This will bring you to the cover and you can follow it thru at sbg. I hope you like it. I think it is beyond wonderful. http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/members-galleries/p133621-take-my-hand-book-cover.html I wish I had this creativeness in me. sorry to interrupt the smack blog.
I've also placed 8 orders at Scrap Orchard since the advent calendar sales started and I've spent $56 so far.. I'm guessing I'll be buying stuff 20 out of the 25 days.
I just don't think I (or anyone else) has the right to judge. And I know some folks who are downright MEAN about it. None of their beeswax IMO. Maybe kids would rather have a fantasy album than a box of photos. Or nothing.
Just scrap how you like to scrap. Who cares what anyone else thinks about it? Seriously. No one is going to change anyone else's mind, so just enjoy what you do and don't give a shit about a stranger's opinion.
I've really wanted to shop at SO during advent, but I bought the few things I wanted during Black Friday. I've spent about $10. None of the new stuff has been appealing to me, but I look every day. I didn't look during WM Squared sale. I don't like her stuff. I find it hard to scrap with.
I looked at Suzy's new stuff and it looks exactly like the same style she's been making for a long time. I can't make out much on her new stuff because everything is so tiny on the previews. It looks like a piled on mess. I don't have much need for more winter/Christmas kits anyway.
Yeah, I didn't see anything changed in Suzy's style - same doodle style and basics. The previews do look weirdly small now that I look at them again. Kinda grainy, too.
Awhile back, someone said she was hesitant to choose a person (who makes great pages) for her CT because this person is in a clique. Someone else asked what that means, exactly, and got smacked.
Well, I don't know what it means, either. What does a clique look like? Is it a group that talks to each other in the forums? Do they not talk/respond to other posters? Are they all on the same CT?
Are they just really good at what they do?
It reminds me of a post quite a long time ago, a designer hesitant to choose a person for her CT whose "politics" were different from the designer's. I've thought of that often since reading it.
I thought this hobby wasn't about politics. How could that possibly matter?
And - I think the poster mentioned that she wouldn't want her work to reflect politics she doesn't agree with. Seems a simple condition of CT work (though the request would put me off.)
But - isn't CT work "payment", instead of money, for kits? Once a CT member has made her pages/payment, the kit belongs to her, right? And if I pay for a kit, surely I can use it as I like (assuming compliance with terms.)
Journalling requires actual words, and preserving a memory. What exactly are you preserving in a fantasy creation? Nothing. It's a creation. It's pretty, but it's not a memory. ---
Says you. I can look at my fantasy pages and know exactly what memory it is that I've preserved.
Here's the problem with the fantasy layouts, IMO, it's like what is going to happen in 20 years when a kid looks back through the scrapbook of their life? Won't they be asking their mom what happened to the pegasus they used to fly around on in all of the scrapbook pages? But mom, I really loved that Pegasus, why did you send it off to the farm? I wanted to keep it forever and ever...
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What about all the traditional pages that have no journaling on them? Where's the memory scrapping in those?
In 20 years time, the kid is going to look though those pages and ask, where was it, when was it, why were we there, what happened, why am in a pumpkin, etc.
Oh, and it makes more sense to nestle your child in a meadow of flowers when it was really the day they colored on their brand new bedspread with black magic marker, or the time they tied their own shoes the first time? Are they going to look at that work of art twenty years from now now and say, "Hey, I remember that field of flowers."
Oh, and it makes more sense to nestle your child in a meadow of flowers when it was really the day they colored on their brand new bedspread with black magic marker, or the time they tied their own shoes the first time? -----
The point of scrapbooking isn't for YOU can look at your page and know exactly what its about, its for other people to read and understand your stories, to leave a legacy of memories.
When you are dead, people will look at all your pages of your kids under elf mushrooms and nestled inside cabbages and have no idea what the stories of their lives actually were.
The point of scrapbooking isn't for YOU can look at your page and know exactly what its about, its for other people to read and understand your stories, to leave a legacy of memories. ----
Says who? You? My scrapbook pages are not for other people or future generations, sorry. Yours may be, but mine aren't.
And guess what? Traditionally, scrapbooks were only for the person who made them.
I really wish people would stop trying to tell others what scrapping should and shouldn't be.
When you are dead, people will look at all your pages of your kids under elf mushrooms and nestled inside cabbages and have no idea what the stories of their lives actually were. ----
Most kids are going to look at their scrapbook pages and think it was nothing but birthday parties, vacations and good times. Still not telling what the stories of their lives actually were.
My parents didn't scrapbook my childhood. I don't need a scrapbook page to remember the sad times. But I sure do appreciate all the pictures of the good times with the notes on the back about what was happening. They know the story of their lives and their version of it will probably be very different than mine, just as it is with my parents.
Fantasy doesn't document truth either. In fact there is absolutely no reality to it. So don't try to argue from that side because you aren't even preserving the good or the bad.
And to the person that asked about no journaling: I at least put a date and the event. There might not be anything to say about the picture. Or it might just be a portrait page just like a portrait in the house hanging on the wall. It's there because it is a great picture of the family I love and specific journalling is not needed. But the difference is that it is my family and not some picture that I pulled from stock photography that has no personal meaning.
I am a traditional scrapper with a few fantasty pages behind me. My kids love the fantasy pages and I'm pretty sure that 20 years from now they are not going to mistake them as anything other than what they are: FUN! I love a lot of the fantasy pages, many of them look like gorgeous works of art to me.
There is a lot I don't like, like the huge shadows that make elements seem like they are floating on the page, and the messy art journaling pages are something I just don't get. But I don't dismiss them as non-scrapping just because I don't like them.
As for the journaling, I don't include journaling on all the layouts I post online. It's usually a hidden layer that's made visible when I print them. Some things are just private.
The fantasy pics can be used for real life occasion pages. My GD had a tinkerbell themed bday and her entire birthday book was done with fantasy layouts with bd photos and journaling about the party. It was pretty damn cute (if I do say so myself). She loves looking at it and showing people "her story."
I say leave fantasy to those who enjoy it and the rest can do their own thing. Doing one or the other doesn't make one bad or good. People like different things. That's what makes the world go round and this topic so boring and rediculous.
#15 I bought her new Christmas and Winter kit plus the glitter alphas. They are totally a different style from her previous work. I never liked her color palettes but these kits plus the glitter alphas won me because of the colors. Yes I have enough scrapbook stuff to last me for 3 lifetimes but I always want more.. I can never say I have enough.
The stupidity in that argument is that we are copying paper and it looks very similar.
Fantasy doesn't copy paper scrapbooking. It's its own thing. I don't understand why people find that insulting. We aren't out to ban it, just to give it the artful recognition it deserves.
what is going on with dst? their new blog train palette is hideous and they are going to charge to access the dcr. i know it's only a dollar but still it's pretty dead in the dcr why pay to read nothing?
I was wondering the same thing, #36. It seems it's the same 8-10 people posting in the DCR these days and none of them are designers whose advice I'd give much weight to.
#36 sheesh, if you read the post about the $1 thing, you would know that it is not about charging money but about keeping the no-longer-designers out of the DCR. I pay to renew my yearly professional membership and if I don't pay, I am removed from the list. DST is doing the same thing. What is the big deal? Are you a designer who cannot afford to pay $1 per year? People complained loudly when they tried to introduce a $29/year membership for designers and now, they complain about $1!!!
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1?
i don't care whether it's $1 or $100, i expect to get a benefit out of something if i pay for it. there's not a whole lot happening in there so to me it's not even worth a dollar a year. let's hope that changes in the next year eh?
Sure. Create whatever you want. But it's not scrapbooking. It's digital art. ----------
According to you. You don't get to decide for others what scrapbooking is. I'm not going to tell you that your pages aren't scrapbooking because it's not my way of scrapping.
There might not be anything to say about the picture. Or it might just be a portrait page just like a portrait in the house hanging on the wall. It's there because it is a great picture of the family I love and specific journalling is not needed. -------
And that's exactly how some of the fantasy scrappers feel about their pages.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1? ---------
I couldn't agree more. I've generally found that the people who say it's not benefiting me are the ones that never contribute anything.
Downloaded a kit from Cinzia at OScraps today. NOTHING was in a folder-it all unzipped all over my OScraps folder. Are you kidding me? It takes two seconds to put it into a folder before zipping. High on my list of pet peeves.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1? ---------
I couldn't agree more. I've generally found that the people who say it's not benefiting me are the ones that never contribute anything. ---------
I agree and those are probably the designers who can stay out of the DCR anyways!
That palette is hideous, too. ------------ Whatever palette is picked, there is always someone finding it hideous. What's new? It has been the same for every single blog train palette selected for as long as I can remember.
Downloaded a kit from Cinzia at OScraps today. NOTHING was in a folder-it all unzipped all over my OScraps folder. Are you kidding me? It takes two seconds to put it into a folder before zipping. High on my list of pet peeves. --------
Weird. I've never had this issue with Cinzia's kits. In fact, I've only ever had this happen to me once. Sorry that happened to you.
