I love the challenges, but.....

momof2angels

momof2angels

New member
I was working on a layout yesterday, finished it, and was about to upload it in my gallery. It was for the January Brush Challenge. I have gotten in the habit of looking for the kit that was used, in the store, so that I can provide the link to that kit (in the description), just in case someone wants the kit for themselves. All they need to do is click on the link, and there it is. I started my search by looking for the designer first, AND......she wasn't listed. I was so aggravated. I'm not really sure if this designer had her kits at Gingerscraps, because I used to shop at another digital scrapbook store until it closed. A lot of this store's designers were also here at Gingerscraps. Anyway, what I'm really trying to say, or ask is.....How in the world does everyone keep up with the designers that are still here, and those who have left? I have a ton of kits and templates, and some of these designers are no longer here, so therefore, I can't use their products in the challenges now. Sorry, peeps. I just had to vent about it. Back to square one!
 
The challenges are fun aren't they and the rules state that you must use 50% Gingerscraps product for the LO to count in the challenge totals. Therefore it is OK to use some of your disappeared designer products if you want. You can also use retired products if the designer is currently selling at Gingerscraps...isn't that fantastic!!! I understand the disappointment when a fav designer leaves, I cry a little each time that happens and sadly move those products off to another folder:(. I participate only at GS and can mostly keep on top of who the current designers are. Maybe you could make a habit of choosing a kit from your stash then checking it out instore to see if the designer are current before creating your LO. Good on you for wanting to credit with links...through such links, I have been made aware of so many great kits that I might otherwise have missed.
 
That's a good idea....moving the kits/templates to another folder when the designer is no longer at the store. By the way,...Gingerscraps is the ONLY place I shop now, and has been for quite a while. I've just been out of the scene for a while. That's why I'm unaware that some designers are gone. Thanks for the advice!
 
I tag the kit preview in my PSE organizer by category, designer and shop and when a designer leaves I just remove them as a GS designer which helps me.
 
I have a spreadsheet which includes 'pretty links' so I can just cut and paste them. It takes a little longer to create the links when I buy something, but it saves so much time when I am doing a layout. I can change the link easily to "retired designer" so I can still provide the information on the designer.
 
I have a previews folder on my desktop and in it Gingerscraps has a special folder. At the begining of the month, I have a text document in it with the list of the designers. I check my list against the list in the store to see if anyone has been added/deleted. If yes, then I adjust my previews accordingly. Then as I am getting ready to do my challenges I can look at the previews to decide which I want to use for my LOs :)
 
When I have done challenges, which isn't much, especially at sites where we can use retired products of current designers, I go to the shop and look at the designers. That is it. My stash is kept by designer now. I used to keep them per store, but it got confusing when a designer was at more than one store or when they moved.
 
I keep my stuff by store / designer. I don't really do challenges anymore, though. I used to do challenges and found myself working more on trying to find or take pictures that suited the kit I was using than scrapping the pictures I needed to scrap. I also found that it made books difficult to create, since the styles of the layouts were so drastically different. These days I scrap for me.

I buy tons more stuff than I use, though, even though I don't do challenges. It is wonderful to look at, and I always tell myself it means I will have a huge stash when I retire and I will never have to spend another penny!
 
I always check the store to see if the designer is here and then if the kit is live or retired. Next to the designers folder I will place: gone, or retired or whatever is appropriate.
m
 
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