Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Liberia & Toby

Both of this week's patterns feature curves and diamonds!

First, the "fancy": Pattern Liberia

Why it's "fancy": Several layers of over-indulgent curls pile on top of each other in this obviously Victorian-inspired pattern.

Why it's great: The white diamond shapes push unexpected negative space to the foreground, demanding attention.


And now, the "funky": Pattern Toby

Why it's "funky": Tilted squares feel off-balanced and more modern.

Why it's great: Like last week's, this pattern has a painted tile feel to it. I love the vine/leaf motif!

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Pagoda & Morela

Happy Friday! Here are today's patterns -

First, the "fancy": Pattern Pagoda

Why it's "fancy": This pattern feels preppy and esteemed because of its crisp lines and clear linear structure.

Why it's great: I can just see this pattern embroidered as a border on an old "Home Sweet Home" plaque...


And now, the "funky": Pattern Morela

Why it's "funky": The tilted design gives an unexpected, modern touch to an otherwise "fancy" pattern.

Why it's great: Up close, you can really start to see the letterforms I used to create the pattern!

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Juliet & Arenzia

Both of these patterns are green and feature little white space, with lots of curves. But they evoke <i>very</i> different feelings...

First, the "fancy": Pattern Juliet

Why it's "fancy": This pattern looks like a scrap of vintage lace, with its cutesy curls and flattened heart-like shapes.

Why it's great: It even reminds me of argyle, with its stripes of diamonds!


And now, the "funky": Pattern Arenzia

Why it's "funky": The curls in this pattern feel more whimsical and kid-like than elegant and refined.

Why it's great: The density of line leaves little room for negative white space.

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Down Memory Lane"

For a formal event, sometimes simple and elegant is the best way to go!

"Down Memory Lane" Save-the-Date

This save-the-date features one of my "fancy" pattern designs in a soft green in the background. The text is calligraphic and traditional, but instead of boring black the letters and the linen textured cardstock bordering the save-the-date are both in a rich chocolate brown. For a pop of color, the outside envelope is a cool grass green to match the light green pattern.

 
Next week's Sunday Sample Spotlight: A unique, retro twist on flower-inspired stationery!


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Shameless Plug Time: Love this invitation (or others featured on this blog)? Want something similar (or something completely custom) designed for your event? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Bernadette & Poppy

Here are two more patterns - one fancy, one funky - to start your weekend off right!

First, the "fancy": Pattern Bernadette

Why it's "fancy": Thin, calligraphic lines loop and crisscross to make a beautiful argyle & lace-like pattern.

Why it's great: I love the long, swooping arcs on the top of each lowercase-k letterform!


And now, the "funky": Pattern Poppy

Why it's "funky": Instead of calligraphic lines that vary in thickness, each of these whimsical curves is exactly the same line weight, making the pattern feel less refined and more childish.

Why it's great: I love the swirls! This pattern would be great for wallpapering a child's bedroom or play room.

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Strawberry Swing"

Green and pink is a color scheme that works with almost any season, depending on the shades. This funky and unexpected magenta and olive green color scheme would be great for spring, summer, or autumn!

"Strawberry Swing" Invitation Duo (invite & reply card)

The invitation and reply card are each printed on white cardstock and mounted to textured olive green cardstock. Then they're layered with a sheet of transparent green vellum each, for added richness. Two mint green brads in the top corners hold everything together.

There's a subtle light pink pattern in the background of the invitation and reply card that reflects back to the pink envelopes. The elegant font and preppy argyle-like pattern work together with the textured cardstock and vellum to add sophistication and formality to this funky color scheme.

 

 
Next week's Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Where the Story Ends"


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Shameless Plug Time: Love this invitation (or others featured on this blog)? Want something similar (or something completely custom) designed for your event? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Loretta & Memphis

Orange you glad it's almost the weekend? ;)

First, the "fancy": Pattern Loretta

Why it's "fancy": The lines that make up this lace-like pattern are thin and curvy.

Why it's great: Not all of the loops are the same size, adding visual interest.


And now, the "funky": Pattern Memphis

Why it's "funky": Though it has almost a lace-like or argyle-inspired design, the parts of the pattern with thicker lines give this a more masculine, southwestern feeling.

Why it's great: Wouldn't this pattern look great stamped on a pair of leather cowboy boots?

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Encarta & Haley

Happy Friday! Here are today's patterns -

First, the "fancy": Pattern Encarta

Why it's "fancy": This pattern is argyle with a touch of femininity in the little curly accents. Plus, it's so fun how the "stripes" of pattern don't quite touch, leaving that buffer of negative space in between the lines.

Why it's great: I love preppy patterns like this, where you can easily imagine how great it would look as a wrapping paper, knitted into a sweater, or used to decorate a windowpane.


And now, the "funky": Pattern Haley

Why it's "funky": The simplicity of this pattern makes it look almost stamped! Draw in some pupils in two adjacent circles, and you have yourself a pair of googly eyes.

Why it's great: It looks like bubbles. Enough said.

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Galaxia & Zoe

Happy Friday! Here are today's patterns -

First, the "fancy": Pattern Galaxia

Why it's "fancy": The offset angles and diamonds make me think of preppy argyle; from far away, it also takes on the appearance of lace.

