Confessions of a Scrapbook Kit Hoarder…#2

Hello everyone, happy Friday!

Welcome to my new blog series, “Confessions of a Scrapbook Kit Hoarder“. If you haven’t already, please read The Intervention so you can understand the inspiration for this craft project.

My first project I created with my September kit is a Thank You card:

Thank you card.

Thank you card.

Card ingredients:

  • I used the Parfait cardstock and cut out a 6×6 card base.
  • A sheet from the AC Everyday paper pad from my personal stash
  • A piece of the gold vellum that was included in the kit.
  • White cardstock from my stash for the die cut.
  • I colored up this gorgeous MazyArt digi to match all the rich colors.
  • I also added some gemstones from my stash for additional accents.
  • A sheet of yellow paper from my stash to make the envelop. (I got to use my We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board)

I love how vibrant the colors are on this card. They make me feel happy.  It feels good to use somethings from my kit so far. I have the other half of that Parfait cardstock and will make another 6×6 card. I have only begun but I can’t wait to make another card.

I will post my next card very soon.

Happy crafting!

Belinda

 

Confessions of a Scrapbook Kit Hoarder…#1

Hello Everyone!

I am so excited to share the first of my new series, “Confessions of a Scrapbook Kit Hoarder”. If you haven’t already, please read The Intervention so you can understand the inspiration for this craft project.

September 2013 Cocoa Daisy Kit

September 2013 Cocoa Daisy Kit

I subscribe to Cocoa Daisy’s monthly scrapbook kit club and have for several years now. I really like the papers, embellies and stamps they offer in the monthly kits.  I often receive products that I can’t find locally and just love them.

My goal for this series is to inspire you to use all of your goodies whether it’s from kits or just from your “collection” of craft supplies.  I will show you what I received in the monthly kit and then I will post a series of posts that show you what I made using all of the products.  I will share my process which I think is helpful to guide you in the direction of action for yourself.  Because after all it, it is my inaction or inability to free myself to use my supplies that put me  in this mess.  So let’s climb out together.  I will supplement my kits with other kit remains or my general stash but will be sure to let you know when I do.

I am using these posts to keep me honest and loyal to both the commitment and process since I will be accountable for creating posts of my work.  So keep on me if you think I am falling back into my old ways.

Kit: Cocoa Daisy’s September 2013 monthly kit

Challenge: To create various paper crafts using up most if not all of the products in the kit before the next kit arrives.

Process: I took everything out to see what colors and embellishments are included (see picture above).

Extras:  I then pulled out a coordinating 6×6 paper pad to supplement when making cards. For this kit I chose American Crafts ‘Everyday’ 6×6 paper pad that I purchased from Target.  I also pulled out coordinating inks for stamping and inking paper edges. The inks I have chosen:

  • Momento Lady Bug, Cantaloupe, Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves
  • Prima chalk inks: Vintage Pink, Old Road, Coltsfoot Stemens, Teal Damask
Ink pads that will coordinate with the papers.

Ink pads that will coordinate with the papers.

From my stash:

  • wooden accents, Silhouette cuts, spellbinders dies

So the first thing I did was something easy to keep me motivated which was cut up all the Project Life type cards that were included in the kit.  I placed them in an empty wooden bin at arms reach ready for action.

 

I divided up the products into possible projects.

I divided up the products into possible projects.

I then pulled out some colored up digi images that I have been meaning to use on cards and paired them with coordinating color from the Kit’s cardstock and then found complimentary pattern paper from my AC paper pack.  I then cut up two 6×6 cards per sheet of cardstock for a total of six cards.  Then I pulled out a print out of cards I like from the internet for inspiration.

Looked for photos of stories I want to tell and that would go with the papers.

Looked for photos of stories I want to tell and that would go with the papers.

Then I looked at the remaining cardstock and looked on my computer to find photos and stories that would I wanted to tell that works well with the paper colors. I think I will be able to create at least two Layouts (LO) with this paper pack and still have enough to use in Project Life.

I will post my first project tomorrow so be sure to pop by to see.

