Yes, It's a lovely blog train - the best I've seen. I think you'll be pleased as there are only a few truly awful ones. To people who say otherwise, you are not being fair or kind.
The strange palette turned out great, the designers POV really come through, and they've all done a nice job.
I agree I think no theme really let the true designer come out. Some were great and some not so much, but thats what its all about right? Getting to "test" out the designer work?
I've been through the whole thing and it's all awful. And I don't understand why, either, because the palette really wasn't that bad. It's definitely not worth wasting your time on. I downloaded less than 10 things and by the time I finish deleting junk, there will maybe be a mini kit left.
I downloaded from only a few designers and some of them it was only for certain parts: designs by krista wishing well sherwood studio kate hadfield enkay digilicious bzb designs aprilsila lily lane market t for me luv ewe
A couple notes, first I can't believe how many designers can't even properly link to the next blog! Second, steadfast and immovable did a single alpha and yet it was 4 downloads, that seems like a little much! Third, I can understand adjusting the swatch a bit, especially the orange since it was out of gamut, but some of them are so different it's crazy.
Then review them yourself. Who set up this anon designer who calls herself 'Simon' as the last word on who's good and who isn't.
Get a grip people.
August 1, 2011 2:05 PM ------
Chill out a little. Nobody said Simon was the "last word on who's good and who isn't". Some people just enjoy reading Simon's reviews. Not sure why it bugs you so much that the OP asked for one.
Likely, the OP has something in the blog train and wants to read a review on her work. Is that really such a bad thing to ask for?
Yes, it's an awful thing to saddle Simon with - that's 100 reviews! And for what?
Maybe she could request numbers 30-39 - and some kind-hearted soul will drop what they are doing and review all 10.
I didn't care for Misty Cato's either.
Speaking of websites that need to be tweaked - the freebie link that was just passed around here yesterday needs to be coded so it always stays open and a new tab opens for the new website. I've noticed this on a lot of blog trains and it's annoying to those of use who want to go back and say thank you. Does anybody know how to do that?
Yeah, it wasn't put on properly. Though perhaps she was just wanting to make it a tag and did an circle erase and didn't realize she actually had delete part of the pin?
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
I'd like Simon's input. _____________________________
What the fuck for? Can't you make your own decisions? _____________________________
Holy F-bomb batman! How dare people want a review of anything. What are they thinking? I mean, it isn't like we live in a society that gives reviews for anything.. we don't review movies, books, restaurants, sex toys, makeup, furniture, artwork.. etc.
It isn't like there is a huge industry of writers that focus solely on reviewing things. Could you imagine a kid telling their parent they wanted to review FOOD for a living? I mean I'd be like GTFO my house!
CHOO CHOO! It is time for the August Blog Train to roll into Designs by Connie Prince. Here's the contribution that I (Shari) put together for you and Connie was kind enough to let me share it on her blog ... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Just read this while going through the BT and was really put off by it. If you're going to bother to design things, get your own blog and let Connie do her own work.
CHOO CHOO! It is time for the August Blog Train to roll into Designs by Connie Prince. Here's the contribution that I (Shari) put together for you and Connie was kind enough to let me share it on her blog ... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Just read this while going through the BT and was really put off by it. If you're going to bother to design things, get your own blog and let Connie do her own work. ^^^
I read this morning that Trish went through the train and actually pointed this out in the thread at DST - I guess she thought the same thing because she said something about it being pointless to sign up and then not do it yourself
I downloaded very few kit from the blog train, and ended up with 30 elements, one paper, some glitter styles and an elements pack from Kate Hadfield. There were not many things that I don't already have or can't design myself (and I am not even a designer). For me the themed trains were better.
Didn't Connie's mom just die? Give the woman a break. ----------------------- If it was the first time that she has done it I would understand, but that CT member does the blog train and freebies for her all the time.
It isn't like there is a huge industry of writers that focus solely on reviewing things. Could you imagine a kid telling their parent they wanted to review FOOD for a living? I mean I'd be like GTFO my house!
You are right. What the fuck were they thinking?
________________________________
First - those people put their names behind their review. I respect that and I can ascertain their agenda ( do they work for the movie studio, etc.)
Second - who is stopping anyone from reviewing? My point was simple, if people want a review who's stopping them from doing it themselves? Why must it be the designer who calls herself 'Simon'. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her reviews I just think it's silly or maybe stupid, and naive to call out just one name for a review on a smack blog. I'd like to see 10 reviews and 10 different opinions because quite honestly, if you were a part of that blog train (I wasn't) it might give you a better idea of how your mini measured up instead of one review by one designer.
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
-----------
I'm the designer who mentioned using the BT as a marketing tool, and I don't remember ever saying that I was using it to peddle a full kit that matches the BT freebies. Because yes, that is seriously stupid. There are other ways the train can act as a good marketing tool, though, if you know how to use it properly. You have a limited view of marketing/advertising if your only idea for use of the blog train is to peddle a full kit that coordinates.
Second - who is stopping anyone from reviewing? My point was simple, if people want a review who's stopping them from doing it themselves? Why must it be the designer who calls herself 'Simon'. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her reviews I just think it's silly or maybe stupid, and naive to call out just one name for a review on a smack blog. I'd like to see 10 reviews and 10 different opinions because quite honestly, if you were a part of that blog train (I wasn't) it might give you a better idea of how your mini measured up instead of one review by one designer.
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
-------------- p.s. you downloaded all 100? you have to be kidding me. I question your taste, now, because some of the other kits are rather hideous.
Anonymous said... To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
-------------- p.s. you downloaded all 100? you have to be kidding me. I question your taste, now, because some of the other kits are rather hideous.
August 1, 2011 3:52 PM
------------- I downloaded 100 kits, so to speak: not all necessarily, but there are there for me. Can't you just read between the lines?
I downloaded 100 kits, so to speak: not all necessarily, but there are there for me. Can't you just read between the lines?
-------------
You're not serious. You expect the rest of us to read your mind? It's hard to do that when you write sentences like "there are there for me." Just saying.
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
-------------
This is ridiculous, because at the bare minimum each designer is supposed to provide at least 5 unique elements in addition to the papers. Holding out portions of the kit that are required pieces seems like something that should get her kicked off the blog train in future editions. And yet the first post under her comments is from Trish, who has obviously seen what she posted and is fine with it. Apparently the rest of us can just start doling our our portions a day at a time in the future...?
This is ridiculous, because at the bare minimum each designer is supposed to provide at least 5 unique elements in addition to the papers. Holding out portions of the kit that are required pieces seems like something that should get her kicked off the blog train in future editions. And yet the first post under her comments is from Trish, who has obviously seen what she posted and is fine with it. Apparently the rest of us can just start doling our our portions a day at a time in the future...?
--------------
How do you know she hasn't been contacted? It's only the first day... I've seen a lot of designers removed for various reasons, including having people use that "pay with a tweet" thing, and not having their post up after 2 or 3 days ... maybe give it some time before smarting off?
Here's my take on the first 50 of the BTB (I'll do more later).
First - If I don't mention them then I didn't even bother to download it.
Amanda Millie Dee - kept 2 solid papers Aprilisa - kept the frame, string word art and one paper BZB Designs - kept almost everything, seems like a few things I might use Designs by Angel - I downloaded it, but deleted the whole thing b/c it was flat and bland. Daybreak Scraps - kept the frame (it's cute) and one paper DigiDeborah - kept the clip Digilicious Designs - kept the rolled flowers and a couple of papers Designs by Krista - I downloaded this one but deleted it all - didn't like the textures on the flowers and the papers were flat.
I'd like Simon's input. _____________________________
What the fuck for? Can't you make your own decisions? _____________________________
Holy F-bomb batman! How dare people want a review of anything. What are they thinking? I mean, it isn't like we live in a society that gives reviews for anything.. we don't review movies, books, restaurants, sex toys, makeup, furniture, artwork.. etc.
It isn't like there is a huge industry of writers that focus solely on reviewing things. Could you imagine a kid telling their parent they wanted to review FOOD for a living? I mean I'd be like GTFO my house!
You are right. What the fuck were they thinking? __________________________
I posted the above... It was SARCASM! :D I think reviews are great! Read it again! I named off a ton of different things that get reviews... I named off a valid career.. LOL! I guess sarcasm doesn't really show up well in text? Did no one get that?!
Digital Harmony - kept most everything - good for basics. EnKay - Kind of cute, kept most of it to use as basics EyeInspire - kept most everything except the borders which were ugly. HFD - not sure of the name b/c no preview was included or TOU. Kept a couple papers and none of the elements Inspired Designs - downloaded and deleted In the Small Things - downloaded and deleted Jen C - kept most of it - again for basics Jusme - Deleted everything - yuck! Kate Hadfeld - kept them, but will have to see what they look like opened in Photoshop
if people want a review who's stopping them from doing it themselves? Why must it be the designer who calls herself 'Simon'. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her reviews I just think it's silly or maybe stupid, and naive to call out just one name for a review on a smack blog. -------------
Aw, that's so simple. It's because Simon has a name. It's pretty hard to call out on anon to do a review, now, isn't it? Coz, you now, there are so many of us.
I'm not sure why people get so pissed off when others ask for a Simon review. If you don't like it, carry on. It's really that simple. LOL @ sex toys review!
I don't normally bother to look at the bi-monthly blog train because it's almost always 90% crap. But, I will this time to see if I'm missing anything. I'm not reviewing everyone, so assume if it's not mentioned, I think your contribution is gross.
I would like to add that including that stupid slideshow is ANNOYING and SLOW. Just get rid of it. Who sits there and watches it anyway? Show us the swatch and move on.
Downloaded (my reviews are after I unzipped): Misty Cato - Don't like the metallic style applied to the stars. Don't like the texture on the solids and why no light blue solid? Seems odd since she made the other 5 colors. I didn't keep the solids or the stars.
Designs by Krista - Downloaded for the papers only. Deleted all the elements but the ribbon.
Wishing Well Creations (Not the Facebook alpha, though. The coloring is off.) - This didn't mesh with the other pieces of the train, but it's pretty and done well.
Kate Hadfield - Great quality doodles.
Adorable Digital Designs - After unzipping, I deleted everything but the banner. I only downloaded for the elements anyway. I liked the little clothes on the hangers and they are sadly jagged. It's a shame, because they are adorable.
Eyeinspire - Liked both minis (downloaded the 2nd from her Facebook page). Will desaturize the orange and brown, though. The borders need to be about half the height she made them.
Marie H Designs - Downloaded because I never heard of her. Very basic, but OK. Deleted half of it.
Sweet Tomato Designs - This doesn't really mesh with most of the blog train, but the papers are grunged nicely. Deleted most of the elements.
eNKay - Deleted half the papers. The elements are cute.
Daybreak Scraps - Deleted everything but the doodles.
Snips and Snails - This looked like a total mish mash, but I liked the banner and it was direct download. I ended up keeping the banner, the leaves, and the little tag. Liked the retro flower pattern paper, but the texture was gross.
Aprilisa Designs - Downloaded for the papers - kept only the patterns. Flower is poorly recolored. Other elements are basic. Kept the frame since it was there.
Trixie Scraps - Deleted half the elements (mish mashy) and kept 2 of the patterned papers.
t is for me - Downloaded only for the papers. Kept most of them and the button. Other elements are mish mashy and gross.
Luv Ewe - Kept the papers. The elements are poorly recolored.
Looked OK, but didn't download: A-liya Digilicious Designs BZB Designs Studio 4 (template) Lilly Lane (templates) Designs by Helly (even though this totally doesn't mesh with much else on the train, it's pretty) Designs by Colleen Delicious Scraps
Not up at the time of my review... Mille Dee Designs Aimee Harrison Angel Hartline Feli Designs Mad Genius Designs Dancing Princess Designs Willow Grace Designs Scrappin Wright The Brown Owl Inspirations from Day Jill DZines
Overall, I now have a huge retro styled mega and a few little minis. It would have gone faster if that stupid slideshow didn't slow me down. It took me about an hour and a half to go through all the blogs, download what I wanted, then unzip and delete what I didn't want. That includes the time to write this review. I wouldn't say it was worth it as I'm happy to buy things and generally don't waste time with freebies. But, if you're on a limited budget, it's a nice way to get a lot of stuff if you have need for it.
