Wednesday, July 2, 2008

DST Creative Team

So Shannon posted her call for the DST creative team. Do you think her inbox is overflowing with designer "applications" for this opportunity? Who do you think will apply and get selected? The requirements don't seem to be unreasonable, the only promotion indicated seemed to be sporting a blinkie, and creating \ posting the layout. Seems she plans on starting this next month, any speculation on the featured designer for August?

http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=132020

This is in support of the following letter that was sent to the designers:
As Digital Scrapbook Designers and Store Owners, we know how important it is to make your product stand out admist a sea of others in this oversaturated market. At DST, we are always trying to think of new ways that we can help you acheive your goals - from the free Digital Directory and Designer Announcements forum, to the low-priced Product Gallery and New Products forum. We know that we often have more advertisers than space to offer so we try to think of various ways that we can offer more to those who want it. Our banner ads are sold out through 2008 with a large waiting list. Our newsletter can only hold so many ads before it becomes overrun by marketing. So we've created another package that we think will benefit the Digital Designer or Store Owner who is looking to showcase one truly fabulous product in the largest way possible.

We're assembling a Creative Team at DST comprised of some of the best digital scrapbookers in the industry. Their job will be to show off the many ways that your one product can be used from a variety of digital layouts (both rectangle and square), to a multitude of hybrid projects to an assortment of cards and invitations. These projects will be featured in the DST Insider along with a large image of your kit preview (linked direct to your store, of course) as well as quotes from each scrapper about what they liked about the kit. Our hope is not only to showcase the product of your choice but to also encourage scrappers to use their digital kits for more than one project and to see the spectrum of potential ideas that your product could be used for. Naturally, our team will be posting their projects in the DST gallery and we will also require that they post it in their other galleries as well (a minimum of 1 additional gallery).

We will be offering this to only one designer or store owner per month so that you can get the full exposure and benefit of the opportunity. The introductory cost for this package is $350. Because we can only offer this to one designer or store owner per month, we encourage you to request a month when you will be releasing a product you are truly excited about or (if you're a store owner) to consider showcasing a collaborative kit that your design team will be releasing together.

If you would like to apply to have your product considered, please email me at shannon@digishoptalk.com with the following information:

First and Last Contact Name:
Contact Email:
Paypal Billing Address:
Month you would like to be featured:
Please also attach a preview of the product you would like featured. The preview should be at least 500x500 pixels so that we can see as much detail as possible.

I'm sorry but we cannot guarantee that everyone will be featured during the month that they would like. We will do our best to accomodate everyone that we can.

If you have any questions or suggestions for this or any other possible promotional opportunity at DST, please feel free to contact me and share your ideas! We look forward to this exciting new opportunity to promote your business and inspire the digital community together.

Shannon Bieger
Owner/Founder

235 comments:

1 – 200 of 235   Newer›   Newest»
Anonymous said...

Look at me, I'm first!

To begin with, I can't believe that any designer is willing to fork out $350 for this "advertising promotion," but there is a sucker born everyday!

I'm sure there is a mile long line of applicants for this gig as they think they will get all the "big name" designer stuff to work with for free. After all, who else but they could afford this? I'm sure many of the applicants will feel if they get on this "team" they will get to be famous and chased after to be on more CT's and collect more free stuff. Hey, that's all cool and groovy it's that what you want.

What's really sad is that I think some designers, who really can't afford this, will be sucked into doing it and won't receive too much in additional sales.

People seem to forget that DST is not the center of the digital universe! Also, so many people are sick of it that they aren't visiting as they used to in the past. Also, how many of us have the time to go thru gallery after gallery looking at layouts? I know I don't!

I also don't think that posted layouts do all that much for sales. If you have over the top layouts, many people are just frustrated because they can't create the same type. Or, they hate what the CT created and keep going. I think it's far better to just show your kit and let it stand on it's own merit. I can, frankly, decide for myself whether or not it's something I'm likely to use. I don't need to see someone else's layouts using the kit - especially when half the time I don't even understand what they did to it or why! LOL

Anonymous said...

Layouts do not make me purchase a kit - ever - I purchase based on the kit only, I hardly ever look at galleries

Anonymous said...

I think it's far better to just show your kit and let it stand on it's own merit. I can, frankly, decide for myself whether or not it's something I'm likely to use. I don't need to see someone else's layouts using the kit - especially when half the time I don't even understand what they did to it or why! LOL

July 2, 2008 10:41 AM

Amen sistah!

Anonymous said...

The dealbreaker in this is in the call thread. Shannon and her CT will 'choose' who gets to advertise.

Honestly, is Shannon capable of doing ANYTHING without turning it into some kind of warped popularity contest or elitist little clique?

Obviously not

Anonymous said...

-------------------------------------
Honestly, is Shannon capable of doing ANYTHING without turning it into some kind of warped popularity contest or elitist little clique?
-------------------------------------

SO TRUE!!! And truly, people are getting sick of this. You read it over and over, on so many blogs, and yet she doesn't get the hint?

Anonymous said...

"* Email addresses for references from at least 2 other digital designers or digital store
owners who you have worked for or who you know personally."

So......... unless you are already on a CT or kiss designers ass, you need not apply??? It sure doesn't give out any hope for new people to apply does it? I smell a CT of the "popular CT'ers" on the horizon. It will be the same little bunch of people in the "clique". May as well call the DST CT "Club DST". What a joke.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Layouts do not make me purchase a kit - ever - I purchase based on the kit only, I hardly ever look at galleries

July 2, 2008 11:20 AM
-----------
ITA ... and over pimping of a kit or designer turns me off.

Anonymous said...

I don't trawl through galleries at all, but if the shop has additional previews and the designer includes layouts in the preview, sometimes I buy a kit (or don't buy it) based on how the CT have used it. Sometimes its easier to see whats included when its on a layout rather than everything squished together on a preview.

In regards to the DST call, I like how there are lots of different "categories" and the requirements seem reasonable ie one layout a month and no over the top pimping. BUT that being said, I wont be applying, because I don't like the idea of having to scrap with random designers products that may not be my style and are un-usable for me.. all those leaves and berries and ribbons do my head in!

I imagine there will be STACKS of applicants, and I'm wondering just how many of those chosen will be "unknown" scrappers, and how many will be well-known names around the place!?

DST is the biggest popularity contest going, and ITA with the poster above about promoting the cliqueness / high school mentality.
I remember when there were regularly several hundred people online at once.. these days I rarely see it over 200 on the odd occasions I feel the need to check it out.

Anonymous said...

meh. I don't see this brilliant idea of Shannon's being very successful.

Does the Insider currently work for designers? Has having a coupon or ad in there really made much of a difference?

I just don't see anyone getting much of a return on a $350 investment. How many people really read and pay attention to anything other than the coupons in there in the first place?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure this idea will be very successful - for Shannon. I'm also convinced she will have no shortage of applicants.

I used to peruse the CT pimp thread almost daily the first 6 months I digiscrapped. I haven't been there in ages, because I have designers I like and I make a lot of my own things. That being said, I love it when you're browsing in a store, and the kit preview includes two or three layouts with the kit. As mentioned, you get a much better idea of how the elements may work with different papers, and you get a much better feel for the kit. It's hard to do a preview for the kit that fully conveys the potential of the contents. I also think that a full background can look very different than just the inch or two that shows in a preview - it's usually the edge, and differently colored/textured than the majority of the background.

I guess my last thought is that "oversaturated market" is a little... disingenuous?

Anonymous said...

That being said, I love it when you're browsing in a store, and the kit preview includes two or three layouts with the kit.
================
You know I'm a designer and our software (Xcart) allows you to post as many blowup detail images as you want...a lot of stores use Xcart and I wonder why more designers don't take advantage of this. Unless it's an element pack w/just a few items it's really hard to see everything in one preview.

Most of my customers could care less about the forum scene, at least I don't recognize their usernames as DST regulars. I get most of my sales from our store's new product release emails.

I guess time will tell if this turns out to be an effective marketing tool but I think a lot of designers earn less than $350 a month and you are required to feature a single product which makes it even more restrictive IMO...

Anonymous said...

Zen cart lets you post several images in addition to product previews too. I like this feature and use it every chance I get. I never look at the galleries - don't have time to flip through people's layouts. I fight for time just to create my own. So as a designer, I wondered if my customer's were the same - and the kits that have the layouts attached sell consistently better than the ones without.

Anyway - has Shannon announced the designers chosen? I did apply, but not sure it was so smart. I now see how little exposure in a very narrow window that money will provide to a designer. Its huge money and there are so many other avenues one can go. Plus, you had to submit a product you already had - not just for review but for the actual submission. Strange. I would think they would want a designer to go to town on a new kit specifically for the month/season they will end up showcased.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to suggest a new topic if I may. I've been thinking about this for quite sometime and I've never seen it addressed.

