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Post by impearia on Jul 20, 2015 2:05:22 GMT
This is also questions for people who do sub to Ali's kits...
Anyone thinking of switching to Ali's kits? I like them and I am already a story telling scrapper...that to me is an integral part of my pages, the story. I am a 12x12 scrapper and I worry I will miss pretty papers, though I really, really love her stamps. My main questions I guess are:
1) I do NOT do PL, or pocket scrapping at all, ever. i am terrible at it, I do however use PL cards on layouts and cards and I am fine with having a few around. Do you find her kits work well for scrapbook pages? Do you just bring your own papers?
2) Do her kits feel too "samey" to you? I like her products, but do they get to be too much of the same thing? I notice she offers a lot of the similar items regularly. Granted, i love acrylic words and little chipboard shapes. I actually picked up a Lisse Street Pl kit and I know she helped design some of the bits for that kit...and the chipboard bits were just like her usual ones, and I loved them.
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Post by abr79 on Jul 20, 2015 12:09:39 GMT
I just subscribed to her latest kit, Roots. I don't intend in continuing to subscribe, though. Only because I want to try a few other clubs and can only afford one sub at any time. I decided to do the story kit rather than the story stamp - partially because the stamp was gone but also because I wanted the product.
It's hard since there isn't really a public gallery for the story kit projects unless people upload them to SC but I think they are perfect for traditional LO's. You definitely need to supplement from your own stash, though. I've always felt that her kit's value was not in the product but rather the supplemental material (classroom, videos, etc.) and my first visit into the Roots classroom confirmed that. I've always considered myself a pretty good story teller and felt comfortable with journaling (which, when I knew I needed product back when I first started subscribing, that's why I chose not to sub to Ali's kit) but 10 minutes in to her video and my mind was over flowing with ideas. It was awesome.
she definitely keeps her style in all the kits but I think the simplicity and versatility of the designs and colors works for her stuff because they can easily be paired with other products.
My first suggestion would be to try the stamp sub first if you really want to try one of her kits...you will have access to the classroom and all the material and you can use your own stuff with the stamps (which ARE awesome).
I will say that the $25 I just spent on her kit makes me infinitely happier than the $25 I spent earlier this month on my SC PL kit.
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Post by cath4k on Jul 20, 2015 12:23:20 GMT
I have subbed to AE's kits from the beginning. I cancelled the stamp after six months only because I am not much of a stamper, although the stamp sets are great. It was also cool to get the digital products for free when I subbed to both.
I do find her products work great for regular layouts, but you will need to supplement at least the paper.
I suppose the kits are a bit "samey" because there are two different chipboard shapes sheets she uses, but the phrases, designs, and colors change. The acrylic words are included every month, but I like that. I don't know if they will still be included after the first year though. I feel like I get a nice little variety of stuff for the money each month.
Her customer service is great, too. In one of the early kits, there was a misspelled card. Before we even received our kits, we were notified with a solution (free digital stuff immediately, new card in the next kit.) Also, when the cards were thinner than usual, we were notified immediately again and given a solution.
I have been very happy with my sub.
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desertgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,646 
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Post by desertgirl on Jul 20, 2015 14:05:46 GMT
I subscribe to both kits. Just for the record, she does have a team of designers who showcase layouts using each month's kit and you get these through email and the classroom when you subscribe. Their styles are different enough to suit me. I don't scrap like Ali, and yet I find her stuff totally working with my style. I have managed to use most of the stuff in each kit. I love the stamps and have used them on many layouts, although not every stamp has been used. I scrap 12x12 most of the time, 8x8 as well.
If you scrap a lot, and I suspect you do, you'll find uses for the stuff you get. I am nowhere near any stores so I also have 2 other kit subscriptions and I can interchange papers and use my enormous paper stash to supplement.
Simple stuff like she tends to include goes well with storytelling. I love to write so that is the main focus of my pages. I'm not a very good photographer, though, and to me, a mediocre photo is overwhelmed with lots of product so her stuff appeals to me.
I think it's worth a shot for you.
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Post by cynipidae17 on Jul 20, 2015 16:39:08 GMT
I am tempted to sub to just the story kit. I am still debating.
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Post by saralovesducks on Jul 20, 2015 16:54:50 GMT
I suscribe to both the kit and stamp. Before I subbed I did PL only, but the educational content is so inspiring I am planning my very first traditional layout! The product is great quality and with the added value of the educational content, and the stamps are AWESOME, super clean looking (if that makes sense) and so so versatile. Ali's products are great for traditional layouts IMO. I am SO happy and can't wait to get the next kit, super happy mail for me.
The style is quite cohesive, that's true, but I like that.
