Well, I just received my 4th monthly kit from Scrapbook Generation, and I have to gush about it. I wish I would have known about this sooner - I might have been able to get out of my year+ long rut so much quicker! I signed up for the super sketch club, which is 5 2-page layouts for $20. The materials are all recently released designer paper that can be found at any nice LSS - I don't get too much, and can always get more from Archivers if I like it a lot. Three of the five layouts are from a single collection, and the other two are from different collections, so it's a nice mix. AND, starting with the January kit, the two layouts from different collections actually come with two sketches that use the exact same materials - so you can choose which layout you like best, and use the other sketch for something else.
Aside from that, I splurged on the Allison Davis Hall of Fame kit - one layout for $15; and the generation kit - one layout for $12. Those feel a little steep, but I'm finding that I'm actually using them. So it's all good.
- I love that the styles of the collections used are cute, but not over-the-top kiddish.
I love that the embellishments are mostly flat (they suggest pop dots, but the embellishments themselves are flat)
I love that the "themes" are relevant to the photos I typically take - i.e., family stuff.
I love that the kits are timely. The December SS kit had three holiday layouts, and the December generation kit had another holiday layout from a different collection. The January kit had some pages with a general winter theme, and the February kits have "I love you" layouts. I expect this will cause me to stay more caught up!
I love that photos are the focus of all of the layouts - most layouts have at least 4 full-size photos.
I love that embellishments aren't overdone, making the page look like collage art was the main purpose of the layout (I don't have a problem with that - it's just not why I do layouts).
I love that many of the sketches that come with the kits are re-usable.
I love that I've received at least three two-page layouts that have actually inspired me to go out and take photos just to use those pages.
I love the customer service - they've been very quick to respond to all of my e-mails.
Thanks for sticking with me. It's been a while since I've been this happy with a monthly shipment. I feel like I've finally found a kit club that really suits me. I'm thankful for the other clubs I've been a member of along the way, because they helped me recognize what I love and what I don't love. But I'm so glad to have found this happy place.