DST & company has routinely "outed" so called pirates, even giving out personal information of the so-called pirate (name, address, phone number, etc). Now, from where I stand I don't remember DST as being a legal court of law and having the ability to convict people. Doesn't it seem that those individuals could sue DST (for allowing this) and the person(s)who are giving out their information and possibly slandering the name and ruining their business? I mean, even if you pass bad checks, the supermarkets don't post their list or share them with other supermarkets. We do have privacy laws in place and it truly feels to me that they are breaking those laws by publically "outing" folks who have not been tried. They all state that they have "proof positive" and that may be, however last time I checked private individuals can't convict a person. Is anyone else bothered by this? In this day and age, with personal identity theft rampant these ladies are giving out enough information to honestly hurt these people in more ways than one - and all without the benefit of a fair and legal hearing. Oh sure, they "invite" the person to come and defend themselves, but again I thought we lived in the United States where one is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, not in the court of DST.

Anyway, I'd really love to hear thoughts from others about this. Maybe I'm over thinking, but this has really been bothering me since all this "pirate" business has started.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure a designer who features their kit will get much of a response. I used to dl the Insider for the coupons. The July insider sucked as far as the designers I normally shop with. I've been buying product on new release days when it's discounted. I'm not even sure I want to take the time to dl the August issue.

Now Scrap N' Art, was packed. I'd advertise there now that they're including digi stuff more. it was 100 and some pages and I looked through them all.

Anonymous said...

I don't advertise in the Insider-to me it's a waste of money. I didn't sign up for this either. This is what I have my own CT for why do I need DST to do the same thing basically only at DST and charge me $350.00. My CT posts their kit creations in different galleries-most importantly in my store galleries where my customers are probably looking. I don't find that any advertising at DST other then the new products thread might on occasion get me a customer or two, usually a designer because I certainly don't think customers leave comments as a general rule. I think for most designers customers are those who shop at any given store.

As to the posting of the addresses and personal information I would definitely think this is against one's right to privacy. As to posting of a name, if the entire episode isn't true the so called outed pirate could sue DST. I don't think that most are naming names without having definite proof. I'm pretty sure that Shannon has a disclaimer on her site but not sure it would do anything if someone sued and could show proof that their reputation was ruined if proof of piracy was thrown out and not substantiated.

Anonymous said...

Where has DST given out names, addresses, and phone numbers of pirates? I've only seen it done on the blogs.

Anonymous said...

The only names and addresses I've seen at DST is when someone posts a link directly to who is. And that is publicly available unless you choose to hide your information by paying for it through your registrar.

Anonymous said...

Where has DST given out names, addresses, and phone numbers of pirates? I've only seen it done on the blogs.

In the designer forums. Which is still a public place.

Anonymous said...

Where has DST given out names, addresses, and phone numbers of pirates? I've only seen it done on the blogs.

In the designer forums. Which is still a public place.
^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS is exactly why the DCR needs to be shut down. It's been mentioned before, and many have tried to deny that this happens. All these people playing detective are eventually going to get themselves, and possibly Shannon into some hot water.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I don't have access to the DCR, I didn't know. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Oh they have a whole area called Law & Order DSU in the designer forum at DST. Makes for interesting reading.

Anonymous said...

Another reason DST doesn't work?
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=132325
To bad for all the guests who spoke up-guess they are blacklisted now.

Anonymous said...

Where has DST given out names, addresses, and phone numbers of pirates? I've only seen it done on the blogs.

In the designer forums. Which is still a public place.
^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS is exactly why the DCR needs to be shut down. It's been mentioned before, and many have tried to deny that this happens. All these people playing detective are eventually going to get themselves, and possibly Shannon into some hot water.
=================
Poppycock - the DCR is private except for unscrupulous 'moles' who like to leak information on gossip blogs. Designers do compare notes on suspected pirates - I'm sure we could contact the FBI and listen to them laugh their butts off. A lot of these people are serial cheaters and they tend to go from store to store trying to get away with stuff. So yes it's an appropriate topic.

When you sign up for an account at a store the only verifiable information you are required to submit is a working email address. If you want to sign up as Mickey Mouse at Disneyland there is nothing stopping you from doing so.

The piracy subforum mostly deals with pirate blogs, people trying to rip off digikits and resell them on ebay etc, etc.

Anonymous said...

^^
how ridiculous. I just can't even manage a shred of respect for Shannon anymore. At one time I would have been surprised that she'd let something like that go on.

Anonymous said...

Another reason DST doesn't work?
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=132325
To bad for all the guests who spoke up-guess they are blacklisted now.

July 3, 2008 5:16 PM
---------------
Yep.

So a designer's time is more valuable and scarce than a scrapper or guest CT member's?? Designers are the only ones with families to take care of, jobs, etc.?? Hasn't it been pointed out over and over again, at DST even, that it only takes a few seconds to type out a quick 'thanks'?

Then flergs with her 'maybe I just won't do guest cts' threat. It's sad that so many scrappers are insecure and needy enough to fall for this kind of crap.

And for the love of god, someone tell flergs to PLEASE put crystalbella on her ct/guest ct so she'll freakin' shut up and quit publicly kissing ass and groveling.

Anonymous said...

Poppycock - the DCR is private except for unscrupulous 'moles' who like to leak information on gossip blogs.

July 3, 2008 5:17 PM
^^^
Barb, is that you?

Anonymous said...

Is a quick "thanks" considered drive by praising? Of course that could be the next rant of the day.

Anonymous said...

Is a quick "thanks" considered drive by praising? Of course that could be the next rant of the day.

July 3, 2008 6:18 PM

LOL. My guess is that at DST, a quick thanks would only be acceptable coming from designers. If regular, 'lowly' scrappers do this it would be considered drive-by gratitude. Because, you know, their time is so much precious.

Anonymous said...

I don't have much respect for Lindsay Jane in this one. She blew this thing wide open by revealing who she was. Kristin never named names. What Kristin was expecting was reasonable, given that designers expect so much from us (how many times have we heard the "no one thanks me for my freebies" line?). I agree, thanks should be given in all of those situations. Designers I have guested for have ALWAYS thanked me for my time. Why do some feel they don't have to? I don't have to have comments on every layout, or anything like that. But I do want to feel like I'm a part of the team.

Anonymous said...

I don't have much respect for Lindsay Jane in this one. She blew this thing wide open by revealing who she was.
---
ITA. She never had to post anything publicly. And she's just going on and on and on trying to justify herself-that's just making it worse.

The 'thank you' street runs both ways.

Anonymous said...

Lindsay Jane is wrong here. She has been busy posting on her blog, on DST, but she can't answer her CT email? Sorry sounds like she needs some lessons in time management. And newsflash, she is not the only one around here that has kids, needs to cook, clean, and all of the other lame excuses she put out there.
She is on my black list. I am so tired of designers treating people like crap, and then garnering support. The dumbass outted herself!

Anonymous said...

Well, I just added Lindsay Jane to the list of designers I wont buy from anymore. She handled this without any class or respect. She's turning it into a big crap fest and gives others the blame for her short comings.

How come designers' time is more valuable than CT's time? And what the f*^@ is up with all the ass kissing on DST. Good God!

Anonymous said...

I expected some designers to come into that thread and pounce on Kristin, but it's really shitty for so many scrappers to jump into the fray and stomp on Kristin, and lick Linday's boots in an attempt to suck up to her and jockey for ct positions. Putrid.

And surprise, surprise, a DST moderator is one who is ennabling and trying to justify the bad designer behavior.

Anonymous said...

I think the scrapper was pretty passive-aggressive in this situation posting to DST the way she did. I think LJ was over emotional in her response, and replying again and again. Why do people think everyone on the internet is their friend?

Why didn't the scrapper write back and ask if she got her message? And why didn't LJ just apologize instead of trying to explain and justify it? Honestly, both over-reacted, but really as the designer LJ is held to a higher standard as she is trying to sell her designs and be the professional.

Anonymous said...

I am so tired of designers treating people like crap, and then garnering support.
-----
I so completely agree with this!!

Anonymous said...

What truly makes me sick is the scrappers with no self respect sucking up trying to get a guest CT spot. Gosh if you need their kits so badly skip lunch for a couple of days, dig in the couch for loose change but at least you would still have your self respect.
I am sorry but if a designer expects 2-3 LO's and promotion from a CT in exchange for a $5 kit, she should make the time to say thanks you in some way.

Anonymous said...

Oh my did you see how Lindsay Jane just jumped down that scrappers neck for posting what can you do. Where does she get off? I will never be buying from her!

Anonymous said...

Wow. This woman invites herself into the "position" gets free product, and then when she doesn't get the glory and attention she wanted, she posts a tantrum on a public message board, and you are all supporting HER???

Anonymous said...

Nice to see you here Lindsay Jane Maybe you should think twice before attacking everyone else if YOU want supporters!

Anonymous said...

I thought the thread by Kristen was ridiculous to begin with but Lindsey Jane has just gone way over the top with her whining. And I'm not a DST basher, I actually like it there for the most part, but the CT wannabes ass kissing on that thread is truly pathetic!

