I'd agree with the scraps in a bag idea - I spent a morning a while back organising my scraps because I was feeling EXACTLY as you desribe. I cut a lot into 1 and 1/2" strips then I made a string quilt for my son. I just sorted into light medium and dark colours then let him pick the strips - only specifying light, medium or dark! It went together so quick! I got the technique off quiltville.com and it was so liberating because i normally agonise for hours over eveything matching!
K x