I would like to add that including that stupid slideshow is ANNOYING and SLOW. Just get rid of it. Who sits there and watches it anyway? Show us the swatch and move on. -----
I just go to the Photobucket account and check the previews that way. Much easier than visiting each of the blogs.
I just go to the Photobucket account and check the previews that way. Much easier than visiting each of the blogs. August 1, 2011 7:07 PM -------- Well, you still have to visit the blogs to download what you want and to get to them you have to be on the Blog Train Blog page. Just having that one page open while you click what you want makes things slow.
Mara - papers were a mess, just kept a bow, border and bead spill
Marie H - kept it all
Misty Cato - a few of the elements were cute and I kept them, but the paper textures were really flat and boring
Robin Pali - kept the flower
Ruby Lane - kept the glitter spill and one paper
Sugar Berry Pie - kept 2 papers and 2 elements, the rest looked over saturated
Sherwood Studio - kept everything except the hearts
Snips and Snails - cute banner and kept a couple of solid papers, also kept a few of the doodles, but not all of them. Some of the elements had much poorer quality than others.
Sweet Tomato - kept the papers and the journal/frame thing
Blog Train by Store - You'll get what I mean shortly.
Lilypad -
Kate Hadfield - Holy cow yum. I'm not surprised her contribution would be nice!
TDC -
Wishing Well Creations - Doesn't match the rest of the stuff (imo) but that is almost a good thing! Nice papers.
eNKay -
Downloaded it is nice but just not my style, I guess? The pattern on the flower paper is nice.. again the colors are just too bright for my taste
Mommyish -
Downlaoded despite the horrible preview. Surprised that the elements were actually very nice. Not a fan of the bead cluter. I hated the striped paper. The grunge pink/brown paper is nice. The solids have a good texture.
Yes, It's a lovely blog train - the best I've seen. I think you'll be pleased as there are only a few truly awful ones. To people who say otherwise, you are not being fair or kind. --------------
I say otherwise and that's because it's not my taste. Does that make me unfair and unkind? I think not.
I say otherwise and that's because it's not my taste. Does that make me unfair and unkind? I think not.
------------
I think so. You obviously have rarefied taste with individual and specific requirements and can't hope to appreciate the more plebeian blog train in any month, under any circumstances. You probably shouldn't even be commenting (since it is so obviously out of your realm, I mean). It is like Prince Charles making a comment about flying on JetBlue...he really wouldn't have a clue.
You obviously have rarefied taste with individual and specific requirements and can't hope to appreciate the more plebeian blog train in any month, under any circumstances. ----
Plebian, beautiful word, describes it wonderfully. Why be common when you can be rare?
Someone suggested that a little constructive criticism/feedback for the good, bad, and ugly blog train contributions would be helpful, and I figured why not? A little disclaimer before I get started: although I now design and scrap digitally, I am a paper scrapper by heart and the fantasy realm doesn't appeal to me at all. Obviously these reviews will be colored by that. Also, I rarely download freebies and so many of the initial opinions will be from the preview. If I test the quality and it warrants discussion, I'll mention it.
For now, just the first 20 (here's part 1 of those):
1. Trish H. Designs: Not sure exactly why she puts up the glitters for general use. I know she's always made it available to the designers when the palette/theme is posted during planning, which makes sense (they can use it in their designs that way), The average digiscrapper, though, doesn't have a lot of use for glitter tiles. And the above-average digiscrapper usually ends up designing. Didn't DL.
2. jusme digital: I don't like that she desaturated the colors in the palette so much that they became pastel and hideous. The papers look blurry to the point of being dirty, and the color combos on each are awful. I think the gradient coloring on the acrylic hearts looks cheap. Simply put, it all looks too digital, and this isn't something that inspires anyone to preserve their memories while using it. If I wouldn't buy it in a store (i.e. if I were paper scrapping), I won't waste time downloading it. Didn't DL.
3. Lollipop Designs: I tend to judge blog train portions by usability, and this doesn't seem very usable. The papers might end up going with someone else's portion, yes, but by itself this portion is pointless. I don't need 4 papers that don't coordinate along with 5 ribbons. The preview shadowing isn't realistic, either, which makes everything look fake. All in all, there's nothing unique about any of this. Didn't DL.
4. Amanda & Millie Designs: I like the idea behind the paisley patterns/items, but it wasn't executed well. Looks beginnerish (to me, this means that it doesn't look realistic and looks obviously digital, even though the intent appears to be to look like realistic paper-scrapping elements, etc.). Didn't DL.
5. Misty Cato Designs: I like the idea she was aiming for (retro), and downloaded it to see what it looks like up close. The papers don't have much texture, but that's not really a big deal (it would work well for hybrid, for anyone who's into that). I might keep parts of it to pair with parts from other people.
6. wordartworld: I'm trying to look past the fact that I don't like this color palette, and review each contribution for it's execution within the assigned palette. It's difficult. This mini is executed rather well for what it is (papers and word art), and when combined with other portions it might work out fine. I just don't like the papers on their own, and the mish-mash of textures used on each is confusing to the eye. Downloaded it just to see if the floral patterned paper might work with someone else's portion(s).
7. HotFlashDesigns: This is a mish-mash of realistic elements and paper style elements, and doesn't appeal to me. The papers are very beginnerish. Just dots and stripes, and a realistic teapot dropped onto a white background? Don't make a paper with a realistic element as your pattern, please, people. Also, who posts one really, really long blog post in a day... let alone three? This annoyed me, although I know it has nothing to do with her designs and I am sure I will get harpooned on here for mentioning it. Didn't DL.
8. Digital Creations from Millstream Cottage: I can't wrap my head around what this is. It says "5 patterned backgrounds" but I see at least 2x that many. I can hardly make out what's an element and what's a paper. The preview is just awful. To borrow a line from Simon herself, it makes me want to cry. Didn't DL.
9. Jen C. Designs: I wouldn't download either of her freebies (blog or FB), as neither seems usable for actual scrapping. The gradient papers, in particular, are awful, though they may appeal to someone who blends photos onto papers. The rest of the blog freebie is a mish-mash of items that don't really lend themselves to scrapping, You'd have to purchase her full kit/bundle, which I know was the point. But I disagree with that approach. It makes a visitor want to skip her download all together. Didn't DL.
10. designsbykrista: I actually liked this one, based on the preview. It's simple, acts as a sample (as a blog train contribution should), but can stand alone. You could scrap a page with this. Not sure about quality, as I didn't download. The preview works, though. Downloaded to see if a couple of the papers/elements will work with other portions. Won't keep it all.
11. Samceline Designs: This looks too digital for me to want to bother with it. For instance, the kids: are they supposed to be paper? Acryilc? I'd say neither, and that's weird. I want to expand the preview to look further, but can't. Annoying. The whole thing seems to be a mish-mash of fantasy-type items and realistic paperish elements. A bad mix. Didn't DL.
12. Wishing Well Creations: Thank god someone finally made something neutral. I like the calm colors (so she hit the mark since it's titled Serenity). By itself, this is pretty unoriginal (just basic elements and nothing memorable), but you could scrap a page with this alone and you could also use it with other parts from other people. I agree with Simon that the FB alpha colors seem off, but I wondered if it was just because they're against the kraft packaging that clashes with the palette. I downloaded them and found that the green alpha is colored fine, but the blue alpha is way off fro the palette. I could use it with something else, and might (it's neutral), but not with this blog train.
13. Let Me Scrapbook!: A strange mix of items that don't seem to go together. Some of the elements seem cute, but make no sense with some of the other elements. I wish more designers would think through how an end user will use their creations. Simply put, it's clear that many designers are either not scrappers anymore, or bad scrappers. It's sad, really. Didn't DL, although the bathtub/girl was cute.
14. Snuggle Berry Pie Designs: Two problems here: that striped paper makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs, and anyone who would make it has just convinced me not to bother with the rest of the kit. Also, I can't make the preview any bigger, so I'm bored with trying to figure it all out, and I'm moving on instead of trying to figure out why the mishy-mashy elements and papers don't seem to go together. Didn't DL.
15. Brandi Beaver: No preview on her blog. I got bored and moved on. Some of you will complain that I should have DL'd it in order to review it, but instead I will offer this up as a lesson to newbie designers: you need a preview. You need a full-size 600x600 preview, preferably, but at very least you need any preview at all. p.s. your design name makes me laugh. I know, sophomoric humor. Sue me.
16. Digi Deborah's Designs: See my review of jusme digital, above, with regard to the color alterations. I'll give her credit for making sure everything was the same basic style, though. It all looks like paper scrapping supplies, but I don't like most of it (due to the bad coloring).
17. Sherwood Studio Digital Designs: Another neutral-based kit, which I like. I DL'd it to use with Wishing Well's neutral items, along with a few of the color pops from the other designers here and there. I mention the other color pops because I simply don't like the acrylic hearts she included. The idea behind them was good, but the execution was bad. They don't go with the rest of her weathered/shabby items, and they seem out of place.
18. Tina Shaw: This is the worst one so far. Why? Flat preview, awful/no shadows, and overall blurriness. In addition, the color combos on separate papers/elements are hideous. Just because it's in the palette, doesn't mean you have to use it all together on every paper/element. Didn't DL.
19. Ronda's Scrap Bits: I like the idea behind this, as it isn't mishy-mashy. The color combos on the papers are generally pleasant, given the palette. The frame looks like it's the wrong color of blue/green, though and/or doesn't go with the rest of her kit. Also, the word art would be impossible to use on those papers and there don't seem to be any solids included. Another instance of me wishing designers thought ahead to end-users' needs. DL'd it for the striped paper, ended up deleting the rest. Honestly can't believe I am now DL'ing and collecting freebies. LMAO.
20. Adorible Digital: Thought the clothes were a cute idea, but I don't have any use for any of it. Might have DL'd to look further, but sadly had read Simon's review from earlier and knew the quality was an issue. Didn't DL.
That's it for me. I can only be this detailed for the first 20, because well, this took forever and my eyes are now bleeding from all of the brown/orange/pink.
As a scrapper who is honestly bored with the blog train concept - I liked that this time it was theme free - at least it's moderately less boring.
I do think it's a bit rich that there are people complaining a) that designers are offering this freebie as a multi-part freebie or b) that designers are offering this freebie as an add on to a kit.
Shock. Gasp. Horror. Wow. Designers get involved in this to attract customers? No, really? Say it ain't so.
I definitely liked some parts of the blog train, skipped the designers I didn't like, had the common sense to ignore the slideshow and just do a quick skim through the blogs.
Simon Part 2: if you get bored I would love to see your review of the next 20 (yes, because mine is in that group and feedback is a great learning tool and I want to get better).
I do think it's a bit rich that there are people complaining a) that designers are offering this freebie as a multi-part freebie or b) that designers are offering this freebie as an add on to a kit.
Shock. Gasp. Horror. Wow. Designers get involved in this to attract customers? No, really? Say it ain't so.
--------
A) The offending designer isn't following the BTB rules by not having the minimum requirements posted by 8am PST on August 1st. She just had papers, no elements.
B) I've only gone through the dozen or so designers... but Jen C designs really ticked me off with how she went about promoting her coordinating BUNDLES. She had the previews for both her kit bundle and template bundles posted above the download for the freebie. SIX previews along with all kinds of promo before her freebie. To me, that's a bit much.
not everybody has been involved in digi scrapping as long as you two apparently have, & not everybody is up to date on every single website & abbreviation. it's not like the blog train address was already posted in this thread.
Well, you still have to visit the blogs to download what you want and to get to them you have to be on the Blog Train Blog page. Just having that one page open while you click what you want makes things slow. -----------------------------------
You can stop the slide show by clicking on the stop button.
"Simon Part 2: if you get bored I would love to see your review of the next 20 (yes, because mine is in that group and feedback is a great learning tool and I want to get better)." -------------------- You're welcome. It was certainly interesting. I can't promise anything with regard to the 2nd set of 20, but I'll do my best if I can find some time later (that's the hard part; giving honest/helpful feedback is really hard and very time consuming, so I hope everyone around here will give the rest of the reviewers a break as it's more involved than you think!).
p.s. I just noticed that my review of #10 makes me look like a moron, because originally I didn't DL and then later came back and DL'd and updated the entry but forgot to delete the part about "not DL'ing".
