One her FB page Mari K has just added Pink Paislee as her employer. I am hoping she will reconsider her retirement from digital land and still put out digital kits and cutting files.
Anyone has February The Digi Files previews? Looks like a great designer lineup, but I want to see the previews. ---- The digi files are awesome this time. I know this because I bought them. Either fork out the money or wait to see them like everyone else has to.
I love the digi files this month. Don't know how to let you see them though. I think this is the best month I can remember, and I've been getting them about 3 years now.
the digi files designers this month are Just jamiee, tracie stroud, vicky stegall, erica zane, connieprince, ldrag . I purchased this months, haven't for awhile and Im very happy with the kits.
I don't think you can buy them for only $5 anymore, you have to get that stupid playbook thing. Also, I couldn't find anywhere to cancel after purchasing one month, so even though I emailed customer service and never got a response, they charged my credit card again the following month. Horrible system and service over there imo.
11, I tried to buy them but it said "pay with your credit/debit card" and I didn't see a PP option. I could be totally wrong, but it looks like they took that option away. I don't want to give out my credit card info, so I'm not signing up. Oh well.
No more paypal info, and if you give them your credit card good luck getting them to stop billing you monthly. That is the stupidest setup, why not just make it available to add to a cart, and make one time purchases. Absolutely agree that the playbook is useless. Definitely not worth the extra money, I'd really rather not have it at all. I've come to realize I'd rather just purchase the kits directly from the designers' shops once their stint at the digifiles is over. Most often there is only one kit that I really like enough to buy anyway. They could do so much better than the crappy system they have now.
I ditto 14. I don't buy the digifiles anymore. No Paypal, no kits only option, no thank you. I don't even follow their blog these days. Rarely anything useful on there. I don't need inspiration to scrap a single photo with a couple of elements on the page. It's not that hard.
I buy right from the designers I like and that's it.
After reading the great kit reviews here, I was going to go purchase the digi;s this month. I will skip that if there is no way to cancel it. This is really bad business on their part. More like a scam, if you can't cancel it when you want to.
#15 I buy right from the designers I like and that's it.
totally agree, they will all have the kits in their stores in March. Support the designers
^ This. Why give your money to Steph, who's been proven to be a less-than-stellar busineswoman to begin with? If she's not honoring advertising commitments with previous contributors, what makes you think she will cancel your subscription when you want her to?
I don't like the payment options at The Daily Digi anymore either and probably won't subscribe again. There is usually only 1 kit I really like anyway so I'll just wait to purchase it in the designer's store.
The designers did the work. Give them the money. _ Oh, okay. I'll spend seven-eight bucks for a kit that I'm getting for a buck now so the designers get credit. If the designers don't think they get enough credit, why do they contribute to the Digifiles?
If you use all of the kits. Does anyone? There are usually only 1 or 2 I like. Paying money for crap is money down the drain. Plus, it still just goes to Steph.
The ones contributing now probably haven't been around long enough to know better. It used to be good publicity, and you'd see an increase in sales. Not anymore.
I usually only use 1 of the kits, more often than not. So why pay $7.50 when I can get that 1 kit for less? Especially if you wait until DSD, sale, etc? And as # 19 pointed out, you can complain to your credit card company when they keep taking your money instead of cancelling your subscription, but that's just a royal pain in the ass. I am done with the daily digi.
PS - any bets for the new designers at SSD? I'm thinking Kristin Aagard.
I'm guessing one is Zoliofrope. She's not open at Oscraps and never made any announcement about leaving there on her Facebook page. I'm guessing another is Brooke since she's been making kits and is also a babe. It seems to be the only way to become a designer at SSD is to be a babe first.
24 don't feel sorry for those designers. If anyone truly great applied to SSD and didn't get picked up, then IMO those designers lucked out and surely found themselves a better shop that isn't on its way down, down, down. SSD is a hot mess this past year. I wouldn't wish it on any good designer.
23 - If those guesses are true, I feel sorry for some of the truly great designers SSD has passed on. - If you're not going to name the designers SSD passed up, then why say this at all? If you're the same poster who did this before all you did was raise questions you never answered. Why all the secretive drama? If you know, you know. Say it. If you don't want to, why the hell bring it up?
If the designers don't think they get enough credit, why do they contribute to the Digifiles? _____
This is a great question and one that I've been asking myself for months. Designers are basically taking their hard work and turning it over to someone else to help that someone else earn hundreds (or thousands) of dollars off that work, and they get almost no exposure or marketing at all out of the deal anymore. It's so useless I just can't understand why any designer who has been around for more than a year would ever waste her time with it anymore. It used to be a good deal about 2 or 3 years ago. Not anymore.
This is a great question and one that I've been asking myself for months. Designers are basically taking their hard work and turning it over to someone else to help that someone else earn hundreds (or thousands) of dollars off that work, and they get almost no exposure or marketing at all out of the deal anymore. It's so useless I just can't understand why any designer who has been around for more than a year would ever waste her time with it anymore. It used to be a good deal about 2 or 3 years ago. Not anymore. -- If that's the case why would, experienced, popular designers contribute? They HAVE to be getting something out of it or they wouldn't participate. Look at the Digiscrap Parade. This last time it had forty downloads compared to over double that when it began.
I think Brooke, too, even though I hadn't considered her until now. She has done some collabs with SSD designers and she's a babe.
I think SSD needs way more diversity in product style, so I can see them bringing on Zoliofrope. Her templates aren't what I think of when I think of SSD, so that could be good or bad.
Brooke isn't anything new and I don't think she brings anything diverse to SSD. Not very excited if she's one of the new designers.
I'd rather see Litabells, Stolen Moments, or even Amy Stoffel there. At least they are long-time designers with consistent quality.
I'd like any of those three over Brook. Zoliofrope is okay but nothing to get excited over. Little Green Frog, Scrapping with Liz, Akizo, and lots others do better templates than she does.
I don't see Little Green Frog or Liz moving to SSD from SO. Seems like a lateral move at best. Liz does pretty simple templates and SSD already has Janet anyway.
What do you think about the deep shadow depth that a lot of people are using on CT layouts lately? I used to think it was pretty but the depth seems to get deeper and deeper all the time with a lot of them. It's getting almost ridiculous now. If you were to create a paper layout with pop dots between elements, you could create that illusion, but who the hell would ever believe there is a half inch between papers? Some of these layout artists take the concept way too far.
38. I think it is a style choice. Not everyone is trying to replicate what a layout would look like if it were created with paper scrapbooking products. I mean, I don't have any examples from you so I am assuming that you are referring to layouts that tend to have lend more to fantasy. To each his own is my motto.
I think a lot of shadows that are praised as "realistic" don't actually look like the shadows on real photographed paper pages. I agree that shadow work definitely falls under a style preference and that scrappers aren't necessarily trying to achieve a literal realistic look. I think is is more about depth and drama than realism. I personally prefer the "digital realistic" shadows to the photographed paper pages.
Well #38, it's digital and that's the beauty of it, everyone can do their shadows to their preferences. If you don't like the deep shadows, then don't use them. I'm not sure who these lot of people are that you are referring too. I had a quick look at TLP, SO and SSD galleries and didn't see very many at all.
SSD is a hot mess this past year. __ How so? If it's a "hot mess" then surely you have specifics. Oh, wait, I bet you can't say. Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt.
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WTF 29, if you want specifics then ask for specifics and then give someone a chance to actually answer you before you go a nutfuck crazy and accuse them of not having the answers you seek.
Specifics: SSD used to have sales very infrequently, and were able to get people to buy things at full price most of the time. Sales were few and far between, but in the past year suddenly SSD is having sales all the time, at least once every 2 months or so. Financial hot mess.
The place is also losing talented designers for no apparent good reason, and passing up on and/or losing out on other talented designers who choose other stores. Yes I have background info to back this up and some of it is things that aren't common knowledge, but deal with it. Either way it's a staffing hot mess.
Finally, the shop is alienating its customer base by changing things that regulars had come to rely on and understand. The challenge thing is just one example of this. Customer service hot mess.
I could go on and on, but are those enough specifics for you, you demanding twat?
If that's the case why would, experienced, popular designers contribute? They HAVE to be getting something out of it or they wouldn't participate. Look at the Digiscrap Parade. This last time it had forty downloads compared to over double that when it began.
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I was surprised about your statistic because it seems like the DS Parade is still going strong. I checked the lists for each Parade just now on their blog and the first Parade only had 65 downloads. How do you get your "over double that" figure? It went 65, 41, 52, 40 which seems somewhat consistent.
Little Green Frog, Kristin Aagard, Jenn Labre, Stolen Moments, KimB, all would make great additions at SSD.
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OK, Jenn Labre. *eyeroll* You're the designer who doesn't even remotely fit into that mix of people. Keep dreaming and posting about yourself anonymously.
Since everyone has always complained in the past that SO was copying palettes from the Digi Scrap Parade, I just thought I'd mention that the new TLP BYOC looks like it used the same general idea for colors as the DSP. Anyone else notice this?
I would also like to mention that if I see another almost identical handpainted XOXO in any designer's products from this point on I am going to scream. Can nobody come up with a creative and unique idea of their own anymore? You see one product come out and suddenly every digital designer this side of the sun is copying it. Enough already!
52 - Maybe she isn't as adverse to change as you seem to be. You login to SO's gallery, upload your layout, post credits and leave just like any other gallery. Oh no! It looks different than every other site. How tragic.
The place is also losing talented designers for no apparent good reason, and passing up on and/or losing out on other talented designers who choose other stores. Yes I have background info to back this up and some of it is things that aren't common knowledge, but deal with it. Either way it's a staffing hot mess.
__ This has been gone over ad nauseum. They have not lost talented designers for no apparent reason. This is a lie. Dani M. left to go into business for herself. That was her reason and it was apparent. Nettio left because she's pregnant. That too is an apparent reason. The ONLY one who has left is MK. Lauren Grier left to go to the Lily Pad, another apparent reason. She went back. Seems kinda weird she'd go back to a such a sinking ship. I do believe they've probably turned down some talented designers.
If Brooke and Loni are the new designers at SSD, will there be new Babes? _ Probably but I don't know why they'd replace them. Most of them don't do shit. Well, a few are patronizing jerks on the forum at times so I guess they do that. What happened to the lady, a babe, who was doing the snail mail stuff?
58 yes she sells from Jessica's site now. So no, 55, she didn't leave to go into business for herself. She's still selling from a consignment shop where she pays commission to someone else, same as before. It's just not SSD. I'd say that she "left for something better" or however it was phrased before. Quit trying to defend SSD because you just make it look worse. The fact is that while I don't think I would call it a sinking ship, I also do think that times are tougher there now than they've ever been before. Is it failing? Probably not. But it's definitely not thriving, or they wouldn't have just brought on Brook as a new designer. You can add that misstep to the list that 45 made.
