Kit Rituals | Hello Hello
Each month as the time for my Studio Calico kit to arrive, I do a few things to try and prepare. The biggest thing for me, is to have my studio as neat and tidy as I can. I find that having a clean workspace is one of the best ways for me to be in the mood to create and to have creativity flow.
If I get a chance before my kit arrives, I like to sit down in my space with my iPad, magazines and a sketch pad and start to sketch out possible designs, quotes, ideas. Sometimes I use my iPad for television watching or music, but I also like to peruse Pinterest for ideas.
When the kit arrives, I wait until I have time to savor opening it. If I'm on my way out the door or have something else pressing, I will wait rather than rush through it. The sentiment on the box is spot-on!
After I've looked through the box of goodies, I will print any digital files that I want to use and also print photos that I am planning to use…but that will often change as I start to create. It's still a good starting point for me. I don't use my Silhouette much for print and cut options, because I like to type on the labels and it's very difficult if they're already cut. I actually enjoy sitting at my desk, mindlessly watching hulu while manually cutting out labels and printables.
At this point I'm ready to dig in! I usually start with just the main scrapbooking kit and no add-ons. I make at least two main kit only layouts and then move on to the add-ons.
I do have something that I want to share while I'm on the subject of kit rituals and the concept of receiving a kit. When I first started to really get into scrapbooking, I had every Wednesday off work, so I would routinely hit up the local scrapbooking stores, spending on average about $35-50 a week. Adding up to $100s a month. Since I started to receive the Studio Calico kits, I have noticed I am actually spending much less. The SC team does such a great job of culling the best, newest and even stellar exclusive products, that I rarely feel the need to purchase much in addition to the kits. I buy white cardstock and adhesive, and the occasional tool or mist….but otherwise, I find myself to be quite content with just the kits! So as much as we all joke about our over-extended budgets, I think the SC kits keep me on budget! The added bonus is that with the kits, I find that the perimeters of working with what comes in a kit is actually super inspiring. I like to try to "kill" a kit and use every little bit. For some reason, it's crazy satisfying to use it up!
I would love to have you leave a comment sharing your kit rituals!
Before summer started, I would hope my kit was delivered before carpool. If it was, we would leave early and all my littles would fall asleep. That way I could sit in peace and quiet in the carpool line and look at every card. Now that school is out, I just need to feed all my babies and charge my oldest with caring for his sibling. A fresh bag of sand or the water hose always helps with that! I do try and kill every kit.
Agree on the money savings. I have virtually stopped perusing the big box stores.
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The only paper craft products I get now come in my monthly kits from studio calico, I don't need anything else and I'm saving money
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When I get a box of goodies, I go through every item one by one. I then incorporate them into my current stash. When I go to make something, I pull from my entire stash and not just the current kit.
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I just "killed" my first SC kit ever and it was so thrilling! It's the simple things that make me happy :)
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I know the feeling of really getting you money's worth out of a kit. The first time I played with an SC kit, I believe I made 4-5 double page layouts. I couldn't believe how far my product stretched, and that was with a main kit!! Right, so I totally feel like I get my money's worth out of a kit, and it does keep you on a budget, save for the extra adhesive, pens, and staples here and there :)
-Gabrielle from Denton, TX
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My rituals include pulling the remainders (if any) from the envelope they were in and dispersing them into my Studio Calico cardstock, patterned paper and scrap envelopes. I add any leftover embellishments/stamps into my stash. I only use my newest kit and embellishments for my first few layouts, then I add in my "leftovers". I, too, have been saving money by using the kits. I don't need to go to M's or other local big box craft stores much - just for adhesives and sometimes a special sale I can't resist. I enjoy using my Studio Calico kits so much - and I love the inspiration I find here and on Pinterest! Joining Studio Calico is the best decision I have made in my scrappy life!
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I just used up my entire Office Hours card kit to make thank you notes and it was sooo exciting ti have used up alllllllll the paper :)
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Now that my bf and I moved into our new house, I like to sit on the couch and make noises as I open everything and show him. He just says "That's neat" a lot but he lets me put the product all over the living room. Just for an hour or so...then it's too much for him.
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I love what you say at the end about the kits! SO TRUE!!!!
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I was just at Michael's yesterday with my daughter. We were looking for wedding centerpiece ideas. I wandered into the scrapbooking aisles. I went up and down every aisle and couldn't find one thing I needed or wanted even though I still had a nice balance on a Christmas gift card. (gasp!!). That's when I realized SC is all I need.
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My rituals are pretty similar to yours.
1. Clean my space
2. Pin and save images from the Creative Team and Deisgn Team that I like
3. Wait till I can savour the supplies
4. Open the kit and go through everything (jot any ideas that come to mind down)
5. Organize and put everything away.
6. Start creating and playing and loving my supplies.
I LOVE mixing supplies and kits, from various months and what I already use so it doesn't bother me to mix it all up and use from different kits. I use the colours from kits as ideas for colours to mix but I don't put pressure on myself to stick with one kit.
I don't think I've ever killed a kit because I share the supplies with all the layouts I work on.
But I also stop shopping in other places as much because of SC. But I do go to Michaels when i have an awesome coupon or to get a specific thing I can't get from SC or adhesives. But that's rare.
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1. Clean space
2. Print photo's
3. Open kit and adore :)
4. Choose 3 papers for the photo's & stories I want
5. Open all the embellishes and place on my "plate".
6. Store it all together in a drawer under my table
All ready to play!
I agree with all you've shared. I do not go to local stores very often. Instead of the $100 or more a month I would quickly spend with random purchases for each "sale" advertised,I stick to the kit. My goal is to kill it before the next kit arrives. The kit keeps my spending controlled! Getting a new supply monthly keeps me happy and challenged to use someone else s choices. My drawer is now empty awaiting Hello, Hello!
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I love rituals so much. They're so grounding! And they make me appreciate the simple things so much more. :)
I love that a kit subscription is soooo much more than just getting some papers and embellishments every month. It's something to look forward to, something to inspire, something to prepare for, and something to make me feel like I get a fresh start every month!
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Totally agree about the kits having everything in them...I also like the digital elements, that you can print off and more if needed. I also like to wait and savour that moment.
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I think I will borrow your phrase: "...I like to kill a kit..." That's always my fun challenge too. Great phrasing. :)
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