Choosing a Color Scheme for Your Craft Projects

When planning a crafting project, one of the most basic considerations is what colors to use.  Sometimes, however, it's the hardest thing to come to a decision on.  There are just so many beautiful colors to choose from! 

Here are some things to consider when selecting a color scheme for any project:

* Who is the project for?  If you're making it as a gift for someone, does that person have a favorite color?  If so, try to incorporate it into the project, along with some complimentary colors.

* Is the craft for a special occasion?  If it is a wedding gift, doing it in the wedding colors adds a sentimental touch.  For a baby shower, the standard boy (light blue), girl (pink) and gender neutral (pastel green and yellow) colors are appropriate.  And most holidays have certain colors associated with them that you can use.

* Are you using items that include colors that are beyond your control, such as photographs?  This is a common concern in scrapbooking, but lots of other crafts use photos.  You'll need to find a color that won't clash with what's in the photo.  Look for color ideas in the photo itself, or consider reprinting it in black and white if it's too busy.

* What is the theme of the project?  Is it a nature item, or something in a futuristic theme?  Using colors that are commonly associated with a project's theme is a nice, safe approach.

* Consider where the finished craft will be displayed.  If it's an item for your house, or for a close friend or family member's, you can scout around in the room for color ideas.  If you're creating items for sale, think about common colors that people decorate with in those rooms.

* Use another piece for inspiration.  If you've seen something in a store, online, on television, or anywhere else that had an interesting color scheme, try using it on a project.  Interior design shows are a good place to look for unusual color concepts.

* Think outside the box.  If you're going for a formal look it's best to stick with traditional colors, but if you want to make your project unique and funky, use whatever strikes your fancy.  It's your project, and you can make the grass blue and the sky green if you want to.

Learning about color theory or color mixing can help make your color choices. You also might want to invest a little money into a color wheel. I have one and love it. I've used it for scrapbooking, rubber stamping and sewing!

Color is an important element of any project, whether you're sewing a dress or making a wall hanging.  The good news is that there's no right or wrong color to use for a given project.  You're not being tested on it.  So just go with your instincts and use the color scheme that you think is best.