from scratch vs kits

[joyfuljanet]

Hi,

I have been thinking about this. I really enjoy learning how to use PSE and the learning could go on until I pass from this earth. I was putting myself "down" for thinking of purchasing kits as well as from scratch and it hit me that if I were making a card or a scrapbook page I wouldn't be making the paper from scratch or the tags(usually) etc. so what is the big deal. If I like making it all up great and if I don't the people who receive it are just as delighted either way. It is mainly for what I want to do and the pleasure I receive. This helped me be less hard on myself and I could sure use more of that. Just thinking, Janet:rolleyes:

[Janie]

I love learning how to make all the parts from scratch but I'm realistic in knowing there are only so many hours in a day, so I use kits too. Your point about buying the paper if you were scrapping that way is a good point. I vote for doing both.:D
Janie

[tzigane70]

I said in another post the people looking at it see the gift not how it was made.for scrap pages the see the colors and the pictures and the journaling so i find the words more important that how it is made.

[TerryN]

Being new to scrapbooking I think the kits give you some inspiration of what you can do. They sort of kick start the process. I can see where someone might want to create their own also. I would say its up to the individual, either way people are producing wonderful pages.

Terry

[IreneO]

I vote for both too!

Sometimes I go to Starbucks for a good coffee and sometimes I make my own at home. Same thing with scrapbooking - sometimes I buy from a designer I like and sometimes I make my own.

[mom2bandc]

I usually use a combination of kits and homemade pieces on my pages. I can start with an inspiration paper or element & the get matching colors using the color picker. I don't feel bad using premade kits but I find plopppers to be too restrictive - I like being able to move things around!

Kelly

[chiwawagirl]

I belong to monthly kit clubs and one thing I've found is that while they are all very nice, I usually use 1 or two peices from them. I'm starting to take up alot of disk space for things I wont really use. I'm really wanting to learn to do things from scratch which is why I love this site so much. For me the creating is the most fum part of the page and its most rewarding when you can show someone something and say "I did it ALL on my own".:)

[Kay]

I didn't do much paper scrapping, so I'm not as comfortable with kits as I am with PSE and just playing around! I tend to do more creating from scratch and generally focus on the pictures- I'm still learning the scrapping techniques!!

[seebee]

I tend to make a lot of my own paper, brushes, etc. , but that's because I enjoy the process. :) I use premade paper & elements from time to time, too. I'll use whatever I think looks good! :D

[ScrapperFL]

Like Seebee, I do make a lot of my own papers and elements. Mostly because I like creating and I like to add something unique to my kits. I love the creative freedom it gives me to match a color or a mood depicted in a pic. Sometimes I get so caught up in creating a kit that I forget to scrap!.. lol! Creating kits also helps me to stretch my comfort zone. I try to learn something new each time I make a kit, whether it's a technique or an element. This can get quite challenging when I have several kits in the makings... lol! I do have to admit though, this does help to make the creative processs more enjoyable - at least for me! :) I do also enjoy using other designers' kits and will do so on occassion.

[Nimble Fingers]

I have done paper scrapping for about 6 years now and I started Digi Scrapping about 12 months ago.I love Digi but for some reason I find it harder to put pages together and I dont know why. I will sit here for hours on 1 layout and changing things all the time and I get that frustrated with what I am doing that I just close PSE down and dont save anything. I love the freedom of Digi and it is definately cheaper than paper scrapping but as hard as I try and believe me I do try I just dont like what I end up with. I look through all the galleries and see the beautiful work of others and wish that I could have the same creativity as them.
Well I wont give up I'll still keep trying but if anyone has any ideas that can help me I would appreciate it.....:confused:

[bviannie]

Nimble Fingers, you're not alone! I seem to be getting scrapper's block whenever I want to start a layout. I think that my problem may be that there are somany options with Digi & it's so easy to change things that I can never get to the "this-is-it" stage. (hmm....commitment issues???). I think someone recommended to keep things simple at first, which I'm going to try to do. I just have to keep reminding myself that my family would rather enjoy looking at COMPLETED neat, simple pages vs. me spending yet another hour in front of the computer!

