Breaking Down a Kit!

If there is one thing that perks me up each and every month, it is a a happy visit from the mailman...Scarlet Lime Kit package complete in hand. I have a little routine that I seemed to have unknowingly created, the minute that the package is in my little paws. I almost always open the package on my dining room table (and if that is loaded with stuff, the kitchen is my next go to place!) I dump the contents on top and go through my paper first. I am an admitted paper addict. I flip through the embellishments next...and the rest...well the rest is the process of how I decide I am going to use my kit. It goes a little something like this:

Empty package contents out on table:

 

Spread out the papers and flip up the sides that I like best and think that I would want to work with:

 
Then I group papers into 2 coordinating piles. I know that I am going to create 2 layouts per kit (but there is enough paper to create at least 4 layouts per kit easily!). So I find papers that I anticipate are going to work best together.

Pile #1

 

I loved the corals, pinks and blues in all of these papers!

Pile #2

 
These were some of the more graphic papers (new from Pink Paislee!) that I thought would look really cool together. The color combination is AWESOME!

Next I sort through the embellishments that I think are going to work best with each of the piles.

 
Pile #1 with embellishments ( I chose the most vintage looking embellies out of the kit)

 
Pile #2 with embellishments ( I chose the funky and more brightly colored embellishments)

Now I have all my papers and embellies sorted out together. At this point I  stack them and either carry them into my scrapbook room and set them on my craft table so I  can mull over how exactly I am going to use these amazing products, or I can gently put them back into the bag and have them all organized for when I can return to them next.

How exactly did I use these sorted piles???

Here is a layout from Pile #1:

 
Loved the Sassafras paper and  couldn't pass up pairing it with some of my favorite spring time floral pictures!

A layout from Pile #2-

 
I paired those bright, graphic, retro style Pink Paislee papers with a left over piece of paper that I had been using when making my DT layouts for last month's SL kit  and was wiping my paint brush on. Can you believe how well the paint colors ended up matching the paper colors??? I was thrilled!

So there is a peek into my organized chaos of breaking down a kit. Do you have a certain way that you sort through your kits? What are your quirky processes? We would love to see what YOU do when you get your Scarlet Lime goodness each month :)

 

Comments

[Sandy]

I'm struggling with the same thing! I hope lots of people respond. I have about a years worth of kits that I have neatly lined up. I am afraid to take them apart, but I think your approach of matching it with the stuff inside is a great start. And I do the same thing, put the side of double sided papers I like up so I can see it. And I think I will put stamps in a separate box with "Scartlet Lime Kit Stamps". I think I would maybe purchase more large zip lock bags so I can really keep each set within the kit by itself and easy to grab.

cannot wait to see what other people have to share on this! :0)

[Carol]

I love getting a kit box in the mail! I sit and go through them over and over but always the paper first. I mostly keep the kits intact and work through them until I have just scraps left - that I make a few cards with. If I know I have something in my stash that fits into a kit, I use that too. I have large ziplock bags so I can keep kits together. TFS

[jenn h]

Thanks for sharing your approach :) I too have mine all neatly lined up by month, afraid to take them apart, but am thinking I will utilize your method tonight and at least create a couple layouts. I love the wonderful variety we get in the all the kits!!

[Tricia]

Thanks for sharing - so nice to see how other people attack their kits each month. Definitely an idea worth considering.