craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,798 
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Post by craftymom101 on May 3, 2023 20:06:37 GMT
jeremysgirl have you considered selling the kit? Ali's products have a good resell value most of the time. I agree that some thoughts/feelings/ideas are too big for a scrapbook page, or too personal. Something feelings don't need to be shared to be valid.
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Post by Margie on May 4, 2023 1:57:26 GMT
jeremysgirl - Same! I'm a retired empty nester and I really have no use for most of Ali's projects. I do love December Daily and monthly Project Life (I also no longer subscribe to Ali's SBTM kits because of her new format) as well as 12x12 scrapbooking, and that's plenty enough projects for me. craftymom101 - I agree with you 100% regarding Ali's journaling being introspective and not relevant to the photos she takes. While I appreciate the thought that goes into her journaling, that's not my style at all. My journaling is more literally descriptive of the photos. I have an older sister who is showing signs of memory loss, and I can't help but think that at some time in my life I might need to be reminded of the who, what, when and where's of my photos as I sit in my rocking chair going through my scrapbooks.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,734
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on May 4, 2023 5:56:39 GMT
Unfortunately I have virtually every product from last year's WITL kit + 10x8 album and I just don't even know what to do with it. Could you use it for a week long vacation? That's what I did with a WITL kit I bought on sale. I only used about half the kit but I loved the structure it gave to my vacation documenting. I need to make sure to have the kit out for just regular PL documenting. |
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 4, 2023 10:52:44 GMT
Margie I could have written your post word for word. I scrap like you and I, too, am worried about memory issues. My DD is a cook at a nursing home and she said to me, Mom, I will never put you in a place like that. I told her she totally could when the time comes without guilt. Just visit me regularly and bring me a scrapbook album each time.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who just isn't able to make these products work for me. They are so appealing too and Ali uses them so well, that it felt so weird to me that my brain just wasn't working with them. It makes me feel better I'm not alone. 
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 4, 2023 10:53:33 GMT
Unfortunately I have virtually every product from last year's WITL kit + 10x8 album and I just don't even know what to do with it. Could you use it for a week long vacation? That's what I did with a WITL kit I bought on sale. I only used about half the kit but I loved the structure it gave to my vacation documenting. I need to make sure to have the kit out for just regular PL documenting. This is a really great idea. Just really great. I will hold on to it for this purpose. |
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Post by needtime2scrap on May 4, 2023 13:35:25 GMT
I do a bit of both types of scrapbooking. Some introspective and some not (just noteworthy life stuff for us) my PL is mostly the 5 w's which is why AE story kits are mostly misses for me. I would struggle to use the cute journal cards and try to make things fit and more often than not have it just not work. And in the last year of my sub I don't think I watched a single class. So I canceled. I still like and do WITL & DD but I do less introspection than she does. I switched to the SC documemter kit and that works better for me. While I love the projects AE does and the fun products it's not for everyone and that's fine.
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,578
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Post by blemon on May 4, 2023 13:53:30 GMT
Yeah, I'm not into all the feelings either.
I'm also not into all the facts. I don't do much journaling. I like photos and embellishments. A few facts, sure. But I too love the aesthetic. That means when I buy a kit, there's stuff I cover up (sentiments) and stuff I will never use (quote cards).
Overall it works enough for me. The digitals have been great because I can mess around with stuff in photoshop to make it work.
I just like playing with pretty stuff and taking pictures.
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Post by scrappyem on May 4, 2023 14:09:19 GMT
The digitals have been great because I can mess around with stuff in photoshop to make it work. I just like playing with pretty stuff and taking pictures. Same! Digitals are the way to go for me with Ali's products for the most part. I like that I can change things up in photoshop, especially the colors. Some of her color pallets are just blah to me but I do appreciate that she has some variety. On that same note, AE's having a stories revisited digital sale now till May 7th. I'm not sure how much of an actual "sale" it is but a few things looked like a decent price. |
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,120
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on May 4, 2023 15:23:48 GMT
Hmm. I get the story kit and the stories by the month and either the products work great for what I need or I tweak them and make them
Work for me. I do wish there were less directed prompts in the kit papers and more patterns for me to use which would be easier. But I like her style more than anything else out there so the very few things that really don’t work I just like to get creative figuring out a way to use it on some level and that’s part of the fun creative process for me. I do PL - not really “telling stories” like the kits are meant for but I do do a lot of journaling but it’s mostly factual and feelings I guess but not introspective feelings if that makes sense.
