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 -----
two weeks? Painted words and XOXO has been around for five years or even longer. I don't know who Kal is, but those concepts did not originate with her.
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! -------
Her hand writing is rubbish and she's selling it, so like any product out there that is available for purchase, it's open to criticism. Just saying!
There's a difference between a product you don't like and a product that's godawful. I have never interacted with Traci, and have absolutely no bias one way or the other, but her handwriting was GODAWFUL.
#3 - you don't say, Captain Obvious, however, that doesn't preclude me from having an opinion on the product and stating said opinion. I bet you don't criticize anything, not music, not movies, not books, etc. and if you do, how is that any different?
1, obviously you could say that painted words and handwriting has been around since cavemen painted on walls for art. That's not what I mean and you know it. If you don't know who Kal is, then why enter a dog in this race? Stay out of it while you google her and then you will see what I am talking about. In the past few weeks, a truly astounding number of designers are "suddenly" producing and releasing products that are all based on the same thing. It's no coincidence that she just ran a class, and now all of the designers are trying their hand at doing what she does. It's also no coincidence that near the end of 2013, products like this were released in paper scrapbooking and within weeks everyone is copying them.
Here are some examples and they all came out this week. Coincidence? I think not:
Oh please don't go on. Your caveman argument is irrelevant. I've seen the painted words etc. that are re-appearing in kits and they are exceedingly similar to those that came out four or so years ago, so I'm assuming, following your argument about originality, that Kal is not original either and is in fact copying those that come out way back then ...
The best part about this blog is when the uninformed idiots still argue with everyone.
#1 / 9: "I don't even know who Kal Barteski is, but I know that what you're talking about isn't based on her work, which I don't know anything about." SMH.
P.S. Thanks for the links 8. I hadn't thought much about it but seeing them all together in one place, I have to agree w/ you. There's no way that so many designers coincidentally release the same basic products in the same week without some unifying catalyst.
Kal is currently teaching a class at Studio Calico called Life Scripted. This is why you're seeing lots of handwritten stuff right now... because designers are taking the class and releasing products inspired by the class and then other designers are giving it a try. They're not copying her... she's teaching them.
I think it's disgusting to post a public call for a spot or two and name two individuals in the post about the call (carrie and natascha). If you want those two people, then make them babes. If you don't want those two people, don't call them out by name. How is anyone else supposed to think they have a chance if you've summoned two people already?
SSD wonders why they have an awful reputation for being cliquey. This is why.
What's this (in post #26) about a Honey Bee losing their spot just because they applied to another team? That seems a bit harsh. People apply to different teams all the time.
That is a bit harsh. I heard that, too, though. I know of others who have been asked to leave SO because of other store teams and then others who haven't. It's always appeared inconsistently applied over at SO. Just another reason I don't like it there.
The best part of this blog is when people call other people idiots to make them feel better about themselves. I hope you are feeling wonderful.
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I am feeling wonderful! Thanks for asking!
p.s. that's not why we're all calling that person an idiot, by the way. It also doesn't make me feel wonderful about myself to call you an idiot, but if the shoe fits.......
Kal is currently teaching a class at Studio Calico called Life Scripted. This is why you're seeing lots of handwritten stuff right now... because designers are taking the class and releasing products inspired by the class and then other designers are giving it a try. They're not copying her... she's teaching them.
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17, I am also 8 and I had already made the point about her teaching a class right now. That doesn't change the fact that it is really amusing to watch multiple designers at every store suddenly change their design style to offer products that are so obviously based on Kal's style. It's one thing to take her class and use the new knowledge/skill to start creating unique pieces of art in your own style. It's another thing completely to simply create an XOXOXO copy and release it because it's hot right now. It shows no imagination and no creativity. You don't have to agree with us (as I can tell there are more than one of us on this blog who think this - I'm not the only one commenting w/ these opinions), but it doesn't change the fact that it lowers my opinion of those designers who are only trying to ride a "what's hot" wave and earn easy money doing something they're not even that good at.
SSD has slim pickings if Carrie and Natascha are the best they have to choose from. Based on that thread, I'd take Stacy and jumbbumble over those two any day of the week. None of those scrappers are who I would consider "the best" though. Not even close, but I guess they have to choose based on who applies.
I also think it's in bad taste to name two scrappers like that in an application thread. That's SSD, though.
Honey bees can't be on a ct for other stores. They can be on designers teams from other stores, but not stores teams. It's been a requirement forever and all honey bees agree to it. If she applied for a different store team i'm sure SO let her go because she showed she didn't want her honey bee spot anymore.
Still, to only apply to another store team (not actually take a position on another store team), and get kicked off for that? It seems to me that a lot of Honey Bee talent has been drifting away lately. Maybe this exclusivity requirement is part of the reason. I'm unsure of this requirement being around forever ... maybe a couple of years. It doesn't seem to be very well advertised. For instance, I never saw a Honey Bee call or contest that had any stated exclusivity requirement. It seems to be something they require after they offer a position. It seems kinda secretive to me.
I've never seen anyone openly post their ct requirements for all to see whenever they wanted unless they had a call. someone even had to ask for the babe requirements in the thread at ssd. I don't know if SO even has calls.
Which honey bee talent has been drifting away lately?
I don't think SO has a list of Honey Bees anymore. Tronesia is the one that stands out to me. I don't think she is a Bee anymore. Britaneejean I think is still one, but she doesn't seem very active anymore, and I think I've seen her showing up at other places. I guess those are the only two I can really think of. I can't really name any others Bees off the top of my head. Several years back they had a really strong team ... but it doesn't seem that way anymore.
Here is the link to the SSD call in their forum: http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76252
Tronesia left like two years ago to join SSD. That's hardly lately and it's only one person. Britaneejean is still a bee.
The requirements at SO are only 2 LOs a month and they do some challenge hosting rotation (I asked someone who is a bee). That's not enough to make anyone seem active.
It seems like the lowest store requirement I've ever seen to require exclusivity. If they had heavy requirements, I can see it in order to make sure everything gets done. But 2 Los per month? Hosting a challenge every once in awhile? That's nothing.
It seems like the lowest store requirement I've ever seen to require exclusivity. If they had heavy requirements, I can see it in order to make sure everything gets done. But 2 Los per month? Hosting a challenge every once in awhile? That's nothing.
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which is also a reason why requiring exclusivity seems a bit selfish. most ctm's these days seem to be in it for the bragging rights (depending on the shop or designer), or for all the free kits they can get their hands on, more so than representing a shop or designer (or two) they love. there don't seem to be many genuine ctm's anymore. most of the one's that are any good are spread so thin that they actually have the nerve to complain when a designer asks them to do posting or promoting. they want to grab a free kit, slap it on a layout, drop it and run on to the next free kit. i remember applying to suzy q's team a few years ago and learning that she paid some of her ct's to be exclusive. not sure if she still does or not.
I know several good ctms who promote without complaint, write blog posts, share things on fb, etc. I don't know who you know, 44, but all the good ones aren't like what you describe.
You seem to prove why SO would have exclusivity while complaining about it. Exclusivity forces ctms to focus on one store without piling on the teams just for free stuff.
After reading the thread, could Natascha and Carrie BE any more bitchy? Wow. "Thought we saved you from having to do this." "I didn't want anyone else to have a shot." Joking or not, that's really crappy stuff to say.
Also, does Jennifer have to comment on EVERY post? (I don't have money to do that right now. I can't afford it. I'm too busy with uni). Um, okay, then just don't comment? Maybe you'd have more time if you didn't comment on every. single. thread that you don't have time/money/etc.
That's now TWO SSD collabs in a month that Robin has put her design hat back on for. She also seemed so flattered and surprised (and no one denied the possibility of her return in the near future) when people inquired about her being one of the two new designers. (I know she wasn't the two new ones, obviously).
How long do you guys think it'll be before she bites the bullet and returns as a designer?
TLP has it all over SSD when it comes to getting a talented ct team with diversity and making it feel like you have a chance to be a Polly. They spread the wealth, which in turns makes the posters more passionate and involved in the site. In the MOC challenge they offered up 17 guest CT over the next couple months and did a draw for the one permanent position. JMHO. Now thats inclusive. None of this "compete you bitches, kiss my ass rubbish"
I was shocked with the number of guest spots announced at the MOC, I was truly thinking they would go with max 5 but 17 was fantastic to see. really created a buzz . I missed out but will be taking more part in there forums and challenges.
I love both TLP & SSD, and I agree that TLP is more inclusive in terms of their community. Love the friendly ppl there. And to feel like you'd have a chance at even guesting, I'd say that it tells you that the store do wants you there.
I wonder if Britanee gets canned from SO after expressing interest in the babe call on Facebook. Probably not since chocochoco was a guest ct at Scrap Matters during Queen of scrap and wasn't canned. Just Carrie gets canned for applying and not even making the last babe call.
This is one of many reasons why Scrap Orchard is no where near a top shop.
so if you are a bee, you can't compete in challenges? with a chance of becoming a site ct? or say, wow, what a fun opportunity? oh I would love to be a polly, babe or snippity snap? that is pretty cultish, for scrapbooking. I am thinking that there must be more to the story in Carrie's not being a bee?
How do they enforce such exclusion? Do they police all their CT or do they rely on other bee's to tattle on each other? My word. That's all a bit much and I agree, very cultish.
Can you imagine the lack of teamwork on that SO CT? I'm sure there are a few that hunt down people they don't like and blow them in all the time. I'd guess that's what happened with Carrie since she's pretty unlikeable. I guess if you're liked on that team, you're OK and no one will tattle on you like with chocochoco, and you can do whatever you want. Whether it's break the rules or not.
You think the SO exclusivity for the Bees is bad? At least they get new product regularly!
I worked for a designer that limited our teams in her contract. I recently quit because she hasn't produced anything since November. But you can bet there was all kinds of pressure to meet our requirements. I got tired of using the same kits and templates over and over and over pimping old products hoping that a new kit would come out.
Not sure how she's still in business and her stores haven't kicked her out.
I think they used that as an excuse to let Carrie go because she's an awful scrapper. If I was a designer I would NOT want her on my ct. I usually HATE her pages. When I don't hate them, I think they're average.
I agree, the SSD call is a joke, how can you name 2 people in your call like that.