Why it's great: This pattern always reminds me of the cat named Orion from the movie Men in Black... It has the same feeling as the galaxy in the charm around his collar.


And now, the "funky": Pattern Zoe

Why it's "funky": Simple white circles stand out in this pattern, where the negative space becomes more important than the whimsical green lines.

Why it's great: From a distance, it might look a bit like lace - but up close, there's too much white space. Instead it's like a loose-knit fabric or crochet pattern, letting lots of air through!

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Ivy & Tarolla

Today's patterns both do a great job of balancing structure and fun. At first glance, they're both bursting with curls and whimsy, but each follows a strict grid placement and is well tamed. :)

First, the "fancy": Pattern Ivy

Why it's "fancy": From a distance, it looks like lace (or very structured curling vines). Can't you just see this pattern stamped on a brick garden walkway or stitched into a castle tapestry?

Why it's great: This is one of my patterns where you can definitely still see the letterforms I created the design from. Can you discern the elaborate cursive capital Ls and Rs? :)


And now, the "funky": Pattern Tarolla

Why it's "funky": Though the lines are thin, with traditional curlicues and double-lined angles reminiscent of diamonds, argyle, and Roman numerals, the fun spiral-inspired shape in the middle of each "frame" is just too modern to be called anything but funky!

Why it's great: I love how bold and attention-grabbing the purple lines are, even though they're thin. They're confident in their sharp angles and whimsical curls and stand out easily from the white negative space.

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Fortia & Nina

Each of this week's patterns has a main, basic geometric shape that stands out from a distance - either a circle or a tilted square (diamond) - but the pattern details reveal so much more!

First, the "fancy": Pattern Fortia

Why it's "fancy": The lines are thin, elegant, and curved, and overlap each other in delicate intersections.

Why it's great: This pattern reminds me of the designs my old spirograph toy would create!


And now, the "funky": Pattern Nina

Why it's "funky": Starburst shapes and embellished lines give an otherwise preppy argyle-like pattern a sharp, jagged look.

Why it's great: Is it just me, or do the diamond shapes begin to look like jeweled cabochons surrounded by such spikey "prongs"?

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Kristy & Buttercup

Sometimes the most interesting part of the pattern is not the lines or shapes that make it up - but the shapes that are created in the negative space because of the arrangement of the pattern.

First, the "fancy": Pattern Kristy

Why it's "fancy": The thin lines in this pattern vary between elegant loops and pairs of diagonal straight lines that form argyle-like diamonds.

Why it's great: If you focus only on the negative white space between each "row" of pattern, you'll see blocky capital Z or N shapes!


And now, the "funky": Pattern Buttercup

Why it's "funky": Each row of pattern orients the flower-like rectangles in the opposite direction - creating squares of different sizes in the negative white spaces.

Why it's great: From afar, the design resembles a plastic picnic tablecloth with its emphasis on plaid and flower-like forms.

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Fancy/Funky Friday: Patterns Roya & Aylin

Happy February! It's the shortest month of the year, so don't miss out on a single Fancy/Funky Friday post! ;)

First, the "fancy": Pattern Roya

Why it's "fancy": Elegant diamonds paired with loop-decorated wavy banners

Why it's great: Unlike many argyle-inspired diamond patterns, these diamond shapes don't overlap with each other, leaving lots of negative space "breathing room" between the pattern units.



And now, the "funky": Pattern Aylin

 Why it's "funky": Though the curvy lines create X's that hint at argyle, the lines are thick, bold, and graphic, making them too "funky" to be "fancy."

Why it's great: The character used to create this pattern was the ampersand of a fun, graphic font!

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Shameless plug time: Love my patterns? I incorporate them into a lot of the artwork I create, from stationery for Invites by Andrea to the watercolors I paint. Check out Invites by Andrea's website to see examples of these patterns in use or drop me a line at andrea@invitesbyandrea.com to let me know what you think!

Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

This stationery set fuses a fun diamond pattern with a pale striped design.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" Invitation Duo (invite & reply card) with matching Save-the-Date

First, the solid Tiffany blue "Cascade" envelope is decorated with horizontally striped scrapbook paper on the left flap and right pocket, to make it seem even longer. Then, I used two vertical strips of one of my fancy patterns to adorn either side of the printed invitation to section off the long horizontal envelope.

I love when I can use part of the pattern for the "check boxes" on the reply card. Not only is it functional (here, the same diamond shapes from the pattern are available for the guests to select their RSVP option), but it ties the whole design together in a simple, cohesive way.

This pale aqua and crisp white color scheme is great for winter (think ice and snowflakes) or summer (think Caribbean beaches and the fresh whitecaps of waves); furthermore, the two patterns used (intricate arcs forming diamonds and simple, thick stripes) can easily be dressed up in elegance or dressed down for a casual affair, making this stationery set flexible for almost any event!

Next week's Sunday Sample Spotlight: "Heart of Steel"


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Shameless Plug Time: Love this invitation (or others featured on this blog)? Want something similar (or something completely custom) designed for your event? Visit Invites by Andrea to view more samples, download a catalogue pdf, or fill out a design request form. Or shoot me an email to ask me your questions or learn more information.