This year I am doing OLW and while it’s been kind of fun, it’s not really my thing. My word this year works for an album and something I’ll like to revisit but I honestly don’t see myself doing this project again. Some of the prompts have been fun but some like having a conversation with your word are too out there for me. Lol I also like December daily and week in the life.
I totally get how it’s not for some people but you bought it for a while anyway. That would be me with paper person. Love the stamps, and I like the IDEA of some of her cards but I struggle to use them and when I do I just don’t like those pages as much. So I finally learned my lesson on that. I really wish there was just an option to buy her kit stamp because I’d do that.
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 4, 2023 15:33:46 GMT
paget, are you saying that I'm lacking creativity because I can't figure out how to use them in the way that I like to scrapbook? Or did you think that my confession meant that I didn't appreciate that others really enjoy the products? Because I didn't mean it that way at all. Mostly, just my brain and my mission in scrapbooking work differently than Ali's does and I finally had that aha moment, like why am I forcing myself to do something/buy something that is just not working for me? I suppose if I really put my mind to it (and hope to with some of those story kits I have and the WITL with the vacation idea) I could use them, but I was just saying, I don't want to work that hard at my hobby. Anyway, I swear I wasn't knocking anyone. I love what Ali does with the products. It just isn't "me".
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,120
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on May 4, 2023 15:53:34 GMT
paget, are you saying that I'm lacking creativity because I can't figure out how to use them in the way that I like to scrapbook? Or did you think that my confession meant that I didn't appreciate that others really enjoy the products? Because I didn't mean it that way at all. Mostly, just my brain and my mission in scrapbooking work differently than Ali's does and I finally had that aha moment, like why am I forcing myself to do something/buy something that is just not working for me? I suppose if I really put my mind to it (and hope to with some of those story kits I have and the WITL with the vacation idea) I could use them, but I was just saying, I don't want to work that hard at my hobby. Anyway, I swear I wasn't knocking anyone. I love what Ali does with the products. It just isn't "me". Oh no! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way AT ALL and I apologize that it sounded that way.  This is why I haven’t been posting much, I feel I am not expressing my well lately. I was trying to say that I get how everyone doesn’t like the same thing- everyone isn’t looking for the same thing in the products or want to scrap the same way. I was trying to say that I get how Ali’s products might be challenging to use to a lot of directed prompts but that I like her style so I just decide to enjoy the challenge of making it work. Just because someone else doesn’t want to do that certainly doesn’t make them not creative, they just aren’t looking for that in their product or aren’t motivated by that product to expend the effort (kind of like me with PP stuff lol). I’m sorry for the confusion. I think you are extremely creative! |
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Post by breakfastattiffanys on May 4, 2023 16:33:34 GMT
It’s a relief to read these confessions, if I’m honest. I watch Ali and love what she does, but only recently bought some of her product, the 4 Story kits. I used the color kit as a double page spread in my PL and although I like it, I don’t ‘love’ it. I was dreading the facts/feelings kit for the same reasons mentioned above. I just don’t record my introspective thoughts in scrapbooking and if I try, it sounds trite.
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Post by Margie on May 4, 2023 16:45:30 GMT
Unfortunately I have virtually every product from last year's WITL kit + 10x8 album and I just don't even know what to do with it. Could you use it for a week long vacation? That's what I did with a WITL kit I bought on sale. I only used about half the kit but I loved the structure it gave to my vacation documenting. I need to make sure to have the kit out for just regular PL documenting. I love this idea caangel! |
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 4, 2023 18:26:09 GMT
paget , are you saying that I'm lacking creativity because I can't figure out how to use them in the way that I like to scrapbook? Or did you think that my confession meant that I didn't appreciate that others really enjoy the products? Because I didn't mean it that way at all. Mostly, just my brain and my mission in scrapbooking work differently than Ali's does and I finally had that aha moment, like why am I forcing myself to do something/buy something that is just not working for me? I suppose if I really put my mind to it (and hope to with some of those story kits I have and the WITL with the vacation idea) I could use them, but I was just saying, I don't want to work that hard at my hobby. Anyway, I swear I wasn't knocking anyone. I love what Ali does with the products. It just isn't "me". Oh no! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way AT ALL and I apologize that it sounded that way. This is why I haven’t been posting much, I feel I am not expressing my well lately. I was trying to say that I get how everyone doesn’t like the same thing- everyone isn’t looking for the same thing in the products or want to scrap the same way. I was trying to say that I get how Ali’s products might be challenging to use to a lot of directed prompts but that I like her style so I just decide to enjoy the challenge of making it work. Just because someone else doesn’t want to do that certainly doesn’t make them not creative, they just aren’t looking for that in their product or aren’t motivated by that product to expend the effort (kind of like me with PP stuff lol). I’m sorry for the confusion. I think you are extremely creative! Thank you for clarifying. I know you so I didn't think I was reading things right. I know you to be a kind person. And then I thought, well, maybe she thinks I was being unkind and I didn't want that either. Because that was not my intention either. Big hug! |
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Post by Texas Scrap on May 4, 2023 23:25:51 GMT
I’ll chime in that I struggled with last years WITL kits and did not use a ton of the product last year. This year I’ve been able to repurpose some of last years and use with this years. I also figured out I need some non-Ali stuff mixed in to be more “me”. I do better with some full 6x8 out of pocket and patterned paper and/or cardstock each day as well as some of same papers in 4x6, 2x2 to thread through the days.
