craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,633 
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Post by craftymom101 on May 23, 2018 3:49:43 GMT
... and really struggled to use it? Or the opposite? Have you every purchased a collection (or had a collection show up in a kit) that you thought for sure you were going to struggle with that you ended up loving?
For me, I loved the look of Shimelle's Box of Crayons collection. Lots of great blues and greens, the papers are a little all-over-the-place, but some nice prints, and I love the navy thickers! But using the collection has been a challenge. Maybe because the motifs are *so* random? I don't mind random motifs, but making crayons + florals + cats with glasses + hands + strawberries work together has not been easy. Finally I focused on one paper + one motif and ended up making a layout I really love. Looking at the individual pieces of the collection vs. the whole has made using it much, much easier.
On the flip side, I really thought I was going to struggle with the Studio Calico Savannah kit. So. Much. Pink! And red! And girl colors/patterns! But I ended up making two of my favorite layouts ever using that kit. The peach alpha from the Doc kit I still haven't used, but I've used up a lot of that kit.
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cbscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
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Post by cbscrapper on May 23, 2018 4:02:00 GMT
I agree that sometimes the most difficult paper/product tends to become some of my favorite layouts. I had a Basic Grey Christmas paper that was huge poinsettias, and I hated it (was part of a collection pack that I loved rest rest of). I forced myself to use it and absolutely loved the way it turned out!
I have realized though that American Crafts’ random motifs of late, pink everything, and lots of florals simply aren’t my style AT ALL so I have avoided buying any of them. I’ve picked up some thickers from the collections and that’s it. There are plenty of other manufacturers making usable products that are trendy without being gaudish. (Love me some Elle’s Studio!)
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,633
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Post by craftymom101 on May 23, 2018 4:14:29 GMT
cbscrapper I love Elle's Studio, too! They released a new collection last month called... Noteworthy? I think? It is super cute and I've already used a lot of it. I like a lot of the recent American Crafts collections in bits and pieces, and I don't mind using some pink on my boys' pages. I'm also making a point to scrapbook photos of me and my bf and the activities we do when the kids are with their dad, and since I like pink I tend to use my pink product on those pages. One collection that I haven't touched (but need to!) is one of the recent Amy Tangerine collections. Hustle and Heart, I think. I've used one of the papers but I haven't used the sticker book, the little half pom-poms, or the inflated ephemera. I didn't realize the stickers are clear (no white backing), and those stickers are always a challenge for me. The giant tiger sticker is going to be a challenge, too! My stash is huge but this spring I have been super productive by setting goals to use specific collections each day so I'm using what I've purchased.
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Post by woodysbetty on May 23, 2018 11:13:35 GMT
cbscrapper I love Elle's Studio, too! They released a new collection last month called... Noteworthy? I think? It is super cute and I've already used a lot of it. I like a lot of the recent American Crafts collections in bits and pieces, and I don't mind using some pink on my boys' pages. I'm also making a point to scrapbook photos of me and my bf and the activities we do when the kids are with their dad, and since I like pink I tend to use my pink product on those pages. One collection that I haven't touched (but need to!) is one of the recent Amy Tangerine collections. Hustle and Heart, I think. I've used one of the papers but I haven't used the sticker book, the little half pom-poms, or the inflated ephemera. I didn't realize the stickers are clear (no white backing), and those stickers are always a challenge for me. The giant tiger sticker is going to be a challenge, too! My stash is huge but this spring I have been super productive by setting goals to use specific collections each day so I'm using what I've purchased. Just saw a youtuber using this collection ( wish I could remember who !!) and she backed the clear stickers with white paper and said the same thing about the tiger!!! |
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cbscrapper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,417
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Post by cbscrapper on May 23, 2018 11:17:50 GMT
