Let's talk about flowers

[LJSDesigns]

Flowers are a big part of clustering for most of us here, but I have discovered other scrappers who hate flowers. I know it is hard to believe, but they have told me my kits have too many flowers. <gasp!>

So I want to know if you are a flower lover or a flower hater and I want to know why it is one or the other.

I also want to know if you "think" that you may rely on flowers too much and not use other elements because of it.

We all know that there is no right or wrong answer to what you like and why, but I am curious, again, so give it to me straight.

[bcgal00]

I cannot stress this enough...NEVER ENOUGH FLOWERS!!!

I don't think you are lying...but...I find that hard to fathom LOL. Flowers are my number one fave thing. I don't think by having lots of flowers to use on a LO I use other elements less. I tuck other elements into a cluster.

I am the opposite of your flower loathers, flowers make me happy, the more flowers there are, the more I enjoy a kit

[lizziej]

Well, believe it, because here I am! LOL I am one of those who would not be crushed if there were not any flowers in most kits. It's not that I don't like flowers. I do, but since I mainly scrap about my son, I don't like to put flowers on most of his layouts. There are some scrappers that can get away with putting flower clusters on boy/masculine layouts, but I'm not one of them. Even on layouts about me, I may put flowers, but I put very few, and often there are none, as I believe the layout doesn't need flowers. When it comes down to it, I'm a simple scrapper that started out as a paper scrapper, and I didn't use flowers very often.

When I see kits with a non-flower theme that has lots of flowers in the preview, I have to look beyond the flowers to see what is really in the kit. I saw one themed kit, not here, that had tons of flowers and literally about 3 or 4 themed elements. I don't care how cute those elements may have been, I passed up that kit. I have no idea why some think you have too many flowers in your kits. I just went to my scrapbooking kits folder. The first 5 kits of yours that I found had few flowers, and when I briefly went through your store, none of the previews had a ton of flowers.

Bottom line is that I love seeing layouts with beautiful flowers clusters, but I'm just not one that really uses flowers.

[allyanne]

I love me some flowers! That said, I always try to incorporate themed ellies in their place if I can. I use a lot of templates, so I like themed elements that can easily go into a flower spot on a template. I do struggle if there aren't enough flowers AND foliage! I need more than two single leaves, lol!

Why do I like flowers?
Is this a trick question? They're pretty, they give good color and texture in a cluster, and I LIKE FLOWERS.

I also DO NOT believe that flowers are "feminine" and shouldn't be used on masculine pages. Guys like flowers too.

[JillW]

Great thread Lorie!!

I am a cluster queen, so love me lots of flowers! LOL! And I definitely need foliage to go with those beauties!

I try to work in other ellies or ephemera right into the flower clusters I create.

[HeideC]

I love flowers! Especially flat flowers like daisies. I love clustering and will try to use all the themed elements as well but will almost always use flowers!

[Lidia G]

Great subject!

I'm a flower and foliage lover, but I also look for themed elements when purchasing a kit. If all I see are flowers in a kit, I probably won't purchase it.

SSD designers are great for adding diverse flowers, foliage and themed elements into their kits, not like some that I've seen in other stores.

[lorigaud]

I am a flower lover for sure, and the more variety in a kit, the better. I love it when there is a variety of flower styles rather than the same flower in 6 colors lol. I use flowers on all of my pages, masculine or not (I mean, I have 3 boys... so I do a lot of masculine pages lol) but I like to incorporate themed elements into my clusters as well.

Flowers give a lot of visual interest on a page and I love to create clusters of flowers and greenery.

[HeatherH]

I like flowers and will use them if they are there in the kit but I don't NEED them to make a page. If I like the kit colors/theme and think I photos to go with it, I will buy it and use it regardless of what's in the kit. I love, love, love unique things (papers, alphas, elements) that can't be found in every kit and will usually try to make those the focus of the page and maybe add a few flowers to accent.

[nesser1981]

I love flowers, but only certain types, I prefer the realistic flowers, I don't like the ones that are bent or creased.

I'm also the least creative scrapper ever. LOL!

[bestcee]

I'm a flower Meh.

They are not my favorite element in a kit. I'll use them because they are there, and there are usually not other elements available for clustering. I'm not opposed to using them on masculine pages, but also *gasp* I make feminine pages with no flowers.

Why? I blame that I started scrapping with paper and hated them on paper pages. I didn't mind flower stickers, but the prima flowers were so big and fat on a page that I didn't like them. So, I'm a flower meh.

I adore a kit that has circle elements and dimensional elements without depending on flowers to bring that shape in. I tend to shrink a lot of flowers that I use.

[angiekey]

I love seeing the wide range of opinions on flowers. Lori, you've hit on a topic many people are super passionate about one way or the other!

Personally, I think I rely too much on flowers to ground my element clusters. When I'm working with only themed elements and no foliage or blossoms, I wind up feeling like those elements sort of "float" on my page, and eventually I wind up with what we used to call "sticker sneeze". By backing them with - at a minimum - layers of foliage, it makes me feel like those themed elements (which I love!) are more grounded.