I think their whole CT needs an overhaul. Store CT's should rotate people out every year or two to keep it fresh. Otherwise people get complacent. And things get boring. Even if they did 2 calls a year so they don't loose their continuity. They could split the team in half and swap one have once a year, but on 6 month time tables so everyone isn't leaving all at once.
It's all so frustrating, when you're an outsider and have great ideas that could help them, and you want to speak your mind, but you don't wan to piss anyone off. Ugh, stupid call, I hate the new challenge system too. I think it's really going to hurt them this year. It's a shame too, SSD has always been my favorite place to shop.
There are not enough good quality, reliable CTMs out there to rotate every six months with all new people. It's more important to find quality people who can evolve with your store's products and who scrap regularly. It's good to have a handful of new people fold in from time to time, too.
That's why I was super surprised to know SO only requires 2 pages from their CTMs each month. A quality scrapper almost always produces a quality layout, so requiring more doesn't usually diminish quality. I know some scrappers are faster than others, but 1 layout a week doesn't seem like too much to ask from a store CTM - especially since their design team does release pretty regularly.
It's really hard to be a CTM for more than one store at a time. I've tried it before, but don't ever want to do that again. I'm at one store now, and a few individual designers and it works out a lot better. It's not the store requirements that are hard, it's trying to be active at the sites that takes the time. Most stores have minimum layout requirements-2-4 per month, but then they expect their people to make comments in the gallery, be active in the forum with challenges and chit chat, and also take part in the back room. That all takes time.
Why would anyone put CT work on a resume? __ I can imagine being the job interviewer and seeing that on a resume. Well, it would help me weed out the loonies quicker, I guess.
Is there no QC in bigger, "top-tier" stores? Just found some jaggies on some flairs in the SSD FWP kit, and last week found some word art that has no texture whatsoever in a kit I got at P&Co. None of those would have passed the QC in the store I sell at (a low-to-mid-tier store at best).
62, I like the 2 LOs/month requirement at SO because it makes sure no one gets stressed out over making a LO every. single. week. I'm not a CTM at SO, but I was a member at a site with similar reqs: I loved the looser reqs, which let me enjoy the site more, instead of making it feel like a "job." It allows you to use your time to make LOs *and* chat in the forum/otherwise enable the store. I participated because I wanted to, which made my gallery/forum comments actually important/meaningful (instead of "nice shadowing. Great LO!" on everything). I'd rather be a part of a larger store team that has more lax reqs than part of a smaller team that has to produce all the time cuz they need a LO from EVERYONE every week.
Is Lauren Grier, like, on vacation or something? Her personal store hasn't produced anything new since early January and I thought she released stuff the first weekend of the month.
73, not everyone prints their layouts. Texture is and will always be a requirement (and thus quality issue) in digital scrapbooking. Would you say the same about your papers? I'm sure if the same product is found in another store, people would complain about it.
The word art is a sticker type element, so yes, people do put texture on those. And the flairs are Brook's. Take a look at the top and bottom of the circles. When applying flair styles, they often add a jagged edge to the shape. A simple smoothing action will fix it.
I don't print all of my layouts, but I want them to look realistic when I look at them at 100%. Anyway, it's my point that my store (and my previous one) would not have passed anything I don't have texture on. They want texture on even my paint splats.
And I ask again, is there no QC process in these big stores?
79 - The fact you admitted to selling at low-medium range stores and you think they set the standard on quality is part of the problem. If I ever bought word art or paint splats that had some weird texture on them, I'd never buy there again. When I go buy a sticker in a store, it doesn't have any texture. If you're looking for realistic elements whether you print or not, then you'd leave the texture off a sticker.
80 - Agreed and maybe Robin should spend some time QCing a brand new designers products for awhile to ensure they're up to snuff before taking time to start designing again.
Anyone know what's up with the Shabby Princess? She use to be one of my favorites, but she hasn't released anything in a long time. And nothing on her blog in over a year.
81, I do not think my store (or any other store for that matter) sets the standard on quality, but I do think their request to have texture (not weird texture, just something subtle) on my stickers or paints makes sense. When you look at a real sticker or a plain white sheet of paper, it's not just a solid block of color. Everything in real life has texture. We're talking about digital scrapbooking elements here, not clip art intended for just web use.
I just went to look at a flower sticker by Gennifer Bursett (not that I think she sets the quality standard of the industry, but because the sticker in question comes from a P&Co kit and she's the owner) and she has a paper texture on it. Obviously she thinks it's necessary to add one onto her own stickers. It would be nice to have some kind of QC in place to make sure the customers get some kind of consistent standard of quality from the same store.
I'm selling at the store I'm selling right now because I've only been doing this for a very short time, and while my store is by no means a "top-tier" one, the money it brings in makes it worth my while. There's much more to designing than just quality; there's aesthetics, etc. I may feel that the quality of my products is better than that of some of the designers' in top stores, but I have much more to learn in other areas. I believe designers in top stores are where they are for a reason, and I'm working towards my own goal. It's the association between top stores and high quality that I have a problem with.
80 - Agreed and maybe Robin should spend some time QCing a brand new designers products for awhile to ensure they're up to snuff before taking time to start designing again. -- ^^This^^
Why don't you contact Gennifer? She's posted here before and has seemed concerned about QC. Most stores do have a QC person, but every product isn't checked. Only random ones.
89 - I couldn't agree more. That attention whore lost my business with all her whining. I can't support that nonsense with so many equally good designers out there to choose from.
I am getting so sick of Lauren's posts on SSD __ Ditto. I wasn't an SSD customer when she designed there before going to TLP. I so wish she'd never come back. She's so irritating and it's one thing after another with her..always negative and ALWAYS attention-seeking. Taking pictures of your stitches on a scrapbook forum? Give me a break! Poor Lauren.
My god, get a life and shut up! __ YES!!!!! She posts one thing..gets her mileage out of it. When people quit responding to her latest dramatic post, she starts another one. It's never anything good or positive AND it's ALWAYS something about her being a VICTIM of someone or something. It sounds like she has parental support (her dad and possibly other family too), a caring boyfriend, a healthy kid, a house, a car, she's not in a wheelchair, she can see and she has a job in which she can work from home. That's a WHOLE lot more than lots of people have right on that forum. She needs one of those close friends of hers to tell her to suck it up, be an adult and quit thinking everything that happens to her is a horrific disaster that needs to be shared so she can get attention from it. It would do her good to be thankful for a change instead of whining about her latest plight.
It would do her good to be thankful for a change instead of whining about her latest plight. __ I agree wholeheartedly. She comes off like an immature crybaby. I actually feel sorry for her boyfriend.
Any news on the new babes yet? __ You know, I'd probably care if they actually scrapped because I love to get inspiration from looking through galleries, however, the "Babes" are the most idle store ct out there.
That's now TWO SSD collabs in a month that Robin has put her design hat back on for. She also seemed so flattered and surprised (and no one denied the possibility of her return in the near future) when people inquired about her being one of the two new designers. (I know she wasn't the two new ones, obviously).
How long do you guys think it'll be before she bites the bullet and returns as a designer?
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Make that 3... 2 store collabs (the collab and hop) and now one with libby.
#100 Apparently Lauren is always whining about her life. Royanna is always sick and nearly dying, or having to find a new place to live, or a new car, or having computer failure.... etc. See any similarity?
101- That's a tough question because "always great" is so subjective. Of the designers I buy from regularly, I think Kate Hadfield is one of the most consistent although there are some times that her doodles are repetitive and almost identical for different packets.
So many others have too many similar elements from kit to kit that it can be difficult to distinguish them: there are a few "new ideas" for most of their kits, but sometimes not enough to entice me to buy from them. My favorites from below are those who manage, to me, to have just enough distinction from week to week to make me look twice.
At SSD, I am consistently drawn to Ju Kneipp's designs, and the quality has been good on what I have purchased. I also like Michele Godin at TLP because there is just enough variety for the products to be different enough from each other that they are worth buying.
I like several designers at SO and buy from them occasionally, but what they put out from week to week blends together for me. The same goes for P&Co., but I only like a very few designers there.
Dawn Inskip has enough variety that I always look twice and buy from her often enough. I haven't had any issues with quality, but, truthfully, unless it is obvious, I don't look too closely for that.
I also buy some from Michelle Coleman and like a lot of what she puts out.
I like a lot of TLP designers, but I don't see things except for Kate (who is not making as much now) and Michelle that entices from week to week. From month to month or quarter to quarter, yes.
I hope that Hey Jude is one of the new babes, I always enjoy her layouts. __ Her layouts are fine, however, she uses the same photos over and over and over and over. Carrie uses the same self shots constantly as well. At least Hey Jude's are edited nicely. Carrie needs a class in photo editing as does Nikki (the babe) and Trish (has she ever posted a decent photo? No.). One of the areas stressed when anyone is looking for ct members is that they have great photos. So many of these people seldom do.
Carrie and Holly, imagine the smugness coming from them 2 if they make it! __ I don't give a rip if they're jerks if they scrap nice inspirational pages. Holly's are fine imo (her little girl is just so dang cute and that certainly doesn't hurt!), however, Carrie can't scrap her way out of a paper bag. I have a feeling Angie is going to be a babe since they're choosing five. Her scrapping and photos don't appeal to me much either. Her kiss assiness REALLY doesn't appeal to me.
Ever wonder why the babes leave SSD? I'm always curious, if they're too busy, or they had issues with someone there. __ Well, something obviously happened with Laura. She was a babe and a prolific poster in the forum and, now, once in a blue moon she'll post in the peek threads and that's it. Also, Analog Paper (sp?) came on like gang busters to begin with doing the mail thing, etc. and she just went poof. Haven't seen her post anything in months. There's so many babes who don't do shit, it's no wonder they're bringing on five more to fill the void. Tarracotta, Trish (this is probably a blessing), and lots others don't do shit. Before they were babes, they were constantly doing pages, posting in the forums, etc.
Laura was always one of my favorite babes too. I felt like her scrapping was real, she didn't do it just to be on the team. I wonder what happened with her.
I don't even know how that Analog person is. I hate how inactive the babes are, that's part of the reason the forum is dying over there.
At SSD, I am consistently drawn to Ju Kneipp's designs, and the quality has been good on what I have purchased. __ I agree with this and do not think hers are as "cookie cutter" as the rest of her counterparts there.