cbscrapper I love Elle's Studio, too! They released a new collection last month called... Noteworthy? I think? It is super cute and I've already used a lot of it. I like a lot of the recent American Crafts collections in bits and pieces, and I don't mind using some pink on my boys' pages. I'm also making a point to scrapbook photos of me and my bf and the activities we do when the kids are with their dad, and since I like pink I tend to use my pink product on those pages. One collection that I haven't touched (but need to!) is one of the recent Amy Tangerine collections. Hustle and Heart, I think. I've used one of the papers but I haven't used the sticker book, the little half pom-poms, or the inflated ephemera. I didn't realize the stickers are clear (no white backing), and those stickers are always a challenge for me. The giant tiger sticker is going to be a challenge, too! My stash is huge but this spring I have been super productive by setting goals to use specific collections each day so I'm using what I've purchased. Yay for you using up some stash and being productive! This spring has seemed so busy that I haven’t been very productive scrap-wise, and have hopes to use more stash this summer. |
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Post by kiwigirl on May 23, 2018 12:28:36 GMT
Totally! Usually it's been Amy Tangerine or Dear Lizzy collections. I am on a DT and we're lucky enough to be able to choose our own products to work with. Of course we can't be greedy and always pick the things we love because that's not fair. So sometimes I've chosen collections, received them and been like oh.... this wasn't a good choice! But definitely Dear Lizzy & Amy T, I have struggled with a couple of their collections and I'm sure there was a WRMK and an MME collection I struggled with. These were all collections I looked at online and liked enough to order but when they arrived, maybe the colours weren't as bright as I expected or something like that.
On the other hand, a collection I didn't think I would like was Notes & Things and it's ended up being one of my favourite collections ever!
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Post by myboysnme on May 23, 2018 13:13:42 GMT
I bought a collection years ago at an LSS on clearance. Totally forget the name but it was blue and white and sort of Pennsylvania Dutchie Distlefink looking. I have not used even one piece.
I will use it when I am very old and will use anything because I have used up my entire stash. Bwahaha!
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Post by scrappyem on May 23, 2018 13:25:12 GMT
Maggie Holmes lines are a struggle for me to actually use. I think they are often very pretty, so I buy them, but then I don't end up using them much. I think it's just to vintage for my style, even though I appreciate vintage stuff.
I didn't think I'd like Pink Fresh Studio, received some in a kit, and started really loving their brand. The "Let Your Heart Decide" is my favorite 2018 collection.
I avoid all things Amy Tan. The colors and icons are too random. Shimelle's last few collections have been complete misses for me. I wish I did like Shimelle's stuff because I'd like to support her. I bought some of her very first collection and that's it.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,147
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Post by scrapnnana on May 23, 2018 14:10:10 GMT
Plenty of times. The biggest reason for me is that the colors just don't fit the colors of my photos. Unfortunately, I can't always have my photos in hand to see if the colors and patterns work well with my pictures, since I no longer have any LSS near me.
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,973
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Post by camcas on May 24, 2018 2:17:59 GMT
I remember buying an entire basic grey collection I fell in love with ...? Scarlets letter?
And struggled to use it - still have lots left
Same actually with Shimelle starshine
On the other hand picked up AC chap back in the day , just a few papers and wish I had bought in an entire store’s supply- one of my all time fave lines
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Post by tinksmommy on May 24, 2018 2:49:11 GMT
Maggie Holmes lines are a struggle for me to actually use. I think they are often very pretty, so I buy them, but then I don't end up using them much. I think it's just to vintage for my style, even though I appreciate vintage stuff. I didn't think I'd like Pink Fresh Studio, received some in a kit, and started really loving their brand. The "Let Your Heart Decide" is my favorite 2018 collection. I avoid all things Amy Tan. The colors and icons are too random. Shimelle's last few collections have been complete misses for me. I wish I did like Shimelle's stuff because I'd like to support her. I bought some of her very first collection and that's it. I totally agree! |
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,633
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Post by craftymom101 on May 24, 2018 2:49:25 GMT
camcas I loved Starshine and used it a lot. I don't remember Scarlet Letter but there are a few Basic Grey collections I have a lot of because they were hard to use.