Another p.s. "Simon Part 2" is a lame sign-in, I know, but after reviewing 20 my brain was mushy. If anyone has a better moniker for me, let me know and I will gladly change it up. Don't want to step on Simon's toes, as I tend to like her.
why does the freebie for Connie Prince say "designs by shari" ?
--------------
Such a good question. We've bitched about this before on this blog.
Connie, if you're reading this, please start designing your own blog train freebies or else stop signing up. It's getting a little ridiculous, and has been going on for at least 6mo or more. Enough is enough.
Shari, if you're reading, it's time to spread your wings and leave the nest Connie has created for you. It's not doing you any good to ride her coat tails, if you're serious about being a designer. The designers who succeed in this business have branded themselves well (much like Connie has, even though I am not a fan of her designs in general), and right now you are wasting your time designing under someone else's name. Time to man-up and go it alone. Otherwise nobody will ever view you as anything other than an annoyance on Connie's blog.
To Simon part 2. If you want another "name" maybe you can use Piers, as he is the "Simon" of America's got talent. He also has a very direct way of stating facts and opinions.
just a test post, b/c 2 of my comments the past day or two have shown up initially and then disappeared a few minutes later. anyone else experiencing this? is blogger having troubles?
just a test post, b/c 2 of my comments the past day or two have shown up initially and then disappeared a few minutes later. anyone else experiencing this? is blogger having troubles? ---
To Simon part 2. If you want another "name" maybe you can use Piers, as he is the "Simon" of America's got talent. He also has a very direct way of stating facts and opinions.
-----------------
Sounds perfect, although if I'm going to be from AGT, I have to pay respect to the man, the myth, the legend: David Hasselhoff. So 'Piers Hasselhoff' it is. This is Piers signing in, and "Simon Part 2" signing out.
I'll try to come back later w/ some more reviews, but again can't promise anything.
Sounds perfect, although if I'm going to be from AGT, I have to pay respect to the man, the myth, the legend: David Hasselhoff. So 'Piers Hasselhoff' it is. ------------ Hum... why combine both names? wouldn't that be bad press for Hasselhoff?
Hum... why combine both names? wouldn't that be bad press for Hasselhoff? ------------ Nah, Hasselhoff generates enough bad press on his very own. I might never be able to forget the video footage of him drunk, making out with that hamburger on the floor...
I figured Piers was good (for the type of review I am trying to deliver), and Hasselhoff was good for the entertainment factor. Mainly I just needed a name change so that Simon wouldn't worry that she was posting reviews in her sleep.
Here's a few more from me (#21-25):
21. Simply Kelly Designs: I like the idea behind this one, because it's original. I don't really like the execution, though. Initially the papers look like they're all solids, though that's not the case. Scrappers want patterned papers for a reason, and if it looks solid unless you look really close at it, it's not serving its purpose IMO. Also, why add black to the one paper? I wish the paper w/ the volleyballs had actually worked, but it doesn't. The balls need some definition; they look like swirls because there's no defined outline for each ball. The word art balls are cute and would be usable, but there's not much else to work with. The ric rac looks very digital. Didn't DL.
22. KimericKreations: Her kit is called Simplicity, and it fits (because that's actually the first word I thought of when I saw it: simple). Overall, I like it, but I do have a few beefs with it: first, I don't think of grungy paint splats and smears when I think of simplicity. That part doesn't fit with the rest. Also, I have the same thing to say about the lack of patterns on the papers that I just said with Simply Kelly. I know she was trying to keep it simple, but maybe a couple of subtle patterns would have been nice. I downloaded it and will keep the papers to use as solids with a few of the other neutral kits I reviewed last night.
23. My4PrincessesDesigns: I'm mixed on this one. I like the floral paper, and the wood background paper, and I love the idea of driftwood for a Summer Beach kit. I just wish she had used different color combos on the surfboard and especially the umbrella, though, because both had the potential to be cute and didn't really work for me in the end. I didn't DL it, but it wasn't horrible. I just didn't love any of it enough to bother.
24. Kate Hadfield: I love this one, though I will admit that not everyone is into doodled elements for scrapping pages. But for those who are, these are top-notch and really cute. Props to her for using all of the palette colors and still managing to keep it from looking like a mish-mash. This actually looks purposeful. I will use these elements in a heartbeat as color pops along w/ neutral papers from some of last night's reviews (or even Kimeric's today), and maybe one or two of the multi-colored patterned papers I kept from last night's DL's. All in all, I like it, but I am not sure why she didn't do any papers, though.
25. Brandi White Designs: This is another of those minis that I hated initially (bad previewing), but upon closer inspection I realize that a few parts would maybe be useful if paired with pieces from other designers. Mainly the frame(s) and the tag, and maybe the dotted multi-colored paper (the texture isn't my favorite, though). The flower looks too flat/fake, and I'm not into glitter splats (but these might be fine, if you're into that). The pompom ribbon should be thrown away; it's awful.
26. Ruby Lane: Another lesson on the importance of a good preview: this one looks horridly blurry and makes me want to move on immediately. The papers are too busy for my taste, and nothing else appeals to me (I, myself, don't often like the result of stacking multiple colors of flowers on top of each other, but it's a personal taste thing). And what is up with all of the glitter splats in this round of reviews? Didn't DL.
27. Eyeinspire: I'm noticing a trend here: the designers who deleted a color or two from the palette (or else used some of the colors as pops, instead of main colors) are the ones who are "getting my business," so to speak. I like her mini pretty well because it's calmer without the pink. I like her FB mini even better, for the same reason. That said, I like the elements on the FB mini but I despise the elements on the blog train mini. The ribbon w/ the buckle is my least favorite, followed closely by the multi-colored zig zag pattern on the flower. I DL'd both kits, and will keep/use the FB freebie in its entirety (if quality is good, which I expect it will be); I will only keep/use a couple of the papers from the actual blog train mini, though (the 2-3 on the right). The rest will visit my recycling bin.
28. DylabelDesigns: I was immediately drawn to the floral paper with the white background, and DL'd it just to get a better look. I might use that, and the postcard, but not the rest. The frames don't seem to match the feel of the rest of the kit, though they match the title. I'm confounded by the title of Vintage Chic when a decent amount of the items seem to be more 70s/retro to me. The all-brown paper is a nightmare to my eyes.
29. Marie H designs: I like what she was trying to achieve with this. The papers are decent, though my favorite one (the doodled floral on the right) seems to be too desaturated to really match the palette. I DL'd it to use with Kate's doodles, above. I might not delete these elements, but I might not use them either. Who knows. All in all, it didn't hurt my eyes to look at, but I didn't fall in love with it. It's decent, though.
30. Kooky Cat Designs: I believe this is my least favorite of the 10 I've reviewed so far today. The preview is blurry (or is it the papers/elements? I'll never find out, as I won't be DL'ing it). Everything appears to be too flat, and by that I (and other reviewers, I think) mean that the shadowing on elements is either missing or just didn't work properly. The flowers look completely digital, and if they're going to be flat like that they need to look like stickers (these don't). The flourishes have no character, as they just look like some swirls with a 10px stroke of brown applied. The bird might actually be cute to use (maybe with Misty's bird, from last night's reviews?), but I would probably skip this one and never DL it because of the blurriness issue.
To whoever requested earlier that I do the next 20, I hope I already got to yours. I will try to get to #31-40 later, just in case, but I have to go do something productive now or I will be rip-roaring angry at myself later when I have nothing to show for my day.
not everybody has been involved in digi scrapping as long as you two apparently have, & not everybody is up to date on every single website & abbreviation. it's not like the blog train address was already posted in this thread. ----
I've been in digi scrapping only a few months and there's no need to be up to date on every single website if you know how to type into a google bar. That's all I did. It's not rocket science.
3Little Monsters - kept 2 elements and one paper. I wasn't thrilled with the quality.
Cabana Girl Designs - It was a wierd mix of cute elements and papers and then a lot of overly saturated, fugly elements and papers. I kept a less than half of the stuff.
Digital Artchives - kept most of it, thought the pinkish paper was pretty
Chocolate Geranium - deleted the whole thing
Color with Caryn - I only kept one paper and one element.
Delicious Scraps - kept the papers and a circle frame, the rest I deleted.
Pardon the Mess - kept the papers for solids, but not sure if I will keep them after I put everything together. Only kept 2 elements
Dutsji - A lot of pooly colored elements and the papers are lacking texture. I deleted everything except one ribbon.
Feli Designs - Wasn't impressed with the elements at all and only kept one paper.
Helly - nothing matches the rest of the BT b/c the colors are way off
Keep in Touch Designs - kept a little tag, everything else was boring and I deleted it.
Key of D - kept one ribbon that was cute, the rest was overly saturated and not usuable.
LuvEwe - kept everything for good basics.
BonScrapatit - kept the word 'art' only. The papers had no texture at all and a lot of the element were not great.
Ok, that worked...I changed the spelling a little, but I like it.
The last part of the BTB
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
MHK Scrap Bytes - kept one floral paper and 2 solids and a ribbon, deleted the rest. I think element quality might be from poor CU.
Mandy King - kept the plaid paper, word art (love) and a stamp frame. I don't think the textures on the papers were very good at all, one had texture on the background, but no texture on the pattern. Didn't like the alpha at all.
Mommyish - kept quite a bit, but the pink paper was really ugly. Good basic elements though.
Moon Designs - I thought it might be cute from the preview which seemed ok (and not a cluttered mess), but it really wasn't very good and I deleted everything. FYI - If you make a tag include a copy without any writing on it. (word strips are a different thing, although a blank one of those is always good as well).
No Reimer Reason - I kept the embroidered flower, 2 ric rac and the rainbow (although I may delete it after a closer look), but all the papers were really flat with no texture.
RosyToes - I kept most of the elements which were done well and good for basics, but only 2 papers, the rest seemed really over saturated.
Rieka Rafita - I deleted everything due to really poor quality.
Stargazy Creations - Again, I deleted everything. Poor quality and flat papers.
Studio4 Designworks - Deleted everything.
t for me - I kept a lot of the elements, but none of the papers.
Truman Studio - I liked the papers, and a few of the elements (2 actually). The frame in the preview wasn't in the DL though, so maybe it would have been 3 elements.
Trixie Scraps - I didn't care for any of this and deleted everything.
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
------------ I guess this is one example where someone is trying to promote a kit made based on the blog train palette.
---------------------------------
Poster One, Not annoying at all -- the papers alone were worth the stop. If there is more to be had, then how great is that?
Poster Two, did you read what she had to say on her blog?
_____________________________________
Personally liked the papers and agree that it was one of the nicest packs on the train. Really I'd rather have 10 good papers that I can work with then a handful of this and that I can't really make much of. Agree to that hey great there's going to be more quality free stuff on the blog later. It's free....really if you don't like it then don't download it. Also agree that if you think that designers do these blog trains out of the goodness of their hearts you're sadly mistaken. They do it for exposure, to gain a new audiance, get product out in the marketplace with the concept if you like the work you'll come back and see what other things they have for sale....and truly isn't the actual law of economics...nothing in life is ever free....there's a price whether it's your time etc. On a whole I think Simon had a good grasp on the quality and I too spent alot of time skipping many blogs as the patterns or elements weren't that great or useful. Love to hear Simon's thoughts on the remaining items or anyone elses. Apparently I skipped a few things because I thought the previews were UGLY but perhaps the items were decent so I'll have to go check those out.
Randy/Randi, at first I liked your reviews because it was good to have another point of view on this blog than just Simon, but now I'm starting to feel that your "reviews" are really just a list of what you kept/deleted.
Would love to hear more from Simon Part 2/Piers, as the reviews are so much more detailed and actually go into what's wrong/right w/ each entry.
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
------------ I guess this is one example where someone is trying to promote a kit made based on the blog train palette.
---------------------------------
Poster One, Not annoying at all -- the papers alone were worth the stop. If there is more to be had, then how great is that?
Poster Two, did you read what she had to say on her blog?