I think Laura stepped back because life just got too crazy. I still see her posting on mutual friends stuff on facebook and things, she hasn't disappeared completely.
Maria just seems to be AWOL, as do several of the new pocket scrapping babes.
Trish seems to think she is all that, but really, she's just another crapscrapper. I hate it when she does her cutesy sneak peeks and doesn't show an entire layout- you aren't the designer, show the layout, stupid.
I think there are very few babes that are actually active and care. I have no desire to be a babe, nor do I think I'm an amazing scrapper, I've just been around enough years to see that things have definitely changed- and not for the better- when it comes to the babes.
101 - I always buy: Kristin Aagard, Kate Hadfield, Boutique Cute Dolls, Lauren Grier, Studio Basic Not bying again: Flergs (the same elements all over again), cheap kits (1.50) by Just So Scrappy, Crazy 4 Monograms, A-manda Creations etc (I end up deleting 95% of the files; who needs a kit with 130 flowers and 40 buttons?)
If a team seems to be doing nothing, I would suspect the reason is poor leadership. I was on a team once and whenever there was an event and an opportunity to have some fun promotions, people on the team would say, "I'll help out any way I can. Just tell me what you need me to do." If there wasn't a leader (ie the designer) in charge and no one to "tell them what to do" then they did nothing. Teams need good leadership. I've seen it time and again in my CT work. When a designer is involved with her team, the team is energized. I'm sure it works the same with a store team.
The babes were awesome a few years back. I loved the challenge a day on the blog, I loved the magazine they did.
I really think they'd benefit a lot by just completely wiping anyone that has been with them longer than a year and just start fresh. Everyone would be motivated again. Fresh Ideas. Oh well, it's a shame you can't speak freely.
The babes were awesome a few years back. I loved the challenge a day on the blog, I loved the magazine they did.
I really think they'd benefit a lot by just completely wiping anyone that has been with them longer than a year and just start fresh. Everyone would be motivated again. Fresh Ideas. Oh well, it's a shame you can't speak freely. --- I agree with this. There's a Babe Lead who is more idle than most the babes..if that's possible.
Trish seems to think she is all that, but really, she's just another crapscrapper. I hate it when she does her cutesy sneak peeks and doesn't show an entire layout- you aren't the designer, show the layout, stupid. ------ Since one would think her job is to make layouts using the designs, I don't get how that's okay for her to do. Of course, I hate her style, pages and photos for the most part so it doesn't matter to me whether she shows the whole layout. I loved when she did a tutorial several months ago for the scrap like a babe series. Yeah, I wanna scrap just like you so my pages look like shit. Pleeeeeeeeezzz.
I thought the application was through the contest thread only? Whatever Natascha's skills, Robin should not have mentioned her if she was not basically a shoe-in.
I suppose they can ask and bring on whoever they want. I doubt they asked Judie without her applying, though. Goes to show her level if she snuck around.
I agree about Natascha on both points - much better scrapper and it's awful she was mentioned and then not taken.
I was most surprised at some of the better scrappers that didn't even apply. It goes to show the earlier points made - being a Babe isn't much of anything these days. Just a bunch of mostly average to below average scrappers being snotty mean girls.
I don't shop SSD but haven't checked it out in awhile. Well I looked at the new babes galleries, wow just wow that they would be considered talented scrappers. Average at best and thats being kind. Hey Jude used the same pics over and over again I had to go back 4 pages worth to get a new pic not of herself or partner. They are not good pics either. No inspiration by any of the babes, its all the same throw up on a page. Confirms my original decision to avoid SSD like the plague.
That has to be the biggest Fuck U to a store member EVER. To publicly name Natascha and then not choose her is beyond cruel. I would be making it perfectly clear were Robin could shove her babes. If natascha reads here, Im sorry for what you would have gone through. I would run, not walk from that store pronto.
I don't shop SSD but haven't checked it out in awhile. Well I looked at the new babes galleries, wow just wow that they would be considered talented scrappers. Average at best and thats being kind. Hey Jude used the same pics over and over again I had to go back 4 pages worth to get a new pic not of herself or partner. They are not good pics either. No inspiration by any of the babes, its all the same throw up on a page. Confirms my original decision to avoid SSD like the plague. ------- I get so tired of seeing the same old pics from these folks....especially selfies. If you are going to use selfies for goodness sakes, at least take some different ones. I cannot imagine scrapping myself constantly. Don't they get sick of using the same old crap? There's one pic of Carrie in a car that should be banned from ever being used again!
There's one pic of Carrie in a car that should be banned from ever being used again! ---------------- OMG! I so totally agree! The one with the blue shirt drives me nuts! And talk about photo editing or lack thereof - her photos are usually over exposed or crappy otherwise.
#132 - Totally agree. That was the meanest thing ever - talk about snotty sorority girl mentality. She specifically asks her to apply PUBLICALLY and then doesn't pick her. What a complete bitch.
I really want to make a comment, Congrats Girls! I had a feeling all of you ladies would be picked, HeyJude I didn't see her in the thread, but wow, she has great pages. :) Would people throw stones?
I honestly wish someone would say something. I personally won't do it, simply because I'm not active enough at SSD to make it look like anything but a complete drama starting post.
140 - It wouldn't matter anyway. They do what they want to whoever they want. I've heard such horrible things about them in the past year that I will never give them my money again. I can't believe how they treat people. Everything I've heard has been done in private, at least. What they did to Natascha is unthinkable - and she is a better scrapper than all 5 they did choose.
138 - I was surprised Gemma wasn't chosen as well given the applicant pool. I think some of her LOs are well done and others are boring and look thrown together in 2 minutes.
136 - The 5 that were chosen should thank the insanely better, active at SSD scrappers who didn't apply - catgoddess, motherbear, suladesign, akizo, chocochoco. I wouldn't say I'm surprised they didn't apply. I don't know any of them personally, but they all appear to avoid the drama. After seeing the results of the past 3 babe calls, I'd say SSD is a bit beneath each one of them.
#138 I agree. I like Gemma's pages. There are only a couple of galleries I stalk and hers is one of them. She has a lot of white space to her pages but she uses it well.
"NOW I CAN SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew...that feels better! Keeping that quiet was torture." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Oh shut the hell up Carrie, everyone hates you.
catgoddess, motherbear, suladesign, akizo, chocochoco _________ IMO these ladies' scrapping skills are so far superior to ANY of the babes that there is just no comparison. Motherbear can scrap with any type of kit design and do it fantastically as can the others. It would definitely be a step beneath them.
"NOW I CAN SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew...that feels better! Keeping that quiet was torture." ___ Not as torturous as it was for us after we found out you made it. Can't wait to see your gallery of EVEN MORE pages with over-exposed and overused selfies with embellishments regurgitated haphazardly on all over them. Yea!!
It must be Trish's "job" to start "Let's See 'Em" posts in the SSD Forum. This is good strategy. Anything that keeps her from doing those awful pages is a plus.
I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but what good is a CT layout when all it is is product throw up on a page? Lately, more and more CT layouts actually discourage my purchase than encourage. I get the idea of different styles, but just layering all the word art over a few papers in the kit does not entice me.
I would love to hear some CTs that you all like? the pages? or even the way they come across, as I believe that is just as important to a designers business. What CTs do you see that aren't just collecting designers, but are great assets to their team and designer? I personally love MommaBear and Ellen? think it is EllenT, her pages always have an edge to them. Tronesia is another, and Stamping Rachel has her own style, but does it well with items that showcase a designer.
149: Quite a few CTs appear to just be collecting names, or kits as the case may be, so it varies for me. Some weeks the CT will look awesome for one designer, and crappy for another. Whether that's the designer not getting the kit out, or the CT choosing to spend all her time on one designer versus the other, I don't know. I do know that quite a few of the pages for Little Butterfly Wings this week look like product throw up. I like when a page makes me go: oh, that kit would work with x photos that I have. I do like Tronesia at TLP and ErinTaylor at PCO. I don't need to see an entire kit on one page. That's what good previews are for.
I just checked out Tronesia's gallery, and there are tons of ideas for scraplifting. EllenT's gallery had way too much element overload and too small pictures with just a few things that I liked.
I think Jenn (catgoddess) has some inspiring pages, she makes shapes out the ellies or just bring a whole new look to the kit most times. I enjoy her stuff and it has definitely pushed me towards buying a kit a couple times.
I like Tronesia's layouts for the most part. Looking at her gallery with several images together, most of the photos are the same posed shot of her DD. She's cute and the photos are great quality, but it all looks a bit contrived. Much of it is the same type of layout, too. Two photos here, three photos there. Nothing overly original or inspiring. Unless you can't place two photos in basically the same spot on your layout time after time.
True. Personally, I dislike the same photos over and over. Especially when it's also their profile photo. I'm incredibly over the layouts being just a quote though. Once in awhile is okay, but there have been a plethora lately.
154 - I like it. It's nice to see digital kits used in ways that could be printed and hung as wall art or made into cards - something other than just a scrapbook page. It's creative.
152- I agree. She is great eye candy. But sometimes she doesn't have enough photos and journaling for me, but she has great shadowing and is wonderfully artsy.
I like Tronesia's layouts for the most part. Looking at her gallery with several images together, most of the photos are the same posed shot of her DD. She's cute and the photos are great quality, but it all looks a bit contrived. ___ You know, I've always thought her photos were excellent, however, there's been something that's bugged me about most of her layouts and that's it! They, for the most part, look staged. They don't look natural. Different clothes, different scenery, yet, they all look the same and that's why.
149 - Motherbear is great and if I were a template designer, I'd want her on my team - since that is all she ever uses. __ Does she ALWAYS use templates?
True. Personally, I dislike the same photos over and over. __ Ditto. That's a big negative for me. If you're on a ct, get off your duff and take more pics for your layouts for crying out loud. Hey Jude and Carrie both need to take pics of someone/something besides themselves. Good grief, you'd think THEY'D be tired of scrapping their own faces ALL the time. I'm sure as hell sick of looking at them.
Any people that have been active at SSD for years that you are surprised either didn't apply to be a babe or aren't babes already?
I'm kind of surprised that mummytothree (Elizabeth), I'm surprised she's not a babe yet. I don't think she applied in the last call, but her stuff is always great.
