Have you ever been curious about strategies for combing color? How to get out of the color rut? Have you ever been told that when it comes color & design, “You’ll just…“know” when it’s right.” Yeah…ummm…go ahead and file that under “Statements That Are Not Helpful.”

Now, I do think that there comes a point when you get comfortable with color and develop a “knack” for knowing when things are well combined. That doesn’t  mean that we all have to sit around waiting for the color fairy to anoint us with magical design powers.  After doing a fair bit of  reading on interior design and art, I think there are plenty of tips, strategies and theories that can be super useful for us paper crafters and DIY-ers.

I am far, far………far from an expert on design, but I have attended the University of Google and I have read ten too many issues of House Beautiful and BHG. I’ve learned lots, so I thought I’d share.

Over the next month (and maybe more) – I’ll be posting lessons on color for crafters. There will be projects, tutorials and lots and lots of resources for you to file away .

Today, we’re gonna talk about the all mighty color wheel and the differences in the terms, “hue,” “tint” and “shade.” It’s interesting stuff …or maybe I’m just a nerd. Either way, I hope you enjoy!

{1} Clear & Simple Stamps Say Yellow to Your Fans {2} Amuse Papaya {3} Amuse Orange {4} Amuse Poppy {5} Amuse Cherry {6} Amuse Berry {7} Amuse Grape {8} Clear & Simple Stamps Purple Crushed Velvet {9} Clear & Simple Stamps Your Style Blue Me Away {10} Amuse Mermaid {11} Clear & Simple Stamps Emerald Bling {12} Amuse Wasabi

There’s Hefner, there’s Grant…and then there are inkpads. We’re gonna talk about the latter of these “hues.” A few week’s ago, I used the terms “hue” “tint” and “shade” interchangeably. I thought they all were synonyms for “color.” Welp – it turns out that in the world of design & artsy people, these words have very different meanings.

“Hue” refers to the traditional color wheel as we know it…the rainbow. Twelve hues make up the color wheel, including the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow.

In the world of paper crafting & DIY – “hues” are very common. The bold, heavily saturated look of these colors is perfect for creating cheerful cards and party decor. For interior designers, an entire room of hues might create a jarring environment…luckily we crafters don’t have to worry about that! Cards and other paper crafts are small and can be packed with color. Use the entire spectrum if you’d like – or just select a few (more on how to select colors will be coming up in a later post!)

All this theory is great, but how does it work in practice? Here’s a quick & simple card that I created with hues.

Bright and bold is my favorite look, so this ikat card is right up my alley! Most of the cards and crafts I create feature bright hues.

SUPPLIES:

Papertrey Ink Irresistibly Ikat | Papertrey Ink Inside & Out: Thank You | Amuse Berry Ink | Amuse Orange Ink | Amuse Grass

{1} Amuse Lemon Whip {2} Amuse Buttercup {3} Clear & Simple Stamps Creamsicle Cardigan (2nd generation impression) {4} Amuse Apricot {5} Amuse Watermelon {6}Amuse Berry (2nd generation impression) {7} Amuse Heather {8} Amuse Colbalt (2nd generation impression) {9} Amuse Sky {10} Amuse Ocean (2nd generation impression) {11} Amuse Pistachio {12} Amuse Lime

Adding white to any of the hues in the color wheel creates a “tint.” In most cases, “tint” is synonymous with “pastel”, but this may depend on how much white is added to the hue. If only a teeny bit of white is added, the color may still appear quite vibrant.

Unless you use paint or other mixed media in your crafting, it’s unlikely that you’ll come across many opportunities to mix your own colors to create pastels. For paper crafters like you and me, pastel inks are easy to find and a great way to add soft tints to your project. Another way to create a pastel shade is to use a second generation impression of your ink. For example, a vibrant orange hue becomes a pastel color if you first stamp off the page and use the second generation impression in your project.

For me, pastels are great for soft feminine projects or for creating a springtime feel.

This simple card features a soft pastel ombre that I created using Faber-Castell Gelatos. They blend beautifully! This layout and pastel color scheme is a perfect feminine stationery. Sidenote: I am obsessed with these gelatos. I want to paint my walls with gelatos!

SUPPLIES:

Faber-Castell Gelatos Gift Set | Papertrey Ink Headline Alphabet | Paper Presentation Ginger Cardstock 

{1} Amuse Saffron {2} Clear & Simple Stamps Golden Tiara {3} Clear & Simple Stamps Orange you Fabulous {4} Clear & Simple Stamps Rouge Ruffles {5} Clear & Simple Stamps Maroon Maven {6} Amuse Currant {7} Clear & Simple Stamps Purplicious {8} Clear & Simple Stamps Purple Crushed Velvet {9} Amuse Navy {10} Amuse Eucalyptus {11} Clear & Simple Stamps Kraft Like a Rockstar Green {12} Amuse Fern

“Shades” are basically the opposite of “tints.” Shades are created by adding black to any of the twelve hues in the original color wheel.

“Shades” are probably my least frequently used colors. Even when stamping out the above color wheel, I noticed that several of these inks were unused!  At first, “shades” seemed a bit “dingy” to me, but after thinking about it more they are perfect for a wide range of projects. Choosing a few shades from this color wheel can create very masculine projects, which is something that I struggle with. Shades are also great for autumn themes.

Even delicate images like these feathers can become masculine when stamped using “shades” rather than “pastels.”  I’m sure you can image how the feeling of this entire card would change if created with soft “tints.” For me, the “shade” color wheel is super helpful for tackling masculine projects that are often so difficult.

SUPPLIES:

Studio Calico Oh Snap! | Studio Calico Frame & Feathers | Amuse Fern | Amuse Eucalyptus | Clear & Simple Stamps Orange You Fabulous

Interested in a few more samples that show today’s  “lesson” in action?  Here we go:

• Perhaps my most favorite use of hues…ever!  
• Bold teal and yellow make this a fabulous sample of hues in action.
• I love the simple layout! 
• This paper crafted wreath is so well executed and the the pastel color palette is so pretty.
• Debby Hughes of Limedoodle blog does such a great job with shades on this card.
• Add pastels to your next gift with this simple idea.
• {DID YOU KNOW?} Damask Love now has a “Cardstock & Ink Photo Library” where I will be posting photo samples of some of my favorite color collections! I’ll update it over time so keep checking back. Today, I’ve updated the library with a photos of the A Muse Studio ink collection. Just click the graphic on the sidebar.

Did you make it through?!  When it comes to colors, do you have a “go-to” color wheel? Which of these color wheels best represents your own style and preference?