Whatever palette is picked, there is always someone finding it hideous. What's new? It has been the same for every single blog train palette selected for as long as I can remember. -------
Not entirely true. I do remember the one time it was a decent palette but the theme was hideous.
You can set your unzip program to unzip into a folder so you won't get a surprise explosion. But anymore I just cut 'n paste out of the folder into a new one.
33-Some paper scrappers still say that about digi scrappers. Who cares though, in the long run. Personally, I don't care for the fantasy scrapper style, and I won't be scrapping that way. But, if that is what they like to do, then more power to them. I really don't care if they call it scrapbooking or not. It doesn't involve me, so they can call it whatever they like.
Downloaded a kit from Cinzia at OScraps today. NOTHING was in a folder-it all unzipped all over my OScraps folder. Are you kidding me? It takes two seconds to put it into a folder before zipping. High on my list of pet peeves.
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If this is the free kit, which is pretty fantastic, she offered then quit your bitching and make a folder in a tenth of a second and stick the kit in there. It might take ten seconds to name it and file it away.
If this is the free kit, which is pretty fantastic, she offered then quit your bitching and make a folder in a tenth of a second and stick the kit in there. ----
She never said a thing about the kit itself, she just said she hated kits exploding in her folders. Untwist your panties, they're depriving you of sense.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1? ---------
I couldn't agree more. I've generally found that the people who say it's not benefiting me are the ones that never contribute anything.
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since you don't know who is posting this doesn't hold water. i have nearly a thousand posts at dst and while not a huge amount given the overall post count most of my posts have been contributed in the dcr. i contribute --- when there is something to contribute to
She never said a thing about the kit itself, she just said she hated kits exploding in her folders. Untwist your panties, they're depriving you of sense.
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No, but if she's bitching about any part of something she got free then she's an asshole and if you feel the same way, instead of being thankful for being GIVEN something, you're one too!!
Not the OP, but I really truly hate kits "exploding" all over the folder when unzipped. She can be every bit as annoyed as she wants to be.
---
Very true and I can be every bit as annoyed as I want to be with someone who does not appreciate a generous gift when they receive it. Do you bitch and moan when someone GIVES you a gift and you don't like the wrapping paper? Get over yourself...oh, and Merry Christmas!
I'm going to come over and take a shit on your doorstep and you can't complain about it. Afterall, I GAVE it to you FOR FREE. Merry Christmas to you, too!
No, but if she's bitching about any part of something she got free then she's an asshole and if you feel the same way, instead of being thankful for being GIVEN something, you're one too!! --------
The only asshole here is you. Just because something is freely given, doesn't mean I have to crawl up their bum in appreciation.
Very true and I can be every bit as annoyed as I want to be with someone who does not appreciate a generous gift when they receive it. Do you bitch and moan when someone GIVES you a gift and you don't like the wrapping paper? Get over yourself...oh, and Merry Christmas! ------------
I don't know who you are, but you are not doing Cinzia any favors with your attitude.
Get over yourself and quit being assholier than thou.
I'm going to come over and take a shit on your doorstep and you can't complain about it. Afterall, I GAVE it to you FOR FREE. Merry Christmas to you, too!
----------
Can I complain if I only get it in a plain brown paper bag instead of pretty wrapping paper?
So here's the thing. If I know a designer doesn't "corral" their zip files and I will have to go searching all over my folder for the bits and pieces... I tend not to buy from that designer again. There are a lot of designers who do manage that feat and nothing is THAT spectacularly different, y'know? So sure, it's a nice kit and she "gave" it away (in exchange for the publicity, let's be honest here) but it may just be doing as much harm as good. You can defend her all you like, and I think that's really nice that you care that much, but facts are facts and human nature "is what it is."
You're all a bunch of ungrateful jerks who don't deserve to ever get another free kit...EVER.
I D I O T S.
And that is what it is! -------
Wow, all because one person said they didn't like the kit exploding on her desktop. Way to overreact. I know it's the season to get stressed but you really need to take a step back and have a drink or three.
Oh and just to add, the kit in question isn't all that fantastic. It's nice but I've had nicer free kits.
Well this is showing promise of being a great store to join. Take a look at their designer call ad on the front page. I'm not going to be spending any time or money there.
OP on the Cinzia thing... the kit is cute, without question. I was not commenting on the kit itself, just the explosion.
I mentioned her by name because if others post that it's a recurring issue with her kits, cute or not, I won't likely be purchasing them again (from ANY designer that does that). Bits and pieces of it get lost, so while it would only take me 2 seconds to do it, it doesn't help me if I've lost items.
I love that she provided a free kit, but a free kit is not just a 'special gift.' It's advertising. It shows you what the designer is capable of. Just because it's free doesn't mean you can get sloppy.
The kit was cute. I'm quite appreciative of it, but I want to come here and find out if it's recurring so I'm not running into this problem over and over again.
Well this is showing promise of being a great store to join. Take a look at their designer call ad on the front page. I'm not going to be spending any time or money there.
http://sensibilityscrapping.com/ ___________
Judging by the designs, would you want to anyway? Ick.
So I see lots of designers especially many from the TLP are having a buy my store for $40 $50 $100. A new trend. In the past designers that retired did that. Unfortunately the designers that have given those offers are designers from which I own most of their products already.
Well this is showing promise of being a great store to join. Take a look at their designer call ad on the front page. I'm not going to be spending any time or money there.
http://sensibilityscrapping.com/
___________
Nope, I won't be going to that store, the look sucks, the designers are crappy, the designs are crappier, and if they can't even get a designer call grammatically correct, then I see that place closing shop in less than six months, tops. I always check out new shoppes opening, you never know what they'll have via sales, but this one is definitely off my list.
Apparently so. Ok, in light of the two new crappy listings above, I've weighed in on good stores and what draws me to shop, so what are the bad stores you've seen, worst themes, products, etc? I'd like to know what to avoid. What makes you want to shop at a store you visit? Keeping in mind the stores that sell to both digi styles, i.e. taggers and traditional full size kits, what is the worst, who's not going to last, who do you visit often and why? Anyone?
Cute kit, but you have to remember those types of kits are geared for the tagging community and are usually made with artist tubes in mind. So of course it isn't something most traditional scrappers would buy or use.
Not much to smack about this weekend looks like. Everyone out in the real world Christmas shopping? I'll toss my two cents in the mix then. These are the stores I will not shop at. I don't like the design, the products are crappy, and even though some have full sized kits and cu, they really aren't worth the money. Some of these I don't understand what the hell they thought they were doing when putting in a store. I mean seriously, low budget scrapping?
The colors in this image almost blind me. On the other hand, I'm (morbidly) tempted to see someone scrap with it traditional style just to see what it'll look like.
94's list is like the sleazy underbelly of digi including neon lights and barely dressed girls on the corner. A street I would prefer not to walk down.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1? --------- Look at the first page of posts in the DCR: Most are about the blog train/blog train palette, questions about software, giveaways, or pleas to take part in a yet another charity collab. That's not worth $1/year to me and I have contributed a great deal there over the years.
@103-probably because their store owner, Gennifer, left a little while back. Maybe the new owner is not so great. Gennifer is also opening a new store, so the designers might be moving over with her.
I agree with 105, my guess is that they're headed to P&Co. From Facebook, it looks like there's a whole slew of designers they're waiting to join them.
To the one asking about pages with no journaling. I also do not post my journaling when posting online. But I do have it there for my children so they can hear some of the stories of their growing up. I know quite a few others who do the same.
Yup it is still down to me 'Sorry! There seems to be a problem connecting to our database. Please give us a few minutes to remedy the problem. Thank you.'
Who keeps posting about DHD's status? We don't care. We don't need a minute-by-minute report on which stores you can't shop at right now.
I laughed out loud when I saw that Mye is leaving DHD. I swear to god that woman can not stay put at a digi store for longer than 5 minutes. She is a digifloozy to the extreme.
Tell Your Story flopped because Nicole jumped ship from TDC when it started sinking (and she got a "better" offer). Plus, did anyone follow the blog for more than a week? The idea wasn't anything new or different, so everyone forgot about it pretty quickly.
#109 - That is me, too. I rarely post a LO with journaling online, but it's on all my pages when I get them printed. There are many of us out there for sure. None of my digi-friends post journaling online, either.
A lot of things aren't new or different but they succeed anyway. The whole Project life is a great example. Just a fancy P365 but scrappers ate it up like it was something new and unheard of it. I still shake my head about it and have a good laugh.
I often don't put my journaling online either but you've proven a point. No one has any idea what goes on the fantasy pages before they are printed. All you see is the online version, same as journal less traditional pages.
argh, it's Monday. I meant We are Storytellers - the Powers sisters and all those super cool designers that didn't burn things up like everyone thought they would.
Anyone know why DHD is falling apart? So many designers and team members are leaving or have left. --------------------------------
I think that store has some serious pricing issues. There is not one kit worth full asking price, and just a few that are worth full asking price less the 25% sale. BUT they are (mostly) all worth more than $1.00.
