artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,026 
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Post by artbabe on Jun 15, 2020 16:46:12 GMT
Another topic:
I've been trying to expand my scrapbooking comfort zone.
I've noticed some scrapbook lines/companies are really easy for me to scrap with and some are a struggle.
For example: I think scrapbooking with Vicki Boutin lines is really easy. They are warm and welcoming. They just really flow for me and I'm usually really happy with the result.
I also think the newer Shimelle lines (I'm so sad that has been discontinued) are really easy to work with, especially when scrapbooking kids.
I've been trying to use the Pinkfresh teen line and it has been a struggle. Pinkfresh just isn't my aesthetic- it is kind of cold looking to me. I really liked the images in their teen line, though, so I've been trying to use it with my nephews. I had to tear a page apart yesterday and start over because it just wasn't coming together for me. I think I did better the second time but it isn't in my top 50 pages I've scrapped.
I also struggle with Doodlebug. I bought one of their winter lines (with the snowmen and yetis) because it was so cute but I'm not used to scrapping cute so my pages I've made with it so far just seem kind of "off" to me. Very cute but somehow just not "it." I love their enamel dots and shapes though. They also have washi that I use a lot.
Which scrapbook companies and lines are easy for you to use. Which are outside your aesthetic or comfort zone?
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jun 15, 2020 16:54:36 GMT
I'm a pretty clean and simple scrapper. I tend to work with white (no cream/ivory/vintage) non-distressed, bright colors. I enjoy basic graphic patterns like stripes, plaids, dots. I don't use a lot of icons. I try really hard not to be literal as it limits my options. I find theme paper to work best for me in card making because I am so literal. In my scrapbooking I try to make the pictures the star of the show so neutral patterns work best for me.
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Post by walkerdill on Jun 15, 2020 17:02:47 GMT
I love Graphic 45 papers but I think they are so hard to use.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,878
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Jun 15, 2020 17:18:24 GMT
I sometimes struggle with Carta Bella... I'm not sure if it's the texture (hard to mix and match with other companies) or the patterns. I don't want to cover the paper with my photos...
The themes from Photo Play appeal to me, but the color schemes they use don't... so I might buy the stickers or die cuts but not the papers.
I do OK with Echo Park, Jillibean Soup and most Simple Stories stuff (and mix and match them easily), Graphic 45, Authentique etc I have a hard time matching up with my photos so I tend to not buy them even if I like them.
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Post by mom on Jun 15, 2020 17:31:48 GMT
I'm a pretty clean and simple scrapper. I tend to work with white (no cream/ivory/vintage) non-distressed, bright colors. I enjoy basic graphic patterns like stripes, plaids, dots. I don't use a lot of icons. I try really hard not to be literal as it limits my options. I find theme paper to work best for me in card making because I am so literal. In my scrapbooking I try to make the pictures the star of the show so neutral patterns work best for me. This is me, 1000%. Give me neutral, generic pattern paper in a bright colors all day long. Absolutely nothing theme-y (Ok, maybe some travel themed paper like a map, but that's it). I would rather have some generic papers and add whatever themed embellishment I need vs having themed paper. While I can appreciate some themes, I just find them too limiting. I am simple, but it works. |
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,955
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Jun 15, 2020 17:33:31 GMT
For me it is collections that seem like all the A sides are competing with each other.
Amy Tangerine comes to mind, also Dear Lizzy. I usually end up buying a few that I like, but mostly to use with other lines, but not together. Or maybe with a B side because the A sides are all very busy.
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Post by miominmio on Jun 15, 2020 17:35:59 GMT
I struggle with Maja Design. Almost everyone loves them, and they have some really cute stuff, but I can’t work with them (and donated almost everything).
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Post by alone_inacrowdedroom on Jun 15, 2020 17:40:21 GMT
I'm a pretty clean and simple scrapper. I tend to work with white (no cream/ivory/vintage) non-distressed, bright colors. I enjoy basic graphic patterns like stripes, plaids, dots. I don't use a lot of icons. I try really hard not to be literal as it limits my options. I find theme paper to work best for me in card making because I am so literal. In my scrapbooking I try to make the pictures the star of the show so neutral patterns work best for me. I could have written this myself! My style exactly. |
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Post by mom on Jun 15, 2020 17:41:44 GMT
For me it is collections that seem like all the A sides are competing with each other. Amy Tangerine comes to mind, also Dear Lizzy. I usually end up buying a few that I like, but mostly to use with other lines, but not together. Or maybe with a B side because the A sides are all very busy.Hands down, I mainly use their B sides. |
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Post by KikiPea on Jun 15, 2020 17:44:23 GMT
Anything like Doodlebug or Bella BLVD. I love Stephanie, and her lines are really cute, but the designs are hard for me. Also, anything photo realistic.
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Post by KikiPea on Jun 15, 2020 17:54:23 GMT
Oooooh yes! Graphic 45!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 19:41:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2020 18:53:00 GMT
I like the suggestion of something, rather than "in your face", so lines that have a lot of realism or a big graphic image are really hard for me to work with. My mom likes a lot of the photo play lines, realistic trees, flowers, etc...and I just cannot use those. I also find Maggie Holmes lines very dull.
