Some of the most pleasing scrapbook pages are designed based on interesting color wheel themes. This article will help hobby scrapbookers and card makers select the most appealing colors from your photos and background designs to create beautiful designs. After you have selected your colors it is easier to add enhancing embellishments as well as choose striking pigment inks for rubber stamping the final touches.

BASIC COLOR SCHEMES

CHOOSING A COLOR

When choosing your color scheme for your scrapbook pages, let your picture be your guide if you are using a photograph. Choose one color from the photograph to be your "key" color. It may be a color from a flower in the foreground, a color of clothing, or a tablecloth. If you are rubber stamping all your images simply select a color or ink or cardstock and work off of that.  Whatever you choose, it will be the starting point for your color themed design.

MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEME

The simplest scheme is monochromatic. Say you have chosen a solid blue cardstock for your background. Since every color comes in many values, choose two or three additional values of the blue you are using. You may choose one lighter value and one darker value, or two lighter or darker values, it's up to you. For monochromatic color scheme ideas pick up a few paint color sample tiles at the local hardware store.  Once you have chosen your color do all of your work on the scrapbook page in these three colors. The result will be restful, calming and cohesive. Your page will be pleasing to the eye and stylish, no matter how you accessorize.

ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEME

Choosing two or three adjoining colors is called an analogous color scheme. These combinations tend to be either warm (from the red side of the color wheel) or cool (from the blue side of the color wheel). They are pleasing to the eye, restful and attractive. Certain combinations lend themselves very well to different themes as well. Consider a combination of red, orange yellow and orange for a striking fall layout, or a combination of icy blues and purples for a frosty winter theme.

COMPLIMENTARY COLOR SCHEME

The third basic type of color scheme is complimentary. These are colors located across the wheel from each other which create contrast.  A complimentary color scheme is a good way to make the items on your scrapbooking layout really stand out. On a blue page, mat the images in orange and use orange toned accents.  You will find that your details will really stand out. Red and green are also complimentary, hence the reason that those Christmas pages are so striking. Every color on the color wheel has a compliment. Consider basing your scrapbook page on one color and accent with its compliment for a striking, impressive effect.

ADVANCED COLOR SCHEMES

TRIAD COLOR SCHEME

The first more advanced of the color schemes is the triad color scheme.  A triad color scheme consists of any three colors which are equally spaced apart on the color wheel.   Examples would be the three primary colors - red, yellow and blue; the three secondary colors - orange, green, and violet or similar combinations of the tertiary colors.  Using this type of color combination will make your scrapbook pages happy and cheerful as well as pleasing to look at.

DYAD COLOR SCHEME

In a dyad color scheme you will be using two colors that are two colors apart such as blue and yellow-green.  These color combinations lend themselves to a variety of themes as well.  Consider the combination of yellow and red-orange on a summer theme or blue and green-yellow in a water themed card.

SPLIT COMPLETMENT COLOR SCHEME

The split complement color scheme is similar to the more basic complementary color scheme. It involves the use of one color and the two on each side of its complement.  A split complement theme is a great way to add further depth and dimension in your scrapbook pages.  For example on a blue card, rather than just using orange to make your images stand out, you will use both orange-yellow and orange-red. 

RECTANGULAR TETRAD

This color combination is again similar to a complementary color scheme.  In this color scheme you use four colors which exist on each side of the complementary colors you have chosen.  This adds in other elements of color creating and overall pleasing and well balanced effect in your creative scrapbook pages. 

You may produce Christmas variations working with the blue-green and yellow-green on the one and the red-orange and the violet-red on the other end.  Without actually using green and red on your page you have created a pleasing Christmas theme.

SQUARE TETRAD

In a square tetrad color combination you will be using four colors which are equally spaced apart on the wheel.  Because you are using two sets of complementary colors you can really make the images on your pages pop out as you combine all four for the look you desire.

SHADES and TINTS

Shade refers to the amount of black in the color and tint refers to the amount of White. Most color wheels will include more than the standard twelve colors to allow for ease of color matching.

DAZZLING IMPRESSIONS

Now you have chosen your colors you are ready to move on to the next phase of creating your own handmade greeting cards and bring your scrapbook page ideas to life!