Friday, April 3, 2015

The Gossip Column with Taheerah Atchia | No. 1 Colour Crushes

BREAKING NEWS:

BLOGLAND, Apr 3 (w&w HQ) - Eminent and influential publishers of fine papercrafting products, Winnie & Walter, announce their collaboration with noted, trend-conscious columnist, Taheerah Atchia, to bring to their devotees a visionary feature that is set to transform the everyday challenge into something-never-before-seen in the industry: The Gossip Column.

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You may be forgiven for thinking that you've stumbled upon the wrong blog! Don't worry, you're in the right place!  Today we're bringing you the first of our exciting new features!

We wanted to revamp the current structure of giveaways and bring you something different and fun that will challenge your creativity but at the same time still giving you the chance to win fun Winnie & Walter goodies! We are so extremely thrilled and excited to be announcing a brand new challenge to the blog - The Gossip Column!!


The Gossip Column is a brand new, monthly feature, with trend reporting and challenge and giveaway all rolled into one! Heading up our new feature is our columnist Taheerah Atchia! You may remember Taheerah's work from her time as Leading Lady in January, and if you do, you'll know just how much of a lover of trends she is!

Each month, Taheerah will bring you an article, hot off the press, featuring a trend of some sort. Her write-up could feature trends reported from anywhere, not just papercrafting! As a part of the article Taheerah will also bring you some projects which interpret the chosen trend into papercrafting in some way - before throwing down the gauntlet for you to do the same! This exciting take on a challenge will still bring you the chance to create projects featuring your favourite w&w goodies, and the chance to win prizes too! But, more on that later!

Without further ado, let's introduce the first ever Gossip Column! Take it away, Taheerah... !


Colour. Colour is everywhere. I can think of few things that can instantly change the feel of a room, the cheeriness of my disposition. Colour is definitely a mood enhancer in so many ways. We associate a range of experiences and a full gamut of emotions from the colour of something. With a purported 65 million colours in the spectrum we still somehow manage to pick a solitary favourite. Colour is an inherent expression of personality - from the way we decorate our homes to how we dress.

The beginning of every year may well conjure drab and cold imagery from being in the throes of Winter. But it is also the time when the biggest name in colour divines to us which hues will be permeating our lives in the following 12 months.

I'm speaking of course of Pantone[1]. I'm sure many will be familiar with this name, and immediately think of two things: paint chips and the, oft controversial, Colour of The Year. The 60-something year old company is of course responsible for so much more than little flipbooks of colour samples. Without the Pantone Colour Matching System (PMS) we would not have a standardised way for designers to mix tints to the same specification when creating colours for a whole swathe of products. I'll spare you the chemistry lesson for today, but the science of colour reproduction is a fascinating subject in its own right.

Back though, to the Colour of The Year. Though on the surface the reasons for choosing Marsala[4] this year, Radiant Orchid last year, and so on, might appear haphazard, the colours for each year are actually selected up to 2 years in advance, after intense, twice yearly discussions between colour specialists from around the world, held in a top-secret European location.[2],[3] Factoring into the choices are everything from economic conditions to cultural attitudes and emotions of the time. Colour me impressed.

Of course, The Colour of The Year is just one of several colours that Pantone selects to evoke the feeling of the current clime. With an array of hues chosen, the colours are also broken down into seasons and palettes to create moods for everything from home décor to your favourite patterned papers. And thus, for the first Gossip Column, I wanted to focus on the current colour palette for Spring[6]:


These Top 10 colours really do convey the mood that Pantone sought to emulate. They are a perfect blend of rich, vibrant colours, cool neutrals and delectable pastels. And a perfect springboard for all manner of inspiration!

The catwalks are usually the first to embrace the latest colour trends, so a lot of S/S 2015 collections borrow heavily from these influences...


... with cosmetics and high street fashion in hot pursuit...



Even home décor[5] gets bitten by the colour bug... 


... as well as weddings[7] and a whole lot more besides!


As you can no doubt see, not only are these colours fantastic in isolation, but they also make for fabulous combinations!

Interpreting these colours in my own work, I came up with this trio of on-trend, colourlicious creations:

My first card took its cues from one of the dresses above:


Isn't the pattern fabulous?! I took the cues to lead to a colour combination of Glacier Grey, Strawberry Ice and Marsala.


