insider tips : what I do once my SC box hits my porch

Happy Thursday!! Before I get started today, I wanted to say thank you for the wonderful comments on my tutorial yesterday - I really appreciate the kind words! AND - if you'd like a PATCHWORK add-on of you own, you can head over to my blog and leave a comment for a chance to win one. =) I'll be drawing a winner on Saturday morning.

It's THAT time of month, the time that has us all stalking our emails for those shipping notices and our porches for a glimpse of that beautiful Studio Calico box. So I thought today would be the perfect day to share my unpacking and project planning rituals.



First, I take a picture of my box. Usually with my iPhone. Getting my Studio Calico box is like having a birthday every month (without getting older ;), so it warrants being documented, right? =) Even if I'm rushed for time, I have to at least open the box and peek inside each bag. I love that first glimpse!



If I haven't already packed up the last month's kit and cleaned my desk, then I do that next. Once my desk is clean, I go through my box and open each bag. I start with the main kit. Cardstock + patterned paper goes in one pile on my desk. The alphabets get their own pile, and the embellishments go into that yellow bowl. Things like rubons or label stickers go on top of the patterned paper pile. If I get an add-on (IF, ha! as if i could resist!!), the bulky embellishments go on the tray in front of the bowl, and the paper and alphabet goes back into the bag - I cut the top off so I can flip through everything in it quickly. I really only keep the add-ons seperate until we've got enough projects for the sneak slideshow, and then I add it all in to the same piles as the main kit.



I keep my notebook out as I'm unpacking the kit and jot down any ideas that come to mind. A product in the kit may bring to mind a memory or photo that I'd like to record, or I may think of a technique I'd like to try with the kit or with new products that I've ordered from the shop. I usually add to this list by scanning through old entries on my blog - I look at the same season in past years. All of my ideas won't all make it to finished projects, but it's a good starting point for me.



Once I unpack a kit, it tends to spend the whole month on my desk. And it doesn't always look this neat. ;) Some months I do all of my gallery work at once, in others I flip between working with the kit and doing other assignments. When I need to use other products, I tend to just stack them on top of the kit instead of putting it all away.

So, that's my basic process every month. And now it's time for me to pack up Quilting Bee so I have room to spread out the April kit when it comes tomorrow. ;)