GingerScraps has a pretty active forum. The people are nice. SO is so big that sometimes it feels intimidating--if a thread has 15 posts, 14 of them are from CTMs. TLP is kind of active. Another big place (like SO), but really friendly.
Why would most of the posts being from CTM's be intimidating? I never found it to be a problem at any site. In fact, that is not something I would even notice. They are just scrappers.
Because they are in a big scary clique just like in jr. high. They will turn up their virtual noses and totally ignore me. I can tell by their avatars. They are all so pretty and wear the namebrand scrapbook kits.
Wow 135, sounds like someone has some serious high school self esteem issues. I almost can't beleive you even just typed that.
The forums I like to hang out are SSD, TDC, GS, and TLP. All of those are full of fun people who will actually answer questions and who like each site and don't just dump LO and run.
Dear Gennifer Bursett, I am assuming you still read here: please do me a giant favor. We all know you are starting your own shop, and it's about 95% likely that you are taking Robyn Meierotto with you, as she has already announced her retirement from DHD. If she does end up in your shop, can you please please pretty please with sugar on top get her to hire someone to QC her elements? I love her designs, and would scrap with her products forever except for the tiny little problem of she has the worst quality ever. She can make a circle have jagged edges. She's got a great design sense, and her color choices and paper patterns and everything are right up my alley. She has an eye for design. But holy canoli, her elements are so bad I can't print any layouts I make with her products, and this means I have stopped buying from her, even though I desperately want everything I see in her previews. I have come to learn, though, that it's just not worth it. If you could fix this for me, I'd be eternally grateful (as I am sure many of her other customers would be, as well). I'll even provide you with screenshots if you request them. It's so awful.
Dear #139 - why on earth haven't you brought this up with the designer? Or have you? If you have and she has done nothing to fix the issues, then she never will.
#141 Considering she posted it on an anon smack blog, I highly doubt she has said it to the designer in question.
#139 I just checked the 2 kits I have from Robyn Meierotto and was wondering which kits you are talking about? I only found jaggies on 2 elements which doesn't seem overly bad.
139: If you feel comfortable with contacting me with specifics, please do so. I scrap with Robyn's stuff all the time (she's exactly my style), and I've never had an issue with anything printed. I know that Robyn would definitely correct anything that has issues, if she knew about it.
141, I have. I'm a designer, too, and I'm no idiot. But when you contact someone about something and a year later you're still seeing the same thing again in multiple other products, you realize that the only thing that's going to make the designer stop and take a look is if an owner won't let her sell the products anymore until or unless they're QCed.
142, don't you know everything. You're posting on an anon smack blog too, in case you weren't aware. I also find it sad that you're OK with finding jaggies on any elements at all. I'm curious, what number of jagged elements becomes too many and finally tips the scales?
Gennifer, I don't feel comfortable contacting you but I posted here in the hopes that either you or Robyn would see it and address it. I wasn't joking when I said that I desperately want to buy almost everything she makes. She's exactly my style, too. So let's do this, for starters if you have this product: http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/robyn-meierotto/vintage-ledger-journal-cards zoom in to 100% on any of the tags and check the kraft circle reinforcement areas. Very jagged, and yes it does look awful printed, trust me I know. Another example is here: http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/robyn-meierotto/cutitout-hand-cut-stitched-layered-clipping-masks if you zoom into 100% on a few different masks you'll see, specificly try the one shown at the top of the preview = same problem. Those edges should be smooth, and when they're not and they're printed at a large size like 12x12, it looks bad.
My reason for posting isn't to be a bitch because I like Robyn a lot, but I think if you were to mark products in your new shop with a QC symbol of some sort, then maybe you'd regain sales from those of us who have gotten gunshy on buying from her and want to know that we're buying something that we can actually use and print.
Thanks for the specifics, 144. I did take a look at them, and I see what you mean. I generally print 6x6 layouts, but I just pulled out one that I had printed at 12x12 for an expo. I've never noticed it before, but I can see it in the larger size. I will pass this on to Robyn.
I can tell you that my site will have a QC person.
I do appreciate you posting this, and I appreciate everyone who skimmed over and didn't mind us hashing it out here. ;)
Thanks, Gennifer. Trust me when I say that I will follow most of you to your new venture and I hope it succeeds. Most of all Robyn. If things are QCed and I feel comfortable buying again, I might singlehandedly keep you ladies afloat LOL!
#144 If you have contacted her, did she respond? If she didn't then when you contacted her she was already made aware of your issues and you did not need to post about her on a smack blog.
But when you contact someone about something and a year later you're still seeing the same thing again in multiple other products, you realize that the only thing that's going to make the designer stop and take a look is if an owner won't let her sell the products anymore until or unless they're QCed.
My reason for posting isn't to be a bitch because I like Robyn a lot ___________
Who are you to make that decision? If she never contacted you back then you don't know what she has or hasn't looked at. If you don't like it then don't buy it, no need to drag her name through the mud on a smack blog.
If you contacted her a year ago as you stated then what was to stop you contacting her again with specific examples, including pictures of your printed lo's and telling her exactly what you said here? or contacting what you assume is going to be her new store directly? Why post it for everybody to see? All that will accomplish is people who may have never bought from her will now associate her with bad quality.
If you had no problem contacting her directly the first time, it seems odd to me that you chose to do it here when you felt it needed to be brought up again.
If you had good intentions then I think you went the wrong way about it.
#150, can I just ask why you are attacking her for bringing it up here? Last time I checked, this is a SMACK blog and designers get mentioned here for far more stupid reasons than quality concerns. For once, someone was brought up here in order to help her and give constructive feedback about why a former customer has stopped purchasing. Much better than the personal attacks that go on here all the damn time, if you ask me.
I don't even get why you're so indignant about it, anyway? Do you think Robyn should be immune to being named here? Even if she deserves it? If someone's quality is lacking, that is one time they SHOULD be mentioned here!
DHD and/or the designers going over to Gen's new store don't deserve any more special treatment than anyone else gets. If they have quality issues, they should be outed for them, especially when they've been given a private opportunity to review and correct their QC issues in the past, yet the same quality errors keep happening.
Who the hell do you think YOU are? You think you have the right to question the OP for bringing up her quality concerns here? Do you really think it's your job to tell the OP how she "should" have handled it? Unbelievable!
151- I agree with you. Part of this blog's purpose is to alert us to quality control issues, etc. I think she did it quite politely and in a non "smack" manner.
Who the hell do you think YOU are? You think you have the right to question the OP for bringing up her quality concerns here? Do you really think it's your job to tell the OP how she "should" have handled it? Unbelievable! __________________________________________
Since we're sort of on the subject of quality, can we please talk about Bella Gypsy? I liked and downloaded their "Moody Blues" kit off their Facebook fan page and was majorly disappointed. The papers are pixelated at 100% view, all 14 papers are done using the same texture, and the white parts of the pattern have no texture on them at all.
Yeah it was a freebie but the poor quality of it sure doesn't make me want to buy anything from them. Deleted the whole kit and was thankful I wasn't out any of my hard-earned money.
Since we're sort of on the subject of quality, can we please talk about Bella Gypsy? -------
For some reason, every time I bring up their quality issues, the post doesn't seem to register. I'm surprised they have as many fans as they though because I think their quality is questionable as well.
Blurry, out of focus elements; bad recolors - basically just a color adjustment layer, so there are no real high lights and low lights, just washed out or saturated patches of color; clipped edges; and the papers issue you mentioned; etc.
I'm the OP about the Robyn issue yesterday, and I am amazed by 149 and 150. 149, I thought I very clearly stated that I had contacted her once before, and then purchased something new - again - at a later time - multiple things actually - and was still seeing the same problems. So yeah she was made aware of these issues the first time around, and she did nothing and kept producing the same problems. If I had posted about her on a smack blog the first time, that would have been uncalled for I agree. But IMO if there's any time at all to post about someone on this blog, it's when they ignore issues like that and keep selling things that are messed up. She got a free pass the first time when I contacted her. She doesn't get free passes after that, if she is knowingly selling jagged shit.
150, take a prozac. Don't worry about whether my intentions were good or bad or handled correctly. That's my worry, not yours. The truth is that my intention the first time around was to help a designer whose work I love fix an issue that was pissing me off after I spent money on her products. My intention this time around was to make sure her new boss knows about it, because obviously some people don't change unless their hand is forced. Robyn's roots are in paper scrapbooking design. She needs help in the area of digital elements, and if she's going to continue designing for digital someone needs to make that happen.
I have several Bella Gypsy kits and not one paper is pixelated, including the ones you cite above. None of the elements I have are blurry or jagged. Maybe you and your cohorts need a better monitor and/or glasses..or maybe you're really, really jealous of their success.
I have that freebie from Bella Gypsy and thought their recolors were better than usual. The worst being the blue butterfly (horrible). Ribbon 3 is disgusting when you zoom in. It's right on the edge at about 30% which is what I consider for print quality. That tiny bird is freaky like it's eye slid down its body.