I sponged some white ink onto pale grey cardstock using the Duo: The Big, the Bold and Extras Creative Screenings and then stamped the pom-poms and sentiments from The Party to complete the look!

My second card actually uses all but one of the ten colours!


I used Scenery: Stripes to stamp all my stripes for a funky, modern masculine card. I snuck in some black for the sentiment (shhh... !) using words from The Big, the Bold and You to finish it off.

Finally, I wanted to show off a hot and bright combination:


I used the stag from Winter Woodland and stamped him with an ink in a Scuba Blue hue, then heat embossed the sentiment from The Big, the Bold, and the Happy to bring in the Custard colour. They set off so sharply against the Tangerine base!


So, now that you've had a whirlwind tour of Pantone, colours and inspiration, I am delighted to bring you your first Gossip Column challenge!

Your challenge is to create a project using your own colour combo picked from the Spring 2015 Pantone colours! Most colour challenges give you a ready-made combo but I want to see you apply what you've seen today to pull together your very own combo!

You can use the individual swatches below to add to your blog posts to show which combo you've built:


The Rules

  • Create a brand new project using your own colour combination from the 10 colours above
  • You can use as few or as many of the colours as you like!
  • To make life a teeny bit easier for you, I will also allow you the use of black for sentiments only, if you need it!
  • Post on your blog or to an online photo album. Ensure you link up to this challenge post in your blog post and include the colour swatches
  • You must use at least one Winnie & Walter product for your creation. This can include our free digital products too!
  • Link up your creations to this post using the Inlinkz below. Please use the link to your actual post rather than the link to your blog
  • You can enter as many times as you like!
  • The deadline for linking submissions is Monday 20th April at 11:55pm CST. 
  • I will select one overall winner ('Gossip Queen/King'!) and two honourable mentions ('Hot Gossips'!). The Gossip Queen/King will win $30 credit to the w&w store, and the Hot Gossips winning a $15 credit a piece!
  • Winners will be announced on the following Friday (24th April).

Are you ready to put your gossiping skills to the test?! I can't wait to see your creations!!


Just one more thing before you go! We would love your feedback on The Gossip Column and the challenge, so please do leave us a comment on this post! Each and every issue of The Gossip Column will focus on something different and we can't wait to bring you the future issues if you love this feature!

'Til next time, Gossipers... !

Taheerah

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Further Reading:


42 comments:

  1. Awesome, awesome I already love this new feature can't wait to create and watch the next gossip. This is so unique I already know which colors to use. Thank you very much for this new feature it's gonna be a huge success. Love your cards Taheerah.

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  2. Oh Wow !! so excited to see this piece of news...And really looking forward to playing along this challenge....Awesome cards Taheera loved them :)

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  3. This is such a novel idea and Taheerah is the perfect lady for the job.!

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  4. Taheerah, and clever girls at Winnie & Walter... you are both challenging me, and intriguing me with this newest concept in Challenges! Love the Gossip Column! If you don't know me, I should tell you that I've been given the moniker of "Queen of Paint-Chip cards!" I know that I will come up with something for this fabulous new challenge... thanks! =] Michele

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  5. What a clever and fun post Taheerah!!! LOVE this - so unique and new and fresh! Great job on your first post! I can't wait to play with some of these colors!

    housesbuiltofcards@gmail.com
    www.housesbuiltofcards.blogspot.com

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  6. Congratulations, Taheerah! Great column!

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  7. Taheerah, Julie and Shay: you sure now how to pique, then fully capture, our interest! The Gosspi Column makes for intriguing reading - I've come away feeling more educated as well as inspired. The new challenge concept: well, I'll be giving it a go for sure! Thank you for the incentive...
    ~c

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  8. Fantastic column, Taheera! I'm already looking forward to the next one.

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  9. I have been intrigued with the Pantone color of the year..thanks for the education. Great first Column Taheerah!!

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  10. What's not to love? Taheerah most definitely has her finger on the pulse. WW has fantastic stamps. And who doesn't love winners?

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  11. Awesome write-up and inspiring projects, Taheerah! Congrats on this new feature! Now, who doesn't like Gossips? Way to start the fun!

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  12. Love your Gossip column Teheran! Awesome inspiration, thanks!

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  13. Yay, Taheerah! Love your first column!

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  14. How exciting ... great column, brilliant challenge idea ... looking forward to playing along! Anita :)

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  15. Love this, Taheerah!!! A delightful column full of creative inspiration!!!

