Killing Kits: Patchwork Cards Process Video

Hello! I'm excited to share the first of the videos in the Killing Kits Series that I'm working on in collaboration with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. (Check out the Introduction for a little overview if you missed it earlier in the month!)

This video features the leftovers from my 'Summer In The City' Counterfeit Kit from August 2015! I was a little shocked when I realised it was that old, but I'm so happy to have rediscovered an older kit - that I still love - and I think, that with the addition of a few recent embellishments - it looks on trend!

Whether you choose to use the ideas in this new series to help you finish off your current kit, or whether you haul out the remains of some of those older kits, it’s up to you. But, I hope that the Killing Kits Series will help you to make the most of those little leftovers!

Introduction {Killing Kits Series}

Hello lovelies! I'm so excited, because today I can finally share the introduction to my new video series, Killing Kits, that I'm working on in collaboration with The Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Before we start, I wanted to share a little overview of how I store all of my unfinished kits – because, once I found a system that worked for me, it made everything so much easier. Well, until it didn’t … but more about that in a minute.

Normally, I’ll have two or three monthly kits in use and I, most often, will have some leftover at the end of the month. Of course, I could sort the leftovers into my stash, but I tend to think that after all of the effort of co-ordinating a kit, it seems a waste to break it down.

It used to stress me out. I had two or three kits in use – all over my desk – and the leftovers from (at least) the last month, sat around in little dishes or boxes making me feel guilty.

Eventually, I found a solution.

I store all of my kit leftovers in these Wilko A5 Binders. These frosted binders, came with a small exercise book, dividers and, a set of four removable wallets. I removed the exercise books and dividers (I still have them somewhere!) and found that the wallets were about the size I needed for most of my kit leftovers. They are surprisingly roomy. I went back to the store and, now, I have a set of four folders and a total of sixteen wallets.

The small size of the binder has made it really easy to store them on a shelf, next to my desk – and, of course, it’s so easy to snatch a couple of them of the shelf on my way to a scrapbooking crop. No need to spend time co-ordinating supplies, more time crafting! Yay!

But, here’s the issue. Those little leftovers eventually built up and, when I finally filled the last wallet, I found out that these little binders aren’t available anymore. What?! I really didn’t want to start over with a new system – and, honestly, I would rather spend my money on new stash (or new shoes!) So, I realised that I need to start making more an effort to use those leftovers – and it’s been a lot of fun to take a fresh look at some older kits. It’s even more fun to finally kill a kit.

Whether you choose to use the ideas in this new series to help you finish off your current kit, or whether you haul out the remains of some of those older kits, it’s up to you. But, I hope that the Killing Kits Series will help you to make the most of those little leftovers!

I'll be back on the 30th with the first of the inspiration videos!

Creating Kits {Counterfeit Kit Challenge: November Challenge #3)

We are 'December Planning' over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for November Challenge #3 so today I'm going to share the inspiration for one of the kits I'll be using this December, along with some tips and techniques for creating a wintertime kit that doesn't include excessive amounts of themed scrapbooking supplies.

1. Start With What You Have: Although I don't have a massive selection of themed supplies I knew that I would have some in my stash so I went searching and instead of starting with cardstock - where I knew themed items would be in short supply - I went straight to my embellishments. I found some Elle's Studio die-cuts; Snowflake Charms and ... well, that was it! So, it was time to ...

2. Get Creative: The Elle's Studio die-cuts were all in shades of turquoise, pink, brown, cream and white - so this, along with the silver of my snowflake charm, became the colour scheme for my kit. I then added more embellishments with more die-cuts, charms, labels, buttons and resin flowers. I also went hunting through my cupboards and found some amazing decorations that will work as embellishments - adding in a small 'sleigh bell', icicle and super sparkly snowflake.

3. Decide On Your Project: I knew that I wanted to make a mini-album that I could use for December's Listers Gotta List Challenge. Choosing to work in a smaller size meant that, rather than raiding my stash for full size sheets of cardstock, I raided the scrap basket instead.  To start with, I chose scraps that matched my colour scheme and then whittled them down to include only those that were at least 4in x 4in.

For a unified kit, I cut down each of the scraps to 4in x 4in (keeping all of the offcuts that this created) and then rounded the corners of each sheet of cardstock.

4. Create Your Own Embellishments: I'll be using some of the off-cuts, along with my favourite stamp sets, to create some co-ordinating embellishments for my kit. Think little banners, cute cupcakes and holiday sentiments. Perfect.

5. Seek Other Sources of Inspiration: I'm hoping that I've inspired you to create your own kit but if you need extra inspiration head on over to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge where the team will be sharing their own tips and techniques for creating a kit from scratch!

Creative Leftovers - Something From (Almost) Nothing

Is it just me that gets a ridiculous amount of satisfaction from using little leftovers? I love to stretch my stash, especially when I consider how much money I've invested in it! Fireline Thread is fairly expensive - and, amongst beaders at least, it's considered to be a precious commodity. So, it is with much shame that I must confess that I never, ever measure how much thread I'm using when I start a new project. I just reel out about a 'wingspan and a half' for pretty much every project that I start. Inevitably, I'm often left with about a foot of beading thread at the end of some projects - and that's really not enough to start another major project. 

But, I do hate wasting anything. So a little while back, I started to combine those little bits of leftover thread with seed beads leftover from larger beading projects to make these dinky, little star motifs. And, eventually, I ended up with a little pot full of them! 

Materials: Blue Moon Beads - 4mm Champagne Glass Pearls & Silver Plated Chain; Miyuki Size 11 Seed Beads - Fancy-Frosted Pale Seafoam Green & Matte Opaque Cream.

After working on my Random Snow Bracelet earlier this week, I had a few Champagne 4mm Glass Pearls leftover. Rather than find somewhere to stash them, I had a little rummage through my Pot O' Stars and found some made in a combination of cream and seafoam. A perfect match for the champagne pearls! I wire-wrapped the pearls and attached some tiny little jumprings to each of the stars, then attached them at regular intervals to some chain. And there we have it - something from (almost) nothing!

I'd love to know what you've been busy making this weekend and what you'll be doing with your creative leftovers. Please do tell in the comments!