That's annoying me too! There's no way all 31 challenges will be something to your taste. Quit crying about it, they aren't going to change it just for you. Although, today's quick page is pretty terrible.
The actions probably take many steps to complete. It is not like a style where one click and you are done. I have seen some actions that cost more than that.
I do think her past couple of actions have been more expensive, but also more worth it than her normal actions. I mean for real gold foil and watercolor, those are worth more and she knows it and people like me who bought them know it.
I don't see a gold foil action in her shop. I see 2 different gold foil styles on the first page and that's it so I have no idea how to answer you #9. As for the difference between styles and actions, one applies a predetermined style to an object and the other enacts a series of actions (which can involve styles being applied) on a file or object.
#8 - that paper tear action looks quite similar to the one that Atomic Cupcake used to sell (no accusations of copying are being made here, just an observation). At the time, it was super realistic, nowadays, not so much, it looks fake. The water color action looks cool though.
for the gold foil action - is it all mathematical or is there actually a gold foil jpg included that gets applied during the action process? (sorry, hope that made sense)
Is Amber/Stolen Moments staying at P&Co? I'm just planning how to buy from the $1 sale - I would stick to the regular designers for buying if she isn't going to stay.
19 - If you're asking about spending a couple of bucks on something, you can't really want it. It's $2 to buy papers and a kit. TWO DOLLARS. -------------
Not necessarily. She may be asking because she wants to use the product in future challenges. Not to mention that while $2 is not a big deal for you, it can be for others.
25 - no I'm not joking. when you guest there , its one of the requirements you have to meet. and you guest for a 3 month stay if you are hoping to join. if you don't meet the $1000 per month, you are out.
I think that they put that parameter in there as a safety net. If you don't meet it, it's easy to say that that's why you can't stay permanently. I highly doubt that every one of their designers is selling $1K per month consistently.
That same range could be said for some of the "mid-tier" stores, too. It's a pretty large range and tells you very little about what you could expect to make in those stores. You are better off trying to find a store where your style fits in best, than trying to join a store based on what other people make there. Another designer's earnings have little to do with what you could earn working in the same store.
Looking at Scrap Orchard's newsletter, I wonder what sort of crack Kami was smoking when she brought on Crossbone Cuts. Her product stands out from the others in the newsletter, but not in a good way. It looks beginner basic, the colors are nasty, and the preview is awful. I do not understand that decision at all.
20 doesn't know what she is talking about. I have had at least 4 or 5 designer friends guest at (and stay at) TLP in the past 2 years. I was told by more than one of them that you have to make $400/mo while guesting for 3 months in a row to be able to stay.
What about the other big stores, like SDD, SO, P&CO? Anyone knows the avarage amount a designer makes there a month?
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A few months ago I would have guessed that SSD and PCO are about the same and SO was a little lower. Now tho I would say that PCO is probably a little higher and SSD is falling. I still say that SO is just a tiny bit lower when you average out the entire shop and compare it to the averages of the other 3 places.
Re Crossbone Cuts ... Isn't she a friend of the Steph and them. Plus the Disney connection ... Only reason I can think of. Not a fan of her designs at all.
36. I don't think that would be true. PCO is a much newer store. There is something to be said for the length of time a store is open in terms of their customer base. It would be an incorrect assumption to judge a store's sales based on community activity. There are tons of scrappers who couldn't give a care about community participation and stores that have been around a long time have a well established customer base. Many new stores pop up and the community views them as trendy and fabulous, but then they close down again. Look at the stores that have been around for many years for a better idea of what is sustainable.
Looking at Scrap Orchard's newsletter, I wonder what sort of crack Kami was smoking when she brought on Crossbone Cuts. Her product stands out from the others in the newsletter, but not in a good way. It looks beginner basic, the colors are nasty, and the preview is awful. I do not understand that decision at all.
38 - I was comment 36. I still stand by my opinion as it wasn't based on community participation or trendiness or anything of the sort. I've watched which designers are coming and going from each of the main stores in the past year or so and TLP and PCO seem to be gaining talent, and SSD seems to be losing it, and SO isn't necesarily losing talent but it's gaining negative talent which is the same thing in my book. Also I don't view PCO as a trend that is going to come and go such as other trendy shops like 9th&B in the past. Seems to me that it's got a ton of designers who work for actual paper scrapbooking companies and likely aren't going anywhere. Last thing, I've heard (thru the grapevine so take it for what it is worth) that the designers who sell there do very well with sales because the shop took almost all of the DHD customers with them when they left for PCO and so they were not your average startup.
I've heard sales at P&Co are hit and miss. Just like any other shop.
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Every shop has hit or miss sales, if you look from the bottom to the top. Some always do better than others, and some do worse. But if you compare stores to all of the other stores, it's the same thing - some do better and some do worse. I am saying that TLP and PCO do better than other shops. Obviously there are variations within each store = hit or miss. Duh.
53 don't be a bitch. Someone had just mentioned Two Tiny Turtles, too. The only thing that is pretty obvious is that you are an asshole. --------------
Oh really? The only that is obvious is that you like to call people names and you're not very original about it either.
I know it's old old old news, but I've been digging around and can't find it. What actually happened with Gennifer and Mary? Like, why the DHD split/P&Co opening? I know DHD went waaaaay downhill after Gennifer left and took everybody (before it closed, I mean), but I never did hear what caused it. Mary never did really spill about it, and Gennifer obviously kept her lips zipped while starting her new venture...
Oh really? The only that is obvious is that you like to call people names and you're not very original about it either. ----- You're missing a word or two in your sentence, genius.
I've always been curious about the DHD info too, but if it hasn't come out after this long, I don't think it will. That PCO team seems very tight-lipped. Probably good from a business standpoint but it drives this Nosy Nellie crazy.
What on earth is going on at The Digichick? I keep hearing about designers leaving in the past few days and now they are having a designer call again. Didn't they just have one in the fall, and they're lifting their exclusive requirement?
Yes, they did. The designer list is getting rather thin. My guess is that they are hoping to get a lot more applications by lifting the exclusivity requirement. There are some designers who don't want to be exclusive but are talented. I probably doesn't bode well for the store though. Some really good designers left in the last year for other stores - like Wishing Well Creations and Kelleigh Ratzlaff to P&CO, Sherwood Studio to SBG, and now Etc. by Danyale for SO. The have also had other designers retire or leave, River Rose, Girl Boy Girl, Polka Dot Pixels, Chrissy W, Sarah J, Angie Kovacs, EnKay..... they may be the next ship to go down. I'm guessing this is Sinead's last ditch effort to keep the ship afloat.
From what I've heard, sales at The Digichick are still decent if you work for it; plus - they offer a straight 15% commission. People move on to other places that better suit their individual styles, or for what they think is a better name store. People retire. I doubt this is a last ditch effort - an attempt to fatten the designer list is more likely.
i think it has more to do with the fact that they only have what, 17 designers? and the odds of filling it out a bit are better if non-exclusive designers are allowed. I am guessig the product will still need to be exclusive, though. And they have some great new designers - it's good to see Amy Stoffel and Gypsy Couture back, and I like Alexis Designs and LouCee.
Are there other non-exclusive stores where product has to be exclusive? I've never heard of that before. All the non-exclusive designers that I've seen have the same things in all their stores with a few exceptions for items for specific promotions.
Call BS all you want 70, I've talked to more than one of them and they get ranked each month from the owner so it's easy to tell. If you're making a low amount and you're still in the top half of the list of designers it is not a good sign.
It varies by store. I've seen stores where you can be non-exclusive but have to release product that is exclusive to the store for at least the first month.
78: I mean, Do the kits (or most of the kits) contain quality items (no jaggies, stray/missing pixels, colors are true--no problems with recolors if applicable, etc), kit contains themed elements if applicable (like, "dream" or "nighttime" elements for the goodnight kit), and the color combos actually work when you open up a few elements onto one of the kit's papers. Also, I don't like mostly digital elements. I like more "real looking" stuff.
One of the things I am really picky about with colors is the designer's ability to match within the kit. So many times things get a slight hue alteration when styles or textures are added, and so many designers don't fix that. It drives me nuts because you put a pink button on a pink paper form the same kit and they don't match ... grr.
Personally I like real looking elements but I like elements I would scrapbook with in real life. So ribbons and paper flowers and staples and things like that, but I have zero use for coffee mugs and stuffed animals and baby seals.
I'm the opposite. I also want it to look like real-life things, and the chances of a pink button exactly matching a pink paper in real life are slim to none. I want it to coordinate, and go together, but I think overly matchy kits look amateur.
What 81 said. I think a sign of a good designer is to know how to use a palette. Anyone can find a palette and recolor stuff, but to put a kit together is more than that and takes an eye for it. If you look at a top-tier store like P&Co, and a mid-tier store like Ginger Scraps or Gotta Pixel, you'll see much fewer kits that scream a palette at you. Overly matched kits are not only amateurish, it makes the kit unusable, IMO.
I don't think matchy matchy looks amateurish if it's done well - like Peppermint Creative, One Little Bird, Kristin Cronin-Barrow. It's about having the right palette to start with and using neutrals to balance the colors.
I like shades of the pink (or whatever color), but the hue needs to match or be very close. I did just look at P&Co and I don't think you are and I are talking about the same thing if you think they are *not* doing it.
I like tasteful matchy matchy much better than random kitchen sink. not a real fan of I spilled pink all over this kit, though (substitute color of choice. Or not choice, which is even worse)
I think 81 and 82 are talking about "overly" matchy kits, like super monochromatic ones. If you have neutrals in there and the kit works, then it's not "overly" matchy.
On to TLP-MOC! Who do you think is in the running for the CT spot? I really like, chocochoco, Dutch_Diva, misslovescraps, marnel, megscraps, RaquelS, . I can't imagine how that voting is going to go down.. hmmmm
I'm so glad I bought Scrapyrus' last kit at SO, it was gorgeous. I thought it was the nicest kit in the fresh fruit that week. I was so looking forward to what else she would come up, she was a new to me designer. Too bad, her stuff was way better than most of the crap in there. Hope she lands somewhere good.
Here FB says she is taking a spring break. I wonder what happened at SO. Seems alot of people not staying long there, is the owner difficult or something?
copyright violation of what? Her kits are all flowers and mostly generic stuff. I'd think a violation would be plenty visible before she opened at Scrap Orchard.
If Kami doesn't like someone, she'll make something up so she can get rid of people. She's done it before, wouldn't surprise me if that's what she's doing now with Scrapyrus.
I heard what #99 heard but it was a "friend of a CT member of another designer" situation. Scrapyrus was let go because she was recoloring items from other designers' kits and adding them to her own and she got caught.
I also heard the rumor about Jen Labre using Google Image Search items in her kits and getting caught.
I feel like the SO owner gets a bad rap on here no matter what she does and I don't know her at all, but if those two rumors are true then those two designers had their stores closed for good reason. I've heard about other store owners letting designers continue to sell and sweeping their violations under the rug.
Well until you can prove either of those things 107, they're just that -- rumors. And clearly you don't know Kami. Be glad that you don't, she's a nightmare.
If that's true, 109, I can't imagine why she wouldn't do the same for Scrapyrus. I don't think Bella Gypsy could make that much more money that her, right? (But that may be because I think BG's stuff is ugly) Recoloring other designers' stuff is really bad, IMO, but you can find royalty free and public domain stuff on Google Image search.
108 - You just sound like a whiner. Where's your proof of what you say or do you just make shit up?
Scrapyrus, just like Jen Labre, probably didn't get caught before SO because they were at lower profile stores and their activity stayed under the radar.
We'll see how long Danyale lasts. Tiff is on her CT and Tiff posts on the smack blog as herself (and anonymously). I don't see that flying with Kami.
#103 - Jenn L was removed by Kami because she found one CU item that Jenn couldn't find a receipt for on a kit that was about 3 years old - hardly a copyright violation. And then she further stated that no designers at SO use CU, lol! So I feel bad for Scrapyrus (Sonia), I'm sure it was something really stupid and Kami just wanted to get rid of her for some other reason.
#113 - Who are those guys? ZZ Top plus friend (Ted Nugent maybe)? It's generic enough I doubt it's copyright infringement, but those good ole boys can always try. As far as bad idea, I bet it's a bad idea you can take to the bank! (not with my money of couse, but I wish I had thought of it)
It's obviously the Duck Dynasty guys. It's almost always a bad idea to directly refer to the copyrighted item you are trying to dance around in your description because that would only bolster any action brought against it. However, I don't think that they can copyright guys with beards and these are not photographs of them, just cutout silhouette type people. I think it's generic enough that it would have a hard time sticking but she would be smarter to remove the direct reference to the show from her description.
SO may have problems, & I don't shop there & know nothing about them, but they sure do know how to do a Facebook train. Better than anyone else. Smooth, easy, simple.
#112 - they don't use CU? I find that hard to believe as I see CU stuff that even I own in BG kits for sure.....give me a break. I know of other stores who say that their designers don't use CU but you go look at their kits and you see all sorts......that double standard makes me laugh...
#113 - I first saw that and thought ZZ top as well. I am not a duck dynasty fan but other than her reference in her description it's a pretty generic type kit....I mean if you know the show and you saw this you would know instantly what the kit was meant for.....but I don't see copyright violation either other than her description pointing directly to it.
#103 - Jenn L was removed by Kami because she found one CU item that Jenn couldn't find a receipt for on a kit that was about 3 years old - hardly a copyright violation. And then she further stated that no designers at SO use CU, lol! So I feel bad for Scrapyrus (Sonia), I'm sure it was something really stupid and Kami just wanted to get rid of her for some other reason. --- If this is the case, then Kami is very, very inconsistent with her designers. Bella Gypsy's stuff is not only largely cu it is recolored and reused over and over again. I can spot their stuff a mile away because it's so repetitious.
I think it's generic enough that it would have a hard time sticking but she would be smarter to remove the direct reference to the show from her description. __ You have absolutely NO idea what you are talking about at all. Before you give legal advice or information, go to law school or at least crack open a law book, Dumb Ass.
SO may have problems, & I don't shop there & know nothing about them, but they sure do know how to do a Facebook train. Better than anyone else. Smooth, easy, simple. _ I agree though not necessarily better than most others. The only shop FB or Blog trains I've had trouble with are ones who have designers in drastically different time zones and they haven't allowed for that.
Bella Gypsy's stuff is not only largely cu it is recolored and reused over and over again. I can spot their stuff a mile away because it's so repetitious. __ ..and ugly!
Any idea where Meagan's Creations is going? I always thought the Scrapbookgraphics gig was not a good fit for her. However, I think her templates are her strong suit. I don't think she's that good of a kit designer to get in a higher level store. I was surprised SBG took her on. What do you think?
Kami makes stupid claims like that to cover her own ass. SO is like high school - if you don't fit in with their little designer clique, then you're gone. Simple as that.
For me, CU is fine for basic things like ribbons, flowers and buttons. What bothers me is when I see the same Miss Tiina doodles in a bunch of different kits. Or the same CU paper patterns over and over. Those kinds of things start to stand out.
I appreciate that some store owners watch the use of cu items. It's better than having the store disappear overnight because of funny business. Yes, that happened.
Do you make your own ads and promote them? Or do you have someone make them for you? Is it a CT member? Do they have any other duties - like Newsletter or FB posting? Are there any good ad/newsletter people out there?
Anyone else picking up some things at P&Co today? I was a bit disappointed earlier in the month, but they seem to have gotten their shit together toward the end.
We'll see how long Danyale lasts. Tiff is on her CT and Tiff posts on the smack blog as herself (and anonymously). I don't see that flying with Kami. ______________________________________
Tiff is also on Scrapping with Liz's team and has been for a long time, so I'm pretty sure Kami could care less about what some designers CT members are doing/where they're posting. What she's most concerned with is the bottom line.
Ugh,the inspiration board is dumb. People will use it for a day and be over it. The biggest complaint was selection in earning POINTS. Not in inspiration in general. And I'm sorry, this week's challenge? Mustaches have been out for-EVER. Anyone else notice how many people were kind of ticked at the challenge topic? And how you HAVE to scrap it or your don't earn points for SRs later? LAME.
what a bummer ,at P&c , just put all my picks in the cart total $5.65 (some great bargains) felt guilty that I hadn't spent enough so went to select a full price kit and the prices changed in the cart now its 21.65 ce la vie. Will have to be quicker next time. I still ended up buying but Im not on the high I was before...
140 - I think Stolen Moments would be a perfect fit there. They lost Nettio, so maybe another template designer? No one comes to mind, but it would make sense.
I think TLP and SO are top stores. SSD is slipping and P&Co is trying real hard to claim a top spot, but isn't there yet.
I think good sales, and high ranking, come from all the scrapper focused events TLP and SO both do very well. SSD doesn't understand its customer base anymore and P&Co doesn't have enough going on; a bi-annual $1 sale isn't enough.
I think TLP and SO are top stores. SSD is slipping and P&Co is trying real hard to claim a top spot, but isn't there yet. _ SSD has some great sales, however, they're having a real problem with "everything looks the same" with several of their designs (i.e. KCB and Zoe Pearn's latest). I agree that they appear to not truly understand what their customers want. P & Co. is in a top spot, imo. Their dollar sale, though weak at first, ended up being awesome. They had some different types of things to try and I loved it. Full kits for two dollars just can''t be beat and the elements in those kits were unique. There wasn't a dozen recolored flowers in them. TLP is okay, however, I feel it is usually way overpriced for what they offer. SO is a nightmare to navigate, however, I will go there for specific designers such as KAagard and a couple others.
I think TLP is top tier because that they come up with great ideas and promotions and also have great designers with unique products. I think SO is strong in paving their own way and coming up with their own ideas and activities, but I feel that a good number of their designers offer same-old-same-old amateurish kits. P&C has talented designers, but they seem try to steal TLP's ideas/promotions. I don't really have an opinion on SSD, but I do think a lot of their designs are repetitive.
If these 4 stores are the ones that always come up in discussions about top-tier stores, we can agree that they are the top-tier stores. Whichever one of them is "topper" than others does not matter; they all have their strengths and weaknesses. There used to be other stores that are close behind, but with stores closing and designers moving (SO, in particular, has been recruiting the best designer from several mid-to-top-tier stores, like Forever Joy from O-Scraps, Scrapyrus from MScraps, Danyale from the Digichick), it seems these stores have left others behind and consolidated their top spots.
Although I personally don't like that store, I am surprised that SBG didn't appear in this list of top tier store. Weren't they on top, at least at one point? (or at least perceived as such).
As for who is opening at SSD, nobody denied it being Robin. It's unlikely, but it's as good a guess as any, I think. If she's worried her store is struggling, she could recover some personal drop in financial gain by also making commission as a designer...
As for SO being top-tier... I don't agree, but... so many people do think it is that I guess it is.
P&Co has only been open a year and they've been in the top tier discussions every time. They may not have all of their promotions built up. SSD has as many as they have because they've been around for 8 years. It takes time to build those things up. I know the dollar sale, they brought over from DHD. I think we'll see more from them in the years to come.
SSD may be slipping, but they're still top-tier also. They have some of the biggest names in the digi industry, like them or not.
I know for a fact that Stolen Moments is not going to SSD.
I also find it very surprising that SSD is bringing on new designers right now, but then again Robin is probably desperate to replace a few of the people who have recently vacated. It seems to me that in the past nobody left SSD because it was just that good, but in the past year or so it seems like that place is bleeding designers compared to the past. I think it says a lot that so many designers are leaving voluntarily.
#157 & #160...Don't always believe what you hear/read. Jealousy and the fear of competition from other designers who are not confident in their designing skills plays a HUGE part. Scrapyrus posed a threat to some designers at SO. What SO did was very, very unethical and one-sided. Very unjust and if one knew the REAL story behind this, they would rethink shopping at SO. I personally would not contribute to the pocketbooks of the SO owners as I do not support businesses who operate in an unethical and sneaky-handed way.
I don't know anything about the real story, but I do believe Scrapyrus poses a threat to some of the designers at SO and SO dealt with her in an unethical way. I mean, why so hush-hush about it then? No one even talked about it over there. It's like they didn't know a designer just disappeared (and they made such fanfare when she announced she was moving there).
167- But you just had to bring it up. If you can't share the whole story, don't even start it at all. Who knows. You probably don't know anything in the first place.
Why do we bring up the top tier discussion EVERY month and it' always the same 4 stores or so......and I would be interested to know the story about Scrapyrus but then I agree with #168 about #167 - don't drop the hints then shut down......I don't normally shop at SO but every once in a while I do.....would like to know what is up with these stores/owners doing things....
#164...it is not my place to discuss. -- Oh, but you've already discussed it. In fact, YOU are the one who brought up fear, jealousy, etc.etc. Just because you hide behind the anonymous title doesn't mean that you aren't already guilty of starting crap and then shying away saying, it's not your place. You remind me of some gossip who is afraid she's going to get outed if she says too much, however, you're more than willing to stir the pot. What a jerk.
The only one who knows the real truth is Sonia (Scrapyrus) herself. What she tells her fans and online friends is likely skewed to make herself look like a victim. People need to remember that in their interactions with her. No one is removed from a store like SO just because. It's not good for business and it makes everyone look bad to bring on a designer just to can them 3 weeks later. No one sets out to do that.
I also heard the story that she recolored items from other designers kits without their permission. True or not, there was obviously something in question about her products that she could not answer. That makes her a different kind of threat to a store.
Designers need to learn to keep receipts and accurate records of permissions to use images, etc. You get them in email. Unlimited storage email is available for free. Dump them in a folder and hope you're not ever asked to call them up. Not doing so makes you stupid and in an online business, it makes you vulnerable to accusations of theft.
The only one who knows the real truth is Sonia (Scrapyrus) herself. What she tells her fans and online friends is likely skewed to make herself look like a victim. __ How do you know what she is saying? You're as bad as the other jerk; you just are more eloquent with your words. Cough up what you KNOW or shut the hell up. All your generalities and innuendo speak to lack of knowledge of what really occurred and/or blatant dishonesty.
OK so if it isn't Stolen Moments or Scrapyrus, who do you think would be a good fit at SSD? _ They need someone to shake things up! They have way too many designers who are doing the same old shit over and over.
173 - I did say what I knew right in the second paragraph. Perhaps you should learn how to read. Absolutely no one could possibly know the real truth but Sonia. I'm sorry you're so bothered by all of the drama, but you're making most of it yourself.
They need someone to shake things up! They have way too many designers who are doing the same old shit over and over. Feb 2, 2014, 1:58:00 PM
They did say in the newsletter that they were brand new designers. My guess is Brook. She's a babe and the SSD crowd is always begging for her to make templates for them. They need a template designer to replace Lynette. She seems the most obvious choice.
One of the SSD designers told me a few months ago about a few designers that SSD has passed up in the past year and I will be completely appalled if they bring on new "designers" like Brook with no experience at all when they could have a had a few others with long histories in the industry and existing customers. If you had any idea of the talent they passed up while they were "full" you'd laugh at the fact that everyone keeps leaving now and they are probably kicking themselves now for not taking those designers when they had a chance.
People keep saying that lots of people have left SSD..Nettio and MK are lots of people? Neither one of them even produced that much, comparatively speaking. Brook can be condescending and comes off like a know-it-all. I, for one, would love the chance to shove those emoticons she uses when she's posting up her ass. She's very annoying.
One of the SSD designers told me a few months ago about a few designers that SSD has passed up in the past year -- By the seemingly large egos of some of SSD's designers, I could see where a few of them wouldn't want someone TOO talented and popular. Of course, it's to their detriment also when talent is passed up for whatever reason. Jealous people just never seem to get that though.
It's sweet that she keeps trying so hard - http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=27148&cat=291
Give it up, Traci. Your handwriting is terribad. -- I actually like those hand painted words. It's nice no one is forced to buy anything they don't like, isn't it?
182 it's not just Nettio and Mari K who left SSD in the past year or so. SSD also lost Dani Mogstad right after those designers showed up, and she was a big seller and has done well for herself since going out on her own and selling at Jessica Sprague and designing lots of paper lines. The key here however is that the people leaving SSD aren't retiring, they're leaving because there's something better out there to pursue. It didn't used to be that way. Once they got in, people didn't used to leave SSD unless they were retiring.
185 do you really think those are hand-painted? The edges of the letters look like she used a fat brush in AI and made that in 5 minutes. Hand-painted would have brush strokes and feathering and look more like the cards she made for that same collection. To be fair I happen to like the hand-painted cards but I think the words were a horrendous afterthought as she tried to justify calling the entire thing a collection.
Dani Mogstead left at the same time Lauren Grier (who, of course, has since come back) did. That's been much longer than a year ago. Since then, two people have left, one of which is having a baby. So the key here is you are exaggerating what's occurred. Of all the stores, I'd say SSD has one of the lowest turnarounds of any.
Is Erin the Photo Effects person who was gonna dazzle us with all kinds of new stuff? What a bust that was. She didn't do squat and then just sort of vanished. You're right. The whole thing was a joke.
Not only do I not know; I don't care. I like them, have no use for them and don't give a damn how they're done.
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Well then it's really oddball that you called the hand painted words if "not only do you not know; you don't care." You're the one who called them hand painted, and I was just calling you on it and disagreeing with you. I am still allowed to do that right?
I just noticed Erin left when I went to browse Sugarplum Paperie and was looking through the designer list. She wasn't there very long, but I have no clue when she left, or really, if she actually produced anything after her initial offering to the store.
I think SSD would do well to get someone who can create great actions and keep them on, because it's something not a lot of stores offer. However, that was a lot of hype for nothing-- and complete silence when she left.
4014 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 4014 Newer› Newest»That's annoying me too! There's no way all 31 challenges will be something to your taste. Quit crying about it, they aren't going to change it just for you. Although, today's quick page is pretty terrible.
^^^
Link please - too many challenges at the Pad to figure it out.
NVM, I found it. Some interesting twists on the same quick page. While lame, I wouldn't call it terrible.
Boy, Mommyish has really jacked up her prices on actions at Sugar Hill.
The actions probably take many steps to complete. It is not like a style where one click and you are done. I have seen some actions that cost more than that.
I've seen actions that cost more than too but they were more unique and not as simple.
I do think her past couple of actions have been more expensive, but also more worth it than her normal actions. I mean for real gold foil and watercolor, those are worth more and she knows it and people like me who bought them know it.
Haven't got the gold foil, but the paper tear and watercolor actions are worth every penny.
What's the difference between the gold foil action and the gold foil style?
I don't see a gold foil action in her shop. I see 2 different gold foil styles on the first page and that's it so I have no idea how to answer you #9. As for the difference between styles and actions, one applies a predetermined style to an object and the other enacts a series of actions (which can involve styles being applied) on a file or object.
#8 - that paper tear action looks quite similar to the one that Atomic Cupcake used to sell (no accusations of copying are being made here, just an observation). At the time, it was super realistic, nowadays, not so much, it looks fake. The water color action looks cool though.
for the gold foil action - is it all mathematical or is there actually a gold foil jpg included that gets applied during the action process? (sorry, hope that made sense)
12 needs to learn to read. There is no gold foil ACTION. It's a style. 10 explained it.
Does anyone know the average amount a designer at The Lilypad might earn in a month?
#11-It's a thousand times better than the AC action
#14 Are you serious? Good luck getting an answer to that here!
Well, it is anonymous...
I would guess anywhere between $300 and $3000, depending on the designer.
Is Amber/Stolen Moments staying at P&Co? I'm just planning how to buy from the $1 sale - I would stick to the regular designers for buying if she isn't going to stay.
one of the requirements to be permanent at the Lilypad is earning a minimum of $1000 per month.
19 - If you're asking about spending a couple of bucks on something, you can't really want it. It's $2 to buy papers and a kit. TWO DOLLARS.
19 - she's not listed as a guest anymore so I assume she is staying.
#11-It's a thousand times better than the AC action
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I said it looked similar, no need to get in a twist about it. However, I doubt it's a thousand times better.
19 - If you're asking about spending a couple of bucks on something, you can't really want it. It's $2 to buy papers and a kit. TWO DOLLARS.
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Not necessarily. She may be asking because she wants to use the product in future challenges. Not to mention that while $2 is not a big deal for you, it can be for others.
20- are you joking ?
25 - no I'm not joking. when you guest there , its one of the requirements you have to meet. and you guest for a 3 month stay if you are hoping to join. if you don't meet the $1000 per month, you are out.
I think that they put that parameter in there as a safety net. If you don't meet it, it's easy to say that that's why you can't stay permanently. I highly doubt that every one of their designers is selling $1K per month consistently.
I heard Amber isn't staying at Pixels. It was a telephone kind of rumor, so take that for what it's worth.
20- are you joking ?
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If she was joking, she would have said - A Lily Pad designer walks into a bar and ...
What about the other big stores, like SDD, SO, P&CO? Anyone knows the avarage amount a designer makes there a month?
*average
I would say the same for all of them. Maybe a little less at P&CO and SO.
That same range could be said for some of the "mid-tier" stores, too. It's a pretty large range and tells you very little about what you could expect to make in those stores. You are better off trying to find a store where your style fits in best, than trying to join a store based on what other people make there. Another designer's earnings have little to do with what you could earn working in the same store.
Looking at Scrap Orchard's newsletter, I wonder what sort of crack Kami was smoking when she brought on Crossbone Cuts. Her product stands out from the others in the newsletter, but not in a good way. It looks beginner basic, the colors are nasty, and the preview is awful. I do not understand that decision at all.
20 doesn't know what she is talking about. I have had at least 4 or 5 designer friends guest at (and stay at) TLP in the past 2 years. I was told by more than one of them that you have to make $400/mo while guesting for 3 months in a row to be able to stay.
What about the other big stores, like SDD, SO, P&CO? Anyone knows the avarage amount a designer makes there a month?
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A few months ago I would have guessed that SSD and PCO are about the same and SO was a little lower. Now tho I would say that PCO is probably a little higher and SSD is falling. I still say that SO is just a tiny bit lower when you average out the entire shop and compare it to the averages of the other 3 places.
Re Crossbone Cuts ... Isn't she a friend of the Steph and them. Plus the Disney connection ... Only reason I can think of. Not a fan of her designs at all.
36. I don't think that would be true. PCO is a much newer store. There is something to be said for the length of time a store is open in terms of their customer base. It would be an incorrect assumption to judge a store's sales based on community activity. There are tons of scrappers who couldn't give a care about community participation and stores that have been around a long time have a well established customer base. Many new stores pop up and the community views them as trendy and fabulous, but then they close down again. Look at the stores that have been around for many years for a better idea of what is sustainable.
TDC put out a designer call- for non exclusive designers?!
Charly or one of her quintuplets is opening a new store. I saw some calls about it on FB.
http://www.scrappybee.com/
What happened to Scrapyrus at SO? Her stuff is in the newsletter but now she isn't in the store at all?
Looking at Scrap Orchard's newsletter, I wonder what sort of crack Kami was smoking when she brought on Crossbone Cuts. Her product stands out from the others in the newsletter, but not in a good way. It looks beginner basic, the colors are nasty, and the preview is awful. I do not understand that decision at all.
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Definitely not her best work. But then again, look who she collaborated with on it. MKH isn't exactly the most creative designer out there either.
What happened to Scrapyrus at SO? Her stuff is in the newsletter but now she isn't in the store at all?
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How long did that last, a week?
43 -- 3 weeks! New record? Did she quit or did Kami boot her out?
I think Jennifer Labre still holds the SO speedy disappearance record, but this is interestingly close.
I like Scrapyrus. Hope she lands somewhere better.
Does anyone know if Two Tiny Turtles ever picked new ct members?
I just noticed her disappearance as well! Just made a layout with her kit and wanted to get credits for a challenge... and yeah, it's gone!
Sonia must have talked to someone at P&Co.
49, who the hell is Sonia? What are you talking about?
38 - I was comment 36. I still stand by my opinion as it wasn't based on community participation or trendiness or anything of the sort. I've watched which designers are coming and going from each of the main stores in the past year or so and TLP and PCO seem to be gaining talent, and SSD seems to be losing it, and SO isn't necesarily losing talent but it's gaining negative talent which is the same thing in my book. Also I don't view PCO as a trend that is going to come and go such as other trendy shops like 9th&B in the past. Seems to me that it's got a ton of designers who work for actual paper scrapbooking companies and likely aren't going anywhere. Last thing, I've heard (thru the grapevine so take it for what it is worth) that the designers who sell there do very well with sales because the shop took almost all of the DHD customers with them when they left for PCO and so they were not your average startup.
Sonia is Scrapyrus.
I've heard sales at P&Co are hit and miss. Just like any other shop.
49, who the hell is Sonia? What are you talking about?
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If people are talking about Scrapyrus and then someone mentions Sonia, it's pretty obvious who Sonia is.
53 don't be a bitch. Someone had just mentioned Two Tiny Turtles, too. The only thing that is pretty obvious is that you are an asshole.
I've heard sales at P&Co are hit and miss. Just like any other shop.
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Every shop has hit or miss sales, if you look from the bottom to the top. Some always do better than others, and some do worse. But if you compare stores to all of the other stores, it's the same thing - some do better and some do worse. I am saying that TLP and PCO do better than other shops. Obviously there are variations within each store = hit or miss. Duh.
53 don't be a bitch. Someone had just mentioned Two Tiny Turtles, too. The only thing that is pretty obvious is that you are an asshole.
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Oh really? The only that is obvious is that you like to call people names and you're not very original about it either.
I know it's old old old news, but I've been digging around and can't find it. What actually happened with Gennifer and Mary? Like, why the DHD split/P&Co opening? I know DHD went waaaaay downhill after Gennifer left and took everybody (before it closed, I mean), but I never did hear what caused it. Mary never did really spill about it, and Gennifer obviously kept her lips zipped while starting her new venture...
Oh really? The only that is obvious is that you like to call people names and you're not very original about it either.
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You're missing a word or two in your sentence, genius.
57 if you don't know the story then it's none of your business and it doesn't concern you so don't worry about it.
Scrapyrus has nice freebies
57 if you don't know the story then it's none of your business and it doesn't concern you so don't worry about it.
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Thanks, Mommy.
Scrapyrus has nice freebies
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I also really like her designs. I hope she goes somewhere else!
That's right, 59!
57 should totally ask that question in a more appropriate venue. Like maybe a smack blog. Oh wait....
I've always been curious about the DHD info too, but if it hasn't come out after this long, I don't think it will. That PCO team seems very tight-lipped. Probably good from a business standpoint but it drives this Nosy Nellie crazy.
What on earth is going on at The Digichick? I keep hearing about designers leaving in the past few days and now they are having a designer call again. Didn't they just have one in the fall, and they're lifting their exclusive requirement?
Yes, they did. The designer list is getting rather thin. My guess is that they are hoping to get a lot more applications by lifting the exclusivity requirement. There are some designers who don't want to be exclusive but are talented. I probably doesn't bode well for the store though. Some really good designers left in the last year for other stores - like Wishing Well Creations and Kelleigh Ratzlaff to P&CO, Sherwood Studio to SBG, and now Etc. by Danyale for SO. The have also had other designers retire or leave, River Rose, Girl Boy Girl, Polka Dot Pixels, Chrissy W, Sarah J, Angie Kovacs, EnKay..... they may be the next ship to go down. I'm guessing this is Sinead's last ditch effort to keep the ship afloat.
2am Designs is also taking a hiatus.
From what I've heard, sales at The Digichick are still decent if you work for it; plus - they offer a straight 15% commission. People move on to other places that better suit their individual styles, or for what they think is a better name store. People retire. I doubt this is a last ditch effort - an attempt to fatten the designer list is more likely.
I happen to know otherwise, 68. The entire bottom half of the designer list is making less than $100 a month right now. It doesn't look good.
I call BS 69.
i think it has more to do with the fact that they only have what, 17 designers? and the odds of filling it out a bit are better if non-exclusive designers are allowed. I am guessig the product will still need to be exclusive, though. And they have some great new designers - it's good to see Amy Stoffel and Gypsy Couture back, and I like Alexis Designs and LouCee.
Are there other non-exclusive stores where product has to be exclusive? I've never heard of that before. All the non-exclusive designers that I've seen have the same things in all their stores with a few exceptions for items for specific promotions.
Yes there are stores..I was non exclusive and the product had to be exclusive to the store though..
Call BS all you want 70, I've talked to more than one of them and they get ranked each month from the owner so it's easy to tell. If you're making a low amount and you're still in the top half of the list of designers it is not a good sign.
Big sale at MScraps
It varies by store. I've seen stores where you can be non-exclusive but have to release product that is exclusive to the store for at least the first month.
Anyone DL this months Fix? It has 6 kits and some of the previews "look" OK, but that doesn't always mean the kit is any good.
what is your definition of a 'good' kit?
78: I mean, Do the kits (or most of the kits) contain quality items (no jaggies, stray/missing pixels, colors are true--no problems with recolors if applicable, etc), kit contains themed elements if applicable (like, "dream" or "nighttime" elements for the goodnight kit), and the color combos actually work when you open up a few elements onto one of the kit's papers. Also, I don't like mostly digital elements. I like more "real looking" stuff.
One of the things I am really picky about with colors is the designer's ability to match within the kit. So many times things get a slight hue alteration when styles or textures are added, and so many designers don't fix that. It drives me nuts because you put a pink button on a pink paper form the same kit and they don't match ... grr.
Personally I like real looking elements but I like elements I would scrapbook with in real life. So ribbons and paper flowers and staples and things like that, but I have zero use for coffee mugs and stuffed animals and baby seals.
I'm the opposite. I also want it to look like real-life things, and the chances of a pink button exactly matching a pink paper in real life are slim to none. I want it to coordinate, and go together, but I think overly matchy kits look amateur.
What 81 said. I think a sign of a good designer is to know how to use a palette. Anyone can find a palette and recolor stuff, but to put a kit together is more than that and takes an eye for it. If you look at a top-tier store like P&Co, and a mid-tier store like Ginger Scraps or Gotta Pixel, you'll see much fewer kits that scream a palette at you. Overly matched kits are not only amateurish, it makes the kit unusable, IMO.
I don't think matchy matchy looks amateurish if it's done well - like Peppermint Creative, One Little Bird, Kristin Cronin-Barrow. It's about having the right palette to start with and using neutrals to balance the colors.
I like shades of the pink (or whatever color), but the hue needs to match or be very close. I did just look at P&Co and I don't think you are and I are talking about the same thing if you think they are *not* doing it.
I like tasteful matchy matchy much better than random kitchen sink. not a real fan of I spilled pink all over this kit, though (substitute color of choice. Or not choice, which is even worse)
I think 81 and 82 are talking about "overly" matchy kits, like super monochromatic ones. If you have neutrals in there and the kit works, then it's not "overly" matchy.
Anyone find out what happened with Scrapyrus Designs at SO? And where she's going to now? Her blog and FB haven't been updated in a week or so.
On to TLP-MOC! Who do you think is in the running for the CT spot?
I really like, chocochoco, Dutch_Diva, misslovescraps, marnel, megscraps, RaquelS, . I can't imagine how that voting is going to go down.. hmmmm
I'm so glad I bought Scrapyrus' last kit at SO, it was gorgeous. I thought it was the nicest kit in the fresh fruit that week. I was so looking forward to what else she would come up, she was a new to me designer. Too bad, her stuff was way better than most of the crap in there. Hope she lands somewhere good.
Here FB says she is taking a spring break. I wonder what happened at SO. Seems alot of people not staying long there, is the owner difficult or something?
Anyone on her CT? Wonder what's going on...
68. You need to investigate their commission structure again. It is actually higher than that with additional fees.
lots of questions about a designer always make me wonder if is the designer asking the questions...
lots of questions about a designer always make me wonder if is the designer asking the questions...
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maybe if it was out of the blue, but I think a lot of people are wondering where she went. I know I am and I am definitely not her, LOL.
riiiiiiiight
lots of insinuations about a designer always make me suspect someone is jealous.
This is Kim... all I wanted to say was that Month of Challenges was random draw vs. "voted on."
See here: http://the-lilypad.com/forums/showthread.php/29335-Q-amp-A-Thread/page5
rumor has it that Scrapyrus was removed for copyright violation.
copyright violation of what? Her kits are all flowers and mostly generic stuff. I'd think a violation would be plenty visible before she opened at Scrap Orchard.
What did she do or use that caused the violation?
I wonder what happened at SO. Seems alot of people not staying long there, is the owner difficult or something?
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Have you not met Kami? lol
Wasn't Jen Labre removed from SO for copyright stuff after just a week or two also?
Could it be her ephemera?
If Kami doesn't like someone, she'll make something up so she can get rid of people. She's done it before, wouldn't surprise me if that's what she's doing now with Scrapyrus.
103: That's what I heard too.
I heard what #99 heard but it was a "friend of a CT member of another designer" situation. Scrapyrus was let go because she was recoloring items from other designers' kits and adding them to her own and she got caught.
I also heard the rumor about Jen Labre using Google Image Search items in her kits and getting caught.
I feel like the SO owner gets a bad rap on here no matter what she does and I don't know her at all, but if those two rumors are true then those two designers had their stores closed for good reason. I've heard about other store owners letting designers continue to sell and sweeping their violations under the rug.
Well until you can prove either of those things 107, they're just that -- rumors. And clearly you don't know Kami. Be glad that you don't, she's a nightmare.
Oh Kami sweeps plenty of other things under the rug, as long as it benefits her. Bella Gypsy is a prime example of that.
If that's true, 109, I can't imagine why she wouldn't do the same for Scrapyrus. I don't think Bella Gypsy could make that much more money that her, right? (But that may be because I think BG's stuff is ugly) Recoloring other designers' stuff is really bad, IMO, but you can find royalty free and public domain stuff on Google Image search.
108 - You just sound like a whiner. Where's your proof of what you say or do you just make shit up?
Scrapyrus, just like Jen Labre, probably didn't get caught before SO because they were at lower profile stores and their activity stayed under the radar.
We'll see how long Danyale lasts. Tiff is on her CT and Tiff posts on the smack blog as herself (and anonymously). I don't see that flying with Kami.
#103 - Jenn L was removed by Kami because she found one CU item that Jenn couldn't find a receipt for on a kit that was about 3 years old - hardly a copyright violation. And then she further stated that no designers at SO use CU, lol! So I feel bad for Scrapyrus (Sonia), I'm sure it was something really stupid and Kami just wanted to get rid of her for some other reason.
Copyright infringement or just a bad idea?
http://www.scraps-n-pieces.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_132&products_id=4797
#113 - Who are those guys? ZZ Top plus friend (Ted Nugent maybe)? It's generic enough I doubt it's copyright infringement, but those good ole boys can always try. As far as bad idea, I bet it's a bad idea you can take to the bank! (not with my money of couse, but I wish I had thought of it)
It's obviously the Duck Dynasty guys. It's almost always a bad idea to directly refer to the copyrighted item you are trying to dance around in your description because that would only bolster any action brought against it. However, I don't think that they can copyright guys with beards and these are not photographs of them, just cutout silhouette type people. I think it's generic enough that it would have a hard time sticking but she would be smarter to remove the direct reference to the show from her description.
Do people actually buy that?
I'm always surprised by what "designers" actually spend time making...
SO may have problems, & I don't shop there & know nothing about them, but they sure do know how to do a Facebook train. Better than anyone else. Smooth, easy, simple.
#112 - they don't use CU? I find that hard to believe as I see CU stuff that even I own in BG kits for sure.....give me a break. I know of other stores who say that their designers don't use CU but you go look at their kits and you see all sorts......that double standard makes me laugh...
#113 - I first saw that and thought ZZ top as well. I am not a duck dynasty fan but other than her reference in her description it's a pretty generic type kit....I mean if you know the show and you saw this you would know instantly what the kit was meant for.....but I don't see copyright violation either other than her description pointing directly to it.
Yeah, gators just luv munchin' on beavers!
#103 - Jenn L was removed by Kami because she found one CU item that Jenn couldn't find a receipt for on a kit that was about 3 years old - hardly a copyright violation. And then she further stated that no designers at SO use CU, lol! So I feel bad for Scrapyrus (Sonia), I'm sure it was something really stupid and Kami just wanted to get rid of her for some other reason.
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If this is the case, then Kami is very, very inconsistent with her designers. Bella Gypsy's stuff is not only largely cu it is recolored and reused over and over again. I can spot their stuff a mile away because it's so repetitious.
I think it's generic enough that it would have a hard time sticking but she would be smarter to remove the direct reference to the show from her description.
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You have absolutely NO idea what you are talking about at all. Before you give legal advice or information, go to law school or at least crack open a law book, Dumb Ass.
SO may have problems, & I don't shop there & know nothing about them, but they sure do know how to do a Facebook train. Better than anyone else. Smooth, easy, simple.
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I agree though not necessarily better than most others. The only shop FB or Blog trains I've had trouble with are ones who have designers in drastically different time zones and they haven't allowed for that.
Bella Gypsy's stuff is not only largely cu it is recolored and reused over and over again. I can spot their stuff a mile away because it's so repetitious.
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..and ugly!
#119, Of course SO uses CU, it's all over the place. What a stupid claim by Kami.
Any idea where Meagan's Creations is going? I always thought the Scrapbookgraphics gig was not a good fit for her. However, I think her templates are her strong suit. I don't think she's that good of a kit designer to get in a higher level store. I was surprised SBG took her on. What do you think?
Kami makes stupid claims like that to cover her own ass. SO is like high school - if you don't fit in with their little designer clique, then you're gone. Simple as that.
For me, CU is fine for basic things like ribbons, flowers and buttons. What bothers me is when I see the same Miss Tiina doodles in a bunch of different kits. Or the same CU paper patterns over and over. Those kinds of things start to stand out.
#127 - I agree with you. Maybe she'll go to Digichick? They definitely need new designers now.
I appreciate that some store owners watch the use of cu items. It's better than having the store disappear overnight because of funny business. Yes, that happened.
#127 - I agree with you. Maybe she'll go to Digichick? They definitely need new designers now.
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I bet you're right!
Do you make your own ads and promote them? Or do you have someone make them for you? Is it a CT member? Do they have any other duties - like Newsletter or FB posting? Are there any good ad/newsletter people out there?
I wouldn't trust someone else to make my ads. As much as I hate making them, I want them to really reflect me.
Just got an email saying that Digi Scrap Station is closing today.
Anyone else picking up some things at P&Co today? I was a bit disappointed earlier in the month, but they seem to have gotten their shit together toward the end.
We'll see how long Danyale lasts. Tiff is on her CT and Tiff posts on the smack blog as herself (and anonymously). I don't see that flying with Kami.
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Tiff is also on Scrapping with Liz's team and has been for a long time, so I'm pretty sure Kami could care less about what some designers CT members are doing/where they're posting. What she's most concerned with is the bottom line.
Deepgirl is back with more nudes at SSD's peeks thread. Luckily these are at least blurred...
136-I picked up some stuff one day this past week.
SSD said they're having 2 new designers in their newsletter. Wonder who they are??
Ugh,the inspiration board is dumb. People will use it for a day and be over it. The biggest complaint was selection in earning POINTS. Not in inspiration in general. And I'm sorry, this week's challenge? Mustaches have been out for-EVER. Anyone else notice how many people were kind of ticked at the challenge topic? And how you HAVE to scrap it or your don't earn points for SRs later? LAME.
what a bummer ,at P&c , just put all my picks in the cart total $5.65 (some great bargains) felt guilty that I hadn't spent enough so went to select a full price kit and the prices changed in the cart now its 21.65 ce la vie. Will have to be quicker next time. I still ended up buying but Im not on the high I was before...
140 - I think Stolen Moments would be a perfect fit there. They lost Nettio, so maybe another template designer? No one comes to mind, but it would make sense.
You still talk about top and middle tier stores... but it changes isn't it?
So what are the top and middle store now ?
I think the top stores are SSD, TLP & P&Co. But that could be just me.
But Stolen Moments just opened their own store.
I think TLP and SO are top stores. SSD is slipping and P&Co is trying real hard to claim a top spot, but isn't there yet.
I think good sales, and high ranking, come from all the scrapper focused events TLP and SO both do very well. SSD doesn't understand its customer base anymore and P&Co doesn't have enough going on; a bi-annual $1 sale isn't enough.
Anyone got the preview for TDF February files?
LOL at the idea that someone thinks SO is a top store.
I think TLP and SO are top stores. SSD is slipping and P&Co is trying real hard to claim a top spot, but isn't there yet.
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SSD has some great sales, however, they're having a real problem with "everything looks the same" with several of their designs (i.e. KCB and Zoe Pearn's latest). I agree that they appear to not truly understand what their customers want. P & Co. is in a top spot, imo. Their dollar sale, though weak at first, ended up being awesome. They had some different types of things to try and I loved it. Full kits for two dollars just can''t be beat and the elements in those kits were unique. There wasn't a dozen recolored flowers in them. TLP is okay, however, I feel it is usually way overpriced for what they offer. SO is a nightmare to navigate, however, I will go there for specific designers such as KAagard and a couple others.
I think TLP is top tier because that they come up with great ideas and promotions and also have great designers with unique products. I think SO is strong in paving their own way and coming up with their own ideas and activities, but I feel that a good number of their designers offer same-old-same-old amateurish kits. P&C has talented designers, but they seem try to steal TLP's ideas/promotions. I don't really have an opinion on SSD, but I do think a lot of their designs are repetitive.
If these 4 stores are the ones that always come up in discussions about top-tier stores, we can agree that they are the top-tier stores. Whichever one of them is "topper" than others does not matter; they all have their strengths and weaknesses. There used to be other stores that are close behind, but with stores closing and designers moving (SO, in particular, has been recruiting the best designer from several mid-to-top-tier stores, like Forever Joy from O-Scraps, Scrapyrus from MScraps, Danyale from the Digichick), it seems these stores have left others behind and consolidated their top spots.
Although I personally don't like that store, I am surprised that SBG didn't appear in this list of top tier store. Weren't they on top, at least at one point? (or at least perceived as such).
152, Scrapyrus might disagree with you, now.
Who do you think is going to SSD?
I think Stolen Moments and Scrapyrus.
Scrapyrus was removed from SO for very bad reasons. There is no way she's going anywhere anytime soon.
Stolen Moments would be perfect. Other SSD designers have their own personal stores, so Stolen Moments opening her personal store makes no difference.
As for who is opening at SSD, nobody denied it being Robin. It's unlikely, but it's as good a guess as any, I think. If she's worried her store is struggling, she could recover some personal drop in financial gain by also making commission as a designer...
As for SO being top-tier... I don't agree, but... so many people do think it is that I guess it is.
P&Co has only been open a year and they've been in the top tier discussions every time. They may not have all of their promotions built up. SSD has as many as they have because they've been around for 8 years. It takes time to build those things up. I know the dollar sale, they brought over from DHD. I think we'll see more from them in the years to come.
SSD may be slipping, but they're still top-tier also. They have some of the biggest names in the digi industry, like them or not.
#157: "Scrapyrus was removed from SO for very bad reasons. There is no way she's going anywhere anytime soon."
Very bad reasons??
159 - not the op but there was discussions here that she was caught recoloring elements from other designers kits and then selling them as her own
Doesn't mean it's true.
I know for a fact that Stolen Moments is not going to SSD.
I also find it very surprising that SSD is bringing on new designers right now, but then again Robin is probably desperate to replace a few of the people who have recently vacated. It seems to me that in the past nobody left SSD because it was just that good, but in the past year or so it seems like that place is bleeding designers compared to the past. I think it says a lot that so many designers are leaving voluntarily.
#157 & #160...Don't always believe what you hear/read. Jealousy and the fear of competition from other designers who are not confident in their designing skills plays a HUGE part. Scrapyrus posed a threat to some designers at SO. What SO did was very, very unethical and one-sided. Very unjust and if one knew the REAL story behind this, they would rethink shopping at SO. I personally would not contribute to the pocketbooks of the SO owners as I do not support businesses who operate in an unethical and sneaky-handed way.
#163 - So tell us the real story behind it...
I don't know anything about the real story, but I do believe Scrapyrus poses a threat to some of the designers at SO and SO dealt with her in an unethical way. I mean, why so hush-hush about it then? No one even talked about it over there. It's like they didn't know a designer just disappeared (and they made such fanfare when she announced she was moving there).
"Scrapyrus posed a threat to some designers at SO."
What does that mean? What kind of threat? Did she pose a threat to other designers at her previous store?
#164...it is not my place to discuss.
167- But you just had to bring it up. If you can't share the whole story, don't even start it at all. Who knows. You probably don't know anything in the first place.
Why do we bring up the top tier discussion EVERY month and it' always the same 4 stores or so......and I would be interested to know the story about Scrapyrus but then I agree with #168 about #167 - don't drop the hints then shut down......I don't normally shop at SO but every once in a while I do.....would like to know what is up with these stores/owners doing things....
OK so if it isn't Stolen Moments or Scrapyrus, who do you think would be a good fit at SSD?
#164...it is not my place to discuss.
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Oh, but you've already discussed it. In fact, YOU are the one who brought up fear, jealousy, etc.etc. Just because you hide behind the anonymous title doesn't mean that you aren't already guilty of starting crap and then shying away saying, it's not your place. You remind me of some gossip who is afraid she's going to get outed if she says too much, however, you're more than willing to stir the pot. What a jerk.
The only one who knows the real truth is Sonia (Scrapyrus) herself. What she tells her fans and online friends is likely skewed to make herself look like a victim. People need to remember that in their interactions with her. No one is removed from a store like SO just because. It's not good for business and it makes everyone look bad to bring on a designer just to can them 3 weeks later. No one sets out to do that.
I also heard the story that she recolored items from other designers kits without their permission. True or not, there was obviously something in question about her products that she could not answer. That makes her a different kind of threat to a store.
Designers need to learn to keep receipts and accurate records of permissions to use images, etc. You get them in email. Unlimited storage email is available for free. Dump them in a folder and hope you're not ever asked to call them up. Not doing so makes you stupid and in an online business, it makes you vulnerable to accusations of theft.
The only one who knows the real truth is Sonia (Scrapyrus) herself. What she tells her fans and online friends is likely skewed to make herself look like a victim.
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How do you know what she is saying? You're as bad as the other jerk; you just are more eloquent with your words. Cough up what you KNOW or shut the hell up. All your generalities and innuendo speak to lack of knowledge of what really occurred and/or blatant dishonesty.
OK so if it isn't Stolen Moments or Scrapyrus, who do you think would be a good fit at SSD?
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They need someone to shake things up! They have way too many designers who are doing the same old shit over and over.
#157: "Scrapyrus was removed from SO for very bad reasons. There is no way she's going anywhere anytime soon."
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Oh, the drama!
#157: "Scrapyrus was removed from SO for very bad reasons. There is no way she's going anywhere anytime soon."
I know nothing about this. I have no inside or outside information. But, as a customer, I hope you're wrong.
173 - I did say what I knew right in the second paragraph. Perhaps you should learn how to read. Absolutely no one could possibly know the real truth but Sonia. I'm sorry you're so bothered by all of the drama, but you're making most of it yourself.
They need someone to shake things up! They have way too many designers who are doing the same old shit over and over.
Feb 2, 2014, 1:58:00 PM
They did say in the newsletter that they were brand new designers. My guess is Brook. She's a babe and the SSD crowd is always begging for her to make templates for them. They need a template designer to replace Lynette. She seems the most obvious choice.
One of the SSD designers told me a few months ago about a few designers that SSD has passed up in the past year and I will be completely appalled if they bring on new "designers" like Brook with no experience at all when they could have a had a few others with long histories in the industry and existing customers. If you had any idea of the talent they passed up while they were "full" you'd laugh at the fact that everyone keeps leaving now and they are probably kicking themselves now for not taking those designers when they had a chance.
It's sweet that she keeps trying so hard - http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=27148&cat=291
Give it up, Traci. Your handwriting is terribad.
Brook is a talentless hack. I don't know why they keep asking her to do things there... but you're right. She's a given as one of the two designers.
People keep saying that lots of people have left SSD..Nettio and MK are lots of people? Neither one of them even produced that much, comparatively speaking. Brook can be condescending and comes off like a know-it-all. I, for one, would love the chance to shove those emoticons she uses when she's posting up her ass. She's very annoying.
One of the SSD designers told me a few months ago about a few designers that SSD has passed up in the past year
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By the seemingly large egos of some of SSD's designers, I could see where a few of them wouldn't want someone TOO talented and popular. Of course, it's to their detriment also when talent is passed up for whatever reason. Jealous people just never seem to get that though.
Who are the designers that SSD passed on?
It's sweet that she keeps trying so hard - http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=27148&cat=291
Give it up, Traci. Your handwriting is terribad.
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I actually like those hand painted words. It's nice no one is forced to buy anything they don't like, isn't it?
Yes, but why pay $3 for something you can write yourself with a mouse and Paint?
182 it's not just Nettio and Mari K who left SSD in the past year or so. SSD also lost Dani Mogstad right after those designers showed up, and she was a big seller and has done well for herself since going out on her own and selling at Jessica Sprague and designing lots of paper lines. The key here however is that the people leaving SSD aren't retiring, they're leaving because there's something better out there to pursue. It didn't used to be that way. Once they got in, people didn't used to leave SSD unless they were retiring.
185 do you really think those are hand-painted? The edges of the letters look like she used a fat brush in AI and made that in 5 minutes. Hand-painted would have brush strokes and feathering and look more like the cards she made for that same collection. To be fair I happen to like the hand-painted cards but I think the words were a horrendous afterthought as she tried to justify calling the entire thing a collection.
Dani Mogstead left at the same time Lauren Grier (who, of course, has since come back) did. That's been much longer than a year ago. Since then, two people have left, one of which is having a baby. So the key here is you are exaggerating what's occurred. Of all the stores, I'd say SSD has one of the lowest turnarounds of any.
185 do you really think those are hand-painted?
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Not only do I not know; I don't care. I like them, have no use for them and don't give a damn how they're done.
Yes, but why pay $3 for something you can write yourself with a mouse and Paint?
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If I wanted to do that stuff myself, I'd do it. I, however, don't.
Erin left SSD as well. No announcement. No surprise, either. I thought it was a joke when they brought her on.
Is Erin the Photo Effects person who was gonna dazzle us with all kinds of new stuff? What a bust that was. She didn't do squat and then just sort of vanished. You're right. The whole thing was a joke.
What about those Broncos?! LOL
Not only do I not know; I don't care. I like them, have no use for them and don't give a damn how they're done.
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Well then it's really oddball that you called the hand painted words if "not only do you not know; you don't care." You're the one who called them hand painted, and I was just calling you on it and disagreeing with you. I am still allowed to do that right?
I just noticed Erin left when I went to browse Sugarplum Paperie and was looking through the designer list. She wasn't there very long, but I have no clue when she left, or really, if she actually produced anything after her initial offering to the store.
I think SSD would do well to get someone who can create great actions and keep them on, because it's something not a lot of stores offer. However, that was a lot of hype for nothing-- and complete silence when she left.
Where is Mari K now? I can't find her products anywhere. Her site is also down.
She retired.
The digi files are the best they've been in a very long time. I'm very happy with the designers and with what they've produced. Thank you ladies.
Of all the stores, I'd say SSD has one of the lowest turnarounds of any.
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You can probably add TLP to that list.
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