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Post by epeanymous on Dec 21, 2014 3:21:46 GMT
I loved the kit the last two years, but I am really struggling with this year's and can't figure out why. I think it may be the color scheme, or possibly that there are no actual journaling cards, or maybe the business of the patterns, or maybe the embellishments. Can't tell -- all I know is that the pages aren't coming together nearly as easily for me. Anyone else?
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Post by mdpea on Dec 21, 2014 9:48:08 GMT
I don't do my pages til the New Year, so I can't really comment; but would it help if you just copied Ali's. That might get you started & on your way?
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,577
Aug 1, 2014 20:06:00 GMT
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Post by blemon on Dec 21, 2014 14:36:10 GMT
I feel you. I'm on day 7 and I have only used one star from the kit! I loved the pictures of it but I've not been using anything but the album and the page protectors so far.
It's not like the supplies will go bad but in person they are not doing it for me.
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Post by epeanymous on Dec 21, 2014 17:43:11 GMT
I don't do my pages til the New Year, so I can't really comment; but would it help if you just copied Ali's. That might get you started & on your way? I do sometimes do that, but she uses fewer pictures than I do and never really has used much of the kits. I love the look of her pages, absolutely, but, honestly, I could buy a Handbook and not buy the kit and probably get pretty close to most of her layouts .
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sophikins
Full Member
Posts: 239
Aug 30, 2014 15:12:27 GMT
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Post by sophikins on Dec 21, 2014 18:14:51 GMT
I did not buy the kit, but I did look closely at it, and I have been following Ali's Dec Daily pages The pages themselves, including the photos and journaling and design are all really nice. but it does not seem very "Christmasy". She is posting her Week in the Life pages along with her Dec Daily during this month, and I have a hard time telling them apart at first glance. The Dec Daily kit's color scheme with the orange and grey that she has been stamping with, plus the pink and teal, just doesn't do it for me for a December album. The gold is nice, but I guess I am just too traditional about the rest of the colors. I am doing a Dec Daily mini album using more traditional colors and patterns from my stash, based on Pink Pailslee's "City Sidewalks" from a year or two ago. Here's a look at the kit again Ali Dec Daily Kit
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desertgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,646
Jun 26, 2014 15:58:05 GMT
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Post by desertgirl on Dec 21, 2014 20:51:20 GMT
I have supplemented way too much from my stash this year. And to be honest, most of the pages I have used from the kit have been covered up by photos and journaling and stash embellishments. It does not look at all like the kit anymore.
I am okay with that. I want the album to reflect my style and my color scheme. I have not used many of the wooden numbers altho' I love them. I used red and gold glitter numbers on some festive pages.
I am caught up, and today, we got our tree at our friend's farm so I could use that one page with the tree on it in the corner. From here until Christmas, I have the pages pre-made. One of the pieces of the kit's papers, all very gray and neutral, in the 6x8 protector and I wrapped the edges with green or red or gold washi tape to make them more festive. I'll journal on those pages and then use the 4x4 protectors for corresponding photos of the day.
I think the colors next year will be the determining factor for me. Way too somber this year.
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,577
Aug 1, 2014 20:06:00 GMT
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Post by blemon on Dec 21, 2014 22:08:35 GMT
I bought it for the little cursive transparent words, I think. Thanks for posting that link. I love the looks of it. Good to have a reminder of why I bought it now that everything is all over the place in my house. I love the huge gold letters and numbers. Love the little wood numbers. Will end up using most of it eventually.
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Post by kimmie75 on Dec 22, 2014 17:15:26 GMT
Yes! I do not like the kit now that I have been using it a few weeks. The paper is so thin (read cheap) and the colors are just "odd" for Christmas. I will not be buying a kit next year...will make my own.
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Post by merry27 on Dec 22, 2014 17:39:37 GMT
I loved the past 2 years and was positive I was going to buy this years but just didn't care for the colors. Especially when I saw the red handbook (which is the one I would have ordered!) I do like the big gold letters and numbers and if anyone wants to sell a few I am interested!