__________________________
So if this person was so right in posting just papers and holding out the rest until later in the month, then why has her blog apparently been updated/changed since yesterday and all talk of that is now gone? I'd say she either got reprimanded and/or she reads this blog and decided to change things after reading here. Either way, it seems silly to stand up for her when she didn't stnad up for herself, but changed things.
Would love to hear more from Simon Part 2/Piers, as the reviews are so much more detailed and actually go into what's wrong/right w/ each entry. August 2, 2011 9:29 PM
Would love to hear more from Simon Part 2/Piers, as the reviews are so much more detailed and actually go into what's wrong/right w/ each entry. August 2, 2011 9:29 PM
------------ Wrong and right is just as subjective in Piers's reviews as it is in Simon's or anyone else's. Get a grip and stop asking people to spend hours reviewing your crap.
There must be degrees of following the rules... at least she had something up on her blog, and had a link to the next one. That is was something I really liked was icing on the cake.
What about these people? 52 Aimee Harrison --------http://girlboheme.com/gbstudios/ 59 Angel Hartline --------http://angelhartline.com/blog/ 86 Scrappin Wright -------http://scrappinwright.blogspot.com/ 90 The Brown Owl --------http://brownowlscrapping.blogspot.com/ Inspirations from Day ----http://inspirationsfromday.blogspot.com/ Jill DZines --------------http://www.jilldzines.blogspot.com/ and even 85 Willow Grace Designs --http://willowgracedesigns.blogspot.com/ 70 Mad Genius Designs-----http://bothmadandgenius.blogspot.com/
There is nothing up, and no link to the next blog. It really stops the train right in its tracks.
How does this work? Will they have to have a time out for next month before they can join again?
That's weird, b/c I know I saw a post from Day at DST in the designer forum earlier today, saying her blog post was scheduled and linked to next designer. Also, I read that ScrappinWright, I think, had to pull out of the blog train this time around. I thought she had posted something about it on her blog today/yesterday. Maybe not.
It really stops the train right in its tracks. -------------- Really? You honestly can't go back to the main BTB site and click on the next designer on the list? One person's missing post leaves your train derailed? Um, ok then.
I did a quick review of the DST blog train. I only downloaded the kits that had something in the preview that caught my attention. In alphabetical order:
Barb Speck: The nuts & bolts are ok. The rest doesn't appeal to me. The entire kit looks disjointed & doesn't go together.
Designs by Krista: The patterned papers are nice & simple. When looking at the ribbon, the colors & diagonal texture give it a crazy optical illusion effect on my monitor that makes it look like the middle section is getting narrower as you look right, & wider when you look left.
Digilicious_pieceofcake: I like the flowers, particularly the rolled flowers. I like the lime green frame, although I'd prefer it without the bow. I don't care for the patterned paper.
Dylabeldesigns: The pink scalloped circle frame, green dot pp & pink flower are ok. Postcard would be better without the big blobs on the side. The big patterned paper is too busy for me personally.
Enkay: Hanging doodled frame is cute. The large flower design paper I can see as a printed scrapbook paper - it's bright but it's fun. Enkay was able to incorporate the color palette in a fun way.
Kate Hadfield: Her doodles are well executed with nice coloring & shading. If you like doodles, her stuff will probably appeal to you.
Keep In Touch Designs: I like the orange swirl & the first 2 patterned papers. The rest of the kit doesn't appeal to me as it's very digital looking, & kind of generic.
Mags Graphics: Her striped alpha is fun, & looks like it would suit a happy layout about the beach.
Mommyish: I like the rolled flower. The pink grungy paper with the swirls is hideously ugly! This kit does not go together. The wooden picture frame looks like it would go with a shabby chic style, but the paper is grungy & gross, & the labels & bows look more contemporary style. The styles are so different in this kit it looks like it has a split personality.
Sherwood Studio: I like the swirled tree thing. Most of the papers are ok & the texture resembles real paper.
Sunnyday Scraps: I like the glittered swirl. The butterfly could be a cute accent. The rose is very digital looking, but it is well executed & nice for someone who likes that style. I don't care for the rest of the kit, it doesn't look like anything goes together. I don't understand that lacey thing that's on the candle holder (it looks like a lace fire hazzard).
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
^^^
Ok I'll bite - and you can be honest my feelings are not on the line - what's 'not good' about the rest of my mini? Are my papers too textured/ not textured enough? Are my elements blurry? I'm curious what you are seeing when you look at it.
There is no texture on the papers. They are flat and the pattern was just placed on them. It wasn't blended in which you can't do because there is no texture. The green paper is blurry. The yellow paper color is poorly managed and the detail is lost. Learn how to use displacement maps.
The string colour is poorly managed. The contrast was ruined with the recolor.
The star on the string was not shadowed. It's flat and uninspiring.
the frame is not trimmed. Is it plastic or is it wood? I think there's too much bevel on it. The same goes for the star
The buttom is lost in brown. The orange is over saturated. The detail is lost. If it had any texture it is also lost because the color is poorly handled.
The circle with the rivet is shadowed incorrectly.
The ribbon and stitching is blurry.
It's not just about blurry and not blurry or strays or no strays, it's about looking at light and contrast and how it affects what you're trying to put on canvas and what you're making.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
August 3, 2011 6:57 AM
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Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
August 3, 2011 6:57 AM
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Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
^^^ Ditto this. You're the type of non-customer we designers all love to hate. Hope your computer crashes, you ungrateful hag.
^^^ Another thought for you: we actually don't care if you DL our portion or not. Threatening us with "if you use 4shared I will just bypass you b/c I don't want to wait" has no affect on any of us. I'd say "take your business elsewhere," but I will bet you $1,000,000 that you rarely purchase anything anyway.
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits. _______________________________________
So designers are not allowed to post anything else on their blog? For how long, all month?
Exactly! We sign up usually a month in advance and give our blog URL at that time. Obviously we wouldn't have it posted by then to give a direct link to the post, so you'll have to - god forbid - scroll a little to get to the post if we've made other blog posts since then. You can't expect us to NOT use our blog for anything else.
I had a problem with one of the sites - wish I could remember which one now - but it froze up my computer both yesterday and again today. Did anyone else have any problems like that? It was right after a 4-share download so I'm wondering if there was a virus or something but my virus software didn't "catch" anything. Just wondered if anyone else had problems - could just be my computer.
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
^^^
Ok I'll bite - and you can be honest my feelings are not on the line - what's 'not good' about the rest of my mini? Are my papers too textured/ not textured enough? Are my elements blurry? I'm curious what you are seeing when you look at it.
================================== Here's my 2 cents.
Papers Blue Pattern - too big and random which makes it hard to scrap with Orange Pattern - don't care for the pattern/color combo All papers - could use more depth by adding a texture or two on top of what is there right now. Solids - I kept those, but again, they really could use more texture.
Button - overly saturated and kind of 'dumpy' looking
Circle Element - I like the idea, but the shadowing is weird.
Frame - I just don't like the pattern on it and I tend to use plain frames as I don't like them to distract from the photo.
String - overlay saturated in color which has messed up the shadowing and contrast on the string.
String with Star - Cute idea, but thier is no shadow and again the string is not good.
Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
^^^ Ditto this. You're the type of non-customer we designers all love to hate. Hope your computer crashes, you ungrateful hag.
Absolutely not ungrateful at all and I am a well known designer but if you think I'm the only designer that thinks like this then you are burying your head in the sand and the reason designers don't participate in the Blog Train is because they don't need to hear all the garbage about how bad their kits are even if they aren't. Obviously if one is a top designer and selling well, one doesn't necessarily have to do a Blog Train. I occasionally do it because I use to find it fun and easy but I've not been doing it every time just for this reason and hags like you who think others should jump out their ass for you. You are the one who obviously doesn't get it.
And to the person who thinks I said don't post anything all month you need to go back and read what I said. I said if you don't put your Blog Train first on your Blog then I won't go hunting for it. You can make up your post early and save and then you can cut and paste to make sure your kit is first on your blog when it's time. If you are too lazy to do that then you lose out and I'm too lazy to go hunting for it. There were several who after trying to find the damn thing, gave up and I don't want to guess on where to find the links either.
So the design factor is over. Did anyone find any new to them designers they like? Thoughts on the final round? August 2, 2011 10:06 PM
***
I thought the final round sucked overall. Actually, I thought most of the rounds sucked overall.
I will follow: Chulin Designs, Sugar Kissed, and Millie Dee who are all new to me. At this point, it's unlikely I'd buy from any of them, but if they improve, I would consider buying from all 3 and all for different reasons.
There are others that I follow already (Amanda Carlson and Inspired by Dominic) and will continue to follow.
I am excited to see the DSA contest and look forward to more reviews. I hope Piers and Randi are as well (and anyone else)!
How are the designer's losing out by you not downloading their free product? You've already said it must be first on the blog, because you don't want to see their other products. Which means you won't buy the designer's products anyway. Sounds like the only people losing out are the freebie hunters who can't be bothered to scroll past for sale items to download the freebie.
I would never create and hand out a freebie unless I was using it to promote myself and my designs. The is the only reason it makes sense to put a freebie out in the first place. I actually could not care less if that annoys the freebie hunters.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
August 3, 2011 6:57 AM
***
I actually agree with most of this.
Unless it's the last person on the blog train, waiting for 4shared usually isn't a problem. It can queue up while I'm looking at the other blogs. But with Mediafire also being free with no wait, it seems pointless to use 4shared.
The blog kit being first on your blog thing - I'd agree with this for the first day of the train. The point of the blog train is to get your product into people's hands, not pimp what is on sale in your store right now. Include a coupon in your download! I could not believe only ONE person put a coupon in their zip out of all the ones I downloaded (Wishing Well Creations). If people like your freebie, they may check out your store!
After the first day or two, put whatever you want on your blog.
If people can't find the link, why would they download? Being organized and making things neat and easy to find is part of marketing. That is fact. I think people who get pissed about this do not understand the point of doing a blog train from a marketing perspective. CLUE - it's not to get people to linger on your blog to find a link you're too stupid to make visible.
As for signing up and not having your blog post done - poor. If you opt out at the last minute, just schedule a blog post saying you're no longer participating and link them to the BTB. It's just professional. As for not having your entry up, if you can't figure out how to schedule a blog post, you may want to reconsider selling on the internet.
The comment thing - get over yourselves. If you're making freebies for the fake comments people leave, you need therapy. Lots of it.
Not all of these people finished all 6 rounds, I'm guessing they quit during round 5. ____________________________
You'd actually follow someone based on the challenge instead of going over to their stores and view what they actually sell when they have the freedom to do whatever they want? There are a lot of designers that I saw from this challenge that have really great products up and that I'd buy from but you don't have on your lists.
This is exactly why I don't base by buying behavior on what's been reviewed here.
You'd actually follow someone based on the challenge instead of going over to their stores and view what they actually sell when they have the freedom to do whatever they want? There are a lot of designers that I saw from this challenge that have really great products up and that I'd buy from but you don't have on your lists.
This is exactly why I don't base by buying behavior on what's been reviewed here. August 3, 2011 10:23 AM
If they have really great products, then why didn't they make some during the challenges?
Also, general, pointless comments like these don't help anyone. Who are these alleged designers and why are you so afraid to list them?
You'd actually follow someone based on the challenge instead of going over to their stores and view what they actually sell when they have the freedom to do whatever they want? There are a lot of designers that I saw from this challenge that have really great products up and that I'd buy from but you don't have on your lists. _______________________________ Why wouldn't you follow someone based on a challenge?
Half of this list is exactly the same as Simons. Not sure how that's "different taste." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I suppose I could have said 'additional' designers. Yes, many of the designers are the same as Simon, but their work was good so why wouldn't they be. I, unlike Simon, also like kits that trend towards the cutesy/kid stuff, so that would be where I'm 'a little different' in taste.
This is Piers again. I can't post anything right now; everything I've put up in the past 10 minutes has disappeared within 1 minute. Hope to have more luck later... meanwhile, there wasn't anything juicy in the deleted comment above this (at 12:36), I was just trying to get this to work and it put things in the wrong order.
This is exactly why I don't base by buying behavior on what's been reviewed here.
