Workin' On My Off-Week!!

Today kicks off the newest Fabulous Friday challenge at Frosted Designs and technically, it's not my week to Post, but I HAD to participate in this week's challenge!!  It is right up my alley, and I am sure you want to know what it is!!  We are challenging you to use ONLY Patterned Paper on your layouts or projects.  Now, don't let that scare you...it's a lot easier than it sounds.

I would say that I use all patterned paper on about 80% of my layouts.  Sometimes I throw in a solid background, but it is rare.  Or I will use cardstock to create a die cut title.  But, I am here today to share my very easy secret for using all patterned paper...choose a coordinating line/collection of paper.  Most manufacturers include lighter more subtle patterns in their packs, along with brighter and bolder patterns.  Normally, I like taking out the less busy patterns to use as a full background or the larger part of paper, that I need for my page.  Then, I start building in the other patterns and colors.  For those who are just starting out with using all patterned paper, here's an easy recipe:  Use the more subtle patterns in larger doses and the busier patterns in small doses.  You can also put together your own papers for your layout, by using this same recipe, if you don't have any coordinated collections or lines laying around.

Echo Park is a great company, and they put their lines together very well.  I decided to re-visit my Note to Self collection for this challenge and I also added in a couple of sheets from Kaisercraft's Technologic line.

  
And yes, I did use a darker background on my page, but it still has a subtle pattern.  The red pattern and graph paper have enough contrast to stand out from the gray, so it totally worked.  Even some of my embellishments are cut from patterned paper!!  :)  The robots are from the Kaisercraft line and the view master reels (which are my favorite, btw), come from one of the sheets of the EP paper.

I also wanted to play along with the awesome Case File going on at CSI:  Color, Stories, Inspiration.  The color schemes for the past two Case Files have been some of my favorites.  Case File 28 had a fun technology theme and I knew I wanted to document the difference from when we were kids, compared to how things are for our kids today.  Here is a look at the color scheme, evidence, and testimony for this Case File:

    
There were a lot of fun elements to work with under the Evidence and I chose robots, circles, repetition, and metal.  And of course, I decided to document something related to technology.  The journaling reads:

"When Daddy and Mommy were little, we didn't have hand-held video games or cell phones with Angry Birds and YouTube.  But times have changed and I must admit that portable entertainment comes in handy when you have 3 rowdy kids!!"

Products Used:

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park & Kaisercraft
Thickers:  American Crafts
Metal Tags:  EK Success
Punch:  EK Success
Mask:  Mister Huey's Chevron Mask (Studio Calico)
Smooch Spritz:  Clear Snap
Buttons:  Blumenthal Lansing
Tickets:  Tim Holtz
Mini Round Gems:  Recollections
Other:  Paper Clips & Aluminum Foil

I wanted to share one more thing in this Post.  Next week, Creating Keepsakes will be holding their Annual CK Summer Camp.  This is always so much fun and I hope you will come over and check it out.  If you visit CK's Blog, you will find a preview of what will be going on each day (make sure you scroll to the end of the post, for the preview).  Beginning Monday, July 23, head over to Club CK and check out the Club Blog, to see what will be going on that day.