Assembling My Own Kit

After a year of subscribing to kit clubs, two different subscriptions to two different companies, I decided I was done with that adventure.

The reason I joined in the first place was to branch out from my usual types of supplies and try new things. At first, that worked really well. I loved the first kit I received and enjoyed making layouts with supplies I probably wouldn't have chosen for myself in a scrapbook store.

But the second through sixth kits went straight downhill, and the same thing happened with the second kit club, only worse. My biggest challenge, too much of the same or similar embellishments and patterned papers that, along with other supplies, I simply couldn't use in my crafting. At all. Stretching my comfort zone is one thing, but paper-crafting is what I do for relaxation and creativity and joy, and with the supplies I was getting in kits, that wasn't happening.

So I canceled my second subscription and decided to try my own hand at putting together a kit.

Here's what I came up with:

Most of that collection came from my stash, patterned papers and die cuts I've had for awhile, or pieces of previous kits that I wasn't able to use yet. What got me started was that collection of buttons and chipboard by Teresa Collins, which I used as a springboard to buy the packet of stickers and the dimensional flowers from Basic Grey's Fact or Fiction collections.

Here's a closer look:

Lots and lots of variety, there, but it all ties so nicely together, and I can't wait to start making layouts--who knows? Maybe some cards, too!--with this kit.

I might do this every month, put together my own kits, either with mostly pieces from my stash or wandering through the local scrapbook store and seeing what catches my fancy. I hope to share projects created with my kits right here.

If you're creating your own kits, be sure to leave me a comment and share your experience, as well as your projects.