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  16. Wow! That was the most informative article on color, Taheerah... Thanks! Love the Pantone/Runway inspiration for the challenge... What fun!!

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  17. Marsala, marsala, I'm still trying to figure out marsala for color of the year!!! ?!? Excellent inaugural post in the gossip column, Taheerah! Love to see you pulling non-card examples of trends to give this article a "bigger" feel. So well done!! Looking forward to next month already : )

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  18. I love this new column! You are perfect for this! You have a gift
    for putting trends into words and have done justice in tieing the
    fashion world to our paper crafting world :-) Congratulations!

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  19. This is going to be an exciting addition to W&W. Thank you Taheerah for a very informative and challenging post!

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  20. Such a fun way to stay informed of trends! Love this.

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  21. Congratulations, Taheerah!!! What a great opportunity! This is a great year for you :) I love all the cards and inspiration! Hope I find time to play along with your first challenge here...otherwise, next month for sure after I finish up school!!! <3

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  22. This is a wonderfully fresh approach to a challenge theme. How exciting! Thank you for bringing a fun new element to stamping challenges.

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  23. CONGRATULATIONS Taheerah!!!
    I'm SO EXCITED for YOU, for Winnie & Walter and for US too :)
    LOVE your 1st Gossip Column article and look forward to keeping up with the trends here with you!!!
    Hoping time allows for me to join the challenge with everyone, it is going to be a DELIGHTFUL palette in the linky!!!

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  24. Taheerah, just love the colours and the inspiration photos. your first card, so beautiful. Cant wait to give this a go. If you have time and you remember where I wondered if you could tell me where you found the dress image you used for your inspiration on your first card. the silver and cream with soft pink flowers dress is just beautiful and I was showing a friend. She loves to sew and wondered who designed the dress/ any help would be much appreciated.

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    1. Hi Aileen, thanks so much for your kind words! I've been doing some digging around for you and managed to track the dress down as being from a UK store called Debenhams, under their own Occasional Wear brand called 'Debut'. However it doesn't appear to be on their website. Here's a link to the closest page I got to (go to the second slide on the page):http://www.youandyourwedding.co.uk/dresses-and-style/guests/100-best-wedding-guest-dresses/20435-58.html

      Hope that helps a little!

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  25. A very interesting read thanks Taheerah. I struggle sometimes with colour challenges but there is heaps of inspiration with in the article. Hope to find time to have a play with your challenge colours.

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    1. Thanks Dawn! I hope the inspiration will help! :) Just to ease your mind though they won't all be colour challenges - in fact, the next one has nothing to do with colour at all... ;)

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  26. Yahoooooooo for Taheerah! I'm such a fan of her work!
    Awesome new feature!

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  27. Hello Taheerah,

    Congratulations on your new feature - LOVE it :-)

    Fabulous writing and so very interesting. Beautiful cards too - Thank you!
    Looking very much forward to the next edition.

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  28. Love the new feature! Can't wait to read the column every month and play along when it's possible, too. Besides, Taheerah has a natural talent to express herself in many ways... writing is one of them.

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  29. How exciting!!! And Taheerah is the perfect person for the job! I'm so excited about this collaboration!

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  30. Fascinating and so very informative!! Loved learning about and seeing the Pantone colors for Spring - what a super cool and fun challenge, I am definitely going to be playing!! Thanks for the encouragement and the inspiration to try new colour schemes!!

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  31. Love using W&W stamps and a good challenge. (happy dance time.)

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  32. What a fun feature, great job writing this, Taheerah! I'm hoping to play along, this will give me the chance to use some of my beloved W&W stamps :)

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  33. SO SAD that LIFE got in the way and I didn't get to create along with you for the very 1st Gossip Column Challenge!!!
    EVERYONE created FABULOUS projects, it's such a CHEERY gallery and I'm FEELING INSPIRED :)

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    1. We missed you Tracy - but Gossip Column #2 is just around the corner... ! *wink* I agree - everyone did a fantastic job!

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  34. awesome I already love this new feature can't wait to create and watch the next gossip.

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  35. I don't know, I don't care much. I don't cware anyone calling off their relationships. And even more, that's not my business, like at all. And they're all people (I don't think you would happy somebody discussing your break up), so if they don't feel anymore comfortable together, that's a good sign it's time to split up. But if you still need some tips for wedding, I can advise to check weddingforward.com to find some info. And be more kind, be understanding.

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