________
I am too unfashionable to take anything here with more than a grain of salt. For those who like details - a reviewer here of Mad Genius Designs wanted more texture in the papers, but too many times I've seen it go overboard. I read where one person likened it to the texture of a bathroom rug at 100% and to me that is so much worse. I'll take the Mad Genius backgrounds over those popular enormous texture patterns, thank you.
The Designers from the Contest I'll be watching for: 2 AM Dona Ritchie (This 'n' That by Donakat, Dona Does Digi, donakat) Art by Pamla (Pamla Klenczar) Chunlin Designs Keep in Touch Designs P'tit Studio (Katia) Chris Matthis Designs and Milly Dee (but we found her in a different contest first, right?)
Thanks for those who responded. I'll look again based on what your feedback is ... but, to be honest, some of the feedback you gave I just don't agree with (ie: I don't like heavily texture papers, especially lights, I don't like patterns that are blended into the papers, looks blurry to me, etc) so that is stuff I probably wouldn't change. But I appreciate that you took the time to respond.
Jewel said... Thanks for those who responded. I'll look again based on what your feedback is ... but, to be honest, some of the feedback you gave I just don't agree with (ie: I don't like heavily texture papers, especially lights, I don't like patterns that are blended into the papers, looks blurry to me, etc) so that is stuff I probably wouldn't change. But I appreciate that you took the time to respond.
August 3, 2011 2:27 PM ________________
I downloaded your contribution too. I agree with you about the papers. I hate heavily textured papers. I think they don't print well and they don't look pretty. I liked your paper textures. I liked the pattern on your orange paper, but I agree with the other person who said that the star pattern was too large. I also agree that the string was not colored well. It was very washed out. Did you apply a filter to your ribbon? It looked pixelated and strange up close. I like the star with the eyelet in it, it's cute. So is the layered paper circle element. In general, I liked the overall look of your contribution. It was a cute idea and I thought you chose good pieces for a mini in theory. The execution does need a little work though. Hope that helps.
^^^ ITA w/ this. Just goes to show you that there's a vast array of personal preferences in this business/hobby, and there's a designer out there for everyone.
Thanks for the additional feedback. I didn't run a filter on the ribbon but perhaps it's one that needs to be tossed from my CU. I don't use a lot of CU - mostly ribbon and strings - because I don't have the right equipment to make them myself and make them well. I'm going to play around with that string some and see if I can't make it less washed out ... and if not, I'll toss it, too. I appreciate the feedback on the large star pattern - that was, quite honestly, an experiment ... since we all have dozens of papers with small stars I thought I'd do something different. So, now I know that experiment was not so well received and I won't do it again.
The "enablers", or whatever are called, are a bit stupid or perhaps they think we are stupid. The dig threads from the past (even 2008!!!) and post about their designer's kits. And then other enablers follow, and there you have a list of kits that noone was searching of!
The "enablers", or whatever are called, are a bit stupid or perhaps they think we are stupid. The dig threads from the past (even 2008!!!) and post about their designer's kits. And then other enablers follow, and there you have a list of kits that noone was searching of!
"Stupid smack people...They don't have lives, so they envy others. " --------------------------------
I think this blog is as informative (if not more so) than the forums that I also read. If you want to know the industry you have to get the info on both the good and bad.
Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
^^^ Ditto this. You're the type of non-customer we designers all love to hate. Hope your computer crashes, you ungrateful hag.
August 3, 2011 7:26 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...
^^^ Another thought for you: we actually don't care if you DL our portion or not. Threatening us with "if you use 4shared I will just bypass you b/c I don't want to wait" has no affect on any of us. I'd say "take your business elsewhere," but I will bet you $1,000,000 that you rarely purchase anything anyway.
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Clearly neither of you are top designers either. You are just bottom rung and struggling. I can tell you are struggling because you have no business sense at all. I suggest doing some more productive and lucrative with your time.
If people can't find the link, why would they download? Being organized and making things neat and easy to find is part of marketing. That is fact. I think people who get pissed about this do not understand the point of doing a blog train from a marketing perspective. CLUE - it's not to get people to linger on your blog to find a link you're too stupid to make visible.
As for signing up and not having your blog post done - poor. If you opt out at the last minute, just schedule a blog post saying you're no longer participating and link them to the BTB. It's just professional. As for not having your entry up, if you can't figure out how to schedule a blog post, you may want to reconsider selling on the internet.
Mad Genius - Hi, I just checked out your kit, my feedback from a scrapper's point of view (not designer).
I liked your solid papers & I liked that they weren't too grungy or crumpled. I actually liked the big star paper & especially the subtle grid in the background. I know this pp could be tricky to work with b/c of the big star, but I think it would be cute with a couple photos (& then the scrapper wouldn't have to add too much other stuff to the page).
The orange pp is fun for a graphic style (although personally I would prefer the design color to be in cream/white on the orange, but I know you probably used the aqua as part of the color swatch).
I do like that your papers don't have heavy folds or grunged streaks on them because I don't want to use papers that look like a car drove over them. This is a selling feature for me. I think your papers would appeal to scrappers that like the paper scrapping look but the convenience of digi.
I like your fun stars, circle & the eyelets in them. Cute accents, could be used on boy or girl layouts.
I like the green patterned paper on the frame, & wish there was a whole sheet of it in the kit.
Just thought I'd try to give some constructive feedback since you asked. Hope it's helpful. Good luck with your designing. :)
Has anyone ever bought digital paper/elements from Echo Park before? I hadn't, until today. Got suckered into their dollar deal because it looked cute, and was shocked when I unzipped it and found jagged edges on circles on both papers and elements. On circles! How do you end up with jagged edges on circles? Is this their normal quality, and if so, how are they such a big/popular company? This is supposedly just a digital version of paper goods that they actually sell in stores. ???
PIERS HERE. Giving this another try, as it appears that others are now able to post (and their posts are staying put?).
Earlier today, I lost access to the e-mail account that went along with the "Piers Hasselhoff" account. Couldn't log-in, and received a message from gmail saying there was suspicious activity. Later this afternoon, I find a post on this blog from "Piers", about Ocean Wide and the DCR, that I did NOT post, even though it is from Piers.
Can't explain what has happened, other than to say that either Blogger is having issues today, or someone has hacked into the "Piers Hasselhoff" account. The latter would appear to be the case, as the rogue post mentioned above would suggest.
This is just (another, third) attempt to bring everyone up to speed and let them know that Piers Hasselhoff will no longer be doing reviews. Or, his reviews will be by an imposter, if they are posted. I'm signing out as Piers, and you can find me (for now, anyway) as "Piers Unhacked". We'll see how long it lasts...
It hasn't even been a month and there's already another new designer asking for everyone to tell them how much they make and what to do. Is it really that hard for these people to look a page or two back in the DCR for answers?
Has anyone ever bought digital paper/elements from Echo Park before? ..... was shocked when I unzipped it and found jagged edges on circles on both papers and elements ------------------------------
bummer. some of their stuff looked cute & i've been considering purchasing it.
it's weird that there would be jagged edges on their stuff because it's already been printed as real scrap paper.
"I'm not sure if it is just part of the oversaturated market, my designs not being unique enough, or if the shop I am at just doesn't get much traffic."
All three? Why is she even asking if she already has an answer?
The super bright signature image and avatar definitely make her stand out at DST, but not in a good way.
It hasn't even been a month and there's already another new designer asking for everyone to tell them how much they make and what to do. Is it really that hard for these people to look a page or two back in the DCR for answers?
_________________________________
I don't remember ever seeing a thread that had those answers.
I think that is smart. Why wouldn't you take the chance to advertise?! This blog train has a lot of traffic!
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Traffic doesn't guarantee sales. Think of a shopping mall during summer. Lots of teenagers loitering at a mall reminds me of the blog train, most aren't interested in making a purchase, just free samples at the make up counters.
Traffic doesn't guarantee sales. Think of a shopping mall during summer. Lots of teenagers loitering at a mall reminds me of the blog train, most aren't interested in making a purchase, just free samples at the make up counters. --------------------------- haha. That's a pretty funny analogy.
cdn eh - thank you very much for taking the time to share that with me! I posted a response to you earlier and it didn't show - sorry! I really do appreciate your time to download and give me that feedback :)
Another designer moving on? Anna Aspnes has left Designer Digitals and all her products have been removed from the store, so quick!! I really like her style... will have to wait to see were she lands.
"Due to certain contractual obligations, my digital products will not be available for purchase for a period of 30 days beginning today. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please know they will be coming back."
That's... Odd? I've never heard of a contract like that.
"Due to certain contractual obligations, my digital products will not be available for purchase for a period of 30 days beginning today. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please know they will be coming back."
That's... Odd? I've never heard of a contract like that.
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I've heard of such contracts in the business world (in which you can't sell at a competitor for X amt of time), but haven't ever run across that in digi. Wonder if Designer Digitals has that clause in there for all of its designers?
Has anyone ever bought digital paper/elements from Echo Park before? ..... was shocked when I unzipped it and found jagged edges on circles on both papers and elements ------------------------------
bummer. some of their stuff looked cute & i've been considering purchasing it.
it's weird that there would be jagged edges on their stuff because it's already been printed as real scrap paper.
------------------- Exactly, I couldn't have been more surprised. But it's bad. Really, really bad. A few of the elements were journaling cards with word art on them, and the curves of the letters are all pixelated and jagged, even. How? Why? If I could figure out a way to get screenshots up here for you to look at, I would.
Yes, so here is someone really interested in the Ocean Wide Design contribution review.... or have I missed it? August 3, 2011 10:30 PM ---------- I believe all the "judges" passed her contribution by as "gross".
Ocean Wide and Mellybird (who isn't in the train, but they remind me of each other) each have a weird paper pattern vibe going on. I thought I wasn't young and hip enough to appreciate it, but maybe it's just "off"?
Some of the new designers charge too much for their kits. There isn't enough product in them to substantiate their cost.
Is anyone else getting sick of all the threads about the new DST owner's changes? I wish they would just address everyones complaints about the advertisements just so they would shut up.
^^^ Notice that people keep posting the same questions and observations in various places, without checking that it is reported somewhere else: scrap talk, NSBR, DST questions, DCR.
Either theyre not checking, or just trying to get attention. I don't see how it can be so hard to just post things where they belong, and in this case in te News & Questions area.
^^^^^^^^^^^ With regards to the above referenced topic at DST...I don't think Tammy ever makes it out of Hot Topics. My guess, she doesn't even have a clue that there's a new owner or that they changed server...or any clue about anything outside of Hot Topics. I don't think I've ever seen her anywhere else and I don't understand why she goes to a scrapping blog if all she wants to do is talk politics.
Are you naming her along the design qualites of mellybird and ocean wide open Meg? ROFL.
If you venture out to see her (darq illlusion) 'designs' put on the darkest sunglasses you have. When I saw it (and I wasn't prepared to see this on my bright screen) I wished it had been dark and an illusion.
She's aptly named. She is delusional. I've seen some of her posts in the HT forum and she just throws a tantrum whenever anyone points out the inaccuracy of her remarks or asks for proof of her so called facts. There was zero need for her to post in the HT about her blog comment, she just wanted to throw another tantrum.
I love Songbirdy, don't know who she is, but I love that she calls out Darq on her bullshit.
All I can say is WOW, she sure is defensive. The comments from Songbirdy are polite and spot on, yet the responses from Darq Illusions are right off the deep end. Why start a thread like this, and then bash the people that respond to it? Attention whore.
If you venture out to see her (darq illlusion) 'designs' put on the darkest sunglasses you have. When I saw it (and I wasn't prepared to see this on my bright screen) I wished it had been dark and an illusion.
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Your last line just made me laugh out loud. Love it.
Some things you just wish you could "unsee", Darq's grotesque blog is one of them. Just goes to show that people will buy any old crap that someone is selling.
She should spend LESS time in the hot topics, and more time growing her "design" skills ... using the word "design" very loosely here. -------------- But she's in 15 stores*, she must be 'good'.
