Patterned papers come in many colors and patterns, and while it can often be hard to decide which to use with which, I think the key is to just hold them up to each other and see how they look together!

Stampin’ Up!’s designer series papers make it a little bit easier because they come in packs that include patterned papers that go together, as well as tell you which colors of solid card stock and ink coordinate with the papers. That’s brilliant for someone color-challenged like myself!

Early Espresso card base: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
Tropical Flower paper: 3-1/4″ x 4″
Green patterned paper: 2″ x 4″
Early Espresso strip: 1/2″ x 4″ (Use ribbon instead, if you’d like!)

If you’re using a patterned paper that has an obvious up/down pattern you’ll want to cut it so it’s 4″ WIDE for this card. Don’t worry if you “miscut”. You could flip it and make this card horizontally as well.

A strip of card stock is a great way to cover the seam between your patterned papers and it’s a great way to use card stock scraps. (We crafters hate to throw anything away, don’t we!)

Early Espresso card base: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
Tropical Flower paper: 4″ x 5-1/4″
Green patterned paper: 1-1/2″ x 4″

For this second card, the green patterned paper is taped directly over the tropical flower paper. That does make things a little easier to line up. Tape them together BEFORE you tape the floral paper to the card base so that you can trim off any overhang, if necessary.

The Braided Burlap Trim adds some nice texture to this card. When you lay it flat on the card, it doesn’t add a lot of extra bulk like it would if you tried to tie it. I attached it with Tear & Tape Adhesive and frayed the ends.

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Here’s how I used these SAME card layouts and ideas with different supplies…

Petal Pink card base: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
Flower paper: 4″ x 5-1/4″
Pink & white patterned paper: 1-1/2″ x 4″

For this card, I used the same layout and idea from the second card above but wrapped the ribbon around the layered patterned papers and taped the ends on the back so they’d be between the patterned paper and the card base. I also used a different shape for the main greeting. There are so many possibilities! 

Petal Pink card base: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″
Flower paper: 3-1/4″ x 4″
Pink & white patterned paper: 2″ x 4″

For this card, I used the same measurements as the very first card I shared above but I flipped the layout over and used ribbon instead of the card stock strip.

Can you see the possibilities?

Grab some patterned papers, choose one of these card layouts and give it a try!

Happy Stamping!

Jessica

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Want to make MORE cards with your patterned papers without wasting a single bit of it?

These cards were all made using the April 2020 One Sheet Wonder Card Club Template.