Thoughts on Designer Digitals? I can always find something there I want, i'm not a huge fan of their prices and it seems like they never have sales. So I rarely buy from them, even though I'd like to.
163 - I think their target market are paper-scrappers-turned-digiscrappers. For paper scrappers, those prices aren't high, but for us, they're expensive.
General question - been digiscrapping for about 5 years now, and I've been tossing around the idea of becoming a designer. I am an old fashioned coloured pencil artist, and my kits would be large with all hand drawn creations. What I want to know is do you think people would be willing to pay more for original/drawn kits vs. the tons of CU kits alot of stores have? If I decide to do this, with the amount of time it takes to draw and then make it digital, I'm thinking a kit would be about $10 or so. Would that put people off to have a price that high? I would never get into it if I could only sell for around $6, for that price you get what you pay for. Thoughts?
165 - don't bother then. regardless of the quality and uniqueness, the majority of the digi community are tight-asses and expect everything for $5 or less. they bitch no matter what you do. even freebies get bitched about. unfortunately, very few customers are willing to pay more than $5 or $6, and they were probably paper scrappers who were used to paying more for scrapping supplies. if you read for a few months back on this blog (for example), you'll see how many people comment about how they'd never pay more than $5 for a kit. sad, but true.
I agree with 166, I've been digi scrapping for almost 8 years now, and it is very rare that I'll spend more than $6 on a kit. I rarely buy anything if it's not on sale. Sometimes if I just need a themed kit or holiday kit and I'm trying to scrap that to finish something up, then I'll shell out full price, but that doesn't happen very often.
It really is sad. I think part of the problem goes back to 163 too. The majority of stores have sales, and give kits away for $1-$3 (Dollar Days, Farmer's Market, etc). Plus, you have the new release discounts. So regardless of "worth", designers get the short end. Personally, I don't know how much time is put into the design part, at least by some designers, but in listening to the Digi Show, I have learned how much time it actually takes to create some kits. Like Kate Hadfield who draws and extracts her designs, and colors them. But then, as a scrapper, I'll see kits like Bella Gypsy where so much of it seems repeated from kit to kit that it appears that $5 is overpaying.
I love Createwings' stuff and they look extremely time-consuming. I can still buy it at around $5 a kit or less, if I have a coupon and use it during new release or a big sale. So, no, I would not buy the $10 kit no matter how good it is.
As long as you sell enough, $5-6 for something handmade should be acceptable. It's not like you're selling just one or two of a kit. Handcrafts just don't command a strong dollars per hour in any industry.
I agree that $10 for a kit is not something I would pay, no matter how big the kit was. However, I would pay $5 for a small collection (like 5 items) of illustration-type elements. Things like little animals/bugs/flowers/trees. I would love to have more hand drawn doodle type things that I could use as a beautiful accent on a page. The Kate Hadfield style is not what I'm looking for. I believe there was someone called Sabee's Creative World that had doodles like the ones I'm talking about, but I don't know if she still sells.
165, there is a market for digital stamps & this might be something worth looking into for you. Here are two sites to give you an idea of what I'm talking about : http://mosdigitalpencil.com/, http://www.tiddlyinks.com/digital-stamps/ Would you like to do something like that? If you google you'll find more. They don't tend to sell their work as cheaply like digital scrapping designers do.
165 - Try going into a different market coz I think you'll get bigger sales there, like graphic design stocks. Here's a site where you can sell at: https://creativemarket.com/
You can also try iStockphoto & other graphic & photo stock sites. You'll do much, much better there than as a digiscrap designer.
The past few babe calls have left me scratching my head. Besides what has already been posted here, Zakirah just posted a few weeks ago in every.single.ct.forum that she was taking a break from scrapbooking because she was ill and so was her mum. At least some of those ct forums were SSD designers - so they KNOW she wont be active - yet, they choose her.
All of SSD's issues are brought on by their horrible choices. I agree with 130, Robin isn't very swift and neither is her design team.
160 - That's all I've ever seen her use, too.
155 - I like jenn's stuff, too, and I do miss her templates. I wish she was still designing.
I have and would pay $10 plus for a large high caliber hand drawn kit. I buy a lot of Lorie Davison's work. However- as mentioned above, there are a number of artists who sell and price their work at the "market" rate (whatever that is anymore.) If you are interested in this market, my suggestion would be to just include a few hand drawn elements and to make up the rest of the kit with items that don't take as much time. I do look for unique work when I buy so if your style was something I liked (always subjective of course!) I would be interested in your work- but probably not at $10 a kit.
162 - She hasn't posted a thing at SSD in over 4 months. That totally makes her overqualified to be a babe. If it were 6 months, then she'd be considered.
180-There aren't many designers that do their own artwork, so yes, I would pay that much for a hand drawn kit. I used to love a little known designer Milly Dee. Her designs were all hand drawn, and cute as anything. Her quality was good too. Her problem was her store selection. Then she retired because of family difficulties. I hope she starts designing again sometime. They were very unique because she drew them all and hand colored the elements. I don't remember her kits being really expensive, but like I said, the store selection wasn't great, so they sold along with CU type kits, and at that price.
185, I like Milly Dee too, but I don't think she "selected" the stores. Like many new designers, those were probably the only stores that would take her in.
adi&co wrote : darn, I don't have any of your kits - then why the heck would you even want to be on her team if you don't like any of her stuff enough to buy one kit - and then why bother responding to the thread? Geez, some people's kids.
188- I have no idea. She also posts all over about the 400 layouts she just had printed from her backlog, she's mentioned possibly designing again, seems to want to come back from not scrapping and get all the things immediately.
190- yep, many moons ago, kits and templates. le pingoun designs. I only know this because we used to belong to another board together back when she did design and someone told me recently she was mentioning coming back. I haven't talked to her in years, since she last poofed out of the digi scene
83- I really miss Shabby Princess. Maybe she has lost interest? moved on to something else? Her kits were always an auto-buy for me, and I still use SP stuff that I bought years ago. I wish she were still designing: she is my all-time fav, and I've yet to find a replacement.
196 - Why wouldn't they be. I'm not a fan of her work, but I don't see why they wouldn't be priced the same as the rest of the shop. If you look at Janet's -- hers are just as much, and any newbie who knows the basic of photoshop can copy hers in their sleep.
Do people really buy those templates? I only buy really complicated or themed templates nowadays, and they have to be very cheap (maybe $2 for a pack of 4 templates) for me to buy them. Yet designers keep putting out PL templates that are super easy to scraplift.
4015 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 601 – 800 of 4015 Newer› Newest»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
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two weeks? Painted words and XOXO has been around for five years or even longer. I don't know who Kal is, but those concepts did not originate with her.
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!
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Her hand writing is rubbish and she's selling it, so like any product out there that is available for purchase, it's open to criticism. Just saying!
2. If I don't like something, I just don't buy it.
3- Yet you continue to grace us on this blog. Guess what that says about you.
There's a difference between a product you don't like and a product that's godawful. I have never interacted with Traci, and have absolutely no bias one way or the other, but her handwriting was GODAWFUL.
4-what has that got to say about anything??
#3 - you don't say, Captain Obvious, however, that doesn't preclude me from having an opinion on the product and stating said opinion. I bet you don't criticize anything, not music, not movies, not books, etc. and if you do, how is that any different?
1, obviously you could say that painted words and handwriting has been around since cavemen painted on walls for art. That's not what I mean and you know it. If you don't know who Kal is, then why enter a dog in this race? Stay out of it while you google her and then you will see what I am talking about. In the past few weeks, a truly astounding number of designers are "suddenly" producing and releasing products that are all based on the same thing. It's no coincidence that she just ran a class, and now all of the designers are trying their hand at doing what she does. It's also no coincidence that near the end of 2013, products like this were released in paper scrapbooking and within weeks everyone is copying them.
Here are some examples and they all came out this week. Coincidence? I think not:
http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=27247&cat=659&page=1
http://the-lilypad.com/store/nothing-more-than-feelings.html
http://pixelsandcompany.com/shop/Scripted-Journal-Cards.html
http://digitaldesignessentials.com/collections/whats-new/products/real-life-kit
I could go on and on and on, but you get the point.
^^^^
Oh please don't go on. Your caveman argument is irrelevant. I've seen the painted words etc. that are re-appearing in kits and they are exceedingly similar to those that came out four or so years ago, so I'm assuming, following your argument about originality, that Kal is not original either and is in fact copying those that come out way back then ...
ok whatever 9
The best part about this blog is when the uninformed idiots still argue with everyone.
#1 / 9: "I don't even know who Kal Barteski is, but I know that what you're talking about isn't based on her work, which I don't know anything about." SMH.
P.S. Thanks for the links 8. I hadn't thought much about it but seeing them all together in one place, I have to agree w/ you. There's no way that so many designers coincidentally release the same basic products in the same week without some unifying catalyst.
#11 - I Googled her - duh! SMH. Some people ...
ok whatever 9
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Yes, exactly.
The best part about this blog is when the uninformed idiots still argue with everyone.
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The best part of this blog is when people call other people idiots to make them feel better about themselves. I hope you are feeling wonderful.
#12 - this happens all the time - what's the big deal about this particular product?
Kal is currently teaching a class at Studio Calico called Life Scripted. This is why you're seeing lots of handwritten stuff right now... because designers are taking the class and releasing products inspired by the class and then other designers are giving it a try. They're not copying her... she's teaching them.
Just tried the SSD birthday FB hop - broken after the first link.
Newsletter said it wasn't live until 9 AM PST. You can start complaining at 9:01 ;)
Sooooo... a babe call...
Well, it's 9:07 and the first stop is now broken and the 3rd link is broken . . .
9:00 am PST. It's not only 7:20 am PST...so you've got an hour and a half before you can complain.
ha! Love the babe call. Please suck up to us as much as possible, and oh yeah, show us a layout if you want.
I think it's disgusting to post a public call for a spot or two and name two individuals in the post about the call (carrie and natascha). If you want those two people, then make them babes. If you don't want those two people, don't call them out by name. How is anyone else supposed to think they have a chance if you've summoned two people already?
SSD wonders why they have an awful reputation for being cliquey. This is why.