I, too, see the pixelation on the papers at 100%, but it should print just fine and I'm not worried about it for my pages. I don't mind the same texture on the papers. In fact, I prefer it.
I'm not a huge Bella Gypsy fan, but they occasionally put out something I like. Their CT pages don't do much to tempt me to buy their kits. More often than not, they actually convince me to pass.
None of the elements I have are blurry or jagged. Maybe you and your cohorts need a better monitor and/or glasses..or maybe you're really, really jealous of their success. -----
FFS, grow up! I'm not jealous of their success. If I were to be jealous of anyone's success, it would be someone worthy, like Richard Branston, not some two bit digi designers. I don't need glasses and my monitor is just fine. Maybe you need glasses and a new monitor, since you are the only NOT seeing it!
None of the elements I have are blurry or jagged. Maybe you and your cohorts need a better monitor and/or glasses..or maybe you're really, really jealous of their success. -----
FFS, grow up! I'm not jealous of their success. If I were to be jealous of anyone's success, it would be someone worthy, like Richard Branston, not some two bit digi designers. I don't need glasses and my monitor is just fine. Maybe you need glasses and a new monitor, since you are the only NOT seeing it!
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I agree with 169. The quality of some of her freebies are very low. They have lots of jaggies and blurry elements. I checked a kit I purchased and it was fine, not GREAT but fine.
To #164: I was OP about the Bella Gypsy kit. I have a 27" widescreen full HD monitor with 1920x1080 resolution, 20/20 vision, and am not jealous of their success; I wish them nothing but the best.
"With nearly 100 applications every time I do a call..."
...doubt it. Traci was literally begging for more apps a day or two before her call ended. She had at least one post if not multiple posts on Facebook to the effect of "I'm not getting very many apps and if you apply now, you're almost assured of making the cut!". I remember because I almost laughed my fool head off when I read she was having trouble attracting a team. The Great Traci Reed.
Regarding Bella Gypsy, I actually can't stand their kits. They always have these shiny epoxy like elements and their alpha's are awful. The colors have me shading my eyes frequently. I think they're both super nice people but I just don't enjoy their work.
#181-----my guess is that you're one of the many who got rejected.
182, aren't you a genius. No, I am just another bitchy designer who doesn't believe for one instant that Ms. Reed had more than 20 apps. She was BEGGING for apps at the end of her call and I was laughing and I know I am not the only one, either.
181, you could save yourself from your hateful feelings and unsub from her facebook page. It's stupid to continue to "like" someone on facebook that you clearly hate.
Meanwhile this is funny: http://pinktrikedesign.squarespace.com/blog/2012/12/13/an-awesome-new-digi-home.html "Over the next several weeks I'll be repackaging, creating new kits, fixing things that need fixing"
182, aren't you a genius. No, I am just another bitchy designer who doesn't believe for one instant that Ms. Reed had more than 20 apps. She was BEGGING for apps at the end of her call and I was laughing and I know I am not the only one, either
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When I was a designer, and I wasn't by far known, I had at least 50 apps when I did a CT call. She posted mid-call saying apps were coming in slowly. One time. That doesn't mean that she didn't have some apply at the last minute.
Meh 192 I tend to agree with 189. Who are you to think you can control what other people follow on FB? You're just like the people who think they can control what we post on this blog.
I don't care who she follows. I just choose not to follow people or companies that I hate because I don't like to be annoyed by their posts. It seems logical that when you "like" something that you actually "like" it because it shows up as your interest on your FB page and it shows you are supporting that company. But I also understand that logic is lost on many of you here.
Oh please 195 the whole purpose of this blog is that some designers are mocking/slamming/smacking other designers. Classy? No. But it is what it is... and here you are, too, I see.
I don't think it's that crazy people laugh at Traci asking/begging for more apps because I find her quite demanding. Never saw a designer requiring you having photography and post-processing skills for example(although Mye de Leon has the photography skills too now in her reguirement list for her 2013 call)
#197- I found her post about the CT call very stuck up. I think if you require your CT to have good camera and processing skills, you should learn how to do that yourself.
200 - other than her giant ego. I think she was shocked when she didn't have 100 apps and wants everyone to think that she did, but was shocked she didn't get 1000.
1332 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 1332 Newer› Newest»My oldest son would have loved a page with him interacting with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
This will bring you to the cover and you can follow it thru at sbg. I hope you like it. I think it is beyond wonderful. http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/members-galleries/p133621-take-my-hand-book-cover.html
I wish I had this creativeness in me.
sorry to interrupt the smack blog.
190-Thanks for that review. I was thinking about buying it myself, but wasn't sure I'd use it much.
I've also placed 8 orders at Scrap Orchard since the advent calendar sales started and I've spent $56 so far..
I'm guessing I'll be buying stuff 20 out of the 25 days.
I was not expecting to shop from Suzy Q today but she has changed her style and I found a few things I really like.
I just don't think I (or anyone else) has the right to judge. And I know some folks who are downright MEAN about it. None of their beeswax IMO. Maybe kids would rather have a fantasy album than a box of photos. Or nothing.
Just scrap how you like to scrap. Who cares what anyone else thinks about it? Seriously. No one is going to change anyone else's mind, so just enjoy what you do and don't give a shit about a stranger's opinion.
I've really wanted to shop at SO during advent, but I bought the few things I wanted during Black Friday. I've spent about $10. None of the new stuff has been appealing to me, but I look every day. I didn't look during WM Squared sale. I don't like her stuff. I find it hard to scrap with.
I looked at Suzy's new stuff and it looks exactly like the same style she's been making for a long time. I can't make out much on her new stuff because everything is so tiny on the previews. It looks like a piled on mess. I don't have much need for more winter/Christmas kits anyway.
Yeah, I didn't see anything changed in Suzy's style - same doodle style and basics. The previews do look weirdly small now that I look at them again. Kinda grainy, too.
Awhile back, someone said she was hesitant to choose a person (who makes great pages) for her CT because this person is in a clique. Someone else asked what that means, exactly, and got smacked.
Well, I don't know what it means, either. What does a clique look like? Is it a group that talks to each other in the forums? Do they not talk/respond to other posters? Are they all on the same CT?
Are they just really good at what they do?
It reminds me of a post quite a long time ago, a designer hesitant to choose a person for her CT whose "politics" were different from the designer's. I've thought of that often since reading it.
I thought this hobby wasn't about politics. How could that possibly matter?
And - I think the poster mentioned that she wouldn't want her work to reflect politics she doesn't agree with. Seems a simple condition of CT work (though the request would put me off.)
But - isn't CT work "payment", instead of money, for kits? Once a CT member has made her pages/payment, the kit belongs to her, right? And if I pay for a kit, surely I can use it as I like (assuming compliance with terms.)
#10
clique Noun
A small group of people with shared interests, who spend time together and exclude others.
WTF is this?
http://onestorydown.com/shop/found-christmas-mini-kit.html
#12 - That is what virtual vomit looks like.
#11 - so, that's what I'm wondering about, how do we know online when "a small group of people with shared interests" exclude others?
I was not expecting to shop from Suzy Q today but she has changed her style and I found a few things I really like.
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Why? You don't already have enough heart felties?
Journalling requires actual words, and preserving a memory. What exactly are you preserving in a fantasy creation? Nothing. It's a creation. It's pretty, but it's not a memory.
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Says you. I can look at my fantasy pages and know exactly what memory it is that I've preserved.
Here's the problem with the fantasy layouts, IMO, it's like what is going to happen in 20 years when a kid looks back through the scrapbook of their life? Won't they be asking their mom what happened to the pegasus they used to fly around on in all of the scrapbook pages? But mom, I really loved that Pegasus, why did you send it off to the farm? I wanted to keep it forever and ever...
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What about all the traditional pages that have no journaling on them? Where's the memory scrapping in those?
In 20 years time, the kid is going to look though those pages and ask, where was it, when was it, why were we there, what happened, why am in a pumpkin, etc.
Oh, and it makes more sense to nestle your child in a meadow of flowers when it was really the day they colored on their brand new bedspread with black magic marker, or the time they tied their own shoes the first time? Are they going to look at that work of art twenty years from now now and say, "Hey, I remember that field of flowers."
Again, I ask, what about the traditional pages with no journaling? I've asked this several times and no one has answered.
Oh, and it makes more sense to nestle your child in a meadow of flowers when it was really the day they colored on their brand new bedspread with black magic marker, or the time they tied their own shoes the first time?
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Who said anything about making sense?
The point of scrapbooking isn't for YOU can look at your page and know exactly what its about, its for other people to read and understand your stories, to leave a legacy of memories.
When you are dead, people will look at all your pages of your kids under elf mushrooms and nestled inside cabbages and have no idea what the stories of their lives actually were.
Exactly!
Again, what about traditional pages without journaling? Isn't that exactly the same thing? In 10 years, who's going to know what the page was about?
