Choosing the right kit...

[Jam-on-toast]

I was looking for a kit to scrap my daughter's birthday and came across this gem by Lynn Grieveson called Rather Be Me. I got it because the name appealed to me... only to realize that it didn't really color-match my photos... Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to create a page for Challenge 1 - Creative Photo Editing. I ended up scrapping a two-pager with the kit - though I'm not going to lie I initially thought I was going to have to get something else for the pages I had in mind...

Which got me wondering... how do you decide on a kit - other than the theme? Is it colors, elements, papers? How often do you get something and realize it was not exactly what you thought it was going to be?

 

[faerywings]

That's happened to me more than once! I love how you used the "mismatch" kit for the challenge using filters.
When the colors don't match my photos or what look I was shooting for, I'll use Color Adjustments such as Color Overlays, Match Color, Hue/Saturation, and/or Variations.

My initial shopping usually begins with a LO that I have in mind and then I look for a theme to match it. I like having a theme or word art get me started. Otherwise, I am staring at a blank screen for way too long.

 

[LSlycord]

I usually find a kit that I want to use and then find pictures that fit the bill! I'm still a mediocre scrapper.

 

[EvelynD2]

I usually find a kit that I want to use and then find pictures that fit the bill! I'm still a mediocre scrapper.

Linda, I loved your comment until I got to the last statement! You are NOT a mediocre scrapper! You make fantastic pages and often include amazing journaling and heritage photos! Please know that you are a great scrapper and not mediocre!

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I LOVE your pages, Olga - the photos look amazing and go so well with Lynn's kit. I also manipulate my pictures if they don't match like I want them too. Black and white is my go-to. As to picking kits, I guess I go both ways. If I have pictures that I really want to scrap, I look for a kit to match, but sometimes I just love a kit so much that I find pictures to match that.

ITA with Evelyn @EvelynD2 - Linda @LSlycord you are NOT a mediocre scrapper!

 

[scribler]

I either start with a search for colors or for theme, depending on which one is more important for the page I am creating. Although occasionally, I will start looking for a specific element I really want for a page. (Usually, this means my stash has everything I need but this element.)

More than once I've run into the issue of a kit not totally fitting the bill. Sometimes I can make it work by going through my stash and finding a way to supplement the kit. Occasionally, I've had to just use that kit for a different page and then go find something else.

And I totally understand how @LSlycord feels. I often feel I am a very average scrapper. Every once in awhile, I will convince myself I'm good at it but those days are few and far between.

 

[faerywings]

ITA with Evelyn @EvelynD2 - Linda @LSlycord you are NOT a mediocre scrapper!

ME TOO!

ETA: I am gonna have to smack ya both!

And I totally understand how @LSlycord feels. I often feel I am a very average scrapper. Every once in awhile, I will convince myself I'm good at it but those days are few and far between.

 

[Jam-on-toast]

@LSlycord and @scribler I think everyone can related to feeling not good enough as we all tend to be our own toughest critics. I often look at other people's pages and despair - why can't I create something like this? As some of you might have noticed, I can't seem to be able to start a page without a template... You know that thing they say about standing on the shoulders of giants? Literally what's happening every time I sit down to scrap. And the number of people who are able to put a gorgeous page together from scratch is a source of inspiration - and envy - for me.

 

[Jam-on-toast]

I LOVE your pages, Olga - the photos look amazing and go so well with Lynn's kit. I also manipulate my pictures if they don't match like I want them too. Black and white is my go-to.

Thanks... I discovered the beauty of (and ease of working with) black and white a while ago - together with the monochrome palette - that I now have to force myself to use color in my pages as I tend to gravitate to the same neutral palette...

 

[Jam-on-toast]

My initial shopping usually begins with a LO that I have in mind and then I look for a theme to match it. I like having a theme or word art get me started. Otherwise, I am staring at a blank screen for way too long.

Yep... there is a lot of staring at a blank screen happening here too...

 

[Cherylndesigns]

Thanks... I discovered the beauty of (and ease of working with) black and white a while ago - together with the monochrome palette - that I now have to force myself to use color in my pages as I tend to gravitate to the same neutral palette...

I'm always drawn to your neutral pages, I think they have a lot of pizzaz to them. Your pictures are always edited perfectly, too.

 

[Renate3380]

Which got me wondering... how do you decide on a kit - other than the theme? Is it colors, elements, papers? How often do you get something and realize it was not exactly what you thought it was going to be?

For me it's all about the paper. I have to have the feeling. If the paper doesn't give me the "ooh that's a nice one!" effect, the whole layout won't work for me.

 

[Renate3380]

I usually find a kit that I want to use and then find pictures that fit the bill! I'm still a mediocre scrapper.

For me it's a sport to find the right pictures.

 

[Jam-on-toast]

For me it's a sport to find the right pictures.

Oh, I know exactly what you mean... if I start with a kit, I keep changing the photos I want to use...

 

[Jam-on-toast]

For me it's all about the paper. I have to have the feeling. If the paper doesn't give me the "ooh that's a nice one!" effect, the whole layout won't work for me.

Interesting... perhaps I need to try that... I usually look at elements and colors... and then find myself frustrated with the papers included - either too plain or too artsy or too... I just don't know what...

 

[Renate3380]

Interesting... perhaps I need to try that... I usually look at elements and colors... and then find myself frustrated with the papers included - either too plain or too artsy or too... I just don't know what...

Sometimes it happens that i start scrapping and suddenly I just don't think the background fits that well, so i change the paper.

 

[tanteva]

I buy the kits that I like. It could be the colors, the theme, the elements, whatever. I have bought kits cuz I liked a wordart in it.

For me it's always kit first, then I chose photos. If the colors don't wibe, I turn the photo B/W.

But to be honest, I really don't worry much about if the colors match, in my world, all colors work together.

 

[Jam-on-toast]

I buy the kits that I like. It could be the colors, the theme, the elements, whatever. I have bought kits cuz I liked a wordart in it.

For me it's always kit first, then I chose photos. If the colors don't wibe, I turn the photo B/W.

But to be honest, I really don't worry much about if the colors match, in my world, all colors work together.

I am forever amazed how you manage to put colors together and make them work.... you make it look so easy...