For the last nine years, I've been a member of Club Scrap, one of (if not the) original scrapbook kit clubs. Besides having original, very high quality paper and designs, they are always a little ahead of the curve on techniques. From the beginning, they offered stamps and stencils are part of their kits. Their customer service is amazing, and the owners (Tricia and Dinah) make you feel like they know you, even if they have thousands of members all around the world. They offer a variety of different levels and kits, and I've tried lots of different variations over the last decade. But I've never seriously considered dropping my subscription. I'm a very happy customer!
Club Scrap often includes little projects and minialbums in their kits. Sometimes I put them together right away, but sometimes I put them into a hatbox for later. Well, my unfinished projects hatbox is currently overflowing, so I pulled out a few projects to work on this week. I made these two little swatch books this afternoon, and it was such a nice feeling of accomplishment. Not sure what I'll do with the top one (decorated with the Club Scrap Gratitude collection), but I'm going to use the second one (decorated with the Club Scrap Memoirs collection) to keep a list of art ideas!
Are you a member of any kit clubs? What has been your experience with them? I'd love to hear.
I thought about joining a club a couple of times but not knowing all of the products or the quality deterred me initially - I would not have that problem now as I'm more familiar with a wide range of product. What stops me now is the thought of too much product - I just don't use enough each month to warrant the ongoing subscription, but I can see that it is convenient and a great way to keep up to date with trends.
ReplyDeleteI don't belong to any kit clubs although I have been tempted many a time! I know that I would find myself with more new products than I could use before the next batch came in and before long the house would be up for sale because we had run out of space to store everything!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I agree with Amy, it's a great way to be up to date with all the new trends and products, and it is a good way to be given something to craft with that was outside your comfort zone and you would not have chosen yourself.
It's a dilemma: new house v better scrapping materials .... hmmmm
I could talk about kit clubs all day! I love getting a box in the mail every month and yes it can be hard to use up all the product, but it's the best way for me to shop because the range locally is so poor.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started buying from the US the exchange rate was really working in my favour too and that helped to develop the habit! I did Little Red Scrapbook for a while, then Label Tulip and now I'm with Studio Calico. I've just spotted a new one Midnight Rooster I like the look of too.
This will be an interesting topic Rinda. I'm a member of Club Scrap..love the quality of their paper and stamps. I recently began a subscription to Swirlydoos, which has entirely different product and I am enjoying that also. I live very rural, so shopping is not convenient for me. Plus, I love getting a little something in the mail every month.
ReplyDeleteSince I am all digital, I don't really know if there are any digital clubs available. I buy lots of digital kits from various places so I guess that counts somewhat.
ReplyDeleteI've belonged to several kit clubs over the years. Studio Calico was my favorite and I subscribed for a couple of years. I finally dropped the subscription when I realized I just wasn't getting enough pages done to justify the expense. I now order online what I really want, but I do miss the embellishments that used to come with the kits that I had never seen anywhere.
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous :-) I'd love to join a kit club but the ones I most like the look of are based in America which makes the postage too high for me :-(
ReplyDeleteI really like the little book to keep track of art ideas - sometimes I get a good one and could use a place to note it. I get Club Stamp and love getting it every month. At one time I was getting Paula's Kit Club (she used to own Rubber Baby) but found that that it was too expensive and the items were mostly things I could find in a scrapbook store - although she does a great job organizing it. The great thing about CS is it's original.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I agree with some of the others, that I would have so much stuff that I couldn't use quickly enough... but I have been tempted to join a club (I love the Studio Calico stuff for instance!).
ReplyDeleteYour little books are sweet. I have some book screw fixings like those - maybe I will have a go. You know I like to try new book-binding techniques!
I don't belong to any scrap kit clubs but for about 6 years I was part of a fabric club that sent a package of fat quarters to you every month with special packs of the new lines at certain points of the year. I was quilting then. I have so darn much fabric now, all in fat quarters
ReplyDeleteWell, Rinda, as you know I am also a member of Club Scrap and have never been a member of any other club. I joined in Jan 2008 and have never been disappointed with that decision! LOVE THIS CLUB.
ReplyDeleteI love that they offer, traditional and digital kit memberships and the designs are always new and unique (found no where else) every month. And with ALSB you use every scrap of paper, get your pages done in a flash and into your albums! And did I mention the cool projects! ;) Just the cherry on top! So fun! I could go on and on and ......
BTW, love your swatch books!
Great swatch books, RInda! The nice thing about Club Scrap is there are 4 club options - I get the Jr kit and Stamp kit. Also, for you digital folks, there is a digital version of all the kits - plus there's a free digital newsletter. I've bought sample kits from other clubs - lot of money for very little product.
ReplyDeletePass the kool-aid! :) i wonder where i put that little album.. gotta get my stuff together for the crop on Sat.. maybe i'll bring some of the projects in my hat box :)
ReplyDeleteMariana
like i need another addiction! just kidding - thanks for sharing. i would absolutely love getting a new batch of materials each month. i will definitely look into some of these plans.
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