Use Up Your Stash: How to Make a Scrapbooking Kit
Lately, when I scrapbook 12" x 12" layouts, I am working on older photos. Usually, five years past or more, when my boys were younger.
And when I didn't have as much time to scrapbook.
My current scrapbooking is mostly pocket scrapbooking, which works for the smaller amount of photos that I take nowadays.
While we are sheltering at home during COVID19, I'm on a mission to use up my older paper collections. To do that, I find that it's better to have a plan to accomplish several pages at once, using a group of photos from one time period. It allows me to use up a series of paper and embellishments and as a result, I have nice, coordinating pages together in one album.
On my old craft blog, I previously described how I put together a kit.
Since we haven't had the opportunity to do craft shopping for the past two months, I decided to share my old post here. Now is as good as time as any for all of us to clean out our paper stash!
The following is a reprint of that post from five years ago, (so you will see some old paper collections no longer in print) and my process hasn't changed much! I hope it is helpful as you craft at home during the pandemic.
And may I add: Remain hopeful by documenting what has been happening during COVID19. Not the depressing news, but memories of what you and your family did while at home. Your kids will love looking back at it, and will probably see it as wonderful times!
If you try this and it worked for you, let me know in the comments! I'd love to know how you are crafting in this current period!
This past weekend I put together another kit, combining three My Minds Eye collections: Stella Rose, Indie Chic, and So Sophie. At the time I purchased them, I must have really like the aqua and yellow combination! This worked well because the three collections are easily interchangeable:
With the 12 x 12 papers, I added chipboard from the Stella Rose, a 6 x 6 pad and die cuts from Indie Chic, and die-cuts and overlays from So Sophie.
Finally, I threw in leftover brads and small embellishments from past My Mind's Eye collections.
Next, I go through my paper box, where currently I file all my leftover papers and collections by the manufacturer. I choose a color scheme that attracts me, and then I go through the rest of the box and find all the papers that easily coordinate (usually there is a three-color theme that I will use).
Third, I will go through my stash of embellishments and choose what is left from the original collection, plus anything else that coordinates with it. Thickers or another chipboard lettering also goes in the box.
Because I hate throwing things away, I have this drawer set on my desk (available at Walmart) that houses miscellaneous stickers, die-cuts, and chipboard. (Half of these drawers are for tools, markers, adhesive, etc.)
Finally, photos. I will go through my current pics or archives and print any needed photos with my Canon Selphy, putting the dates on the back. This way, I have all that I need in one spot for when I want to sit down and be creative for a few minutes.
The fun thing about shopping from your stash is that you can put together some real creative kits. I find that many of my layouts look much more creative and original.
Once the kit is assembled, I will work with it for as long as I still like it, or when all viable pieces are gone. When at the end of the kit, I will immediately
throw the rest of the paper away.
In the trash can. Never to be retrieved.
{gasp}
Really.
I do the same with die-cuts, stickers and other items that I won't use on a future layout. And face it, I probably won't, so why make space for it? It's time to let it go and make room for something new and exciting.
Your turn: Try making some kits with your older stash. Let's use up that great stuff, throw it away and move on.
And when I didn't have as much time to scrapbook.
My current scrapbooking is mostly pocket scrapbooking, which works for the smaller amount of photos that I take nowadays.
While we are sheltering at home during COVID19, I'm on a mission to use up my older paper collections. To do that, I find that it's better to have a plan to accomplish several pages at once, using a group of photos from one time period. It allows me to use up a series of paper and embellishments and as a result, I have nice, coordinating pages together in one album.
On my old craft blog, I previously described how I put together a kit.
Since we haven't had the opportunity to do craft shopping for the past two months, I decided to share my old post here. Now is as good as time as any for all of us to clean out our paper stash!
The following is a reprint of that post from five years ago, (so you will see some old paper collections no longer in print) and my process hasn't changed much! I hope it is helpful as you craft at home during the pandemic.
And may I add: Remain hopeful by documenting what has been happening during COVID19. Not the depressing news, but memories of what you and your family did while at home. Your kids will love looking back at it, and will probably see it as wonderful times!
If you try this and it worked for you, let me know in the comments! I'd love to know how you are crafting in this current period!
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This past weekend I put together another kit, combining three My Minds Eye collections: Stella Rose, Indie Chic, and So Sophie. At the time I purchased them, I must have really like the aqua and yellow combination! This worked well because the three collections are easily interchangeable:
This is how I make my own kit:
The 12" x 12" containers from Michaels are perfect storage for homemade kits! You can see what's inside, and they hold a lot of stuff all in one place. Be sure to get them when they are on sale or use a 40% off coupon for the best price. In my scrap room, I usually have two of these that I fill and empty all the time.
Next, I go through my paper box, where currently I file all my leftover papers and collections by the manufacturer. I choose a color scheme that attracts me, and then I go through the rest of the box and find all the papers that easily coordinate (usually there is a three-color theme that I will use).
Third, I will go through my stash of embellishments and choose what is left from the original collection, plus anything else that coordinates with it. Thickers or another chipboard lettering also goes in the box.
Because I hate throwing things away, I have this drawer set on my desk (available at Walmart) that houses miscellaneous stickers, die-cuts, and chipboard. (Half of these drawers are for tools, markers, adhesive, etc.)
The next step will be going through these drawers and find anything that I can use up that matches my kit. I put all these miscellaneous pieces in this cute catch-all and leave it on my desk for easy access.
Finally, photos. I will go through my current pics or archives and print any needed photos with my Canon Selphy, putting the dates on the back. This way, I have all that I need in one spot for when I want to sit down and be creative for a few minutes.
The fun thing about shopping from your stash is that you can put together some real creative kits. I find that many of my layouts look much more creative and original.
Once the kit is assembled, I will work with it for as long as I still like it, or when all viable pieces are gone. When at the end of the kit, I will immediately
throw the rest of the paper away.
In the trash can. Never to be retrieved.
{gasp}
Really.
I do the same with die-cuts, stickers and other items that I won't use on a future layout. And face it, I probably won't, so why make space for it? It's time to let it go and make room for something new and exciting.
Your turn: Try making some kits with your older stash. Let's use up that great stuff, throw it away and move on.
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