I may be a bit different - I have always been a big fan of SSD. I am beyond disappointed in their new kit designer. Their new template designer has been been designing for a while, and she is okay, not one of my favorites, but I have a few things from her. Their designer choice combined with the new challenge system - I like the fact that you can accumulate points, but the challenges are just lame- are making me rethink my loyalty to them plus I agree that many of their designers' products are similar to each other- but P&Co is much worse. However, I like several of the birthday activities. What is funny is that I am becoming much more of a TLP fan- their Month of Challenges and Love Yourself activities are well thought out, and their staff participates in them.
I'm also an SSD fan and I wont be buying from either of their new designers, either. I wont buy from any designer who has made only two or three kits and I'm appalled SSD would bring on such a newbie. Zoliofropes templates are not my style at all and some are flat out weird.
Another SSD fan, flat out disgusted with their choice in new designers. Brook has only made a few things, I think that unicorn kit is her only solo too. Loni(Zoliofrope) does at least have an established store and has been making templates for a while, but she is still far below the par expected of most SSD designers.
What happened to having an open call for designers? Or inviting the best to be part of the site? Instead, you get one mediocre designer, one subpar designer, and alienate a lot of people who think you are completely out of your mind.
SSD will definitely be losing more of my business.
In the newsletter they did say they believe in promoting within their ranks... it seems like Robin would like to be sure she can get along with the designers first. Maybe it makes sense, if you consider SO and Scrapyrus. (Not that I'm not disappointed with the new designers, though.)
Most of my digital scrap life, SSD has been my home. The only place I shop. I am extremely disappointed with the new people they are bringing on. I kind of figured it was going to be a template designer with Lynnette leaving, but I was kind of hoping no. SSD needs to branch out and bring in unique designers- I feel like bringing Brook in is just bringing another of the same thing. I haven't spent my digiscrap budget at SSD for a long while and unfortunately it seems I still won't be. (Although I do love that new collab but I'm not sure I can find $15 worth of things to get it.)
I would also like to mention that if I see another almost identical handpainted XOXO in any designer's products from this point on I am going to scream. Can nobody come up with a creative and unique idea of their own anymore? You see one product come out and suddenly every digital designer this side of the sun is copying it. Enough already! ---------
I can't believe those are still around, they were all over the place four years ago.
58 yes she sells from Jessica's site now. So no, 55, she didn't leave to go into business for herself. ----------
Ah, but Dani told everyone that she was going into business for herself and then she turned up at Jessica Sprague. So, she's a liar.
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Who cares if she is a liar? The point is that she didn't leave SSD because she was having a baby, or retiring, or anything like that. She left because SSD wasn't a strong enough option and she knew she could do better elsewhere. I didn't have a dog in this fight until now, but I do think you just proved the OP's point that SSD doesn't retain its designers like it used to and that people didn't used to leave for other options.
I happen to know of at least 3 designers who SSD passed on during the past year who then went on to Pixels & Co and The Lilypad instead, which I think is rather telling considering that those are the shops that everyone has been saying are taking over as top shops while SSD is falling.
If I remember correctly, Dani M. did open her own store before moving on to Jessica's. I would think that with Jessica's paper and hybrid scrapping fans/ audience and all of her classes that a designer would have a broader customer base than at a digiscrap specific site, so the move would have been a good business decision for Dani- better than going to one of the other top digi stores..
Yes, that *is* telling. It tells me that there was as little as one person at SSD that was threatened by or didn't like those designers personally. It doesn't tell me anything about the quality of the designer.
I'm also an SSD fan and I wont be buying from either of their new designers, either. I wont buy from any designer who has made only two or three kits and I'm appalled SSD would bring on such a newbie. ------
Appalled, huh? If you are such fan of SSD, you would know that this isn't the first time that they've brought on a relative newbie.
It's never been this bad before, 83. I've never seen them bring on a designer who hasn't sold ANYWHERE else before. Even Lynnette had a really big following and had been selling at her own shop for long enough that she was considered established. This thing with Brook is just whack.
Libby Prichett was a babe turned designer too, so the Brook thing isn't a big jump. My guess is that a lot of the people that are bent out of shape over the choices are designers that got turned down last designer call.
Anyone else catch that little "stay tuned for an announcement about our challenges" in this week's TOTB challenge at SSD? Um, Robin? Changing challenges already?
I don't think they should have approached anyone at this point. I think they should have had a designer call. See who would be willing to come in & choose from them. I have no idea what it's like to have a store or be a designer, tho... so I could be completely wrong on how it all works, too.
Meg Mullens came from Scrap Orchard. Cindy sold at Peppermint Creative for quite awhile. Nettio had her own personal shop, but nothing else.
I don't see the big deal about Brook. She's had a few collabs already, so it's not a huge surprise. I'm more surprised about Zoliofrope. Guess she knew when to become a babe - right when she started selling templates.
I think my issue with Brook is that the sample kit just looked bad and amateurish, and the style appears to be like several other designers. I am disappointed in the design. I don't care if the person is a babe. I just think they could have done better.
I don't get Loni's templates. She makes wonky shapes. Big deal. The templates are a photo or two and some paper shapes. I could make those in 5 minutes. There is no consideration for journaling or memory keeping in the template design and her layouts are always tons of patterns that clash and don't feature journaling of any kind. I don't see how that fits in at SSD at all - as a babe or as a designer.
Libby Prichett was a babe turned designer too, so the Brook thing isn't a big jump. My guess is that a lot of the people that are bent out of shape over the choices are designers that got turned down last designer call. --- When did they have their last designer call?
The last call was almost 2 years ago now. It's when Nettio started selling there, in fact. I think 5 of them came in together at the same time, but I might be remembering incorrectly. I remember them making a really big deal about it complete with weeks of the new designers using fake usernames in the forum and playing "guess who I am?" games until it got really obnoxious. It was Sugarplum, Mari K, Nettio, EZ, and Studio Basic.
I should also add that it used to be that you couldn't get in there unless they had a call. After that group of 5 started up, SSD started adding designers under the radar every few months or so and it indicated to me that Robin was constantly struggling to replace people as they left. First came Ju Kneipp right after Eva's death, which was timed terribly IMO. Then a few months later they added Erin the MIA action girl and snuck La Grier back in too. A few months after that they added Flergs, and now they're sliding the 2 new people in. I think it's pretty clear they aren't going to do calls anymore.
If SSD is looking for stable designers who will be there awhile, taking a chance on TWO new designers is not the place to find it. Most new designers close up shop after a year or so of realizing it takes time and effort to be successful. Loni has been around a little longer than Brook, but not much. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
let's face it - there are a few cows at SSD who have personality clashes with a few designers who approached SSD last year. They weren't turned down for lack of talent, they were turned down because the few 'cows' there wanted nothing to do with them (jealousy, competition.. whatever). Taking on Brook and Loni is proof that talent isn't the driving factor (which is funny, their last call wanted EXPERIENCED designers with EXCEPTIONAL MARKETING SKILLS and ESTABLISHED businesses ) - but then again - they do make the 'top designers' in that shop look better than ever before. No reason to be jealous or feel threatened by Brook and Loni right !? What an effing joke.
OMG! SSD didn't take a designer who likely doesn't make anything unique herself and calls them cows? Shocker. Just because you're experienced doesn't mean you're good. Not that I think Loni and Brook are great, but they're just as average as almost every designer out there. At least they know when to moo.
A few designers joined SSD when DHD closed (or was sold or whatever it did). How long ago was that? Those designers probably asked to join; I don't think there was an official SSD Designer Call out when that all happened.
I don't get Loni's templates. --------- There is no consideration for journaling or memory keeping in the template design and her layouts are always tons of patterns that clash and don't feature journaling of any kind. __________
Yeah, see, that's the great thing about everyone having different styles/preferences. Not everyone journals or scrapbooks specifically to preserve memories-- some people like to put a few pictures in and they speak for themselves. Her templates would work well for someone who doesn't do much journaling. Plus, how hard is it to modify a template? Replace a photo spot with a journaling card and you can write there. Or resize the main part of the page and journal along the edge. Really don't see how that's an issue for most people, so I think she'll do fine there. Is she my first choice? Nope. But neither was Nettio. SSD likes to bring on a variety of template designers-- you notice that Cindy and Janet are NOTHING like each other in style. Nettio was kind of a mid-point-- clean, but full. I think Loni is the same way (not like Nettio, I mean, but a mid-point between the super spartan Janet pages and the super packed Cindy pages). She'll satisfy a lot of shoppers, I'm sure.
Carrie and Natasha are at it again. If they think they have a chance up against some of the better scrappers at SSD, they are in for a big surprise. Both of them are average at best and Carrie is almost as annoying as Trish.
I could think of about 3-5 better designers to go to SSD rather than those two. I love most of the SSD designers but I won't even look at Zoliofrope or Brooks stuff.
OMG! SSD didn't take a designer who likely doesn't make anything unique herself and calls them cows? Shocker. Just because you're experienced doesn't mean you're good. Not that I think Loni and Brook are great, but they're just as average as almost every designer out there. At least they know when to moo.
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What makes you think that the person you're talking to on this blog is one of the people who applied and was rejected? You assume that because other people in digi think you're dumb for passing up on certain designers that it must ONLY be the designers who complain? You're thick. It's obvious you're a SSD designer or else you wouldn't have any basis for saying "doesn't make anything unique herself" unless you had been one of the people voting on those designers. Defending your decisions here by arguing with people who have opinions other than yours doesn't make you look any better or endear you to your customers and fans. Idiot.
You assume that because other people in digi think you're dumb for passing up on certain designers that it must ONLY be the designers who complain? You're thick. It's obvious you're a SSD designer or else you wouldn't have any basis for saying "doesn't make anything unique herself" unless you had been one of the people voting on those designers --------
Yeah, see, that's the great thing about everyone having different styles/preferences. Not everyone journals or scrapbooks specifically to preserve memories-- some people like to put a few pictures in and they speak for themselves. Her templates would work well for someone who doesn't do much journaling. Plus, how hard is it to modify a template? Replace a photo spot with a journaling card and you can write there. Or resize the main part of the page and journal along the edge. Really don't see how that's an issue for most people, so I think she'll do fine there. Is she my first choice? Nope. But neither was Nettio. SSD likes to bring on a variety of template designers-- you notice that Cindy and Janet are NOTHING like each other in style. Nettio was kind of a mid-point-- clean, but full. I think Loni is the same way (not like Nettio, I mean, but a mid-point between the super spartan Janet pages and the super packed Cindy pages). She'll satisfy a lot of shoppers, I'm sure.
Defending your decisions here by arguing with people who have opinions other than yours doesn't make you look any better or endear you to your customers and fans. Idiot. --------
Assuming it must be one of the SSD designers just makes you look like an idiot.