This is also a project where I can get overwhelmed seeing other people’s approaches once I get started. Even Ali’s daily photo blogs kind of overwhelm me.
That said, I’m loving what I am doing this year and taking my time with it daily so I can enjoy the process. And I’m not worrying if there are pieces missing in some days either - otherwise it’s too much pressure which is so not the point!
Regarding the story kits, I’ve subbed on and off for a long time and I’m kind of burned out and not really using them. I just wrapped up my sub commitment and probably dropping in the next month or so. I’ll work on using up what I have for a bit.
Project Life/monthly scrapbooking I dropped her monthly kit this year and have been using HS planner with my stash, but I lost motivation after 6 weeks. It’s easier to stuff things in pocket pages so I need to figure out if I go back to 9x12 or try 6x8.
And OLW - I actually really like this project. My energy for it ebbs and flows, but I like that it is a full year, low commitment and getting a monthly prompt. I incorporate it into other things I do. I can totally see why this is not for everyone tho.
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Post by Texas Scrap on May 4, 2023 23:31:54 GMT
OK, I am just going to make a confession. I have decided AE projects just do not work for me. There, I said it. Feels good to get it off my chest. I don't know exactly what it is I want any of you to say to my confession, but I tried Story Kits and I hardly used them. I was going to subscribe to Stories by the Month and then she changed it up and it didn't fit with my PL vibe. I thought I would dig in with one little word this year and by the time it was recommended we have a conversation with our word, I knew it was just not in my plane of thinking. And then WITL I've been trying to sink into for the past few days, taking pics and I realized that I don't even know if people will want to look at my PL albums, let alone a whole 10x8 album of just one week in my life. My life isn't even that interesting and hey, I have a PL to put as many pics in as I want so why the hell am I trying to do this? I'll tell you why, I like her aesthetic. The products are appealing. Her projects she shares are great. She does excellent work. But it just does not work for me and it's taken me way too long and way too much money to figure it out. But, whew! I finally, finally get it. I will finally, finally stop trying to make something happen that just feels uncomfortable to me. Thank you for listening. I will continue to look at the products and be in awe of all of you who use them to their advantage and really make beautiful things with them. That person just isn't me. I just scrolled up after I posted to see that you prompted the broader discussion and I want to say a lot of what you are saying resonates! I also like her aesthetic, but reading your post I realize why some of her stuff does not work for me either and as others have said in scrapbooks I mostly journal facts or short phrases on feelings, but nothing like how she writes. My OLW entries are pretty different than hers and most of her guests. I just wanted to say I really appreciate your post as it’s helping me think about my own tension with her projects at times. I’ve started so many and finished so few! |
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Post by lanena on May 4, 2023 23:43:53 GMT
I don't think there's a right or wrong way to use a kit (or not use it if it just doesn't work for you). I have subscribed to Hip Kit Club, and before then, to Coordinates Collection (which allowed you to choose one of two possible kits each month...sigh...I miss them). I subscribed to Cocoa Daisy for a couple of years, and I still may go back, but I was really drawn in by the way scrapbookers used Ali Edwards products. I tried out the Story Kits for a year, but I didn't find myself using some of them because the themes were too specific. I am now a 6-month subscriber, which works out well for me, because I can skip the themes I don't like and still get the ones that suit my needs. The Remember and Now kits have been perfect for me. I don't scrapbook quickly, so a kit every other month is just right. I do add on the digitals, which gives me flexibility. I understand what paget was saying about the prompts. I've been working on my WITL layouts this week, and I've been covering up all of the prompts! I saw Laura Wonsik doing this, and I don't think there's anything wrong with this. We all have different lives and different stories to tell. I don't include anything too personal in my scrapbooks, either, since I want others to look at them. I keep a journal, and I also keep my One Little Word projects for myself. Once my 6 months are up, I think I will ONLY get the digitals, especially since they are month-to-month. Then I'll have enough money to get the 49 and Market products which are my new loves |
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,120
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on May 5, 2023 0:48:15 GMT
Texas Scrap bummer about the HS journal- I loved what you were doing with it but I could see that pocket pages could be easier especially if that’s what you are used to. I am doing PL weekly 9x12 pages this year but I think next year I am going to go to a 12x12 album (I have one million pocket page protectors for this already from a along time ago when I started PL for a few months and quit). I will do weekly half pages- so basically just like the 6x12 album I did last year but bonus for me it will all be contained in one (huge) album rather that 2 albums for a year which bugs me. Doing only half as much as now is going to allow me more time for other projects I want to do like DD which I put aside months ago. 6x8 would just be too small for me personally.
