I was thinking the same. I was so excited to see Wildheart Designs (Lisa Sisneros) come back to designing. Loved that Mari was in the store, and then Danielle. Seems they hardly release anything anymore though. I would probably buy alot more if there were consistent releases. Of the newer designers, I absolutely love the stuff from Hat of Bunny. Kind of a weird design name but I really like her designs. Agree that Mommyish should come back. I completely stopped shopping at TLP about 2 years ago. I find there is too much crap to sift through and adding too many designers that I don't care for. Mommyish's stuff just melts into the background there, at least for me anyway. I also really miss her CU stuff at SHC.
I liked that Mommyish's CU stuff was separate (at SHC) and the PU stuff was at TDP. It's all a huge, exhausting jumble at TLP.
For at least 3 or 4 years now, every time a designer that I really liked goes to TLP, it just all goes downhill. Either they change their style (and I don't mean the occasional deviation-that's actually fun once in a while) or they just quit putting out things consistently. At this point, I only go to TLP about once (maybe twice)per year.
Meh-it's saving me money, I guess. The lack of great stores is forcing me to shop my stash most of the time. I am finding lots of stuff that I still love on my EHD :)
So it's not only me that finds TLP is a hot mess to shop through? I seriously loved that store a few years ago but feel like there are way too many designers and imo they don't fit with what the store used to be. I still peek in every once in a while to see what Kate Hadfield has put out but not really for anyone else anymore.
Yes, I read on the FB page that whoever decides the date of DSD has moved it up one month so as to not get too close to Black Friday events, which, in a way, is a good thing. However, I wonder how widespread the information is, and how many people might miss it.
Well that's weird. It's always been 1st week of November. Why change it now? And will all the stores be doing this? Seems strange. I bet quite a few customers will miss the boat on this if that's the case.
Over at The Digital Press they are freaking marketing geniouses! They have a challenge where they ask people to scrap a page with a retired product. So you don't have to buy anything from their shop, and if you see something you like in someone else's LO, guess what, you can't buy it, because it's retired!!!
I do feel the Lilypad is a hot mess too. Too many designers, too many sub-par compared to their better designers which makes you wade through too much crap to find something good. Myself, I prefer to have PU and CU at 2 different stores.
I guess people have different tastes 25, I'm finding way too much stuff to buy and now I'm going over my budget!
I'm with 26. It's easy enough to click on the name of the designer you like, or do an advanced search and click on a few designers. I never wade through the crap designers because I never click on their names. But it WOULD be nice to just see the crap go away. I'm not sure how some of those designers stay in business.
#24, that challenge confused me too. I like when retired products are allowed for challenges, but requiring only retired products doesn't seem to have any benefits for anyone, and totally excludes anyone new to scrapping or new to the TDP designers.
Their slow scrap is stupid too. If you're going to tell everyone the exact sizes of everything and exactly where to put it, just make a damn template. The fun of a speed/slow scrap, I always thought, was that things are open to interpretation.
#10 you said "I used to love TDP, and I'd really like to continue to support them"
But then you came onto a smack blog to say that? Not very supportive. Nobody is saying you have to buy from them if you don't like the products anymore. But to say you want to support them while bashing them on a smack blog seems rather passive-aggressive.
Yeah, #10. Your comment wasn't nearly smacky enough. It's only okay to trash talk a store if you don't soften it with details like how you don't actually loathe it completely. Soooo passive aggressive.
Different strokes, #33. I actually like TLP's collab and also liked SSD's they have. Both stores were more than generous with their kits' contents too.
Ok, then. TDP started off great and then their designers got lazy and complacent. I'm giving up on them and their crappy store. Fuck them, I'm never going back.
I am finding that I'm shopping at SSD more and more, actually now about 85% of my scrapping budget goes there. I never used to spend that much there, but in the last year or so there has been so much that I just love. I don't really find everything looks the same there. My fav designers there are KCB, Brook Magee and Flergs. I used to shop mainly at TLP but I haven't bought anything there in over a year. Still shop at SBG and a little at PBP.
#41 Really? Kate use to have fun, vibrant, drawings. Now it is all just blah. I have shopped more at TLP in the past year, than anywhere else. SSD all the same? oh, enlighten us #40. Flergs compares to whom? Cindy compares to whom? Captivated Visions compares to whom?
SSD has the most diverse designs anywhere. Also, theirs is the best quality and selection. I absolutely cannot EVER find what I'm looking for at TLP. Once in awhile I'll happen to spot something there and I'll pick it up but that's just by happenstance. PBP has some great designs and templates too. TDP stopped being a place I check regularly a long time ago.
^^^agreed. I never shopped there years ago because I felt like everything looked the same. Now it's much more diverse. Maybe it all depends on who you absolutely love, Flergs is my most fav designer and I can spot her stuff a mile away. I also find their template designers don't have an equal in the digi scrapping world. Whenever I need a template they are my go-to.
everything seems to be pocket scrapping or geared toward it anyway, especially at TLP. Used to love KimB over at TDP but her kits don't seem to be the same or as often as they were when she was at SM. Was never a shopper at SSD but will admit to shopping there a few times lately. Used to shop at TLP often but the designers I liked just don't have anything I want lately.
So WendyP is the newest SSD designer. Huh, I used to buy alot of her older stuff. She appears to have done a complete 180 on her style so I guess it'll fit in there now. I would love to see Tracey Monette (Clever Monkey Graphics) as one of the new designers too. Love her stuff but I always forget to check because I don't shop at the store she is in.
I don't think SSD needs more designers that "fit." I've liked that things have become a little bit more diverse over there in the past year or two. As stores have become overloaded with total crap (TLP, TDP etc) it has driven me to SSD. If they get all overloaded with crappy designers too, my scrap spending will virtually stop.
Exactly! I feel the same. They seem to be the only store that hasn't just brought every designer that applies on board. TLP seems to have really lowered their standards as to who can get in. SSD so far at least seems to maintain higher standards and I've found myself shopping there more than I used to for sure.