It's a whole new level of mindfuck if they don't get a babe spot after being summoned to that thread by name.
Especially after Carrie was asked to leave Scrap Orchard's team after she applied to the last babe call. Not that she was an amazing scrapper to lose.
It's definitely time for the hop now and I can't get Traci's to work & I don't see a link on Shawna's...
. . .or Sugarplum's.
Someone on the forum said to open it in a new tab and it will work. Traci was no help- she just said it worked for her, sorry!
What's this (in post #26) about a Honey Bee losing their spot just because they applied to another team? That seems a bit harsh. People apply to different teams all the time.
That is a bit harsh. I heard that, too, though. I know of others who have been asked to leave SO because of other store teams and then others who haven't. It's always appeared inconsistently applied over at SO. Just another reason I don't like it there.
The best part of this blog is when people call other people idiots to make them feel better about themselves. I hope you are feeling wonderful.
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I am feeling wonderful! Thanks for asking!
p.s. that's not why we're all calling that person an idiot, by the way. It also doesn't make me feel wonderful about myself to call you an idiot, but if the shoe fits.......
Kal is currently teaching a class at Studio Calico called Life Scripted. This is why you're seeing lots of handwritten stuff right now... because designers are taking the class and releasing products inspired by the class and then other designers are giving it a try. They're not copying her... she's teaching them.
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17, I am also 8 and I had already made the point about her teaching a class right now. That doesn't change the fact that it is really amusing to watch multiple designers at every store suddenly change their design style to offer products that are so obviously based on Kal's style. It's one thing to take her class and use the new knowledge/skill to start creating unique pieces of art in your own style. It's another thing completely to simply create an XOXOXO copy and release it because it's hot right now. It shows no imagination and no creativity. You don't have to agree with us (as I can tell there are more than one of us on this blog who think this - I'm not the only one commenting w/ these opinions), but it doesn't change the fact that it lowers my opinion of those designers who are only trying to ride a "what's hot" wave and earn easy money doing something they're not even that good at.
SSD has slim pickings if Carrie and Natascha are the best they have to choose from. Based on that thread, I'd take Stacy and jumbbumble over those two any day of the week. None of those scrappers are who I would consider "the best" though. Not even close, but I guess they have to choose based on who applies.
I also think it's in bad taste to name two scrappers like that in an application thread. That's SSD, though.
30 - It's part of the agreement that you wont join another store team. It is not enforced for some and it is for others.
Worst call every, I can't even find it.
Honey bees can't be on a ct for other stores. They can be on designers teams from other stores, but not stores teams. It's been a requirement forever and all honey bees agree to it. If she applied for a different store team i'm sure SO let her go because she showed she didn't want her honey bee spot anymore.
I agree with that 37, but explain how others can ct for stores and still be honey bees.
Still, to only apply to another store team (not actually take a position on another store team), and get kicked off for that? It seems to me that a lot of Honey Bee talent has been drifting away lately. Maybe this exclusivity requirement is part of the reason. I'm unsure of this requirement being around forever ... maybe a couple of years. It doesn't seem to be very well advertised. For instance, I never saw a Honey Bee call or contest that had any stated exclusivity requirement. It seems to be something they require after they offer a position. It seems kinda secretive to me.
I've never seen anyone openly post their ct requirements for all to see whenever they wanted unless they had a call. someone even had to ask for the babe requirements in the thread at ssd. I don't know if SO even has calls.
Which honey bee talent has been drifting away lately?
Link to the ssd call?
Current honeybees?
I don't think SO has a list of Honey Bees anymore. Tronesia is the one that stands out to me. I don't think she is a Bee anymore. Britaneejean I think is still one, but she doesn't seem very active anymore, and I think I've seen her showing up at other places. I guess those are the only two I can really think of. I can't really name any others Bees off the top of my head. Several years back they had a really strong team ... but it doesn't seem that way anymore.
Here is the link to the SSD call in their forum: http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76252
Tronesia left like two years ago to join SSD. That's hardly lately and it's only one person. Britaneejean is still a bee.
The requirements at SO are only 2 LOs a month and they do some challenge hosting rotation (I asked someone who is a bee). That's not enough to make anyone seem active.
It seems like the lowest store requirement I've ever seen to require exclusivity. If they had heavy requirements, I can see it in order to make sure everything gets done. But 2 Los per month? Hosting a challenge every once in awhile? That's nothing.
It seems like the lowest store requirement I've ever seen to require exclusivity. If they had heavy requirements, I can see it in order to make sure everything gets done. But 2 Los per month? Hosting a challenge every once in awhile? That's nothing.
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which is also a reason why requiring exclusivity seems a bit selfish. most ctm's these days seem to be in it for the bragging rights (depending on the shop or designer), or for all the free kits they can get their hands on, more so than representing a shop or designer (or two) they love. there don't seem to be many genuine ctm's anymore. most of the one's that are any good are spread so thin that they actually have the nerve to complain when a designer asks them to do posting or promoting. they want to grab a free kit, slap it on a layout, drop it and run on to the next free kit. i remember applying to suzy q's team a few years ago and learning that she paid some of her ct's to be exclusive. not sure if she still does or not.
I know several good ctms who promote without complaint, write blog posts, share things on fb, etc. I don't know who you know, 44, but all the good ones aren't like what you describe.
You seem to prove why SO would have exclusivity while complaining about it. Exclusivity forces ctms to focus on one store without piling on the teams just for free stuff.
After reading the thread, could Natascha and Carrie BE any more bitchy? Wow. "Thought we saved you from having to do this." "I didn't want anyone else to have a shot." Joking or not, that's really crappy stuff to say.
Also, does Jennifer have to comment on EVERY post? (I don't have money to do that right now. I can't afford it. I'm too busy with uni). Um, okay, then just don't comment? Maybe you'd have more time if you didn't comment on every. single. thread that you don't have time/money/etc.
That's now TWO SSD collabs in a month that Robin has put her design hat back on for. She also seemed so flattered and surprised (and no one denied the possibility of her return in the near future) when people inquired about her being one of the two new designers. (I know she wasn't the two new ones, obviously).
How long do you guys think it'll be before she bites the bullet and returns as a designer?
TLP has it all over SSD when it comes to getting a talented ct team with diversity and making it feel like you have a chance to be a Polly. They spread the wealth, which in turns makes the posters more passionate and involved in the site. In the MOC challenge they offered up 17 guest CT over the next couple months and did a draw for the one permanent position. JMHO. Now thats inclusive. None of this "compete you bitches, kiss my ass rubbish"
I was shocked with the number of guest spots announced at the MOC, I was truly thinking they would go with max 5 but 17 was fantastic to see. really created a buzz . I missed out but will be taking more part in there forums and challenges.
Well said 48!
I love both TLP & SSD, and I agree that TLP is more inclusive in terms of their community. Love the friendly ppl there. And to feel like you'd have a chance at even guesting, I'd say that it tells you that the store do wants you there.
I wonder if Britanee gets canned from SO after expressing interest in the babe call on Facebook. Probably not since chocochoco was a guest ct at Scrap Matters during Queen of scrap and wasn't canned. Just Carrie gets canned for applying and not even making the last babe call.
This is one of many reasons why Scrap Orchard is no where near a top shop.
Not to mention chocochoco is a guest Polly and is always competing in the challenges at TLP. She's still a Bee.
That is fucking bullshit. I know a few bee's and I'm letting them know.
so if you are a bee, you can't compete in challenges? with a chance of becoming a site ct? or say, wow, what a fun opportunity? oh I would love to be a polly, babe or snippity snap? that is pretty cultish, for scrapbooking. I am thinking that there must be more to the story in Carrie's not being a bee?
How do they enforce such exclusion? Do they police all their CT or do they rely on other bee's to tattle on each other? My word. That's all a bit much and I agree, very cultish.
Can you imagine the lack of teamwork on that SO CT? I'm sure there are a few that hunt down people they don't like and blow them in all the time. I'd guess that's what happened with Carrie since she's pretty unlikeable. I guess if you're liked on that team, you're OK and no one will tattle on you like with chocochoco, and you can do whatever you want. Whether it's break the rules or not.
You think the SO exclusivity for the Bees is bad? At least they get new product regularly!
I worked for a designer that limited our teams in her contract. I recently quit because she hasn't produced anything since November. But you can bet there was all kinds of pressure to meet our requirements. I got tired of using the same kits and templates over and over and over pimping old products hoping that a new kit would come out.
Not sure how she's still in business and her stores haven't kicked her out.
I think they used that as an excuse to let Carrie go because she's an awful scrapper. If I was a designer I would NOT want her on my ct. I usually HATE her pages. When I don't hate them, I think they're average.
Also, does Jennifer have to comment on EVERY post?
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Yes.
I agree, the SSD call is a joke, how can you name 2 people in your call like that.
I think their whole CT needs an overhaul. Store CT's should rotate people out every year or two to keep it fresh. Otherwise people get complacent. And things get boring. Even if they did 2 calls a year so they don't loose their continuity. They could split the team in half and swap one have once a year, but on 6 month time tables so everyone isn't leaving all at once.
It's all so frustrating, when you're an outsider and have great ideas that could help them, and you want to speak your mind, but you don't wan to piss anyone off. Ugh, stupid call, I hate the new challenge system too. I think it's really going to hurt them this year. It's a shame too, SSD has always been my favorite place to shop.
There are not enough good quality, reliable CTMs out there to rotate every six months with all new people. It's more important to find quality people who can evolve with your store's products and who scrap regularly. It's good to have a handful of new people fold in from time to time, too.
That's why I was super surprised to know SO only requires 2 pages from their CTMs each month. A quality scrapper almost always produces a quality layout, so requiring more doesn't usually diminish quality. I know some scrappers are faster than others, but 1 layout a week doesn't seem like too much to ask from a store CTM - especially since their design team does release pretty regularly.
You could totally switch them out every 6 months to a year. There is a ton of talent out there. Right now too many teams just pick the popular people.
totally agree 63, if they looked past the cliques they would find some super talented ladies.
58 Well that's the pits! I don't mind working with their releases, but if they don't produce then you shouldn't have to either.
