To kit, or not to kit. That is today’s question.

When I teach a class, I always encourage people to find their own way. Don’t use my colors, don’t use my theme, don’t use my family photos. You get the idea. Make your project unique. Make it your own. Even when I give directions online, I usually write what I use and give other suggestions that you could try. So why then, would I say that buying a kit to make the same ten cards as everyone else is a good thing?

The answer is simple. We all have to start somewhere. A kit offers a beginner a great place to start. It is a way to learn a new technique or try a new product. It gives us exact directions so there is no fear of doing it wrong. A kit gives us a final product that we can be proud of because there is no doubt that it’s good; after all, someone else designed it. So, if you have never given anything that you have made as a gift before, a kit is a good place to start. Of course, the next step after making your kit is to move on and design your own projects. Take some chances and let yourself grow!

Here are some nice kits to begin stamping with:

Addicted to Rubber Stamps- (https://www.addictedtorubberstamps.com) This company makes several seasonal kits that company different stamps, paper, stencils, brads, etc. Each kit teaches a technique and comes with complete directions. Kit Description: learn a card design technique. This kit includes items like gold brads, organdy ribbon, a yellow brush pen, white vellum, a stamp from Hero Arts, a stamp from 100 Proof Press, and a variety of papers from Bazzill Basics.

Quirks of Art- (https://www.quirksofart.com) offers several cardmaking kits called CardArt by Hero Arts. Kit description: Each CardArt kit includes a special CardArt woodblock stamp, two Kraft cards and envelopes, and coordinating gemstones. This kit features the "Thinking of You" bouquet and collage CardArt stamp. Make an entire card with a single stamp.

Stamp-A-Birthday book by Judy Ritchie, Kate Schmidt, and Jamie Kilmartin (https://www.hlla.com/catalog/stampbday.html) Book Description: how-to instructions are provided for the 50 projects shown in the color section. This book has ideas, samples plus 25 rubber stamps to make lots of projects with.

If you don’t see a kit that you like, look through stamping magazines and find a card that you like. Read through the directions first, and see if you can understand all of the directions. Not all magazines cater to beginners. If you feel like you can make the card, purchase each of the supplies on the supply list individually and make your own kit!