Attention designers who have Teresa Carlucci as their lead. Notice shit morale in your team, or people dropping like flies? She is the reason! She is bullying your team members. She is your voice to your team; and she is running people off. Everyone is afraid to say anything. She has her thumb on so many teams. We love our designers. We are starting not to be able to work with this person. Please look at your team; and take this into consideration. She has bullied one of my friends to completely leaving the digital scrapbooking community. She ran her out of teams she has been on for years. She is not the designer. Please ladies, step back in. Take control of your teams! Take the power back. Thank you.
Take the power back? Seriously? lol. Despite the ridiculous phrasing, she is right. I have Teresa on a few teams. I've known two people who have quit teams 100% because of her.
While we are talking about impossible team leads. Danica Staples. I've quit teams because of her. I know designers have a lot on their plate. I wish they would cut the whole "lead" thing all together. Or maybe get some different people. I feel like it is Teresa and Danica running it all. They both are bullies.
I didn't have a problem with her either, at first. I noticed people leaving and my once chatty team not around at all. I asked one of my members who I am actually friends with. She informed me it was Teresa. I agree with 53& 54 (who i guess are creative team members), Teresa is a problem. She didn't used to be. I think she is way over extended now.
I've heard through the grapevine SSD has settled on another designer. Any idea who it is? I hope not Meagan's Creations. I see she is leaving her stores. Her templates are stand out; her kits not so much.
I would bet it was Megan Creations too #60. She is leaving both her stores she has been at for nearly 3 years. I would bet it takes a step up to do that. Whatever floats their boat. I don't buy her drudge now; and I wont at SSD.
What is up with digishoptalk. Forum not available, gallery gone and nothing on their blog. Anyone know if they are coming back online? I really enjoyed their galleries.
I think she's an excellent fit. Never occurred to me, but she fits. I discovered her at Scrap Orchard and love her kits. Not that it really matters but I didn't like her design name, glad she's switched it up, sounds more professional now.
I am not surprised. Stacy is never present unless it is something big. I left there several months ago mainly because of that. It just didn't feel like the owner was behind her store. Now her sidekick Janice is great. She was always helpful to me. Really liked her.
stacy is pushing gingerscraps as a new home for her designers. i feel bad for the "serious" designers who settle for GS tho. i've been in both shops and GS is definitely a step down, not up. forum is more active, but design team not managed well. ginger doesnt have any expectations and therefore doesnt care if they perform or not. that might be ok for lazy designers, but not good for serious ones. she needs to weed out her flakes before she thinks about taking on more designers. i hope the better designers look elsewhere. my design income went up when i went exclusive and quit spreading myself so thin, and got serious about focusing on one shop
I don't think she "fits" the main style of SSD. However, I think that is what they are going for. There are hundreds of good enough designers that could fill their stores. A lot of them I know have been turned down. I think they are going for designers that broaden the them of their store.....I don't like her designs personally. I cannot put my finger on what about it makes me feel this way; but they feel flat to me.
Jen C has more than one store. The writing sounds like Yurko's style too. I thought it was her as well. She gave away way too much information to try to stay anonymous.
I would be surprised to see Sabrina moving to SSD. I know they are trying to broaden their "look". She doesn't fit whatsoever. The last thing SSD is a minimalist scrapping store. 99% of their layouts look like clustering element vomit.
I think Bobbie of River Rose would fit perfectly. Her designs look like the rest. I hope they know what they are getting into. She is difficult to get along with. Very difficult.
1. I have worked with Bobbie and have never found her to be difficult at all. But her designs have never been my favorite. 2. I remember back in the day when you had to be very active at SSD for a long time before you had a chance at getting in. Nowadays you get in before you even have a forum account set up? Times have changed.
Can I say how annoying it is for template designers to put say 4 temps in a pack, temp 1 in a folder all types, temp 2 in a folder with all types. It makes sorting SO much easier if each file type had its own folder.
VERY annoying. The store I'm in requires template designers to name and zip template files by type. If you want only TIFF files you can grab the download marked TIFF. A couple of designers grumbled about it but they got over it.
#110, I wish they would do this. Or just dump all files in one folder. Yes, put PNGs in folders, but come on. lol And put them in a folder so when I unzip they don't go all over the place.
Wow you guys actually had useful feedback to provide. Have you ever thought of emailing designers to let them know this? But good to know. Thanks.
And by useful I mean specific. Saying, "Their stuff sucks" is basic and stupid criticism. How about you read a review of a movie and see how they get specific about what they don't like and take some pointers. Just because YOU don't like someone's style doesn't make it crap. Quality issues? Color palette issues? Bad previews? Repetitive elements? If you're going to smack someone, make it interesting and informative.
Can I beg for designers here to PLEASE put previews in your downloads? You don't need to include every preview in every folder (like elements, alphas, & such in the papers DL) but having previews is SO helpful. I hate to have to go back to the store to get the previews. And having a preview & a preview named folder is helpful, too.
I agree with that, except I only care about having one called folder. If it isn't called that, I'll rename it, but I don't need more than one copy of it. I'd rather you put 10 copies in than none though.
OMG DigiFiles...PLEASE go back to the old way of naming kits. This new way sucks. I sort by designer names & the way these are named...there's no way to know who did what. And that's going to SUCK when these designers put their parts in their stores & people double buy. Or is that the reason? To make even more money by conning customers into buying what they already have?
118, oh hell yeah there is. When they release those kits in their store as 'new', folks will probably buy it a 2nd time. So double dipping ftw. (Sarcasm)
Is it just me or is TDP extremely slow. I don't see hardly any posts there during the day, very little participation in the challenges? Where do you hang forum wise?