The point of scrapbooking isn't for YOU can look at your page and know exactly what its about, its for other people to read and understand your stories, to leave a legacy of memories.
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Says who? You? My scrapbook pages are not for other people or future generations, sorry. Yours may be, but mine aren't.
And guess what? Traditionally, scrapbooks were only for the person who made them.
I really wish people would stop trying to tell others what scrapping should and shouldn't be.
When you are dead, people will look at all your pages of your kids under elf mushrooms and nestled inside cabbages and have no idea what the stories of their lives actually were.
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Most kids are going to look at their scrapbook pages and think it was nothing but birthday parties, vacations and good times. Still not telling what the stories of their lives actually were.
My parents didn't scrapbook my childhood. I don't need a scrapbook page to remember the sad times. But I sure do appreciate all the pictures of the good times with the notes on the back about what was happening. They know the story of their lives and their version of it will probably be very different than mine, just as it is with my parents.
Fantasy doesn't document truth either. In fact there is absolutely no reality to it. So don't try to argue from that side because you aren't even preserving the good or the bad.
And to the person that asked about no journaling: I at least put a date and the event. There might not be anything to say about the picture. Or it might just be a portrait page just like a portrait in the house hanging on the wall. It's there because it is a great picture of the family I love and specific journalling is not needed. But the difference is that it is my family and not some picture that I pulled from stock photography that has no personal meaning.
I am a traditional scrapper with a few fantasty pages behind me. My kids love the fantasy pages and I'm pretty sure that 20 years from now they are not going to mistake them as anything other than what they are: FUN! I love a lot of the fantasy pages, many of them look like gorgeous works of art to me.
There is a lot I don't like, like the huge shadows that make elements seem like they are floating on the page, and the messy art journaling pages are something I just don't get. But I don't dismiss them as non-scrapping just because I don't like them.
As for the journaling, I don't include journaling on all the layouts I post online. It's usually a hidden layer that's made visible when I print them. Some things are just private.
The fantasy pics can be used for real life occasion pages. My GD had a tinkerbell themed bday and her entire birthday book was done with fantasy layouts with bd photos and journaling about the party. It was pretty damn cute (if I do say so myself). She loves looking at it and showing people "her story."
I say leave fantasy to those who enjoy it and the rest can do their own thing. Doing one or the other doesn't make one bad or good. People like different things. That's what makes the world go round and this topic so boring and rediculous.
re: Juno Designs. There's nothing wrong with her quality. I have 2 kits of her and love them.
#15 I bought her new Christmas and Winter kit plus the glitter alphas. They are totally a different style from her previous work. I never liked her color palettes but these kits plus the glitter alphas won me because of the colors.
Yes I have enough scrapbook stuff to last me for 3 lifetimes but I always want more.. I can never say I have enough.
I say leave fantasy to those who enjoy it and the rest can do their own thing.
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Sure. Create whatever you want. But it's not scrapbooking. It's digital art.
Paper scrappers used to say the same thing about digital. Unless you do it my way it isn't real scrapbooking. This argument is an age old joke.
The stupidity in that argument is that we are copying paper and it looks very similar.
Fantasy doesn't copy paper scrapbooking. It's its own thing. I don't understand why people find that insulting. We aren't out to ban it, just to give it the artful recognition it deserves.
34, you might not be trying to ban it, or impose your classifications on others, but wow, some folks sure are. And some of them are nasty.
what is going on with dst? their new blog train palette is hideous and they are going to charge to access the dcr. i know it's only a dollar but still it's pretty dead in the dcr why pay to read nothing?
#24:I really wish people would stop trying to tell others what scrapping should and shouldn't be.
ITA
I was wondering the same thing, #36. It seems it's the same 8-10 people posting in the DCR these days and none of them are designers whose advice I'd give much weight to.
That palette is hideous, too.
#36 sheesh, if you read the post about the $1 thing, you would know that it is not about charging money but about keeping the no-longer-designers out of the DCR. I pay to renew my yearly professional membership and if I don't pay, I am removed from the list. DST is doing the same thing. What is the big deal? Are you a designer who cannot afford to pay $1 per year? People complained loudly when they tried to introduce a $29/year membership for designers and now, they complain about $1!!!
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1?
i don't care whether it's $1 or $100, i expect to get a benefit out of something if i pay for it. there's not a whole lot happening in there so to me it's not even worth a dollar a year. let's hope that changes in the next year eh?
Sure. Create whatever you want. But it's not scrapbooking. It's digital art.
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According to you. You don't get to decide for others what scrapbooking is. I'm not going to tell you that your pages aren't scrapbooking because it's not my way of scrapping.
There might not be anything to say about the picture. Or it might just be a portrait page just like a portrait in the house hanging on the wall. It's there because it is a great picture of the family I love and specific journalling is not needed.
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And that's exactly how some of the fantasy scrappers feel about their pages.
this topic so boring and rediculous.
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Your spelling of ridiculous is ridiculous.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1?
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I couldn't agree more. I've generally found that the people who say it's not benefiting me are the ones that never contribute anything.
Downloaded a kit from Cinzia at OScraps today. NOTHING was in a folder-it all unzipped all over my OScraps folder. Are you kidding me? It takes two seconds to put it into a folder before zipping. High on my list of pet peeves.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1?
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I couldn't agree more. I've generally found that the people who say it's not benefiting me are the ones that never contribute anything.
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I agree and those are probably the designers who can stay out of the DCR anyways!
That palette is hideous, too.
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Whatever palette is picked, there is always someone finding it hideous. What's new? It has been the same for every single blog train palette selected for as long as I can remember.
Downloaded a kit from Cinzia at OScraps today. NOTHING was in a folder-it all unzipped all over my OScraps folder. Are you kidding me? It takes two seconds to put it into a folder before zipping. High on my list of pet peeves.
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Weird. I've never had this issue with Cinzia's kits. In fact, I've only ever had this happen to me once. Sorry that happened to you.
Where is this infamous blog train, anyway?
The same place other blog train palettes were posted: in the DCR.
Whatever palette is picked, there is always someone finding it hideous. What's new? It has been the same for every single blog train palette selected for as long as I can remember.
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Not entirely true. I do remember the one time it was a decent palette but the theme was hideous.
189 (from previous page, obviously): Thanks for explaining this month's Scrap Pack! I think I'm going to go grab it.
You can set your unzip program to unzip into a folder so you won't get a surprise explosion. But anymore I just cut 'n paste out of the folder into a new one.
It's a slow day around here.
33-Some paper scrappers still say that about digi scrappers. Who cares though, in the long run. Personally, I don't care for the fantasy scrapper style, and I won't be scrapping that way. But, if that is what they like to do, then more power to them. I really don't care if they call it scrapbooking or not. It doesn't involve me, so they can call it whatever they like.
Downloaded a kit from Cinzia at OScraps today. NOTHING was in a folder-it all unzipped all over my OScraps folder. Are you kidding me? It takes two seconds to put it into a folder before zipping. High on my list of pet peeves.
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If this is the free kit, which is pretty fantastic, she offered then quit your bitching and make a folder in a tenth of a second and stick the kit in there. It might take ten seconds to name it and file it away.
Not the OP, but I really truly hate kits "exploding" all over the folder when unzipped. She can be every bit as annoyed as she wants to be.
If this is the free kit, which is pretty fantastic, she offered then quit your bitching and make a folder in a tenth of a second and stick the kit in there.
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She never said a thing about the kit itself, she just said she hated kits exploding in her folders. Untwist your panties, they're depriving you of sense.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1?
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I couldn't agree more. I've generally found that the people who say it's not benefiting me are the ones that never contribute anything.
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since you don't know who is posting this doesn't hold water. i have nearly a thousand posts at dst and while not a huge amount given the overall post count most of my posts have been contributed in the dcr. i contribute --- when there is something to contribute to
She never said a thing about the kit itself, she just said she hated kits exploding in her folders. Untwist your panties, they're depriving you of sense.
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No, but if she's bitching about any part of something she got free then she's an asshole and if you feel the same way, instead of being thankful for being GIVEN something, you're one too!!
Not the OP, but I really truly hate kits "exploding" all over the folder when unzipped. She can be every bit as annoyed as she wants to be.
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Very true and I can be every bit as annoyed as I want to be with someone who does not appreciate a generous gift when they receive it. Do you bitch and moan when someone GIVES you a gift and you don't like the wrapping paper? Get over yourself...oh, and Merry Christmas!
I'm going to come over and take a shit on your doorstep and you can't complain about it. Afterall, I GAVE it to you FOR FREE. Merry Christmas to you, too!
lmao! I almost peed my pants!
since you don't know who is posting this doesn't hold water.
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Completely irrelevant. I was basing my assessment from postings in forums and in the DCR, so, it does hold water.
#62, that is one of the greatest posts ever!
No, but if she's bitching about any part of something she got free then she's an asshole and if you feel the same way, instead of being thankful for being GIVEN something, you're one too!!
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The only asshole here is you. Just because something is freely given, doesn't mean I have to crawl up their bum in appreciation.
