I am in the midst of yet another scrap room re-organization project. This time the re-do is taking baby steps towards becoming a mixed manufacturer scrapper.
After several years spent in the comfort of single-product line, everything-coordinates land, it's time to venture out of my comfort zone. Starting with embellishments.
I gathered everything, broke up kits (with fear and trembling), and have begun the process of separating my embellishments into bright colors, cool colors, and lighter colors. For now, it's an easy starting point.
I'm not willing to break apart paper kits yet, but I want to start gathering a list, at least in my mind, of which manufacturers tend to mix well with what other manufacturers. So I'm asking for a little help. Two simple questions, feel free to answer one or both or just leave a comment!
Question #1 - Do you mix manufacturers when you scrap or stick to a single manufacturer and paper line for each layout?
Question #2 - If you mix manufacturers, what are your favorite companies that seem to consistently mix and match well for you?
Question #1 - Do you mix manufacturers when you scrap or stick to a single manufacturer and paper line for each layout?
Question #2 - If you mix manufacturers, what are your favorite companies that seem to consistently mix and match well for you?
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HI Sue- I ALWAYS mix manufacturers- If I don't I somehow feel a little unhappy with the end product as it all feels a little too well toned and flat!
ReplyDeleteThe difficulty comes with the background colour of the paper- American Crafts always is white so doesn't mix with companies that always use cream like October Afternoon, Sassafras,Cosmo Cricket ( mostly) .
Wow, what an undertaking. I didn't realize you even kept your embellies separate. I mix manufacturers often especially lately but as far as what goes best with what I find that it all depends on the lines... not very helpful, I know. :)
ReplyDeleteHi I've popped over from BBFS. I can't help much with which manufacturers mix well, I really struggle myself. I guess you could decide what style each manufacturer is, eg: BasicGrey is worn or shabby chic, whereas something like Urban Lily I'd say is more graphic, so I wouldn't mix the two. Hope that helps
ReplyDeleteI always mix manufacturers. I love Crate Paper papers and mix them with American Crafts and October Afternoon alphas. I mix Prima flowers and bling with Basic Grey. I don't love Prima papers so never buy them. Good luck reorganising!
ReplyDeletecan't help you sue. i keep all my papers and embellies together;however, i do mix the embellies some.
ReplyDeletegood luck!
Ooh, look at that wonderful pile of embellishments! Happy reorganizing!
ReplyDeleteI store my paper by manufacturer, but I don't always scrap that way (especially when I'm just scrapping for me and not the store) -- I find that when I really love a company, I can make its papers work with just about any other company I love, if that makes any sense....
For me, that means that Cosmo Cricket almost always works with October Afternoon, which almost always works with Sassafras, which almost always works with.... :)
I have no problem mixing any and all products from any manufacturer. But then I don't scrapbook (but I do make cards) so it's probably not as important. I do see lovely layouts and they do often use products exclusively from one source.
ReplyDeleteI think sorting by color is great idea Sue. Time will tell when you start work on a page and see if that system works for you:)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I mix manufacturers, sometimes I don't - it really depends on what I am working on!! Good luck with your re-roganizing!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely WOYWW,
Karen #41
I mix everything! It's all organised by colour or kits, but I don't buy kits which only do one line so they are all mixed up too. I like OA, Cosmo, SC and lots of others. Individual pieces speak to me more than manufacturers. Definitely try it and see how it works out for you
ReplyDeletei tend to stick to papers in the same manufacturers - generally.... but not within paper line - IYKWIM??? I will use any mixture of embellishment tho - from any range with any range... that doesn't matter. the only real reason i stick with manufacturers in paper lines is because that is how i buy them. I don't tend to buy just one paper - i'll buy usually 5 or more. Very occassionally i will mix.... but VERY occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI just mix it all up!! It can get quite messy-LOL:) Great job of stepping out of your comfort zone!
ReplyDeleteLeslie
Well, I don't know if I can really help. I buy per project and buy coordinating papers and embellies from the same line. Now if I'm making a mini or another project, I'll mix it up then and just play around until I find something that works.
ReplyDeleteI mix mine up only because i scrap by colors not products. If you tend to look thur them all to find pink-- then mix them up would work bc of how you scrapped. you could take a picture to note the manufactor if you need the infor for later. I have seen someone on their blog doing that they would take a pic and put in in the digitial files by products name with specific color and shape ( wish I can remember who it was)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful desk full of fun!! To be totally honest, I never pay attention to who the manufacturer is for any of my supplies. I know, I know, it's unscraplike - I just use what I like. I have started looking to see who made it so I can mention some of the things I really enjoy on my blog, but otherwise I just use what talks to me! :>)
ReplyDeleteI definitely mix when I work on projects. Looks like you have a lot of fun stuff to work with.