That might not make a lick of sense, but it's what's in my brain.

[HavaDrPepper]

I like flowers and foliage. A nice enough selection to give me several different types of clusters on a page. Also, I like having flowers that look great when big as a base and flowers that look great as small flowers for the top of the cluster.

What I don't like though are sticker flowers (heck, any sticker element) and doodled flowers (or elements). I just can't incorporate them into clusters so they look nice.

I still struggle with including themed elements in clusters but then I still struggle with clusters to begin with. They've never been my strong point.

FWIW, I've been using your Travel To France kit for a series of layouts. The flower and foliage selection is good enough for me to put several small clusters on my pages (using Cindy's photo palooza templates) that are not all the same. And, I like that they are not copy/paste/change color of the flowers.

[laurabobaura]

I love flowers for clustering. a good mix of doodled and realistic is my fave. I'm pretty sure I use them on masculine pages too. let me see if I can find a couple samples....brb

[laurabobaura]

Originally Posted by laurabobaura

I love flowers for clustering. a good mix of doodled and realistic is my fave. I'm pretty sure I use them on masculine pages too. let me see if I can find a couple samples....brb

[Kiana]

Flowers.give me flowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do use other elements in my clusters too, so I don't need flowers but I want them! lol

[Txcorey]

I love a good mix and variety of flowers and foliage. I don't think there are ever too many in a kit. I'm another one that doesn't care for the "sticker" of doodled flowers though and rarely use those. I probably do rely too heavily on flowers for my clusters, but often I have a hard time making other clusters work if I don't incorporate some flowers. I have no problem using flowers on my boy pages.

[lovely1m]

I like them but prefer to use them more as filler

[AmieN1]

Flower lover here- and cluster lover too. I like to add themed ellies WITH my flowers! Even on my boy pages- the flowers are for me, not for them, plus I HATE clustering with stupid ugly metal gears. WHY are metal gears in EVERY.SINGLE. boy kit? sorry for that little vent- I just hate those...

[LynnZant]

It's unusual that I would buy a kit with no flowers. I like them because I can use kits with lots of flowers for off themed layouts also if I like the colors. And, yes, not just recolored flowers but different shapes too.

[LJSDesigns]

This is all great information, so thanks for answering.

As a designer, it is hard to know who will like what, so I always try to include a range or flowers and themed elements in my kit, hoping to achieve a good balance. I love it when it works for someone.

Originally Posted by HavaDrPepper

FWIW, I've been using your Travel To France kit for a series of layouts. The flower and foliage selection is good enough for me to put several small clusters on my pages (using Cindy's photo palooza templates) that are not all the same. And, I like that they are not copy/paste/change color of the flowers.

Thank you. Your words are worth a lot to me.

[littlekiwi]

I'm not a huge flower lover only cause I struggle so much with layering and clustering with them

[nietis]

I use flowers almost on every page I scrapped, the flat ones, 3d ones, etc. I prefer the realistic flowers more than the paper/doodled flowers, but I can be flexible. However, as much as I love flowers, I do love unique elements and would try to include them on my page with more effort than flowers.

[stephc777]

I love flowers. Kits that only have 3-4 flowers and 1or 2 pieces of foliage decreases the likelihood I will purchase a kit. I would say that having a balance in your preview is important. There is a designer whose stuff I usually end up loving that typically has an overload of a certain element on her previews. It is doesn't allow me to really see the other elements or even the papers which can trigger a buy decision for me.

[Memaw2Wm]

Am another "meh" about flowers. Don't hate 'em, don't love 'em. I don't do a lot of clustering though.

[aussiegirl]

I love flowers on my layouts! I like the touch of nature and beauty that it adds to my pages. I do like it when the flowers "match" the kit. Paper flowers are great with more artsy/fun kits, not not so much in Nature kits. Realistic flowers are always my go to, before other flowers. I always try to include at least one other themed element in addition to the flowers, so I don't feel a page is ALL flowers and no theming.

[Amber67!]

I love flowers, really the more the merrier in all kinds of forms, shapes and colours. I use them most of the time. That doesn't mean I don't create layouts without them, but they are a minority when it comes to that.

[Brendazzle]

I'm one of those people who loves a variety of flowers in a kit but also really, really wants themed elements too. I need lots of choices. If I had the exact same flower recolored in every color of a kit, I'd only use one or two on my page and only if that kit had other things I wanted (ex: a manatee, since there are so few out there). I tend to use flowers as 'filler' more than the focal point of my pages.

All this to say: yes flowers, yes to a variety, but not at the expense of thematic elements.

[tjscraps]

Love flowers over here and I’m disappointed when a kit doesn’t have very many (or none at all) lol

[craftytam]

I love, Love, LOVE flowers! (and foliage!) I don't think it's possible to have too many flowers. My favorite kits are ones that have flowers in a variety of shapes (round, pointy, fluffy, small) because it gives more texture to my clusters. I struggle to use "sticker" flowers, but do try.

I enjoy tucking other elements in my clusters and don't think I use flowers too much.