Well I don't know anything about the voting practices of the SSD designers or whether they are vengeful against other designers and keeping them out of their store because of it. What I do know is one thing: that is a group of designers who luuuuuvvvvvvs to take selfies of themselves and their cleavage and post the photos all over social media. Oh emm gee. Between Jenn Barrette and Traci Reed and Krystal Hartley, you'd think they had banded together and formed a brothel from looking at the photos they choose to post of themselves on the web. Why does it always, always, always have to be a shot taken from above with 50% of the frame filled with cleavage and the other 50% filled with pouty lips? It's so strange.
Do you know that taking a picture from way above eye level makes one looks thinner? Unfortunately, that will often "catch" cleavage too, and to avoid it, one would have to wear a turtleneck or something quite higher line.
Defending your decisions here by arguing with people who have opinions other than yours doesn't make you look any better or endear you to your customers and fans. Idiot -- You're the idiot for ASS uming you know who an anonymous poster is. Yeah, I'm going to quit buying from a designer I love because I "think" she "might" have posted something here I don't like. What a dumb shit.
It's so strange. - It is very strange. I think they do it because they're overweight and like the above poster stated, it's more flattering to take these kind of pics. Why some of them take it a step further and make facial expressions that indicate they're simmering with lustful passion is beyond me. After all, unless they're gay or bisexual it doesn't seem like we'd be the target audience for such photos. Whenever I see one of them, I think it's kinda sad.
Carrie and Natasha are at it again. If they think they have a chance up against some of the better scrappers at SSD, they are in for a big surprise. Both of them are average at best and Carrie is almost as annoying as Trish. -- See this would compute if SSD picked Babes with stellar scrapping skills, however, they do not. Case in point: Trish, Loni (who is now a designer!!!), that lady analog paper or whatever is a terrible scrapper, Laura who left was average on a good day, Tarra is nothing special either and I could go on and on. Who they pick will solely have to do with who they like (i.e. who kisses ass the best/most).
WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. YOU'RE PROBABLY ALL A BUNCH OF FAT, LAZY HOUSEWIVES WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN PUT EVERYONE DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR PATHETIC LIVES LOOK SOMEWHAT INTERESTING. IF ANY OF YOU COULD DESIGN, CREATE, ETC., YOU WOULDN'T BE WASTING YOUR MISERABLE LIVES ON A SITE AS DESPICABLE AS THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE!!!
WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. YOU'RE PROBABLY ALL A BUNCH OF FAT, LAZY HOUSEWIVES WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN PUT EVERYONE DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR PATHETIC LIVES LOOK SOMEWHAT INTERESTING. IF ANY OF YOU COULD DESIGN, CREATE, ETC., YOU WOULDN'T BE WASTING YOUR MISERABLE LIVES ON A SITE AS DESPICABLE AS THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE!!! --- Oh my. Are you one of the cleavage-showing, "trying my hardest to look seductive" selfie makers???? If you are, you're making a fool of yourself. In- stead of calling people names for posting here as you post here, try using your camera for something else, like landscape, pets, kids..anything but your boobies and pouty lips.
Not a fan of the selfie shaming or people complaining about what designers post on their personal Facebook pages. A lot of women have body and self image issues and something as simple as nice self portraits can be therapeutic for them. If you don't like what they post, unfriend them. Easy peasy.
The original post said "all over social media", sorry I took that to include Facebook. I personally haven't seen any selfies posted on designers fan pages/ design twitter accounts, etc only on their Facebook personal pages. Sorry I misunderstood the complaint.
Carrie and Natasha are at it again. If they think they have a chance up against some of the better scrappers at SSD, they are in for a big surprise. Both of them are average at best and Carrie is almost as annoying as Trish. Feb 11, 2014, 6:47:00 AM ______________
Oh barf!!! I can't stand Carrie and she IS just as annoying as Trish!!! And her layouts are 90% about her and use her selfies with some stuff thrown on the layout with her mug shot... so not a fan.
The bringing on of Loni and Brook is why I don't like and no longer shop at SSD. It's fine to promote and bring on only your friends, but if you want a successful business, you bring on your talented friends so you can have fun and make money. If you don't have talented friends, then you bring on people you tolerate who have the goods to produce. Bringing on your besties doesn't make you the best place in digi with the best designers, it makes you a bit sad.
Loni hasn't been active anywhere she has sold (SM or Oscraps). She is not overly active on her FB page, she doesn't have a blog or newsletter (that I've seen), and the quality of her freebies has not inspired me to open my wallet (jagged edges and templates at the wrong size). She is also inactive in the public forum at SSD. The fact she was able to get a spot at SSD tells me she spends an awful lot of time behind the scenes kissing the appropriate asses. That also doesn't make me want to buy her stuff.
Brook is at least active at SSD, but sadly, she comes across too condescending. I don't recall her ever offering a freebie and a quick look at her FB page tells me she has zero following. This also tells me she spends an awful lot of time behind the scenes kissing the appropriate asses.
This also tells me stores like SO and TLP are doing better than SSD, otherwise, we'd see a lot of movement from SO and TLP to SSD. I am sure many designers at P&Co applied to SSD and were denied. That doesn't make them a top store, it makes them fourth in line at best.
SSD's extremely untalented CT doesn't help sell me anything. They have a couple good scrappers (regardless of style, good means the gallery image is crisp and clean, the photos aren't dark and uncared for, and you can visibly see some effort to shadow), but most are inactive and pretty bad.
Meanwhile, SO and TLP have a pretty good bunch of CTMs and more of them seem active and excited about their stores without having to defend store decisions and be a forum bitch.
If I were a designer at P&Co, I'd stop complaining here about being denied a spot at SSD. You're only moving from 4th to 3rd and only by a slim margin. Take advantage of SSD's decline instead of whining about not being part of the clique.
I did read it, and can't get that time back. We don't see much movement from SO, TLP, or PCO to SSD, so why is it that SO and TLP are doing better, and PCO is being denied?
I'm not a designer, and I was one of the ones discussing (not complaining! Do you know the difference?) SSD's process and obvious favoritism. Now I'm wondering what makes you think PCO is so low compared to SO and TLP? All of my Digiscrap friends would put PCO. TLP, and SSD as the top 3, and while we have different opinions as to which one is first, we'd all put SO about 5th or 6th.
My thoughts on SSD's modifications to Sweet Rewards: I would like to post this at the SSD forum, but I don't want any threats from those who believe you can't have an opinion different than the owner, cause if you do, you are just being negative and should be thankful and blah, blah, blah. The new system still stinks in my opinion. I want to be able to get 40% discount off each month, not work up to it after a period of 3 months. I'm not buying SSD products at full price, or 20% price either. I think they are only worth it at the 40% discount. As others have said, the designers are repeating the same themes, the same ideas, the same, the same. No thanks.
141 - The point was it's only the P&Co designers (and their CT, hi!) bitching about not getting in at SSD. I'm fairly certain most, if not all, designers at TLP and SO have no interest in SSD.
That's the difference.
Now stop whining because you're not in the clique. You're not missing anything.
143: Why are you able to see that SSD isn't anything special, and anyone else who thinks that MUST BE a designer or CT who was turned down? Were YOU turned down?
I can't imagine many at P&CO wanting to go to SSD in the first place. Their styles would never fit. And most of them seem to be much less... shallow, I guess.
I have no insider knowledge as to which store makes more money, but the style at P&Co seems so much more modern and mature. SSD is outdated and juvenile. Based on style alone, I'd go to P&Co given the choice.
YOU'RE PROBABLY ALL A BUNCH OF FAT, LAZY HOUSEWIVES WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN PUT EVERYONE DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR PATHETIC LIVES LOOK SOMEWHAT INTERESTING ------
So, is your pathetic life somewhat more interesting now that you've put everyone down?
I don't follow the challenges at SSD, but I would think the only reason to change it would be if the challenges had a lot less participation or sales took a bigger hit than they had expected.
All of my Digiscrap friends would put PCO. TLP, and SSD as the top 3, and while we have different opinions as to which one is first, we'd all put SO about 5th or 6th. __ I'm not one of your scrap friends but I agree w/you!
Now stop whining because you're not in the clique. You're not missing anything. __ You are an idiot. What is this high school? You have no idea who is posting what so quit trying to act like you're so "in the know". No one gives a shit.
You housewives are too easy to rile up - especially 144. __ Actually, 144 seems pretty calm; it's 143 who sounds like a eight-grade mean girl wanna be.
If sales are a factor in making a store a top store, P&Co isn't even in the top 5. There is some talent there, but outside of $1 sales, you wont sell much of anything. Two more designers from P&Co retiring says it all.
How about the new designers at TDC? Also scratching my head here. They said they had a great response to their call, but I haven't even heard about some of these new people.
157 Stolen Moments didn't apply to SO. She went to P&Co to guest until she could get her own shop up and running, because she just wanted to sell out of her own shop.
If sales are a factor in making a store a top store, P&Co isn't even in the top 5. There is some talent there, but outside of $1 sales, you wont sell much of anything. Two more designers from P&Co retiring says it all. _____
I'd wager you don't have any idea what you're talking about. I CT for someone who sells there and she makes a lot more than most other numbers I see thrown around on this blog every time sales come up. Also, I know one of the 2 designers who is retiring and it has nothing to do with sales. She's retiring for personal reasons. The shop newsletter also made it sound like the other designer who is leaving has another online business and maybe she is trying to devote all of her attention to that.
Not a fan of the selfie shaming or people complaining about what designers post on their personal Facebook pages. A lot of women have body and self image issues and something as simple as nice self portraits can be therapeutic for them. If you don't like what they post, unfriend them. Easy peasy.
If sales are a factor in making a store a top store, P&Co isn't even in the top 5. There is some talent there, but outside of $1 sales, you wont sell much of anything. Two more designers from P&Co retiring says it all.
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I simply adore when people who have no inside knowledge of something spout off as though they are experts. You would know this information how exactly? Right, that's what I thought.
I don't know, 163. I agree with you in theory, but neither one is going to another store that I can see. It doesn't look like they are moving to get more money. Didn't Dawn By Design "retire" once before?
163 even if that is true, who cares? Just because a couple of designers aren't making money at a shop doesn't mean the shop itself doesn't make money. Every shop always has a top and a middle and a bottom in terms of sales. The people who retire usually come from the bottom, so what? That doesn't have anything to do with that the middle or the top sellers earn.
In fact, I will bet you that the bottom of all of the "top shops" that have recently been discussed here are making almost no money each month. Think about SSD: do you really think that people like Lliella Designs make more than a hundred or two each month? She never releases. Same goes for people like Julie Billingsley, Erica Zane, or Heather Roselli, they hardly ever release anything anymore. I will guarantee you that the average earners at all of the other shops all make way more than the people who hardly release.
Brook is at least active at SSD, but sadly, she comes across too condescending. I don't recall her ever offering a freebie and a quick look at her FB page tells me she has zero following. This also tells me she spends an awful lot of time behind the scenes kissing the appropriate asses.
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Such irony. I was curious and just searched for her FB page. About 30 minutes ago, she posted this:
"I'm planning on changing up my fan freebie soon, so if you haven't grabbed the unicorn doodles yet you might want to do that in the next day or so."
Looks like someone is stalking the smack blog and using it to craft her business plan...
Same goes for people like Julie Billingsley, Erica Zane, or Heather Roselli, they hardly ever release anything anymore. ------------------------------ Actually, Erica Zane releases a new product just about every week. Some week it's a kit other weeks it's a general product but there's almost always something new.
So who do you think are the top earners at SSD, PCo, TLP and SO? (And before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, obviously it would just be guessing)
Who cares? What's this obsession some people have with how much they think someone earns? ---- Obviously, the op cares or she/he wouldn't have posted it. Asking a question or getting opinions is not an obsession. Seems like it bothers you a whole lot more.
173: to my knowledge, best Designers are way over 1500$ (while average is about 500$ per month ... this mean that lower sale are ... 10$ and sometime less... even in top store)
seems to me, that you all, are quite focus on a few store... some never get up: is that because you don't "know them" or just because they are perfect -or because you try to promote just the one you are CTing for..
I'm not on any CTs, but the only stores I even look at are TLP, PCO, and SSD. When I try to check out another store, I generally leave empty handed. I'm not as familiar with designers outside those stores, true, but that's because they're not really my taste.
I could probably find a cute shirt at Wal-Mart, but experience tells me I have to dig through a lot of crap to find it, and it usually falls apart in the wash.
Hit publish too soon. I don't think those stores are perfect. They all have good points and bad, and the random crap kit is there too. They're just fewer and far between.
176: the top stores usually have a sales minimum. I've heard anywhere from $400 to $1000 (at TLP... Can that possibly be true?) so I doubt there are any designers only making $10.
I am 176 - there are minimum, that is right, but I know that there are also exception to that ... rules are not always valid for everyone. and yes some are doing 10$ even in top store. and I don't buy a min at 1000$,/m at all!
Actually, Erica Zane releases a new product just about every week. Some week it's a kit other weeks it's a general product but there's almost always something new.
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False.
If you look at SSD's new release category that is broken down by date, you'll see that she has only released 4 items so far in 2014. One of those is a set of tab elements. Two others are coordinating mini kits. Show me the money is the only full kit, and it released on 1/11.
There's no way she is making more than a couple hundred dollars a month at that pace and with those products, especially with what she us up against.
Is anyone else disappointed that Flergs went to SSD? I've been away from digi for a while, only to find she's moved there. What's the story with that one? I thought she was a die-hard SBG girl. Had a look at her store, and NOT liking all of the colllabs she's been doing with the various designers there. I don't see myself continuing to buy from her over there, sad since she was one of my favorite designers.
Asking a question or getting opinions is not an obsession. Seems like it bothers you a whole lot more ------ You obviously haven't been around here for long, the 'how much earning' question gets asked all the time, hence the use of thew word 'obssession' Thanks fo the
#184 - no story as far as I know and her regular stuff looks exactly the same, so I'm not sure why you won't buy from her anymore. If you don't like the collabs, don't buy those, but again, they don't look that different to me from the collabs she's done in the past with SBG, TLP, SO and SSD girls.
Some designers do it to support their family, some do it as a side income source or even a hobby. Not all designers aim to make $1000/month. Hence the difference in the product release patterns. Those who rely on this industry for their food might have to release more often, compared to those who are doing it just as a hobby / side income.
I don't shop at SSD at all, so would have missed where Flergs was if it hadn't been here. Not sure I'll wander over. It does make a difference where a designer makes her home--I don't care for SSD or PBP for different reasons. I don't shop at tlp either. I'm very content at other shops without the hype, or the babes, or whatever. The babes are kind of sickening. PBP is another story. No babes there for sure. That site is wonky though.
I just found PBP's new challenge system last month and there's is more rewarding than most. 10 points, $10 coupon. Their forum isn't very busy but I really like some of their designers. The no drama part is a plus too. Get tired of the cliques at most of them. SSD and SO are the worst for that. TLP isn't too bad. Challenges pretty good too. Don't know about GS or others but I gave up on SSD's challenges..Joke now.
I was also disappointed when Flergs went to SSD. Maybe it's just the preview style, but now her stuff looks identical to the other designers there. Occasionally she had something different in the past, but now it's just more SSD-style blah.
189-I think you hit the nail on the head. It's the cliques I don't like at the in the forums. I hate that. The Babes can be considered a clique. I haven't been to pbp's forum much-I don't like the looks of the site itself, nor how the gallery works. I will admit, though, that when I've had a problem before, it's been taken care of fairly fast. I'll give them that.
In response to everyone who has been complaining about Traci Reed's bad handwriting, now she's contracting out to get someone else's handwriting for her designs. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e17dcfcfbb72c0a16475e3581/images/treed_februaryfreephrases_previewe0e0af.jpg
Why is every designer under the sun suddenly trying to be Kal Barteski with the painted words and the XOXO in every single product? My god, it's old already and it's only been in digi for like 2 weeks. Be original, people! You don't just have to jump on every bandwagon and run with it. It's especially funny to watch designers whose style doesn't even kind-of match that style add it into their products anyway.
I don't know why Traci Reed is always trashed here. I guess some people just like to hurt others for some reason. If it isn't her weight, it's her hand writing, or something else. I don't know her--just saying! I like her designs, but I'm not on her CT. I'm not sure I've actually bought anything of hers over the years--but I know I've picked up some of her freebies at times, and they are nice.
I haven't been to pbp's forum much-I don't like the looks of the site itself,
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that makes sense. you don't buy there cuz you don't like the wallpaper? wow. that makes sense if ever i've heard it. if that's the case, you better stay away from most shops cuz i've seen fuglier. their new site is actually quite nice. i agree they have about the best customer service out there tho. can't get service from SSD to save my life. at least not from most the designers. you write them and they ignore you. flergs is one of the worst. and if you want to discuss sucky galleries, we could always bring up SO again.
198. I think if a site wants to attract customers, the site should be attractive, and not turn a person off before they even get to look around. That may be just me, but I doubt it. I've seen worse, but there are a whole lot better out there.
I'm 199. One site I love the looks of is gingerscraps. I love the big previews of the kits. You don't have to click on the kit to see if you like the kit or not. It's there--and then if you want a larger view, you can click on it. The colors go together. It's pleasing to the eye. It doesn't have so much going on that it detracts from the previews. It's the product you go to a site to see--not a bunch of gobbley gook. The forum is well organized, the gallery is wonky at times. You have to wait until the second screen to enter your credits or they don't post. The gallery is easy to post comments to if you wish. The people in the forum seem nice,without being gushy or cliquish. You can find the challenges easily. Several of the designers take part in the forums.
At GP, I don' t like the size of the previews. The gallery works better than most around. I don't take part in the forum much, but I do check out the challenges occasionally. The people seem nice, and again without being cliquish. The designers make an appearance at times. I would think the designers would take an interest in the forums. It is their product in the store that they are trying to sell. Lots of people buy product from the designers they like personally. There aren't many designers I like at SSD or TLP, almost everything looks alike. I dislike the forums so much I just don't go there much at all. When I shop, I shop at a different shop altogether.
4015 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 4015 Newer› Newest»Has anyone listened to the designer recordings at the digi files? I didn't know they even did that until I saw the feature today.
^^^^
I've never listened to them but I knew they did them.
Anyone has February The Digi Files previews? Looks like a great designer lineup, but I want to see the previews.
One her FB page Mari K has just added Pink Paislee as her employer. I am hoping she will reconsider her retirement from digital land and still put out digital kits and cutting files.
Anyone has February The Digi Files previews? Looks like a great designer lineup, but I want to see the previews.
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The digi files are awesome this time. I know this because I bought them. Either fork out the money or wait to see them like everyone else has to.
^^^^
My, aren't you the charmer.
I love the digi files this month. Don't know how to let you see them though. I think this is the best month I can remember, and I've been getting them about 3 years now.
the digi files designers this month are Just jamiee, tracie stroud, vicky stegall, erica zane, connieprince, ldrag .
I purchased this months, haven't for awhile and Im very happy with the kits.
Can we still buy them for $5, or do we need to get the idea book as well?
I don't think you can buy them for only $5 anymore, you have to get that stupid playbook thing. Also, I couldn't find anywhere to cancel after purchasing one month, so even though I emailed customer service and never got a response, they charged my credit card again the following month. Horrible system and service over there imo.
Can you still sign up with paypal? You can cancel monthly subscriptions inside of paypal.
I don't think you can get them for five bucks anymore either and that's too bad because that playbook is useless and not worth extra money, imo.
11, I tried to buy them but it said "pay with your credit/debit card" and I didn't see a PP option. I could be totally wrong, but it looks like they took that option away. I don't want to give out my credit card info, so I'm not signing up. Oh well.
No more paypal info, and if you give them your credit card good luck getting them to stop billing you monthly. That is the stupidest setup, why not just make it available to add to a cart, and make one time purchases. Absolutely agree that the playbook is useless. Definitely not worth the extra money, I'd really rather not have it at all. I've come to realize I'd rather just purchase the kits directly from the designers' shops once their stint at the digifiles is over. Most often there is only one kit that I really like enough to buy anyway. They could do so much better than the crappy system they have now.
I ditto 14. I don't buy the digifiles anymore. No Paypal, no kits only option, no thank you. I don't even follow their blog these days. Rarely anything useful on there. I don't need inspiration to scrap a single photo with a couple of elements on the page. It's not that hard.
I buy right from the designers I like and that's it.
After reading the great kit reviews here, I was going to go purchase the digi;s this month. I will skip that if there is no way to cancel it. This is really bad business on their part. More like a scam, if you can't cancel it when you want to.
#15 I buy right from the designers I like and that's it.
totally agree, they will all have the kits in their stores in March.
Support the designers
^ This. Why give your money to Steph, who's been proven to be a less-than-stellar busineswoman to begin with? If she's not honoring advertising commitments with previous contributors, what makes you think she will cancel your subscription when you want her to?
The designers did the work. Give them the money.
I don't like the payment options at The Daily Digi anymore either and probably won't subscribe again. There is usually only 1 kit I really like anyway so I'll just wait to purchase it in the designer's store.
Take up the recurring charges with your credit card company. You'll get your money back in no time.
The designers did the work. Give them the money.
_
Oh, okay. I'll spend seven-eight bucks for a kit that I'm getting for a buck now so the designers get credit. If the designers don't think they get enough credit, why do they contribute to the Digifiles?
If you use all of the kits. Does anyone? There are usually only 1 or 2 I like. Paying money for crap is money down the drain. Plus, it still just goes to Steph.
The ones contributing now probably haven't been around long enough to know better. It used to be good publicity, and you'd see an increase in sales. Not anymore.
I usually only use 1 of the kits, more often than not. So why pay $7.50 when I can get that 1 kit for less? Especially if you wait until DSD, sale, etc? And as # 19 pointed out, you can complain to your credit card company when they keep taking your money instead of cancelling your subscription, but that's just a royal pain in the ass. I am done with the daily digi.
PS - any bets for the new designers at SSD? I'm thinking Kristin Aagard.
I'm guessing one is Zoliofrope. She's not open at Oscraps and never made any announcement about leaving there on her Facebook page. I'm guessing another is Brooke since she's been making kits and is also a babe. It seems to be the only way to become a designer at SSD is to be a babe first.
23 - If those guesses are true, I feel sorry for some of the truly great designers SSD has passed on.
Who did they pass on?
24 don't feel sorry for those designers. If anyone truly great applied to SSD and didn't get picked up, then IMO those designers lucked out and surely found themselves a better shop that isn't on its way down, down, down. SSD is a hot mess this past year. I wouldn't wish it on any good designer.
23 - If those guesses are true, I feel sorry for some of the truly great designers SSD has passed on.
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If you're not going to name the designers SSD passed up, then why say this at all? If you're the same poster who did this before all you did was raise questions you never answered. Why all the secretive drama? If you know, you know. Say it. If you don't want to, why the hell bring it up?
If the designers don't think they get enough credit, why do they contribute to the Digifiles?
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This is a great question and one that I've been asking myself for months. Designers are basically taking their hard work and turning it over to someone else to help that someone else earn hundreds (or thousands) of dollars off that work, and they get almost no exposure or marketing at all out of the deal anymore. It's so useless I just can't understand why any designer who has been around for more than a year would ever waste her time with it anymore. It used to be a good deal about 2 or 3 years ago. Not anymore.
SSD is a hot mess this past year.
__
How so? If it's a "hot mess" then surely you have specifics. Oh, wait, I bet you can't say. Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt.
This is a great question and one that I've been asking myself for months. Designers are basically taking their hard work and turning it over to someone else to help that someone else earn hundreds (or thousands) of dollars off that work, and they get almost no exposure or marketing at all out of the deal anymore. It's so useless I just can't understand why any designer who has been around for more than a year would ever waste her time with it anymore. It used to be a good deal about 2 or 3 years ago. Not anymore.
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If that's the case why would, experienced, popular designers contribute? They HAVE to be getting something out of it or they wouldn't participate. Look at the Digiscrap Parade. This last time it had forty downloads compared to over double that when it began.
That Jacinda person is such a patronizing woman. I wish she'd just scrap and stfu.
I think Brooke, too, even though I hadn't considered her until now. She has done some collabs with SSD designers and she's a babe.
I think SSD needs way more diversity in product style, so I can see them bringing on Zoliofrope. Her templates aren't what I think of when I think of SSD, so that could be good or bad.
Brooke isn't anything new and I don't think she brings anything diverse to SSD. Not very excited if she's one of the new designers.
I'd rather see Litabells, Stolen Moments, or even Amy Stoffel there. At least they are long-time designers with consistent quality.
I'd like any of those three over Brook. Zoliofrope is okay but nothing to get excited over. Little Green Frog, Scrapping with Liz, Akizo, and lots others do better templates than she does.
Little Green Frog, Kristin Aagard, Jenn Labre, Stolen Moments, KimB, all would make great additions at SSD.
I don't see Little Green Frog or Liz moving to SSD from SO. Seems like a lateral move at best. Liz does pretty simple templates and SSD already has Janet anyway.
I think Darcy just confirmed Zoliofrope in the thread at SSD. She left Oscraps without any announcement and she's already part of the SSD "family".
KimB announced she was staying at P&Co a few days ago.
I agree with 35. Moving from SO to SSD doesn't make any sense.
I laugh at Jenn Labre fitting in there, but her papers are oversaturated enough to fit in.
As for Stolen Moments, I don't know her personally, but her products would be a good fit.
any chance re kneipp?
What do you think about the deep shadow depth that a lot of people are using on CT layouts lately? I used to think it was pretty but the depth seems to get deeper and deeper all the time with a lot of them. It's getting almost ridiculous now. If you were to create a paper layout with pop dots between elements, you could create that illusion, but who the hell would ever believe there is a half inch between papers? Some of these layout artists take the concept way too far.
38. I think it is a style choice. Not everyone is trying to replicate what a layout would look like if it were created with paper scrapbooking products. I mean, I don't have any examples from you so I am assuming that you are referring to layouts that tend to have lend more to fantasy. To each his own is my motto.
i agree with 38. even the paper styles are being done that way and some are out of control
I love deep shadows when they are done well. It's the tight harsh ones I don't like. To each his own.
"done well" being the operative words there
I think a lot of shadows that are praised as "realistic" don't actually look like the shadows on real photographed paper pages. I agree that shadow work definitely falls under a style preference and that scrappers aren't necessarily trying to achieve a literal realistic look. I think is is more about depth and drama than realism. I personally prefer the "digital realistic" shadows to the photographed paper pages.
Well #38, it's digital and that's the beauty of it, everyone can do their shadows to their preferences. If you don't like the deep shadows, then don't use them. I'm not sure who these lot of people are that you are referring too. I had a quick look at TLP, SO and SSD galleries and didn't see very many at all.
SSD is a hot mess this past year.
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How so? If it's a "hot mess" then surely you have specifics. Oh, wait, I bet you can't say. Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt.
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WTF 29, if you want specifics then ask for specifics and then give someone a chance to actually answer you before you go a nutfuck crazy and accuse them of not having the answers you seek.
Specifics: SSD used to have sales very infrequently, and were able to get people to buy things at full price most of the time. Sales were few and far between, but in the past year suddenly SSD is having sales all the time, at least once every 2 months or so. Financial hot mess.
The place is also losing talented designers for no apparent good reason, and passing up on and/or losing out on other talented designers who choose other stores. Yes I have background info to back this up and some of it is things that aren't common knowledge, but deal with it. Either way it's a staffing hot mess.
Finally, the shop is alienating its customer base by changing things that regulars had come to rely on and understand. The challenge thing is just one example of this. Customer service hot mess.
I could go on and on, but are those enough specifics for you, you demanding twat?
If that's the case why would, experienced, popular designers contribute? They HAVE to be getting something out of it or they wouldn't participate. Look at the Digiscrap Parade. This last time it had forty downloads compared to over double that when it began.
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I was surprised about your statistic because it seems like the DS Parade is still going strong. I checked the lists for each Parade just now on their blog and the first Parade only had 65 downloads. How do you get your "over double that" figure? It went 65, 41, 52, 40 which seems somewhat consistent.
Little Green Frog, Kristin Aagard, Jenn Labre, Stolen Moments, KimB, all would make great additions at SSD.
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OK, Jenn Labre. *eyeroll* You're the designer who doesn't even remotely fit into that mix of people. Keep dreaming and posting about yourself anonymously.
any chance re kneipp?
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Definitely not. He's one of the designers that SSD turned down last year.
If Brooke and Loni are the new designers at SSD, will there be new Babes?
Since everyone has always complained in the past that SO was copying palettes from the Digi Scrap Parade, I just thought I'd mention that the new TLP BYOC looks like it used the same general idea for colors as the DSP. Anyone else notice this?
I would also like to mention that if I see another almost identical handpainted XOXO in any designer's products from this point on I am going to scream. Can nobody come up with a creative and unique idea of their own anymore? You see one product come out and suddenly every digital designer this side of the sun is copying it. Enough already!
45-at least their gallery isn't like SO.
52 - Maybe she isn't as adverse to change as you seem to be. You login to SO's gallery, upload your layout, post credits and leave just like any other gallery. Oh no! It looks different than every other site. How tragic.
I don't see what's so hard about the gallery at SO, either. I just started posting there and it's easy.
The place is also losing talented designers for no apparent good reason, and passing up on and/or losing out on other talented designers who choose other stores. Yes I have background info to back this up and some of it is things that aren't common knowledge, but deal with it. Either way it's a staffing hot mess.
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This has been gone over ad nauseum. They have not lost talented designers for no apparent reason. This is a lie. Dani M. left to go into business for herself. That was her reason and it was apparent. Nettio left because she's pregnant. That too is an apparent reason. The ONLY one who has left is MK. Lauren Grier left to go to the Lily Pad, another apparent reason. She went back. Seems kinda weird she'd go back to a such a sinking ship. I do believe they've probably turned down some talented designers.
If Brooke and Loni are the new designers at SSD, will there be new Babes?
_
Probably but I don't know why they'd replace them. Most of them don't do shit. Well, a few are patronizing jerks on the forum at times so I guess they do that. What happened to the lady, a babe, who was doing the snail mail stuff?
any chance re kneipp?
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Definitely not. He's one of the designers that SSD turned down last year.
..................
He is selling at Digital Scrapbooking Studio.
I thought Dani M ended up at Jessica Sprague's shop. Isn't that where she is now?
It is Brook and Zoliofrope. It is in the newsletter.
Excuse me, but I can't be the only one who finds that unicorn kit extremely fugly.
58 yes she sells from Jessica's site now. So no, 55, she didn't leave to go into business for herself. She's still selling from a consignment shop where she pays commission to someone else, same as before. It's just not SSD. I'd say that she "left for something better" or however it was phrased before. Quit trying to defend SSD because you just make it look worse. The fact is that while I don't think I would call it a sinking ship, I also do think that times are tougher there now than they've ever been before. Is it failing? Probably not. But it's definitely not thriving, or they wouldn't have just brought on Brook as a new designer. You can add that misstep to the list that 45 made.
I may be a bit different - I have always been a big fan of SSD. I am beyond disappointed in their new kit designer. Their new template designer has been been designing for a while, and she is okay, not one of my favorites, but I have a few things from her. Their designer choice combined with the new challenge system - I like the fact that you can accumulate points, but the challenges are just lame- are making me rethink my loyalty to them plus I agree that many of their designers' products are similar to each other- but P&Co is much worse. However, I like several of the birthday activities. What is funny is that I am becoming much more of a TLP fan- their Month of Challenges and Love Yourself activities are well thought out, and their staff participates in them.
I'm also an SSD fan and I wont be buying from either of their new designers, either. I wont buy from any designer who has made only two or three kits and I'm appalled SSD would bring on such a newbie. Zoliofropes templates are not my style at all and some are flat out weird.
Another SSD fan, flat out disgusted with their choice in new designers. Brook has only made a few things, I think that unicorn kit is her only solo too.
Loni(Zoliofrope) does at least have an established store and has been making templates for a while, but she is still far below the par expected of most SSD designers.
What happened to having an open call for designers? Or inviting the best to be part of the site? Instead, you get one mediocre designer, one subpar designer, and alienate a lot of people who think you are completely out of your mind.
SSD will definitely be losing more of my business.
In the newsletter they did say they believe in promoting within their ranks... it seems like Robin would like to be sure she can get along with the designers first. Maybe it makes sense, if you consider SO and Scrapyrus. (Not that I'm not disappointed with the new designers, though.)
Most of my digital scrap life, SSD has been my home. The only place I shop. I am extremely disappointed with the new people they are bringing on. I kind of figured it was going to be a template designer with Lynnette leaving, but I was kind of hoping no. SSD needs to branch out and bring in unique designers- I feel like bringing Brook in is just bringing another of the same thing. I haven't spent my digiscrap budget at SSD for a long while and unfortunately it seems I still won't be. (Although I do love that new collab but I'm not sure I can find $15 worth of things to get it.)
Which designers should they have approached?
54-I didn't say it was hard. I just don't like it. It's called personal preference or in this case, NON-preference.
58 yes she sells from Jessica's site now. So no, 55, she didn't leave to go into business for herself.
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Ah, but Dani told everyone that she was going into business for herself and then she turned up at Jessica Sprague. So, she's a liar.
Excuse me, but I can't be the only one who finds that unicorn kit extremely fugly.
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What unicorn kit?
^^^^^
NVM, should have read on further and found out
I would also like to mention that if I see another almost identical handpainted XOXO in any designer's products from this point on I am going to scream. Can nobody come up with a creative and unique idea of their own anymore? You see one product come out and suddenly every digital designer this side of the sun is copying it. Enough already!
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I can't believe those are still around, they were all over the place four years ago.
58 yes she sells from Jessica's site now. So no, 55, she didn't leave to go into business for herself.
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Ah, but Dani told everyone that she was going into business for herself and then she turned up at Jessica Sprague. So, she's a liar.
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Who cares if she is a liar? The point is that she didn't leave SSD because she was having a baby, or retiring, or anything like that. She left because SSD wasn't a strong enough option and she knew she could do better elsewhere. I didn't have a dog in this fight until now, but I do think you just proved the OP's point that SSD doesn't retain its designers like it used to and that people didn't used to leave for other options.
I happen to know of at least 3 designers who SSD passed on during the past year who then went on to Pixels & Co and The Lilypad instead, which I think is rather telling considering that those are the shops that everyone has been saying are taking over as top shops while SSD is falling.
If I remember correctly, Dani M. did open her own store before moving on to Jessica's. I would think that with Jessica's paper and hybrid scrapping fans/ audience and all of her classes that a designer would have a broader customer base than at a digiscrap specific site, so the move would have been a good business decision for Dani- better than going to one of the other top digi stores..
Yes, that *is* telling. It tells me that there was as little as one person at SSD that was threatened by or didn't like those designers personally. It doesn't tell me anything about the quality of the designer.
#73 - considering Dani left in 2012, it doesn't prove a damn thing about SSD and not retaining designers like it used to.
If I remember correctly, Dani M. did open her own store before moving on to Jessica's
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She already had her own store while at SSD.
#74 - TLP has always been considered a top tier store, it's not taking over any store's top spot.
can someone tell me where to see Brooke's designs? I didn't get the newsletter.
I can't believe how shameless Carrie is at SSD. She actually posted that she thinks she should be the next babe in the new designer thread.
If you go to the SSD blog, you can read the newsletter, 80.
I'm also an SSD fan and I wont be buying from either of their new designers, either. I wont buy from any designer who has made only two or three kits and I'm appalled SSD would bring on such a newbie.
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Appalled, huh? If you are such fan of SSD, you would know that this isn't the first time that they've brought on a relative newbie.
It's never been this bad before, 83. I've never seen them bring on a designer who hasn't sold ANYWHERE else before. Even Lynnette had a really big following and had been selling at her own shop for long enough that she was considered established. This thing with Brook is just whack.
Libby Prichett was a babe turned designer too, so the Brook thing isn't a big jump. My guess is that a lot of the people that are bent out of shape over the choices are designers that got turned down last designer call.
Anyone else catch that little "stay tuned for an announcement about our challenges" in this week's TOTB challenge at SSD? Um, Robin? Changing challenges already?
Didn't Megan Mullins come up through the ranks, too? And I don't remember her having a lot of experience, either.
I don't think Nettio sold anywhere else before and neither did Cindy, but I'm not absolutely certain about those two.
67. Which designers should they have approached?
I don't think they should have approached anyone at this point. I think they should have had a designer call. See who would be willing to come in & choose from them. I have no idea what it's like to have a store or be a designer, tho... so I could be completely wrong on how it all works, too.
Meg Mullens came from Scrap Orchard. Cindy sold at Peppermint Creative for quite awhile. Nettio had her own personal shop, but nothing else.
I don't see the big deal about Brook. She's had a few collabs already, so it's not a huge surprise. I'm more surprised about Zoliofrope. Guess she knew when to become a babe - right when she started selling templates.
I think my issue with Brook is that the sample kit just looked bad and amateurish, and the style appears to be like several other designers. I am disappointed in the design. I don't care if the person is a babe. I just think they could have done better.
Brook has been selling on Etsy. I don't care for her stuff but have only seen a small amount of it.
OH how disgusting. Looks like SSD is scraping the barrel with Loni and Brook's gross shit!
I don't get Loni's templates. She makes wonky shapes. Big deal. The templates are a photo or two and some paper shapes. I could make those in 5 minutes. There is no consideration for journaling or memory keeping in the template design and her layouts are always tons of patterns that clash and don't feature journaling of any kind. I don't see how that fits in at SSD at all - as a babe or as a designer.
Loni's templates suck. There's tons of template designers out there that have it all over hers.
Libby Prichett was a babe turned designer too, so the Brook thing isn't a big jump. My guess is that a lot of the people that are bent out of shape over the choices are designers that got turned down last designer call.
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When did they have their last designer call?
The last call was almost 2 years ago now. It's when Nettio started selling there, in fact. I think 5 of them came in together at the same time, but I might be remembering incorrectly. I remember them making a really big deal about it complete with weeks of the new designers using fake usernames in the forum and playing "guess who I am?" games until it got really obnoxious. It was Sugarplum, Mari K, Nettio, EZ, and Studio Basic.
I should also add that it used to be that you couldn't get in there unless they had a call. After that group of 5 started up, SSD started adding designers under the radar every few months or so and it indicated to me that Robin was constantly struggling to replace people as they left. First came Ju Kneipp right after Eva's death, which was timed terribly IMO. Then a few months later they added Erin the MIA action girl and snuck La Grier back in too. A few months after that they added Flergs, and now they're sliding the 2 new people in. I think it's pretty clear they aren't going to do calls anymore.
If SSD is looking for stable designers who will be there awhile, taking a chance on TWO new designers is not the place to find it. Most new designers close up shop after a year or so of realizing it takes time and effort to be successful. Loni has been around a little longer than Brook, but not much. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
let's face it - there are a few cows at SSD who have personality clashes with a few designers who approached SSD last year. They weren't turned down for lack of talent, they were turned down because the few 'cows' there wanted nothing to do with them (jealousy, competition.. whatever). Taking on Brook and Loni is proof that talent isn't the driving factor (which is funny, their last call wanted EXPERIENCED designers with EXCEPTIONAL MARKETING SKILLS and ESTABLISHED businesses ) - but then again - they do make the 'top designers' in that shop look better than ever before. No reason to be jealous or feel threatened by Brook and Loni right !? What an effing joke.
OMG! SSD didn't take a designer who likely doesn't make anything unique herself and calls them cows? Shocker. Just because you're experienced doesn't mean you're good. Not that I think Loni and Brook are great, but they're just as average as almost every designer out there. At least they know when to moo.
A few designers joined SSD when DHD closed (or was sold or whatever it did). How long ago was that? Those designers probably asked to join; I don't think there was an official SSD Designer Call out when that all happened.
and snuck La Grier back in too.
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If you call a total fan fare and practically a parade 'sneaking', she was definitely 'snuck' in. None of the others were 'snuck' in either.
i heard that re kneipp is going to SSD. maybe his sister put him there, as always.
Re Kneipp is currently at Digital Scrapbooking Studio. Just curious though.......who is his sister?
Uh, are you thick? Ju Kneipp. I'm sure the same last name was confusing.
^^^
Juliana Kneipp. Re has been at quite a few stores that his sister has never been at, so I'm not exactly sure what #104 is talking about.
Uh, are you thick? Ju Kneipp. I'm sure the same last name was confusing.
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Uh, are you an asshole? I'm sure you are.
I don't get Loni's templates.
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There is no consideration for journaling or memory keeping in the template design and her layouts are always tons of patterns that clash and don't feature journaling of any kind.
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Yeah, see, that's the great thing about everyone having different styles/preferences. Not everyone journals or scrapbooks specifically to preserve memories-- some people like to put a few pictures in and they speak for themselves. Her templates would work well for someone who doesn't do much journaling. Plus, how hard is it to modify a template? Replace a photo spot with a journaling card and you can write there. Or resize the main part of the page and journal along the edge. Really don't see how that's an issue for most people, so I think she'll do fine there. Is she my first choice? Nope. But neither was Nettio. SSD likes to bring on a variety of template designers-- you notice that Cindy and Janet are NOTHING like each other in style. Nettio was kind of a mid-point-- clean, but full. I think Loni is the same way (not like Nettio, I mean, but a mid-point between the super spartan Janet pages and the super packed Cindy pages). She'll satisfy a lot of shoppers, I'm sure.
Carrie and Natasha are at it again. If they think they have a chance up against some of the better scrappers at SSD, they are in for a big surprise. Both of them are average at best and Carrie is almost as annoying as Trish.
Re is at Oscraps and guesting at Digital Scrapbooking Studio. He's not going to SSD.
Valentina oppened at TDC and PBP has a bunch of new designers like Fanette designs or Tami Miller.
I could think of about 3-5 better designers to go to SSD rather than those two. I love most of the SSD designers but I won't even look at Zoliofrope or Brooks stuff.
OMG! SSD didn't take a designer who likely doesn't make anything unique herself and calls them cows? Shocker. Just because you're experienced doesn't mean you're good. Not that I think Loni and Brook are great, but they're just as average as almost every designer out there. At least they know when to moo.
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What makes you think that the person you're talking to on this blog is one of the people who applied and was rejected? You assume that because other people in digi think you're dumb for passing up on certain designers that it must ONLY be the designers who complain? You're thick. It's obvious you're a SSD designer or else you wouldn't have any basis for saying "doesn't make anything unique herself" unless you had been one of the people voting on those designers. Defending your decisions here by arguing with people who have opinions other than yours doesn't make you look any better or endear you to your customers and fans. Idiot.
You assume that because other people in digi think you're dumb for passing up on certain designers that it must ONLY be the designers who complain? You're thick. It's obvious you're a SSD designer or else you wouldn't have any basis for saying "doesn't make anything unique herself" unless you had been one of the people voting on those designers
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Oh, the irony!
Yeah, see, that's the great thing about everyone having different styles/preferences. Not everyone journals or scrapbooks specifically to preserve memories-- some people like to put a few pictures in and they speak for themselves. Her templates would work well for someone who doesn't do much journaling. Plus, how hard is it to modify a template? Replace a photo spot with a journaling card and you can write there. Or resize the main part of the page and journal along the edge. Really don't see how that's an issue for most people, so I think she'll do fine there. Is she my first choice? Nope. But neither was Nettio. SSD likes to bring on a variety of template designers-- you notice that Cindy and Janet are NOTHING like each other in style. Nettio was kind of a mid-point-- clean, but full. I think Loni is the same way (not like Nettio, I mean, but a mid-point between the super spartan Janet pages and the super packed Cindy pages). She'll satisfy a lot of shoppers, I'm sure.
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Thanks for the lecture and the tutorial.
Defending your decisions here by arguing with people who have opinions other than yours doesn't make you look any better or endear you to your customers and fans. Idiot.
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Assuming it must be one of the SSD designers just makes you look like an idiot.
Re is at Oscraps and guesting at Digital Scrapbooking Studio. He's not going to SSD.
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I have to tell you, I'm a fan of Re. Have you seen his student sale? I appreciate what he is doing. I wish my son was more like him.
Well I don't know anything about the voting practices of the SSD designers or whether they are vengeful against other designers and keeping them out of their store because of it. What I do know is one thing: that is a group of designers who luuuuuvvvvvvs to take selfies of themselves and their cleavage and post the photos all over social media. Oh emm gee. Between Jenn Barrette and Traci Reed and Krystal Hartley, you'd think they had banded together and formed a brothel from looking at the photos they choose to post of themselves on the web. Why does it always, always, always have to be a shot taken from above with 50% of the frame filled with cleavage and the other 50% filled with pouty lips? It's so strange.
Do you know that taking a picture from way above eye level makes one looks thinner? Unfortunately, that will often "catch" cleavage too, and to avoid it, one would have to wear a turtleneck or something quite higher line.
Defending your decisions here by arguing with people who have opinions other than yours doesn't make you look any better or endear you to your customers and fans. Idiot
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You're the idiot for ASS uming you know who an anonymous poster is. Yeah, I'm going to quit buying from a designer I love because I "think" she
"might" have posted something here I don't like. What a dumb shit.
It's so strange.
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It is very strange. I think they do it because they're overweight and like the above poster stated, it's more flattering to take these kind of pics. Why some of them take it a step further and make facial expressions that indicate they're simmering with lustful passion is beyond me. After all, unless they're gay or bisexual it doesn't seem like we'd be the target audience for such photos. Whenever I see one of them, I think it's kinda sad.
Good one! So true, wth is up with their glamour shots? Ugh :/
Carrie and Natasha are at it again. If they think they have a chance up against some of the better scrappers at SSD, they are in for a big surprise. Both of them are average at best and Carrie is almost as annoying as Trish.
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See this would compute if SSD picked Babes with stellar scrapping skills, however, they do not. Case in point: Trish, Loni (who is now a designer!!!), that lady analog paper or whatever is a terrible scrapper, Laura who left was average on a good day, Tarra is nothing special either and I could go on and on. Who they pick will solely have to do with who they like (i.e. who kisses ass the best/most).
Good one! So true, wth is up with their glamour shots? Ugh :/
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Exactly!!!!
WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. YOU'RE PROBABLY ALL A BUNCH OF FAT, LAZY HOUSEWIVES WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN PUT EVERYONE DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR PATHETIC LIVES LOOK SOMEWHAT INTERESTING. IF ANY OF YOU COULD DESIGN, CREATE, ETC., YOU WOULDN'T BE WASTING YOUR MISERABLE LIVES ON A SITE AS DESPICABLE AS THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE!!!
And yet, you're here, 126. What does that say?
OR MAYBE I NEED TO TYPE LIKE THIS FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
I'm fat and lazy, but don't ever call me a housewife again.
126 - Coming here to scold people and call them fat, lazy losers just makes you look like an ever bigger loser. Loser.
It's been downright civil around here lately. This site may have been "despicable" in the past, but it isn't really anymore.
WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO REALLY NEED TO GET A LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. YOU'RE PROBABLY ALL A BUNCH OF FAT, LAZY HOUSEWIVES WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN PUT EVERYONE DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR PATHETIC LIVES LOOK SOMEWHAT INTERESTING. IF ANY OF YOU COULD DESIGN, CREATE, ETC., YOU WOULDN'T BE WASTING YOUR MISERABLE LIVES ON A SITE AS DESPICABLE AS THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE!!!
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Oh my. Are you one of the cleavage-showing, "trying my hardest to look seductive" selfie makers???? If you are, you're making a fool of yourself. In-
stead of calling people names for posting here as you post here, try using your camera for something else, like landscape, pets, kids..anything but your boobies and pouty lips.
129 - LOL!
Not a fan of the selfie shaming or people complaining about what designers post on their personal Facebook pages. A lot of women have body and self image issues and something as simple as nice self portraits can be therapeutic for them. If you don't like what they post, unfriend them. Easy peasy.
This has nothing to do w / FB pics. I'm not a fan of someone jumping to conclusions. Butt out. Easy peasy .
Thoughts about SSD's new rewards modification?
The original post said "all over social media", sorry I took that to include Facebook. I personally haven't seen any selfies posted on designers fan pages/ design twitter accounts, etc only on their Facebook personal pages. Sorry I misunderstood the complaint.
Carrie and Natasha are at it again. If they think they have a chance up against some of the better scrappers at SSD, they are in for a big surprise. Both of them are average at best and Carrie is almost as annoying as Trish.
Feb 11, 2014, 6:47:00 AM
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Oh barf!!! I can't stand Carrie and she IS just as annoying as Trish!!! And her layouts are 90% about her and use her selfies with some stuff thrown on the layout with her mug shot... so not a fan.
The bringing on of Loni and Brook is why I don't like and no longer shop at SSD. It's fine to promote and bring on only your friends, but if you want a successful business, you bring on your talented friends so you can have fun and make money. If you don't have talented friends, then you bring on people you tolerate who have the goods to produce. Bringing on your besties doesn't make you the best place in digi with the best designers, it makes you a bit sad.
Loni hasn't been active anywhere she has sold (SM or Oscraps). She is not overly active on her FB page, she doesn't have a blog or newsletter (that I've seen), and the quality of her freebies has not inspired me to open my wallet (jagged edges and templates at the wrong size). She is also inactive in the public forum at SSD. The fact she was able to get a spot at SSD tells me she spends an awful lot of time behind the scenes kissing the appropriate asses. That also doesn't make me want to buy her stuff.
Brook is at least active at SSD, but sadly, she comes across too condescending. I don't recall her ever offering a freebie and a quick look at her FB page tells me she has zero following. This also tells me she spends an awful lot of time behind the scenes kissing the appropriate asses.
This also tells me stores like SO and TLP are doing better than SSD, otherwise, we'd see a lot of movement from SO and TLP to SSD. I am sure many designers at P&Co applied to SSD and were denied. That doesn't make them a top store, it makes them fourth in line at best.
SSD's extremely untalented CT doesn't help sell me anything. They have a couple good scrappers (regardless of style, good means the gallery image is crisp and clean, the photos aren't dark and uncared for, and you can visibly see some effort to shadow), but most are inactive and pretty bad.
Meanwhile, SO and TLP have a pretty good bunch of CTMs and more of them seem active and excited about their stores without having to defend store decisions and be a forum bitch.
If I were a designer at P&Co, I'd stop complaining here about being denied a spot at SSD. You're only moving from 4th to 3rd and only by a slim margin. Take advantage of SSD's decline instead of whining about not being part of the clique.
TL;DR
I did read it, and can't get that time back. We don't see much movement from SO, TLP, or PCO to SSD, so why is it that SO and TLP are doing better, and PCO is being denied?
I'm not a designer, and I was one of the ones discussing (not complaining! Do you know the difference?) SSD's process and obvious favoritism. Now I'm wondering what makes you think PCO is so low compared to SO and TLP? All of my Digiscrap friends would put PCO. TLP, and SSD as the top 3, and while we have different opinions as to which one is first, we'd all put SO about 5th or 6th.
My thoughts on SSD's modifications to Sweet Rewards: I would like to post this at the SSD forum, but I don't want any threats from those who believe you can't have an opinion different than the owner, cause if you do, you are just being negative and should be thankful and blah, blah, blah. The new system still stinks in my opinion. I want to be able to get 40% discount off each month, not work up to it after a period of 3 months. I'm not buying SSD products at full price, or 20% price either. I think they are only worth it at the 40% discount. As others have said, the designers are repeating the same themes, the same ideas, the same, the same. No thanks.
141 - The point was it's only the P&Co designers (and their CT, hi!) bitching about not getting in at SSD. I'm fairly certain most, if not all, designers at TLP and SO have no interest in SSD.
That's the difference.
Now stop whining because you're not in the clique. You're not missing anything.
Ooh. I missed that you have magical glasses that tell you who all the anonymous posters are.
Not a designer, not on a CT. Even if I was, I wouldn't want to go to SSD, because, as I said earlier, I think SSD is below the other three.
143: Why are you able to see that SSD isn't anything special, and anyone else who thinks that MUST BE a designer or CT who was turned down? Were YOU turned down?
I can't imagine many at P&CO wanting to go to SSD in the first place. Their styles would never fit. And most of them seem to be much less... shallow, I guess.
I have no insider knowledge as to which store makes more money, but the style at P&Co seems so much more modern and mature. SSD is outdated and juvenile. Based on style alone, I'd go to P&Co given the choice.
You housewives are too easy to rile up - especially 144.
^^^^
nah, I'm too fat and lazy to get riled up.
YOU'RE PROBABLY ALL A BUNCH OF FAT, LAZY HOUSEWIVES WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN PUT EVERYONE DOWN IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR PATHETIC LIVES LOOK SOMEWHAT INTERESTING
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So, is your pathetic life somewhat more interesting now that you've put everyone down?
I don't follow the challenges at SSD, but I would think the only reason to change it would be if the challenges had a lot less participation or sales took a bigger hit than they had expected.
All of my Digiscrap friends would put PCO. TLP, and SSD as the top 3, and while we have different opinions as to which one is first, we'd all put SO about 5th or 6th.
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I'm not one of your scrap friends but I agree w/you!
Now stop whining because you're not in the clique. You're not missing anything.
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You are an idiot. What is this high school? You have no idea who is posting what so quit trying to act like you're so "in the know". No one gives a shit.
SSD is outdated and juvenile.
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..and repetitive!
You housewives are too easy to rile up - especially 144.
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Actually, 144 seems pretty calm; it's 143 who sounds like a eight-grade mean girl wanna be.
If sales are a factor in making a store a top store, P&Co isn't even in the top 5. There is some talent there, but outside of $1 sales, you wont sell much of anything. Two more designers from P&Co retiring says it all.
I don't know who applied to SO after SM closed, but SO choosing Crossbone Cuts over Stolen Moments (or anyone else) still has me scratching my head.
How about the new designers at TDC? Also scratching my head here. They said they had a great response to their call, but I haven't even heard about some of these new people.
157 Stolen Moments didn't apply to SO. She went to P&Co to guest until she could get her own shop up and running, because she just wanted to sell out of her own shop.
If sales are a factor in making a store a top store, P&Co isn't even in the top 5. There is some talent there, but outside of $1 sales, you wont sell much of anything. Two more designers from P&Co retiring says it all.
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I'd wager you don't have any idea what you're talking about. I CT for someone who sells there and she makes a lot more than most other numbers I see thrown around on this blog every time sales come up. Also, I know one of the 2 designers who is retiring and it has nothing to do with sales. She's retiring for personal reasons. The shop newsletter also made it sound like the other designer who is leaving has another online business and maybe she is trying to devote all of her attention to that.
Not a fan of the selfie shaming or people complaining about what designers post on their personal Facebook pages. A lot of women have body and self image issues and something as simple as nice self portraits can be therapeutic for them. If you don't like what they post, unfriend them. Easy peasy.
- - - - -
Oh, Lena.
If sales are a factor in making a store a top store, P&Co isn't even in the top 5. There is some talent there, but outside of $1 sales, you wont sell much of anything. Two more designers from P&Co retiring says it all.
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I simply adore when people who have no inside knowledge of something spout off as though they are experts. You would know this information how exactly? Right, that's what I thought.
Designers who are making such good money always leave this industry. Major eyeroll.
I don't know, 163. I agree with you in theory, but neither one is going to another store that I can see. It doesn't look like they are moving to get more money. Didn't Dawn By Design "retire" once before?
#163 - two designers at P&CO does not a store make. *eyeroll*
163 even if that is true, who cares? Just because a couple of designers aren't making money at a shop doesn't mean the shop itself doesn't make money. Every shop always has a top and a middle and a bottom in terms of sales. The people who retire usually come from the bottom, so what? That doesn't have anything to do with that the middle or the top sellers earn.
^^^ what 166 said.
In fact, I will bet you that the bottom of all of the "top shops" that have recently been discussed here are making almost no money each month. Think about SSD: do you really think that people like Lliella Designs make more than a hundred or two each month? She never releases. Same goes for people like Julie Billingsley, Erica Zane, or Heather Roselli, they hardly ever release anything anymore. I will guarantee you that the average earners at all of the other shops all make way more than the people who hardly release.
Brook is at least active at SSD, but sadly, she comes across too condescending. I don't recall her ever offering a freebie and a quick look at her FB page tells me she has zero following. This also tells me she spends an awful lot of time behind the scenes kissing the appropriate asses.
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Such irony. I was curious and just searched for her FB page. About 30 minutes ago, she posted this:
"I'm planning on changing up my fan freebie soon, so if you haven't grabbed the unicorn doodles yet you might want to do that in the next day or so."
Looks like someone is stalking the smack blog and using it to craft her business plan...
^^^
wouldn't be the first time.
If we are smacking selfies, can we smack Traci Reed? What is with the hand by her shoulder?
If only I could actually smack Traci Reed......
Same goes for people like Julie Billingsley, Erica Zane, or Heather Roselli, they hardly ever release anything anymore.
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Actually, Erica Zane releases a new product just about every week. Some week it's a kit other weeks it's a general product but there's almost always something new.
So who do you think are the top earners at SSD, PCo, TLP and SO? (And before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, obviously it would just be guessing)
^^^
Who cares? What's this obsession some people have with how much they think someone earns?
Who cares? What's this obsession some people have with how much they think someone earns?
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Obviously, the op cares or she/he wouldn't have posted it. Asking a question or getting opinions is not an obsession. Seems like it bothers you a whole lot more.
173: to my knowledge, best Designers are way over 1500$ (while average is about 500$ per month ... this mean that lower sale are ... 10$ and sometime less... even in top store)
seems to me, that you all, are quite focus on a few store... some never get up: is that because you don't "know them" or just because they are perfect -or because you try to promote just the one you are CTing for..
I'm not on any CTs, but the only stores I even look at are TLP, PCO, and SSD. When I try to check out another store, I generally leave empty handed. I'm not as familiar with designers outside those stores, true, but that's because they're not really my taste.
I could probably find a cute shirt at Wal-Mart, but experience tells me I have to dig through a lot of crap to find it, and it usually falls apart in the wash.
Hit publish too soon. I don't think those stores are perfect. They all have good points and bad, and the random crap kit is there too. They're just fewer and far between.
176: the top stores usually have a sales minimum. I've heard anywhere from $400 to $1000 (at TLP... Can that possibly be true?) so I doubt there are any designers only making $10.
I am 176 - there are minimum, that is right, but I know that there are also exception to that ... rules are not always valid for everyone. and yes some are doing 10$ even in top store.
and I don't buy a min at 1000$,/m at all!
Clever Monkey Graphics and Amy Stoffel are opening at Gingerscraps...
I just looked at Clever Monkey's store, I always liked her stuff. If you want a "nice" unicorn kit, I would definitely buy hers over that crap at SSD.
Actually, Erica Zane releases a new product just about every week. Some week it's a kit other weeks it's a general product but there's almost always something new.
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False.
If you look at SSD's new release category that is broken down by date, you'll see that she has only released 4 items so far in 2014. One of those is a set of tab elements. Two others are coordinating mini kits. Show me the money is the only full kit, and it released on 1/11.
There's no way she is making more than a couple hundred dollars a month at that pace and with those products, especially with what she us up against.
Is anyone else disappointed that Flergs went to SSD? I've been away from digi for a while, only to find she's moved there. What's the story with that one? I thought she was a die-hard SBG girl. Had a look at her store, and NOT liking all of the colllabs she's been doing with the various designers there. I don't see myself continuing to buy from her over there, sad since she was one of my favorite designers.
Asking a question or getting opinions is not an obsession. Seems like it bothers you a whole lot more
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You obviously haven't been around here for long, the 'how much earning' question gets asked all the time, hence the use of thew word 'obssession' Thanks fo the
#184 - no story as far as I know and her regular stuff looks exactly the same, so I'm not sure why you won't buy from her anymore. If you don't like the collabs, don't buy those, but again, they don't look that different to me from the collabs she's done in the past with SBG, TLP, SO and SSD girls.
Some designers do it to support their family, some do it as a side income source or even a hobby. Not all designers aim to make $1000/month. Hence the difference in the product release patterns. Those who rely on this industry for their food might have to release more often, compared to those who are doing it just as a hobby / side income.
I don't shop at SSD at all, so would have missed where Flergs was if it hadn't been here. Not sure I'll wander over. It does make a difference where a designer makes her home--I don't care for SSD or PBP for different reasons. I don't shop at tlp either. I'm very content at other shops without the hype, or the babes, or whatever. The babes are kind of sickening. PBP is another story. No babes there for sure. That site is wonky though.
I just found PBP's new challenge system last month and there's is more rewarding than most. 10 points, $10 coupon. Their forum isn't very busy but I really like some of their designers. The no drama part is a plus too. Get tired of the cliques at most of them. SSD and SO are the worst for that. TLP isn't too bad. Challenges pretty good too. Don't know about GS or others but I gave up on SSD's challenges..Joke now.
I was also disappointed when Flergs went to SSD. Maybe it's just the preview style, but now her stuff looks identical to the other designers there. Occasionally she had something different in the past, but now it's just more SSD-style blah.
189-I think you hit the nail on the head. It's the cliques I don't like at the in the forums. I hate that. The Babes can be considered a clique. I haven't been to pbp's forum much-I don't like the looks of the site itself, nor how the gallery works. I will admit, though, that when I've had a problem before, it's been taken care of fairly fast. I'll give them that.
In response to everyone who has been complaining about Traci Reed's bad handwriting, now she's contracting out to get someone else's handwriting for her designs. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e17dcfcfbb72c0a16475e3581/images/treed_februaryfreephrases_previewe0e0af.jpg
Why is every designer under the sun suddenly trying to be Kal Barteski with the painted words and the XOXO in every single product? My god, it's old already and it's only been in digi for like 2 weeks. Be original, people! You don't just have to jump on every bandwagon and run with it. It's especially funny to watch designers whose style doesn't even kind-of match that style add it into their products anyway.
I don't know why Traci Reed is always trashed here. I guess some people just like to hurt others for some reason. If it isn't her weight, it's her hand writing, or something else. I don't know her--just saying! I like her designs, but I'm not on her CT. I'm not sure I've actually bought anything of hers over the years--but I know I've picked up some of her freebies at times, and they are nice.
If you've never bought anything of hers, I don't think you like her designs as much as you think you do.
*I'm fat and lazy, but don't ever call me a housewife again. *
ROFLMAO!
195-I don't need any more supplies. I'm on a few ct's and have plenty or I would.
I haven't been to pbp's forum much-I don't like the looks of the site itself,
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that makes sense. you don't buy there cuz you don't like the wallpaper? wow. that makes sense if ever i've heard it. if that's the case, you better stay away from most shops cuz i've seen fuglier. their new site is actually quite nice. i agree they have about the best customer service out there tho. can't get service from SSD to save my life. at least not from most the designers. you write them and they ignore you. flergs is one of the worst. and if you want to discuss sucky galleries, we could always bring up SO again.
198. I think if a site wants to attract customers, the site should be attractive, and not turn a person off before they even get to look around. That may be just me, but I doubt it. I've seen worse, but there are a whole lot better out there.
I'm 199. One site I love the looks of is gingerscraps. I love the big previews of the kits. You don't have to click on the kit to see if you like the kit or not. It's there--and then if you want a larger view, you can click on it. The colors go together. It's pleasing to the eye. It doesn't have so much going on that it detracts from the previews. It's the product you go to a site to see--not a bunch of gobbley gook. The forum is well organized, the gallery is wonky at times. You have to wait until the second screen to enter your credits or they don't post. The gallery is easy to post comments to if you wish. The people in the forum seem nice,without being gushy or cliquish. You can find the challenges easily. Several of the designers take part in the forums.
At GP, I don' t like the size of the previews. The gallery works better than most around. I don't take part in the forum much, but I do check out the challenges occasionally. The people seem nice, and again without being cliquish. The designers make an appearance at times. I would think the designers would take an interest in the forums. It is their product in the store that they are trying to sell. Lots of people buy product from the designers they like personally. There aren't many designers I like at SSD or TLP, almost everything looks alike. I dislike the forums so much I just don't go there much at all. When I shop, I shop at a different shop altogether.
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