Firstly I want to say I generally love them but find them very overwhelming to use due to the wide variety of styles within them (some of which just aren't my cup of tea at all I'm sorry to say) so they often take up space rather than being used. Generally if I do use something from a store collab it's one or two pieces to finish off a layout, I really want to make better use of them. If you use them a lot, do you have any tips and tricks of the trade to share?
I often find that I need to mix kits by different designers, as few designers include every kind of paper/element I like to use. So collabs work very well for me. My tips would be to explore the collab and play with it. I like to do this when trying kits by new designers too. Don't try making a particular page at this stage, just play. This is a form of art journaling. All artists do this with new supplies. Mixing busy elements with textured/small printed papers works well. Mixing simple elements with mixed media/large printed papers works well. The collabs often include templates in the colour scheme of the collab. Have a go at finding elements and papers similar or the same colours and using them in the template to create a page.
I don't have any wisdom to share, I love using collabs, probably because I love mixing styles. All I wanted to say is congrats to both of you @littlekiwi and @Angela Toucan on becoming Pollys! So exciting!
Thank you, it was a very unexpected surprise but one that in no way shape or form was I going to turn down.
Store collabs are a great way to find that extra piece you need for a challenge layout. Especially if it's an element that you normally wouldn't use on your page so you don't readily have them in your stash.
I feel like I missed something as well. Congrats to @littlekiwi and @Angela Toucan. I tend to use what I like, and just discard what I likely never will use. Frames are something I usually get rid of now. I like a thin white stroke around the photos and so would only use a frame for a challenge.
Congrats to @littlekiwi and @Angela Toucan! @littlekiwi I hear you on the challenge of using collabs. I have a lot of really wonderful collabs which I don't really use, because the wide variety of styles is a bit daunting, but also, perhaps, because of the sheer size of the collections. Collabs are huge! which is great, of course, but which can also be a bit overwhelming. Do I use this cute little label by Designer A? or that cute little label by Designer B? Or wait, what about this other cute little label by Designer C?... @Angela Toucan I appreciate your tips, and that's a great point about the templates. I have some awesome collab templates that I should be using
Yeah, I struggle with collabs as well because there is so much in them that is not my style in recent years. I have used the Time Capsule collection a lot but most if I do use them are one and done.
Hey, Jennifer, congratulations! Angela, too! I love collabs. I love the messy style, but in my scrapping I always have an “audience” and the messy paint daubs don’t pass muster with the people whose preference would be ecru with a narrow key line in ochre, and that’s it! . I also love seeing what the new designers are about without committing to a whole kit, so I like when they keep their style for the collab, even if it doesn’t “go” with the other stuff. Every so often I’ll go through my old collab files and delete the stuff that has become out of style or passé - as if I know these things - or things I don’t think I’ll use. What I delete right off the bat is toddler stuff, hibiscus and flowers, heavy frames, and the black string that looks like the bottom of a shower drain. Out, Out!
I'm kind of the same way - I do use them but I tend to stick to the pieces I like and ignore the stuff that isn't really my style.
