Color Me Pretty: Fluorescent Touches
Hello friends, it is Leslie here with Color Me Pretty for July. I just got back from Tokyo so I thought it would be fun to share some of my color inspiration from the trip. Similar to last summer, I noticed a wide use of fluorescent colors in home décor items, fashion, stationary and even crafting supplies (read Neon Pink here). Small blasts of color can really liven things up. I have gathered a few ideas that I hope will get your creative wheels turning.
If you cannot imagine anything permanent in your home with such electric color, try introducing a tiny bit on a mood board. I made a little garland using tape and beads in fluorescent pink, yellow and orange.
I also found a beautiful card by Emma Cassi that has a perfect fluorescent pink and a calendar card by Catherine Campbell brings in a few more bright tones. Mixing these flashes of color with a sand and white backdrop really speaks to me about summer.
Every time I go to Japan I cart back a bunch of books. It is fascinating to examine how they approach collage, journaling and home décor. I also love seeing what is the current “kawaii” or cute obsession. Pandas are always big, however, this time I noticed a lot of lama (or alpaca) motifs. Yes, lama motifs adorned books, stickers, fabrics, calendars and t-shirts. Who knew? I wonder what will be next?
Little fluorescent touches to party décor (i.e. balloons, candles, streamers), make your own cards, photo album embellishing and gift wrapping are fun ways to experiment with these colors that you may not normally use.
As is brightening up an area around your desk with a little fluorescent tape on some of your favorite images. These rolls of Pro Tapes look like they could be good for these kinds of projects.
Lastly, you could always decorate your day-timer. Why not add some bright colors to make your schedule seem a little more playful? We are all busy these days but do we have to be so serious? Come on, try painting your toe nails fluorescent and add some teen spirit to your calendar. :)
How do you place to add a little neon to your life? Any ideas to share?
I will see you back here in August. -Leslie.
(photography: leslie shewring)
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July 19th, 2011 at 6:11pm
I LOVE these pops of neon! It’s an instant mood brightener.
July 19th, 2011 at 6:20pm
Oooo lovely pops of neon loving the mood board & planner images x just gorgeous xxx
July 19th, 2011 at 6:20pm
This is very inspiring,Leslie. I am off to buy some neon pens to decorate my calendar. So cheery.
And, congrats to Japan, for the women’s world cup soccer win on Sunday. While I was cheering for the other team, I was also thrilled to see a win for a country that could use the encouragment.
Fondly,
Glenda
July 19th, 2011 at 6:24pm
I love a burst of color & am embracing neons wholeheartedly. Starting with my fingers & some neon coral polish. Those books look amazing! Alpacas are hilarious looking. Glad that’s a trend. I just pinned a pic of one that I’m still laughing at.
July 19th, 2011 at 6:30pm
I’m also a big neon addict!! Fabulous!
July 19th, 2011 at 6:32pm
I look forward to Color Me Pretty every month – it’s so lovely to see how Leslie interprets different combos.
I love these little pops of neon. Such a fresh, fun and summery use of colour!
July 19th, 2011 at 6:46pm
love this! Neon makes everything more happy! Using this idea for my calendars and notebooks :)
July 19th, 2011 at 6:47pm
Only Leslie can make neon look that good. I think mine would smack of “Wham!” t-shirts of the glorious 80s.
July 19th, 2011 at 6:51pm
I am a big fan of neon accents; loving the flourescent yellow tape especially!
July 19th, 2011 at 6:58pm
The neon garland you made is so sweet – love that little addition of florescent hues to the moodboard. Glad you had a great time in Tokyo!
July 19th, 2011 at 8:09pm
This is so amazing I actually can’t believe it! I LOVE how you combined neon with those light neutrals in the first mood board, and the photoboard looks so good. It’s all just brilliant! Off to paint my nails neon pink now :)
July 19th, 2011 at 8:29pm
Such a lovely, strangely calming, palette. It’s the perfect contrast to soft, peachy, lacy textures. I love it!
July 19th, 2011 at 8:53pm
Nostalgia, brings my back to my tween years when everything I owned was neon. Beautifully styled!
