Trend Watch – We are all part of the Tribe: Tribal prints

I am sure you have seen the tribal influence pop up all over the place. Colorful prints in purses, wall hangings, furniture and in clothes. We also get to experience how cool the prints can look on paper with stamps and papers that allow us to create cool looks. Even though the trends is tribal, I am surprised by universal the prints. When they are deconstructed you can see how familiar shapes like arrows and triangles have a slightly different look and in combinations communicate the look we identify as tribal. I have some beautiful examples to show you what I mean. So let’s get inspired.

My first card features just the one shape but by its random positioning creates such a cool distinguished look. The blue wash of color across the length of the panel is so cool.

card by Marcie Sharp photo courtesy of Sharp Designs

The colors of this next card are considered traditionally tribal as well. They look like earth colors. The random gathering of patterns also contributes to its distinctive look.

card by Cindy Schuster photo courtesy of Nutmeg Creations

Vicky used a washed out effect for her colors that works really well with the shapes she gathers together at two corners of her card.

card by Vicky Hayes photo courtesy of Clare’s Paper Moments

Patterned repetition can create an ethnic look without the shape being particularly ethnic. I love how sophisticated this design looks by stamping one image in two different ways across several rows of the card. The occasional color is also beautiful.

card by Geralyn Sy photo courtesy of Mama Elephant Blog

I just love how simple the pattern is for this card and how awesome it looks together. The idea of lines and x’s gets a super cool treatment with the stamp and watercolor technique Lisa uses (and created for Hero Arts by the way).

card by Lisa Spangler photo courtesy of Hero Arts blog

Striking is such an appropriate word to describe this next card. The black in the card give an extra punch to the lovely blues, oranges, greens and greys.

card by Sarah Moerman photo courtesy of My Impressions

Tessa’s card was also made with a cover plate die and given gorgeous color by laying colorful strips behind the tribal inspired patterns.

card by Tessa Wise photo courtesy of Crafty Girl Designs

Mayuri created this gorgeous pattern from a stamp set I’ve included at the bottom of this post. Look how intricate it looks and it only uses different triangle shapes.

card by Mayuri photo courtesy of Winnie and Walter blog

In Vanessa’s card we see the random grouping of a the triangle in different patterns in lovely earth colors. She creates such a lovely clean look.

card by Vanessa Menhorn photo courtesy of Winnie and Walter blog

Nichol’s card is so beautiful and fun. You can see the influence of tribal by her use of triangles and patterns but she uses bright colors for a more universal look.