I think your version of a scrappy is just that, Your version. When I first started doing scrappies I started with log cabins and that was a good choice I think, because it made me concentrate on value, rather than color. I pick thru my bins and put in what I want, but always, light, medium, dark. I do the same with my string blocks when doing them. Many times I have a unifying neutral, or black, or gray, or dominate color. Just something that ties everything up and gives control over the chaos. When I first started, there were certain colors I couldn't use next to others. Soon as I put the quilt together, there would be the colors I didn't want together right next to each other. Some things you just can't control. I just finished a spoolin around quilt, it has over 2,000 spools, no repeats, but...in two cases similar blocks are right next to each other - How does that happen?
As I said, my first quilt was a blue/yellow log cabin - I still love that quilt, just because all my scraps are either yellow or blue doesn't make it any less scrappy in my eyes.
Love, love, love my scrappy quilts. I would be so bored working on 2, 3 or 4 fabric quilts - couldn't do it.