Anonymous said...

I'm really disappointed in Lindsay Jane's conduct on this thread. Her trying to solict "support" and complaining how she isn't a popular design makes her look very immature and unprofessional.

She doesn't seem to have noticed that she hurt a scrapper's feeling by overreacting & misinterpreting a comment. She seems to act as if only HER feelings count.

She needs to take a deep breath and STOP posting while she's upset. We ALL have bad days but defensiveness and whining publicly does NOT make her look good.

Anonymous said...

BRW, I'm not supporting Kristen's behaviour either (I think she overreacted) but she apologized publicly and then stopped posting. Lindsey has continued to complain and show a sense of entitlement that is very offputting to past and/or potential customers. Very unprofessional!

Anonymous said...

I agree with you 100% Lindsay Jane is being immature, attacking the scrapper for an innocent comment and then not even apologizing. Expecting everyone to come suck up to her, she is just making it bad for herself. I dont see anyone sticking up for the scrapper who got attacked, why stick up for the designer who did the attacking? The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth

Anonymous said...

I think that if I had read 30 something posts saying 'you poor thing' I'd be pissed and hurt too; however, LJ has posted enough now and needs to stop.
What I'm wondering about is when was Kristin's gig over? Was it finished on the 30th & then she made something else after the end of the month?

Anonymous said...

Wow, Lindsey Jane needs to walk away from her PC, she is digging a deep hole for herself.

Anonymous said...

I think in this situation the designer needs to suck it up and be professional and gracious. Yeah, an email would have been better but if the designer had come on and said 'hey I'm really sorry this happened - I was just very very busy' then I think it would have just ended there. Designer IMO would have garnered more respect.

The groveling from fans 'I'll be on your CT and I won't act like that pick me pick me!' -- blech!

Sometimes I wish these long sessions of emotional diarrea would just get flushed down the toilet...all these people fawning, taking sides, obsessing over ruffled feathers - I just want to scream 'grow up for God's sake'.

Anonymous said...

Lindsay Jane, my my are you a naughty little designer. First, you have absolutely no respect for your employees, and yes by all right they ARE employees, they just get paid in product for the service they provide you. Then you are obnoxious enough to insult your customers over defending your employees! You think you are the mistreated one?

I think you should just throw in the towel and quit designing now if you think this is the way a designer needs to be treated. Because, in all fairness, if you treat your employees with respect you will not only gain the respect of them, but you will also gain the respect and love of a devoted customer.

Think twice before you say anything negative about anyone. As the proprietor you have the responsibility of setting the professional relationship of the guest CT/employee.

Anonymous said...

YOu think she would shut up! I think she thinks any publicity is good publicity but she is sadly mistaken. If i were here store I would drop her like a hot potato. This reflects badly on SBB IMHO

Anonymous said...

Another reason DST doesn't work?
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=132325
To bad for all the guests who spoke up-guess they are blacklisted now.

July 3, 2008 5:16 PM

_______________________

I am shocked at the attitude of this diva designer. What a bunch of kiss ups and "poor designer me" posts. If I was a guest ct member and worked my butt off for hours for a $4 or even a $20 kit, I would be upset if I left and no one even said thank you or good bye. It is such a great honor to work for a designer that women should work for so little and then, God forbid, they should expect the common courtesy of a thank you for your hard work? Why do these CT members take this. These designers are just women making pretty things for a living. UGH- it is such a turn off. I am new to digital scrapbooking and LJD will not be getting one cent from me.

Anonymous said...

And the final handslap from Shannon. I 100% agreed with Divian, I am glad she said her piece, even though I don't always agree with her.

Anonymous said...

I think Lindsey had every right to lash out the way she did. It was so easy to check the OP's gallery and determine it was Lindsey she was referring to.
It's pathetic that the CT's are always crying poor me. They complain about everything. THEY OFFER to do the layouts for FREE in return for the free kits. WHERE does that give them the right to feel as if they need PRAISE and constant pats on the back? They want the designer to praise their layouts, they expect their fellow CT team members to pat them on the back, and then of course they expect everyone else to pat them on the back, just because they posted a layout using some designer's kit that they got FREE.
The CT's are what give the digi community a BAD NAME. If they would just once be grateful for the FREE kits they get and fulfill their requirements and STOP COMPLAINING about EVERYTHING, this community would be so much more inviting.
Every time you turn around there is some sort of bitch fest on DST that is started by CT's... complaining.
Lindsey I will keep buying your designs and I back you 100% for not sitting back and allowing a guest CT to smear your name in the mud.
The CT just finished her assignment and would have been wise to be a bit more patient and NOT post the mess in the first place. Put your big girl panties on OP and stop whining when you got your guest CT spot you ASKED FOR and got the KITS FREE!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you sound pretty invested in this to be that passionate in your response! Could you be LJD by chance, or just another disgruntled designer, giving other designers a bad name?

Anonymous said...

ha ha that response is every funnier.
NO I am not Lindsey, nor am I a designer, and guess what? I don't even CT for anyone. I'm just a scrapper that gets so sick of reading the lame threads of complaint from all the CT's.

Anonymous said...

Well, since you are not on a CT or a designer, you don't know how much time people put in to this, and a little mutual respect goes both ways. You must have missed that message.

Anonymous said...

Missed the message? Odd... they VOLUNTEER to be a CT. Designers are clear as to what their expectations are and they give the CT their kits in return for FREE.
What am I missing? OH.... the part about having to give them praise?
Yes I agree that a thank you is deserved and I'm sure most designers do and in this case, I believe that the OP who requested the guest spot would have received a thank you from Lindsey in given time.
I think it was very hasty to post when it it had only been a few days since the guest spot was over.
Second, I don't believe it should have been posted in the first place. It was obvious by her gallery who the designer was, and if I were the designer, I would have been upset too.
Thank you's are nice, but I think feeling they DESERVE praise is just ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

Lindsay was completely out of line during her temper tantrum, and lost customers because of it. She needs to hold herself to a higher standard, because she is in business. When she saw the thread she should have went private to the OP, handled privately, and I am willing to bet the OP would have came back to the thread and stated it was a misunderstanding. It could have played out completely different. But instead, she went on a public rant and in the process looked like a complete baby. You are not going to find many Lindsay supporters here, stay at DST for those ass kissers. But I am sure you have posted all over that thread already. I am done with you now, off to spend enjoy the holiday with my family. Just another day in Australia right?

Anonymous said...

Lindsay Jane's behavior in that thread was extrememly childish and obnoxious. Besides showing how completely unprofessional she is, she definitively proved that she is totally without an ounce of class or dignity. I doubt that she ever would have stopped posting if Shannon hadn't locked that thread.

Anonymous said...

Lindsay was completely out of line during her temper tantrum, and lost customers because of it.
---------------------------
So true!

Anonymous said...

Excuse me? Uhmmm I am in the US and will be celebrating with my family also. Your assumptions are hilarious.
Just to prove you wrong on another point, I have NOT posted anything in that thread.
You obviously have one goal and that is to turn it around to make Lindsey look bad and over look the fact that the OP started it. The OP in her pathetic attempt to get other CT's sympathy was putting a designer's name in the mud.
Again, if I were Lindsey I would have been very upset too.
I will keep buying Lindsey's products and I can also promise you, I will NEVER give the ungrateful OP who got her kit FREE any comments on her layouts since that is all she really wants.... a pat on the back for posting layouts with a kit she got FREE.
I pay for my kits. Maybe she should do the same so that she doesn't put herself in such a tizzy ever again and feel so down because she didn't get praise or a thank you fast enough.
Do the CT's want the designer's first born too? I think the designer thanked her when she gave her the kit for free to be honest.
A thank you or a comment on a layout would just be a bonus, but shouldn't be expected. Ct's need to come down off their pedestals and quit expecting designers to kiss their asses. Nobody makes someone be a CT, that is their choice. They do layouts and promote the designer to get the stuff for free. Where in all of this did the mentality of thank me, praise me, comment on my layouts... etc. begin?

Anonymous said...

You obviously have one goal and that is to turn it around to make Lindsey look bad and over look the fact that the OP started it. The OP in her pathetic attempt to get other CT's sympathy was putting a designer's name in the mud.
------
I'm not the one you're addressing this to, but your statements are just not true. Lindsay Jane is the the one that made herself look bad with her rude, childish, and never-ending attempts to defend herself. The OP did not put a designer's name in the mud. Once again, that was Lindsay Jane. She is the one who 'outted' herself. She could have sent the OP a PM and straightened it all out privately. Instead, Lindsay Jane CHOSE to throw her tantrum publicly.

Anonymous said...

GROW UP PEOPLE! unbelievable! First of all the OP was acting like a child, then the designer pops in and acts even worse. This is why I think all CTs should be abolished.

Anonymous said...

Where in all of this did the mentality of thank me, praise me, comment on my layouts... etc. begin?
^^^
With Shannon catering to the designers demands for ways to 'promote' their products and 'increase exposure' of their CTs layouts--also known as The Praise Game, The Blog Train, The Happy Place, etc.

