How to Bring Fall's Hottest Colors Into Your Projects

Fall colors have officially made their entrance, and this year they’re designed to lift spirits as the colder months set in. Similarly, the colors you choose for all your Mixbook projects come together to create moods that range from sophisticated and structured to lively and vivid, covering your inherent need for your creative endeavors to reflect emotions that run from thoughtfully introspective to irrepressibly elated. Since autumn is known to be a season that sparks reflection, it follows that making photo books will help you remember summer and process the more serious inner reflection that fall inspires.

The preeminent colors of 2013 have matured and deepened for fall. And, naturally, Mixbook is at the ready with book themes, stationery, cards, calendars and invitations that capture that ripe, jewel-inspired palette, plus pretty wedding invitations and stationery in every trending color for fall 2013. Here’s the rundown:

This Fall’s Greens: Emerald #01a38c and Deep Lichen Green #5c6b56 Pantone, the self-proclaimed global authority on color, reports that with the changing season, the greens from spring have evolved and developed. Emerald – the single most iconic color of 2013 – continues to sparkle and fascinate, bringing luxury and elegance to the palette. Deep Lichen Green, a naturally lush shade of green, adds a richness and depth to your projects that signal a more serious, introspective tone. Mixbook’s Emerald Art Deco wedding invitation not only captures the gorgeous greens of fall, but it gives a nod to Gatsby – another enormous style influence of 2013. Keep with the clean green of the original design, or easily add some text to the back in Pantone’s Deep Lichen Green by using its corresponding hex code.

This Fall’s Blue: Mykonos Blue #085b91 Mykonos Blue – which Pantone calls a bold, meditative blue – adds a classic, relaxed tone to fall projects. The same way a perfect pair of weathered jeans or a gorgeous Navy-blue cashmere sweater adds both poise and informality to any outfit, a great deep blue brings a timeless, laid-back style to your fall projects. Mixbook’s Counting Our Blessings holiday card showcases a blue that takes its cue from the Greek islands.

This Fall’s Purple: Acai #451257 Purple has always been an exalted color – from the age of emperors to anthems of Jimi Hendrix, it’s always connoted something otherworldly and beyond. Bring that same exotic mystery to your fall projects, incorporating Acai with other colors to create a number of powerful fall combinations. Whether purple has always been your color, or it’s recently taken you by storm, you can create personal stationery by choosing Mixbook’s Script Monogram card, adding your name and initial, and selecting the purple tone that aligns with Pantone’s Acai. Use the Acai hex code to add text to the interior or back of your card.

This Fall’s Red: Samba #b81738 Like a stroke of red lipstick on a minimally made-up face, vibrant red has incredible power to make a statement. Spirited Samba red brings a similar expressive quality and dramatic look to all kinds of fall projects. Take a simple unmade-up note card like Mixbook’s Modern Type and change the type from green and blue to Samba and Koi to reflect your up-to-the-minute style. Or choose Mixbook’s Classic Collage Holiday card design, and select the bright red for a striking statement.

This Fall’s Orange: Koi #e46343 Koi, a decorative orange with dazzling and shimmering qualities, is a lively statement color that serves as the perfect pick-me-up for your fall projects. Mixbook’s Mod Wreath Thanksgiving card is a gorgeous use of that vibrant Koi-orange on a stark white background. Match text by picking up the hex code for Koi, or create a fun, fresh color play by making your text Vivacious – using the hex code below.

This Fall’s Pink: Vivacious #ba0f5e This year, Pantone named Vivacious the pink tone of the year. It’s “an unruly and wildly deep fuchsia” that adds “an ebullient sensuality to the palette.” A pink like this is as hard-core as it is girly-girl, so use it with abandon knowing that your projects will sing with attitude. Choose a grounding color like Turbulence or Carafe to act as the perfect antidote. Take a card like Mixbook’s Ready to Ride note card, and customize it by changing the “thank you” text to Vivacious by deleting the current thank-you text and using the Vivacious hex code to override the plain brown color. Your pink with make your gratitude pop – and look utterly stylish in the process.

This Fall’s Anchoring Dark Tones: Turbulence #4d565b and Carafe #4c3d14 Turbulence, a dark mercurial gray, and Carafe, a rich, glamorous brown, provide more interesting and sophisticated alternatives to the black basics usually worn in colder months. Both staple neutrals pair gracefully with more expressive colors within the palette, such as Samba, Koi and Vivacious. Mixbook’s Happy Ghost Halloween party invitation has a backdrop that’s an ominous shade a lot like Turbulence. Freshen up the look by choosing an accent color on the list of Pantone’s top Fall colors – both Acai and Koi bring a stylish jolt to the text that looks holiday-appropriate too. Same goes for the moody gray-blue behind Mixbook’s Classic Stars invitations. A pop of Vivacious or Koi text would look uber hip and completely unique.

And, don’t forget…if you fall in love with a Mixbook card, photo book, calendar or invitation but it’s not perfect for your palette, have no fear! You can change the background or text color to match any color at all, just check out the super easy tutorial on using the Mixbook color wheel option.

Have fun getting moody and reflective with Fall’s best colors…and Mixbook!