Just so you know, I asked and got clarification from The Digi Files "What that means is that the majority of featured kits that month will come from The Daily Digi staff. But YOUR kit will still be branded the way you normally do. You can still use your own store preview and logo, etc. We will probably have only 1-2 feature designers and then the rest of the kits will be created by Daily Digi staff."
So they have their own team now. Your stuff isn't hidden as belonging to TDD.
#129 I agree, the last few things Ive brought from there, have had quality issues or entire folders missing that took ages for the designer to fix. Not impressed enough to go back.
Another one bites the dust (Scraps N Pieces). This was posted on their FB page early this morning.
"As some of you may have noticed, the store has been down for the last couple of days. After two days of hard work, it looks like the information for product downloads has been lost. The cost and time to reconstruct, re-upload, and continue to maintain that section is not going to be possible at this time. We are so sad to say that the store will not re-open."
Royanna used to own a store (forgot the name) and she whined about everything. She was bad about getting her designers paid on time. I never got my last payment.
#137 - Probably because digital scrapbooking is dying off itself. Stores closing left and right, forums less active, blogs never posted to or read, and everything on FB groups.
Scrapbook.com is open. I think Gingerscraps is open, but no links. TDC is open.
In other news...it's been a while since the welcoming of the new designers at Sweet Shoppe. How are you liking the designs. I'm not really feeling Grace Lee's stuff. I actually liked her stuff better before her move there. Anyone else?
I love Grace's stuff, she's one of my favourite designers in the shop. I think I have almost everything she's put out (except for the collabs with other designers).
Grace looks better than On a Whimsical Adventure (no idea what her name is) - that stuff is trash. Both of them look fresh out of 2008 with their previews and products, but I can see Grace's being more Sweet Shop. I don't even shop there anymore since their products that look fresh out of 2010 or are just copies of what other people make. Their latest product offering is quick page albums? They're so behind the times it's no wonder digital is dying a slow death.
I would imagine SSD is probably pulling in the biggest $$$ of any digi scrap store. It also seems to have one of the most active forums and galleries. I don't think their stuff looks like it's from 2010. I look forward to seeing what they offer every week. All of the other stores I liked have closed or are really dying off.
Actually I think Lilypad is more active than SSD. I love the atmosphere there. I do like many of the designers at SSD too and I agree they are probably making a lot more than many of the stores out here that seem to be dying off. I don't think TLP is one of them though.
I think Lilypad also has more original designers too. Not all of it is CU or recycled kit after kit. If I buy something,I tend to find 9 times out of 10, its original. Or not 10 of the same flower in different colors. SSD has some great things and designers. And I do shop there alot. just my thoughts :)
Any news in digiland? Any new stores? Any shakeups? What's the real deal at digishoptalk (are we just watching it's slow death?). Any sites that are actually growing? Any new scrapbooking trends in 2017? I've been around since 2006 and I don't really see anything new happening (although I still love it and will keep scrapping my personal pages).
If they can't restore the gallery at DST they should just shut the whole thing down. Ridiculous that it's been going on almost a year and still no updates.
I notice a lot of digital layouts being posted at scrapbook.com even though it seems it's mostly a traditional site/store. Is this the best 'open' gallery these days? Are there other recommendations where people can share with links from any store?
157 - I don't really visit them anymore, but I do check in periodically to see if they restored the gallery. I had a ton of layouts in my favourites as inspiration but of course cannot access them. I'm betting they'll be closed by end of year.
And LOL at the layouts done with phone apps, jeez. 2006 for sure!
So... let's discuss Pollywods. I've been active at TLP forum for over a year, and still I see a random post by some Polly and I wonder "Wow, is she a Polly? Where has she been all this time?" I understand, they might be busy behind the scenes, but there are Pollys that hardly ever participate in anything. Anyone know what's the deal with them? And once a Polly, always a Polly? Won't the get kicked out for not being around?
I'm really saddened to hear of the loss of these three designers. Very shocking news. I just check this site occasionally so thank you for letting people know.
Seems like a copout to me to have a designer call only to bring back two designers who sold in your store for a long time. Maybe that was the plan all along?
What plan? Let down so many applicants who'd buy CU from TLP? Wait till you see the third designer. She's new there but I don't know how she made it...
Designed by Soco? Yuck. Her stuff is so boring and basic.
The whole call just seemed like a waste of time to me. If you're just going to bring back people who have sold there before and someone not even remotely exciting, why even have a call? Just personally invite them and be done with it.
Anything exciting going on in digital scrapbooking anymore? I'm coming back after a long break and everything has changed so much. My old favorite sites are gone or dead. I'm looking for an open gallery and active forum. Any suggestions?
Can anyone point me to a FB page or FB group that's actually a community? All I've seen on FB are people posting CT layouts with very little comments or conversation. No discussion at all about scrapbooking trends, techniques, designers. And I've not seen any FB scrapbooking challenges, contests or games or other activity that used to take place in Forums.
#187. I don't think there are any groups that are community centered. Mostly just sharing ads or layouts. The Lilypad has a pretty active forum. Scrapaneers announced on FB that they are going to have a new community that sounds like it will be more community based just for the things you want. There are a couple of active forums. Not like they used to be but they community is out there.
Okay - this is the only place I can say this: I just don't think Project Life/Pocket Style pages are attractive AT ALL! I totally understand the idea behind it being all about story telling and memory keeping and I support that. In the paper world it makes a lot of sense to be able to just slip a standard size item into a 'pocket'. But the resulting design doesn't appeal to me so why would I do this digitally? Does anyone else agree?
So SSD is having another designer call. Who should apply that they don't already have? There are a couple from TLP that would fit but other than that ...???
I've been away from digiscrapping for a couple of years and I miss the days when everyone knew each other. What's been going on? Are designers still able to make decent money? Is there still a need for new designers or is the market saturated? What stores are still active? What are the trends for 2019?