It's really hard to be a CTM for more than one store at a time. I've tried it before, but don't ever want to do that again. I'm at one store now, and a few individual designers and it works out a lot better. It's not the store requirements that are hard, it's trying to be active at the sites that takes the time. Most stores have minimum layout requirements-2-4 per month, but then they expect their people to make comments in the gallery, be active in the forum with challenges and chit chat, and also take part in the back room. That all takes time.
A question about creative teams...
Are there places you'd like to apply as a creative team member but think that their cutesy name is too embarrassing??? ie. Bees, Polly, Babe, etc...
Some of the team names make me cringe. Can you imagine ever putting that on a resume?
Why would anyone put CT work on a resume?
Why would anyone put CT work on a resume?
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I can imagine being the job interviewer and seeing that on a resume. Well, it would help me weed out the loonies quicker, I guess.
Is there no QC in bigger, "top-tier" stores? Just found some jaggies on some flairs in the SSD FWP kit, and last week found some word art that has no texture whatsoever in a kit I got at P&Co. None of those would have passed the QC in the store I sell at (a low-to-mid-tier store at best).
62, I like the 2 LOs/month requirement at SO because it makes sure no one gets stressed out over making a LO every. single. week. I'm not a CTM at SO, but I was a member at a site with similar reqs: I loved the looser reqs, which let me enjoy the site more, instead of making it feel like a "job." It allows you to use your time to make LOs *and* chat in the forum/otherwise enable the store. I participated because I wanted to, which made my gallery/forum comments actually important/meaningful (instead of "nice shadowing. Great LO!" on everything). I'd rather be a part of a larger store team that has more lax reqs than part of a smaller team that has to produce all the time cuz they need a LO from EVERYONE every week.
Is Lauren Grier, like, on vacation or something? Her personal store hasn't produced anything new since early January and I thought she released stuff the first weekend of the month.
@70 there is no requirement for texture - especially in this day and age of printing. That is NOT a quality issue.
Lauren just had a release with Sugarplum Paperie last week.
I didn't see any jaggies on the flairs in my SSD downloads. Who puts texture on word art? like. ever?
73, not everyone prints their layouts. Texture is and will always be a requirement (and thus quality issue) in digital scrapbooking. Would you say the same about your papers? I'm sure if the same product is found in another store, people would complain about it.
The word art is a sticker type element, so yes, people do put texture on those. And the flairs are Brook's. Take a look at the top and bottom of the circles. When applying flair styles, they often add a jagged edge to the shape. A simple smoothing action will fix it.
If you don't print, texture is a matter of personal choice, not quality. Most things that are web-based are non-textured.
I see the jaggies now. I was looking at the FB train collab and not the FWP. On flair 2, there are extra pixels in addition to the jaggies.
I don't print all of my layouts, but I want them to look realistic when I look at them at 100%. Anyway, it's my point that my store (and my previous one) would not have passed anything I don't have texture on. They want texture on even my paint splats.
And I ask again, is there no QC process in these big stores?
Brook has a lot to learn in SO many ways.
79 - The fact you admitted to selling at low-medium range stores and you think they set the standard on quality is part of the problem. If I ever bought word art or paint splats that had some weird texture on them, I'd never buy there again. When I go buy a sticker in a store, it doesn't have any texture. If you're looking for realistic elements whether you print or not, then you'd leave the texture off a sticker.
80 - Agreed and maybe Robin should spend some time QCing a brand new designers products for awhile to ensure they're up to snuff before taking time to start designing again.
So has anyone seen Charly's post for her new store?? Looking for designers, CT, etc??? Scrappy Bee?
Anyone know what's up with the Shabby Princess? She use to be one of my favorites, but she hasn't released anything in a long time. And nothing on her blog in over a year.
81, I do not think my store (or any other store for that matter) sets the standard on quality, but I do think their request to have texture (not weird texture, just something subtle) on my stickers or paints makes sense. When you look at a real sticker or a plain white sheet of paper, it's not just a solid block of color. Everything in real life has texture. We're talking about digital scrapbooking elements here, not clip art intended for just web use.
I just went to look at a flower sticker by Gennifer Bursett (not that I think she sets the quality standard of the industry, but because the sticker in question comes from a P&Co kit and she's the owner) and she has a paper texture on it. Obviously she thinks it's necessary to add one onto her own stickers. It would be nice to have some kind of QC in place to make sure the customers get some kind of consistent standard of quality from the same store.
I'm selling at the store I'm selling right now because I've only been doing this for a very short time, and while my store is by no means a "top-tier" one, the money it brings in makes it worth my while. There's much more to designing than just quality; there's aesthetics, etc. I may feel that the quality of my products is better than that of some of the designers' in top stores, but I have much more to learn in other areas. I believe designers in top stores are where they are for a reason, and I'm working towards my own goal. It's the association between top stores and high quality that I have a problem with.
80 - Agreed and maybe Robin should spend some time QCing a brand new designers products for awhile to ensure they're up to snuff before taking time to start designing again.
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^^This^^
Why don't you contact Gennifer? She's posted here before and has seemed concerned about QC. Most stores do have a QC person, but every product isn't checked. Only random ones.
Lauren's face book post says she hurt cut her hand and her February kit is running late.
What about gamut? A lot of elements are out of gamut. Even cu products from sugarhillco.
I am getting so sick of Lauren's posts on SSD - she is the most whiney complaining bitching person I've ever seen! My god, get a life and shut up!
89 - I couldn't agree more. That attention whore lost my business with all her whining. I can't support that nonsense with so many equally good designers out there to choose from.
I am getting so sick of Lauren's posts on SSD
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Ditto. I wasn't an SSD customer when she designed there before going to TLP. I so wish she'd never come back. She's so irritating and it's one thing after another with her..always negative and ALWAYS attention-seeking. Taking pictures of your stitches on a scrapbook forum? Give me a break! Poor Lauren.
My god, get a life and shut up!
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YES!!!!! She posts one thing..gets her mileage out of it. When people quit responding to her latest dramatic post, she starts another one. It's never anything good or positive AND it's ALWAYS something about her being a VICTIM of someone or something. It sounds like she has parental support (her dad and possibly other family too), a caring boyfriend, a healthy kid, a house, a car, she's not in a wheelchair, she can see and she has a job in which she can work from home. That's a WHOLE lot more than lots of people have right on that forum. She needs one of those close friends of hers to tell her to suck it up, be an adult and quit thinking everything that happens to her is a horrific disaster that needs to be shared so she can get attention from it. It would do her good to be thankful for a change instead of whining about her latest plight.
Any news on the new babes yet?
It would do her good to be thankful for a change instead of whining about her latest plight.
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I agree wholeheartedly. She comes off like an immature crybaby. I actually feel sorry for her boyfriend.
Any news on the new babes yet?
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You know, I'd probably care if they actually scrapped because I love to get inspiration from looking through galleries, however, the "Babes" are the most idle store ct out there.
It would do her good to be thankful for a change instead of whining about her latest plight.
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^^this^^
Is Lauren really Royanna?
Carrie doesn't need a babe spot. She CTs for most of the store as it is.
That's now TWO SSD collabs in a month that Robin has put her design hat back on for. She also seemed so flattered and surprised (and no one denied the possibility of her return in the near future) when people inquired about her being one of the two new designers. (I know she wasn't the two new ones, obviously).
How long do you guys think it'll be before she bites the bullet and returns as a designer?
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Make that 3... 2 store collabs (the collab and hop) and now one with libby.
Is Lauren really Royanna?
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Where does that come from?
Who would you say are the top 5 designers, their designs are always great. Where do they sell?
And what 5 have you bought things from, but weren't impressed, wouldn't buy from again?
I'm having a hard time finding designers I want to buy from all the time.
#100 Apparently Lauren is always whining about her life. Royanna is always sick and nearly dying, or having to find a new place to live, or a new car, or having computer failure.... etc. See any similarity?
Robin just posted in the forum that there will be 5 new babes announced tonight. 5 more people to do a ton of nothing.
101- That's a tough question because "always great" is so subjective. Of the designers I buy from regularly, I think Kate Hadfield is one of the most consistent although there are some times that her doodles are repetitive and almost identical for different packets.
So many others have too many similar elements from kit to kit that it can be difficult to distinguish them: there are a few "new ideas" for most of their kits, but sometimes not enough to entice me to buy from them. My favorites from below are those who manage, to me, to have just enough distinction from week to week to make me look twice.
At SSD, I am consistently drawn to Ju Kneipp's designs, and the quality has been good on what I have purchased. I also like Michele Godin at TLP because there is just enough variety for the products to be different enough from each other that they are worth buying.
I like several designers at SO and buy from them occasionally, but what they put out from week to week blends together for me. The same goes for P&Co., but I only like a very few designers there.
Dawn Inskip has enough variety that I always look twice and buy from her often enough. I haven't had any issues with quality, but, truthfully, unless it is obvious, I don't look too closely for that.
I also buy some from Michelle Coleman and like a lot of what she puts out.
I like a lot of TLP designers, but I don't see things except for Kate (who is not making as much now) and Michelle that entices from week to week. From month to month or quarter to quarter, yes.
Ever wonder why the babes leave SSD? I'm always curious, if they're too busy, or they had issues with someone there.
Who are the 5? I think Hey Jude is one... she has a million pages in the sneak peek thread.
Carrie and Holly, imagine the smugness coming from them 2 if they make it!
103- "5 more people to do a ton of nothing."
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My exact first thought!
I hope that Hey Jude is one of the new babes, I always enjoy her layouts.
I hope that Hey Jude is one of the new babes, I always enjoy her layouts.
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Her layouts are fine, however, she uses the same photos over and over and over and over. Carrie uses the same self shots constantly as well. At least Hey Jude's are edited nicely. Carrie needs a class in photo editing as does Nikki (the babe) and Trish (has she ever posted a decent photo? No.). One of the areas stressed when anyone is looking for ct members is that they have great photos. So many of these people seldom do.
Carrie and Holly, imagine the smugness coming from them 2 if they make it!
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I don't give a rip if they're jerks if they scrap nice inspirational pages. Holly's are fine imo (her little girl is just so dang cute and that certainly doesn't hurt!), however, Carrie can't scrap her way out of a paper bag. I have a feeling Angie is going to be a babe since they're choosing five. Her
scrapping and photos don't appeal to me much either. Her kiss assiness REALLY doesn't appeal to me.