Very true and I can be every bit as annoyed as I want to be with someone who does not appreciate a generous gift when they receive it. Do you bitch and moan when someone GIVES you a gift and you don't like the wrapping paper? Get over yourself...oh, and Merry Christmas!
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I don't know who you are, but you are not doing Cinzia any favors with your attitude.
Get over yourself and quit being assholier than thou.
I'm going to come over and take a shit on your doorstep and you can't complain about it. Afterall, I GAVE it to you FOR FREE. Merry Christmas to you, too!
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Can I complain if I only get it in a plain brown paper bag instead of pretty wrapping paper?
*silly season*
I don't recall saying I'd put it in a bag...
So here's the thing. If I know a designer doesn't "corral" their zip files and I will have to go searching all over my folder for the bits and pieces... I tend not to buy from that designer again. There are a lot of designers who do manage that feat and nothing is THAT spectacularly different, y'know? So sure, it's a nice kit and she "gave" it away (in exchange for the publicity, let's be honest here) but it may just be doing as much harm as good. You can defend her all you like, and I think that's really nice that you care that much, but facts are facts and human nature "is what it is."
You're all a bunch of ungrateful jerks who don't deserve to ever get another free kit...EVER.
I D I O T S.
And that is what it is!
You're all a bunch of ungrateful jerks who don't deserve to ever get another free kit...EVER.
I D I O T S.
And that is what it is!
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Wow, all because one person said they didn't like the kit exploding on her desktop. Way to overreact. I know it's the season to get stressed but you really need to take a step back and have a drink or three.
Oh and just to add, the kit in question isn't all that fantastic. It's nice but I've had nicer free kits.
I don't recall saying I'd put it in a bag...
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So you are going to 'explode' all over my doorstep?
Wow. Cinzia. Deep breath.
#74 - it's not Cinzia. I'm suspecting, and I never do, that it's one of her CTMs.
Well this is showing promise of being a great store to join. Take a look at their designer call ad on the front page. I'm not going to be spending any time or money there.
http://sensibilityscrapping.com/
OP on the Cinzia thing... the kit is cute, without question. I was not commenting on the kit itself, just the explosion.
I mentioned her by name because if others post that it's a recurring issue with her kits, cute or not, I won't likely be purchasing them again (from ANY designer that does that). Bits and pieces of it get lost, so while it would only take me 2 seconds to do it, it doesn't help me if I've lost items.
I love that she provided a free kit, but a free kit is not just a 'special gift.' It's advertising. It shows you what the designer is capable of. Just because it's free doesn't mean you can get sloppy.
The kit was cute. I'm quite appreciative of it, but I want to come here and find out if it's recurring so I'm not running into this problem over and over again.
Well this is showing promise of being a great store to join. Take a look at their designer call ad on the front page. I'm not going to be spending any time or money there.
http://sensibilityscrapping.com/
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Judging by the designs, would you want to anyway? Ick.
I hate it when kits explode. Luckily few designers do that.
#77 - I've purchased a few of Cinzia's kits and never had one that exploded, including the free Christmas one.
So I see lots of designers especially many from the TLP are having a buy my store for $40 $50 $100.
A new trend. In the past designers that retired did that.
Unfortunately the designers that have given those offers are designers from which I own most of their products already.
#81 - one store doing it doesn't make it a trend.
#82 here - sorry #81, I misread what you wrote.
In the past, I've seen designers do a buy my store that weren't retiring.
Well this is showing promise of being a great store to join. Take a look at their designer call ad on the front page. I'm not going to be spending any time or money there.
http://sensibilityscrapping.com/
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Nope, I won't be going to that store, the look sucks, the designers are crappy, the designs are crappier, and if they can't even get a designer call grammatically correct, then I see that place closing shop in less than six months, tops. I always check out new shoppes opening, you never know what they'll have via sales, but this one is definitely off my list.
OMG they just keep coming! Another crappy looking store. Do these people have more money than brains?
http://berryapplicious.com/store/
*shudders*
Apparently so. Ok, in light of the two new crappy listings above, I've weighed in on good stores and what draws me to shop, so what are the bad stores you've seen, worst themes, products, etc? I'd like to know what to avoid. What makes you want to shop at a store you visit? Keeping in mind the stores that sell to both digi styles, i.e. taggers and traditional full size kits, what is the worst, who's not going to last, who do you visit often and why? Anyone?
Re sensibility scrapping - notice that the banner for the shop has the name misspelled?
....wow.
http://berryapplicious.com/store/bmz_cache/7/726e4e51211ad42004062653ca00bcec.image.450x450.png
Re sensibility scrapping - notice that the banner for the shop has the name misspelled?
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LMFAO anyone counting the errors there? Who put that store in, GAWD let's hope it isn't Charly!
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http://berryapplicious.com/store/bmz_cache/7/726e4e51211ad42004062653ca00bcec.image.450x450.png
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Cute kit, but you have to remember those types of kits are geared for the tagging community and are usually made with artist tubes in mind. So of course it isn't something most traditional scrappers would buy or use.
Sounds like sales at TLP were less than stellar this season. It's nice to think your products are better than a sale, but guess what, they're not.
#90 - or maybe they had this planned all along.
....wow.
http://berryapplicious.com/store/bmz_cache/7/726e4e51211ad42004062653ca00bcec.image.450x450.png
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Not my style but I can see a teen girl using it.
Are you serious? Almost 5 bucks for this crap:
http://commercial-use-scraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=1675
Not much to smack about this weekend looks like. Everyone out in the real world Christmas shopping? I'll toss my two cents in the mix then. These are the stores I will not shop at. I don't like the design, the products are crappy, and even though some have full sized kits and cu, they really aren't worth the money. Some of these I don't understand what the hell they thought they were doing when putting in a store. I mean seriously, low budget scrapping?
http://bee-ncreative.com/hive/
http://whisprddesignz.com/store/
http://www.creationsbyg.com/
http://taggingangels.net/
http://www.favors4you.biz/
http://scrappinwithfriends.com/
http://www.sugarnspicescraps.com/shop/
http://scrapznmore.com/
http://cuscrapz.com/
http://www.ivyscraps.com/store2/
http://scrapcandy.creativecandyland.net/
http://scrap-a-licious.com/store/
http://lowbudgetscrapping.com/shop/
http://berryapplicious.com/store/bmz_cache/7/726e4e51211ad42004062653ca00bcec.image.450x450.png
The colors in this image almost blind me. On the other hand, I'm (morbidly) tempted to see someone scrap with it traditional style just to see what it'll look like.
Not much to smack about this weekend looks like. Everyone out in the real world Christmas shopping?
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Most weekends are quiet around here.
Two designers are leaving DHD : Mye De Leon and Robyn Meierotto.
It's the biggest mystery in the world where they might be going!
I'm always a little amazed when people post that they've never heard of a store - and now there's a whole list I've never heard of ;)
94-Where on earth did you find those stores?? I've never heard of any of them. I've been around for awhile too.
Did someone recently google "crappy digi scrapbook stores" or something? What a bunch of messes!
94's list is like the sleazy underbelly of digi including neon lights and barely dressed girls on the corner. A street I would prefer not to walk down.
Anyone know why DHD is falling apart? So many designers and team members are leaving or have left.
And if you (general you) feel people are not contributing to the DCR, why don't you contribute instead of waiting for others to give something you feel is worth a whole $1?
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Look at the first page of posts in the DCR: Most are about the blog train/blog train palette, questions about software, giveaways, or pleas to take part in a yet another charity collab. That's not worth $1/year to me and I have contributed a great deal there over the years.
@103-probably because their store owner, Gennifer, left a little while back. Maybe the new owner is not so great. Gennifer is also opening a new store, so the designers might be moving over with her.
I agree with 105, my guess is that they're headed to P&Co. From Facebook, it looks like there's a whole slew of designers they're waiting to join them.
103-That is what happened at two peas digi store when they all left there to form DHD. Guess it's their turn now.
Gennifer was only a minority owner, or at least that's what I thought. Hope her venture works out better than Tell Your Story did.
To the one asking about pages with no journaling. I also do not post my journaling when posting online. But I do have it there for my children so they can hear some of the stories of their growing up. I know quite a few others who do the same.
Gennifer was a co owner but DHD was there before she was. I wonder if there wasnt a falling out of some sort for her to leave and so many to follow.
Poser images give me the willies. Its like a scary clown thats going to come out of my computer and stab me in my sleep.
DHD is down.
Yup it is still down to me 'Sorry!
There seems to be a problem connecting to our database. Please give us a few minutes to remedy the problem. Thank you.'
ITA with the poser comment. I guess some people think they're cute but I find them very creepy.
DHD is back up for me.
Hope her venture works out better than Tell Your Story did.
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Never heard of this. Was it a store or a project thing like P365?
Who keeps posting about DHD's status? We don't care. We don't need a minute-by-minute report on which stores you can't shop at right now.