Anonymous said...

This is why I think all CTs should be abolished.

July 4, 2008 8:00 AM

WORD

Anonymous said...

I agree that the CT should of waited a few more days and then PM's Lindsay again. She was wrong to post at DST, BUT Lindsay made it worse by the way she kept commenting in the thread.
HMMM Do I want the designers first born? Nope I don't like to change diapers. That comment was so STUPID!lol

Anonymous said...

I actually thought Shannon's closing comments were pretty balanced. The original poster was out of line, LJ overreacted, and the ungodly sucking sound from the sycophants was disgusting. Ew.

Anonymous said...

Once again, a designer proves just how important it is to be (or at least act like) a professional.

And as usual, the ones who need the lesson the most will never 'get it'

Anonymous said...

the ungodly sucking sound from the sycophants was disgusting. Ew.

July 4, 2008 8:55 AM
-----------------------
So true!

Anonymous said...

I know several have said that Lindsey "outed" herself, but to be honest, even before Lindsey replied I had peeked at the OP's gallery and knew it was Lindsey. It was very obvious which designer she was implying.

Anonymous said...

I know several have said that Lindsey "outed" herself, but to be honest, even before Lindsey replied I had peeked at the OP's gallery and knew it was Lindsey. It was very obvious which designer she was implying.

July 4, 2008 9:49 AM

With the way DST works, no one would have been brave enough to put Lindsay's name out there. Sure, a few people might have been curious enough to go poking through Kristin's gallery, but would anyone have had the courage to say they had figured it out or mention Lindsay? I doubt it.

There were also plenty of others who would have read the thread, and then just shrugged it off without bothering to dig any deeper. There are lots of comlaint/won't mention any names threads. This one wouldn't have been any different from the others if Lindsay had just handled this directly and privately. She made a choice to act the way she did. It was immature and extremely unprofessional.

Lindsay Jane's behavior isn't shocking or surprising. Shannon has encouraged a climate of designer 'worship' and 'star' scrappers. It's too bad so many scrappers buy into that mentality.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to address this concept of "designers give CT free kits and that should be thanks enough" attitude. This is TOTALLY untrue. Free would indicate that there are no strings attached with the gift. CT members WORK for their kits, creating layouts many times with specifications given them by the designer. Even if this isn't the case, they are working for their kits. They are promoting the designer (and when was the last time a promoter was paid literally peanuts?) - on their blogs, at DST, etc.

Oh, and can someone tell me why it needs to take DAYS to send someone an email that says "thanks so much, it was a pleasure working w/you." NO ONE is that busy that they don't have 30 seconds to do that in their day - especially if you're a professional and this is your job. It's called professional courtesy. If you want to succeed in any business, you better have some!

Anonymous said...

I have seen Lindsay become a bit hot-headed when provoked. That's just how she is. Not saying it's a bad thing at all.

Anonymous said...

Free would indicate that there are no strings attached with the gift.
--------------------
ITA. CTing is not some magical gift or favor that designers are just out benevolently spreading around.

Designers have CTs for one reason only. To try and make money.

Anonymous said...

I have seen Lindsay become a bit hot-headed when provoked. That's just how she is. Not saying it's a bad thing at all.

July 4, 2008 11:42 AM

Well, now lots of people have seen Lindsay become 'a bit hot-headed.' It is what it is, but it's certainly not professional.

Anonymous said...

You know if there was a REAL list of designers who had behaved badly or can't act professional, there wouldn't be very many places to shop or products to buy, would there?

Anonymous said...

You know if there was a REAL list of designers who had behaved badly or can't act professional, there wouldn't be very many places to shop or products to buy, would there?
-----------
I am not sure why you capitalize REAL as if in disbelieve or sarcasm. My dear, I can tell you for me this is a very very real list that I keep in my head. There are too many designers out there with product that is similar. If one drops off the wagon, three others are ready to take the place. I for one am not in the least bit worried to run out of places to shop.

Anonymous said...

A lot of it is the 'star worship' dynamic and emphasis on pimping - it makes people feel insecure, even people who are normally pretty well balanced.

I wish we could focus on what's important - scrapping what we love and appreciating it...

Anonymous said...

I'm seriously annoyed that I ever gave a penny of my money to Lindsay Jane! There's a huge difference between sticking up for yourself and being a flat-out bitch. She was a stone cold bitch in that thread, especially her response to 20tinytoes or whoever. Then she didn't even apologize! Bitch bitch bitch. I hope she reads this. I will never buy anything else from her store.

Anonymous said...

There's a huge difference between sticking up for yourself and being a flat-out bitch. She was a stone cold bitch in that thread, especially her response to 20tinytoes or whoever.
---
ITA.

Anonymous said...

"Just another day in Australia right?"

----------------------------------

Don't tar eveyone with the same brush. Generalisations such as that are uncalled for. So........ if a US designer spits the dummy are we to assume it's "just another day in the US"??

Anonymous said...

Don't tar eveyone with the same brush. Generalisations such as that are uncalled for. So........ if a US designer spits the dummy are we to assume it's "just another day in the US"??

July 4, 2008 5:40 PM

I agree on the generalizations part, but what is 'spits the dummy?'

Anonymous said...

Oh, and can someone tell me why it needs to take DAYS to send someone an email that says "thanks so much, it was a pleasure working w/you." NO ONE is that busy that they don't have 30 seconds to do that in their day - especially if you're a professional and this is your job. It's called professional courtesy. If you want to succeed in any business, you better have some!

July 4, 2008 11:20 AM

__________________________

Amen!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, the year's only half over, but I'd say Lindsay Jane is the hands down frontrunner for DST Drama Mama of the Year.

Anonymous said...

Admittedly it seems that many designers expect a lot out of their CT. But there are still people lining up in the aisles to get ON those CT's What's up with that? I mean, this woman tracked LJ down to see if she could get a spot... where does her responsibility end and LJ's begin? And I'm not denying that LJ went off the deep end publicly over this, but what is the deal with the CT crap?

Anonymous said...

but what is the deal with the CT crap?
----------------------------------
You know, I think part of the problem with this industry and the internet in general is that folks seem to think that they "know" they someone and that they are "friends." I'm sure this CT really liked LJ's designs and thought why not ask? She may have even exchanged comments on the forum, etc. I don't know, but I do know that too many people think they are "friends" with others where no such relationship exists. Honestly? I think being a CT should be a paid position with a clearly written contract to cover both parties. Everyone is trying to get something for free - the designer wants the advertising and promotion, and the CT wants the free kits. Well, I remember being taught "you get what you pay for."

That's my 2 cents.

Anonymous said...

"I agree on the generalizations part, but what is 'spits the dummy?'"

----------------------------------

Go off the deep end.
Get mad.
Have a tantrum

Anonymous said...

Look at who the one is publicly apologizing. And surprise, surprise, it IS NOT Lindsay Jane!

Make the CT feel like lowly trash again, anyone up for a blog named Hot Headed Digi Designers? Hell we could name it Paris Hilton in Digi Land!

Anonymous said...

Every single one of you CT members needs to get over yourself. To get on a CT team you likely did one of two things:

a) sent in an application in response to an open call for new CT members

b) repeatedly harassed, stalked, and or begged a designer until they *allowed* you to be on their team.

You complain that all designers care about is promoting themselves. But what are YOU doing?

You are pimping and promoting yourself with the constant sucking up to certain designers, blinky wearing, harassment, etc. All of this so you can hoard more free products, say you are on so-n-so's team with a blinky under your name, and on and on....

It is all self promotion in the end.

You all are PITIFUL whining little bee-yotches with little to no self-respect.

So go and make your layouts, post them in the galleries, and then shut your freaking pie hole because the designers are not your friends and have better things to do other than stroking your ego.

Anonymous said...

Honestly? I think being a CT should be a paid position with a clearly written contract to cover both parties.

------

Oh good god. Give me a break.
Not only do designers need to give you free kits, but now we have to pay you to make layouts for your family, too?

Get over yourself. You are a CT member and not that important to the livelihood of any designer.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't surprise me at all that Kristin did the apologizing. That takes some class. Something Lindsay Jane is clearly lacking.

Anonymous said...

For all you designers complaining and bitching about CTs, welcome to the monster that YOU created. You have only yourselves to blame.

Designers are the ones who choose to hang out on forums and act all chummy with customers just to try and drum up business. You are the ones who encourage the shameless sucking up and groveling. Picking the loudest, most aggressive supporters for your CTs and 'RAKs' sends the message that this behavior is what you like and endorse.

Anonymous said...

Get over yourself. You are a CT member and not that important to the livelihood of any designer.

July 5, 2008 11:00 AM

So put your money where your big mouth is and don't have a CT.

Yeah, we won't be holding our breath.

Anonymous said...

I'm sitting here LMAO knowing that plenty of designers who contributed to the big BS CT Appreciation kit really think the kinds of things they're posting here about CTs. No wonder some CTs are started to feel unappreciated!