July 19th, 2011 at 9:29pm
Hello Leslie, welcome back from Tokyo! I absolutely adore that city, I visited already four times and can’t get enough of their fantastic supplies for paper craft and home decor. I wonder if you could tell me the name of the markers you posted in photo 5, they look really cool! And also, if you would be so kind to share the titles of the books you purchased it would be so fantastic! (I apologize for my insane addiction to Japan paper craft…).
Concerning neon colours, I adore the vivacious feeling they give out. I have tons of neon coloured washi tapes that I use to decor my notebooks, diaries etc. I love scribbling and sketching with neon coloured pens too, my favourite being pink and green.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:30pm
Each and every one of those photos where inspiring.
Adriana
July 19th, 2011 at 9:51pm
Thank you Leslie! I was searching for the right combination of colors for my new logo for my Gluten Free Bakery, and this is it! Flourescent pink with white and maybe some grey, so clean, so fresh, and just yummy. The logo will be Retro 1950′s, sort of like the sign for a diner. You are always so inspiring!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:01pm
Little neon pops of color paired with white makes everything look happy. Luv it!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:15pm
I agree with Robin! Those books are amazing! And I love all those shades of pink! It’s my all time favorite color!
July 19th, 2011 at 10:22pm
OMG Leslie! You’ve inspired me to add a more neon in my life, IT’S GORGEOUS! TOKYO might have to be added to my list of places I must visit one day (with my Hello Kitty Lovin’ twin sis of course)
thanks for sharing this post. Can’t wait to see what you bring us in August.
~Jazz
July 19th, 2011 at 10:25pm
those balloons are dreamy by the sweet little cake. i think japan would make me wild with delight over all those amazing bitty things, pretty papers and tapes and stickers. someday! x
July 19th, 2011 at 11:51pm
Neon colors and summer almost always go hand and hand – and there’s nothing like bright pops of color to add a happy touch to anything! love the little pieces of neon you’ve shown.
July 20th, 2011 at 12:43am
I’m love the post, in summer color intense! I like!
July 20th, 2011 at 2:05am
Hi Leslie, Welcome back from Tokyo. I love the city too. So many ‘kawai’ things :).
I love the neon color idea, and especially the way you decorate the daily planner. I feel I want to do it for my diary too :).
Lovely projects for July.
July 20th, 2011 at 3:44am
How mean are you to tease us with yummy japan books and not include inner shots or even links? I am drooling!
July 20th, 2011 at 3:44am
That is so gorgeous! Great job!
July 20th, 2011 at 3:46am
Only you could make fluorescent look classy;) Love, love , love!
July 20th, 2011 at 3:58am
Hi Leslie…Neon is difficult to photograph and you did a wonderful job capturing it against romantic whites. Brings neon not so 80s and very now! I too love neon and collect a bunch of craft stuff in neon. I especially like to use neon pencils and gel pens as accent colors when I illustrate. Here is a link to some supplies I love: http://seeemmcee.blogspot.com/2011/04/neon-love.html. Cheers!
July 20th, 2011 at 6:14am
wow!! I love everything and I love a little neon especially on the toes!
July 20th, 2011 at 7:46am
I love these colours! And I love everything stationary from Tokyo.
Last time I was there, I picked up some markers from Mildliner, they come in the most awesome pastel colours. They can be found online here:
http://www.tokyopenshop.com/zebra-mildliner-5pack-p-127.html
July 20th, 2011 at 8:45am
Cant be more in love with this “color me pretty “column!! WOW!!! well done Leslie!! amazing!!!!
July 20th, 2011 at 9:16am
It’s everythings so cute! I don’t usually like flourescent colours, but so…..
I love theme!
Have a nice day!
July 20th, 2011 at 9:32am
omg i love your moodboard here! and I really love those books, can you tell me the titles ?
July 20th, 2011 at 10:05am
yeah!
I predict fluor is gonnabehot in spring 2012!