I laughed out loud when I saw that Mye is leaving DHD. I swear to god that woman can not stay put at a digi store for longer than 5 minutes. She is a digifloozy to the extreme.
Tell Your Story wasn't a store, idiot. Why you would even equate Gen's new store to a random blog is beyond me.
Tell Your Story flopped because Nicole jumped ship from TDC when it started sinking (and she got a "better" offer). Plus, did anyone follow the blog for more than a week? The idea wasn't anything new or different, so everyone forgot about it pretty quickly.
#109 - That is me, too. I rarely post a LO with journaling online, but it's on all my pages when I get them printed. There are many of us out there for sure. None of my digi-friends post journaling online, either.
Oh, that Tell Your Story.
A lot of things aren't new or different but they succeed anyway. The whole Project life is a great example. Just a fancy P365 but scrappers ate it up like it was something new and unheard of it. I still shake my head about it and have a good laugh.
I often don't put my journaling online either but you've proven a point. No one has any idea what goes on the fantasy pages before they are printed. All you see is the online version, same as journal less traditional pages.
argh, it's Monday. I meant We are Storytellers - the Powers sisters and all those super cool designers that didn't burn things up like everyone thought they would.
^^LOL, I forgot to sign my post "Idiot"
#123 - I thought that was what you meant. The problem with that store/forum was that everything was going on at the blog and not in their forums.
Anyone know why DHD is falling apart? So many designers and team members are leaving or have left.
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I think that store has some serious pricing issues. There is not one kit worth full asking price, and just a few that are worth full asking price less the 25% sale. BUT they are (mostly) all worth more than $1.00.
Reality check.
Pricing issues also go for SSD. If I remember correctly, I've never seen new, solo kit at $7,19.
Except SSD doesn't have designers leaving. People buy their kits at that price.
Is there digi site where the message board is active?
SSD and SO
Oddly enough I was just going to ask which sites had active fun communities. Any place other SSD & SO?
Gotta Pixel used to have a fun and active forum. Haven't checked it too much lately though.
GingerScraps has a pretty active forum. The people are nice. SO is so big that sometimes it feels intimidating--if a thread has 15 posts, 14 of them are from CTMs.
TLP is kind of active. Another big place (like SO), but really friendly.
Why would most of the posts being from CTM's be intimidating? I never found it to be a problem at any site. In fact, that is not something I would even notice. They are just scrappers.
Because they are in a big scary clique just like in jr. high. They will turn up their virtual noses and totally ignore me. I can tell by their avatars. They are all so pretty and wear the namebrand scrapbook kits.
Wow 135, sounds like someone has some serious high school self esteem issues. I almost can't beleive you even just typed that.
The forums I like to hang out are SSD, TDC, GS, and TLP. All of those are full of fun people who will actually answer questions and who like each site and don't just dump LO and run.
I'm pretty sure 135 was being sarcastic.
Obviously!!
Dear Gennifer Bursett, I am assuming you still read here: please do me a giant favor. We all know you are starting your own shop, and it's about 95% likely that you are taking Robyn Meierotto with you, as she has already announced her retirement from DHD. If she does end up in your shop, can you please please pretty please with sugar on top get her to hire someone to QC her elements? I love her designs, and would scrap with her products forever except for the tiny little problem of she has the worst quality ever. She can make a circle have jagged edges. She's got a great design sense, and her color choices and paper patterns and everything are right up my alley. She has an eye for design. But holy canoli, her elements are so bad I can't print any layouts I make with her products, and this means I have stopped buying from her, even though I desperately want everything I see in her previews. I have come to learn, though, that it's just not worth it. If you could fix this for me, I'd be eternally grateful (as I am sure many of her other customers would be, as well). I'll even provide you with screenshots if you request them. It's so awful.
Wow 135, sounds like someone has some serious high school self esteem issues. I almost can't beleive you even just typed that.
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And I can't believe you couldn't see that was supposed to be snark.
Dear #139 - why on earth haven't you brought this up with the designer? Or have you? If you have and she has done nothing to fix the issues, then she never will.
#141 Considering she posted it on an anon smack blog, I highly doubt she has said it to the designer in question.
#139 I just checked the 2 kits I have from Robyn Meierotto and was wondering which kits you are talking about? I only found jaggies on 2 elements which doesn't seem overly bad.
139: If you feel comfortable with contacting me with specifics, please do so. I scrap with Robyn's stuff all the time (she's exactly my style), and I've never had an issue with anything printed. I know that Robyn would definitely correct anything that has issues, if she knew about it.
141, I have. I'm a designer, too, and I'm no idiot. But when you contact someone about something and a year later you're still seeing the same thing again in multiple other products, you realize that the only thing that's going to make the designer stop and take a look is if an owner won't let her sell the products anymore until or unless they're QCed.
142, don't you know everything. You're posting on an anon smack blog too, in case you weren't aware. I also find it sad that you're OK with finding jaggies on any elements at all. I'm curious, what number of jagged elements becomes too many and finally tips the scales?
Gennifer, I don't feel comfortable contacting you but I posted here in the hopes that either you or Robyn would see it and address it. I wasn't joking when I said that I desperately want to buy almost everything she makes. She's exactly my style, too. So let's do this, for starters if you have this product: http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/robyn-meierotto/vintage-ledger-journal-cards zoom in to 100% on any of the tags and check the kraft circle reinforcement areas. Very jagged, and yes it does look awful printed, trust me I know. Another example is here: http://www.designhousedigital.com/digital-scrapbooking-kit/robyn-meierotto/cutitout-hand-cut-stitched-layered-clipping-masks if you zoom into 100% on a few different masks you'll see, specificly try the one shown at the top of the preview = same problem. Those edges should be smooth, and when they're not and they're printed at a large size like 12x12, it looks bad.
My reason for posting isn't to be a bitch because I like Robyn a lot, but I think if you were to mark products in your new shop with a QC symbol of some sort, then maybe you'd regain sales from those of us who have gotten gunshy on buying from her and want to know that we're buying something that we can actually use and print.
Thanks for the specifics, 144. I did take a look at them, and I see what you mean. I generally print 6x6 layouts, but I just pulled out one that I had printed at 12x12 for an expo. I've never noticed it before, but I can see it in the larger size. I will pass this on to Robyn.
I can tell you that my site will have a QC person.
I do appreciate you posting this, and I appreciate everyone who skimmed over and didn't mind us hashing it out here. ;)
Thanks, Gennifer. Trust me when I say that I will follow most of you to your new venture and I hope it succeeds. Most of all Robyn. If things are QCed and I feel comfortable buying again, I might singlehandedly keep you ladies afloat LOL!
Yawn
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What an asshole you are.
#144 If you have contacted her, did she respond?
If she didn't then when you contacted her she was already made aware of your issues and you did not need to post about her on a smack blog.
But when you contact someone about something and a year later you're still seeing the same thing again in multiple other products, you realize that the only thing that's going to make the designer stop and take a look is if an owner won't let her sell the products anymore until or unless they're QCed.
My reason for posting isn't to be a bitch because I like Robyn a lot
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Who are you to make that decision? If she never contacted you back then you don't know what she has or hasn't looked at. If you don't like it then don't buy it, no need to drag her name through the mud on a smack blog.
If you contacted her a year ago as you stated then what was to stop you contacting her again with specific examples, including pictures of your printed lo's and telling her exactly what you said here? or contacting what you assume is going to be her new store directly? Why post it for everybody to see? All that will accomplish is people who may have never bought from her will now associate her with bad quality.
If you had no problem contacting her directly the first time, it seems odd to me that you chose to do it here when you felt it needed to be brought up again.
If you had good intentions then I think you went the wrong way about it.
#150, can I just ask why you are attacking her for bringing it up here? Last time I checked, this is a SMACK blog and designers get mentioned here for far more stupid reasons than quality concerns. For once, someone was brought up here in order to help her and give constructive feedback about why a former customer has stopped purchasing. Much better than the personal attacks that go on here all the damn time, if you ask me.
I don't even get why you're so indignant about it, anyway? Do you think Robyn should be immune to being named here? Even if she deserves it? If someone's quality is lacking, that is one time they SHOULD be mentioned here!
DHD and/or the designers going over to Gen's new store don't deserve any more special treatment than anyone else gets. If they have quality issues, they should be outed for them, especially when they've been given a private opportunity to review and correct their QC issues in the past, yet the same quality errors keep happening.
Who the hell do you think YOU are? You think you have the right to question the OP for bringing up her quality concerns here? Do you really think it's your job to tell the OP how she "should" have handled it? Unbelievable!
151- I agree with you. Part of this blog's purpose is to alert us to quality control issues, etc. I think she did it quite politely and in a non "smack" manner.
Who the hell do you think YOU are? You think you have the right to question the OP for bringing up her quality concerns here? Do you really think it's your job to tell the OP how she "should" have handled it? Unbelievable!
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She's obviously Robyn.
This is a SMACK blog #150. Where do you get off telling someone they can't bring up an issue here? Are.you.for.real?
