Kit Love: Putting Together Kits

Ahhhh....kits. My favorite. I LOVE working with kits. Even when I am scrapping at home. I used to just put them together when I was going somewhere to crop. (After I figured out taking my entire room took more time to unpack than the actual scrapbooking). Then, I tried out the purchased/online kits. In the past I have subscribed to Scarlet Lime, Jenni Bowlin, Studio Calico, and possibly one other that I can not think of. I loved the concept. I loved the challenge to work just within that kit. So, as I continued to shop and add to my stash, I decided to mix the 2...my stash + kits for my regular scrapbooking. And it has seriously changed my scrappy life. I get soooo much more done. Because it limits me, it keeps me focused. I don't spend all the time on decision making and debating which product is the 'best'.

I generally have 3 different types of kits I put together. First, is what I call a 'Manufacturer's Kit.' This is the easiest to put together as it simply involves purchasing a single paper line + embellishments and putting it in a bag. When I am ready to scrapbook with it, I simply scrap with it until I am sick of it and then I divide up the leftovers.

Every so often, I buy a paper line that does not have very many embellishment options. In that case, I add in items from my stash.

Here, I am preparing a Manufacturer's kit to be scrapped with.

This kit is the "I Am" Line from Simple Stories. I LOVE this line, it is so pretty.

The first thing I do is take everything out of packages. This helps the workflow, puts everything at my fingertips.I have to admit, I really love this part. : )

Then, sometimes, I make some extra embellishments from the packaging before throwing it away...

Then, I organize my paper...if I have 2 of each sheet, I place them so I can see all sides.

If the lines includes cut apart cards, I go ahead and cut them apart. Since this is Simple Stories, a good portion of the papers are cut aparts, so it is a little more prep. But this truly helps me use the cards as they are ready to be placed on the page. I often use these for journaling cards or title cards. I also love them for layering.

Lastly, I like to add in some sort of tool to the kit. I consider a tool something that can be used over and over...stamps, punches, embossing folders, dies, etc. Doing this helps ensure that I actually use these items that are in my stash...once I get to scrapbooking, I am not good at getting up and interrupting my flow to find and use a tool. If they are part of the kit, they are close and at my fingertips, and then become part of the challenge of using that particular kit. Sometimes, the tool is from the line. Here, I did not purchase any stamps that matched the line, so I added some plus a punch from my stash. I try to look at themes in the line and that guides me when making this choice.

And then I organize it all so it stays on my desk in a fairly tidy way and I am ready to find photos and scrap away!

My 2nd type of Kit is a Kit from my stash, but is partially still a manufacturers kit. This can be a case where a particular line is really light on embellishment, or it may be a line I have already scrapped with but was not quite ready to split it up yet. This particular kit is 2 Crate Paper lines...Random and On Trend. They both go together really well (this is common with manufacturers...they generally all work together) but I was still light on embellishment options, so I also added in some items from my stash.

After assessing what types of embellishments I was good on (had quite a few flat elements-stickers, etc. and a good amount of dimension via the chipboard, flowers, buttons) I decided what embellishments I wanted to add. I wanted to add in some washi, some wood veneer elements, and a few other items. So first, washi...I simply grab a few that match colors in the line

Then, I realized I had very few 'layerable' elements-no cut apart cards, etc. So I found a My Minds Eye set that matched. Now, it does not match all of the colors, but does some of the colors and that is good enough!

I added in a transparency, some wood veneer, enamel dots, doilies, and some Dear Lizzy tickets and called it good! I know had a good mix of flat and dimensional elements that I knew I would have what I needed to be successful with this kit.

My last type of kit is a purely homemade kit from my stash. My first step in this is to find a patterned paper that has multiple colors. That then guides my color scheme...

I chose this lovely Allison Kreft camera paper. Next, I pull papers that match or complement the colors in that paper. I sift through my loose papers as well as paper pads.

Then, I look at my dimensional elements. I pull some sheets of stickers as well as some individual elements.

Then, I do the same with flat stickers. As you can see, some of these sheets are well used and always try to pull sheets that I can hope to fully use up.

Then, washi (of course!)

Then, I add in the smaller 'finishing' elements-brads, clips, enamel dots...along with a Project Life Kit of which I could pull cards for layering, journaling, etc.

And some tools...I happened to have some Allison Kreft stamps that matched the paper, so I grabbed those.

And ta-da! Kit made!

This is such a great way to 'shop your stash.'

Happy Scrapping!!!