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Post by kiwigirl on May 24, 2018 6:06:44 GMT
I remember buying an entire basic grey collection I fell in love with ...? Scarlets letter? And struggled to use it - still have lots left Same actually with Shimelle starshine On the other hand picked up AC chap back in the day , just a few papers and wish I had bought in an entire store’s supply- one of my all time fave lines Oh man, Scarlet's Letter was amazing wasn't it! So beautiful but holy heck, so hard to use!!!! I don't even think I remember seeing it when I went through all my BG recently so I must have got rid of it when I couldn't use it. It was so lush wasn't it, lots of swirls and layered patterns but try and stick a photo on those papers and it would get lost immediately! scrappyem I find Maggie Holmes lines make me create in a very flowery and pretty way, when my usual style is quite graphic and simple. I don't mind it and have bought pretty much every MH line because I do love that they all co-ordinate but I definitely find myself scrapping in a different style when I use them. |
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,973
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Post by camcas on May 24, 2018 6:15:47 GMT
Maggie Holmes lines are a struggle for me to actually use. I think they are often very pretty, so I buy them, but then I don't end up using them much. I think it's just to vintage for my style, even though I appreciate vintage stuff. I didn't think I'd like Pink Fresh Studio, received some in a kit, and started really loving their brand. The "Let Your Heart Decide" is my favorite 2018 collection. I avoid all things Amy Tan. The colors and icons are too random. Shimelle's last few collections have been complete misses for me. I wish I did like Shimelle's stuff because I'd like to support her. I bought some of her very first collection and that's it. I totally agree! Me exactly I love pinkfresh now- my current fave manufacturer they make wonderful letter stickers and embellies- I may have more than5 packs of the navy letters from the mix 2 collection....... I also struggle with the random icons. Shimelle did a series on using the,recently but I still can’t do it- doesn’t suit my style to have cats with glasses,chameleons,llamas and tacos on my pages....just tooooooo weird |
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Post by jameynz on May 24, 2018 7:43:47 GMT
I've purchased entire collections, look at it, use part of it....and wish I could return what I don't use.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on May 24, 2018 12:04:44 GMT
Maggie Holmes lines are a struggle for me to actually use. I think they are often very pretty, so I buy them, but then I don't end up using them much. I think it's just to vintage for my style, even though I appreciate vintage stuff... ... I avoid all things Amy Tan. The colors and icons are too random. Shimelle's last few collections have been complete misses for me. I wish I did like Shimelle's stuff because I'd like to support her. I bought some of her very first collection and that's it. I just picked up Maggie Holmes Bloom 12x12 on clearance, and I already know that I'll be struggling to find ways to use half of it. Fortunately, it's on a decent quality paper, so I can try some mixed media on top of the papers I can't use. I also picked up Pink Paislee Pick Me Up 6x6, and I already have plans for 90%of it. I decided I can't buy Amy Tan or Shimelle except in 6x6. In the bigger size, I feel like their papers just overwhelm the photos, but in the smaller size they make nice accents (provided I can make sense of the random motifs.) |
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Post by grammadee on May 24, 2018 13:35:01 GMT
I think sometimes I pick up scrappy supplies because I WANT to be the scrapper that can use them! I was looking for some school related papers awhile ago and found a bunch of Graphic 45 Storybook. Love the images. Love the colours. But they intimidate me. Somehow I don't think I will do them justice. And who has photos as cute as those kids on the papers?
Cutting them up and using pieces as matts or specific images in clusters might be the way to go. Anyway, I found some generic book page paper from another manufacturer and put the G45 back in its place in the drawer where it has been for years...
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Post by joblackford on May 24, 2018 14:39:07 GMT
I liked Shimelle's Christmas collection a few years back, but I struggled with it. It was probably the colors that didn't work for me. I liked the motifs, but I prefer brighter happier cleaner shades. I learned when I was learning quilting that color was the most important thing. I have a harder time working with colors that don't make my heart sing.
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