Yes, it was a while back. But that wasn't the part you really missed. What you *really* missed was Sugar Shack Designs coming on this blog (signed-in as herself) and going nutso b/c everyone is always talking about her ("SSD") on this blog. Oh, and we all have language problems. I think that sums it up. Her last post was right around 2200 of the previous space, I think? (I just looked it up... I'm not Rainman or anything)
Would Simon like any of the designers at Oscraps? It seems like they have a lot of C&S Designers. ( Plain Papers and ultra-small elements which Simon appears not to like too well.)
Re: the Echo Park digi paper that are jagged, have you contacted Echo Park?? What did they say?
I hope that it was just a bad file or something, because I don't understand how a design that was already printed as real paper would have such a bad digi file.
Good luck with contacting Echo Park. Please let us know if you get a better digi file from them.
Three years ago OScraps was my favorite store. I still love Paislee Press and I do like One Little Bird although the kits are small for the money, but that is about it. Sue Cummings could have some nice wordart if it weren't so tiny. Other than that it's just not my taste anymore.
Hopped on over here from another blog as I designed something for this blog train which some of you wrote negative things about. Many designers say they're wanting to leave the blog train now after reading your ungrateful comments but actually i'm thinking it's useful to see what people really think and I'm planning on using your feedback constructively. Would be nice to see more feedback that is constructive rather than negative though - there's a way to say things you know? Many of the designers have worked hard on this (even if you haven't appreciated it). Why not be less snarky and more constructive, that way they can use your comments to improve what they offer? Just my 2 cents.
I am just an average scrapper, not a designer. I am not active on any CT's, although I have been in the past. I am not active in any "scrapbook community", I don't post on the message boards, and I don't post my layouts online anymore. I read the Digi boards for entertainment, and am constantly amazed at what people share on the internet. I freely admit to reading the scrapbook smack blogs, it is a guilty pleasure.
You can email me at: DSTHallofFame@gmail.com
2,374 comments:
1 – 200 of 2374 Newer› Newest»Holy cow a new space!
So, blog train. Worth the time or no? Find anything worthwhile in there?
Misty Cato was decent, a couple others, but on the whole, no.
Yes, It's a lovely blog train - the best I've seen. I think you'll be pleased as there are only a few truly awful ones. To people who say otherwise, you are not being fair or kind.
The strange palette turned out great, the designers POV really come through, and they've all done a nice job.
No, I don't have a horse in the race.
The blog train is OK. A few were good (Misty Cato's been mentioned, a few others were good).
I'd like Simon's input.
I liked that there was no theme, only a swatch to work with.
I agree I think no theme really let the true designer come out. Some were great and some not so much, but thats what its all about right? Getting to "test" out the designer work?
I'd like Simon's input.
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What the fuck for? Can't you make your own decisions?
I've been through the whole thing and it's all awful. And I don't understand why, either, because the palette really wasn't that bad. It's definitely not worth wasting your time on. I downloaded less than 10 things and by the time I finish deleting junk, there will maybe be a mini kit left.
I must be in the minority because I don't like Misty's part at all.
I'd like Simon's input.
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What the fuck for? Can't you make your own decisions?
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I think it's a good idea too. It gives a designer not in a 'top tier' store to be reviewed.
I downloaded from only a few designers and some of them it was only for certain parts:
designs by krista
wishing well
sherwood studio
kate hadfield
enkay
digilicious
bzb designs
aprilsila
lily lane market
t for me
luv ewe
A couple notes, first I can't believe how many designers can't even properly link to the next blog! Second, steadfast and immovable did a single alpha and yet it was 4 downloads, that seems like a little much! Third, I can understand adjusting the swatch a bit, especially the orange since it was out of gamut, but some of them are so different it's crazy.
Collab pallettes shouldn't be adjusted by individuals. It makes everything clash.
Really there was no theme in this blog train? I thought it was about flowers!
I think it's a good idea too. It gives a designer not in a 'top tier' store to be reviewed.
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Then review them yourself. Who set up this anon designer who calls herself 'Simon' as the last word on who's good and who isn't.
Get a grip people.
Then review them yourself. Who set up this anon designer who calls herself 'Simon' as the last word on who's good and who isn't.
Get a grip people.
August 1, 2011 2:05 PM
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Chill out a little. Nobody said Simon was the "last word on who's good and who isn't". Some people just enjoy reading Simon's reviews. Not sure why it bugs you so much that the OP asked for one.
Likely, the OP has something in the blog train and wants to read a review on her work. Is that really such a bad thing to ask for?
Yes, it's an awful thing to saddle Simon with - that's 100 reviews! And for what?
Maybe she could request numbers 30-39 - and some kind-hearted soul will drop what they are doing and review all 10.
I didn't care for Misty Cato's either.
Speaking of websites that need to be tweaked - the freebie link that was just passed around here yesterday needs to be coded so it always stays open and a new tab opens for the new website. I've noticed this on a lot of blog trains and it's annoying to those of use who want to go back and say thank you. Does anybody know how to do that?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uO0kiBChu_E/TYDb6X8VT8I/AAAAAAAAAig/U_UY9VmKZIA/s1600/banner1.png
from http://www.sunnydayscraps.com/
Is it me or this pinned tag is totally wrong?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uO0kiBChu_E/TYDb6X8VT8I/AAAAAAAAAig/U_UY9VmKZIA/s1600/banner1.png
from http://www.sunnydayscraps.com/
Is it me or this pinned tag is totally wrong?
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Yeah, it wasn't put on properly. Though perhaps she was just wanting to make it a tag and did an circle erase and didn't realize she actually had delete part of the pin?
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
I'd like Simon's input.
_____________________________
What the fuck for? Can't you make your own decisions?
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Holy F-bomb batman! How dare people want a review of anything. What are they thinking? I mean, it isn't like we live in a society that gives reviews for anything.. we don't review movies, books, restaurants, sex toys, makeup, furniture, artwork.. etc.
It isn't like there is a huge industry of writers that focus solely on reviewing things. Could you imagine a kid telling their parent they wanted to review FOOD for a living? I mean I'd be like GTFO my house!
You are right. What the fuck were they thinking?
CHOO CHOO! It is time for the August Blog Train to roll into Designs by Connie Prince. Here's the contribution that I (Shari) put together for you and Connie was kind enough to let me share it on her blog ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Just read this while going through the BT and was really put off by it. If you're going to bother to design things, get your own blog and let Connie do her own work.
CHOO CHOO! It is time for the August Blog Train to roll into Designs by Connie Prince. Here's the contribution that I (Shari) put together for you and Connie was kind enough to let me share it on her blog ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Just read this while going through the BT and was really put off by it. If you're going to bother to design things, get your own blog and let Connie do her own work.
^^^
I read this morning that Trish went through the train and actually pointed this out in the thread at DST - I guess she thought the same thing because she said something about it being pointless to sign up and then not do it yourself
I downloaded very few kit from the blog train, and ended up with 30 elements, one paper, some glitter styles and an elements pack from Kate Hadfield. There were not many things that I don't already have or can't design myself (and I am not even a designer). For me the themed trains were better.
^^^^^^^
Didn't Connie's mom just die? Give the woman a break.
Didn't Connie's mom just die? Give the woman a break.
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If it was the first time that she has done it I would understand, but that CT member does the blog train and freebies for her all the time.
It isn't like there is a huge industry of writers that focus solely on reviewing things. Could you imagine a kid telling their parent they wanted to review FOOD for a living? I mean I'd be like GTFO my house!
You are right. What the fuck were they thinking?
________________________________
First - those people put their names behind their review. I respect that and I can ascertain their agenda ( do they work for the movie studio, etc.)
Second - who is stopping anyone from reviewing? My point was simple, if people want a review who's stopping them from doing it themselves? Why must it be the designer who calls herself 'Simon'. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her reviews I just think it's silly or maybe stupid, and naive to call out just one name for a review on a smack blog. I'd like to see 10 reviews and 10 different opinions because quite honestly, if you were a part of that blog train (I wasn't) it might give you a better idea of how your mini measured up instead of one review by one designer.
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
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I'm the designer who mentioned using the BT as a marketing tool, and I don't remember ever saying that I was using it to peddle a full kit that matches the BT freebies. Because yes, that is seriously stupid. There are other ways the train can act as a good marketing tool, though, if you know how to use it properly. You have a limited view of marketing/advertising if your only idea for use of the blog train is to peddle a full kit that coordinates.
Second - who is stopping anyone from reviewing? My point was simple, if people want a review who's stopping them from doing it themselves? Why must it be the designer who calls herself 'Simon'. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her reviews I just think it's silly or maybe stupid, and naive to call out just one name for a review on a smack blog. I'd like to see 10 reviews and 10 different opinions because quite honestly, if you were a part of that blog train (I wasn't) it might give you a better idea of how your mini measured up instead of one review by one designer.
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Agreed.
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
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p.s. you downloaded all 100? you have to be kidding me. I question your taste, now, because some of the other kits are rather hideous.
http://sugarbeansdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-on-ride-train.html
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
Anonymous said...
To the designer who considers the blog train a marketing tool: I have already downloaded 100 kits (minis or full) with the same palette; why should I bother buying your full kit "inspired by this month's lovely palette"?
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p.s. you downloaded all 100? you have to be kidding me. I question your taste, now, because some of the other kits are rather hideous.
August 1, 2011 3:52 PM
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I downloaded 100 kits, so to speak: not all necessarily, but there are there for me.
Can't you just read between the lines?
http://sugarbeansdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-on-ride-train.html
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
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I guess this is one example where someone is trying to promote a kit made based on the blog train palette.
I downloaded 100 kits, so to speak: not all necessarily, but there are there for me.
Can't you just read between the lines?
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You're not serious. You expect the rest of us to read your mind? It's hard to do that when you write sentences like "there are there for me." Just saying.
http://sugarbeansdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-on-ride-train.html
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
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This is ridiculous, because at the bare minimum each designer is supposed to provide at least 5 unique elements in addition to the papers. Holding out portions of the kit that are required pieces seems like something that should get her kicked off the blog train in future editions. And yet the first post under her comments is from Trish, who has obviously seen what she posted and is fine with it. Apparently the rest of us can just start doling our our portions a day at a time in the future...?
http://sugarbeansdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-on-ride-train.html
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
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I guess this is one example where someone is trying to promote a kit made based on the blog train palette.
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Poster One, Not annoying at all -- the papers alone were worth the stop. If there is more to be had, then how great is that?
Poster Two, did you read what she had to say on her blog?
This is ridiculous, because at the bare minimum each designer is supposed to provide at least 5 unique elements in addition to the papers. Holding out portions of the kit that are required pieces seems like something that should get her kicked off the blog train in future editions. And yet the first post under her comments is from Trish, who has obviously seen what she posted and is fine with it. Apparently the rest of us can just start doling our our portions a day at a time in the future...?
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How do you know she hasn't been contacted? It's only the first day... I've seen a lot of designers removed for various reasons, including having people use that "pay with a tweet" thing, and not having their post up after 2 or 3 days ... maybe give it some time before smarting off?
Here's my take on the first 50 of the BTB (I'll do more later).
First - If I don't mention them then I didn't even bother to download it.
Amanda Millie Dee - kept 2 solid papers
Aprilisa - kept the frame, string word art and one paper
BZB Designs - kept almost everything, seems like a few things I might use
Designs by Angel - I downloaded it, but deleted the whole thing b/c it was flat and bland.
Daybreak Scraps - kept the frame (it's cute) and one paper
DigiDeborah - kept the clip
Digilicious Designs - kept the rolled flowers and a couple of papers
Designs by Krista - I downloaded this one but deleted it all - didn't like the textures on the flowers and the papers were flat.
I'd like Simon's input.
_____________________________
What the fuck for? Can't you make your own decisions?
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Holy F-bomb batman! How dare people want a review of anything. What are they thinking? I mean, it isn't like we live in a society that gives reviews for anything.. we don't review movies, books, restaurants, sex toys, makeup, furniture, artwork.. etc.
It isn't like there is a huge industry of writers that focus solely on reviewing things. Could you imagine a kid telling their parent they wanted to review FOOD for a living? I mean I'd be like GTFO my house!
You are right. What the fuck were they thinking?