Ever wonder why the babes leave SSD? I'm always curious, if they're too busy, or they had issues with someone there.
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Well, something obviously happened with Laura. She was a babe and a prolific poster in the forum and, now, once in a blue moon she'll post in the peek threads and that's it. Also, Analog Paper (sp?) came on like gang busters to begin with doing the mail thing, etc. and she just went poof. Haven't seen her post anything in months. There's so many babes who don't do shit, it's no wonder they're bringing on five more to fill the void. Tarracotta, Trish (this is probably a blessing), and lots others don't do shit. Before they were babes, they were constantly doing pages, posting in the forums, etc.
Laura was always one of my favorite babes too. I felt like her scrapping was real, she didn't do it just to be on the team. I wonder what happened with her.
I don't even know how that Analog person is. I hate how inactive the babes are, that's part of the reason the forum is dying over there.
At SSD, I am consistently drawn to Ju Kneipp's designs, and the quality has been good on what I have purchased.
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I agree with this and do not think hers are as "cookie cutter" as the rest of her counterparts there.
I hate how inactive the babes are, that's part of the reason the forum is dying over there.
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Exactly.
What happened between SBB and Tami Miller? She was one of the new owners at SBB and now she is not selling there anymore but at PBP.
I think Laura stepped back because life just got too crazy. I still see her posting on mutual friends stuff on facebook and things, she hasn't disappeared completely.
Maria just seems to be AWOL, as do several of the new pocket scrapping babes.
Trish seems to think she is all that, but really, she's just another crapscrapper. I hate it when she does her cutesy sneak peeks and doesn't show an entire layout- you aren't the designer, show the layout, stupid.
I think there are very few babes that are actually active and care. I have no desire to be a babe, nor do I think I'm an amazing scrapper, I've just been around enough years to see that things have definitely changed- and not for the better- when it comes to the babes.
101 - I always buy: Kristin Aagard, Kate Hadfield, Boutique Cute Dolls, Lauren Grier, Studio Basic
Not bying again: Flergs (the same elements all over again), cheap kits (1.50) by Just So Scrappy, Crazy 4 Monograms, A-manda Creations etc (I end up deleting 95% of the files; who needs a kit with 130 flowers and 40 buttons?)
If a team seems to be doing nothing, I would suspect the reason is poor leadership. I was on a team once and whenever there was an event and an opportunity to have some fun promotions, people on the team would say, "I'll help out any way I can. Just tell me what you need me to do." If there wasn't a leader (ie the designer) in charge and no one to "tell them what to do" then they did nothing. Teams need good leadership. I've seen it time and again in my CT work. When a designer is involved with her team, the team is energized. I'm sure it works the same with a store team.
The babes were awesome a few years back. I loved the challenge a day on the blog, I loved the magazine they did.
I really think they'd benefit a lot by just completely wiping anyone that has been with them longer than a year and just start fresh. Everyone would be motivated again. Fresh Ideas. Oh well, it's a shame you can't speak freely.
120, I totally agree. I miss the daily blog challenges, the SSD Magazine, etc. I think very few of the current babes should stay on.
The babes were awesome a few years back. I loved the challenge a day on the blog, I loved the magazine they did.
I really think they'd benefit a lot by just completely wiping anyone that has been with them longer than a year and just start fresh. Everyone would be motivated again. Fresh Ideas. Oh well, it's a shame you can't speak freely.
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I agree with this. There's a Babe Lead who is more idle than most the babes..if that's possible.
Trish seems to think she is all that, but really, she's just another crapscrapper. I hate it when she does her cutesy sneak peeks and doesn't show an entire layout- you aren't the designer, show the layout, stupid.
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Since one would think her job is to make layouts using the designs, I don't get how that's okay for her to do. Of course, I hate her style, pages and photos for the most part so it doesn't matter to me whether she shows the whole layout. I loved when she did a tutorial several months ago for the scrap like a babe series. Yeah, I wanna scrap just like you so my pages look like shit. Pleeeeeeeeezzz.
Not everyone selected as a Babe was in the contest thread - Judie wasn't. Just caught my eye.
Judie was a Bee, too. I bet she applied in private so they wouldn't boot her.
I am in complete and utter shock they chose Carrie over Natascha. I'm actually speechless they chose Carrie at all.
None of them are special. Average scrappers at best. Not sure why they couldn't narrow down average.
I thought the application was through the contest thread only? Whatever Natascha's skills, Robin should not have mentioned her if she was not basically a shoe-in.
I suppose they can ask and bring on whoever they want. I doubt they asked Judie without her applying, though. Goes to show her level if she snuck around.
I agree about Natascha on both points - much better scrapper and it's awful she was mentioned and then not taken.
I was most surprised at some of the better scrappers that didn't even apply. It goes to show the earlier points made - being a Babe isn't much of anything these days. Just a bunch of mostly average to below average scrappers being snotty mean girls.
One word to describe the new babes... boring.
Let's see how long it takes for all of them to disappear just like the babes before them.
If Carrie and Trish are Babes and that sums it all up right there. Talent OBVIOUSLY is not involved.
I'm beginning to think Robin ain't too swift.
I don't shop SSD but haven't checked it out in awhile. Well I looked at the new babes galleries, wow just wow that they would be considered talented scrappers. Average at best and thats being kind. Hey Jude used the same pics over and over again I had to go back 4 pages worth to get a new pic not of herself or partner. They are not good pics either. No inspiration by any of the babes, its all the same throw up on a page. Confirms my original decision to avoid SSD like the plague.
That has to be the biggest Fuck U to a store member EVER. To publicly name Natascha and then not choose her is beyond cruel. I would be making it perfectly clear were Robin could shove her babes. If natascha reads here, Im sorry for what you would have gone through. I would run, not walk from that store pronto.
I'd like to thank y'all for the entertainment on an otherwise boring Friday night. My only regret is that I didn't discover this blog sooner!
I don't shop SSD but haven't checked it out in awhile. Well I looked at the new babes galleries, wow just wow that they would be considered talented scrappers. Average at best and thats being kind. Hey Jude used the same pics over and over again I had to go back 4 pages worth to get a new pic not of herself or partner. They are not good pics either. No inspiration by any of the babes, its all the same throw up on a page. Confirms my original decision to avoid SSD like the plague.
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I get so tired of seeing the same old pics from these folks....especially selfies. If you are going to use selfies for goodness sakes, at least take some different ones. I cannot imagine scrapping myself constantly. Don't they get sick of using the same old crap? There's one pic of Carrie in a car that should be banned from ever being used again!
There's one pic of Carrie in a car that should be banned from ever being used again!
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OMG! I so totally agree! The one with the blue shirt drives me nuts! And talk about photo editing or lack thereof - her photos are usually over exposed or crappy otherwise.
who do you think should have made babe, and is there anyone you are surprised that did not put their hat in?
#132 - Totally agree. That was the meanest thing ever - talk about snotty sorority girl mentality. She specifically asks her to apply PUBLICALLY and then doesn't pick her. What a complete bitch.
#134 - LOL!
I think Gemma should have been picked.
I really want to make a comment, Congrats Girls! I had a feeling all of you ladies would be picked, HeyJude I didn't see her in the thread, but wow, she has great pages. :) Would people throw stones?
I honestly wish someone would say something. I personally won't do it, simply because I'm not active enough at SSD to make it look like anything but a complete drama starting post.
139 - I know it's shocking, but this isn't the SSD forums. Go put your post where you intended.
140 - It wouldn't matter anyway. They do what they want to whoever they want. I've heard such horrible things about them in the past year that I will never give them my money again. I can't believe how they treat people. Everything I've heard has been done in private, at least. What they did to Natascha is unthinkable - and she is a better scrapper than all 5 they did choose.
138 - I was surprised Gemma wasn't chosen as well given the applicant pool. I think some of her LOs are well done and others are boring and look thrown together in 2 minutes.
136 - The 5 that were chosen should thank the insanely better, active at SSD scrappers who didn't apply - catgoddess, motherbear, suladesign, akizo, chocochoco. I wouldn't say I'm surprised they didn't apply. I don't know any of them personally, but they all appear to avoid the drama. After seeing the results of the past 3 babe calls, I'd say SSD is a bit beneath each one of them.
#138 I agree. I like Gemma's pages. There are only a couple of galleries I stalk and hers is one of them. She has a lot of white space to her pages but she uses it well.
"NOW I CAN SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whew...that feels better!
Keeping that quiet was torture."
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Oh shut the hell up Carrie, everyone hates you.
catgoddess, motherbear, suladesign, akizo, chocochoco
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IMO these ladies' scrapping skills are so far superior to ANY of the babes that there is just no comparison. Motherbear can scrap with any type of kit design and do it fantastically as can the others. It would definitely be a step beneath them.
"NOW I CAN SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whew...that feels better!
Keeping that quiet was torture."
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Not as torturous as it was for us after we found out you made it. Can't wait to see your gallery of EVEN MORE pages with over-exposed and overused selfies with embellishments regurgitated haphazardly on all over them. Yea!!
It must be Trish's "job" to start "Let's See 'Em" posts in the SSD Forum. This is good strategy. Anything that keeps her from doing those awful pages is a plus.
I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but what good is a CT layout when all it is is product throw up on a page? Lately, more and more CT layouts actually discourage my purchase than encourage. I get the idea of different styles, but just layering all the word art over a few papers in the kit does not entice me.
I would love to hear some CTs that you all like? the pages? or even the way they come across, as I believe that is just as important to a designers business. What CTs do you see that aren't just collecting designers, but are great assets to their team and designer? I personally love MommaBear and Ellen? think it is EllenT, her pages always have an edge to them. Tronesia is another, and Stamping Rachel has her own style, but does it well with items that showcase a designer.
149: Quite a few CTs appear to just be collecting names, or kits as the case may be, so it varies for me. Some weeks the CT will look awesome for one designer, and crappy for another. Whether that's the designer not getting the kit out, or the CT choosing to spend all her time on one designer versus the other, I don't know. I do know that quite a few of the pages for Little Butterfly Wings this week look like product throw up.
I like when a page makes me go: oh, that kit would work with x photos that I have. I do like Tronesia at TLP and ErinTaylor at PCO. I don't need to see an entire kit on one page. That's what good previews are for.