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Post by mikklynn on Jun 15, 2020 18:55:10 GMT
I struggle with Graphic 45 and Pinkfresh Studio.
I love B sides and florals, plaids, ginghams, and dots. Echo Park and Carta Bella work well for me. Oh, and Felicity Jane is great for me.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jun 15, 2020 21:47:40 GMT
For me, it's not a specific line.
It's size. I love using stickers, but so many of the stickers are small (dime and nickel size...even quarter size), that I find it hard to use them without it looking like sticker sneeze.
It reminds of the Mrs Grossman's from back in the early days of scrapbooking.
No matter the brand, I much prefer a larger size sticker (at least...half dollar size or bigger).
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Post by wonderwoman on Jun 16, 2020 1:10:48 GMT
For me Pinkfresh and Pink Paisley are so easy... Graphic 45 would be very hard ...
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 16, 2020 2:33:49 GMT
If I like the paper line, it's all good. If I am not in the mood for vintage, grunge, geometric etc, then I can't get it to work. I find the big illustrations on Graphic 45 are sometimes too pretty to cover or you end up covering half of something, I'd say anything with too much kraft color challenges me also.
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,966
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Post by camcas on Jun 16, 2020 3:19:37 GMT
Another vote for graphic 45-sooooo busy
Also prima
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mjmone
Full Member
Posts: 441
Jul 3, 2014 2:58:29 GMT
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Post by mjmone on Jun 16, 2020 3:43:02 GMT
I struggle with the ones that look like one big photograph..I like how they look, but struggle with photo placement. Recently used one on a Mosaic, it looked alright.
But was a 'pill' to put together.
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Post by needtime2scrap on Jun 16, 2020 13:11:53 GMT
I love love love Heidi Swapp's scrapbook lines and I buy quite a bit of it, then struggle to use it  but it doesn't stop my from buying it! I find super bold papers hard to scrapbook with and those with a major graphic design (as opposed to a smaller graphic) like some of PinkFresh's stuff. Love the colors and patterns but its hard to use for me. I find that Vicki B's stuff super easy to layer and create with, plus anything with more neutral or softer patterns. |
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,026
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Post by artbabe on Jun 16, 2020 16:46:57 GMT
I never use a full piece of a photo realistic paper, especially if it has a photo of something on it, but I use the all over designs as mats. For example, coffee beans to mat a coffee photo, beer, trees, shells, water, etc.
I think Graphic 45 is so pretty but it is crazy busy. I have a piece of pigs with wings Graphic 45 paper that I'm dying to use, though. It is one of my favorite papers ever made.
I just bought the newer Carta Bella school line and I like it in theory but I'm struggling with it in real life. The colors and texture are gorgeous but the retro designs are really difficult for me to use. I love retro in theory (like old October Afternoon) but it is difficult to make it look right with modern photos.
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Post by katmandu on Jun 17, 2020 16:39:32 GMT
If I am struggling with using a paper or collection I love, I often go to scrapbook.com and pull up the item to see how other people use it in their projects. And I also search Pinterest and Google for layouts from the collection to get inspiration.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 18, 2020 1:22:30 GMT
I look more for colors than a specific manufacturer. I have a little of everything. I tend to buy products based on theme, but don't always use them that way. I use a lot of B sides.
I have a hard time using floral and striped paper.
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Post by cupcakepeddler on Jun 18, 2020 4:43:50 GMT
I was always drawn to the A sides so my older papers tend to be bold and big prints but somewhere along the way I switched over to B side scrapbooking so I do struggle with the A sides a bit.
I can't do anything that is distressed or grungy or too busy so companies like Graphic 45 although beautiful, I just can't work with.
Also Photo realistic paper is something I gave up on using a long time ago.
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,292
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jun 18, 2020 17:51:39 GMT
I'm a simple, clean, linear, cardstock-based, story-focused, extensive journaling style scrapper, so for me: Easy: Bazzill, Echo Park, Photoplay, Fancy Pants, Carta Bella, & Simple Stories for the classic patterns (e.g. solids, plaids, stripes, dots) & office/school-inspired designs (e.g. lines, grids, ledgers, labels, journaling spots) Hard: Dear Lizzy, Maggie Holmes, Paige Evans, Doodlebug, Graphic 45, Reminisce, Authentique (except for select less distressed classic patterns, such as the plaids & dots in The Calendar Collection), & many more due to themes, cutesy/cartoony icons, busy/large/realistic/scene patterns, vintage images, florals, pastels, etc. |
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Post by myboysnme on Jun 19, 2020 0:44:01 GMT
I never really know manufacturers very well so that is hard for me to answer. I am a theme scrapper and I love photo realistic papers. I tend to use more than a few photos so if the photos cover up key parts of the print then that is difficult. Papers with words where the photos cover up the main words - I often have to cut words from behind the photos and place them elsewhere on the paper.
I am not adverse to cut up paper and use it on the page to showcase the parts I want.
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Post by Night Owl on Jun 19, 2020 2:25:42 GMT
Doodlebug and their designs with the Kawaii type faces are so cute but I sometimes find them hard to work with. It's like I enjoy looking at them better then using them, I usually find the B sides easier to work with.
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