Challenge Suggestion

First, let me start by saying that I soooo appreciate the time and thought that goes into all of the challenges here. My intent is to make a suggestion, not to complain, though I know sometimes it's hard to tell the difference in a forum post.

I miss the more open-ended challenges, like the color, neopolitan, slogan, and 1 word challenges. I know we're still doing them, but it seems like we get at most 1 of each every month. I feel like the challenges are weighted heavily toward:
*a pre-determined design (right now there are 2 lifts and a cookie)
*scrapping a very specific subject (right now we have your day on the 9th, March in review, and AAM with pics of you only)

Of the LO challenges that are currently available, 6 fall into the categories above and 2 are very unique and open-ended challenges (username and haiku). For the last few months I've started the challenges and then dropped out because I was finding it hard to fit the pictures I want to scrap into the available challenges. I'm sure it's partly because I'm a multi-photo scrapper and so many of the lifts and cookies are 1-2 photo pages, but I thought I'd throw it out there in case others are feeling the same.

I have to say the opposite... since I feel I've "had" to take photos to fit the challenges sometime which I like better. I've actually have done more challenges since they've changed than before. I guess I must like it better.

I do agree - I found the challenges before fit my scrapping style better but this month I am really trying to get 20%

rach3975 said:

First, let me start by saying that I soooo appreciate the time and thought that goes into all of the challenges here. My intent is to make a suggestion, not to complain, though I know sometimes it's hard to tell the difference in a forum post.

I miss the more open-ended challenges, like the color, neopolitan, slogan, and 1 word challenges. I know we're still doing them, but it seems like we get at most 1 of each every month. I feel like the challenges are weighted heavily toward:
*a pre-determined design (right now there are 2 lifts and a cookie)
*scrapping a very specific subject (right now we have your day on the 9th, March in review, and AAM with pics of you only)

Of the LO challenges that are currently available, 6 fall into the categories above and 2 are very unique and open-ended challenges (username and haiku). For the last few months I've started the challenges and then dropped out because I was finding it hard to fit the pictures I want to scrap into the available challenges. I'm sure it's partly because I'm a multi-photo scrapper and so many of the lifts and cookies are 1-2 photo pages, but I thought I'd throw it out there in case others are feeling the same.

Click to expand...

Well I started doing several different challenges this month...then had to rethink them and not do them...I have certain photos I NEED to get scrapped this month for some albums that must get done...and they aren't meeting any of the challenges because the challenges are very specific. I like them when they can have a little more "open" to interpretation and such...many times I can apply the "WORD" challenge to my layouts...but things like poems and photos only of you...and such don't relate well to sports or robotics layouts. They are fine for some things...but it is then I have to make a choice of a point just to get a point (knowing I won't ever print the layout)...or lose the points and get my layouts done.

I like the variety here...but you have to follow very closely many very specific challenges to get the points. I really like the Sweet Rewards ... I just wish some were a little more open to interpretation (they used to be). ..or a couple of "alternatives" in lieu of a hybrid (there have been several customers commenting to be without printers or ink) or something. Not asking for all...but maybe just a couple??

Seems like before I was able to apply close to all the challenges to fit my pictures that I needed to scrap...which really got me moving! I had been at a couple of other sites for challenges...and had moved over here almost doing nothing elsewhere because I liked the variety and adaptability. I like to try to get my books done at one time...versus just here and there.

...again not complaining...just suggestions...

Ok...back to the Robotics layouts...I have to finish a scrapbook by Thursday to be displayed in our booth. ...then I need to go back and hopefully get the previous one finished up (had a few pages not finished). Next month I will be out of town on vacation for about 10 days...so doubting I get anything done for 1/3 of the month...bummer bummer bummer. I'd like to get inspired...and really do almost every challenge each month!! Thank you though...

I found lifting peppermint twice really hard to do! I prefer my pictures to take up most of my page because I print in 8x8, so tiny pics with a lot of white space just don't really work. So I was really stretched! But it took awhile for her to develop into that style so I found some in her older layouts.

But I love a lift so it worked out ok in the end. The other thing with a lift is that you can take just one thing out of the layout to lift it. A title, a color scheme, basic composition, or focus on a unique element, etc. It's a starting point for your layout.

I was going to try to get all of them finished this month. But that might be pushin' it. I guess it wouldn't be a challenge if it was easy?!

I know it can be hard to scrap "on command" but I must say Meg (and all the girls that check pages) are really lenient!!! If you check my gallery for pages like SAL and cookies...I rarely use the original "design". I really flip them and spin them to make them my own. If they call for 3 photos I've been known to only use two or "break" one photo into 3 pieces. If it's called for one I've been known to use two or three. I almost always rotate or flip a cookie too!!

I really think that the girls just want to INSPIRE us with their challenges.......and if that means you need to use 3 photos instead of just one or one photo instead of just 3 then I really think that is "OK". As long as they can look at the page and "see" how we have tweaked it they count it...at least with my experience they have!!!

And I'm actually the opposite of you...I find challenges that are specific oriented (one word, haiku, sugar free) much more limiting then a template or spin alift that may require a certain "design" but the topic of the LO can be ANYTHING!!!

mummytothree said:

I know it can be hard to scrap "on command" but I must say Meg (and all the girls that check pages) are really lenient!!!