I just checked out Tronesia's gallery, and there are tons of ideas for scraplifting. EllenT's gallery had way too much element overload and too small pictures with just a few things that I liked.
I think Jenn (catgoddess) has some inspiring pages, she makes shapes out the ellies or just bring a whole new look to the kit most times. I enjoy her stuff and it has definitely pushed me towards buying a kit a couple times.
I like Tronesia's layouts for the most part. Looking at her gallery with several images together, most of the photos are the same posed shot of her DD. She's cute and the photos are great quality, but it all looks a bit contrived. Much of it is the same type of layout, too. Two photos here, three photos there. Nothing overly original or inspiring. Unless you can't place two photos in basically the same spot on your layout time after time.
True. Personally, I dislike the same photos over and over. Especially when it's also their profile photo. I'm incredibly over the layouts being just a quote though. Once in awhile is okay, but there have been a plethora lately.
152 - I agree. She's also one of the few CTM's that doesn't use templates for every.single.layout. and her shadows are fab.
149 - Motherbear is great and if I were a template designer, I'd want her on my team - since that is all she ever uses. Ellen is just ok to me.
I also like Roxana's layouts at SO. I like the concept of chocochoco's layouts, but her shadows are way too dark for me.
154 - I like it. It's nice to see digital kits used in ways that could be printed and hung as wall art or made into cards - something other than just a scrapbook page. It's creative.
152- I agree. She is great eye candy. But sometimes she doesn't have enough photos and journaling for me, but she has great shadowing and is wonderfully artsy.
chocochoco's layouts
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^^Way TOO much elements used!^^
I like Tronesia's layouts for the most part. Looking at her gallery with several images together, most of the photos are the same posed shot of her DD. She's cute and the photos are great quality, but it all looks a bit contrived.
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You know, I've always thought her photos were excellent, however, there's been something that's bugged me about most of her layouts and that's it! They, for the most part, look staged. They don't look natural. Different clothes, different scenery, yet, they all look the same and that's why.
149 - Motherbear is great and if I were a template designer, I'd want her on my team - since that is all she ever uses.
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Does she ALWAYS use templates?
True. Personally, I dislike the same photos over and over.
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Ditto. That's a big negative for me. If you're on a ct, get off your duff and take more pics for your layouts for crying out loud. Hey Jude and Carrie both need to take pics of someone/something besides themselves. Good grief, you'd think THEY'D be tired of scrapping their own faces ALL the time. I'm sure as hell sick of looking at them.
Any people that have been active at SSD for years that you are surprised either didn't apply to be a babe or aren't babes already?
I'm kind of surprised that mummytothree (Elizabeth), I'm surprised she's not a babe yet. I don't think she applied in the last call, but her stuff is always great.
Thoughts on Designer Digitals? I can always find something there I want, i'm not a huge fan of their prices and it seems like they never have sales. So I rarely buy from them, even though I'd like to.
163 - I think their target market are paper-scrappers-turned-digiscrappers. For paper scrappers, those prices aren't high, but for us, they're expensive.
General question - been digiscrapping for about 5 years now, and I've been tossing around the idea of becoming a designer. I am an old fashioned coloured pencil artist, and my kits would be large with all hand drawn creations. What I want to know is do you think people would be willing to pay more for original/drawn kits vs. the tons of CU kits alot of stores have? If I decide to do this, with the amount of time it takes to draw and then make it digital, I'm thinking a kit would be about $10 or so. Would that put people off to have a price that high? I would never get into it if I could only sell for around $6, for that price you get what you pay for. Thoughts?
165 - don't bother then. regardless of the quality and uniqueness, the majority of the digi community are tight-asses and expect everything for $5 or less. they bitch no matter what you do. even freebies get bitched about. unfortunately, very few customers are willing to pay more than $5 or $6, and they were probably paper scrappers who were used to paying more for scrapping supplies. if you read for a few months back on this blog (for example), you'll see how many people comment about how they'd never pay more than $5 for a kit. sad, but true.
I agree with 166, I've been digi scrapping for almost 8 years now, and it is very rare that I'll spend more than $6 on a kit. I rarely buy anything if it's not on sale. Sometimes if I just need a themed kit or holiday kit and I'm trying to scrap that to finish something up, then I'll shell out full price, but that doesn't happen very often.
It really is sad. I think part of the problem goes back to 163 too. The majority of stores have sales, and give kits away for $1-$3 (Dollar Days, Farmer's Market, etc). Plus, you have the new release discounts. So regardless of "worth", designers get the short end. Personally, I don't know how much time is put into the design part, at least by some designers, but in listening to the Digi Show, I have learned how much time it actually takes to create some kits. Like Kate Hadfield who draws and extracts her designs, and colors them. But then, as a scrapper, I'll see kits like Bella Gypsy where so much of it seems repeated from kit to kit that it appears that $5 is overpaying.
165 Dawn Inskip also draws everything by hand. http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Dawn-Inskip/
Her prices are reasonable
I love Createwings' stuff and they look extremely time-consuming. I can still buy it at around $5 a kit or less, if I have a coupon and use it during new release or a big sale. So, no, I would not buy the $10 kit no matter how good it is.
As long as you sell enough, $5-6 for something handmade should be acceptable. It's not like you're selling just one or two of a kit. Handcrafts just don't command a strong dollars per hour in any industry.
I agree that $10 for a kit is not something I would pay, no matter how big the kit was. However, I would pay $5 for a small collection (like 5 items) of illustration-type elements. Things like little animals/bugs/flowers/trees. I would love to have more hand drawn doodle type things that I could use as a beautiful accent on a page. The Kate Hadfield style is not what I'm looking for. I believe there was someone called Sabee's Creative World that had doodles like the ones I'm talking about, but I don't know if she still sells.
165, there is a market for digital stamps & this might be something worth looking into for you. Here are two sites to give you an idea of what I'm talking about : http://mosdigitalpencil.com/, http://www.tiddlyinks.com/digital-stamps/ Would you like to do something like that? If you google you'll find more. They don't tend to sell their work as cheaply like digital scrapping designers do.
165 - Try going into a different market coz I think you'll get bigger sales there, like graphic design stocks. Here's a site where you can sell at: https://creativemarket.com/
You can also try iStockphoto & other graphic & photo stock sites. You'll do much, much better there than as a digiscrap designer.
I like Sugary Fancy, but I think she is really a flake. She just got to SBG, and she's retiring already!
She was guesting. Obviously she wasn't asked to stay on.
The past few babe calls have left me scratching my head. Besides what has already been posted here, Zakirah just posted a few weeks ago in every.single.ct.forum that she was taking a break from scrapbooking because she was ill and so was her mum. At least some of those ct forums were SSD designers - so they KNOW she wont be active - yet, they choose her.
All of SSD's issues are brought on by their horrible choices. I agree with 130, Robin isn't very swift and neither is her design team.
160 - That's all I've ever seen her use, too.
155 - I like jenn's stuff, too, and I do miss her templates. I wish she was still designing.
I've seen comments here about some CT scrappers always using templates for their pages. Is that frowned upon?
I'm 165, thanks ladies for your input & suggestions, I'll definitely check out those sites that were mentioned.
I have and would pay $10 plus for a large high caliber hand drawn kit. I buy a lot of Lorie Davison's work. However- as mentioned above, there are a number of artists who sell and price their work at the "market" rate (whatever that is anymore.) If you are interested in this market, my suggestion would be to just include a few hand drawn elements and to make up the rest of the kit with items that don't take as much time. I do look for unique work when I buy so if your style was something I liked (always subjective of course!) I would be interested in your work- but probably not at $10 a kit.
Where do you shop?
162 - She hasn't posted a thing at SSD in over 4 months. That totally makes her overqualified to be a babe. If it were 6 months, then she'd be considered.
Traci Reed is having a CT call in February after bringing on a new team in January. What does that tell you?
It tells me her stuff this year has been awful. Which it has.
180-There aren't many designers that do their own artwork, so yes, I would pay that much for a hand drawn kit. I used to love a little known designer Milly Dee. Her designs were all hand drawn, and cute as anything. Her quality was good too. Her problem was her store selection. Then she retired because of family difficulties. I hope she starts designing again sometime. They were very unique because she drew them all and hand colored the elements. I don't remember her kits being really expensive, but like I said, the store selection wasn't great, so they sold along with CU type kits, and at that price.
185, I like Milly Dee too, but I don't think she "selected" the stores. Like many new designers, those were probably the only stores that would take her in.
I also bought Milly Dee. I bought a few kits from her, and they were nicely done. I have used her baby one several times.
adi&co wrote : darn, I don't have any of your kits - then why the heck would you even want to be on her team if you don't like any of her stuff enough to buy one kit - and then why bother responding to the thread? Geez, some people's kids.
188- I have no idea. She also posts all over about the 400 layouts she just had printed from her backlog, she's mentioned possibly designing again, seems to want to come back from not scrapping and get all the things immediately.
189, adi&co was a designer?
190- yep, many moons ago, kits and templates. le pingoun designs. I only know this because we used to belong to another board together back when she did design and someone told me recently she was mentioning coming back. I haven't talked to her in years, since she last poofed out of the digi scene
83- I really miss Shabby Princess. Maybe she has lost interest? moved on to something else? Her kits were always an auto-buy for me, and I still use SP stuff that I bought years ago. I wish she were still designing: she is my all-time fav, and I've yet to find a replacement.
192- Her website shows up as hacked to me. Anyone else have that problem?
Ever wish you could vote some Babes off the island like on Survivor? LOL!
193 -- yes it looks hacked to me as well. And other pages are down.
ok, someone explain to me why Loni's templates are $5.95 regularly???? Are you kidding me? That's crazy!!
They're the same price as Cindy's. It's probably required they be the same.
196 - Why wouldn't they be. I'm not a fan of her work, but I don't see why they wouldn't be priced the same as the rest of the shop. If you look at Janet's -- hers are just as much, and any newbie who knows the basic of photoshop can copy hers in their sleep.
Do people really buy those templates? I only buy really complicated or themed templates nowadays, and they have to be very cheap (maybe $2 for a pack of 4 templates) for me to buy them. Yet designers keep putting out PL templates that are super easy to scraplift.
I'm the same way 199. If I buy templates at all, they are fantastic, themed and cheap.
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