Quick Inspiration: Patterned Paper

"Tutti Frutti" Ricki Mountain

The summer issue of Beadwork magazine has a wonderful collection of projects featuring jewelry inspired by patterned scrapbooking paper. What I love about the feature is the variety of designs used. Each artist started with a different piece of patterned paper, and came up with interesting and unique pieces to imitate the colors, textures and other aspects of the patterns.

Although each designer used different techniques, such as stitching or wirework, and made different types of pieces, like bracelets and pendants, the connection between the finished beadwork and the original pattern is clear. My favorite piece is “Pixilated Peyote” by Melinda Barta.

Beadwork is currently running a contest for readers’ pattern inspired work. Although it’s open to all types of pattern adaptations, I love the idea of using scrapbook paper for ideas. Even when the pattern itself isn’t imitated - as in “Moroccan Gate” by Danielle Fox - there are so many ways to turn these pretty papers into amazing beadwork.

Even if you’re not ready to join in the Pattern Play Challenge, you can still find some instant inspiration from the wide range of scrap booking paper available to today’s crafters. Thanks to the web, we can seek out some fun, fancy or fantastic paper from the comfort of home.

The next time you’re stuck for a color scheme, pattern, or shape idea, check out some of the scrapbook paper at sites such as Blackberry Paper, Scrapbook Lounge, and Stuff4Scrapbooking.

Happy beading!