Anonymous said...

Honestly? I think being a CT should be a paid position with a clearly written contract to cover both parties.
^^^
ITA.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

I'm sitting here LMAO knowing that plenty of designers who contributed to the big BS CT Appreciation kit really think the kinds of things they're posting here about CTs. No wonder some CTs are started to feel unappreciated!
July 5, 2008 11:21 AM


Do you also believe that ONLY the designers who participated in that kit are the ones who actually appreciate their CTs?

All those non-participating designers.....go and make a list of them....so we can blacklist them on this blog. Maybe all their CTs will up and QUIT and then the worthless goons will have to stop designing because how will they ever survive ???!!!?!

Anonymous said...

July 5, 2008 11:35 AM

You completely missed the point of the post that you're referring to.

Anonymous said...

Did Lindsay Jane invade this blog, or does she just have lots of evil designer twins?

Anonymous said...

So put your money where your big mouth is and don't have a CT.

Yeah, we won't be holding our breath.

July 5, 2008 11:19 AM

You didn't really get my point, but I will say this..... my current CT is not your run of the mill "rapid at DST" style of CT so I WILL be keeping them around. The people on my CT have class. They are drama free. They know what I expect, which isn't much. And professional or not, they know I have a life outside of "work" and the internet. They don't expect me to bend over backwards to pat them on the back and wipe their butts over every little thing. They wear their big girl panties and I am proud of them. But if they were to all drop off my team tomorrow I would not be hurt and I would most definitely survive as a designer. As much as I like some of them, they ARE replaceable as CTs and that's just the way it is.

Anonymous said...

July 5, 2008 11:35 AM

Simmer down Captain Literal! Put down the CU items, back away from the computer, and go take what appears to be a much needed break!

p.s. It's ok if you didn't contribute to the CT Appreciation kit. The OP was pointing out the hypocrisy of many of those who did. Take a deep, cleansing breath.

Anonymous said...

You completely missed the point of the post that you're referring to.

July 5, 2008 11:46 AM

I think it was sarcasm to point out that [someone] completely missed the point of the CT Appreciation kit. It was for promotional purposes only. Not because any of those designers truly appreciate their CTs.

Anonymous said...

This latest round of designer drama has helped me to decide to put myself on an immediate spending freeze.

The economy's bad, money is tight, and I have stuff I haven't used. Also have plenty of nice stuff I can re-use in creative ways.

Later on, if the need should arise, I have a very short go-to list of designers who have enough sense to act like true professionals.

I'm done ennabling any little bit of bad behavior with my $.

Anonymous said...

OMG Shannon will stop at nothing to put money in her pocket! She's so full of shit.

Anonymous said...

I'm on a couple of CTs, but I certainly didn't pimp myself to get on them. I was invited to join both, without ever asking the designers. I get some free stuff and spend a couple of hours a week promoting their stuff in return. Why have some people turned CTs into huge, dramatic issues? Designers and CT members need to stop expecting so much of each other. CT members need to stop allowing their lives to be ruled by their teams. How many people have 9 or more CT blinkies in their sigs? Ridiculous! This is a hobby, people!

Anonymous said...

How many people have 9 or more CT blinkies in their sigs? Ridiculous!
^^^
Sad that so many scrappers are insecure enough to fall for the kind of crap that Shannon and so many designers are peddling.

Anonymous said...

So who are the designers on your blacklist because of bad attitudes and/or behavior?

Mine are:

Lindsay Jane
Laurie Ann/Heaven's Gate
Scrapkitchen/Chef
Traci Murphy
Kathryn Wilson
Angela & Emily Powers
Nathy/Cinnamon Designs
Sarah/Vanilla Hush
Amy Martin
Kimberly Giarusso

Anonymous said...

What makes no sense to me about this latest Shannon scheme is that a designer is supposed to 'apply' to spend $350 to advertise one kit or product up to a year in advance. All the BS about DST banner ads being sold out through xx date. The added BS of not being able to guarantee that you can have the month you request.

So a designer is supposed to have a product ready (since previews are part of the 'application' requirement) for up to a year before they supposedly get sooo much exposure in the DST Insider??

What a lame concept.

Anonymous said...

I am on a couple of CT's. Neither of them have very strict requirements. I usually hear something from one of them in the CT forum, and then she often posts on my layouts. The other rarely does. It doesn't change my opinion of her in anyway. I love both of them. I was a guest for a more high profile designer recently, and never once got any kind of response or comment to any of my layouts. I totally understand these are busy ladies, and I don't need my ego stroked. NOW....if they were posting comments for all the other CT's or just certain ones, whether on the layouts or in the CT forum, I would have a problem with it. This has happened before, and it was because of that I decided to quit that CT. It was all done on a friendly note and there were no hard feelings. I actually mentioned it in a private email to one designer as well. She tried to make excuses, but it was so blantant and I could not scrap for her anymore.

I guess bottom line, I'm getting these beautiful products, it is my job to make layouts with them. Their job is to make kits. They can make us more willing to make layouts by being a little more involved, but I don't hold it against them one way or the other.

Anonymous said...

Any word on the Rose Farver CT announcement?

Anonymous said...

Angela & Emily Powers
_________________

Why are they on your list? I don't recall any drama with them.

Anonymous said...

I just want to say that not all ct's are made up of people kissing designers ass and/or eachother's. I am a CT where we are not expected at all to blow smoke up our own asses (or the designers) and we really have made friendships with each other. So this generalizations of CT's and the people that are on them is not accurate. Sure some are "loud" and draw a lot of attention but there are many CT members that are not just out blowing smoke up designers asses.

Anonymous said...

Why are they on your list? I don't recall any drama with them.

July 5, 2008 3:40 PM

It's their general attitude. The outrageous prices at WAS. And telling a customer to 'delete it yourself' when she contacted them with a request to close her store account b/c she couldn't find instructions on the site.

Anonymous said...

Un-freaking-believable! Lindsay Jane had the nerve to post this in Kristin's public apology thread:

I hope this turns out to be a valuable lesson for everyone.
Please be patient for a reply to messages sent. Even try emailing if there is no response here.
All designers spend lots of hours designing, then we have all the extra chores that go along with it. We also have a life outside the computer which sometimes keeps us very busy.
-----------------------------------

She is completely without shame or scruples. Sickening.

Anonymous said...

Then she posts "I did apologize to Kristin, in private." What about twentytinytoes, LJ? did you apologize to her? Or to everyone else you lumped in to the "you all hate me because I'm not a big name designer" whine-fest?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure lots of people learned some lessons that Lindsay Jane didn't count on. Like what a self-centered, unappreciative, bitch she really is!

Anonymous said...

Did this come from the DCR?

Anonymous said...

Told ya!

Anonymous said...

Yes, it did. Sad, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Next fucking person that denies it, i'll post the damn screenshot of it.

I'm SICK of the DST'ers thinking they are better than other people when they are even more shitty. WHO in their RIGHT MIND posts a person's personal information on a public forum?

*****NEWSFLASH PEOPLE*****

The DCR ISNT private. Shannon has NO idea about protecting her forum. Any good hack group can jump right on in and get all the information posted there. Hell - she's even left the Private Messaging functions open for all to read if they just knew how to get to them.

SOME of us "scrappin housewives" are just a LIL more than what meets the eye.

Anonymous said...

Un-freaking-believable! Lindsay Jane had the nerve to post this in Kristin's public apology thread:

I hope this turns out to be a valuable lesson for everyone.
Please be patient for a reply to messages sent. Even try emailing if there is no response here.
All designers spend lots of hours designing, then we have all the extra chores that go along with it. We also have a life outside the computer which sometimes keeps us very busy.
_____________________________

She said something worse before that, look again.

Anonymous said...

Shannon has NO idea about protecting her forum.
---------
Shannon has NO idea about lots and lots of things, but I digress.

It's completely irresponsible of her to have EVER let the DCR get to the point it has.

Does this really surprise anyone? It's been going on since day 1 of DST.

Anonymous said...

This is absolute poppycock. The DCR is not a public forum and nothing that has ever been posted there has been wrong!

Anonymous said...

6:07....

That's SUCH an obvious BAIT. lmfao

Anonymous said...

yes, before Lindsay posted her fakey "nicey-nice" comment, she actually had posted something about how she was disappointed that Kristen had chosen to publicly apologize instead of keeping it private in order to make herself look good. She quickly deleted it and then posted the comment you see now. However, you can see that post #20 in that thread states "I don't think it's odd to issue a public apology since the original statement was public. It seemed appropriate and humble to me to publicly state that she erred." so yes, Lindsay, you got caught.

Anonymous said...

6:07....

That's SUCH an obvious BAIT. lmfao

July 5, 2008 6:12 PM

tee hee!

Anonymous said...

I wondered what that person was talking about with odd stuff about a public apology.

Lindsay Jane is a bottom dweller.

Anonymous said...

so yes, Lindsay, you got caught.