Any suggestions/advice for getting started, staying motivated, AND getting layouts done would be greatly appreciated!:)

[Dot]

I agree, keep it simple and you will end up with better a design. I am a watercolor artist and in all the classes and workshops I've taken I have heard KISS which stands for "keep it simple stupid".
The layouts I am most impressed with usually have one large photo for the focal point and other elements to complement it. Try looking at other layouts that you admire to see what kind of layouts you like.

[scrapperjlc]

I too seem to get more of a mental block when I try to start a digital page than I do starting a paper page. I think it's because with a paper page, you only have so many papers and embellishments to choose from, or maybe even picked out or created certain embellishments for a specific page, and it gives you a starting point to work from. If you are creating a digital page from scratch, there are SOOOOO many different directions you can start in that is is hard to decide where to start. I think kits can be a great starting point, give you the inspiration needed to get the pages done, and are definitely time savers! When I'm creating from scratch, I've been trying to think in terms of paper first, do I want paper with flowers, stripes, plaid, some kind of pattern, etc. and then create what I can for it. Then I start creating the embellishments to go with it such as buttons, brads, slide mounts, tags, etc. Then I start adding my photos and working things in to make my layout. I have nothing against kits, either. I am trying to create kits from my pages as I build them so that I can maybe use some elements later on (or maybe have kits to share/sell ;) ). Here is a layout I did using a free kit I downloaded from designerdigitals.com

http://www.scrappersguide.com/forums/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=965&nocache=1

One nice thing about using premade kits is that everything coordinates so well, and it speeds up the process quite a bit too!

Jodi

[Nimble Fingers]

Thanks for the suggestions and I will try this but I am so eager to do my own stuff...it's called a ;lack of patience with me, I take 1 step forward and 10 backward.

[Robyn]

I look through all the galleries and see the beautiful work of others and wish that I could have the same creativity as them.

Hi Nimble Fingers............

I know exactly what you mean.

And yes I also lack patience.......one step forward and 10 backwards. At least you have a scrapping background.........I've never done it. I sooooo want to create just one layout that I can stand back and say ...........yes, that does look like a scrapbook page! :D

PS.....nice to see a fellow Aussie BTW

[Sharpli]

When I started digi-scrapping, there was no such thing as a kit to download. (I've been doing it digitally for over five years). I started with plain white backgrounds, graduated to a simple colored background and then one with some texture to it. I scanned "real" scrapbook papers. I decorated with clip art from pcCrafter rather than ribbons and buttons.

But for new scrappers, the digital world can seem overwhelming right now. There's just so-o-o much to choose from. My suggestion would be to start with one kit and try several different layouts from that. You'll get the feel for what is pleasing to you and how to arrange stuff on the page. Then expand you horizons a bit and incorporate stuff from a different kit.

Making your own elements is a ball of fun, but it certainly takes time that could be spent scrapping.

[Laura Jean]

Seeing what others come up with, inspires you and I do from time to time download and use kits
I don't do paper scrapping. I tend to do more creating from scratch and generally focus on the pictures
I'm still learning the scrapping techniques! I like making my own, brushes and patterns.

[IreneO]

I agree that it is so easy to change things around when you scrap digitally that it easy to never be finished with a layout - just a little tweak here and then and it goes on and on forever.

There are a few things you can try.

1. Go to an online crop where you have only an hour to get a page done - I believe there are still a few of those around.

2. Use a sketch

3. scraplift a layout you admire.

4. Use a pre-made template.

[amyjo]

i'm extremely lazy...and hate working with my own stuff, so i work almost exclusively with other peoples' kits :) i enjoy the creative team work i get to do in the process and it really helps me get a run of photos done quickly - if i am using my own stuff, it's nightmarish - even if i can visualize what i want it to look like it usually doesn't work out like i'd planned - so i am at least 100 GB stocked up on kits :D

[anitab]

I 'm enjoying getting everyone else's perspective about using kits or designing; I think my layouts (I've only done one so far!) will probably be pretty simple, but who knows where all this will lead me! :rolleyes:

[maggiemaylove]

Everyone has their own style, likes and dislikes, from simple to very elegant. I enjoy looking at everyone's different styles. For me, I have been paper scrapping for 6 years now and although I love the feel of all the little extras, digital scrapbooking is opening up a whole new world for me and I am really enjoying it. I do use a lot of other people's kits and embellishments. That's what they are there for, yes? In time, I am sure as I learn, I will make more items myself but for now, I am enjoying the huge selection of kits available to digiscrappers now and loving it!