| Do you think you need to know color theory to make | | | | and what colors are used to set the mood of the |
| a beautiful scrapbooking page? You don't even need | | | | painting. Artists know color theory, and reflecting on |
| to know the difference between primary and | | | | their masterpieces is an education in color theory |
| secondary colors to create a page that complements | | | | without the textbooks. |
| your photographs. All you need to find color inspiration | | | | Mother Nature |
| for your layouts is a watchful eye during your | | | | The earth provides its own color palette. Not only can |
| everyday life. Color palettes are all around us. Consider | | | | you gain inspiration from the colors of winter, summer, |
| these easy-to-find resources for color choices on your | | | | spring and fall, you can study landscapes. These are |
| next scrapbooking pages. | | | | earth's paintings. Look at the colors of the desert and |
| Your Favorite Clothing Store | | | | mountains, as well as, the sunsets and sunrises. Peek |
| Clothing manufacturers design their seasonal lines | | | | out your window at your flower garden for even more |
| according to a predetermined color scheme. Ever | | | | of nature's inspiration. |
| wonder why all the stores seem to carry similar colors | | | | Your Makeup Drawer |
| each season? Many designers use the color direction | | | | Makeup manufacturers also use color theory to |
| provided by the Color Marketing Group. The Color | | | | develop their seasonal palettes. Take a look at your |
| Marketing Group forecasts color trends for | | | | eye shadows and blushes for ready-made color |
| manufactured products. Walking around your favorite | | | | selections for your scrapbooking pages. |
| clothing boutique quickly shows you the color trends | | | | Home Decorating Magazines |
| for the current season. Are pastels in this season? Try | | | | Color inspiration doesn't just come from scrapbooking |
| a page with pastels even if it's not spring. | | | | magazines. Interior designers use coordinating colors to |
| Your Closets | | | | make it easier for customers to create a perfect |
| Along the same lines as using a clothing store for | | | | décor for their homes. The photographs in |
| inspiration, your own closets hold the color palettes for | | | | home decorating magazines are sure to inspire a |
| past seasons. Don't limit yourself to just your clothes | | | | creative scrapbooking page. |
| closet. Your linen closet will also have coordinated | | | | Advertisements |
| color palettes to inspire you. Love that quilt that you | | | | Before you put those magazines away, take a closer |
| have tucked away for the guest room? Look carefully | | | | look at the advertisements. Companies pay millions of |
| at the colors and see if you can create a | | | | dollars to ad agencies to design advertisements that |
| scrapbooking page with the same color qualities. | | | | will capture the eye of its customers before they flip |
| Paint Chips | | | | the page. Ads can provide no-fail color schemes for |
| Would you believe that you can find professional color | | | | your scrapbooking. An added bonus of advertisements |
| schemes at your local home improvement store? Paint | | | | is that they not only provide great inspiration for colors, |
| manufacturers coordinate colors in sample decorating | | | | but their layouts are an education in design theory, as |
| palettes. These chips are often designed by | | | | well. |
| professionals like Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren. | | | | Color palettes are everywhere. Next time you need |
| Browse through the paint chip display and use one of | | | | some color inspiration, take a creative look around you. |
| the palettes for a scrapbooking page or even an entire | | | | Keep an idea journal with notes, clips from magazines |
| album. | | | | and paint chips. Tired of the same old red and green |
| Museums | | | | on your Christmas pictures? Use your holiday |
| Take an afternoon to walk through an art museum, | | | | sweaters to inspire you. There is no end to the |
| and you will see how the Masters use color. Make | | | | number of color palettes you can find for your |
| some notes on what paintings inspire you the most | | | | scrapbooking pages. |