July 5, 2008 6:17 PM

It won't be the last time she gets caught acting like a complete ass.

Sasha SmartyPants said...

The Darkside has the screenshot for those of you who want to see it.

Anonymous said...

The DCR ISNT private. Shannon has NO idea about protecting her forum. Any good hack group can jump right on in and get all the information posted there. Hell - she's even left the Private Messaging functions open for all to read if they just knew how to get to them.

SOME of us "scrappin housewives" are just a LIL more than what meets the eye.

July 5, 2008 5:48 PM

So why not just go get some dirt on Shannon and all the other holier than thou bullshitters over at DST and expose them?

Seems silly to hint around that you can/will get into the DCR and even the PM system. That just puts them on the alert and gives them a chance to try and cover their tracks.

Anonymous said...

Sasha SmartyPants said...
The Darkside has the screenshot for those of you who want to see it.
___________________________________

No thanks!

Anonymous said...

Sasha SmartyPants said...
The Darkside has the screenshot for those of you who want to see it.

July 5, 2008 6:36 PM

Ahhh, the posts from the DCR mole make sense now.

Just how low WILL you go to try and drum up traffic to your pathetic excuse for a blog?

Anonymous said...

How was the CT appreciation kit a promotional tool? It wasn't sold anywhere that I know of. And on my part, I contributed to it because I genuinely do appreciate my CT. I have a wonderful group of women and I consider them friends before I do CT members after over a year of working with most of them.

They aren't rabid, they aren't in your face, and I don't have this huge list of requirements for them. Maybe that's why we get along so well?

I also don't get this hate for DST. I'm a designer, but I'm not a huge name designer. I scrap, but I'm not a popular scrapper. I know who the big name designers are, but I really have no idea who the popular scrappers are. I see layouts that I like, that's it. I like DST. I don't see all this other crap that you guys complain about all the time. Other than a few people in chatter posting obvious OMG look at this product thread. I just ignore it and read the threads that interest me.

My question is, if you hate DST that much, why do you go there? If you want to be in a community - why don't you go find a forum that you like, feel comfortable at, and where you enjoy the people who are participating? Why spend so much time going to and complaining about a place you supposedly don't like?

Sasha SmartyPants said...

Your anger towards Patricia and I is rather amusing. Why so angry?

Just to clarify...the person who sent us the screenshot sent us the same info that was shared here or our information would've been on the post.

It's obvious to both of us by our stat meter that there are enough people here interested in reading the information posted on our blog.

My post said "to those who are interested". If you're not interested, then simply dont go see it, but please dont think you speak on behalf of all the readers here, no matter how many "anonymous" posts you can sit and churn out to make yourself look like more people.

I'd like to thank the blog owner for the link to our blog - we'll be updating our blog soon and will definitely link back.

Anonymous said...

I also don't get this hate for DST. I'm a designer, but I'm not a huge name designer. I scrap, but I'm not a popular scrapper. I know who the big name designers are, but I really have no idea who the popular scrappers are. I see layouts that I like, that's it. I like DST. I don't see all this other crap that you guys complain about all the time.
-------------------
My question is that if you like DST and are happy there, why do you visit these blogs?

Anonymous said...

So........... let me get this straight........ It's NOT ok for personal info to be posted at DST......BUT.........it's okay for someone to copy and paste it here???

Hypocrite!

Anonymous said...

It was posted here to prove a point you bonehead.

Anonymous said...

Plenty of people with DCR access have admitted that they regularly post people's personal info there.

The only point that has been proven is that someone with DCR access likes trying to stir up trouble on the blogs.

Anonymous said...

This from a happy DST member HAHAHAHAHAHAH

quit crying already

Anonymous said...

all this pirate hunting stuff is boring. The whole Law and Order section of the DCR is just a few third-rate designers who like to play internet sleuth to make themselves feel important.

No one takes them seriously, in the DCR or anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

you all wouldnt be passing this information off if it was YOUR personal information being posted on the internet. Im sure you'd be throwing fits and threatening to sue.

talk about hypocrites

Thank you to the original poster who posted this information. Maybe you should hunt down all the designers who are posting personal information and post their names on blogs too - see how they like it.

Anonymous said...

Maybe you should hunt down all the designers who are posting personal information and post their names on blogs too - see how they like it.

July 5, 2008 8:15 PM

Go for it!

Anonymous said...

This from a happy DST member HAHAHAHAHAHAH

quit crying already

July 5, 2008 8:12 PM

You are very transparent!

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter how much wrongdoing at DST is uncovered. There will never be a shortage of needy, insecure scrappers who are only too happy to grovel and suck up to designers, or Shannon, or anyone else who hints at making them a scrapbooking star.

Anonymous said...

To those of you who think that the DCR is not an open forum, think again. Anyone that claims they are a designer, and has a blog that sells anything scrapping related gets granted admittance. That's a pretty public forum if you ask me.

Anonymous said...

9:12, this is not news. Many people have objected to the goings on in the DCR on this and other gossip blogs.

Anonymous said...

There will never be a shortage of needy, insecure scrappers who are only too happy to grovel and suck up to designers, or Shannon, or anyone else who hints at making them a scrapbooking star.

------------------------

Amen to that sister!

Anonymous said...

You know what? I am not a designer, nor do I have access or care to have access to the DCR, but in my opinion the minute that Helen lady decided to share a kit (aka violating TOU/copyright laws, WHATEVER -- and puLEASE don't go into that mess.. Lets just agree that she did something WRONG - for those that feel sharing/pirating is WRONG)- is the minute she LOST her right to privacy amongst SB stores. It is not wrong for designers to share info to protect themselves and their products, because the minute that lady made the wrong choice, she gave up that right.

NOT that this is on the level of a felony or whatever, but in comparison - when someone breaks a law, they go to jail. They forfeit a lot of their rights. They have to give fingerprints, they have to give up a LOT of personal info - and then they have public records (that employers, landlords, etc., can access so that they can protect themselves or at least be aware) that will haunt them forever.

Now, I KNOW this is soooooo much less important than a real crime, but you know what? If that Helen lady was sooo worried about her privacy, then she should have thought twice about sharing a kit in a land of pirate hunters and followed the TOU.

I have NO sympathy for pirates and dishonest file-sharers that cry and boo hoo 'cause they actually have some repercussions for their actions (i.e. being banned from a store, or having their info shared publicly). Just do what is RIGHT and you won't have to worry! JMO.

Sasha SmartyPants said...

10:59 I see your point. I think though, that designers should change their privacy policies and add a new "piracy clause" detailing that if caught their purchasing/personal information will be shared in a public forum. I think that may hinder a lot of what's going on now dont you?

Anonymous said...

I have NO sympathy for pirates and dishonest file-sharers that cry and boo hoo 'cause they actually have some repercussions for their actions (i.e. being banned from a store, or having their info shared publicly). Just do what is RIGHT and you won't have to worry! JMO.
-----------
ITA!!!!

Anonymous said...

Michelle go fuck yourself...I mean REALLY.

Anonymous said...

Michelle go fuck yourself...I mean REALLY.

---------

Now that was intelligent... really.

Anonymous said...

ITA!! Michelle is a pirating pirate hunter and should be outed right along with the people shes been hunting down.

Great idea Michelle, go fuck yourself.

Really!!

Anonymous said...

Seriously!

lmao

Anonymous said...

yeah michelle there's an idea to keep you occupied for a while. we all see you on the DCR telling this person and that person to email you because you have information about pirates. AS IF you arent a pirate your damn self.

hypocrite

Anonymous said...

If that Helen lady was sooo worried about her privacy, then she should have thought twice about sharing a kit in a land of pirate hunters and followed the TOU.

I have NO sympathy for pirates and dishonest file-sharers that cry and boo hoo 'cause they actually have some repercussions for their actions (i.e. being banned from a store, or having their info shared publicly). Just do what is RIGHT and you won't have to worry! JMO.


____________

ITA with this. It is interesting how someone has a valid and intelligent point for once, and then out comes the name-calling and pointing fingers yada yada to take the blame off those that are doing what they know they shouldn't, lol. No idea who Michelle is but just cracks me up to see the same thing over and over on these blogs.

Anonymous said...

ITA with this. It is interesting how someone has a valid and intelligent point for once, and then out comes the name-calling and pointing fingers yada yada to take the blame off those that are doing what they know they shouldn't, lol. No idea who Michelle is but just cracks me up to see the same thing over and over on these blogs.
-------

No kidding. Quit trying to skirt the issue and put the blame on who knows what. You all really think that if you pirate or file share (or just plain do something wrong) that you have rights and are in a position to be mad that your info is being shared among digi stores??? Yeah, that is SOOooo much worse an offense than pirating itself, lol..

You people make me laugh. The only way you would have a problem with this concept is if you are one to file-share too or have reason to be/feel guilty!

I highly doubt any designer is going to share or even care about personal information of a customer that is honest, follows the TOU, and minds their own business! So if that is you, then you have nothing to worry about!