Since we're sort of on the subject of quality, can we please talk about Bella Gypsy? I liked and downloaded their "Moody Blues" kit off their Facebook fan page and was majorly disappointed. The papers are pixelated at 100% view, all 14 papers are done using the same texture, and the white parts of the pattern have no texture on them at all.
Yeah it was a freebie but the poor quality of it sure doesn't make me want to buy anything from them. Deleted the whole kit and was thankful I wasn't out any of my hard-earned money.
She's obviously Robyn.
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Oh, you are so smart for thinking that. No one would ever have thought of that.
Two shots.
Since we're sort of on the subject of quality, can we please talk about Bella Gypsy?
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For some reason, every time I bring up their quality issues, the post doesn't seem to register. I'm surprised they have as many fans as they though because I think their quality is questionable as well.
Blurry, out of focus elements; bad recolors - basically just a color adjustment layer, so there are no real high lights and low lights, just washed out or saturated patches of color; clipped edges; and the papers issue you mentioned; etc.
#157 agreed! I think they use the paint bucket to recolor stuff! Jaggie city!
I'm the OP about the Robyn issue yesterday, and I am amazed by 149 and 150. 149, I thought I very clearly stated that I had contacted her once before, and then purchased something new - again - at a later time - multiple things actually - and was still seeing the same problems. So yeah she was made aware of these issues the first time around, and she did nothing and kept producing the same problems. If I had posted about her on a smack blog the first time, that would have been uncalled for I agree. But IMO if there's any time at all to post about someone on this blog, it's when they ignore issues like that and keep selling things that are messed up. She got a free pass the first time when I contacted her. She doesn't get free passes after that, if she is knowingly selling jagged shit.
150, take a prozac. Don't worry about whether my intentions were good or bad or handled correctly. That's my worry, not yours. The truth is that my intention the first time around was to help a designer whose work I love fix an issue that was pissing me off after I spent money on her products. My intention this time around was to make sure her new boss knows about it, because obviously some people don't change unless their hand is forced. Robyn's roots are in paper scrapbooking design. She needs help in the area of digital elements, and if she's going to continue designing for digital someone needs to make that happen.
159, are you Simon? Because you sure talk sense.
Gennifer will you store be exclusive?
Yes.
#160 - other people talk sense, are they all Simon too?
I have several Bella Gypsy kits and not one paper is pixelated, including the ones you cite above. None of the elements I have are blurry or jagged. Maybe you and your cohorts need a better monitor and/or glasses..or maybe you're really, really jealous of their success.
I don't mind valid criticism of designers' work, but, when it's obviously made up, it's dishonest and very petty. Get a life.
#160 - other people talk sense, are they all Simon too?
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How do you know they're not all Simon, moron?
No 160, I'm not Simon. But I was Pierce, for what it's worth.
I have that freebie from Bella Gypsy and thought their recolors were better than usual. The worst being the blue butterfly (horrible). Ribbon 3 is disgusting when you zoom in. It's right on the edge at about 30% which is what I consider for print quality. That tiny bird is freaky like it's eye slid down its body.
I, too, see the pixelation on the papers at 100%, but it should print just fine and I'm not worried about it for my pages. I don't mind the same texture on the papers. In fact, I prefer it.
I'm not a huge Bella Gypsy fan, but they occasionally put out something I like. Their CT pages don't do much to tempt me to buy their kits. More often than not, they actually convince me to pass.
None of the elements I have are blurry or jagged. Maybe you and your cohorts need a better monitor and/or glasses..or maybe you're really, really jealous of their success.
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FFS, grow up! I'm not jealous of their success. If I were to be jealous of anyone's success, it would be someone worthy, like Richard Branston, not some two bit digi designers. I don't need glasses and my monitor is just fine. Maybe you need glasses and a new monitor, since you are the only NOT seeing it!
How do you know they're not all Simon, moron?
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Because I know I'm not Simon and also been told I'm talking sense, that's how I know. When you have to name call, you've lost the argument.
None of the elements I have are blurry or jagged. Maybe you and your cohorts need a better monitor and/or glasses..or maybe you're really, really jealous of their success.
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FFS, grow up! I'm not jealous of their success. If I were to be jealous of anyone's success, it would be someone worthy, like Richard Branston, not some two bit digi designers. I don't need glasses and my monitor is just fine. Maybe you need glasses and a new monitor, since you are the only NOT seeing it!
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I agree with 169. The quality of some of her freebies are very low. They have lots of jaggies and blurry elements. I checked a kit I purchased and it was fine, not GREAT but fine.
Well, welcome back, Pierce ;) Miss you and Simon and your reviews. And sense.
Gennifer - I sent you a PM via FB, I'm still open if you are. :)
WTF 173? This isn't a dating site. Why pass cryptic messages back and forth that the rest of us don't understand?
173, you're too cryptic for me, too. I haven't received any PMs, and I don't know who you are. Sorry!
Big surprise at the new additions to P&Co... Mye De Leon and Robyn. (in case you can't read, I'm being sarcastic)
Pretty new here and just wondering what P&Co stands for. Thanks.
Pixels and Company got it, nevermind
To #164: I was OP about the Bella Gypsy kit. I have a 27" widescreen full HD monitor with 1920x1080 resolution, 20/20 vision, and am not jealous of their success; I wish them nothing but the best.
Three strikes. You're out.
179 you wish them "nothing but the best"? even though you're the original poster about them on a smack blog. SMH. Idiot.
http://tracireed.com/news/2012/12/knock-ct-application-park-dream-teams/
"With nearly 100 applications every time I do a call..."
...doubt it. Traci was literally begging for more apps a day or two before her call ended. She had at least one post if not multiple posts on Facebook to the effect of "I'm not getting very many apps and if you apply now, you're almost assured of making the cut!". I remember because I almost laughed my fool head off when I read she was having trouble attracting a team. The Great Traci Reed.
Regarding Bella Gypsy, I actually can't stand their kits. They always have these shiny epoxy like elements and their alpha's are awful. The colors have me shading my eyes frequently. I think they're both super nice people but I just don't enjoy their work.
#181-----my guess is that you're one of the many who got rejected.
I also got Bella Gypsy's freebie kit; I think the elements are fine, but the papers really ARE pixelated. Just saying.
Which freebie are you looking at?
Which freebie are you looking at?
Moody Blues which was a FB freebie in November.
182, aren't you a genius. No, I am just another bitchy designer who doesn't believe for one instant that Ms. Reed had more than 20 apps. She was BEGGING for apps at the end of her call and I was laughing and I know I am not the only one, either.
181, you could save yourself from your hateful feelings and unsub from her facebook page. It's stupid to continue to "like" someone on facebook that you clearly hate.
Word 186. ITA.
Meanwhile this is funny: http://pinktrikedesign.squarespace.com/blog/2012/12/13/an-awesome-new-digi-home.html
"Over the next several weeks I'll be repackaging, creating new kits, fixing things that need fixing"
187 I can like or follow whoever the fuck I want to. If you let me know your page, I can even follow it and direct my hateful feelings there instead.
185 - thanks. I'm not a "fan" so I didn't get that one, I was looking on the blog.
182, aren't you a genius. No, I am just another bitchy designer who doesn't believe for one instant that Ms. Reed had more than 20 apps. She was BEGGING for apps at the end of her call and I was laughing and I know I am not the only one, either
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When I was a designer, and I wasn't by far known, I had at least 50 apps when I did a CT call. She posted mid-call saying apps were coming in slowly. One time. That doesn't mean that she didn't have some apply at the last minute.
187 I can like or follow whoever the fuck I want to. If you let me know your page, I can even follow it and direct my hateful feelings there instead.
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You're pathetic.
Meh 192 I tend to agree with 189. Who are you to think you can control what other people follow on FB? You're just like the people who think they can control what we post on this blog.
I don't care who she follows. I just choose not to follow people or companies that I hate because I don't like to be annoyed by their posts. It seems logical that when you "like" something that you actually "like" it because it shows up as your interest on your FB page and it shows you are supporting that company. But I also understand that logic is lost on many of you here.
Another designer laughing at Traci? Classy.
And I feel for Traci, clearly being at the top has brought out all the jealous cows.
Oh please 195 the whole purpose of this blog is that some designers are mocking/slamming/smacking other designers. Classy? No. But it is what it is... and here you are, too, I see.
I don't think it's that crazy people laugh at Traci asking/begging for more apps because I find her quite demanding. Never saw a designer requiring you having photography and post-processing skills for example(although Mye de Leon has the photography skills too now in her reguirement list for her 2013 call)
#195- Hi Traci! We all know you read and post here.
#197- I found her post about the CT call very stuck up. I think if you require your CT to have good camera and processing skills, you should learn how to do that yourself.
199- try again. Or is that take a shot...whatever.
I'm not traci. But I feel that we have no reason to not believe regarding her numbers. She has no reason to lie.
200 - other than her giant ego. I think she was shocked when she didn't have 100 apps and wants everyone to think that she did, but was shocked she didn't get 1000.
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