Okay embellishment fans – now that you know how to find free embellishments, know the 10 most popular embellishment designs, and use and layer embellishments kits in your Picaboo projects, you might be wondering how to organize them on your computer. As a closet OCD sufferer, I have to confess that I LOVE organizing things – closets, garages, rooms and drawers. My computer is no exception. Everyone has to find an organization plan that works for them and this one works for me.
First, I set up a file folder on my desktop and name it Shauna. This indicates to anyone using my computer (husband, kids, etc.) that this folder is MINE and they should leave it alone!
Then within this folder I set up subfolders for documents, music, photos, etc. One of the subfolders in “Shauna” is called “Digital Kits.” It is here that I store my extensive collection of embellishment kits.
I download the kits directly into this folder as zipped files. When I unzip them, I set them up as follows:
1. Name the kit – I usually use the name the designer gave the kit or I’ll select a name that represents the theme or holiday. For example, some kits are named “Handy Man,” “Frosted Winter,” or “Jellybeans and Lollipops.” Of course, you can name your kit anything you wish. Just pick a name that makes it easy for you because once you start collecting embellishment kits, it gets really addicting!
2. Set up subfolders within the kit – I use three basic subfolders within each digital kit. Alphas, Elements, and Papers (or backgrounds). Some mega-kits have so many elements you may want to add additional folders like ribbons, word art, buttons, etc.
3. Preview sheet – I always include the preview sheet (if there is one) in my kit folder. It’s great to be able to click on the preview sheet and review the entire kit.
After unzipping my kits, I then sort the different items into their respective folders. The kits are alphabetized within the main Digital Kits folder and I can scroll through them easily to find whatever I need to add to my Picaboo projects.
How do you organize your digital embellishment kits? If you have tips, I’d love to hear them!
Looking for more resources on digital embellishments? Check out these articles!
Digital Embellishments 101: Favorite Sites, Tutorials and Photo Books
Top 10 Digital Embellishments List
Using and Layering top 10 Embellishments
How To Find Free Digital Embellishment Kits
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Since i make my own kits, I have them all on the website 4shared a free online storage website. That doesn’t mean i don’t have probably thousands on my computer also! i have 2 folders, Embellishments and Paper. Then i have sub-folders inside. I like the way you do it if you get whole kits from websites. It seems easier to find things. Great Post!!
I keep my kits together by folder as well, but I’ve been contemplating making a second copy of all the embellishments so I can sort them by type. Usually I want to use a coordinated kit, but sometimes I might just want a few buttons or ribbons, and I’d like to see all the ones I have so I can pick out the right color/style ones to suit the page I’m working on.
I’m not sure if this is a crazy idea or genius. Obviously it depends on having enough disk space. I guess an alternative is to tag the elements, then you can search by them (except for my computer is cranky about searching by tags).
I’m also thinking I should take all the preview pages and put them together in a folder, as that’s a faster way to review the kits I have and pick one for a project.
Shauna,
Will you please give me websites for embellishments? Thank you so much.
Marilyn