If that isn't you, then tough luck. Designers are going to talk "privately" and help one another out in any way they need to protect their designs - no matter what you bitch about on this blog.

Anonymous said...

oh boy looks like the trailer park crowd has come to this blog now, and I was beginning to like the discussion here. sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Pirating is wrong, but for a store owner to post confidential information about one of their customers is ILLEGAL.

As for the person who wants to know why everyone hates DST, we'll I'll be happy to chime in. Unfortunately the designers are stupid enough to pay Shannon to be able to post their kits there. I don't like going from store to store or reading a gazillion store ads to see the latest products available, so unfortunately DST is one of the few places I can go for that purpose.
DST regulars are stuck up and ass kissers. The average scrapper will never feel welcome there. Go check all the RAKS and tell me if it's not the same ones over and over that are the recipients. Go to the gallery and see who's layouts get all the comments. Go to the Gallery Stand Outs and see who's layouts are mentioned over and over.
If you are not one of the CT's or one of the ass kissing members of DST see how many replies you get to a NSBR or a scrap related question.
I could go on and on, but what is the point. Until the designers establish one central location that doesn't feed Shannon, CT's and the scrap digi divas to show case their works, many of us have no choice.

Anonymous said...

As the above poster stated, sharing private information is illegal - and like it or not, should this woman find out about it, she could actually sue. Again, she was not tried in a court of law, she was not legally convicted of anything. Common sense people, use it!

Anonymous said...

If everyone is so upset that this pirates information was posted in the DCR, let me ask you, how else are store owners suppose to communicate a warning to other store owners? What, she should have emailed every SB store in existance? I don't think so. But I do think the right thing to do is warn other stores when a pirate is caught. Maybe store owners just need a better place to do that, but right now all they have is the DCR, which is a pretty leaky place. I think a lot of designers and store owners see DST as a neccessary evil and until there is a better option, it is all they have.

What pisses me off more is when the information is NOT shared. For instance when a designer is caught copying some other designers work and is fired but it is all kept hush-hush. Next thing you know that designer shows up at 2 new stores because those store owners don't know about the pirating. This happens ALL the time. In the end, it's about protecting the customer. You don't want to buy a kit and then later find out it was a copy of someone else kit, do you?

Anonymous said...

In the end, it's about protecting the customer.
----------
This is the biggest line of BS that I have EVER.ever.seen a designer try to foist off! "It" is not, nor has it ever been about protecting the customer.

It's about the customer's money and nothing else. Have the guts to admit it.

Anonymous said...

You don't want to buy a kit and then later find out it was a copy of someone else kit, do you?

July 6, 2008 4:35 AM

It doesn't really matter to me. If I bought it and I like it, I'm going to scrap with it.

Anonymous said...

Pirating is wrong, but for a store owner to post confidential information about one of their customers is ILLEGAL.


^^^^

Have you ever been to a restaurant that has posted a bounced check on the wall by the cash register? This isn't much different. I've never seen them erase the address information from the check. And when I worked at the mall, we would even share that information with other stores within the mall. This isn't illegal!

And a lot of sites have it in their privacy policy that information will be shared in the case of piracy.

Do the right thing and you won't have anything to worry about!

Anonymous said...

Piracy is such pointless topic to try and debate. The vast majority of scrappers are not pirates, and designers who get obsessed with the few people who do are bringing the whole community down.

I don't pirate and I couldn't really care less if a few paranoid, obsessed store owners are passing names of pirates around the DCR.

It's the other crap that goes on in the DCR that ought to be brought to light. The blacklisting and the trash-talk and gossip about customers. Shannon shouldn't be harboring that kind of crap while those same customers are keeping her in business through gold and diamond memberships.

But then maybe some scrappers are starting to catch on, since it looks like the numbers of sheeples buying memberships is way down.

Anonymous said...

It certainly isn't illegal. In fact, the newspaper here posts names/addresses/phone numbers of people who haven't paid their property taxes. Your name, address, and phone number is generally public information, unless you go through the extra steps to make it private. Most people don't.

FYI, you certainly don't have to put a real address and phone number in your registration for digi shops, unless of course you are buying something that needs to be sent to your home. If you are concerned about your "privacy", use a fake one.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah and don't pirate stuff.

Anonymous said...

As for the person who wants to know why everyone hates DST, we'll I'll be happy to chime in. Unfortunately the designers are stupid enough to pay Shannon to be able to post their kits there. I don't like going from store to store or reading a gazillion store ads to see the latest products available, so unfortunately DST is one of the few places I can go for that purpose.
DST regulars are stuck up and ass kissers. The average scrapper will never feel welcome there. Go check all the RAKS and tell me if it's not the same ones over and over that are the recipients. Go to the gallery and see who's layouts get all the comments. Go to the Gallery Stand Outs and see who's layouts are mentioned over and over.
If you are not one of the CT's or one of the ass kissing members of DST see how many replies you get to a NSBR or a scrap related question.
I could go on and on, but what is the point. Until the designers establish one central location that doesn't feed Shannon, CT's and the scrap digi divas to show case their works, many of us have no choice.

July 6, 2008 1:29 AM

I have to completely disagree with you. I happen to like DST for the most part. I am on a few CT's...definitely not on the more popular ones, and I feel I am treated very well there. I'm not well known, but I do get random comments on my layouts. I don't often play the praise game. A couple of mine have made it into the gallery standouts, and I still have no idea how that happened. I have received several RAK's, and I kis NO ONE'S ASS!!!

Anonymous said...

9:42 That's why you post anonymously. If you really love the place put your real info out there. Or maybe you really ARE an ass kisser and it's on display at DST.

Anonymous said...

9:59 You almost have me thinking I should, but leave it to someone here to try to drag my name though the mud. I'm sure someone would find a way to do it! I just don't think you can link everyone who gets comments and RAKS with someone who kisses ass. kwim? I do comment, reply to threads, but I'm not a negative person to begin with. I don't post in the happy place trying to get RAK'd. Sometimes I thank them publicly, other times I do it privately. Some may see it as kissing up, but I'm truly thankful. I mean what I post there, and if I can't say anything nice, I just don't say anything at all. A good motto to live by!

If you are a negative person by nature, then you will think the worst. That's ok. I'm comfortable with that.

Anonymous said...

Add me to the list of unknown scrappers who get RAKs and comments at DST. I don't post many threads, but I've posted a couple and I've gotten lots of responses. I've also had a few layouts in the GSO. And no, I don't kiss ass either, and even if I did no one would remember because I don't post often enough to be on anyone's radar.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I'm surprised to hear that anyone but the most prolific attention seekers and ass-kissers even bother with the GSO thread!

It was pretty obvious early on that it was set up by Shannon at the request of some designer or designers who thought it would be a nifty way to try and sucker more people into the whole scrapping star or standout mentality. Just another way to get the sheeples to compete and fall all over each other in an attempt to be THE one who showcases the latest and greatest IT designer's stuff.
blech.

Anonymous said...

1:04 so true

Anonymous said...

Well, it's only a few more days until Shannon's big announcement on the eagerly anticipated DST CT.

Any predictions as to who they will be?

Anonymous said...

It's the other crap that goes on in the DCR that ought to be brought to light. The blacklisting and the trash-talk and gossip about customers. Shannon shouldn't be harboring that kind of crap while those same customers are keeping her in business through gold and diamond memberships.
-----------------------
What trash talk, gossip and blacklisting? I've been on the DCR for almost 2 years and I don't see this at all. The ONLY time I see customers/customer information being discussed is when there is strong suspicion of piracy or something not on the up and up - often these individuals will hit multiple stores so it's valuable for shop owners to compare notes.

Unless you are doing something wrong you have nothing to worry about.

I've never seen any 'blacklist' either. Plenty of designers get burned by CT joining, downloading their store and then dropping out of site but I don't see the designers getting on the DCR and blasting their names all over the place.

What's pretty pathetic is all the 'moles' who have agreed to a confidentiality agreement prior to joining the DCR but they toss it aside and publish information on smack blogs.

Anonymous said...

What's pretty pathetic is all the 'moles' who have agreed to a confidentiality agreement prior to joining the DCR but they toss it aside and publish information on smack blogs.
^^^^
As the digital world has grown, this kind of thing was inevitable with the DCR. Which is another reason it's a silly concept. Shannon's approach to a designer resource forum has been flawed from the start.

Anonymous said...

Yet another post from a DST'er who's NEVER heard ANYTHING bad going on at DST. Just like they NEVER post personal information and they NEVER blacklist people.

Gimme a break.

Anonymous said...

Yet another post from a DST'er who's NEVER heard ANYTHING bad going on at DST. Just like they NEVER post personal information and they NEVER blacklist people.

Gimme a break.
===================
I pretty much KNEW someone would respond like this. I never said bad things didn't happen DST. There have been a lot of catfights in the DCR and chatter that I could do without. Like most people I really dislike the 'star' mentality that goes on there. And no I am not interested in Shannon's $350 promo.