Happy crafting and have a blessed day!

Belinda

 

Confessions of a Scrapbook Kit Hoarder…The Intervention!

Overflowing storage bins filled with kits

Overflowing storage bins filled with kits

I have a confession to make…I’m a scrapbook kit hoarder!  I have subscribed to scrapbook kit clubs for over 8 years now.  In the beginning I would get my kits in the mail and pick through and make layouts with all the coordinating papers. It was so nice to have someone else do that sort of thinking for me.  But then slowly I started looking at the kits differently. I started to say, oh this paper is so pretty oh and this embellies is so cute, I can’t possibly violate them by using them on a layout.  And one after another, the kits started coming in and I keep waiting for the “perfect” layout to use the products.

Ended up buying another bin  to fill with kits.

Ended up buying another bin to fill with kits.

Then about 3 years ago, I started making cards and abandoned the whole traditional scrapbooking process. I dabbled here and there with mini projects like ‘Week in a Life” with Ali Edwards and December Dailies but still not parting with my prized stashes of kits.  As a matter of fact,  I would buy different paper for these projects rather than finding a way to make my stash work.

This shelving contains other items but much of it is ancient kits.

This shelving contains other items but much of it is ancient kits.

This past year, I told myself that I wanted to dip my foot in the water of scrapbooking again.  So for 2013 I have been working on a Project Life album.  Which I am proud to say also after many failed attempts in years past is actually getting completed. I worked out a system that works fairly well.

Another thing I have been doing to get my scrapbooking mojo on is listening to great scrapbooking podcasts while I work in my craft room.  The one I listen too most is called Paperclippings and I went ahead and subscribed to their podcasts.  The lovely part is that the host has guest panelists that talk about different aspects of scrapbooking.

The most recent one talked about kits and I felt like I was meant to hear what they were discussing. One panelist in particular (Tracy Banks) talked about how on her blog she shows her process on how she uses her kits.  Thus using practically all before the next kit arrives. Not a new idea but presented in such a way that I have decided this was just the intervention I needed to break the hoarding cycle.

So I am going to start a new series on my blog documenting my journey to freedom. I will start with my most recent kit from Cocoa Daisy which is the September kit. So come back to see if I can stay on the right path.

If you come to visit, maybe I can inspire you to break the cycle.

Happy crafting!

Belinda

Cardmaking with Apollo..(photo heavy post)

Working on the card base.

Working on the card base.

Hello Everyone! Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. I actually had a lot of fun and one thing I wanted to share with you is the joy I had working with Apollo on his first Halloween card.  He loves my Silhouette and although I have only had it a few months, he has picked up quite a bit.  I found this great Halloween card file on the free files at the Silhouette website and picked out papers for two cards – one for him and one for me.

Working with the tiny eyes for the ghost was a great challenge for him.

Working with the tiny eyes for the ghost was a great challenge for him.

I cleared off my little Project Life table and set it up next to my desk near the Silhouette and layed out his supplies.  He really enjoyed putting all the pieces together.

Gluing small pieces of paper were some good fine motor skills practice.

Gluing small pieces of paper were some good fine motor skills practice.

It was so much fun watching him assemble the pieces. Although I did end up helping him with the glue for the eyes and mouth.

Gluing the little things were a little more challenging.

Gluing the little things were a little more challenging.

I like that he wasn’t discouraged at all and kept working to complete the card.

Gluing the word to the speech bubble

Gluing the word to the speech bubble

This was a fun first project from the Silhouette for him.

I love the focus this 6 year old had to complete his card.

I love the focus this 6 year old had to complete his card.

The tricky part was getting the word ‘Boo’ down leaving enough room for the exclamation point.

Assembling it all together and pressing to make sure the glue takes.

Assembling it all together and pressing to make sure the glue takes.

 

I think it is safe to say he loved his card.

Look my first Halloween card!

Look my first Halloween card!

I am more than thrilled that he has an interest in my crafts and that we can experience some together.

Have a blessed day!

Belinda

 

 

 

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: