Paper scrapbooking is definitely on the decline and has definitely seen its better days. Archivers is also going out of business, the only chain store and most of the scrapbook stores have gone out of business too. Does this affect you or is digital your only way to scrap? I'm definitely sad for people losing their jobs. It happened to my family a couple of years ago & I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
In case anyone missed the info on renaming files from the last thread:
A really great free program for renaming files quickly is called "Bulk Rename Utility".
The program looks a little archaic but it's very functional. You can add characters/words to the beginning of files (ie. "Designer A - Kit B - "), or you can delete any number of characters from the existing file name & have it rename the selected files sequentially. Just look thru the help files that come with it. If you have trouble, let me know & I'll try to help. Just remember when you bring in a folder to rename, you get to select which individual files to rename (you don't have to do all that's in the folder, only the ones you select). I use this program all the time for digi files, photos, etc.... Hope that helps.
I don't think download links need to be available for ever, but it would be nice if they were available as long as the product is still available in the store. I've never had a designer tell me no when I asked for a download reset, so it seems like it could save everyone a lot of trouble.
Maybe my file organization needs some work, but a few times over the last few years I haven't been able to locate a kit I've paid for and want to scrap with. I pay for online back up as well as have an EHD, but if I'm in a hurry (or not on my main computer) it's so much easier to just snag the kit I want from my order history. I'm thinking this problem could easily be solved by keeping the 5 download limit, but not limiting the length of time your 5 downloads are available.
I feel like my downloads are available quite a bit longer at SO and SSD than TLP.
So with Bobbie (River~Rose) she states at the end of Decmeber on FB that she is getting releases ready for 2014 and "I have some super fun stuff coming up for 2014!" then I get the newsletter that she is retiring. Hmm wonder what happened?
Maybe my file organization needs some work, but a few times over the last few years I haven't been able to locate a kit I've paid for and want to scrap with. ----------
Perhaps looking at and changing your file organization might be a solution then.
So with Bobbie (River~Rose) she states at the end of Decmeber on FB that she is getting releases ready for 2014 and "I have some super fun stuff coming up for 2014!" then I get the newsletter that she is retiring. Hmm wonder what happened? -------
#13, You are just now noting Litabells has retired? She posted on Dec 17 that she was retiring with her store closing Dec 29th.
It’s been a fun ride, but the time has come for me to hang up my design hat. I have taken design breaks in the past, but sadly this one is permanent. My store at Scrapbook Graphics will close on December 29th 2013. Until then, everything* is on sale at 50% off, with bundles a tiny $5! *Excludes Collabs
I’d like to thank you all for your support over the years, and for creating such amazing layouts with my products. It’s been a blast!
Anyone else download Jenn Barrette's new CountryStrong freebie kit from SweetShoppe? She has 2 papers in there that are exactly the same as from another kit of hers called CowgirlHomeOnTheRange.
The 1st identical paper is the pink tiny houndstooth paper called CountryStrong-pp4 which is almost identical to the one in the other kit except just slightly different pink. The 2nd identical paper is the handkerchief paper called CountryStrong-pp2 which is the same except in a different color.
This made me wonder how common it was for designers to recycle & repeat the exact same papers in their kits. Do you guys notice this a lot? I've been going thru all my kits & cleaning them out recently, so maybe that's why I noticed the copy.
(ps. I'm not complaining about the kit, as it was free & I'm glad I have a chance to try out some more of her designs. Just an observation.)
I think Paislee's is hand written calligraphy. She's mentioned taking a calligraphy class a few times. Calligraphy fonts seem pretty popular right now. I'm sort of liking them myself.
The Tracy Martin example is a font. I don't remember the name, but it's a horrible example of font use at that. If you look closely you can see that she has the kerning all wrong in PS when she made those words because the script doesn't match up from letter to letter. The r's are especially terrible. I can't believe a designer would sell that without noticing/fixing it.
The first one by Traci Martin is Cantoni Pro, but she doesn't know how to use it correctly because the letters aren''t matching up with each other. I agree that Liz's is hand-written. Laurie Ann's is Bombshell Pro.
Who is Crescent Moon Designs? ---------------------------------------------- Isn't it Charly? -------------- It sure is and it is not a new name either. What about her?
Well the new challenge reward system is up at Sweet Shoppe and I must say is wow it truly sucks. You have to complete 3 months of challenges in order to at least get 40%. Even completing one month is just 20% big deal seriously you get 20% at every new release on Saturday.
Im doing the MOC at TLP and if you complete the entire month you get $20GV . I think thats quite generous. better than waiting 3mths for a discount.
I saw a CT call for scrapstacks today, hope their monthly packs get better. The last couple I have skipped, thought they were crap even for $5. This months not much better.
I'm not too bothered by the SSD change, but I'd say it's because I never us my rewards anyway-- they always end up going to waste.
I'll probably also only half-way participate in the challenges. I'll do the ones that interest me for inspiration, anything I'd scrap anyway, to try winning the featured designer's prize, but otherwise, if SRs happen for me, they happen. If they don't, they don't.
the only issue i have with the sweet shoppe system is that sometimes i'm feeling super motivated, and sometimes i'm not. with the old system, i could scrap when i wanted to and pick and choose challenges. now, it's one challenge at a time, and if you skip even one, you don't get the rewards for the month. i liked it better when i could pick and choose which ones i wanted, get enough points, and if i wanted to whip out ten pages in a week and then not scrap at all the rest of the month, i could. it's kind of lame having only one challenge at a given time... they could at least have a couple of categories and let you pick between two or three challenges each week, then have a set number you participate in for the sweet rewards (like, have 3 challenges, each with a winner for the random draw, but only one challenge from each week can be used towards rewards-- so you do one layout in the rewards for week 1, one for week 2, etc. then you can pick one challenge that inspires you most, skip ones that don't appeal, and still have one layout per week for sweet rewards).
There are so many challenges around; if you don't like SSD's, just go find another place to play. I am also doing TLP's month of challenges, and so far they're quite fun. I also do some of SO's, but their challenge rule (crediting, linking, etc) is seriously a pain!
Looking at the new challenge system purely from a business/marketing perspective and not my emotions (since I don't participate there anyway), I have to say it seems pretty pointless and makes me scratch my head.
The weekly aspect encourages people to scrap LESS and for far LESS motivation. 20% is their normal sales price for new stuff and 3 months to earn 40% is a bit too long for "busy on the go" scrappers to wait around to earn.
Most people wait for sales. Sure, some don't, but most do wait - especially with 20% off bringing a kit to around $5. I do think sales will suffer even more at SSD as I know several designers there have been seeing really bad sales. Not all, but I do know there are some.
I think it has less to do about greed (from SSD and from customers) and more to do with the time it took to do everything on Pinterest (which we all guessed would be an epic failure anyway) and then to create the PDF book everyone wanted because they hated Pinterest.
SO has a challenge a day system and has had one for years and it seems to work just fine and get plenty of participation. They have it in their forums (where it should be) and they don't make PDFs or do anything other than encourage customers to scrap.
I scratch my head at SSD because they have a huge CT and they're the ones who create for the challenges and you'd think each one of them could handle doing a challenge a month as a site CTM.
I think SSD will lose some of its regular shoppers over this - because of the discount and because the reason for being at their site is now minimized to almost nothing.
Maybe if they offered a choice of different types of challenges, it'd be better? Not necessarily do as much as they did on pinterest, but offer 2 or 3 types of challenges. I feel like the current one with resolutions is, by default, likely to appeal more to a journaling scrapper than one who uses more photos and less journaling (not that it can't be done photo-only-- it definitely could be done that way) but that it likely appeals more to the journal crowd. By offering a small handful of challenges each week that appeal to different personalities of scrappers, they'd be able to get more participation, even without changing the point system at all.
From there, they'd totally be able to change the point system, too-- participate in ALL of the journaling challenges in a month and earn one point. Participate in ALL of the photo challenges in a month and earn one point. Participate in ALL of whatever another challenge is in a month and earn one point. Participate in ALL of two or three challenge categories and earn a point for each one you FULLY completed. That way, if you did EVERY challenge (3 a week for 4 weeks is still only 12 layouts), you could earn 40% off right away. If you did just one category of challenge each month (4 layouts), then you could still save up for 3 months for the 40% off.
I love how Kristin is all "You could do this and this to be outside of the box." Okay, it's our first week of these challenges. Don't you think you should have maybe showed how to flex the challenges to fit other themes instead of just showing a bunch of layouts with the same "I resolve to ______"? Um, maybe we'll start thinking outside the box when you give us a reason to.
Good God! SSD is in total meltdown mode. Half the customers are thrilled, half are pissed, and all of the designers and babes are rushing over to try to smooth things over when really just saying "fuck you guys, we'll do what we want."
Seriously, guys? You didn't think a MASSIVE change like this would incite outrage and panic? People are getting their pitchforks on both sides, and I'm about to pop some popcorn. This next week there is going to be drama drama drama.
I scratch my head at SSD because they have a huge CT and they're the ones who create for the challenges and you'd think each one of them could handle doing a challenge a month as a site CTM. ^^^^^^ This! SSD has 30 CTMs on their site team. They could easily do 30 challenges a month with hardly any extra work for anyone. Have each CTM post them in the forum where they belong and still have participants track their points.
Participation is down because SSD moved the challenges to Pinterest and to PDF. Just post them in the forum. It's quick, easy, and where you want your customers to be anyway.
I used to think Robin had a good business head on her shoulders. With this change, I'm greatly rethinking that opinion.
My favorite responses to the "unhappy with the challenge changes" have been from Jacinda and the other babes. It's really simple to lecture and go along with the extreme changes when one gets everything for free as it is AND it's less work for one on top of it. What a bunch of patronizing jerks!
I'm also soooooo glad Meg M enlightened us all by informing us we can do more than one layout in a sitting even though only one counts for the challenge. I'm beginning to see these people for in a clear light and it's not pretty..at all.
My favorite responses to the "unhappy with the challenge changes" have been from Jacinda and the other babes. It's really simple to lecture and go along with the extreme changes when one gets everything for free as it is AND it's less work for one on top of it. What a bunch of patronizing jerks! --------- ^^This times infinity!!^^
SSD has 30 CTMs on their site team. They could easily do 30 challenges a month with hardly any extra work for anyone. - They could do much, much more than they do. It would be nice to see them doing something constructive rather than pontificating in posts or nothing with which several of them excel.
30 CTM's and I'm lucky if I could pick out 10 who are active. Great team they have there. I can't believe anyone would jump in to defend something to a customer/forum member in public like they have. You're better off letting the dust settle and taking in what people are saying instead of justifying your decision to change. That just pisses people off.
Their site CT and the designers need to back off and let people speak. That's what's best for their business. Change is always difficult and some will like it and some wont. Pressuring and talking down to people voicing their opinion is a surefire way to get them to shop elsewhere.
I, too, heard sales were down for several designers at SSD. This change isn't likely to help that any. It may not hurt them more, but the site CT and some designers coming out in defense mode isn't going to earn them any new customers...
I don't really care about the coupon discounts, but I really feel like this new system is so half ass and like they don't give a shit about their customers anymore.
And the babes in the thread that are being condescending bitches can do STFU and maybe scrap us some OUTSIDE the damn box inspiration rather than the trite shit that they gave as an example.
I used to shop there almost exclusively but in the past year after Pixels & Co. opened and also after a few designer changes at TLP have made that shop more my style, I just don't even think to visit SSD anymore. I really only shop there if a designer I really like releases something amazing and I get their newsletter and decide I have to have it. Other than that, I've really moved on. Seems to me that there are better options out there now and all of the people who are bitching about SSD's changes could just use that energy to start looking around for a new digi home.
And the babes in the thread that are being condescending bitches can do STFU and maybe scrap us some OUTSIDE the damn box inspiration rather than the trite shit that they gave as an example. _____________ AMEN!!!!! What a bunch of morons. Their idiotic posts speak volumes about what and who THEY are. If I were Robin, I'd make them clear their posts through me on this matter before they were allowed on the forum. They're just angering people further.
I used to shop there almost exclusively but in the past year after Pixels & Co. opened and also after a few designer changes at TLP have made that shop more my style, I just don't even think to visit SSD anymore. I really only shop there if a designer I really like releases something amazing and I get their newsletter and decide I have to have it. Other than that, I've really moved on. Seems to me that there are better options out there now and all of the people who are bitching about SSD's changes could just use that energy to start looking around for a new digi home. __ I used to shop there almost exclusively myself. However, I am really starting to love P&Co and a few other designers scattered at different stores.
What an asshole Brook is. Not only does she patronize people with her words but she interjects those stupid emoticons in her sentences to further add to her obnoxiousness.
And the babes in the thread that are being condescending bitches can do STFU and maybe scrap us some OUTSIDE the damn box inspiration rather than the trite shit that they gave as an example. ____ What a novel idea for the babes to actually SCRAP SOMETHING.
but the site CT _____ For the "Babes" to be a creative team, they'd actually have to create something. Over half of them (and I'm being very, very, very generous) don't do squat.
Their site CT and the designers need to back off and let people speak. __ Absolutely. Especially since none of them have had anything remotely informative or helpful to say. Robin had the best message, and, like another poster here said, she should make the others shut up. They're not helping things, they're hindering them plus they sound like defensive and patronizing idiots.
I used to think Robin had a good business head on her shoulders. With this change, I'm greatly rethinking that opinion. _ I think she does, however, she has some designers and ct's who are NOT doing her any favors at all professionally. I don't even do the challenges but reading what some of these people have posted has really, really turned me off.
I'll never buy another kit from Meg M. again. Ever. After that message she posted, she and her little designs can all go to hell! ------------- What did she post?
Robyn had a good response and made me feel listened to. Then another person there reminded everyone that they've never made changes to a system mid-year, they always wait until January. If they're going to wait until next year to make some changes, there might not be a site left.
Then again, you'll see everyone, even people who don't participate at all in the challenges, jumping in and defending the new system and telling us all not to be upset about our coupons because there's sales and this that and the other thing. I wouldn't be surprised if designers weren't behind-the-scenes making promises to anyone who would defend the new system.
Last year they DID make a change mid year. They lowered the points back to the normal 10/20/30 to get the percentages off, rather than the 20/30/40 they started off with. They claimed it was for summer, but it stayed around for the rest of the year.
You are all assuming that those challenge coupons make up for a big portion of their income. Maybe they have a higher percentage of customers who make purchases not using those challenge coupons (in which case, any changes made to it might not effect their overall bottom line as much as you think).
While I totally get them making it 100% SSD products (pretty standard for a lot of stores), by making it that way, they kind of screwed everyone who spent their scrapping budget in the Nettio sale. Now those can't be used for challenges. (And doesn't leave much room for those of us who like templates don't use Cindy or Janet templates at all-- BLEH-- and yes, I know they're not the only two people who make templates in the store, but none of them look good, imo)
Janet's templates ALL look the same. Why she even designs them anymore is beyond me. Nettio's were very limiting and EXPENSIVE. Cindy's layered cards and titles are her claim to fame, imo.
I recently uploaded a couple of layouts to SSD, separated by a few weeks. I'm not new to digi, but it was the first layouts posted at SSD for me. I did not receive any comments on either one of them. After the first one I thought maybe it was a fluke, people were just busy. After the second one received no comments I was really unimpressed. It's my experience at other sites that the store team makes sure to leave nice comments on customer layouts, especially TLP.
Not true w/SSD. Their CT, compared to the other stores', is pretty worthless and idle, very idle. It's amazing that number of people (the Babes) could do so little for so long and get away with it.
Janet's templates ALL look the same. Why she even designs them anymore is beyond me. __ The bigger question is why in the world anyone would play the prices for those templates that pretty much anyone who knows Photoshop could easily replicate in a few minutes.
What an asshole Brook is. Not only does she patronize people with her words but she interjects those stupid emoticons in her sentences to further add to her obnoxiousness. ----------------------------- She designed two kits and probably thinks she's a top notch designer now and will have a perm spot at the shoppe if she chimes in this way.
Robin at the end of her blurb said: In any case, I appreciate your thoughts and feedback and hope you can roll with the changes and give it a try as we'd hate to miss out on seeing layouts from some of you talented ladies! ------------- If everyone that is so upset boycotts the challenges then she will see that NO they don't want change and pass the word along. We are all free to pass the word along via PM, FB-PM, blogs, forums. If it's so upsetting losing the coupon every month, unite and show them who's boss. Does she want to keep you happy and shopping? Do you want SSD to be your digi home and not move on then do something about it. I'm not a huge participant at SSD but just thought I'd share my 2 cents.
77, I've never received a comment on any LO posted to SSD. I used to CT for one of their designers, so I posted at least 3 LOs per month (plus the LOs I posted with stuff I'd purchased). I always try to comment on at least 2 LOs when I post a LO. It's just the nice thing to do.
I was 77. 82, that's a sad testament to the SSD team. Maybe commenting on layouts isn't a requirement for them?? (I find that surprising) I upload the most to TLP, and only a small fraction of layouts have NO comments there. (like maybe 1 out of 12 on the page doesn't have any comments and most have multiple). In fact, I occasionally find myself pressed to find the time to return comments for all the ones I received. I am not as nice as you to leave comments every time I post, but I do try to always return a comment when I received one.
She designed two kits and probably thinks she's a top notch designer now and will have a perm spot at the shoppe if she chimes in this way. __ Well, the first kit she designed or help design or whatever had atrocious colors which is the ONLY reason I remember it. I know she had her hand in another one but I don't/can't remember what it was...and don't care.
I was looking at my layouts in the SSD gallery yesterday just because. Then I started to notice that my layouts used to have a lot of comments on them and now I hardly have any comments on my newer layouts. I used to be pretty active in the forum but haven't been in a couple of years (just other things to do I guess). I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. Now I just post about 3 layouts a month for the CT I am on there and occasionally post in the sneak peek thread. Nothing else. You would think there would be more of a praise team or something.
But then again I would want comments that are meaningful and not just a post. The comments I do receive now are meaningful and people point out what they like about the layout. I just wished it happened more often.
Nettio's newsletter confirms she is not going somewhere existing-- that it will be "totally new." I'd say that takes out teaching at whatever place Traci teaches, and knocks out BPC, also, I think. My guess is teaching her own classes at her own site, or opening her own store up.
What ever Nettio does I bet it will cost way too much especially if she's going to foot the expense of opening up her own store. Unless her product has really changed in a month, I'll be passing, I'm sure. I also detest this juvenile guessing game these people attempt to create. Just inform people where you're going when you want it out there, and, before then just shut up. The notion that people want "hints" so they can guess where someone is going or what someone is going to do is absurd, unless the said people are five-years-old.
What an asshole Brook is. Not only does she patronize people with her words but she interjects those stupid emoticons in her sentences to further add to her obnoxiousness. __ Those emoticons she uses have got to go. What is she? Twelve? I'd LOVE to tell her where to put them! Maybe using them is part of her creative process.
I've never received a comment on any LO posted to SSD. __ A lot of the comments appear to come from the designer whose kit/template was used to make the layout. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter whether the layout is well done, just that the designer's stuff was used to make it and that compels them to post a comment.
While I totally get them making it 100% SSD products (pretty standard for a lot of stores __ Yeah, I get it too. I just wish they had some decent template designers. I also wish they'd get someone who does completely "out of the box" designs. Something unique that we don't see in every kit. Their stuff is all starting to run together because much of it is so similar.
91 - I think a mini kit for $2 is pretty standard. I don't think $8 is worth it for 4 minis. It says something about an addon for free if you buy all 4, but I don't see the addon. It seems confusing to me.
I had a hard time even finding Fruit of the Month category. I was looking through the lists and headers to find it .... after several minutes I found a link in the middle of the market home page. I think you have to be on that specific page to even see that link. I've you've clicked on a designer or a category... you can't find the Fruit of the Month category any more? That doesn't seem smart.
I agree that $2 for a mini seems OK ... but $8 for all of it seems too high. Their Megas were only $5 I think.
95 said: I agree that $2 for a mini seems OK ... but $8 for all of it seems too high. Their Megas were only $5 I think. ^^^^ ITA with this. The mega was bigger, had more themed elements (WMSquared's preview looks empty compared to the other designers'), and was less expensive. If megas are to help cover the cost of running the store, then you'd think SO would want to make these items more appealing to people. I can't imagine customers buying the FotM in larger quantities than the old megas. But I could be wrong.
Is anyone disappointed with P&Co's Dollar Days sale? I remember buying almost everything last time. This time, I can't find enough to get the $10 fwp kit...
Is anyone disappointed with P&Co's Dollar Days sale? I remember buying almost everything last time. This time, I can't find enough to get the $10 fwp kit... ---- Very disappointed. There's no comparison the previous dollar sale.
#97 and #98- I totally agree! I can'f find $10 worth of stuff for the FWP. Yuck.
#39 said "I also do some of SO's, but their challenge rule (crediting, linking, etc) is seriously a pain!" - I am surprised that others haven't commented on this challenge system, which is extremely unfriendly to the customer. The entire set of directions is completely condescending, the way points are rewarded is overly complicated, and it is now replacing the old plum perks system, in which I earned points for spending money there. It is way too cumbersome for the payoff. Just the way it has been structured turns me off and makes me want to spend my money other places.
TLP's Month of Challenges is fun. The inspiration in each thread is amazing and showcases just about any scrapping style anyone has, so it has an inclusive feel to it, even though 75% of the products used have to be currently in the shop, rather than having to products by current designers.
#44- "Maybe if they offered a choice of different types of challenges, it'd be better? Not necessarily do as much as they did on pinterest, but offer 2 or 3 types of challenges. I feel like the current one with resolutions is, by default, likely to appeal more to a journaling scrapper than one who uses more photos and less journaling (not that it can't be done photo-only-- it definitely could be done that way) but that it likely appeals more to the journal crowd. By offering a small handful of challenges each week that appeal to different personalities of scrappers, they'd be able to get more participation, even without changing the point system at all." I hope Robin take your comment seriously and uses it as a basis for some change. I don't mind that the products have to be 100% SSD since you can use any products, retired or otherwise, made by current SSD designers. It gives a lot more flexibility than some other systems do. I like that you can now carry over your points- if you look at old threads, very few participants earned 40% each month- and I don't mind that you have to wait for the Sweet rewards, but I would like to be able to earn the 40% every other month. I do MIND that the system feels very poorly thought out and that SSD designers and CT seem to be defensive and judgmental rather than thoughtfully responding to concerns. AND I definitely am extremely puzzled as to why it is called Think Outside the Box since the challenge and examples are clearly square in the box.
#77, #82, and #83- I have noticed the same thing about SSD and TLP. I seldom if ever get a comment on my layouts at SSD unless it is a designer and usually those comments are thoughtful. With such a huge CT team, there should be at least one or two comments on all the layouts. I always get at least two to three comments, and often more, at TLP, and I am not a consistent poster there. I think SSD could learn a lesson from TLP on this: people participate where they feel welcomed and appreciated. Unfortunately, that isn't always true at SSD, and I have always had a soft spot for them.
#96- My sentiments exactly regarding the FotM vs the old mega kits.
#53- I wonder if there sales are down lately because so many stores have had great sales over the last few months and scrappers are spreading their money more than they have in the past or if it is because each designer's kits are starting more and more to blend into each other.
SSD needs some "new" life breathed into it. A good deal of their designs are cookie cutter kits that could easily be done by almost anyone. Their store ct needs to become more involved. The occasional sneak peek or forum comment sprinkled with the few layouts most of them load to the gallery hardly is adequate. I've never seen such an unproductive site ct.
P&Co's dollar sale is a big bust. Last time they had this sale a full kit could be gotten for two bucks..not so this time at all. They should have at least offered a few like they did before. They set the bar for what this sale was and then they totally changed it.
While TLP may have lots of comments in their gallery, etc., they are also extremely cliquish which detracts from new people attempting to join in.
SO has some talented designers, however, the search function for their store sucks and is enough deterrent not to even bother if one is looking for something specific.
How many journal cards and wood veneer does one need? Shouldn't the P&Co designers at least co-ordinate a little what they're going to put out in the $1 sale? Gennifer has a full kit that can be bought with $2, but she has been generous in the $1 sale last time too. I bought every kit of hers last time.
I agree with the overall disappointment with the P&Co dollar sale in that so far I don't see much that I just have to have. But we're only a week in, so I'm still hoping.
I think I see a few paper sets ... and am wondering if elements sets are coming too. I don't mind a full sized kit being split into papers and elements+alpha, and each sold for a dollar. That seems in the true spirit of a dollar sale (a full kit for $2). But I think I saw one example of a pack of solid papers and a pack of patterned papers, each for a dollar. Now splitting up a kit into patterned paper, solid paper, elements, and alpha and offering each of those for a dollar, that bothers me because it doesn't seem to be in the true spirit of a dollar sale.
I agree that SSD needs to add a few unique designers to their team. Everything there is very similar these days. TLP is very cliquish, if you're not one of the it girls, they won't bother talking to you. SO has gone very downhill IMO, I won't even bother looking there anymore. I like P&Co but they also need to add some diversity to their team.
Just a comment on the new FOTM from SO. I'm a customer, not part of the site, but if you put all 4 mini-kits in your cart, they are discounted to a dollar and then you get the add on as well (can't remember if it showed up in the cart or just in the downloads). So for $4, it's a pretty good deal, but I did like the old mega system better because it always seemed to have templates also, which I love, although I thought the last few months' color schemes sucked so did not buy them. I did like this month's color scheme.
Gennifer has a full kit that can be bought with $2, but she has been generous in the $1 sale last time too. I bought every kit of hers last time. __ Where is there a full kit of Gen's?
I joined TLP in 2012, but Im not active in the forums. Very rarely do I post in threads ( 400 posts which would be comments on layouts & 23 posts on questions, queries etc ) I have never been snubbed or not had an answer to a question. I have upload 95 layouts over that time with 321 comments. Which if my maths is correct is an average of 3.3 comments per layout. Designers have commented which I find refreshing. I do not think they are cliquish, they are very welcoming if you want to participate. It really depends on what you expect from a site. I like the diversity of the TLP. The only other place were I post is Pixel & co again they are very welcoming.
105, it was a total of $4 in your cart for all 4 pieces? Because in the store each piece is $2, which is half off regular price. So, was the total price only $4 in your cart--which would mean 75% off regular price? I'm still not a big fan of the colors this month, either. But def. a better deal if it's $4.
#110- I added all 4 pieces to my cart and it changed the price to $1 per piece plus added the free addon to the cart automatically....never saw it advertised that way nor how long that will last..
On the main page of the store it says half off when you buy all 4 plus the add-on free, so I guess that means that they are all just $1 if you buy all 4. So $4 for all 5, a little cheaper than the past megas. For the person who commented about the templates being missing, they are being sent out in the weekly newsletter. The template freebie in today's newsletter by LGF was coordinating with the Dreamer products in the store (by name and color scheme). So it looks to me like if you get the newsletter, you will get the 4 templates for free through that and the 5 items in the store for $4. Even so, it took me quite a while to piece all of that together as it wasn't clear at all as to what is going on with that. They really should have explained it better including that the templates would be freebies in the newsletter.
P&Co is welcoming. I find SSD and TLP both to be very cliquish. Jan 10, 2014, 1:26:00 AM
Who is cluquish? I understand the meaning but who are you referring to? At SSD the one's carrying on talks are mostly customers. TLP I see alot of interaction between both team and customers. Would it be crazy to think that 'most' of the store creative teams don't even interact with each other.
Would it be crazy to think that 'most' of the store creative teams don't even interact with each other. __ No, it wouldn't be crazy. I'm the op and I never said they did so don't know what that prompted that statement by you. At SSD the same people (customers..whoever) post and post and post. Someone new comes in and posts something and seldom are they even acknowledged. It's the same few interacting with no attention paid to someone with say..25 posts as opposed to someone with 2500+. TLP is the exact same way. That is what I mean. Don't know how to be much clearer. If you want specific names, go look at the forums.
I didn't have any trouble finding 10 products to get the FWP at Pixels & Co., just from their dollar sale. Here's what I got: A year in retrospect album by Anita Designs Best Year Ever papers and elements by Audacious Designs Miss Molly papers and elements by Gennifer bursett Every Little Bit brushes and cards by Deena Rutter This Year 2014 papers from Scotty Girl designs (already had the kit) Chalk Calendar Journalers (like the kraft ones too) by Sweet Caroline Veneer Journalers 2 by Mye de Leon This Year brushes by Scotty Girl Designs Everyday Life Pocket Scrapping Planner from Laura Passage
There are a couple of good deals there -- both the planner sets are great deals, and Anita's album is an excellent deal, I think. She's also got a really pretty travel kit that claims it is a mini kit but it is pretty big, if you ask me. Both Audacious Designs and Gennifer Bursett have full kits that you can get for $2.00. And it's still early. They've only been releasing for 10 days. There's still 60 products still to be released this month. I've been pleased, anyway.
#110 - Yes, it was a total of $4 once all four pieces were added to the cart (off from $2/piece). Plus you also got the free add-on (more papers and elements from each of the designers who participated. Also, I just got my SO newsletter this morning and there was a matching template for the Dreamer kit. So all in all, a pretty decent deal if you like the colors and items in the kits.
thanks to all of you who posted about the SO's FotM price. *SO, IF YOU'RE READING THIS: please advertise the pricing better. KThxBye.* I do like the theme but I'm not a huge fan of the colors. I guess I could recolor them, but lately I've been feeling lazy. I want my supplies in the colors I want...I don't want to recolor anything because I just don't have much time to scrap (let alone recolor so I can THEN scrap).
As I was looking at the SSD ad I noticed alot of those layouts are not from the store CT could it be that they will be doing away with the team and just stick with the designers teams. Some of those layouts aren't even worth a second look. For ex. Rubia, Libby, Meghan, Erica, Allie *Just Sayin*
I doubt they'd do away with the babes. And you know what? I'd rather they didn't. If they strip that title, how will we be able to distinguish normal customers from the stuck-up ass-kissers around there? This just makes it easy to see who is who.
Does anyone else feel that all Ali Edwards has become recently is brushes with her handwriting (again) and sponsored giveaways? There seems to be no depth to her blog anymore.
Has anyone noticed how attention-seeking Lauren Grier is? She seems really immature and emotionally needy. I do sympathize with all her troubles, however, I wouldn't think a scrapbook forum was an appropriate venue for airing her woes. I also don't see her posting to others when they are to be congratulated and/or sympathized with. One-sided people like that suck the life right out of ya if you get close to them. I'm glad she's only in cyber space and physically far, far away.
#123 stopped ready her blog over a year ago, as it was just boring.. Ali is all about trying to plug whatever she's been paid to. She does nothing original anymore.
Has anyone noticed how attention-seeking Lauren Grier is? She seems really immature and emotionally needy. I do sympathize with all her troubles, however, I wouldn't think a scrapbook forum was an appropriate venue for airing her woes. I also don't see her posting to others when they are to be congratulated and/or sympathized with. One-sided people like that suck the life right out of ya if you get close to them. I'm glad she's only in cyber space and physically far, far away. - I've really noticed that she does not respond much to anyone else period. It's all about her and her problems, life, etc.etc. She definitely appears to have her own agenda.
TLP is having their Birthday Bash this weekend. I am really hoping they have more than that stupid 20%off and do more of a half off or 35% off. Bump up that percentage off, get people excited about shopping this weekend! Yeah, probably not gonna happen but oh well I put it out their!
Let me guess. She's tired of the backstabbing designer bitches at SSD and will be moving to to Pixels and Company - she just spent time at CHA with a whole gang from there. That's my guess.
She wasn't listed as of yesterday. I was looking for her designs after the CHA announcements for Pink P. They shut her down yesterday/am and today she's announcing she's retiring from SSD ooppsss to late something went down! I can't wait to hear the details on that one!
Mari designed some of their new paper line coming out. She linked to this person Jeryn VA and she had the photos of her new line up for Pink P. Who knows the story?? Share... someone knows, maybe they will dish on why SSD booted her from one day to the next.
Maybe she came home from CHA and decided to stop selling digital and focus on paper. Her announcement of leaving came the day after she got home right? From what I have heard here on this blog and elsewhere, there is way more money in designing for paper than digital. Also it seems that SSD is bleeding designers lately. It's not often that 2 designers leave SSD within a couple of weeks of each other. Sounds like times are getting hard there in the "sweetest shoppe on the web" so maybe the smart ones are bailing out.
Left, Nettio Designs yes she left to do other things but she made an announcement way before. Where Mari K was shut down suddenly on Sunday which is a big difference. She made her effective immediately speech on FB yesterday. So she was probably like OMG my store is gone OK, I have to announce my no longer creating digital speech, blahh blahh blahhh I'm sure the money is in paper but their is a story and for now it's all hush hush cuz the people at SSD are tight lipped about what happened. One designer said this to her on FB:Rubia Padilha You already know all my feelings about that and about you....
You know how stores always try to create hype when they have a new store designer coming? Like: " You'll never guess who are new designer is!" Well, I think they should do the same when someone leaves. Like:" Why do you think Mari K. left Sweet Shoppe so suddenly?" lol
I'm 143- That is one of the most bizarre retirement statements I have heard. I wonder what was so drastic that she totally quit digital designing. I question whether it was the fact that she could make so much money with paper design. Several digital designers are paper designers and still maintain their digital stores.
I happen to know the story and she resigned last week. She wasn't "canned" but her store was supposed to be open for another week etc. but then she posted on fb about having so much fun with people from another shop at CHA and Robin got mad and disabled her store a few days early. But she had already resigned and there's really no gossip here people unless you count the fact that Robin let a few fb posts wad up her panties. That's old news tho.
What are some of the valid reasons for a designer's store to be immediately closed? It seems it would have to be for some legal reason, but I have no clue what. Even if there was some kind of mistake made by someone involved, they would often be given the opportunity to right whatever they did wrong. It seems to be implied that SSD shut her out, but if it is some legal issue, could it have been forced by Pink P?
149 - Mari resigned last week, but made no announcement or had a sale in place whatsoever? That sounds like BS. Every designer who is retiring from design has a sale or at least notifies their customers ahead of time so they can buy products before they're gone.
Robin getting mad about Mari having fun with P&Co at CHA sounds about right. It's also extremely hypocritical. Robin and her band of bitches read here, post here, and have for a very long time. SSD's hatred of P&Co is because they feel saying they don't condone the smack blog in one breath while they read and post here in another makes them superior.
150 - Unless there is a contracted reason (which is extremely rare), you can be canned for whatever reason at any time. This is digiscraping. There is no such thing as a "valid reason." One bitch gets pissed because another bitch talked to a group of bitches and shuts the store off. It's called high school and it never ends.
Robin got mad and disabled her store a few days early. __ She disabled the store because Mari said she had fun with someone else? Now, that's the height of professionalism and maturity.
She had resigned, but her retirement sale hadn't happened yet. There is always a window between when a designer tells the store they are leaving and when they actually leave, but something made Robin angry enough that she turned her store off early.
If she's not planning on selling at PCO, or even digitally at all, why does it matter that she hung out with them? Is there something more to the story between the two stores?
Is there something more to the story between the two stores? _ Well, there has to be something more to it than what's been said here. Robin is obviously not an overreacting idiot, so something somewhere happened that has not been posted here. Common sense would dictate that.
She had resigned, but her retirement sale hadn't happened yet. There is always a window between when a designer tells the store they are leaving and when they actually leave, but something made Robin angry enough that she turned her store off early. __ Exactly. It' very hard to believe that it was simply because Mari posted that she had fun with some people. Give me a break. If poster #149 expects that to be believed than he/she is an idiot.
If she's not planning on selling at PCO, or even digitally at all, why does it matter that she hung out with them? __ Even if she were to start selling at PCO what difference would it make? Lauren Grier left SSD for TLP and there wasn't a big upset. Designers leave one store for another pretty often. Why is that anger-provoking unless something else happened?
Dear 155, 156, 157, 158, 161: You are the ones who don't know shit.
There's evidence here that everything 149 said is true. Mari even told her CT last week before she left for CHA, and they already knew she was leaving SSD. Her forum was even disabled last week but her shop was still open. It was supposed to stay open for longer but she came home from CHA and posted about it and tagged half the design team from PCO and Robin got pissed and called her unprofessional and disabled her store effective immediately.
Don't talk shit to people on the smack blog and tell them that they don't know what they're talking about, or call them idiots, if YOU happen to be the one without the background story and info. Even the designers at SSD didn't know about this stuff last week so if you're one of them then can it. Listen and you may learn something here other than the spoon-fed BS you're getting from your boss.
PS have you ever heard the phrase "if he cheats with you he'll cheat on you too"? If you're a designer at SSD you might want to start worrying about what Robin might do to you in the future in one of her fits of irrational behavior.
Mari used to be at TDC with some of the now PCO designers. It doesn't seem surprising that she would hang out with them, even though they are at different stores now. Did Robin really call her unprofessional for that? It is Robin who is sounding unprofessional in all this.
If what 164 says is true, Robin sounds like a total idiot. Can a designer not have friends at another shop? That sounds like JUNIOR high school to me. SSD is sounding more and more like a stupid bunch of mean girls every day.
Maybe her fb post came across as: FU SSD, I am loving PCO now! & maybe they're extra sensitive to that b/c so many of their former customers feel the same way.
Every designer who is retiring from design has a sale or at least notifies their customers ahead of time so they can buy products before they're gone. -------
If what 164 says is true, Robin sounds like a total idiot. Can a designer not have friends at another shop? That sounds like JUNIOR high school to me. SSD is sounding more and more like a stupid bunch of mean girls every day. -------
Just because someone said it here, doesn't mean it's true. The people constantly smacking SSD sound like a bunch of mean girls. No affiliation, I don't even shop there, just tired of it all.
Just because someone said it here, doesn't mean it's true. The people constantly smacking SSD sound like a bunch of mean girls. No affiliation, I don't even shop there, just tired of it all. __ You mean anonymous postings aren't always true?
No it's not. Mari DID resign last week. She DID inform people of this. Robin DID get upset at something, and closed her shop earlier than they had agreed upon.
These are facts, no matter how much you (SSD flunky) wants to deny it.
I'm curious to hear what the real story is and see where Mari pops up in a few weeks. Wish there had been advance notice because I had a few products that I was waiting to buy after I got paid, but I guess that just isn't going to happen. Their loss, they don't get that money now.
Anyone else thinking the delay in featured designer at SSD is more than just "oh, I'm not feeling well, that's why it's late"? I'd put money on that the featured designer this week was set to be Mari, and after everything, Julie was not quite ready and hers got posted in a rush to keep from there being a gap... and then the "Omg, I was so sick... suuuuuper sorry!" excuse from Robin is just what helped cover it up.
Mind you, pure speculation on my part, but then again, so is everything else on this blog, it seems.
Well, the last few featured designer kits have been so boringly similar to everything else that I've gotten to the point where I don't even pay that much attention to when they change.
I am (was?) on Mari's team and I don't think she was scheduled to be the FD right now. Usually she makes those kits in advance and her team knows about them. My money is on Robin just messed it up. I think that place is falling apart at the seams.
Also, this is the first time I've posted about this but what everyone has said above is true and Mari definitely quit SSD last week before she went on her trip and she deactivated her forum but not her store, before leaving town. We were all told this. I don't know any more about the story after that, but it would seem that whoever says that Robin got mad and went off the deep end is probably right because her shop wasn't supposed to close suddenly on Monday or I am sure we would have been told. FWIW
It seems as though a lot of my favorite designers have been going to SO lately, and I wouldn't have thought any of them were a very good fit. Scrapyrus, Forever Joy, Etc by Danyale...
There's no way that Danyale and Kami will get along in the end. Mark my words. Kami has no idea what she's in for, oh and Danyale has no idea what she's in for.
There's no way that Danyale and Kami will get along in the end. Mark my words. Kami has no idea what she's in for, oh and Danyale has no idea what she's in for. Jan 19, 2014, 5:26:00 PM
You say that like there is a store owner (or any single person) out there who is amazing to everyone about everything all the time. Some of you people need to leave your house every once in awhile.
197, I've never seen Danyale go by Dani. It's Danyale and she's bossy and unyielding and won't do well having someone rule her with an iron fist like Kami is known to do. Meanwhile plenty of people have left SO. It's no different than any other digi shop in that regard, don't kid yourself.
I'm enjoying the challenges at TLP but damn people are picky. 'I don't like flowers. I don't like quickpages.' If you don't like the challenge don't do it dumbasses!
4014 comments:
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Paper scrapbooking is definitely on the decline and has definitely seen its better days. Archivers is also going out of business, the only chain store and most of the scrapbook stores have gone out of business too. Does this affect you or is digital your only way to scrap?
I'm definitely sad for people losing their jobs. It happened to my family a couple of years ago & I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
In case anyone missed the info on renaming files from the last thread:
A really great free program for renaming files quickly is called "Bulk Rename Utility".
The program looks a little archaic but it's very functional. You can add characters/words to the beginning of files (ie. "Designer A - Kit B - "), or you can delete any number of characters from the existing file name & have it rename the selected files sequentially. Just look thru the help files that come with it. If you have trouble, let me know & I'll try to help. Just remember when you bring in a folder to rename, you get to select which individual files to rename (you don't have to do all that's in the folder, only the ones you select). I use this program all the time for digi files, photos, etc.... Hope that helps.
River~Rose is retiring.
Who?
& OTBDS (now Altered Amanda) was at One Story Down for an eyeblink. Anyone know that story?
She was there? Why? Major Blehhh!!
I don't think download links need to be available for ever, but it would be nice if they were available as long as the product is still available in the store. I've never had a designer tell me no when I asked for a download reset, so it seems like it could save everyone a lot of trouble.
Maybe my file organization needs some work, but a few times over the last few years I haven't been able to locate a kit I've paid for and want to scrap with. I pay for online back up as well as have an EHD, but if I'm in a hurry (or not on my main computer) it's so much easier to just snag the kit I want from my order history. I'm thinking this problem could easily be solved by keeping the 5 download limit, but not limiting the length of time your 5 downloads are available.
I feel like my downloads are available quite a bit longer at SO and SSD than TLP.
Crystal Livesay is also retiring
So with Bobbie (River~Rose) she states at the end of Decmeber on FB that she is getting releases ready for 2014 and "I have some super fun stuff coming up for 2014!" then I get the newsletter that she is retiring. Hmm wonder what happened?
Maybe my file organization needs some work, but a few times over the last few years I haven't been able to locate a kit I've paid for and want to scrap with.
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Perhaps looking at and changing your file organization might be a solution then.
So with Bobbie (River~Rose) she states at the end of Decmeber on FB that she is getting releases ready for 2014 and "I have some super fun stuff coming up for 2014!" then I get the newsletter that she is retiring. Hmm wonder what happened?
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Unexpected troubles I should think.
Litabells is also retiring.
#13- Again? LOL!
#13, You are just now noting Litabells has retired? She posted on Dec 17 that she was retiring with her store closing Dec 29th.
It’s been a fun ride, but the time has come for me to hang up my design hat. I have taken design breaks in the past, but sadly this one is permanent.
My store at Scrapbook Graphics will close on December 29th 2013.
Until then, everything* is on sale at 50% off, with bundles a tiny $5!
*Excludes Collabs
I’d like to thank you all for your support over the years,
and for creating such amazing layouts with my products.
It’s been a blast!
Isn't she one of the designers who was at SM? Why on earth would she bother opening at another store for just one month?
Lots of designers are retiring. Perhaps the new year is just a good time to do so. M&M Designs and Sarah J are also retiring.
Sweet Shoppe Designs has new mini freebie kits from all their designers.
Who is Crescent Moon Designs?
Who is Crescent Moon Designs?
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Isn't it Charly?
Anyone else download Jenn Barrette's new CountryStrong freebie kit from SweetShoppe? She has 2 papers in there that are exactly the same as from another kit of hers called CowgirlHomeOnTheRange.
The 1st identical paper is the pink tiny houndstooth paper called CountryStrong-pp4 which is almost identical to the one in the other kit except just slightly different pink. The 2nd identical paper is the handkerchief paper called CountryStrong-pp2 which is the same except in a different color.
This made me wonder how common it was for designers to recycle & repeat the exact same papers in their kits. Do you guys notice this a lot? I've been going thru all my kits & cleaning them out recently, so maybe that's why I noticed the copy.
(ps. I'm not complaining about the kit, as it was free & I'm glad I have a chance to try out some more of her designs. Just an observation.)
^^^^^
I wouldn't say it's common but I have seen some designers do this.
It seems like I'm seeing this script font (or similar ones) all over the place in the last few weeks. Anyone know what it is?
https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1513875_662679940448863_1957540611_n.jpg
http://the-lilypad.com/store/images/P/_paislee-brightside-JC-prv-01.jpg
I think Paislee's is hand written calligraphy. She's mentioned taking a calligraphy class a few times. Calligraphy fonts seem pretty popular right now. I'm sort of liking them myself.
What about these example by Laurie Ann - they look more like a font
http://the-lilypad.com/store/images/P/LaurieAnnHGD_StardustJournalCards_Preview600.jpg
http://the-lilypad.com/store/images/P/LaurieAnnHGD_JustBecause_Preview600.jpg
The Tracy Martin example is a font. I don't remember the name, but it's a horrible example of font use at that. If you look closely you can see that she has the kerning all wrong in PS when she made those words because the script doesn't match up from letter to letter. The r's are especially terrible. I can't believe a designer would sell that without noticing/fixing it.
The first one by Traci Martin is Cantoni Pro, but she doesn't know how to use it correctly because the letters aren''t matching up with each other. I agree that Liz's is hand-written. Laurie Ann's is Bombshell Pro.
Thank you for those font names. Unfortunately both are a bit too pricey for me to use for scrapping.
Who is Crescent Moon Designs?
----------------------------------------------
Isn't it Charly?
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It sure is and it is not a new name either. What about her?
#29 - or maybe it's her twin sister - or her other triplet sister
Doesn't crystal livesay retire regularly?
Script fonts - knock yourself out
http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=601&fpp=100
and more -
http://jonesdesigncompany.com/create/how-to-create-fake-calligraphy/
Sign up to get more downloads (which I'm doing now, it looks interesting and it's free)
Well the new challenge reward system is up at Sweet Shoppe and I must say is wow it truly sucks. You have to complete 3 months of challenges in order to at least get 40%. Even completing one month is just 20% big deal seriously you get 20% at every new release on Saturday.
Way to be even greedier Sweet Shoppe.
I agree the new challenge system at Sweet Shoppe isn't so sweet- Yeah, I can hardly wait to wait 3 months before i can get a 40% discount-no thanks!
Im doing the MOC at TLP and if you complete the entire month you get $20GV . I think thats quite generous. better than waiting 3mths for a discount.
I saw a CT call for scrapstacks today, hope their monthly packs get better. The last couple I have skipped, thought they were crap even for $5. This months not much better.
I'm not too bothered by the SSD change, but I'd say it's because I never us my rewards anyway-- they always end up going to waste.
I'll probably also only half-way participate in the challenges. I'll do the ones that interest me for inspiration, anything I'd scrap anyway, to try winning the featured designer's prize, but otherwise, if SRs happen for me, they happen. If they don't, they don't.
the only issue i have with the sweet shoppe system is that sometimes i'm feeling super motivated, and sometimes i'm not. with the old system, i could scrap when i wanted to and pick and choose challenges. now, it's one challenge at a time, and if you skip even one, you don't get the rewards for the month. i liked it better when i could pick and choose which ones i wanted, get enough points, and if i wanted to whip out ten pages in a week and then not scrap at all the rest of the month, i could. it's kind of lame having only one challenge at a given time... they could at least have a couple of categories and let you pick between two or three challenges each week, then have a set number you participate in for the sweet rewards (like, have 3 challenges, each with a winner for the random draw, but only one challenge from each week can be used towards rewards-- so you do one layout in the rewards for week 1, one for week 2, etc. then you can pick one challenge that inspires you most, skip ones that don't appeal, and still have one layout per week for sweet rewards).
There are so many challenges around; if you don't like SSD's, just go find another place to play. I am also doing TLP's month of challenges, and so far they're quite fun. I also do some of SO's, but their challenge rule (crediting, linking, etc) is seriously a pain!
How are SSD being greedier? You're the one wanting the discount.
Looking at the new challenge system purely from a business/marketing perspective and not my emotions (since I don't participate there anyway), I have to say it seems pretty pointless and makes me scratch my head.
The weekly aspect encourages people to scrap LESS and for far LESS motivation. 20% is their normal sales price for new stuff and 3 months to earn 40% is a bit too long for "busy on the go" scrappers to wait around to earn.
Most people wait for sales. Sure, some don't, but most do wait - especially with 20% off bringing a kit to around $5. I do think sales will suffer even more at SSD as I know several designers there have been seeing really bad sales. Not all, but I do know there are some.
I think it has less to do about greed (from SSD and from customers) and more to do with the time it took to do everything on Pinterest (which we all guessed would be an epic failure anyway) and then to create the PDF book everyone wanted because they hated Pinterest.
SO has a challenge a day system and has had one for years and it seems to work just fine and get plenty of participation. They have it in their forums (where it should be) and they don't make PDFs or do anything other than encourage customers to scrap.
I scratch my head at SSD because they have a huge CT and they're the ones who create for the challenges and you'd think each one of them could handle doing a challenge a month as a site CTM.
I think SSD will lose some of its regular shoppers over this - because of the discount and because the reason for being at their site is now minimized to almost nothing.
Not to mention all the additional time to track 3 months worth of participation instead of one month at a time.
The new challenge system at Sweet Shoppe is titled "Think outside the box". Actually with lack of choice and not many options I feel very "boxed in".
Maybe if they offered a choice of different types of challenges, it'd be better? Not necessarily do as much as they did on pinterest, but offer 2 or 3 types of challenges. I feel like the current one with resolutions is, by default, likely to appeal more to a journaling scrapper than one who uses more photos and less journaling (not that it can't be done photo-only-- it definitely could be done that way) but that it likely appeals more to the journal crowd. By offering a small handful of challenges each week that appeal to different personalities of scrappers, they'd be able to get more participation, even without changing the point system at all.
From there, they'd totally be able to change the point system, too-- participate in ALL of the journaling challenges in a month and earn one point. Participate in ALL of the photo challenges in a month and earn one point. Participate in ALL of whatever another challenge is in a month and earn one point. Participate in ALL of two or three challenge categories and earn a point for each one you FULLY completed. That way, if you did EVERY challenge (3 a week for 4 weeks is still only 12 layouts), you could earn 40% off right away. If you did just one category of challenge each month (4 layouts), then you could still save up for 3 months for the 40% off.
I love how Kristin is all "You could do this and this to be outside of the box." Okay, it's our first week of these challenges. Don't you think you should have maybe showed how to flex the challenges to fit other themes instead of just showing a bunch of layouts with the same "I resolve to ______"? Um, maybe we'll start thinking outside the box when you give us a reason to.
Good God! SSD is in total meltdown mode. Half the customers are thrilled, half are pissed, and all of the designers and babes are rushing over to try to smooth things over when really just saying "fuck you guys, we'll do what we want."
Seriously, guys? You didn't think a MASSIVE change like this would incite outrage and panic? People are getting their pitchforks on both sides, and I'm about to pop some popcorn. This next week there is going to be drama drama drama.
I scratch my head at SSD because they have a huge CT and they're the ones who create for the challenges and you'd think each one of them could handle doing a challenge a month as a site CTM.
^^^^^^
This!
SSD has 30 CTMs on their site team. They could easily do 30 challenges a month with hardly any extra work for anyone. Have each CTM post them in the forum where they belong and still have participants track their points.
Participation is down because SSD moved the challenges to Pinterest and to PDF. Just post them in the forum. It's quick, easy, and where you want your customers to be anyway.
I used to think Robin had a good business head on her shoulders. With this change, I'm greatly rethinking that opinion.
My favorite responses to the "unhappy with the challenge changes" have been from Jacinda and the other babes. It's really simple to lecture and go along with the extreme changes when one gets everything for free as it is AND it's less work for one on top of it. What a bunch of patronizing jerks!
I'm also soooooo glad Meg M enlightened us all by informing us we can do more than one layout in a sitting even though only one counts for the challenge. I'm beginning to see these people for in a clear light and it's not pretty..at all.
Tara, Brook and Jacinda need to quit talking to people like they're incorrigible, thick-headed adolescents. Who in the hell do they think they are?
My favorite responses to the "unhappy with the challenge changes" have been from Jacinda and the other babes. It's really simple to lecture and go along with the extreme changes when one gets everything for free as it is AND it's less work for one on top of it. What a bunch of patronizing jerks!
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^^This times infinity!!^^
SSD has 30 CTMs on their site team. They could easily do 30 challenges a month with hardly any extra work for anyone.
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They could do much, much more than they do. It would be nice to see them doing something constructive rather than pontificating in posts or nothing with which several of them excel.
30 CTM's and I'm lucky if I could pick out 10 who are active. Great team they have there. I can't believe anyone would jump in to defend something to a customer/forum member in public like they have. You're better off letting the dust settle and taking in what people are saying instead of justifying your decision to change. That just pisses people off.
Their site CT and the designers need to back off and let people speak. That's what's best for their business. Change is always difficult and some will like it and some wont. Pressuring and talking down to people voicing their opinion is a surefire way to get them to shop elsewhere.
I, too, heard sales were down for several designers at SSD. This change isn't likely to help that any. It may not hurt them more, but the site CT and some designers coming out in defense mode isn't going to earn them any new customers...
I don't really care about the coupon discounts, but I really feel like this new system is so half ass and like they don't give a shit about their customers anymore.
And the babes in the thread that are being condescending bitches can do STFU and maybe scrap us some OUTSIDE the damn box inspiration rather than the trite shit that they gave as an example.
I used to shop there almost exclusively but in the past year after Pixels & Co. opened and also after a few designer changes at TLP have made that shop more my style, I just don't even think to visit SSD anymore. I really only shop there if a designer I really like releases something amazing and I get their newsletter and decide I have to have it. Other than that, I've really moved on. Seems to me that there are better options out there now and all of the people who are bitching about SSD's changes could just use that energy to start looking around for a new digi home.
And the babes in the thread that are being condescending bitches can do STFU and maybe scrap us some OUTSIDE the damn box inspiration rather than the trite shit that they gave as an example.
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AMEN!!!!! What a bunch of morons. Their idiotic posts speak volumes about what and who THEY are. If I were Robin, I'd make them clear their posts through me on this matter before they were allowed on the forum. They're just angering people further.
I used to shop there almost exclusively but in the past year after Pixels & Co. opened and also after a few designer changes at TLP have made that shop more my style, I just don't even think to visit SSD anymore. I really only shop there if a designer I really like releases something amazing and I get their newsletter and decide I have to have it. Other than that, I've really moved on. Seems to me that there are better options out there now and all of the people who are bitching about SSD's changes could just use that energy to start looking around for a new digi home.
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I used to shop there almost exclusively myself. However, I am really starting to love P&Co and a few other designers scattered at different stores.
What an asshole Brook is. Not only does she patronize people with her words but she interjects those stupid emoticons in her sentences to further add to her obnoxiousness.
And the babes in the thread that are being condescending bitches can do STFU and maybe scrap us some OUTSIDE the damn box inspiration rather than the trite shit that they gave as an example.
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What a novel idea for the babes to actually SCRAP SOMETHING.
I'll never buy another kit from Meg M. again. Ever. After that message she posted, she and her little designs can all go to hell!
but the site CT
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For the "Babes" to be a creative team, they'd actually have to create something. Over half of them (and I'm being very, very, very generous) don't do squat.
Their site CT and the designers need to back off and let people speak.
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Absolutely. Especially since none of them have had anything remotely informative or helpful to say. Robin had the best message, and, like another poster here said, she should make the others shut up. They're not helping things, they're hindering them plus they sound like defensive and patronizing idiots.
reason for being at their site is now minimized to almost nothing.
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you're wrong here. there's no reason at all to be at the site.
I used to think Robin had a good business head on her shoulders. With this change, I'm greatly rethinking that opinion.
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I think she does, however, she has some designers and ct's who are NOT doing her any favors at all professionally. I don't even do the challenges but reading what some of these people have posted has really, really turned me off.
I'll never buy another kit from Meg M. again. Ever. After that message she posted, she and her little designs can all go to hell!
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What did she post?
Robyn had a good response and made me feel listened to. Then another person there reminded everyone that they've never made changes to a system mid-year, they always wait until January. If they're going to wait until next year to make some changes, there might not be a site left.
Then again, you'll see everyone, even people who don't participate at all in the challenges, jumping in and defending the new system and telling us all not to be upset about our coupons because there's sales and this that and the other thing. I wouldn't be surprised if designers weren't behind-the-scenes making promises to anyone who would defend the new system.
Last year they DID make a change mid year. They lowered the points back to the normal 10/20/30 to get the percentages off, rather than the 20/30/40 they started off with. They claimed it was for summer, but it stayed around for the rest of the year.
You are all assuming that those challenge coupons make up for a big portion of their income. Maybe they have a higher percentage of customers who make purchases not using those challenge coupons (in which case, any changes made to it might not effect their overall bottom line as much as you think).
But, if people buy products because they need them for the challenges, then not having as many challenges could lead to lower sales.
While I totally get them making it 100% SSD products (pretty standard for a lot of stores), by making it that way, they kind of screwed everyone who spent their scrapping budget in the Nettio sale. Now those can't be used for challenges. (And doesn't leave much room for those of us who like templates don't use Cindy or Janet templates at all-- BLEH-- and yes, I know they're not the only two people who make templates in the store, but none of them look good, imo)
Janet's templates ALL look the same. Why she even designs them anymore is beyond me. Nettio's were very limiting and EXPENSIVE. Cindy's layered cards and titles are her claim to fame, imo.
I wish more template designers at other stores would do layered cards, titles, etc.
I'll admit, the layered cards are nice, but her templates are bleh... Cindy should stick to the cards and ditch the full pages.
Nettio was only good for full albums in a hurry-like her summer or christmas faves.
Agreed.
Where is the thread everyone is referring to? I looked but can't find it.
http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75605
I recently uploaded a couple of layouts to SSD, separated by a few weeks. I'm not new to digi, but it was the first layouts posted at SSD for me. I did not receive any comments on either one of them. After the first one I thought maybe it was a fluke, people were just busy. After the second one received no comments I was really unimpressed. It's my experience at other sites that the store team makes sure to leave nice comments on customer layouts, especially TLP.
Not true w/SSD. Their CT, compared to the other stores', is pretty worthless and idle, very idle. It's amazing that number of people (the Babes) could do so little for so long and get away with it.
Janet's templates ALL look the same. Why she even designs them anymore is beyond me.
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The bigger question is why in the world anyone would play the prices for those templates that pretty much anyone who knows Photoshop could easily replicate in a few minutes.
I'll never buy another kit from Meg M. again. Ever.
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I'm with you. What a rude woman trying to be funny at the expense of others.
What an asshole Brook is. Not only does she patronize people with her words but she interjects those stupid emoticons in her sentences to further add to her obnoxiousness.
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She designed two kits and probably thinks she's a top notch designer now and will have a perm spot at the shoppe if she chimes in this way.
Robin at the end of her blurb said: In any case, I appreciate your thoughts and feedback and hope you can roll with the changes and give it a try as we'd hate to miss out on seeing layouts from some of you talented ladies!
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If everyone that is so upset boycotts the challenges then she will see that NO they don't want change and pass the word along.
We are all free to pass the word along via PM, FB-PM, blogs, forums. If it's so upsetting losing the coupon every month, unite and show them who's boss. Does she want to keep you happy and shopping? Do you want SSD to be your digi home and not move on then do something about it. I'm not a huge participant at SSD but just thought I'd share my 2 cents.
77, I've never received a comment on any LO posted to SSD. I used to CT for one of their designers, so I posted at least 3 LOs per month (plus the LOs I posted with stuff I'd purchased). I always try to comment on at least 2 LOs when I post a LO. It's just the nice thing to do.
I was 77. 82, that's a sad testament to the SSD team. Maybe commenting on layouts isn't a requirement for them?? (I find that surprising) I upload the most to TLP, and only a small fraction of layouts have NO comments there. (like maybe 1 out of 12 on the page doesn't have any comments and most have multiple). In fact, I occasionally find myself pressed to find the time to return comments for all the ones I received. I am not as nice as you to leave comments every time I post, but I do try to always return a comment when I received one.
She designed two kits and probably thinks she's a top notch designer now and will have a perm spot at the shoppe if she chimes in this way.
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Well, the first kit she designed or help design or whatever had atrocious colors which is the ONLY reason I remember it. I know she had her hand in another one but I don't/can't remember what it was...and don't care.
I was looking at my layouts in the SSD gallery yesterday just because. Then I started to notice that my layouts used to have a lot of comments on them and now I hardly have any comments on my newer layouts. I used to be pretty active in the forum but haven't been in a couple of years (just other things to do I guess). I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. Now I just post about 3 layouts a month for the CT I am on there and occasionally post in the sneak peek thread. Nothing else. You would think there would be more of a praise team or something.
But then again I would want comments that are meaningful and not just a post. The comments I do receive now are meaningful and people point out what they like about the layout. I just wished it happened more often.
Nettio's newsletter confirms she is not going somewhere existing-- that it will be "totally new." I'd say that takes out teaching at whatever place Traci teaches, and knocks out BPC, also, I think. My guess is teaching her own classes at her own site, or opening her own store up.
What ever Nettio does I bet it will cost way too much especially if she's going to foot the expense of opening up her own store. Unless her product has really changed in a month, I'll be passing, I'm sure. I also detest this juvenile guessing game these people attempt to create. Just inform people where you're going when you want it out there, and, before then just shut up. The notion that people want "hints" so they can guess where someone is going or what someone is going to do is absurd, unless the said people are five-years-old.
What an asshole Brook is. Not only does she patronize people with her words but she interjects those stupid emoticons in her sentences to further add to her obnoxiousness.
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Those emoticons she uses have got to go. What is she? Twelve? I'd LOVE to tell her where to put them! Maybe using them is part of her creative process.
I've never received a comment on any LO posted to SSD.
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A lot of the comments appear to come from the designer whose kit/template was used to make the layout. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter whether the layout is well done, just that the designer's stuff was used to make it and that compels them to post a comment.
While I totally get them making it 100% SSD products (pretty standard for a lot of stores
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Yeah, I get it too. I just wish they had some decent template designers. I also wish they'd get someone who does completely "out of the box" designs. Something unique that we don't see in every kit. Their stuff is all starting to run together because much of it is so similar.
What do you guys think of SO's new "fruit of the month"? I don't think the pieces, if bought at half off right now, are worth a total of $8.
You didn't think a MASSIVE change like this would incite outrage and panic?
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I hope you were being sarcastic because anyone outraged and panicky about a change in a challenge system
91 - I think a mini kit for $2 is pretty standard. I don't think $8 is worth it for 4 minis. It says something about an addon for free if you buy all 4, but I don't see the addon. It seems confusing to me.
I think the addon will appear in your cart when you buy all four kits.
I had a hard time even finding Fruit of the Month category. I was looking through the lists and headers to find it .... after several minutes I found a link in the middle of the market home page. I think you have to be on that specific page to even see that link. I've you've clicked on a designer or a category... you can't find the Fruit of the Month category any more? That doesn't seem smart.
I agree that $2 for a mini seems OK ... but $8 for all of it seems too high. Their Megas were only $5 I think.
95 said: I agree that $2 for a mini seems OK ... but $8 for all of it seems too high. Their Megas were only $5 I think.
^^^^
ITA with this. The mega was bigger, had more themed elements (WMSquared's preview looks empty compared to the other designers'), and was less expensive. If megas are to help cover the cost of running the store, then you'd think SO would want to make these items more appealing to people. I can't imagine customers buying the FotM in larger quantities than the old megas. But I could be wrong.
Is anyone disappointed with P&Co's Dollar Days sale? I remember buying almost everything last time. This time, I can't find enough to get the $10 fwp kit...
Is anyone disappointed with P&Co's Dollar Days sale? I remember buying almost everything last time. This time, I can't find enough to get the $10 fwp kit...
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Very disappointed. There's no comparison the previous dollar sale.
Edited: there's no comparison WITH...
#97 and #98- I totally agree! I can'f find $10 worth of stuff for the FWP. Yuck.
#39 said "I also do some of SO's, but their challenge rule (crediting, linking, etc) is seriously a pain!" - I am surprised that others haven't commented on this challenge system, which is extremely unfriendly to the customer. The entire set of directions is completely condescending, the way points are rewarded is overly complicated, and it is now replacing the old plum perks system, in which I earned points for spending money there. It is way too cumbersome for the payoff. Just the way it has been structured turns me off and makes me want to spend my money other places.
TLP's Month of Challenges is fun. The inspiration in each thread is amazing and showcases just about any scrapping style anyone has, so it has an inclusive feel to it, even though 75% of the products used have to be currently in the shop, rather than having to products by current designers.
#44- "Maybe if they offered a choice of different types of challenges, it'd be better? Not necessarily do as much as they did on pinterest, but offer 2 or 3 types of challenges. I feel like the current one with resolutions is, by default, likely to appeal more to a journaling scrapper than one who uses more photos and less journaling (not that it can't be done photo-only-- it definitely could be done that way) but that it likely appeals more to the journal crowd. By offering a small handful of challenges each week that appeal to different personalities of scrappers, they'd be able to get more participation, even without changing the point system at all."
I hope Robin take your comment seriously and uses it as a basis for some change. I don't mind that the products have to be 100% SSD since you can use any products, retired or otherwise, made by current SSD designers. It gives a lot more flexibility than some other systems do. I like that you can now carry over your points- if you look at old threads, very few participants earned 40% each month- and I don't mind that you have to wait for the Sweet rewards, but I would like to be able to earn the 40% every other month. I do MIND that the system feels very poorly thought out and that SSD designers and CT seem to be defensive and judgmental rather than thoughtfully responding to concerns. AND I definitely am extremely puzzled as to why it is called Think Outside the Box since the challenge and examples are clearly square in the box.
#77, #82, and #83- I have noticed the same thing about SSD and TLP. I seldom if ever get a comment on my layouts at SSD unless it is a designer and usually those comments are thoughtful. With such a huge CT team, there should be at least one or two comments on all the layouts. I always get at least two to three comments, and often more, at TLP, and I am not a consistent poster there. I think SSD could learn a lesson from TLP on this: people participate where they feel welcomed and appreciated. Unfortunately, that isn't always true at SSD, and I have always had a soft spot for them.
#96- My sentiments exactly regarding the FotM vs the old mega kits.
#53- I wonder if there sales are down lately because so many stores have had great sales over the last few months and scrappers are spreading their money more than they have in the past or if it is because each designer's kits are starting more and more to blend into each other.
SSD needs some "new" life breathed into it. A good deal of their designs are cookie cutter kits that could easily be done by almost anyone. Their store ct needs to become more involved. The occasional sneak peek or forum comment sprinkled with the few layouts most of them load to the gallery hardly is adequate. I've never seen such an unproductive site ct.
P&Co's dollar sale is a big bust. Last time they had this sale a full kit could be gotten for two bucks..not so this time at all. They should have at least offered a few like they did before. They set the bar for what this sale was and then they totally changed it.
While TLP may have lots of comments in their gallery, etc., they are also extremely cliquish which detracts from new people attempting to join in.
SO has some talented designers, however, the search function for their store sucks and is enough deterrent not to even bother if one is looking for something specific.
How many journal cards and wood veneer does one need? Shouldn't the P&Co designers at least co-ordinate a little what they're going to put out in the $1 sale? Gennifer has a full kit that can be bought with $2, but she has been generous in the $1 sale last time too. I bought every kit of hers last time.
I agree with the overall disappointment with the P&Co dollar sale in that so far I don't see much that I just have to have. But we're only a week in, so I'm still hoping.
I think I see a few paper sets ... and am wondering if elements sets are coming too. I don't mind a full sized kit being split into papers and elements+alpha, and each sold for a dollar. That seems in the true spirit of a dollar sale (a full kit for $2). But I think I saw one example of a pack of solid papers and a pack of patterned papers, each for a dollar. Now splitting up a kit into patterned paper, solid paper, elements, and alpha and offering each of those for a dollar, that bothers me because it doesn't seem to be in the true spirit of a dollar sale.
I agree that SSD needs to add a few unique designers to their team. Everything there is very similar these days. TLP is very cliquish, if you're not one of the it girls, they won't bother talking to you. SO has gone very downhill IMO, I won't even bother looking there anymore. I like P&Co but they also need to add some diversity to their team.
Just a comment on the new FOTM from SO. I'm a customer, not part of the site, but if you put all 4 mini-kits in your cart, they are discounted to a dollar and then you get the add on as well (can't remember if it showed up in the cart or just in the downloads). So for $4, it's a pretty good deal, but I did like the old mega system better because it always seemed to have templates also, which I love, although I thought the last few months' color schemes sucked so did not buy them. I did like this month's color scheme.
Gennifer has a full kit that can be bought with $2, but she has been generous in the $1 sale last time too. I bought every kit of hers last time.
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Where is there a full kit of Gen's?
The Miss Molly papers are out, and she said she'll have elements out later.
I joined TLP in 2012, but Im not active in the forums. Very rarely do I post in threads ( 400 posts which would be comments on layouts & 23 posts on questions, queries etc ) I have never been snubbed or not had an answer to a question. I have upload 95 layouts over that time with 321 comments. Which if my maths is correct is an average of 3.3 comments per layout. Designers have commented which I find refreshing.
I do not think they are cliquish, they are very welcoming if you want to participate. It really depends on what you expect from a site. I like the diversity of the TLP.
The only other place were I post is Pixel & co again they are very welcoming.
P&Co is welcoming. I find SSD and TLP both to be very cliquish.
105, it was a total of $4 in your cart for all 4 pieces? Because in the store each piece is $2, which is half off regular price. So, was the total price only $4 in your cart--which would mean 75% off regular price? I'm still not a big fan of the colors this month, either. But def. a better deal if it's $4.
The colors suck big time and I wouldn't buy it if the whole thing was one price and part of P&Co dollar sale.
The Miss Molly papers are out, and she said she'll have elements out later.
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elements are there now
#110- I added all 4 pieces to my cart and it changed the price to $1 per piece plus added the free addon to the cart automatically....never saw it advertised that way nor how long that will last..
On the main page of the store it says half off when you buy all 4 plus the add-on free, so I guess that means that they are all just $1 if you buy all 4. So $4 for all 5, a little cheaper than the past megas. For the person who commented about the templates being missing, they are being sent out in the weekly newsletter. The template freebie in today's newsletter by LGF was coordinating with the Dreamer products in the store (by name and color scheme). So it looks to me like if you get the newsletter, you will get the 4 templates for free through that and the 5 items in the store for $4. Even so, it took me quite a while to piece all of that together as it wasn't clear at all as to what is going on with that. They really should have explained it better including that the templates would be freebies in the newsletter.
P&Co is welcoming. I find SSD and TLP both to be very cliquish.
Jan 10, 2014, 1:26:00 AM
Who is cluquish? I understand the meaning but who are you referring to?
At SSD the one's carrying on talks are mostly customers. TLP I see alot of interaction between both team and customers. Would it be crazy to think that 'most' of the store creative teams don't even interact with each other.
Would it be crazy to think that 'most' of the store creative teams don't even interact with each other.
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No, it wouldn't be crazy. I'm the op and I never said they did so don't know what that prompted that statement by you. At SSD the same people (customers..whoever) post and post and post. Someone new comes in and posts something and seldom are they even acknowledged. It's the same few interacting with no attention paid to someone with say..25 posts as opposed to someone with 2500+. TLP is the exact same way. That is what I mean. Don't know how to be much clearer. If you want specific names, go look at the forums.
I didn't have any trouble finding 10 products to get the FWP at Pixels & Co., just from their dollar sale. Here's what I got:
A year in retrospect album by Anita Designs
Best Year Ever papers and elements by Audacious Designs
Miss Molly papers and elements by Gennifer bursett
Every Little Bit brushes and cards by Deena Rutter
This Year 2014 papers from Scotty Girl designs (already had the kit)
Chalk Calendar Journalers (like the kraft ones too) by Sweet Caroline
Veneer Journalers 2 by Mye de Leon
This Year brushes by Scotty Girl Designs
Everyday Life Pocket Scrapping Planner from Laura Passage
There are a couple of good deals there -- both the planner sets are great deals, and Anita's album is an excellent deal, I think. She's also got a really pretty travel kit that claims it is a mini kit but it is pretty big, if you ask me. Both Audacious Designs and Gennifer Bursett have full kits that you can get for $2.00. And it's still early. They've only been releasing for 10 days. There's still 60 products still to be released this month. I've been pleased, anyway.
#110 - Yes, it was a total of $4 once all four pieces were added to the cart (off from $2/piece). Plus you also got the free add-on (more papers and elements from each of the designers who participated. Also, I just got my SO newsletter this morning and there was a matching template for the Dreamer kit. So all in all, a pretty decent deal if you like the colors and items in the kits.
thanks to all of you who posted about the SO's FotM price. *SO, IF YOU'RE READING THIS: please advertise the pricing better. KThxBye.* I do like the theme but I'm not a huge fan of the colors. I guess I could recolor them, but lately I've been feeling lazy. I want my supplies in the colors I want...I don't want to recolor anything because I just don't have much time to scrap (let alone recolor so I can THEN scrap).
As I was looking at the SSD ad I noticed alot of those layouts are not from the store CT could it be that they will be doing away with the team and just stick with the designers teams. Some of those layouts aren't even worth a second look. For ex. Rubia, Libby, Meghan, Erica, Allie *Just Sayin*
Most of the sneak peeks are done by designer team members. As has been stated many, many times, the Babes, as a team, really don't do shit.
I doubt they'd do away with the babes. And you know what? I'd rather they didn't. If they strip that title, how will we be able to distinguish normal customers from the stuck-up ass-kissers around there? This just makes it easy to see who is who.
Does anyone else feel that all Ali Edwards has become recently is brushes with her handwriting (again) and sponsored giveaways? There seems to be no depth to her blog anymore.
Has anyone noticed how attention-seeking Lauren Grier is? She seems really immature and emotionally needy. I do sympathize with all her troubles, however, I wouldn't think a scrapbook forum was an appropriate venue for airing her woes. I also don't see her posting to others when they are to be congratulated and/or sympathized with. One-sided people like that suck the life right out of ya if you get close to them. I'm glad she's only in cyber space and physically far, far away.
#123 stopped ready her blog over a year ago, as it was just boring.. Ali is all about trying to plug whatever she's been paid to. She does nothing original anymore.
Has anyone noticed how attention-seeking Lauren Grier is?
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Yes.
Has anyone noticed how attention-seeking Lauren Grier is? She seems really immature and emotionally needy. I do sympathize with all her troubles, however, I wouldn't think a scrapbook forum was an appropriate venue for airing her woes. I also don't see her posting to others when they are to be congratulated and/or sympathized with. One-sided people like that suck the life right out of ya if you get close to them. I'm glad she's only in cyber space and physically far, far away.
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I've really noticed that she does not respond much to anyone else period. It's all about her and her problems, life, etc.etc. She definitely appears to have her own agenda.
TLP is having their Birthday Bash this weekend. I am really hoping they have more than that stupid 20%off and do more of a half off or 35% off. Bump up that percentage off, get people excited about shopping this weekend! Yeah, probably not gonna happen but oh well I put it out their!
anyone know why Mari K isn't listed at Sweet Shoppe anymore? I didn't see a retirement announcement. Did I miss it?
She just announced it on FB, 129. Definitely a story there, though. Way too sudden not to be.
She just posted on FB.
Let me guess. She's tired of the backstabbing designer bitches at SSD and will be moving to to Pixels and Company - she just spent time at CHA with a whole gang from there. That's my guess.
She said she wasn't going to continue digital designing in her FB post. I agree it seems odd.
I really like her designs but she didn't produce very often.
No retirement sale or anything? I had a kit or two on my wish list that I would have loved to grab before she left.
She wasn't listed as of yesterday. I was looking for her designs after the CHA announcements for Pink P. They shut her down yesterday/am and today she's announcing she's retiring from SSD ooppsss to late something went down! I can't wait to hear the details on that one!
What are the CHA announcements for Pink P? Did it have something to do with Mari?
Mari designed some of their new paper line coming out. She linked to this person Jeryn VA and she had the photos of her new line up for Pink P.
Who knows the story?? Share... someone knows, maybe they will dish on why SSD booted her from one day to the next.
Maybe she came home from CHA and decided to stop selling digital and focus on paper. Her announcement of leaving came the day after she got home right? From what I have heard here on this blog and elsewhere, there is way more money in designing for paper than digital. Also it seems that SSD is bleeding designers lately. It's not often that 2 designers leave SSD within a couple of weeks of each other. Sounds like times are getting hard there in the "sweetest shoppe on the web" so maybe the smart ones are bailing out.
Who else left?
Nettio left recently, anyone else at SSD leave? I really like Mari K, and I'd love to know the scoop about why she left.
Left, Nettio Designs yes she left to do other things but she made an announcement way before.
Where Mari K was shut down suddenly on Sunday which is a big difference. She made her effective immediately speech on FB yesterday. So she was probably like OMG my store is gone OK, I have to announce my no longer creating digital speech, blahh blahh blahhh
I'm sure the money is in paper but their is a story and for now it's all hush hush cuz the people at SSD are tight lipped about what happened. One designer said this to her on FB:Rubia Padilha You already know all my feelings about that and about you....
can someone link me to Mari's facebook page- I found one, but it doesn't have any comments since November on it???
Mari's FB page: www.facebook.com/MyDigitalArtStudio
Mari's FB page can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/MyDigitalArtStudio
You know how stores always try to create hype when they have a new store designer coming? Like: " You'll never guess who are new designer is!" Well, I think they should do the same when someone leaves. Like:" Why do you think Mari K. left Sweet Shoppe so suddenly?" lol
I'm 143- That is one of the most bizarre retirement statements I have heard. I wonder what was so drastic that she totally quit digital designing. I question whether it was the fact that she could make so much money with paper design. Several digital designers are paper designers and still maintain their digital stores.
She was definitely canned and it was not planned by her at all.
I happen to know the story and she resigned last week. She wasn't "canned" but her store was supposed to be open for another week etc. but then she posted on fb about having so much fun with people from another shop at CHA and Robin got mad and disabled her store a few days early. But she had already resigned and there's really no gossip here people unless you count the fact that Robin let a few fb posts wad up her panties. That's old news tho.
What are some of the valid reasons for a designer's store to be immediately closed? It seems it would have to be for some legal reason, but I have no clue what. Even if there was some kind of mistake made by someone involved, they would often be given the opportunity to right whatever they did wrong. It seems to be implied that SSD shut her out, but if it is some legal issue, could it have been forced by Pink P?
149 - Mari resigned last week, but made no announcement or had a sale in place whatsoever? That sounds like BS. Every designer who is retiring from design has a sale or at least notifies their customers ahead of time so they can buy products before they're gone.
Robin getting mad about Mari having fun with P&Co at CHA sounds about right. It's also extremely hypocritical. Robin and her band of bitches read here, post here, and have for a very long time. SSD's hatred of P&Co is because they feel saying they don't condone the smack blog in one breath while they read and post here in another makes them superior.
150 - Unless there is a contracted reason (which is extremely rare), you can be canned for whatever reason at any time. This is digiscraping. There is no such thing as a "valid reason." One bitch gets pissed because another bitch talked to a group of bitches and shuts the store off. It's called high school and it never ends.
Robin got mad and disabled her store a few days early.
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She disabled the store because Mari said she had fun with someone else? Now, that's the height of professionalism and maturity.
She was definitely canned and it was not planned by her at all.
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This is obviously a lie. Trying to get anonymous attention anonymously?
She had resigned, but her retirement sale hadn't happened yet. There is always a window between when a designer tells the store they are leaving and when they actually leave, but something made Robin angry enough that she turned her store off early.
If she's not planning on selling at PCO, or even digitally at all, why does it matter that she hung out with them? Is there something more to the story between the two stores?
Is there something more to the story between the two stores?
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Well, there has to be something more to it than what's been said here. Robin is obviously not an overreacting idiot, so something somewhere happened that has not been posted here. Common sense would dictate that.
She had resigned, but her retirement sale hadn't happened yet. There is always a window between when a designer tells the store they are leaving and when they actually leave, but something made Robin angry enough that she turned her store off early.
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Exactly. It' very hard to believe that it was simply because Mari posted that she had fun with some people. Give me a break. If poster #149 expects that to be believed than he/she is an idiot.
If poster #149 expects that to be believed than he/she is an idiot.
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And figures the majority of posters here are idiots as well.
I happen to know the story and she resigned last week.
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You happen to not know shit.
If she's not planning on selling at PCO, or even digitally at all, why does it matter that she hung out with them?
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Even if she were to start selling at PCO what difference would it make? Lauren Grier left SSD for TLP and there wasn't a big upset. Designers leave one store for another pretty often. Why is that anger-provoking unless something else happened?
Trivia Question: Just wondering if Mari could sell her SSD designs on her blog or something if she repackaged them?
I happen to know the story and she resigned last week.
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You happen to not know shit.
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^^This^^
I'm not 149, and I know she resigned before Robin closed her shop. There are people misrepresenting things here.
160: Yes.
Robin is obviously not an overreacting idiot,
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actually...
Dear 155, 156, 157, 158, 161: You are the ones who don't know shit.
There's evidence here that everything 149 said is true. Mari even told her CT last week before she left for CHA, and they already knew she was leaving SSD. Her forum was even disabled last week but her shop was still open. It was supposed to stay open for longer but she came home from CHA and posted about it and tagged half the design team from PCO and Robin got pissed and called her unprofessional and disabled her store effective immediately.
Don't talk shit to people on the smack blog and tell them that they don't know what they're talking about, or call them idiots, if YOU happen to be the one without the background story and info. Even the designers at SSD didn't know about this stuff last week so if you're one of them then can it. Listen and you may learn something here other than the spoon-fed BS you're getting from your boss.
PS have you ever heard the phrase "if he cheats with you he'll cheat on you too"? If you're a designer at SSD you might want to start worrying about what Robin might do to you in the future in one of her fits of irrational behavior.
Mari used to be at TDC with some of the now PCO designers. It doesn't seem surprising that she would hang out with them, even though they are at different stores now. Did Robin really call her unprofessional for that? It is Robin who is sounding unprofessional in all this.
If what 164 says is true, Robin sounds like a total idiot. Can a designer not have friends at another shop? That sounds like JUNIOR high school to me. SSD is sounding more and more like a stupid bunch of mean girls every day.
Maybe her fb post came across as: FU SSD, I am loving PCO now! & maybe they're extra sensitive to that b/c so many of their former customers feel the same way.
What did her facebook post actually say about SSD and Pixels?
Every designer who is retiring from design has a sale or at least notifies their customers ahead of time so they can buy products before they're gone.
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No, not every designer.
If what 164 says is true, Robin sounds like a total idiot. Can a designer not have friends at another shop? That sounds like JUNIOR high school to me. SSD is sounding more and more like a stupid bunch of mean girls every day.
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Just because someone said it here, doesn't mean it's true. The people constantly smacking SSD sound like a bunch of mean girls. No affiliation, I don't even shop there, just tired of it all.
There are people misrepresenting things here.
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Of course.
Just because someone said it here, doesn't mean it's true. The people constantly smacking SSD sound like a bunch of mean girls. No affiliation, I don't even shop there, just tired of it all.
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You mean anonymous postings aren't always true?
There are people misrepresenting things here.
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You've got to be kidding. No Way!
Sadly, this time it's all true.
No it's not. Mari DID resign last week. She DID inform people of this. Robin DID get upset at something, and closed her shop earlier than they had agreed upon.
These are facts, no matter how much you (SSD flunky) wants to deny it.
"Robin is obviously not an overreacting idiot . . ."
LOL, she obviously IS an overreacting idiot.
I'm curious to hear what the real story is and see where Mari pops up in a few weeks. Wish there had been advance notice because I had a few products that I was waiting to buy after I got paid, but I guess that just isn't going to happen. Their loss, they don't get that money now.
175-Yes, that is how I understood it from Mari.
Anyone else thinking the delay in featured designer at SSD is more than just "oh, I'm not feeling well, that's why it's late"? I'd put money on that the featured designer this week was set to be Mari, and after everything, Julie was not quite ready and hers got posted in a rush to keep from there being a gap... and then the "Omg, I was so sick... suuuuuper sorry!" excuse from Robin is just what helped cover it up.
Mind you, pure speculation on my part, but then again, so is everything else on this blog, it seems.
Well, the last few featured designer kits have been so boringly similar to everything else that I've gotten to the point where I don't even pay that much attention to when they change.
179- that was exactly my first thought too.
I am (was?) on Mari's team and I don't think she was scheduled to be the FD right now. Usually she makes those kits in advance and her team knows about them. My money is on Robin just messed it up. I think that place is falling apart at the seams.
Also, this is the first time I've posted about this but what everyone has said above is true and Mari definitely quit SSD last week before she went on her trip and she deactivated her forum but not her store, before leaving town. We were all told this. I don't know any more about the story after that, but it would seem that whoever says that Robin got mad and went off the deep end is probably right because her shop wasn't supposed to close suddenly on Monday or I am sure we would have been told. FWIW
Robin is the one falling apart right now.
The TLP collab free with purchase kit is the ugliest thing I've seen in a long time. They'd have to pay me $15 to download it.
^^^^^
Meh, looks typical for the Pad to me.
Etc by Danyale is going to scrap orchard
186-So sad.
Why is that sad?
188-Because I like her things, but I don't like ScrapOrchard.
It seems as though a lot of my favorite designers have been going to SO lately, and I wouldn't have thought any of them were a very good fit. Scrapyrus, Forever Joy, Etc by Danyale...
SO is bringing on a variety of styles and some of you bitch. SSD all looks the same and some of you bitch.
It's nice that SO has a variety. I'm just not a SO shopper, and probably won't become one. I hate their gallery and forum.
191-- Different people having different opinions? You don't say...
SO is bringing on a variety of styles and some of you bitch. SSD all looks the same and some of you bitch.
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And so ...
I wasn't bitching - I just think it indicates a move in style for SO. A style I like much better, so I'm happy.
There's no way that Danyale and Kami will get along in the end. Mark my words. Kami has no idea what she's in for, oh and Danyale has no idea what she's in for.
^^ I think Kamis difficult nature has been well broadcast on this blog- but then again I see very few people who leave SO.
What is it about Dani that you think Kami is unprepared for?
There's no way that Danyale and Kami will get along in the end. Mark my words. Kami has no idea what she's in for, oh and Danyale has no idea what she's in for.
Jan 19, 2014, 5:26:00 PM
You say that like there is a store owner (or any single person) out there who is amazing to everyone about everything all the time. Some of you people need to leave your house every once in awhile.
197, I've never seen Danyale go by Dani. It's Danyale and she's bossy and unyielding and won't do well having someone rule her with an iron fist like Kami is known to do. Meanwhile plenty of people have left SO. It's no different than any other digi shop in that regard, don't kid yourself.
I'm enjoying the challenges at TLP but damn people are picky.
'I don't like flowers. I don't like quickpages.' If you don't like the challenge don't do it dumbasses!
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