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I posted the above... It was SARCASM! :D I think reviews are great! Read it again! I named off a ton of different things that get reviews... I named off a valid career.. LOL! I guess sarcasm doesn't really show up well in text? Did no one get that?!
BTB cont.
Digital Harmony - kept most everything - good for basics.
EnKay - Kind of cute, kept most of it to use as basics
EyeInspire - kept most everything except the borders which were ugly.
HFD - not sure of the name b/c no preview was included or TOU. Kept a couple papers and none of the elements
Inspired Designs - downloaded and deleted
In the Small Things - downloaded and deleted
Jen C - kept most of it - again for basics
Jusme - Deleted everything - yuck!
Kate Hadfeld - kept them, but will have to see what they look like opened in Photoshop
more to come soon - gotta tend to the family.
if people want a review who's stopping them from doing it themselves? Why must it be the designer who calls herself 'Simon'. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind her reviews I just think it's silly or maybe stupid, and naive to call out just one name for a review on a smack blog.
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Aw, that's so simple. It's because Simon has a name. It's pretty hard to call out on anon to do a review, now, isn't it? Coz, you now, there are so many of us.
How many scalloped frames can one person use? Did anyone notice how many there were in the blog train? Is it a new trend?
^^^
How many designers can mind-read and know what kind of frames the others are going to do?
(part 1)
I'm not sure why people get so pissed off when others ask for a Simon review. If you don't like it, carry on. It's really that simple. LOL @ sex toys review!
I don't normally bother to look at the bi-monthly blog train because it's almost always 90% crap. But, I will this time to see if I'm missing anything. I'm not reviewing everyone, so assume if it's not mentioned, I think your contribution is gross.
I would like to add that including that stupid slideshow is ANNOYING and SLOW. Just get rid of it. Who sits there and watches it anyway? Show us the swatch and move on.
Downloaded (my reviews are after I unzipped):
Misty Cato - Don't like the metallic style applied to the stars. Don't like the texture on the solids and why no light blue solid? Seems odd since she made the other 5 colors. I didn't keep the solids or the stars.
Designs by Krista - Downloaded for the papers only. Deleted all the elements but the ribbon.
Wishing Well Creations (Not the Facebook alpha, though. The coloring is off.) - This didn't mesh with the other pieces of the train, but it's pretty and done well.
Kate Hadfield - Great quality doodles.
Adorable Digital Designs - After unzipping, I deleted everything but the banner. I only downloaded for the elements anyway. I liked the little clothes on the hangers and they are sadly jagged. It's a shame, because they are adorable.
Eyeinspire - Liked both minis (downloaded the 2nd from her Facebook page). Will desaturize the orange and brown, though. The borders need to be about half the height she made them.
Marie H Designs - Downloaded because I never heard of her. Very basic, but OK. Deleted half of it.
Sweet Tomato Designs - This doesn't really mesh with most of the blog train, but the papers are grunged nicely. Deleted most of the elements.
eNKay - Deleted half the papers. The elements are cute.
Daybreak Scraps - Deleted everything but the doodles.
Snips and Snails - This looked like a total mish mash, but I liked the banner and it was direct download. I ended up keeping the banner, the leaves, and the little tag. Liked the retro flower pattern paper, but the texture was gross.
Aprilisa Designs - Downloaded for the papers - kept only the patterns. Flower is poorly recolored. Other elements are basic. Kept the frame since it was there.
Trixie Scraps - Deleted half the elements (mish mashy) and kept 2 of the patterned papers.
t is for me - Downloaded only for the papers. Kept most of them and the button. Other elements are mish mashy and gross.
Luv Ewe - Kept the papers. The elements are poorly recolored.
(part 2 - final part)
Looked OK, but didn't download:
A-liya
Digilicious Designs
BZB Designs
Studio 4 (template)
Lilly Lane (templates)
Designs by Helly (even though this totally doesn't mesh with much else on the train, it's pretty)
Designs by Colleen
Delicious Scraps
Not up at the time of my review...
Mille Dee Designs
Aimee Harrison
Angel Hartline
Feli Designs
Mad Genius Designs
Dancing Princess Designs
Willow Grace Designs
Scrappin Wright
The Brown Owl
Inspirations from Day
Jill DZines
Overall, I now have a huge retro styled mega and a few little minis. It would have gone faster if that stupid slideshow didn't slow me down. It took me about an hour and a half to go through all the blogs, download what I wanted, then unzip and delete what I didn't want. That includes the time to write this review. I wouldn't say it was worth it as I'm happy to buy things and generally don't waste time with freebies. But, if you're on a limited budget, it's a nice way to get a lot of stuff if you have need for it.
How many designers can mind-read and know what kind of frames the others are going to do?
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Still, seriously, almost everyone made a scalloped frame. I guess it's true that fools seldom differ.
I would like to add that including that stupid slideshow is ANNOYING and SLOW. Just get rid of it. Who sits there and watches it anyway? Show us the swatch and move on.
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I just go to the Photobucket account and check the previews that way. Much easier than visiting each of the blogs.
I just go to the Photobucket account and check the previews that way. Much easier than visiting each of the blogs.
August 1, 2011 7:07 PM
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Well, you still have to visit the blogs to download what you want and to get to them you have to be on the Blog Train Blog page. Just having that one page open while you click what you want makes things slow.
I second Simon. I hate it!
^^^^^
The point is that I can see from the previews whether or not it's worth visiting the blog, usually it's not.
Here's some more BTB review
4Princesses - Only kept 2 papers and a pink bow
Mara - papers were a mess, just kept a bow, border and bead spill
Marie H - kept it all
Misty Cato - a few of the elements were cute and I kept them, but the paper textures were really flat and boring
Robin Pali - kept the flower
Ruby Lane - kept the glitter spill and one paper
Sugar Berry Pie - kept 2 papers and 2 elements, the rest looked over saturated
Sherwood Studio - kept everything except the hearts
Snips and Snails - cute banner and kept a couple of solid papers, also kept a few of the doodles, but not all of them. Some of the elements had much poorer quality than others.
Sweet Tomato - kept the papers and the journal/frame thing
Wishing Well - kept everything
So - my 1-50 BTB wrap up
These are the ones that I kept all or most of the download.
BZB Designs
Digital Harmony
EnKay
EyeInspire
Jen C
Kate Hadfeld
Marie H
Sherwood Studio
Wishing Well
I'll go through the rest of the train tonight or tomorrow.
Blog Train by Store - You'll get what I mean shortly.
Lilypad -
Kate Hadfield - Holy cow yum. I'm not surprised her contribution would be nice!
TDC -
Wishing Well Creations - Doesn't match the rest of the stuff (imo) but that is almost a good thing! Nice papers.
eNKay -
Downloaded it is nice but just not my style, I guess? The pattern on the flower paper is nice.. again the colors are just too bright for my taste
Mommyish -
Downlaoded despite the horrible preview. Surprised that the elements were actually very nice. Not a fan of the bead cluter. I hated the striped paper. The grunge pink/brown paper is nice. The solids have a good texture.
--- will post more later. Time for dinner.
Don't like the texture on the solids and why no light blue solid?
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What light blue? There's no blue in the swatch.
What light blue? There's no blue in the swatch.
August 1, 2011 8:26 PM
I think it's the one next to the pink on the swatch. It's a very pale green, though, based on the hex. Very close to pale blue.
Yes, It's a lovely blog train - the best I've seen. I think you'll be pleased as there are only a few truly awful ones. To people who say otherwise, you are not being fair or kind.
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I say otherwise and that's because it's not my taste. Does that make me unfair and unkind? I think not.
I see green, like a pale mint green, but not blue
I say otherwise and that's because it's not my taste. Does that make me unfair and unkind? I think not.
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I think so. You obviously have rarefied taste with individual and specific requirements and can't hope to appreciate the more plebeian blog train in any month, under any circumstances. You probably shouldn't even be commenting (since it is so obviously out of your realm, I mean). It is like Prince Charles making a comment about flying on JetBlue...he really wouldn't have a clue.
^^^^^^
What are you on about it?
You obviously have rarefied taste with individual and specific requirements and can't hope to appreciate the more plebeian blog train in any month, under any circumstances.
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Plebian, beautiful word, describes it wonderfully. Why be common when you can be rare?
Someone suggested that a little constructive criticism/feedback for the good, bad, and ugly blog train contributions would be helpful, and I figured why not? A little disclaimer before I get started: although I now design and scrap digitally, I am a paper scrapper by heart and the fantasy realm doesn't appeal to me at all. Obviously these reviews will be colored by that. Also, I rarely download freebies and so many of the initial opinions will be from the preview. If I test the quality and it warrants discussion, I'll mention it.
For now, just the first 20 (here's part 1 of those):
1. Trish H. Designs: Not sure exactly why she puts up the glitters for general use. I know she's always made it available to the designers when the palette/theme is posted during planning, which makes sense (they can use it in their designs that way), The average digiscrapper, though, doesn't have a lot of use for glitter tiles. And the above-average digiscrapper usually ends up designing. Didn't DL.
2. jusme digital: I don't like that she desaturated the colors in the palette so much that they became pastel and hideous. The papers look blurry to the point of being dirty, and the color combos on each are awful. I think the gradient coloring on the acrylic hearts looks cheap. Simply put, it all looks too digital, and this isn't something that inspires anyone to preserve their memories while using it. If I wouldn't buy it in a store (i.e. if I were paper scrapping), I won't waste time downloading it. Didn't DL.
3. Lollipop Designs: I tend to judge blog train portions by usability, and this doesn't seem very usable. The papers might end up going with someone else's portion, yes, but by itself this portion is pointless. I don't need 4 papers that don't coordinate along with 5 ribbons. The preview shadowing isn't realistic, either, which makes everything look fake. All in all, there's nothing unique about any of this. Didn't DL.
4. Amanda & Millie Designs: I like the idea behind the paisley patterns/items, but it wasn't executed well. Looks beginnerish (to me, this means that it doesn't look realistic and looks obviously digital, even though the intent appears to be to look like realistic paper-scrapping elements, etc.). Didn't DL.
5. Misty Cato Designs: I like the idea she was aiming for (retro), and downloaded it to see what it looks like up close. The papers don't have much texture, but that's not really a big deal (it would work well for hybrid, for anyone who's into that). I might keep parts of it to pair with parts from other people.
(part 2 of the first 20):
6. wordartworld: I'm trying to look past the fact that I don't like this color palette, and review each contribution for it's execution within the assigned palette. It's difficult. This mini is executed rather well for what it is (papers and word art), and when combined with other portions it might work out fine. I just don't like the papers on their own, and the mish-mash of textures used on each is confusing to the eye. Downloaded it just to see if the floral patterned paper might work with someone else's portion(s).
7. HotFlashDesigns: This is a mish-mash of realistic elements and paper style elements, and doesn't appeal to me. The papers are very beginnerish. Just dots and stripes, and a realistic teapot dropped onto a white background? Don't make a paper with a realistic element as your pattern, please, people. Also, who posts one really, really long blog post in a day... let alone three? This annoyed me, although I know it has nothing to do with her designs and I am sure I will get harpooned on here for mentioning it. Didn't DL.
8. Digital Creations from Millstream Cottage: I can't wrap my head around what this is. It says "5 patterned backgrounds" but I see at least 2x that many. I can hardly make out what's an element and what's a paper. The preview is just awful. To borrow a line from Simon herself, it makes me want to cry. Didn't DL.
9. Jen C. Designs: I wouldn't download either of her freebies (blog or FB), as neither seems usable for actual scrapping. The gradient papers, in particular, are awful, though they may appeal to someone who blends photos onto papers. The rest of the blog freebie is a mish-mash of items that don't really lend themselves to scrapping, You'd have to purchase her full kit/bundle, which I know was the point. But I disagree with that approach. It makes a visitor want to skip her download all together. Didn't DL.
10. designsbykrista: I actually liked this one, based on the preview. It's simple, acts as a sample (as a blog train contribution should), but can stand alone. You could scrap a page with this. Not sure about quality, as I didn't download. The preview works, though. Downloaded to see if a couple of the papers/elements will work with other portions. Won't keep it all.