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,578
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Post by blemon on May 5, 2023 0:55:30 GMT
I do better with some full 6x8 out of pocket and patterned paper and/or cardstock each day as well as some of same papers in 4x6, 2x2 to thread through the days. Same here! I went through all my papers this week and pulled out the ones that matched the 3X8 number cards. For each day I'm going to have one full-page photo with pattern paper on the back and coordinating papers in pockets throughout. I found that pockets really work for me for this project. Less thinking! Last year when I had lots of photos I would print four in one square using a layered template. Or if I didn't have a lot, I would just use one. I've pulled out supplies and tomorrow I hope to put stuff in the album and have it ready. I pretty much killed the kit I bought last year and only bought the mini kit this year. If I have too much it will be overwhelming so I'm keeping it simple. I'm really hoping I have the energy to start taking pics on Monday. |
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Post by wordyphotogbabe on May 5, 2023 13:31:37 GMT
OK, I am just going to make a confession. I have decided AE projects just do not work for me. I recognize that I have a big soft spot for Ali as seeing her digital pages over at 2Peas 20 years ago (!) is how I got into scrapping but as much as I love her and the ideas behind her projects, I do my own thing. I don't paper scrap and her digitals are too simple for my style so besides a couple notebooks, I haven't ever purchased anything from her. While I take lots of photos for a week, usually the week she has chosen for WITL, I don't ever create a whole album from those photos; I just incorporate them into my regular scrapping. While I choose a OLW word every year, I usually only create 2-3 pages about it for the year (my big thing is having a piece of jewelry made with my word that I can wear regularly) and not a separate album. I don't do DITL at all. The only actual project I do of hers is DD, and I have customized that, too, in that I only do Christmas-related pages and I work from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Day and I don't scrap every single day. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's okay if you don't want to do any AE projects at all, and it's also okay if you like the idea(s) behind them and make them work for you.  |
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Post by needtime2scrap on May 6, 2023 21:01:13 GMT
I finally had a chance to sit down and start my WITL album and I'm stumped as to those cute little square envelopes with the pull out piece. I'm using a 6x8 album and would love some inspiration on how to use these. At first I thought I'd hole punch them and add them in as a separate element but that doesn't work to slide out the journalling card without opening the album. I did a quick search on AEs site but I'm not finding much.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,120
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on May 6, 2023 22:16:15 GMT
I finally had a chance to sit down and start my WITL album and I'm stumped as to those cute little square envelopes with the pull out piece. I'm using a 6x8 album and would love some inspiration on how to use these. At first I thought I'd hole punch them and add them in as a separate element but that doesn't work to slide out the journalling card without opening the album. I did a quick search on AEs site but I'm not finding much. Can you add an attacher type piece to the envelope rather than punching holes in it and then your original idea would work? I didn’t get those. I did listen to Ali taking someone and someone had a question about how to use them and Ali didn’t really seem to have ideas either beyond extra pictures or journaling in them and attaching directly to the page. If you had an opening page to each day maybe attach them on the front of that page and insert pics, journaling, ephemera (I didn’t know if that works/if there are 7). |
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Post by lanena on May 6, 2023 22:21:35 GMT
I finally had a chance to sit down and start my WITL album and I'm stumped as to those cute little square envelopes with the pull out piece. I'm using a 6x8 album and would love some inspiration on how to use these. At first I thought I'd hole punch them and add them in as a separate element but that doesn't work to slide out the journalling card without opening the album. I did a quick search on AEs site but I'm not finding much. I have the digital version, and I'm not using the pull out piece. I am simply taping the envelopes to an out-of-the-page-protector sheet and placing my raw Day One journaling inside. I really moderate what I include in the journaling that someone else may see, but I wanted to include my feelings from each day. My husband and I took a trip in the middle of the week, so I will place some ephemera inside a couple of the pockets. I don't know if this helps. I keep things pretty simple. I'm only up to Day 4 right now, still working on the layouts and journaling. I can't believe how much time it's taking me to put this together even with the simplicity! |
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,120
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on May 7, 2023 19:03:08 GMT
I finished all my journaling for WITL. I wanted to get that done (I do a lot of journaling) because then I wouldn’t feel worried I’d forget anything no matter how long it takes me to put it together. I have some photos printed for Monday and worked a bit on the layout/design of the album but that’s it so far.
