice the beautiful influx of patterning and stitching common to the everyday quilt. It's sometimes awe-inspiring to study them. Each is as unique as it's artist! The same can be said about scrapbooking. Like quilters and fabric lovers, our passion for pattern motivates the average scrapbooker to collect hundreds of patterned papers (maybe thousands, but we'll not go there). We covet our pattered paper collections. We enjoy the process of bringing patterns together to create scrapbook layouts that support our photos, and stories. In the end, just as in quilting, a layout can take on any number of patterns. There truly is no limit! Patterns are addictive and fun!

This week's Creative Weekly is about maximizing pattern, taking it the next level and making it the central focus of one's design. We asked our CP Gals to create a specialized project based on using a wide variety of Crate Paper's patterned papers. Amazingly, not a two are alike, as you'll soon find out!

Crate Paper is trying something new - we want for YOU to participate in "Creative Weekly" with our designers! We're putting you up to the challenge of maximizing pattern. Here are the specifics:

Create either a layout, card, or altered project following the week's theme and submit it to us by Sunday, August 26th (8:00pm US CST), at cpblog@cratepaper.com. On Monday, August 27th, we'll not only share our favorites, but also, give to one lucky artist, the new Acorn Avenue and On Trend patterned papers. Yes, every single sheet!! We might even throw in a surprise embellishment or two - who knows?!

*Please ensure that your project is at least 70% Crate Paper.

With that said, it's time to move on and share with you are first set of pattern-forward DT projects...

Kaori Watanabe

I seriously adore pattern papers. Crate Paper's pattern papers are some of my favorite and "match" me well! I save the smallest of odds and ends when it comes to their papers. So, I put them to the task of paper piecing with this week's Creative Weekly by layering them randomly on top of each other, connecting the two main areas of the layout. I then stitched directly over them - note that I only added stitching along the top of each piece - the bottom is without thread and needle. I think it lends texture and movement to layout's design.

Heathyr Hintz

I was so excited to play along with this month's "pattern" theme; creating fun backgrounds using patterned paper bits is one of my favorite techniques, so this was right up my alley. I kept the background pattern fairly neutral, which made it easy to introduce additional (more colorful) patterns along the way. I just love the hues of the Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue collections, so I punched out circles in varying sizes and dotted them along the middle of the pattern. I like the overall impact that a repeated pattern provides. It definitely gives your project a unique "design"!

Anabelle O'Malley

I love patterned paper. When I found out that we were focusing on it this month, I decided to use it in a couple of ways. First, I created my own stencil numbers. (I used the font "Stencilia", but you can use premade stencils) I cut small strips of paper and adhered them to cardstock, then let them peek through the numbers. I love that I was able to pull in a variety of colors and patterns, but not do it in an overwhelming way. I cut the rest of my words using the same papers. Finally, to emulate the strips in the numbers, I created a border for my page, patchwork style, using the same papers again. As a whole, I like how it all ties together.