[MamaBee]

I love flowers - and I use them on 99% of all my layouts... BUT... if it came down to flowers or themed elements - themed elements have my heart! Man, I love a good themed kit - I struggle with the more "emotional" kits.

I also am in the group that some kits need more greenry... I'm really digging adding different kinds of foliage in my clustering.

[jacinda]

Flowers and greenery are deal breakers for me. I have to have them.

[Kjersti]

I love flowers!!! I can't scrap without them

[rach3975]

I need flowers (and foliage), but I also want a good selection of themed elements. I use lots of flowers when I'm scrapping my daughter, myself, or a group of people, but even on those pages I want other elements mixed into my clusters. When I scrap my sons or husband, I want non-florals to be the bulk of the elements and may add a few flowers to help round out the page. I use a lot of foliage on my masculine pages, but usually only a few subtle flowers. Lori, your kits are great and usually contain a nice mix of elements!

[LJSDesigns]

Originally Posted by rach3975

Lori, your kits are great and usually contain a nice mix of elements!

Thank you, Rachel.

[TraceyM]

Hold on, there are designers who put zero flowers and foliage in their kits? I have one CT member who has really taught me to get a lot of foliage into my kits as well as the flowers. But if you know me, it's never at the cost of lacking other elements. LOL LOL.

Lori, your kits are always perfection.

[bienejen]

I use flowers because they are there, not because I love them. I'm also generally scrapping boy pages and would LOVE more gears, metallic bits or buttons, bolts, rivets, rusty brads, washers, or any other bits and pieces included as well.

[Kimberly27]

I love flowers even on my boy pages. I love them for clustering and tucking themed elements into them. I didn't like the doodled ones until I started playing with Amanda and Laura's kits and now I enjoy adding them to pages for a different feel. Always up for learning something new or trying something new.

[YepBrook]

I use flowers on every page I scrap- even for the guys. I'm not designing clothing for them, I'm making a memory page, and similar to how I decorate our home for all of us I am making that page beautiful. Flowers are nature- they don't have a male/female connotation in my opinion.

I greatly struggle with kits that don't include enough variety in flowers and foliage. I like to have different shapes and colors to layer and draw interest to areas of the page. That's the mindset I use when I design my templates also.

That being said, there are all sorts of scrappers out there and the super-flat element scrappers and designers exist for each other! Lori, I don't see why any customer would complain to you about too little or too many of a certain element... the burden is on them to read kit descriptions and study the layouts and preview to kind of get a feel for what's there for them to use on their pages. As a customer, too, I understand the disappointment of opening a kit and realizing it wasn't what you hoped it would be... but then that's how we make better decisions next time we shop and choose "our designers" who click with our preferences and always have the stuff we reach for when we scrap. As a designer- we can't be everything for everyone!

[Scrap-therapy]

Lori, about your kit I don't think there's not enough flowers. Well each time I played with it I didn't feel a missing elements!lol!
Now in more general way, I love flowers and greeneries, I need both.
I love there's different shape, different textures and various colors.
I used it on my boy layout, he loves flowers even pink one and I don't think it's a problem. As Brooke just said, it's nature elements for me too, don't see any connotation. The greeneries are important too because it helps me build my clusters, love when there are different greens and differents shapes too.
That is said but I know some designers don't add tons of flowers but their kits are great too.
Sometimes I struggle a little at first but then have fun too because it makes me go out of my comfort zone and I have layout totally differents.
Also if I really struggle with a designer style I just don't choose her products because I know I will be lost or having struggle and it's not my style but not mean it's not beautiful!
I think all style are good!

[shellbyj]

you can never have too many flowers!!!

[LJSDesigns]

Originally Posted by YepBrook

I use flowers on every page I scrap- even for the guys. I'm not designing clothing for them, I'm making a memory page, and similar to how I decorate our home for all of us I am making that page beautiful. Flowers are nature- they don't have a male/female connotation in my opinion.

I greatly struggle with kits that don't include enough variety in flowers and foliage. I like to have different shapes and colors to layer and draw interest to areas of the page. That's the mindset I use when I design my templates also.

That being said, there are all sorts of scrappers out there and the super-flat element scrappers and designers exist for each other! Lori, I don't see why any customer would complain to you about too little or too many of a certain element... the burden is on them to read kit descriptions and study the layouts and preview to kind of get a feel for what's there for them to use on their pages. As a customer, too, I understand the disappointment of opening a kit and realizing it wasn't what you hoped it would be... but then that's how we make better decisions next time we shop and choose "our designers" who click with our preferences and always have the stuff we reach for when we scrap. As a designer- we can't be everything for everyone!

Everything you have said it true. I don't mind feedback, even if it is not always positive, because it makes me think about the choices I make while designing. But at the end of the day, I can only do me, so that is what I do.

[LJSDesigns]

Originally Posted by TraceyM

Lori, your kits are always perfection.

Thank you, Tracey. Nothing I do is perfect, but I appreciate the kind words.

[GraceJ]

Lori, love your kits, they are so pretty
Regarding the question, I'm a flower lover