Friday, October 21, 2011

Scrapping with Kits and Collections

One of the recent prompts in Shimelle's current "Pretty Paper Party" is about putting together a kit or collection of patterned paper and then using it to create layouts.  This approach makes some people, like my blog friend Jacky, very nervous. For me, this is second nature. I've been playing along with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog for quite a while, and they do this exercise every month.  In fact, all the layouts I've been working on the last few days come from this kit, which I put together in response to a CKC prompt, to scrap my vacation pictures:
You can read more about the process at this link.  I did add a few papers and embellishments that I found later and which were travel-related and themed for Washington state (yeah, I know the picture is upside down, but I can't help it!):
Check out yesterday's layouts (and today's and the next few days to see the collection in action).  
I'm also quite comfortable creating blank layouts and filling them in later, like this:
Or this:
Or this:
So, are you more like Jacky? Or more like me? If you're intrigued by the idea, I would definitely recommend checking out the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog and seeing other examples.

18 comments:

Sian said...

More like you! I have been buying kits since I started scrapbooking. I love a mix of papers, and partly because buying sheets individually, picking and choosing what I want, is a slow frustrating business with mail order

furrypig said...

that was a really interesting post for me to read thank you Rinda! I am learning so much from this latest class of Shimelle's and it is really helping me when choosing and using papers from my huge stash! I buy them and then cannot quite work out how to combine them. I have been following the whole counterfeit thing for several months but to be honest didn't quite get how to pick out the papers especially as I am always a start with the photo first type of scrapper ( and a fairly newbie scrapper!) seeing your made in advance pages is an inspiration and I am going to be brave and make up some kits and try and plan my pages then add my pics! thanks Rinda xxx ps did my mail art ever reach you?

scrappyjacky said...

It's not really putting the kits together that makes me twitchy,Rinda....I often do that....it's the doing it before I've chosen photos that I can't cope with!!!!I always choose the photos first...and then gather supplies. And the thought of putting together a page without a photo in mind....could probably cause a nervous collapse!!!! But I've made 3 pages with my kit....and before this class is over.....I promise to actually even try making a page before choosing the photos!!
I'm always amazed at how well you do it....these pages just work perfectly....I'm sure when I try I'll never find photos to match the page!!

Capescrapper said...

I just love this idea and had seen it before on your blog. I still really need to find some time to make these counterfeit kits! And your layouts are fantastic!

Capescrapper said...

And to answer your question I may be a little nervous about this like Jacky. Being a Club Scrap member it always is a little scary to separate all those lovely coordinating kits. But on the other hand, when all the bits and pieces are left over, it is fun to search around and find kits that can work together. FUN STUFF!

Terry said...

I have never done a scrapbook page, but I can see that it takes a pretty darn creative mind! Love the finished product and the before pictures. It kind of reminded me of our last GM, "Tim in 10." We could gather supplies, but had to complete in 10! It was an interesting challenge! Such beautiful pages! Have a lovely weekend!

Melissa said...

I am definitely more like Jackie, however I took the plunge and created a kit yesterday for the Pretty Paper Party. I've finished one layout with it and hoping to work on some others today.

Your photos work so well on the premade layouts, just not sure if I could do that!

humel said...

I'm definitely with Jacky. I tend to reach for a kit or paper collection if I want to use several patterns together, in general I struggle to put together papers from different ranges. I love seeing what other people do for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge but I can't seem to manage it! I love how you do it though, and your pre-made pages are a triumph :)

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I'm not so good at mixing kits. Well, apart from alphas, I'll add new alphas to anything but I stick with the kit papers

debs14 said...

I need to have to know what the photos are that I am going to use first and then sort out the papers. But your pages are so good, I'm going to try doing it the other way round to see if I can manage it!

Anonymous said...

I like to start with photos but like Deb am willing to try the other way round now I have seen the lovely results you get.

Anne Essex said...

I really like your style of pages. I've just made up my kit and first page. I may just scraplift one of your pages :-)

Sarah said...

I'm taking Shim's class too but so struggling with the idea of choosing papers before the photos!! I often make a page then go and choose another photo(s) to make another page with whatever scraps are left from the first (so like using up a kit) but to start with no photos at all is hard to get my head around right now!!

Alison said...

I'm with Jacky...I've never made a LO without knowing what pic(s) I'm going to use, and choose my papers etc round that...am hoping to change that next week though!
Alison xx

Amy said...

I often buy digital supplies as a kit, or, at the very least, the papers come in a range, they are rarely sold individually.
The thought of making a whole page and keeping it for a rainy day really intrigues me though. I can't pre-prepare layouts in that manner. I can have a design basis for a mini though which is a little similar.

In a way it is like using templates, but, the templates are highly felxible ... I don't use Digi Quick Pages which are more like this concept, click and drag your photos into a pre made page ... I like to control on a case by case basis! ;-)

Becky said...

I'm more like Jacky, but I've really enjoyed breaking out of my comfort zone. I made up a kit on Friday and have scrapped away this weekend (as you saw, thanks for the comment!) and I think I will be scrapping more like this in the future. Love how you scrap :)

Anonymous said...

I think I'm right in-between. I almost always start with photos, but frequently use kits to scrap, or put together similar papers to make one. It's especially true when scrapping a vacation, or doing a Christmas Journal album.

Ginger said...

I like to purchase kits already made! I think it just takes the guessing all out of it, but having said that... I cannot help but buy lots of paper, but I learned to make sure I buy some embellies too!