Click to expand...

Just one point here... it's just Meg checking pages.

I really like the challenges the way they are now. There are 2 hybrid usually a month, that leaves you, at minimum, 26 other challenges to do, most often 28 or 29. You don't HAVE to do the hybrid to get 40% off.

Considering the babes are really trying to keep things fresh and new for us, I think they're doing a great job.

I'm just going to echo sara here.. it's all about the inspiration, and yes, challenging you to try new things :] I think the girls who run the challengs come up with some amazing ideas, and I'm always wow'd by them. We see posts often where people state that all their layouts are starting to "look the same" or they're in a rut.. etc etc.. These challenges are a GREAT way to push yourself to try something new (be it a specific theme, or like jannylnn mentioned try a different scrap style).

Good point, La. The challenges really help me break out of my "one picture, one side of the page, white space" box. Most of the time.

At first I didn't like the structure of the challenges, but now I really love it. I love doing a challenge a day and I think the new structure has really helped me think outside the box. I've even done a few hybrid ones! I know - gasp from those who know me! LOL

We are extremely lucky that we get the opportunity to work for a 40% discount and I appreciate that and all the work that goes into coming up with and tracking (Miss Meg does this fabulously) the challenges!!

I love em! I love that they get me out of my box and doing things I probably wouldn't do on my own...in fact I've almost come to RELY on them for inspiration a lot of the time lol

I love having a new one every day b/c I know that if I don't have a specific layout in mind for the day I can always check out the challenge and be inspired. Most of my favorite layouts come from challenges...yes there are times when it takes me a while to get going on one but once I do I usually end up loving it.

And most of all I love my sweet rewards at the end of the month ...not only do I end up with a whole bunch of great pages, but I get to buy new kits at great prices too!

Good points, everyone! I'm like Sharon--I use challenges to motivate me to scrap the pictures I have, not to put new things on my scrapping 'to do' list. But I can see how the current challenges would work better for people who are looking for fresh ideas or to get out of a rut. I already take liberties with the number of photos on the lifts and templates, but since so many of the lifts are spins I haven't been able to figure out how to use just the titlework or colors, for example. I'll still keep doing the challenges that motivate me because there are some wonderful ones here, but I guess I have to accept that I can't get Sweet Rewards unless I scrap some pages just for the points.

Oh, and can I just say how nice it is to be able to voice something like this without it turning into a big drama? I love this place!

I enjoyed the old challenge format (especially getting an extra point for using a new release ) but I like this one too. I'm sure the girls put a lot of time and thought into those challenges, and I really appreciate it. Think of Meg having to keep up with all of it- that's just crazy! I find it extremely generous of the crew here to offer a way to earn a discount because a lot of places won't do that. If there's a challenge I don't like, then I just don't do it. There's so many people that do them regularly, there's no way possible to make everybody happy. So I say do the ones you like and don't do the ones you don't like, and be thankful they even offer this sorta reward system! SSD is a pretty cool place huh?


:thumbup: You sugar babes do an awesome job around here! :thumbup:

LOL Well if you look at ONE site where I used to do challenges...I think I own 6 kits from there...

...the sweet rewards here have had a definite impact...I own about 90 kits from Sweet Shoppe...and that doesn't count all the alphas, fonts, templates, paper packs, and elements that I have bought as well! ...so the SR must be doing something right for the site too! lol

...and Meghan...we LOVE you!!

The very specific challenges that are being offered now I found were seriously stifling my creativity. They work for some people, and weren't working for me. So I stopped doing challenges at all, and I'm so much happier for it. I love that I can go do one when I am seriously needing the inspiration but I don't feel like I have to do a layout I don't want to do just to get the discount. You will hear no complaints out of me, it is my choice to forfeit the higher discount because it just wasn't fun for me anymore. I am thrilled that at SSD, I can still enjoy 20% off on Saturdays, and I will wait for the next storewide sale to stock up...I can be totally patient because I have over 100 unused kits at the moment

Here's my opinion, take it for what its worth....

If you like the challenges, do them. If you don't, don't. I mean, there is no way that they can please everyone with every challenge. And I know from looking around that SSD's challenges are some of the freshest and inspirational in digiland.

I think SSD does a great job of offering both "think outside the box" challenges AND more flexible challenges that allow for more personalization for each participant.

There are some months that I am more inspired to do all the challenges and get my sweet rewards. And there are other months when I'm just not feeling it as much.

We can't expect the babes and designers to be able to please 100% of us 100% of the time, ya know?

Well said Jenny my dear!

Well, all I can say is, if the challenges weren't challenging... everyone would have 40% Off coupons... and God only knows what sort of chaos would come from THAT! *looks in Heather Dumas' direction*

I'll admit, I've done layouts for the challenges that I don't intend to print... c'est la vie... HOWEVER, from those same challenges, I gained a lot of inspiration for future layouts. It also KEPT me scrapping instead of sitting idly-by going "Gah, what should I scrap?"... like any muscle, that scrappin'-muscle has to stay active or else it starts losing its strength.

That is all.

Resume life.