Surprising Color Combinations for Christmas Cards

Color is one of the most powerful tools in a card maker’s toolkit. It sets the tone, evokes emotions, and can turn a simple design into a showstopper. But sometimes, choosing the right colors can feel overwhelming. That’s where exploring different color combinations comes in! Today we will focus on using monochromatic and complementary color schemes to create some Christmas cards in non-traditional colors. These surprising color combinations offer both simplicity and visual impact, unlocking new possibilities for your card-making projects.

Monochromatic Magic: Elegance in Simplicity

First let’s talk about monochromatic color schemes. Choosing monochromatic color combinations are all about using shades, tones, and tints of a single color. These colors are within the same color group, a certain hue, on the color wheel. By sticking to one hue, you create a harmonious and polished look in your card making.

The first 4 Christmas cards feature a monochromatic color scheme using hues of red-orange. The colors are Petal Pink, Calypso Coral and Pumpkin Pie. Not the typical color scheme one would use to create Christmas cards, right?

But look how well these colors work together. Monochromatic colors are soothing to the eye and versatile for any occasion, even Christmas.

This color scheme was inspired by some of the patterned papers in the Snowy Wonder suite from Stampin’ Up! They are definitely not colors I would have thought to use together. However, they have created some really adorable snowman cards! And, two of these card layouts might look familiar as I have used them before! Check out my latest blog post HERE to get the measurements and see what the card layouts look like in an autumn theme.

Complementary Colors: Bold and Balanced

Now let’s turn our attention to complementary color schemes. These color schemes are opposite each other on the color wheel. When paired together, they create a vibrant, dynamic contrast that pops off the card.

For these cards, I decided to use the exact same card layouts. However, this time I added a bit of Coastal Cabana (the blue-green) color to the mix. The red-orange and blue-green colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. This means they are complimentary colors. Just look at how the Coastal Cabana color really make the design pop!

There are a few tips for using complimentary colors in your card making. First, let one color dominate and use the complement as an accent to avoid overwhelming your design. In this case, the red-orange colors dominate and the blue -green color is the accent. The accent gives a fun pop of color to the card.

The second tip is to use white space strategically to tone down the intensity and focus attention on key elements. For these cards, using this complimentary color combination on a white card base helps to balance the colors.

Unlock the Potential in Card Making

Color is your playground. By exploring monochromatic and complementary color schemes, you’ll not only gain confidence in your choices but also discover how these combinations can transform your card making.

Here are a few tips for experimenting with different color combinations:

• Use a Color Wheel: A color wheel is a handy tool for identifying both monochromatic shades and complementary pairs. Stampin’ Up! has a fabulous new Color Coach (color wheel) tool that will inspire you play around with different color combinations. You can learn more about this tool HERE.
• Incorporate Neutrals: Whether it’s a white card base or metallic accents, neutrals provide balance in your design.
• Be Inspired: Look to nature, fashion, or home decor for fresh ideas. A sunset or a bouquet of flowers just might spark your next favorite color combination!

Be sure to watch the replay of the livestream for more tips on using the color wheel and choosing color combinations.

So, what will you create next? Dive into your stash of inks, papers, and embellishments and start experimenting. Your dynamic designs are just a color combination away!

Have a fun and creative day! ~ Lynn