Seems most prominent stores from the old days have closed. I used to hang exclusively at SBG but now I'm lost out in space. No where really calls to me. DST is dead. I guess everyone moved to Facebook. It's not for me. I prefer forums. I still like seeing new designers. I buy mostly from SSD and Gingerscraps now. Not sure on new trends, but I do still seems to find enough that catches my eye and I've been doing digi since 2006
The TLP blog hop, All About Me, is a giant effin' mess. Half the designers don't have their stuff posted, some have it posted but don't have the downloads available, some have their portion posted but dead links to the next stop, etc. I hope they get their #$%^ together.
I believe Peppermint (One Little Bird) is now designing products for traditional scrapbooking companies. I know some of her stuff has been sold by Studio Calico and Project Life.
Let's talk about the recent additions to Sweet Shoppe?! Ponytails, Laura Wilkerson, and another new one joining Jan 2020. I definitely didn't see this coming for SSD. What do you think? I like Ponytails. But unsure about LW. Don't know who the newest will be, does someone here know?
Never heard of JoCee designs before. Overall I like the additions to the store in the last year or two. There are some I don't buy from of course but nice to see something different in there.
I'm betting the other designer joining SSD is Tracey Monette/Clever Monkey Graphics. She sent out a notice that her other stores are closing so must be. I really like her stuff, she'll fit in well there.
Tracey's stuff is just OK. What bugs me the most about her is her history of hijacking other designers' social media posts. Example: A designer will post about a kit, say a Dr. Who-themed one, and Tracey will jump on and let everyone know she's got one too. Tacky!
4015 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 3801 – 4000 of 4015 Newer› Newest»#12 you are so right. On everything. You are so right, you could be me!
It is like the orignal designers have gone "le sigh" and given up.
Although, summer holidays did just end, which is always a quiet time.
I was thinking the same. I was so excited to see Wildheart Designs (Lisa Sisneros) come back to designing. Loved that Mari was in the store, and then Danielle. Seems they hardly release anything anymore though. I would probably buy alot more if there were consistent releases. Of the newer designers, I absolutely love the stuff from Hat of Bunny. Kind of a weird design name but I really like her designs. Agree that Mommyish should come back. I completely stopped shopping at TLP about 2 years ago. I find there is too much crap to sift through and adding too many designers that I don't care for. Mommyish's stuff just melts into the background there, at least for me anyway. I also really miss her CU stuff at SHC.
I liked that Mommyish's CU stuff was separate (at SHC) and the PU stuff was at TDP. It's all a huge, exhausting jumble at TLP.
For at least 3 or 4 years now, every time a designer that I really liked goes to TLP, it just all goes downhill. Either they change their style (and I don't mean the occasional deviation-that's actually fun once in a while) or they just quit putting out things consistently. At this point, I only go to TLP about once (maybe twice)per year.
Meh-it's saving me money, I guess. The lack of great stores is forcing me to shop my stash most of the time. I am finding lots of stuff that I still love on my EHD :)
So it's not only me that finds TLP is a hot mess to shop through? I seriously loved that store a few years ago but feel like there are way too many designers and imo they don't fit with what the store used to be. I still peek in every once in a while to see what Kate Hadfield has put out but not really for anyone else anymore.
No, 16, it's not just you. That place is a hot mess. I gave up on them about a year ago.
Is Digital Scrapbook Day really Oct 1 this year?
Isn't it usually the first w/e in November?
TLP is saying it is Oct. 1
Yes, I read on the FB page that whoever decides the date of DSD has moved it up one month so as to not get too close to Black Friday events, which, in a way, is a good thing. However, I wonder how widespread the information is, and how many people might miss it.
Well that's weird. It's always been 1st week of November. Why change it now? And will all the stores be doing this? Seems strange. I bet quite a few customers will miss the boat on this if that's the case.
Pretty much all of the stores have changed the date to October 1
Over at The Digital Press they are freaking marketing geniouses! They have a challenge where they ask people to scrap a page with a retired product. So you don't have to buy anything from their shop, and if you see something you like in someone else's LO, guess what, you can't buy it, because it's retired!!!
Is anyone else very underwhelmed by the DSD releases?
For those of you who think shopping at TLP is a hot mess - you must be completely technically illerate!
If you like a designer. Click their name and then filter the category. Simple as that.
For example - some of you complained about Mommyish CU & PU being separate. Isn't shopping at 2 stores more of a pain than in 1?
Go to her designer category and CLICK ON THE COMMERIAL USE button - or kits... or whatever.
TLP has the best filtering system out there when compared to everyone else!
I do feel the Lilypad is a hot mess too. Too many designers, too many sub-par compared to their better designers which makes you wade through too much crap to find something good. Myself, I prefer to have PU and CU at 2 different stores.
I guess people have different tastes 25, I'm finding way too much stuff to buy and now I'm going over my budget!
I'm with 26. It's easy enough to click on the name of the designer you like, or do an advanced search and click on a few designers. I never wade through the crap designers because I never click on their names. But it WOULD be nice to just see the crap go away. I'm not sure how some of those designers stay in business.
#24, that challenge confused me too. I like when retired products are allowed for challenges, but requiring only retired products doesn't seem to have any benefits for anyone, and totally excludes anyone new to scrapping or new to the TDP designers.
Their slow scrap is stupid too. If you're going to tell everyone the exact sizes of everything and exactly where to put it, just make a damn template. The fun of a speed/slow scrap, I always thought, was that things are open to interpretation.
http://store.gingerscraps.net/High-Holy-Days-Kit.html
Dog poop?
#29, lmao it looks like it.
#10 you said "I used to love TDP, and I'd really like to continue to support them"
But then you came onto a smack blog to say that? Not very supportive. Nobody is saying you have to buy from them if you don't like the products anymore. But to say you want to support them while bashing them on a smack blog seems rather passive-aggressive.
Yeah, #10. Your comment wasn't nearly smacky enough. It's only okay to trash talk a store if you don't soften it with details like how you don't actually loathe it completely. Soooo passive aggressive.