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libro55
Shy Member
Posts: 12
Jul 1, 2014 11:19:19 GMT
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Post by libro55 on Dec 23, 2014 16:25:10 GMT
No wrestling at all. Studio Calico = no ordering from me.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,794
Location: Kentucky
Jun 25, 2014 20:31:44 GMT
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Post by Kerri W on Dec 23, 2014 20:23:27 GMT
No wrestling at all. Studio Calico = no ordering from me. Ditto. I didn't order the DD kit because I figured I could pull enough together out of my own stash and I.am.done. with Studio Calico. I was *very* disappointed to see Ali go that direction. I have to be honest and say I'm just not feeling Ali's DD this year. I'm not getting any inspiration from it and I think it's because of the colors. She's always been such a clean scrapper, which I enjoy, but this year seems to be over the top...unfortunately not enjoying it.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Dec 23, 2014 22:49:14 GMT
I don't do the whole DD thing, but looking at her pages and the kit in total, the colors and her design scheme just don't read 'Christmas' (or even 'festive') to me, so I can definitely see how someone would have problems being inspired by it.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 3,039
Jun 26, 2014 17:25:06 GMT
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Post by TXMary on Dec 23, 2014 23:15:51 GMT
This is the first year I have bought the kit. I normally just use my stash and I am a fan of Christmas colors. For some reason, the kit grabbed me but I didn't like it as much in person. The colors are just...wrong. I have been mostly just following along with her and making mine very similar. I was determined to have a great December after a pretty crappy year. The first weekend of December my brother had a stroke. I haven't had the energy or the desire to do my own thing, so basically copying her has worked for me and at least I have this Christmas documented. I seriously doubt I will buy a kit again. I started losing my love for it when I saw the orange album. Blech. Still not over that and for $100, I think we should get what we ordered. Lesson learned.
I was looking through my album from last year the other day and it's so cute!! Mostly Simple Stories and some Cathy Z stuff thrown in. I love it. My album this year will be done but it won't be a favorite.
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Post by tallgirl on Dec 24, 2014 1:26:32 GMT
I don't do my pages til the New Year, so I can't really comment; but would it help if you just copied Ali's. That might get you started & on your way? I do sometimes do that, but she uses fewer pictures than I do and never really has used much of the kits. I love the look of her pages, absolutely, but, honestly, I could buy a Handbook and not buy the kit and probably get pretty close to most of her layouts . I did not buy the kit this year, though I thought it was lovely. I did buy the kit last year and I have gobs left over. (The problem with that is that I don't want my album to look identical 2 years in a row!) You raise a good point though - I include way more photos, and way less artsy stuff, than Ali does, and when I buy a kit I want the kit to do it all for me - I don't want to have to supplement with anything else.
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sophikins
Full Member
Posts: 239
Aug 30, 2014 15:12:27 GMT
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Post by sophikins on Dec 24, 2014 15:18:21 GMT
It would be interesting to see a photo of unused items that Ali has leftover from the kit when her album is finished. To those of you using the kit, especially if you are following along with pages similar to hers, do you have a lot left unused?
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 3,039
Jun 26, 2014 17:25:06 GMT
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Post by TXMary on Dec 25, 2014 15:33:29 GMT
It would be interesting to see a photo of unused items that Ali has leftover from the kit when her album is finished. To those of you using the kit, especially if you are following along with pages similar to hers, do you have a lot left unused? I will have a lot of paper left over and a lot of the big gold letters, but most of the rest will be used. I'll probably go back when I'm done and add things here and there to fill in, but no, I won't have a lot left.
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Post by marmargirl on Dec 25, 2014 22:55:36 GMT
I don't really follow Ali's style in my album but I like seeing her work. I really AM happy with the kit, though. I like the "odd" colors and have added some embellishments from other collections for the pages I want with more traditional colors.
I guess I like having something a little out of the ordinary to work with.
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Post by CarolineO'Sullivan on Dec 29, 2014 6:23:42 GMT
I have enjoyed using the kit this year, but I do not love it the way I did last years. I also wish they papers had more journal cards and also I hate that most of the background paper that I would use to matt pictures is all grey. Thinking about buying one for next year elsewhere, will see. Mine is complete and have a bit left but not hundreds. (also here is a couple packs of cards I bought)
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