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Post by lg on May 9, 2023 11:03:23 GMT
I have sent off the witl photos for printing, will wait to get them back to do journaling and embellishing. If I don’t send the photos asap it will never get done!
Also almost finished ditl, took photos of all the different drink containers I use in a day but forgot my white work mug which conveniently completed my rainbow… I even had a cheeky alcoholic beverage that day as it was purple 😇
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Post by frenchie on May 9, 2023 20:26:20 GMT
Wondering if I missed something--on FB-Craft the Story-Ali posted the add ons for the upcoming kits and said the upcoming Story Kit was 'Happy'. I thought the next Story Kit was 'Work'. Was anything said anywhere about this, or did she maybe get it switched somehow?
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Post by mom on May 9, 2023 21:38:28 GMT
Wondering if I missed something--on FB-Craft the Story-Ali posted the add ons for the upcoming kits and said the upcoming Story Kit was 'Happy'. I thought the next Story Kit was 'Work'. Was anything said anywhere about this, or did she maybe get it switched somehow? Im guessing they had got the order wrong on the upcoming list. |
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,578
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Post by blemon on May 9, 2023 21:54:36 GMT
I'm trying to do WITL but lots of excitement with a possible new (to us) house means fewer photos.
Lots of texts with the realtor.
I have enough to make this work. And I'll probably screenshot some texts if it goes our way.
I did catch a groundhog running. So funny. That's going in. My digital files are ready to go. I've got screenshots of the TV shows I've been watching.
I also picked up a small feather and an oak seed thing (or is it maple, idk). That will take up a couple of the 2X2 boxes.
Yeah, I'll make it work.
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Post by lanena on May 9, 2023 22:09:00 GMT
Wondering if I missed something--on FB-Craft the Story-Ali posted the add ons for the upcoming kits and said the upcoming Story Kit was 'Happy'. I thought the next Story Kit was 'Work'. Was anything said anywhere about this, or did she maybe get it switched somehow? I was wondering about that myself. I skipped this month's story kit because I'm retired. Work is not something I'll be documenting in my current album. I am trying to only get every other story kit, but I can't skip "Work" if I also skip "Happy." I would still like to see it before deciding, though. |
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Post by honeypea on May 10, 2023 16:13:05 GMT
“Happy” was on my plan-to-buy list since it was first listed In upcoming themes, but now that I see it… it’s an easy one to pass on. I’d like the word phrase stickers and the plastic half circle add-ona, but that’s really it. I’ll just cross my fingers they pop up individually in a future sale.
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This is why I haven’t been posting much, I feel I am not expressing my well lately. I was trying to say that I get how everyone doesn’t like the same thing- everyone isn’t looking for the same thing in the products or want to scrap the same way. I was trying to say that I get how Ali’s products might be challenging to use to a lot of directed prompts but that I like her style so I just decide to enjoy the challenge of making it work. Just because someone else doesn’t want to do that certainly doesn’t make them not creative, they just aren’t looking for that in their product or aren’t motivated by that product to expend the effort (kind of like me with PP stuff lol). I’m sorry for the confusion. I think you are extremely creative! 
