Love the Kit You're With
February may be known for hearts and flowers, but love shows up in our lives all year long. I don’t have very many Valentine specific kits. I never felt the need for them. However, some of you may. So don’t pack them away once March arrives. Look at them as collections of color, patterns and all the possibilities. Don’t get stuck using the kit only as it was intended.
The kit I’ll be using is Pebbles Forever My Always. I couldn’t find a date on it so I googled it and believe it’s from 2017. Lets take a look at the A and B sides of the paper.
Use the A & B Sides Strategically
One of the best ways I find to stretch a themed kit is by taking advantage of the A and B sides of patterned paper.
- The “A” side might be filled with hearts or bold Valentine motifs.
- The “B” side is often a subtle grid, floral, stripe or a tone on tone pattern.
The first photo is the “A” side and the second photo is the “B” side.
Don't Forget Embellishments
Look Beyond the Holiday Theme
Valentine’s Kits are often filled with pinks, reds, florals, hearts, and sweet sentiments. At first glance, they might seem best for anniversaries, weddings, or February 14th. But when you shift your mindset from holiday to heart, the possibilities are endless. I fussy cut the flowers from one of the patterned papers.
In my “Blooming With Love” layout, I used bold pink florals and heart accents to document flowers in bloom, not Valentine’s Day. The title works great for a garden story, and the color palette enhances the photos. The love theme becomes about loving nature, the season, the moment, and of course, my flowers.
The supplies didn’t dictate the story, they supported it.
This layout featuring my granddaughters goofing it up at a restaurant is a celebration of friendship and personality. They really love each other and are very close friends. The “Let’s Be Friends Forever” heart made the perfect title. The love themed paper becomes a celebration of friendship and personality. The hearts reinforce connection, not romance. Even the more obvious phrases on the patterned paper I used blend naturally into an everyday memory.
Let the Colors Lead
Instead of focusing on the hearts, focus on the hues. Valentine’s kits often include:
- Soft blush tones
- Bold reds
- Black and white contrast patterns
- Florals that work year-round
When you treat papers as design elements first and themed products second, you free yourself creatively.
Make the Sentiments Work for You
Phrases like:
- “Love”
- “Forever”
- “Hello Love”
- “You Are Absolutely Perfect”
Don’t have to be romantic. They can be:
- Pride of a blooming garden
- A snapshot of friendship
- The joy of watching kids grow
Love is layered. So are scrapbook stories.
If a phrase feels too specific layer it partially behind embellishments, trim it into smaller words, or use it as a subtle accent.
A Romantic Layout
You didn’t think I was going to leave without showing you a romantic layout, did you? I couldn’t not do one. After all it is the month of “Love”.
This kit contained so many tiny phrase cards that I decided the best way to use them was to create a grid pattern around my photo. This is a photo of my husband and I on a cruise we took last February.
Don't Let the Kit Box You In
It’s easy to feel like a themed kit must stay in it’s lane.
Ask yourself”
- Does this color work with my photo?
- Does this pattern enhance my design?
- Can this sentiment tell a different story?
If the answer is yes, use it.
The above layouts prove that Velentine’s products can document gardens, friendships, everyday smiles, and meaningful connections, even true love. The theme becomes love in the widest sense, and that’s something worth scrapping any month of the year.
Final Thoughts
A scrapbook kit is a starting point, not a set of instructions. When you stop worrying about whether you’re using the kit “correctly”, you start creating more authentically. Valentine’s Day kits aren’t just for February 14th, they’re for documenting what you love, who you love, and the moments that make your heart full.
So don’t get stuck. Flip the paper over. Re-imagine the sentiment. Tell the everyday story.
Love the kit you’re with, and let it love your memories right back.