Hey there! Missy here with you today. Do you ever go through a collection and find a gorgeous piece of patterned paper, but it’s just so busy and colorful that it feels overwhelming? I know that happens to me a lot. I want to share with you how I use really busy papers as a background. My main focus of a layout is always my photo. I never want the papers to drown the photo out or overpower it. So this is just a way that I use those busy papers without it taking away from the pictures.
The Jubilee Wild Berry collection is full of busy patterns and loud colors. (Two of my favorite things!) I chose to start with the “Life” Diamonds paper. The first thing I did was take two less busy papers (the black & white stripes and the blue) and cover up about a fourth of the Diamonds paper. This tones it down right away but still leaves quite a bit.
The next thing is to use gesso. It is perfect for fading out patterns & colors and toning it down. I used white, and I just used my finger to keep smudging it around until lots of the pattern was faded. It kind of creates a “cloud” and if you blend it just right, there isn’t a line separating it from the pattern. It’s a gradual fade. Once the gesso dries, you’re able to add paint or mist.
I added some watercolors on top of the gesso to give some solid and soft colors. This helps to make all those embellishments to the right of the photos pop. If I had just adhered them on top of that busy background as is, they would blend in to much and make it look even more busy.
Supplies: Jubilee-Wild Berry:“Life” Diamonds Paper, “Love” Stamped Paper, “Hey You” Gardens Paper, 6x6 Paper Pad, “Life” Mixed Bag, “Wonder” Transparent Frames, “Wonder” Chipboard Elements, “Today” Flair Pins, “Hey You” Rub-Ons, “Love” Label Stickers, “Love” Decorative Brads; Jubilee-Tangerine: “Story” Rub-Ons; Cut & Paste—Decorative Stamps; Decorative Tape Sets—Pink & Charcoal; Sweetest Thing—Decorative Tape; Collectable—Decorative Tape; Other—Prima Chalk Ink, Mister Huey’s Color Mist, vellum, Liquitex Gesso, Coats thread, Brother Sewing Machine, Artist’s Loft Watercolors, StazOn Ink, Sharpie Black Pen
Here you can see how the gesso does double duty. It helps cover the background, and it also creates a surface for color to go. It helps to not warp the paper when you add liquid to it. It even made it easy to write my journaling right on to the page. The busy background is muted there, so it’s a solid spot to write on. I was also able to use one of the transparent frames for my title. It really pops on to of the gesso.
Another key to making your photos pop against the busy pattern is to layer less busy and solid colors under them. The solid pink anchors the photos. Then I added a piece of orange, black & white and aqua polka dots. Not too much of each paper, but just enough to break it up. Raising up your photos with pop dots also puts more space in between the paper and the photos, and this helps to make them really stand out as well.
Here’s one more shot. I was also able to stamp here after I applied the gesso and watercolors. It would be difficult to read any kind of sentiment on top of that busy background. Even though I added a lot of other busy elements, they don’t compete with that busy diamond background because of the gesso fading it out.
I hope this helps give you some ideas on how to use those busy backgrounds. Don’t be afraid of them…just make them work. I use this technique a lot, and the key is to choose other papers that aren’t as busy for your layers under your photos. Cover some of the busy pattern up. Use gesso to help blend some of the pattern out. I know it looks complicated and can be intimidating, but it’s really not. You just have to be willing to get your hands messy! It’s fun, I promise!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
Missy
