Scrapping question: what is more important to you

[KristinCB]

When it comes to kits what is more important to you - the colour scheme or the theme? Do you mainly choose a kit to scrap based on the colours that will work with your photos or the theme that will work with your photos?

and speaking of themes - do you feel tied to a theme in a kit - like you have to scrap for whatever theme it was sort of intended for or do you like to go off course?

[Lidia G]

I would have to say that colour scheme is more important than the theme. If I don't like the colours of a kit, I won't buy it even if the theme that I'm looking for is there. I will use kits completely off the topic they were intended for and I'll mix different kits as well.

[LynnZant]

Neither. I love it all! I'll keep buying kits for themes that I love like Christmas and candy, but sometimes the colors in a kit just wow me. I do have to stop, though, as my hard drive was most nearly full. I've been deleting things this morning.

[HavaDrPepper]

Color scheme for me. There are kits that may be what I'm looking for but if I don't like the colors, I won't buy it.

I don't normally mix different kits (especially by different designers) but am getting better about mixing kits of the same designer if the color scheme is close to the same.

I don't always feel tied to the scheme. Several years ago I was scrapping wedding photos and none of my wedding kits color scheme fit. But I had a fitness kit that had the perfect colors so I used it with a few of the generic elements from a wedding kit.

However, if the kit has 90% theme elements, it makes it harder to scrap off theme. I tend to not buy those kits even if I like the colors!

[KristinCB]

Originally Posted by LynnZant

Neither. I love it all! I'll keep buying kits for themes that I love like Christmas and candy, but sometimes the colors in a kit just wow me. I do have to stop, though, as my hard drive was most nearly full. I've been deleting things this morning.

don't stop! just buy an/another external harddrive

[tanyiadeskins]

Colors are what initially grab me. If I want the theme but I don't like the colors then I can't work with it. If the colors do not match my photos I do not care because I add use an action or make them B&W so that way color doesn't matter for me.

If there is a unique kit, like the Boba kit or something very specific and I happen to have those photos I will buy it but again not if I feel the colors don't grab me.

I definitely go off theme with no problem, I also go off theme with templates, frequently.

[LynnZant]

Originally Posted by KristinCB

don't stop! just buy an/another external harddrive

Ha ha! I used to do that; however, two of my three external hard drives went bad over time and I lost a lot of stuff. Plus, I only have one TB cloud of storage. I can buy more storage, but it's for a family plan. So will it still only store one TB for my computer? I'll have to do some research. Or control myself when it comes to shopping.

[Tree City]

Originally Posted by LynnZant

Neither. I love it all! I'll keep buying kits for themes that I love like Christmas and candy, but sometimes the colors in a kit just wow me. I do have to stop, though, as my hard drive was most nearly full. I've been deleting things this morning.

I read how you've had EHDs fail. That stinks! I use BackBlaze to avoid that issue (although i also have 4 EHDs lol). Perhaps that might be a good deal for you?

[nesser1981]

Colors for sure drawn me in, the longer I scrap, the less important theme is for me, except Halloween & Christmas, I always stay on theme for those.

Honestly, colors first, probably, then elements. I like a lot and variety. Like 3 or 4 flowers isn't enough, I need like double that, at least.

I also use every kit at least twice, so that variety helps when I turn around and use that kit again for the matching 2nd layout.

[stephc777]

Colors over themes for me as well. I do use kits off theme unless 90% of the elements are themed. As long as there is a decent variety of elements (5+ flowers, 3 different types of foliage, ribbon/string, non-themey paint) and some non-themey basic papers, I can use a kit for almost anything.

[allyanne]

I go for colors before anything else. I aim to make any kit usable in my PL pages, lol, so I definitely am willing to go off theme. One thing I really appreciate in highly themed kits is some generic word art and elements that make it more versatile for off-theme pages.

[LynnZant]

Originally Posted by Tree City

I read how you've had EHDs fail. That stinks! I use BackBlaze to avoid that issue (although i also have 4 EHDs lol). Perhaps that might be a good deal for you?

I can't go back to externals now that I have the cloud. (I'm assuming that BackBlaze sends you an external if you have a failure.) With the cloud, all I need to do is get a new machine and log into the cloud and there is all my stuff. Plus, I'm already paying Microsoft $70 a year for the cloud.

[Kiana]

I'd add here, that it's more about HOW the colors are used in the kit.

It can be beautiful colors but if they aren't coordinated well, I still may not like the overall design of the product.

[lovely1m]

I buy based on themes and I generally use the kits for the theme they are designed for.

[Leablahblah]

I'm always drawn by colors first and I can usually find pictures that work with the colors of the kit. If the theme matches it all then it's a plus. lol

[3BluEyedBabi]

Colors first for me. If the theme is something I'm interested in, but the colors of the kits aren't appealing to me, I wouldn't buy the kit. I have definitely bought a kit based on the color and will scrap off theme pages with a themed kit. For example, I am still waiting for a wedding theme kit that matches my wedding photos with black, white, hot pink, orange, and turquoise. There are lots of gorgeous wedding kits in the store, but they just won't work with the tropical colors of my wedding. I have used kits that were not wedding theme but the right colors, though.

[MamaBee]

I'm all about the theme... I can work a good non-themed page out of a themed kit... but I love a good themed kit! Though, I do struggle with touchy feely themes ones...

[Stefanie]

I will be drawn to themes, but if the colours are wrong for me and my photos, then I won't buy it.
I am not partial to muted colourways.
I can and will use a kit off-theme.
I also love Christmas and would buy most anything, love the variety of colours I have in this theme, esp your fun "Making spirits bright".

[AshleyMilfd]

Colors and style of flowers. I usually end up scrapping off theme because I don't take photos or my photos are too difficult to chose a kit specifically for them
I like more vibrant kits vs muted colors
I do tend to have issues when a kit has too many flowers of the same or similar color - if that makes sense

[nietis]

I am another that is drawn to the colors before the theme here. However, if the theme is completely out of my interest, I'd usual rethink about grabbing it.

[HeideC]

BOTH! I love to find kits based on color schemes but sometimes I need specific elements especially for boy layouts. I am constantly looking for non specific kits but have the perfect colors. I absolutely adore daisies and would probably buy every kit that had different colored daisies. I think I might have already bought KCB daisy kits LOL. And because I live in a region that has unique colors it is very hard to find kits.

[aussiegirl]

I feel I am attracted to the theme first, and then the colors. I know with colors, I can pick out the ones that match my photos better, leaving out those that don't quite go. Or I can mix and match from other kits to find a color that fits better. I LOVE themed kits and themed elements though!

However, I feel one of my scrapping super powers, is to scrap a themed kit, off theme! I feel I am really good at finding a few themed elements or even just neutral elements that I can make work for a layout that may not be specific theme, but I can make work!

[joelsgirl]

Colors for me, but I will sometimes talk myself out of a kit I like if the theme is really strong. Generally, though, as long as there are some patterned papers that catch my eye and enough flowers to embellish with, I'm good.

[Saar]

Colors. Definately. I use kits that match my photos, whatever the theme of the kit is.
And flowers. I like kits with a wide variety of flowers.

[CarlaW]

Colors for me but I am like Sarah, the kits have to match the photos and there needs to be a good amount of flowers.

[kristalund]

If I had to pick, I would say theme. But I truly love all the Kits.

[lizziej]

For me, theme is the main reason that I buy a kit. If the colors aren't exactly right, I just tweak/change them. I usually don't buy non-themed kits, but, honestly, sometimes they are just so pretty that I buy them anyway and tell myself that surely something will come up where I can use the kit - you designers pick such fabulous color combos! LOL