ReplyDeleteI mix all the time. I can't say that I have any particular rhyme or reason as to how I do it but I usually like the effect.
ReplyDeleteI always mix vendors! I like Graphic 45 and Webster pages. BoBunny goes with just about everything. Thanks for sharing. Vickie #28
ReplyDeleteIt was buying kits from monthly clubs that got me into mixing manufacturers, and I'll never go back. Although I do sometimes keep embellishments with their matching papers until I open and use them. It sure is super fast and efficient to use all one company though - and Basic Grey, Sassafras Lass and Cosmo Cricket are some of my favorite companies where I like both the papers and the embellishments. I have so much loose stash at this point, that there will always be some mixing in on any layout.
ReplyDeleteI mix manufacturers - lik what I see and take what I like , I say!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are soooo mega organised. Good for you!!!!!!!!
Happy woyww
Rebecca (44) xx
I rarely know who has made a paper but I am trying to take more note and I am finding that I'm discovering brands I keep going back to. My eyes glazed over when I saw your desk, all those yummy goodies!
ReplyDeleteI love Basic Grey and My Minds Eye, they usually can vibe well together. Color coordinating everything is helping me, I'm in a reorg as well. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteChrissy #93
Yes, I'm a mixer!! Well, unless I'm designing for a manufacturer or store that's specifying that I don't....which is often. But, if I'm just scrap'n for me then I'm a total mixer. LOL! Good luck on your re-do!
ReplyDeleteI mix manufacturers often, but I can't really comment on which go well together... it totally depends on the lines that come out each time. I just color match and call it a day!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a mixer. The layout on my table now has 3 different manufacturer's DSP and some SU cardstock and it isn't even finished. If the style mixes, the colors seem to. Ex: October Afternoon does a lot of small vintage prints with minimum distressing. These go well with Cosmo Cricket and some American Crafts. Basic Grey is more glam and doesn't mix as well IMO. BG would go better with My Mind's Eye which also tends to be elegant. There never seems to be a perfect storage solution.
ReplyDeleteI mix everything... I hardly ever use two of the same brand of anything. One of the major reasons for this is as soon as I get used to a brand and I like it I have to move and then I cannot find said brand at new location. A plus side to moving around is that I have had lots of different products to play with which led to me learning more about my own art style.
ReplyDeleteI'm a mixer. I like Fancy Pants, CTMH, 7Gypsys and a whole bunch of others. Really I play the field. And I take things out of original packing so half the time I couldn't tell you the manufacturer.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a mixer with everything......paper, embellishments....all of it! I love mixing it up and having fun.....last night I pulled apart all my studio calico kits and forced myself to organize them and start using them. I was a bit worried about pulling them all apart but I have ended up using the stuff already!! Looks like you have lots of fun goodies to play with!!
ReplyDeleteI love mixing too! It's hard for me to stick with just one company.
ReplyDeleteI mix manufacturer's. Mostly because I don't pay attention to who makes what. If I like a paper or embellishment I buy it. I don't look twice at who makes it.
ReplyDeleteUnless it is a paper pack, then I kind of know who it is :)
I like to mix it up. that is why I love my kits so much. I've been trying more and more to bring things together without using the entire matching line... but I will say that sometimes I do love using all coordinating items. Depends on my mood. Sassafras goes well with a lot of lines, basic grey, cosmo. A most recent combo is BG marjolaine and LYB twig. Good luck with your project. I currently organize paper by line, but I store most of my embellies on my clip it ups.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter weekend!!! =)
I can safely say I mix where they match..most of my 'scrap booking papers are still in their wrappers...I'm still at the stroking stage and can't bare/bear the thought of cutting into them... great crafty space thanks for the snoop
ReplyDeleteHappy VERY!!! late WOYWW
(Lyn)
I like the comfort of having a 'kit' for a quick pages but I tend to impulse buy stash in sales, so I'm definitely a mix and match girl. I have my cardstock organised in colours of the rainbow and then papers by theme (a flowers and love try, a masculine try, a kids tray etc.) but am thinking of re-organising on colour group (harder with patterns). My embellishments are organised by type - flowers and butterflies in one drawer, alphas together, metal embellishments together, fabric in another, then tags with journalling blocks etc.
ReplyDeleteThe downside of all this is that it makes it difficult to list the supplies I've used LOL!