The blog hop and FWP kit from TLP is mega fugly.
#31 do you talk irl like an idiot or just bless the Internet with your drivel?
Different strokes, #33. I actually like TLP's collab and also liked SSD's they have. Both stores were more than generous with their kits' contents too.
Ok, then. TDP started off great and then their designers got lazy and complacent. I'm giving up on them and their crappy store. Fuck them, I'm never going back.
Is that overtly hostile enough for you, 31?
So SSD is looking for a couple more designers - who's going to make it?
#37: Probably designers whose stuff looks exactly like every other designer there.
I am finding that I'm shopping at SSD more and more, actually now about 85% of my scrapping budget goes there. I never used to spend that much there, but in the last year or so there has been so much that I just love. I don't really find everything looks the same there. My fav designers there are KCB, Brook Magee and Flergs. I used to shop mainly at TLP but I haven't bought anything there in over a year. Still shop at SBG and a little at PBP.
Everything looks the same at SSD. Love PBP.
I think Kate Hadfield would be a great fit at SSD. There's so much crap now at TLP that her nice stuff gets lost in there.
#41 Really? Kate use to have fun, vibrant, drawings. Now it is all just blah. I have shopped more at TLP in the past year, than anywhere else.
SSD all the same? oh, enlighten us #40. Flergs compares to whom? Cindy compares to whom? Captivated Visions compares to whom?
SSD has the most diverse designs anywhere. Also, theirs is the best quality and selection. I absolutely cannot EVER find what I'm looking for at TLP. Once in awhile I'll happen to spot something there and I'll pick it up but that's just by happenstance. PBP has some great designs and templates too. TDP stopped being a place I check regularly a long time ago.
^^^agreed. I never shopped there years ago because I felt like everything looked the same. Now it's much more diverse. Maybe it all depends on who you absolutely love, Flergs is my most fav designer and I can spot her stuff a mile away. I also find their template designers don't have an equal in the digi scrapping world. Whenever I need a template they are my go-to.
everything seems to be pocket scrapping or geared toward it anyway, especially at TLP. Used to love KimB over at TDP but her kits don't seem to be the same or as often as they were when she was at SM. Was never a shopper at SSD but will admit to shopping there a few times lately. Used to shop at TLP often but the designers I liked just don't have anything I want lately.
This month's Digifiles is more of the same old designers. Yawn.
So WendyP is the newest SSD designer. Huh, I used to buy alot of her older stuff. She appears to have done a complete 180 on her style so I guess it'll fit in there now. I would love to see Tracey Monette (Clever Monkey Graphics) as one of the new designers too. Love her stuff but I always forget to check because I don't shop at the store she is in.
There are other people that would be a way better fit Clever Monkey.
Like who?
Never liked Clever Monkey's stuff.
I don't think SSD needs more designers that "fit." I've liked that things have become a little bit more diverse over there in the past year or two. As stores have become overloaded with total crap (TLP, TDP etc) it has driven me to SSD. If they get all overloaded with crappy designers too, my scrap spending will virtually stop.
Exactly! I feel the same. They seem to be the only store that hasn't just brought every designer that applies on board. TLP seems to have really lowered their standards as to who can get in. SSD so far at least seems to maintain higher standards and I've found myself shopping there more than I used to for sure.
#6 that Flergs kit isn't even with Amber, it's with Traci Reed and I think the pikachu is made by Traci, not Flergs.
Attention designers who have Teresa Carlucci as their lead. Notice shit morale in your team, or people dropping like flies? She is the reason! She is bullying your team members. She is your voice to your team; and she is running people off. Everyone is afraid to say anything. She has her thumb on so many teams. We love our designers. We are starting not to be able to work with this person. Please look at your team; and take this into consideration. She has bullied one of my friends to completely leaving the digital scrapbooking community. She ran her out of teams she has been on for years. She is not the designer. Please ladies, step back in. Take control of your teams! Take the power back.
Thank you.
Take the power back? Seriously? lol.
Despite the ridiculous phrasing, she is right. I have Teresa on a few teams. I've known two people who have quit teams 100% because of her.
While we are talking about impossible team leads. Danica Staples. I've quit teams because of her. I know designers have a lot on their plate. I wish they would cut the whole "lead" thing all together. Or maybe get some different people. I feel like it is Teresa and Danica running it all. They both are bullies.
I don't recognize either of those 2 names, are they for designers at a certain store?
I used to have Teresa on my team and had no problems.
@#56...pretty sure they said multiple times TEAM LEADS
I didn't have a problem with her either, at first. I noticed people leaving and my once chatty team not around at all. I asked one of my members who I am actually friends with. She informed me it was Teresa. I agree with 53& 54 (who i guess are creative team members), Teresa is a problem. She didn't used to be. I think she is way over extended now.
I've heard through the grapevine SSD has settled on another designer. Any idea who it is? I hope not Meagan's Creations. I see she is leaving her stores. Her templates are stand out; her kits not so much.
Who do you think they should take on?
Could not be more disappointed in TLP :( No storewide sale for Black Friday? I had a full wish list just waiting to be purchased :( So sad!
Who do you #61?
I heard it's Bella Gypsy.
@ #62 me too.
@64...reliable source or just scuttlebutt?
I would bet it was Megan Creations too #60. She is leaving both her stores she has been at for nearly 3 years. I would bet it takes a step up to do that. Whatever floats their boat. I don't buy her drudge now; and I wont at SSD.
What is up with digishoptalk. Forum not available, gallery gone and nothing on their blog. Anyone know if they are coming back online? I really enjoyed their galleries.
I haven't been on DST in forever. Definitely not like it used to be.
I agree #60. Meagan's templates are fantastic. Her kits are awful.
With Meagan opening at TDP, it's probably not her at SSD then.
I wonder if it is Hat of Bunny. Her store is now mysteriously gone at TDP. I didn't hear anything about her retiring or having a sale before she left?
There was no sale and she only announced it in the TDP forum the same day her store was closing.
I cannot imagine why Amanda would leave two long standing stores to go to TDP! Her business.
FB alerted me today that Hat of Bunny also just changed her business name. Designs by Grace Lee.
*I mean Meagan, not Amanda.
Well guess Grace Lee moved to SSD.
I think she's an excellent fit. Never occurred to me, but she fits. I discovered her at Scrap Orchard and love her kits. Not that it really matters but I didn't like her design name, glad she's switched it up, sounds more professional now.
Gotta Pixel is closing down. All the way by February or sooner.
I am not surprised. Stacy is never present unless it is something big. I left there several months ago mainly because of that. It just didn't feel like the owner was behind her store. Now her sidekick Janice is great. She was always helpful to me. Really liked her.
Janice at GP is awesome! She was really helpful to me while I was there.
stacy is pushing gingerscraps as a new home for her designers. i feel bad for the "serious" designers who settle for GS tho. i've been in both shops and GS is definitely a step down, not up. forum is more active, but design team not managed well. ginger doesnt have any expectations and therefore doesnt care if they perform or not. that might be ok for lazy designers, but not good for serious ones. she needs to weed out her flakes before she thinks about taking on more designers. i hope the better designers look elsewhere. my design income went up when i went exclusive and quit spreading myself so thin, and got serious about focusing on one shop
You gave yourself away Jen...I mean #80.
Ha Ha. I thought it was Jen too.
Which Jen?
So, another designer joining SSD ... On a Whimsical Adventure. What do you think? Good fit?
I don't think she "fits" the main style of SSD. However, I think that is what they are going for. There are hundreds of good enough designers that could fill their stores. A lot of them I know have been turned down. I think they are going for designers that broaden the them of their store.....I don't like her designs personally. I cannot put my finger on what about it makes me feel this way; but they feel flat to me.
#81 and 82 - I thought it was Jen too.
#83 - Yurko
wrong. jen c
Jen C has more than one store. The writing sounds like Yurko's style too. I thought it was her as well. She gave away way too much information to try to stay anonymous.
giving away the information? so the information is true then? i'll steer clear if that's the case
Never been impressed with Yurko. Her stuff's basic and blah.
Bella Gypsy to make their debut next week at SSD. You heard it here first!
Yuck. Their stuff is fugly.
Seems like #91 is just talking out their ass....
Announcement from River Rose (at TDP) that her store is closing but she'll have an announcement Jan. 14th.....Sweet Shoppe perhaps???
Someone else announced they were closing at TDP. Sabrina maybe?
Sabrina is retiring a bunch of products but she's not retiring from designing.
Sabrina's shop is closing at TDP. Not sure where she is moving to.
I would be surprised to see Sabrina moving to SSD. I know they are trying to broaden their "look". She doesn't fit whatsoever. The last thing SSD is a minimalist scrapping store. 99% of their layouts look like clustering element vomit.
I think Bobbie of River Rose would fit perfectly. Her designs look like the rest. I hope they know what they are getting into. She is difficult to get along with. Very difficult.
Sabrina's joined TLP as a permanent designer.
What do you think of the designers at PBP?
@100
Overpriced and mediocre.
I was looking at this. Talk about over-priced: http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=29781&cat=280&page=1
http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/member.php?u=57833
Look who just joined!
98 why is she difficult? I have sold in stores with her and never had a problem.
103 who is it? I put in that link and it tells me I don't have permission to view that page?
@105 it's Bobbie Smith - designer of River Rose.
Interesting ...
1. I have worked with Bobbie and have never found her to be difficult at all. But her designs have never been my favorite.
2. I remember back in the day when you had to be very active at SSD for a long time before you had a chance at getting in. Nowadays you get in before you even have a forum account set up? Times have changed.
Can I say how annoying it is for template designers to put say 4 temps in a pack, temp 1 in a folder all types, temp 2 in a folder with all types. It makes sorting SO much easier if each file type had its own folder.
VERY annoying. The store I'm in requires template designers to name and zip template files by type. If you want only TIFF files you can grab the download marked TIFF. A couple of designers grumbled about it but they got over it.
#110, I wish they would do this. Or just dump all files in one folder. Yes, put PNGs in folders, but come on. lol And put them in a folder so when I unzip they don't go all over the place.
Wow you guys actually had useful feedback to provide. Have you ever thought of emailing designers to let them know this? But good to know. Thanks.
And by useful I mean specific. Saying, "Their stuff sucks" is basic and stupid criticism. How about you read a review of a movie and see how they get specific about what they don't like and take some pointers. Just because YOU don't like someone's style doesn't make it crap. Quality issues? Color palette issues? Bad previews? Repetitive elements? If you're going to smack someone, make it interesting and informative.
Can I beg for designers here to PLEASE put previews in your downloads? You don't need to include every preview in every folder (like elements, alphas, & such in the papers DL) but having previews is SO helpful. I hate to have to go back to the store to get the previews. And having a preview & a preview named folder is helpful, too.
I agree with that, except I only care about having one called folder. If it isn't called that, I'll rename it, but I don't need more than one copy of it. I'd rather you put 10 copies in than none though.
OMG DigiFiles...PLEASE go back to the old way of naming kits. This new way sucks. I sort by designer names & the way these are named...there's no way to know who did what. And that's going to SUCK when these designers put their parts in their stores & people double buy. Or is that the reason? To make even more money by conning customers into buying what they already have?
Did DigiFiles ever announce who the designers were this month? I never saw anything about it but maybe I missed it.
They're branding ALL the kits as being "by The Digi Files" now. They will never announce designers anymore.
There's really no incentive for a designer to participate in the Digi Files anymore, is there?
118, oh hell yeah there is. When they release those kits in their store as 'new', folks will probably buy it a 2nd time. So double dipping ftw. (Sarcasm)
Is it just me or is TDP extremely slow. I don't see hardly any posts there during the day, very little participation in the challenges? Where do you hang forum wise?
Just so you know, I asked and got clarification from The Digi Files "What that means is that the majority of featured kits that month will come from The Daily Digi staff. But YOUR kit will still be branded the way you normally do. You can still use your own store preview and logo, etc. We will probably have only 1-2 feature designers and then the rest of the kits will be created by Daily Digi staff."
So they have their own team now. Your stuff isn't hidden as belonging to TDD.
121, that makes it clear as mud. So they WILL be double dipping. Nice.
Does anyone know why Britt-Ish quit doing her Year in Pockets in Nov? Nothing on her FB page, no newsletter, nothing.
She has had December up since the beginning of December, maybe you missed it:
http://www.brittishdesigns.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=708
124, that's Dec 2015. She didn't do one for Dec 2016.
#126 - that says December 2016.
Vinnie Pearce, Scrapbook Graphics, is taking a break from designing and her store is on sale for 80% off.
It looks like ScrapbookGraphics has gone down the gurgler anyway.......or at least it's heading that way.
#129 I agree, the last few things Ive brought from there, have had quality issues or entire folders missing that took ages for the designer to fix. Not impressed enough to go back.
Whatever became of Royanna and Alyssa?
I was thinking of Alyssa the other day.
Royanna is having a ct call!
Who is Royanna?
Another one bites the dust (Scraps N Pieces). This was posted on their FB page early this morning.
"As some of you may have noticed, the store has been down for the last couple of days. After two days of hard work, it looks like the information for product downloads has been lost. The cost and time to reconstruct, re-upload, and continue to maintain that section is not going to be possible at this time. We are so sad to say that the store will not re-open."
Royanna used to own a store (forgot the name) and she whined about everything. She was bad about getting her designers paid on time. I never got my last payment.
It's been so long and this blog is so dead.
-Simon
Somehow I don't think you're really Simon.
#138 You'd be wrong.
Where's all the smack happening these days?
TLP's blog hop is a disaster. Broken links, designers without their portions up, downloads not working. Get it together TLP!
#137 - Probably because digital scrapbooking is dying off itself. Stores closing left and right, forums less active, blogs never posted to or read, and everything on FB groups.
Where are the open galleries these days??
@142 I was wondering the same thing... I think only digichick allows other designers and links but I hate it there...
So has SBG gone non-exclusive now? I noticed that Wendyzine is now at the Digi Chick as well as SBG.
She is guesting there this month.
Scrapbook.com is open. I think Gingerscraps is open, but no links. TDC is open.
In other news...it's been a while since the welcoming of the new designers at Sweet Shoppe. How are you liking the designs. I'm not really feeling Grace Lee's stuff. I actually liked her stuff better before her move there. Anyone else?
There have been a couple of kits of Grace's that I saw and wondered how did she get into that shop. The previews were ugly.
#147 - and some of the colors yuck....
I love Grace's stuff, she's one of my favourite designers in the shop. I think I have almost everything she's put out (except for the collabs with other designers).
Grace looks better than On a Whimsical Adventure (no idea what her name is) - that stuff is trash. Both of them look fresh out of 2008 with their previews and products, but I can see Grace's being more Sweet Shop. I don't even shop there anymore since their products that look fresh out of 2010 or are just copies of what other people make. Their latest product offering is quick page albums? They're so behind the times it's no wonder digital is dying a slow death.
I would imagine SSD is probably pulling in the biggest $$$ of any digi scrap store. It also seems to have one of the most active forums and galleries. I don't think their stuff looks like it's from 2010. I look forward to seeing what they offer every week. All of the other stores I liked have closed or are really dying off.
Actually I think Lilypad is more active than SSD. I love the atmosphere there. I do like many of the designers at SSD too and I agree they are probably making a lot more than many of the stores out here that seem to be dying off. I don't think TLP is one of them though.
I think Lilypad also has more original designers too. Not all of it is CU or recycled kit after kit. If I buy something,I tend to find 9 times out of 10, its original. Or not 10 of the same flower in different colors. SSD has some great things and designers. And I do shop there alot. just my thoughts :)
Anyone here?
Any news in digiland? Any new stores? Any shakeups? What's the real deal at digishoptalk (are we just watching it's slow death?). Any sites that are actually growing? Any new scrapbooking trends in 2017? I've been around since 2006 and I don't really see anything new happening (although I still love it and will keep scrapping my personal pages).
If they can't restore the gallery at DST they should just shut the whole thing down. Ridiculous that it's been going on almost a year and still no updates.
I see LOs made with smartphone/iPhone apps, and it feels like 2006 again!
@156 DST is a joke. I wonder why you still visit them.
I notice a lot of digital layouts being posted at scrapbook.com even though it seems it's mostly a traditional site/store. Is this the best 'open' gallery these days? Are there other recommendations where people can share with links from any store?
157 - I don't really visit them anymore, but I do check in periodically to see if they restored the gallery. I had a ton of layouts in my favourites as inspiration but of course cannot access them. I'm betting they'll be closed by end of year.
And LOL at the layouts done with phone apps, jeez. 2006 for sure!
I can't for the life of me figure out why any one would want to scrap on their little phone. LOL.
And I like Scrapbook. com for open galleries, also Ket Scrapped and The DigiChick. But mostly I think everyone just posts on social media now.
But on FB groups your LO gets lost/buried after a day or so, with so many LOs posted after yours.
What's Ket Scrapped? I googled it with no luck.
Typo, sorry, Get it Scrapped. And yes on Fb your layout gets buried, same for open galleries too, because that's where CT goes to upload.
So... let's discuss Pollywods.
I've been active at TLP forum for over a year, and still I see a random post by some Polly and I wonder "Wow, is she a Polly? Where has she been all this time?" I understand, they might be busy behind the scenes, but there are Pollys that hardly ever participate in anything. Anyone know what's the deal with them? And once a Polly, always a Polly? Won't the get kicked out for not being around?