But what I said about the DCR honestly stands. The only 'blacklisting' I have seen is discussion of known pirates, which I really don't have a problem with at all.

If you want to see blacklisting, slander, gossip and general viciousness you can find loads more of than on these 'gossip blogs' than you'd ever see in the DCR.

Anonymous said...

And no I am not interested in Shannon's $350 promo.
------------
It will be really, really interesting to see who does go for this "opportunity."

Anonymous said...

seriously? the hate over the new advertising package is so lame. why do you guys care so much that someone else is running a successful business? are you that jealous and insecure?

i've yet to hear one good reason why you care at all....

Anonymous said...

successful business???

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I'm surprised to hear that anyone but the most prolific attention seekers and ass-kissers even bother with the GSO thread!
=================
I have read the GSO just to get inspiration. Also 'Finger Pointing' at Gallery Standouts and MSA in general. Cruising through the entire DST gallery for inspiration layouts would take 4ever

I tried to play the DST praise game and my computer just froze - same thing when I checked out those happy place promo threads - I think all the blinkies and crap is bringing down the system - not worth my time and I have 3 gigs of ram so it's definitely not my computer.

I would be happy if all blinkies were banned. They really annoy me.

Anonymous said...

I would be happy if all blinkies were banned. They really annoy me.

July 6, 2008 6:30 PM

Word!

Anonymous said...

I really don't think any 'big name' designers are going to go for this whole DST CT promo thing. They don't need the exposure if they're already big names.

I'd be willing to bet $ that if any big names are featured by the promo team, it's because Shannon had given them a free spot to try and drum up some feigned interest in this very flawed idea.

I don't even believe her stmt about banner ads at DST being sold out through 2008. Some of the banner ads over there are way old. With advertisements for sales going back to March or April. That's either some seriously lazy designer that can't be bothered to update their own banner ad, or Shannon's full of crap. Either way, it's kind of lame.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I'm surprised to hear that anyone but the most prolific attention seekers and ass-kissers even bother with the GSO thread!
======================

I don't look in the GSO, nor do I post in it. I have had pm's though that someone put my layout in there. It's probably happened 3 or 4 times to me in the 2 years I've been digi scrapping. I could take it or leave it, but I must admit it was nice that someone liked it enough to list it.

Anonymous said...

I can sort of tolerate the GSO, because anyone can post a favorite in it, but I HATE that 'finger pointing' blog. I've never understood why some people think THEY can decide what's worthy and good. And all the layouts they pick are mostly the same style (simple, white space layouts with small photos, and many with that WST look). That blog is such a turn-off to me with it's elitist attitude.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
yeah michelle there's an idea to keep you occupied for a while. we all see you on the DCR telling this person and that person to email you because you have information about pirates. AS IF you arent a pirate your damn self.

hypocrite

July 6, 2008 12:43 AM
_____________

Yes, Michelle aka Kutnkudly is for sure a pirate. She is in so many yahoo groups, I bet she snags great kits once in a while (if it's not every day).
Everytime she posts in the DCR ''contact me, someone is pirating your stuff'', all designers think, ''shut up, you hypocrite''.

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha, didn't take GABS long to start pissing people off. Rumor has it some of her CT's are PISSED.
Go to her blog and see why. She doesn't even post their names by their layouts, nor does she even mention them. http://evitangel.blogspot.com/
Is GABS trying to take the glory for all their hard work?
At least Dawn Inskip posted their names next to their layouts in her post at DST, but not GABS. http://www.digishoptalk.com/products/showphoto.php?photo=26115&limit=recent
Her blog reeks of her with no mention of her CT team.
Shame Shame Shame Gabs!

Anonymous said...

@@ 6:57

It is not news that gabs is full of herself, but you are really reaching here.

She never says all those LOs are hers.

It sounds like some people on her team are just as or more full of themselves than she is.

Anonymous said...

If CTs disappeared today, so would most of the drama in digital.

Anonymous said...

It looks as if she's put their names next to their layouts now!! Really, by just mentioning this to a designer, it could cause a lot less drama. I'll be neutral and just say that it must've been an oversight. Who knows really?

Anonymous said...

successful business???

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

---------------------------------

OK, now I know you're just a jealous twat. Hate DST all you want, but it makes a hell of alot more money than anyone posting on this blog...

Anonymous said...

Have to agree. How hard would it have been for the dissatisfied ct member to have just asked gabs to put their names by their LOs?

What a stupid attempt to create some drama.

CTs are more trouble than they're worth.

Anonymous said...

Hate DST all you want, but it makes a hell of alot more money than anyone posting on this blog...

July 7, 2008 9:55 AM

Unless you are Shannon, you have no idea how much money DST makes or doesn't make.

Anonymous said...

Pay no attention to 9:55. It seems she's stuck on calling everyone different variations of "vagina" today. Twat here, Snatch there.

For backing up DST you sure are setting a GREAT example.

Anonymous said...

9:59 THANK YOU

Anonymous said...

IMO, the drama (with a long "a") surrounding CT's is a direct reflection of lack of professionalism of the designer(s) and/or store owners.

It would be my best guess that a great deal of designers/owners at the center of these debaucles don't know how to actually manage a business. Because the nature of scrapbooking is family orientated, there is a common mistake to treat your business like a family get-together. How often do those occur without the pssing, whining, complaining, poor me faces, egos and attitudes? Well, okay so my family is a bit out there LOL - but I am sure you get what I mean.

If you are a store owner or a designer, you have to lead your staff in a professional and fair way. You should be one step ahead of the staff in rewarding hard work and heading off issues - whether staff or product related.

And really, no one is doing anyone a favor just because you were
"accepted" into a particular store or on a particular designer's CT. You work hard and you are paid - whether its cash or product. This makes this a business relationship and it should be conducted as such.

I believe that a CT is invaluable to a designer/store. If treated with respect and provided with strong, compassionate leadership, I can't imagine either needing drama to feed the machine.

And here is my bottom line. If I were the owner of a store where this kind of drama played out, I would politely & privately cancel the contracts for both designer and CT - wishing them well. I would then send a letter to my entire staff, acknowledging the incident and clarifying the policies of the store and assuring them that this behavior and lack of professionalism is not tolerated. I would also point out that this type of behavior hurts the reputation and sales of everyone involved.

Anyway, I saw a comment about how useless a CT is and I just had to speak my piece.

Anonymous said...

And here is my bottom line. If I were the owner of a store where this kind of drama played out, I would politely & privately cancel the contracts for both designer and CT - wishing them well. I would then send a letter to my entire staff, acknowledging the incident and clarifying the policies of the store and assuring them that this behavior and lack of professionalism is not tolerated. I would also point out that this type of behavior hurts the reputation and sales of everyone involved.

Anyway, I saw a comment about how useless a CT is and I just had to speak my piece.

July 7, 2008 12:24 PM

It's the store owners and designers that WON'T do what you suggested above that are giving CTs a bad name and in many cases, rendering them virtually useless.

Sorry, but they are practically useless if designers and/or store owners won't put a stop to all the crap that's being flung around.

Lindsay Jane is a perfect example. She should be booted out of whatever store she sells at. She is an insufferable bitch and from the looks of the comment left by one of her CT members on Kristin's apology thread, her CT is full of the same kind of attitude that she has.

There could very well be a couple of nice and/or talented scrappers on her CT, but the bad behavior of Lindsay Jane and at least one of her CT members just makes them all look bad.

Besides my issues with the slowness and disorganization of SBB, I doubt I'll go back after Lindsay Jane's hissy fit.


And like it or not, after a few of these incidents, people start to make generalizations about CTs. Same with designers.

As long as the bad behavior is overlooked and even ennabled by site/store owners and designers, the drama is going to continue, and probably even escalate.

Anonymous said...

"As long as the bad behavior is overlooked and even ennabled by site/store owners and designers, the drama is going to continue, and probably even escalate."

Very well put.

Anonymous said...

Who or what is "gabs?"

Anonymous said...

GABS = Scrapper who has some kind of promotional blog. I still can't figure out how it works - do designers pay her and her team to create layouts for the kit they want to have her promote?

Re CT Drama - I really don't see any drama where I sell or amongst my CT - I really think it's a reflection of the designer/store - if they are professional and level headed they won't attract/tolerate 'drama queens'.... If they are a drama queen themselves that's not so great and you can pretty much expect the CT to reflect their mentality.

Anonymous said...

PS - notice that nobody on the DCR will admit to reading this blog.

Anonymous said...

Re CT Drama - I really don't see any drama where I sell or amongst my CT - I really think it's a reflection of the designer/store - if they are professional and level headed they won't attract/tolerate 'drama queens'...
----------------
Yes I tend to agree. I'm on a couple of very big CTs and there have been incidents of designer copying, stealing etc. that have occurred - yet NONE of it has EVER been to a smack blog. Likewise, no one on the team would ever make any public accusations or get involved in a drama thread. That's because the gals on the team know better than to discuss private CT team matters outside the team. The Designers and store owner are professional and it would go against culture of the team.

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