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Post by abr79 on Jul 20, 2015 17:03:48 GMT
saralovesducks I agree - the style is cohesive. She often talks about repetition creating cohesiveness and I totally see that with her products and projects.
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Post by Skellinton on Jul 20, 2015 17:57:18 GMT
I love Ali Edwards, I just don't want her handwriting all over my scrapbooks. I don't like any of the hand written or script stamps otherwise I would sub to her kits in a heartbeat. I love her customer service, it is hard to believe she allowed herself to be affiliated with SC. She wasn't responsible for the DD problems this year, but she sent everyone a really nice gold foil print as an apology. She is a total class act. April could learn a lot from her.
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Post by anniefb on Jul 20, 2015 20:28:26 GMT
I have been considering switching to one of Ali's subs since there are so many positive comments about the kits, the educational content and the CS as well. Not sure that it would be a long term thing but maybe something I'd do for a few months to get some inspiration? I think I could really do with some help in terms of journaling so I'd probably do the story kit.
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Post by andreasmom on Jul 21, 2015 1:10:19 GMT
I love her kits. The items you get are great - pl cards, chipboard shapes, acrylic words, and alpha stickers are a staple, the other embellishments in the kit are different and creative and just fun to use (screen and acrylic paint, acrylic shapes, canvas, cork, transparency shapes, etc)
The value for me is in her class content. I love love love her class content. It just gets my brain going with a million stories i want to tell.
You can get the content with either subscription.
if you are not sure, just try it for one month.
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Post by impearia on Jul 21, 2015 2:01:22 GMT
Thanks everyone for your opinions...I might give it a try for a month and see what I think. I am leaning towards it being a sometimes thing for me...a kit here and there like I do with Freckled Fawn now. (I used to sub to FF, but now I just grab a kit every so often.) I like the cheap international shipping, that's for sure!
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Post by saralovesducks on Jul 21, 2015 11:06:02 GMT
abr79 yes! I like that it ties your project together but not in a flashy way. I wish I'd subbed sooner, my PL's style looks all over the place now to me x) Newbie problems, I guess. anniefb You'd have access to the educational content with the Story Stamp as well, I believe. If you struggle with journaling you should definitely go for it and give it a try.
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Post by needtime2scrap on Jul 21, 2015 14:41:47 GMT
I switched and am so happy. Her kits really inspire me to scrapbook...regular layouts and more. Between the product and the educational content you're totally covered. I know for me the lack of 12x12 paper isn't an issue...my stash is big enough and honestly I still do side shopping beyond a kit club. That was the hard part of SC because it cost so much and you still wanted other manufacturers but the budget couldn't always work with that.
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Post by katemac on Jul 21, 2015 16:35:17 GMT
love Ali's kits, and she is awesome - great customer service!
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Post by abr79 on Jul 21, 2015 17:33:45 GMT
I switched and am so happy. Her kits really inspire me to scrapbook...regular layouts and more. Between the product and the educational content you're totally covered. I know for me the lack of 12x12 paper isn't an issue...my stash is big enough and honestly I still do side shopping beyond a kit club. That was the hard part of SC because it cost so much and you still wanted other manufacturers but the budget couldn't always work with that. Once I cancelled my sub, I was amazed at how much money freed up! |
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Post by anniefb on Jul 21, 2015 19:05:03 GMT
I switched and am so happy. Her kits really inspire me to scrapbook...regular layouts and more. Between the product and the educational content you're totally covered. I know for me the lack of 12x12 paper isn't an issue...my stash is big enough and honestly I still do side shopping beyond a kit club. That was the hard part of SC because it cost so much and you still wanted other manufacturers but the budget couldn't always work with that. Once I cancelled my sub, I was amazed at how much money freed up! Yes, can't believe how much I've been spending on SC in the last year. It was frightening when I added it all up. It's over NZ$100 per month for my 2 subs alone and if I'm not getting value for that, it has to stop. |
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Post by anniefb on Jul 21, 2015 21:46:36 GMT
I've been looking at the Roots story kit and am really excited by the theme - I'm really into genealogy and it would also fit well with some pics of my little niece that I want to scrap. The problem is that there is way too much stuff out there to spend my money on. I keep finding more things to buy  |
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Post by marie on Jul 21, 2015 23:09:57 GMT
I have subscribed to both kits since the start and have been very happy. My style isn't really like hers but I have found the stamps and kit products very versatile. For me a big part of the value is the educational component she offers. I get so much inspiration from her videos and come away with a list of story ideas or new ways to use the products. She has guest storytellers each month too.
It was hard for me to give up SC, but now that I have, I find I am much happier with Cocoa Daisy for my kit club and AE for all my story inspiration.
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