I subscribe to Studio Calico, and love it! I got my start in kits years ago, with my first DT being a kit club. I loved the challenge of creating 5 layouts that didn't all look the same.
I am really picky though about using the kit. I am not into hoarding supplies (although the husband may disagree.) I try every month to use the kit from the previous month before the next one arrives. Most months are successful!
I have to preface this post with a confession though. I am a simple scrapper. And while I respect and admire the works of art put out by the DT at Studio Calico every month, I have to stay true to my style. So this method will probably only work if you're simple like me. (OK, that doesn't sound good. You know what I mean, right?)
Here's what I do. I take out the kit and my stash of pictures. I always have a stash on hand already printed. Sometimes I have to go looking, or convert a favorite to black and white.
I then start cutting and laying out 4 layouts. I even cut up the embellishments and place them on the page where I think they will go. The entire process takes me about 1 - 2 hours. Tops.
Here is the view on my table. Nothing is glued down, and the embellies are just laying on the pages. I usually do this on the weekend. Then through the week I pick a layout and assemble it, adding glue, ink the edges, and finishing it off.
Here are these four layouts completed.
Then, before I put the remaining contents of the kit into my stash, I do one more layout. It usually involves using up the scraps that are left. Here it is for January.
That's it! I use very little else besides the main kit. Some months I do buy the digi files and fill in with those.
Tomorrow I will show the same process with the February kit. I killed that in an evening!
Thank you for this post! I have many kits that I want to "kill"! Love seeing your process, as I am a "Simple" scrapper, too! I have to say that I think your pages are fantastic! I love seeing all of the layers on many designer's pages, but that's not "me" either. Here's a question for your next post: What do you do with the leftovers, once you've killed the kit? I have such guilt throwing anything out! Looking forward to your next post!
Posted by: Beth | February 25, 2013 at 09:49 AM
i love your "simple" layouts! gorgeous style, and amazed by what you do in so little time, it takes me hours to put together a layouts...
Posted by: Alinor | February 25, 2013 at 10:14 AM
That's a cool idea, to get started on more than 1 layout at a time! I have (lots of) trouble killing a kit, so maybe I will try this trick!! :)
Posted by: Emily Muto | February 25, 2013 at 10:29 AM
this is a really great post - thank you (from another simple scrapper)!
Posted by: mary | February 25, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Your layouts are beautiful! Very inspiring and I am going to try this technique with next month's kit.
Posted by: Wendy G. | February 25, 2013 at 03:25 PM
Beautiful pages!!!
g
Posted by: Gillian | February 25, 2013 at 04:01 PM
This was interesting, and the layouts are gorgeous!
I tend to not match photos to the kit, just using whatever photos I have on hand for the next kit. :-) I feel like Tim Gunn--make it work!
Posted by: Jennifer Larson | February 25, 2013 at 06:33 PM
loved seeing your process! Thanks for sharing--I have a ton of backlogged kits and I'm not allowing myself to buy any more until I get through some of these. your pages looked awesome--definitely more my style. I love the layers that are so popular, but I just can't quite pull it off.
Posted by: Patty G. | February 25, 2013 at 09:51 PM
fabulous! thanks for sharing!
Posted by: julie k | February 25, 2013 at 10:16 PM
that is a fabulous post. love your process. i do the card kit. am behind in killing them...but working on it now. glad to know i am not alone in wanting to kill a kit.
~jamie
Posted by: jamie | February 25, 2013 at 10:43 PM
Fabulous post! I have so many kits sitting under my desk, waiting to be used. I will definitely be referring to this as I try to use up my stash :)
Posted by: btsoi. | February 26, 2013 at 02:29 AM
You are like a speed scrapper! They look awesome!
Posted by: Nancy | February 26, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Wow, that is amazing. I am a simple scrapper, but it takes me like for-EVAH to put a layout together. I have so many kits to kill.....I might need to give your process a try. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Jennifer B. | February 26, 2013 at 05:23 PM
Love your layouts! Great work! I love seeing other simple scrappers out there as I myself can be pretty simple at times. I always worry about how many layouts I get out of a kit and such but its nice to see your process similar to what I do and know I'm not alone! Lol.
I would also be interested in hearing about what you do with any leftovers, particularly embellishments as I always have a lot leftover even though I make a conscious effort to use them.
Great work and thanks for sharing! Excited for the next installment!
Posted by: Erika Bardo | February 26, 2013 at 07:28 PM
WHat a great idea on how to use up your kit! ANd your layouts are awesome!!!
Posted by: Juliana | February 28, 2013 at 10:42 AM