Killing Kits - What I Do When I'm Done

Hello, everyone! Susan stepping in today with a Killing Kits post. Actually, this post really covers what I do with a CKC kit when I'm done with it, including some tips to keep in mind so that there isn't much left to "kill" at the end of the month. 

This process is what works for me: the way I scrap, the storage space I have available, my own definition of "using" supplies and being "done".  Please keep in mind that you need to do what works best for you and your memory-keeping goals, which might be completely different from mine.  And that is perfectly fine - we're all different and the beauty of this crafting hobby is that we can all participate in it in our own way!

I made a mini kit for January and it was a little larger than the ones I usually pull together.  Here's a quick look at it:

I started with six 12"x12" pieces of patterned paper, several stamp sets, a set of alpha stickers, and assorted embellishments.  I was very inspired by my kit this month and I used it to make four layouts.

I am pretty intentional when I work with my kit - I want to get as much out of it as possible but I don't make something just to make something.  I definitely want to tell a story or record an important memory.  These are some things I keep in mind:

1.  I think ahead before I cut into any paper that I'm not planning to use in its entirety as a background.  For example, I love that beautiful floral paper in my January kit and I wanted to use it to mat three photos on the first layout I made with my kit. I made sure to adhere those three photos along one edge of the floral paper and carefully trimmed around them.  Since I scrap in both 12"x12" and 8-1/2"x11" sizes, this ensured that I'd still have a floral remnant large enough to use as a page background in the latter size.  And when I made that smaller page, I gutted the floral piece since the center would be covered with a piece of white cardstock.  This helped me stretch that pattern even further.  This tactic is perfect when you have a paper that you love.

2.  This wasn't the case in January but I'll sometimes include a paper that I'm not that crazy about in a CKC kit.  This type of paper is great for using as a photo mat, for hiding under some layers, or as a mat to back an entire page.  It will get used but will only be seen in small bits.

3.  I save every paper remnant, including branding strips with full or partial patterns, while I'm actively working with the kit.  Small scraps are great for layering or for punched shapes - my third January layout used punched circles.  I've even test-stamped on a tiny scrap just to see how it would look before stamping on the piece I planned to use.

4.  A CKC kit can be a great help in determining how you really feel about a product.  I've learned that I like many types of scrapbooking supplies and yet I only really use products from a few categories, and this realization came through making CKC kits.  If I put the same kind of products in several kits and they don't get used at all during the month, I know that they really aren't for me.  I tried including very glittery items in several kits and without fail, they were still there at the end of each month.  So I donated them and whenever I'm tempted by pretty glittery items, I remember that I never use them and it's easy to keep them out of my shopping cart.

Here is what I had left from my January CKC kit:

Now, what do I do with all the leftovers?  As a general rule, I'll put the "non-consumables" like stamps and punches right back into my supplies, while I'll take a closer look at the remaining "consumables" like paper, stickers, die-cuts, etc.  You can see my entire approach in this video:

I try to be ruthless what I'm deciding what to with the leftovers.  As I look at each item, I ask myself if I will really use it.  I tried a few times to make cards and pocket cards and small embellishment clusters with kit remnants but found that I never used them.  I just don't have the storage space to hold items that "I might use someday".  For me, the most effective strategy is to add it back into my supplies or donate/purge.  I am streamlining my supplies as I break down my kits.

So there's my process!  I know that this was a very long-winded post but I hope that you found a useful tip or two in it.  Just remember that you need to do what's in keeping with your goals.  And most important of all, use your supplies and have fun while doing it!

And now, what do you do when you've decided that you're finished with a kit?  Please share in the comments below!