July 20th, 2011 at 11:04am
So cheerful! But I am totally one of those ‘less is more’ people when it comes to neon :)
July 20th, 2011 at 12:40pm
A very lovely pin board…the Catherine Campbell’s calender card is so adorable… I’ll need to visit her Etsy..
July 20th, 2011 at 1:24pm
Crazy beautiful!
July 20th, 2011 at 2:40pm
@Cece – Leslie bought these at various stores in Japan – it’s hard to find links to them online in English – but you can try to surf around amazon.jp and see if that helps. Sorry!
July 20th, 2011 at 3:50pm
looks great love neon colours!
July 20th, 2011 at 4:47pm
I am a huge fan of neon, too. It reminds me of candy… and the day-glo green track shorts I had in middle school. But that palette really does look so good against white and cool, pale grays, doesn’t it?
July 20th, 2011 at 6:17pm
Just looking at these photos transported me back to my childhood when neon was SO huge! I love these colors, especially on simple white backgrounds.
How funny about the llama/alpaca trend. My family has llamas and I just randomly met another blogger with alpacas. Maybe I should set up a photoshoot with them. :)
July 20th, 2011 at 8:36pm
Hi Leslie, Welcome back from Tokyo! Shopping there is such a treat. I love the neon colors you’ve chosen – invigorating and refreshing at the same time. They can be tricky but of course you’ve used them with perfect taste so they are stylish and inspiring. Thank you so much! – g
July 20th, 2011 at 9:19pm
Sometimes I think neon can look tacky but you’ve mixed these colors in so beautifully it really adds to the sophistication of the more subtle colors. Makes something almost vintage looking snap to life!
July 20th, 2011 at 9:57pm
oh, how i love this! just the teeniest little pop of neon looks so adorable next to neutrals. excellent inspiration!
July 21st, 2011 at 12:18am
Alpaca: Maybe Australian “Mc Leods Daughters” is shown on Japanese TV?
Amina
July 21st, 2011 at 8:07pm
I love these little bursts of brightness. Just the thing to perk me up in this endless gray Dutch fog that’s been mistakenly labeled “summer”!
July 22nd, 2011 at 12:34pm
Your work fascinates me, I love the color compositions you get and the beauty that emerges from the materials utilizas.Desde I discovered your blog I follow with enthusiasm. Congratulations and kisses
July 22nd, 2011 at 6:06pm
I am a pen freak and want to know what pens leslie has used above…they look perfect and I would like to know where I can get some…love the colors and the fat tips on them…
July 22nd, 2011 at 9:01pm
I love neon pink right now- my nails have been this color for the last few weeks and I’m not tiring of it! I made a cute little tray with some neon pink. Love all of your cute inspirational photos!
July 25th, 2011 at 12:12pm
Amazing! Love all of those colors. I need to ad color to my empty walls
August 8th, 2011 at 10:41pm
is that calendar in the last photo hand-drawn? because i LOVE it and want one for my very own.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:48pm
Can you tell me the ISBN numbers ? Then it’s alot easier to find ;)
Marie´s last [type] ..Gult
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:53am
Wow! These are some very beautiful images and color story. I have to admit to you and to everyone in this class.
I really don’t know much about design, being creative, or how to blog at all. I guess didn’t know you have to write for the readers, be creative, and have some type of design flow going.
I am a photographer and I would like for my blog display my work and the great time I have when I am photographing an event. I want people to feel as if they were there or wished they were there!
Thank you for this color story. I love it!!! I am so much love…and excited!
October 31st, 2011 at 5:05am
I love the shiny neon tape in the photo with the beach scenes and swimming child…can you post a link to that tape..can only find matte/masking tape type in neon colors. Lovely lovely post.
December 19th, 2011 at 8:20pm
Love neon colors!! :) Thanks for the idea!
January 9th, 2012 at 10:53pm
Gosh, I just love every single one of these images and ideas!
They feel so, so… fresh!
August 17th, 2012 at 3:23pm
Heloo , absolutly love this POST … Can you help by telling me a good place online to buy japanese books . I cant find it anywere.. Thanks
Iolanda Duarte´s last [type] ..Correcção ….
March 15th, 2013 at 1:19pm
Love the colours!