Crate Paper's Creative Weekly :: All Natural

Tami Gookstetter

I absolutely love natural elements, both in my home life and on my pages. I can't get enough of natural textures and colors, especially anything wood. Luckily, Crate has the awesome new wood veneer pieces that are perfect to use in their natural state and go with any layout or card and add a natural touch. I also love scrapbooking large photos, even whole 12 x 12 prints like this one, which I knew would be perfect to add just a few natural elements to the negative/white space. The neutral color palette of browns, tans, and creams lets the photo really speak, but also lent itself to a little pop of color with some subtle pink accents that complemented the colors in the blanket. I can't believe how grown up my little girl is looking these days, and so full of personality - it really does warm my heart.

Rebecca Luminarias

There is something about Fall that makes me want to get out my cozy, rustic supplies and play around with warm colors like red, orange, and yellow. Since the focus this month was on neutrals with a special consideration for the color brown, I decided to go "naturally neutral". My first thoughts were of wood grain, cork, jute, twine, wood veneer, wood buttons, and burlap. My next thought turned to nature, and knowing the colors I wanted to use, butterflies and flowers (especially orange ones) stood out as a I dug through my Crate stash. Because there were endless possibilities, I decided that this project would turn out to be a little bit more than a single card. Instead, I created four mini cards tucked into a decorated paper bag envelope, complete with an envelope liner I cut using "Leo" patterned paper from Little Boy Blue. I used items from lines as far back as Portrait and as new as Acorn Avenue and On Trend, plus everything in between! How great is it when pieces from so many different lines coordinate together?!

Sophie Crespy

I would never have thought about using all these natural colors on my own, but I had such a blast taking out all my Crate Paper supplies and finding natural and neutral colors. Wood grain is really my favorite pattern to create with. On this layout, I combined different types of wood grain patterned papers from Crate's diverse collections (Emma's Shoppe, Story Teller, Little Boy Blue) and mixed them with cream colored papers (the background paper is from the Farmhouse collection) and wood shapes from the Little Boy Blue Collection. I added a touch of green and brown thread via stitching. I find that the neutral colors really help to put the emphasis on my photos and that's what I was looking for! I also like that this "Back to School" layout uses an unexpected mix of colors and patterns, too.

*Don't forget that Creative Weekly is also an opportunity for YOU to chip in a design or two following the same challenge presented to our designers. If you're feeling up to delving into the "all natural" arena, the submission vacancy sign is on and is accepting projects!! The submission deadline is Sunday, September 23rd! Winner takes home TWO Crate Paper collection kits from the American Crafts warehouse - Acorn Avenue & On Trend.

*Submission must be newly created and 75% Crate Paper product.