So the daily digi is no more ....
Is anyone going to miss it?
I'm not! It's gone downhill a long time ago!
Yeah, me either. Once they stopped highlighting the designers and putting out their own kits I was no longer interested.
I just realized Studio Rosey Posey was gone from SBG.
Did she stop designing all together? It looks like she's into paper scrapping now.
She left digi earlier this summer. I miss her stuff but I bought everything left that I wanted on her closing sale. Now SBG is closing completely :(
I guess this blog is officially dead LOL!!! finally!!!
Did y'all hear about Amber Shaw?
"y'all"
All who? It's just you and me here...
It was sad about her. I liked her designs.
I was sad to hear it too, she was always a favorite of mine from the Scrap Orchard days. I think I own almost everything she's put out.
So Meagan's Creations is joining SSD tomorrow.
#175
We already know it.
#175: Yuck.
TLP is having a designer call. I guess the owner realized her designers hardly ever release anything.
Kim of Kimeric Creations passed away.
That's three big names (Amber Shaw, Dawn Inskip, and Kim) in a few short weeks. Sad.
I'm really saddened to hear of the loss of these three designers. Very shocking news. I just check this site occasionally so thank you for letting people know.
So TLP is adding two designers who retired but are coming back. Both have sold there before.
Out of all the apps I'm sure Laura got, that's what they go with? Boring.
Seems like a copout to me to have a designer call only to bring back two designers who sold in your store for a long time. Maybe that was the plan all along?
What plan? Let down so many applicants who'd buy CU from TLP?
Wait till you see the third designer. She's new there but I don't know how she made it...
Designed by Soco? Yuck. Her stuff is so boring and basic.
The whole call just seemed like a waste of time to me. If you're just going to bring back people who have sold there before and someone not even remotely exciting, why even have a call? Just personally invite them and be done with it.
Anything exciting going on in digital scrapbooking anymore? I'm coming back after a long break and everything has changed so much. My old favorite sites are gone or dead. I'm looking for an open gallery and active forum. Any suggestions?
From what I've seen, most galleries are limited to a particular store. Forums are dead. Most activity seems to take place on Facebook these days.
Can anyone point me to a FB page or FB group that's actually a community? All I've seen on FB are people posting CT layouts with very little comments or conversation. No discussion at all about scrapbooking trends, techniques, designers. And I've not seen any FB scrapbooking challenges, contests or games or other activity that used to take place in Forums.
#187. I don't think there are any groups that are community centered. Mostly just sharing ads or layouts. The Lilypad has a pretty active forum. Scrapaneers announced on FB that they are going to have a new community that sounds like it will be more community based just for the things you want. There are a couple of active forums. Not like they used to be but they community is out there.
Okay - this is the only place I can say this: I just don't think Project Life/Pocket Style pages are attractive AT ALL! I totally understand the idea behind it being all about story telling and memory keeping and I support that. In the paper world it makes a lot of sense to be able to just slip a standard size item into a 'pocket'. But the resulting design doesn't appeal to me so why would I do this digitally? Does anyone else agree?
#188 Thanks for the heads-up about the upcoming Scrapaneers Community. I'll be on the lookout for that.
#189 - I'm not a big pocket fan. I've seen a few that can do them well, but it's not for me.
DSD weekend was a snoozefest.
So SSD is having another designer call. Who should apply that they don't already have? There are a couple from TLP that would fit but other than that ...???
I've been away from digiscrapping for a couple of years and I miss the days when everyone knew each other. What's been going on? Are designers still able to make decent money? Is there still a need for new designers or is the market saturated? What stores are still active? What are the trends for 2019?
Seems most prominent stores from the old days have closed. I used to hang exclusively at SBG but now I'm lost out in space. No where really calls to me. DST is dead. I guess everyone moved to Facebook. It's not for me. I prefer forums. I still like seeing new designers. I buy mostly from SSD and Gingerscraps now. Not sure on new trends, but I do still seems to find enough that catches my eye and I've been doing digi since 2006
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I don't know where to shop or hang out anymore! ha!
So yet another designer has passed away! Julie Southern of Sherwood Studios. Man that sucks!
Oh that's so sad. She was another of the really nice ones. RIP Julie.
I hadn't heard that. Sad. I bought alot of her stuff over the years. I think the last store I found her in was The Digichick.
(one post away from a new page so hittin' it now)
You actually needed one more .. haaha! I think we're the only 2 or 3 people that still visit this blog.
digiscrap is dead
The TLP blog hop, All About Me, is a giant effin' mess. Half the designers don't have their stuff posted, some have it posted but don't have the downloads available, some have their portion posted but dead links to the next stop, etc. I hope they get their #$%^ together.
What happened to One Little Bird?
I believe Peppermint (One Little Bird) is now designing products for traditional scrapbooking companies. I know some of her stuff has been sold by Studio Calico and Project Life.
What are the best sources to buy CU products these days?
I usually stick with Sugar Hill or Pickleberry Pop for CU.
Let's talk about the recent additions to Sweet Shoppe?! Ponytails, Laura Wilkerson, and another new one joining Jan 2020. I definitely didn't see this coming for SSD. What do you think?
I like Ponytails. But unsure about LW. Don't know who the newest will be, does someone here know?
Never heard of JoCee designs before. Overall I like the additions to the store in the last year or two. There are some I don't buy from of course but nice to see something different in there.
I'm betting the other designer joining SSD is Tracey Monette/Clever Monkey Graphics. She sent out a notice that her other stores are closing so must be. I really like her stuff, she'll fit in well there.
Tracey's stuff is just OK. What bugs me the most about her is her history of hijacking other designers' social media posts. Example: A designer will post about a kit, say a Dr. Who-themed one, and Tracey will jump on and let everyone know she's got one too. Tacky!
No!!! that is tacky LOL Jeez.
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