using more than one kit at a time!

[TeriBeary]

How do those of you who do this manage it? I'm getting better at mixing and matching, but do find I spend a lot of time searching since I haven't tagged things (I should do that before next weekend too). I guess my thing is that one kit has stuff that matches well and if I bring in other kits, they may not. I find I don't use my embellishment packs much either. I need some tips to get this stuff in use since I <3 most of it

[MommaTrish]

I mix and match a lot. I really don't spend a whole ton of time searching though, I have a pretty good idea of what I want to use with what. I usually mix by colors and not theme though ((mainly since I don't buy too many theme products)). My main thing is I like to put a lot on my pages, and I find a lot of times even one large kit just doesn't have enough for me. (I'm not too big on repeating elements lol) Lets see here's some mix-match pages I have on here




I have a lot more here in my gallery, and even more than that in my gallery over at DST.

[SweetMelissa]

I have a folder where I copy the previews for each kit. Then if I want to mix & match I open it up and see what kits have similar colors. Since the previews have the kits name & designer on them I can go to that designers folder & go to the kit I want to see. It can take some time if the kit doesn't have something I want to add and I have to go back through the process but it works for me for the moment.

[Jen22]

Having CT'd for a bit, I've noticed that kits by the same designer can mix & match easier with each other than grabbing kits from another designer. Similar styles can also match easier. Also - if a color doesn't match, then I'll just alter it to match (if I really must have it on the page). It can be harder (and I imagine tagging would help me tons - haven't done it yet) but it can work if you keep at it ... Most of the time, I don't go into it specifically to mix two or more kits. I'll just get going and realize I want some ricrac or maybe a different ribbon, and then I'll go on the hunt for one

Hope that helps

[rach3975]

As kits have gotten bigger, I find I don't mix and match as much as I used to. I just don't need to. When I do, good organization is important. Otherwise, like you said, you spend so much time looking for something that works that it's not worth it.

I'm not a tagger. I have folders with separate types of elements. So for example, I have an alphas folder. Standalone alphas go in there, and I put a preview of favorite alphas from kits (not every kit's alpha, just ones I'm likely to use over and over.) I have similar folders for a whole bunch of things, like ribbons, wordart, fasteners, date elements, and holidays. With all of them (except holidays), it's just favorite things from kits that I know I'll use again. (I keep the original with the kit.) I'd never mix and match if I had to go digging through every kit to find something that might work. It's faster with a folder or tagging system, and if I find something that would work except for color, I recolor it.

[TeriBeary]

Originally Posted by SweetMelissa

I have a folder where I copy the previews for each kit. Then if I want to mix & match I open it up and see what kits have similar colors. Since the previews have the kits name & designer on them I can go to that designers folder & go to the kit I want to see. It can take some time if the kit doesn't have something I want to add and I have to go back through the process but it works for me for the moment.

See this would be great if I had kept all the previews for the products I've purchased. I didn't keep them for like 3 years and then why start after that, you know? I wish I had kept them but do I really want to go back through all my zips? When I win the lottery and have more time I will

Thank you all for the great tips. I'm loving what you have all said - it will help me a lot, I think.

[TeriBeary]

Trish, thanks for posting the layouts - that's awesome as I'm a visual person. I'm off to check out your galleries!

[LJSDesigns]

I'm a Mixer and Matcher, but I am trying to curb the habit a bit because it does take too much time, especially if you are OCD like I am.

To organize my kits, I use Picassa from Google. I just type in the word I am looking for and it sorts through all my folders and gives me previews of everything that matches. Keywords are important, but most designers names their files really well, so I don't have to enter too many.

[TeriBeary]

Originally Posted by Loriebug66

but most designers names their files really well, so I don't have to enter too many.

I wish more would put the paper colour in the name

[heathergw]

I'm not very good with it because the kits here are so big and usually have most of what I need... the only things I'll add are additional alphas, some paint or doodles or stitches and stuff like that

[ZaCola3]

I suck at mixing kits-I can use different alphas and maybe a ric rac or ribbon-but overall being on CT's so long I have learned to LOVE to be a one kit scrapper.

[SeattleSheri]

I'm mostly a kit scrapper, so I don't do a lot of mixing and matching, but I do on occasion. I also don't tag, but thankfully most of the elements are named by the designer to specify what they are. I just use the search function if I'm looking for something in particular. I don't worry about color, since it's so easy to tweak the color to fit my needs.

[tanyiadeskins]

I am mostly a one kit scrapper as well. The only things I mix in really are alphas, maybe some glitter, and definitely greenery! I love flowers and leaves on my layouts And when someone does not include greenery I get grumpy and throw someone else's in lol

[breakingbrie]

I'm not very good at mixing whole kits... like papers and elements from both. Mostly because of colors, I'm not good at picking what goes good together. This one, though, the two kits had the same basic colors, and I used papers from one kit, and elements from the other...


Layouts like this, I think are easier to mix elements from different kits - in this first one, there's not really a particular theme to all the kits i used


And, this one, I just picked a few 'love' kind of elements from other kits


There are always little metal bits, white flowers, stitches, and leafy stuffs that I go through and pick out of kits I love when there's not enough in the kit I'm using. I can usually remember where they are, certain ones I love, because I use them all the time lol.

[Sherri Tierney]

Originally Posted by ZaCola3

I suck at mixing kits-I can use different alphas and maybe a ric rac or ribbon-but overall being on CT's so long I have learned to LOVE to be a one kit scrapper.

This! I started out on CTs and learned to kit scrap then because it was the best way to showcase a kit, after all (nothing I hate more than seeing what is obviously a CT layout with something on it that is NOT in the kit it is advertising!). Then I started designing myself and scrapping with my kits and, again, it was easiest to kit scrap. I could use my layouts to advertise with or even create QPs from my layouts for give away or sale. It was just easier.

Now I find its hard to step outside of a kit unless I have something very specific in mind. I am much more able to do this with hybrid projects than digital layouts.