
I have exactly 4,177 templates in the folder creatively named 'Templates', and a couple hundred more scattered across random designer folders that I haven't gotten round to moving to the proper 'Templates' folder yet because… well, I have priorities. My collection is vast. I have templates for all occasions and styles, from minimalistic white-space-three-elements-only beauties to super artsy blend-and-mask-like-a-scientist-possessed monsters. I have templates from designers who stopped designing years ago… I have vintage freebies from back in the day when some of the current designers were just bursting into the world of digiscrapping by generously handing out works of art… I have simple 3x4 grids in a variety of corners (of all things) that I can't believe I actually purchased, my only excuse being that I was still learning how to use my software and thought drawing a rectangle was the one hidden skill I could never master… But the true gem of my collection? Stuff I haven't even unzipped yet. Yep…. I clearly needed those back in 2016.
And don't even get me started on kits. No, really don't. Even my Windows Explorer needs a moment (or ten) to process the total size of my 7,854 folders. I WILL disclose that I have two EHD 520GB each which I don't use much these days. I will ALSO admit that a significant portion of the 1TB on my laptop is taken up by kits… but will NOT go into further details. I wouldn't want to give you lot the impression that I have a problem.
And yet, those hundreds of gigabytes of goodness and creativity are somehow not enough. Not nearly, for those who say getting supplies for one's hobby is a hobby in itself… are spot on. Oh, the joy of browsing a store, clicking on kits and bundles, looking through sample layouts, mentally selecting photos from my library… the heartache of realizing I don't have a template to suit my imaginary layout… and the instant relief that comes from browsing some more. Welcome to my world of… well, let's not call it hoarding… collecting would be a better word.
Before I know it, my coffee has gone cold and my way-too-smart watch insists it is time to stop hobbying and face reality because - apparently - all the things that need doing have once again refused to do themselves. The audacity! So, I add a couple of items to my wish list, sigh contentedly and close the laptop. No, I don't buy anything. Not today… I'm still working through my last purchase. But I know, I'll be back in a couple of days… because there was that one kit I saw which is a total must-have!
Well, this was a Monday morning well spent!