(part 3 of the first 20):
11. Samceline Designs: This looks too digital for me to want to bother with it. For instance, the kids: are they supposed to be paper? Acryilc? I'd say neither, and that's weird. I want to expand the preview to look further, but can't. Annoying. The whole thing seems to be a mish-mash of fantasy-type items and realistic paperish elements. A bad mix. Didn't DL.
12. Wishing Well Creations: Thank god someone finally made something neutral. I like the calm colors (so she hit the mark since it's titled Serenity). By itself, this is pretty unoriginal (just basic elements and nothing memorable), but you could scrap a page with this alone and you could also use it with other parts from other people. I agree with Simon that the FB alpha colors seem off, but I wondered if it was just because they're against the kraft packaging that clashes with the palette. I downloaded them and found that the green alpha is colored fine, but the blue alpha is way off fro the palette. I could use it with something else, and might (it's neutral), but not with this blog train.
13. Let Me Scrapbook!: A strange mix of items that don't seem to go together. Some of the elements seem cute, but make no sense with some of the other elements. I wish more designers would think through how an end user will use their creations. Simply put, it's clear that many designers are either not scrappers anymore, or bad scrappers. It's sad, really. Didn't DL, although the bathtub/girl was cute.
14. Snuggle Berry Pie Designs: Two problems here: that striped paper makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs, and anyone who would make it has just convinced me not to bother with the rest of the kit. Also, I can't make the preview any bigger, so I'm bored with trying to figure it all out, and I'm moving on instead of trying to figure out why the mishy-mashy elements and papers don't seem to go together. Didn't DL.
15. Brandi Beaver: No preview on her blog. I got bored and moved on. Some of you will complain that I should have DL'd it in order to review it, but instead I will offer this up as a lesson to newbie designers: you need a preview. You need a full-size 600x600 preview, preferably, but at very least you need any preview at all. p.s. your design name makes me laugh. I know, sophomoric humor. Sue me.
(part 4 of the first 20):
16. Digi Deborah's Designs: See my review of jusme digital, above, with regard to the color alterations. I'll give her credit for making sure everything was the same basic style, though. It all looks like paper scrapping supplies, but I don't like most of it (due to the bad coloring).
17. Sherwood Studio Digital Designs: Another neutral-based kit, which I like. I DL'd it to use with Wishing Well's neutral items, along with a few of the color pops from the other designers here and there. I mention the other color pops because I simply don't like the acrylic hearts she included. The idea behind them was good, but the execution was bad. They don't go with the rest of her weathered/shabby items, and they seem out of place.
18. Tina Shaw: This is the worst one so far. Why? Flat preview, awful/no shadows, and overall blurriness. In addition, the color combos on separate papers/elements are hideous. Just because it's in the palette, doesn't mean you have to use it all together on every paper/element. Didn't DL.
19. Ronda's Scrap Bits: I like the idea behind this, as it isn't mishy-mashy. The color combos on the papers are generally pleasant, given the palette. The frame looks like it's the wrong color of blue/green, though and/or doesn't go with the rest of her kit. Also, the word art would be impossible to use on those papers and there don't seem to be any solids included. Another instance of me wishing designers thought ahead to end-users' needs. DL'd it for the striped paper, ended up deleting the rest. Honestly can't believe I am now DL'ing and collecting freebies. LMAO.
20. Adorible Digital: Thought the clothes were a cute idea, but I don't have any use for any of it. Might have DL'd to look further, but sadly had read Simon's review from earlier and knew the quality was an issue. Didn't DL.
That's it for me. I can only be this detailed for the first 20, because well, this took forever and my eyes are now bleeding from all of the brown/orange/pink.
As a scrapper who is honestly bored with the blog train concept - I liked that this time it was theme free - at least it's moderately less boring.
I do think it's a bit rich that there are people complaining a) that designers are offering this freebie as a multi-part freebie or b) that designers are offering this freebie as an add on to a kit.
Shock. Gasp. Horror. Wow. Designers get involved in this to attract customers? No, really? Say it ain't so.
I definitely liked some parts of the blog train, skipped the designers I didn't like, had the common sense to ignore the slideshow and just do a quick skim through the blogs.
Thank you Simon Part 2.
Simon Part 2: if you get bored I would love to see your review of the next 20 (yes, because mine is in that group and feedback is a great learning tool and I want to get better).
I do think it's a bit rich that there are people complaining a) that designers are offering this freebie as a multi-part freebie or b) that designers are offering this freebie as an add on to a kit.
Shock. Gasp. Horror. Wow. Designers get involved in this to attract customers? No, really? Say it ain't so.
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A) The offending designer isn't following the BTB rules by not having the minimum requirements posted by 8am PST on August 1st. She just had papers, no elements.
B) I've only gone through the dozen or so designers... but Jen C designs really ticked me off with how she went about promoting her coordinating BUNDLES. She had the previews for both her kit bundle and template bundles posted above the download for the freebie. SIX previews along with all kinds of promo before her freebie. To me, that's a bit much.
^^^^^
Jen C was not the only one. There were a bunch of designers who took the opportunity to promote other goodies before the blog train freebie.
Yeah, but not everyone had six full previews before getting around to it.
There was at least one or two other designers who had the same amount or close to that amount of stuff before the freebie.
What is the web address for the blog train?
Thanks
Anonymous said...
What is the web address for the blog train?
Thanks
August 2, 2011 1:27 AM
Here on Earth it's http://blogtrainblog.blogspot.com, but I assume you're in Mars...
What is the web address for the blog train?
Thanks
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In the time it took you to write this question, you could have typed in DST blog train in the Google search bar.
sometimes you guys can be such smart asses.
not everybody has been involved in digi scrapping as long as you two apparently have, & not everybody is up to date on every single website & abbreviation. it's not like the blog train address was already posted in this thread.
Well, you still have to visit the blogs to download what you want and to get to them you have to be on the Blog Train Blog page. Just having that one page open while you click what you want makes things slow.
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You can stop the slide show by clicking on the stop button.
why does the freebie for Connie Prince say "designs by shari" ?
"Thank you Simon Part 2."
"Simon Part 2: if you get bored I would love to see your review of the next 20 (yes, because mine is in that group and feedback is a great learning tool and I want to get better)."
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You're welcome. It was certainly interesting. I can't promise anything with regard to the 2nd set of 20, but I'll do my best if I can find some time later (that's the hard part; giving honest/helpful feedback is really hard and very time consuming, so I hope everyone around here will give the rest of the reviewers a break as it's more involved than you think!).
p.s. I just noticed that my review of #10 makes me look like a moron, because originally I didn't DL and then later came back and DL'd and updated the entry but forgot to delete the part about "not DL'ing".
Another p.s. "Simon Part 2" is a lame sign-in, I know, but after reviewing 20 my brain was mushy. If anyone has a better moniker for me, let me know and I will gladly change it up. Don't want to step on Simon's toes, as I tend to like her.
why does the freebie for Connie Prince say "designs by shari" ?
Maybe she is one of the ones who have let their CT design for them.
why does the freebie for Connie Prince say "designs by shari" ?
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Such a good question. We've bitched about this before on this blog.
Connie, if you're reading this, please start designing your own blog train freebies or else stop signing up. It's getting a little ridiculous, and has been going on for at least 6mo or more. Enough is enough.
Shari, if you're reading, it's time to spread your wings and leave the nest Connie has created for you. It's not doing you any good to ride her coat tails, if you're serious about being a designer. The designers who succeed in this business have branded themselves well (much like Connie has, even though I am not a fan of her designs in general), and right now you are wasting your time designing under someone else's name. Time to man-up and go it alone. Otherwise nobody will ever view you as anything other than an annoyance on Connie's blog.
Just my advice, for what it's worth.
To Simon part 2. If you want another "name" maybe you can use Piers, as he is the "Simon" of America's got talent. He also has a very direct way of stating facts and opinions.
Just in case you were interested.
I feel like I'm in an episode of Simon & Simon (I get to be the one in the hat)!
I like Piers, but you're not stepping on my toes. I was confused when I first saw the "Simon" thinking I posted in my sleep, but then I read more.
just a test post, b/c 2 of my comments the past day or two have shown up initially and then disappeared a few minutes later. anyone else experiencing this? is blogger having troubles?
just a test post, b/c 2 of my comments the past day or two have shown up initially and then disappeared a few minutes later. anyone else experiencing this? is blogger having troubles?
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it happened to me twice on the last space.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXTEST
To Simon part 2. If you want another "name" maybe you can use Piers, as he is the "Simon" of America's got talent. He also has a very direct way of stating facts and opinions.
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Sounds perfect, although if I'm going to be from AGT, I have to pay respect to the man, the myth, the legend: David Hasselhoff. So 'Piers Hasselhoff' it is. This is Piers signing in, and "Simon Part 2" signing out.
I'll try to come back later w/ some more reviews, but again can't promise anything.
Name change here.
Maybe not. Name change here?
Yes, that did it. Back later, ladies & gents.
Sounds perfect, although if I'm going to be from AGT, I have to pay respect to the man, the myth, the legend: David Hasselhoff. So 'Piers Hasselhoff' it is.
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Hum... why combine both names? wouldn't that be bad press for Hasselhoff?
Hum... why combine both names? wouldn't that be bad press for Hasselhoff?
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Nah, Hasselhoff generates enough bad press on his very own. I might never be able to forget the video footage of him drunk, making out with that hamburger on the floor...
I figured Piers was good (for the type of review I am trying to deliver), and Hasselhoff was good for the entertainment factor. Mainly I just needed a name change so that Simon wouldn't worry that she was posting reviews in her sleep.
Here's a few more from me (#21-25):
21. Simply Kelly Designs: I like the idea behind this one, because it's original. I don't really like the execution, though. Initially the papers look like they're all solids, though that's not the case. Scrappers want patterned papers for a reason, and if it looks solid unless you look really close at it, it's not serving its purpose IMO. Also, why add black to the one paper? I wish the paper w/ the volleyballs had actually worked, but it doesn't. The balls need some definition; they look like swirls because there's no defined outline for each ball. The word art balls are cute and would be usable, but there's not much else to work with. The ric rac looks very digital. Didn't DL.
22. KimericKreations: Her kit is called Simplicity, and it fits (because that's actually the first word I thought of when I saw it: simple). Overall, I like it, but I do have a few beefs with it: first, I don't think of grungy paint splats and smears when I think of simplicity. That part doesn't fit with the rest. Also, I have the same thing to say about the lack of patterns on the papers that I just said with Simply Kelly. I know she was trying to keep it simple, but maybe a couple of subtle patterns would have been nice. I downloaded it and will keep the papers to use as solids with a few of the other neutral kits I reviewed last night.
23. My4PrincessesDesigns: I'm mixed on this one. I like the floral paper, and the wood background paper, and I love the idea of driftwood for a Summer Beach kit. I just wish she had used different color combos on the surfboard and especially the umbrella, though, because both had the potential to be cute and didn't really work for me in the end. I didn't DL it, but it wasn't horrible. I just didn't love any of it enough to bother.
24. Kate Hadfield: I love this one, though I will admit that not everyone is into doodled elements for scrapping pages. But for those who are, these are top-notch and really cute. Props to her for using all of the palette colors and still managing to keep it from looking like a mish-mash. This actually looks purposeful. I will use these elements in a heartbeat as color pops along w/ neutral papers from some of last night's reviews (or even Kimeric's today), and maybe one or two of the multi-colored patterned papers I kept from last night's DL's. All in all, I like it, but I am not sure why she didn't do any papers, though.
25. Brandi White Designs: This is another of those minis that I hated initially (bad previewing), but upon closer inspection I realize that a few parts would maybe be useful if paired with pieces from other designers. Mainly the frame(s) and the tag, and maybe the dotted multi-colored paper (the texture isn't my favorite, though). The flower looks too flat/fake, and I'm not into glitter splats (but these might be fine, if you're into that). The pompom ribbon should be thrown away; it's awful.
(#26-30):
26. Ruby Lane: Another lesson on the importance of a good preview: this one looks horridly blurry and makes me want to move on immediately. The papers are too busy for my taste, and nothing else appeals to me (I, myself, don't often like the result of stacking multiple colors of flowers on top of each other, but it's a personal taste thing). And what is up with all of the glitter splats in this round of reviews? Didn't DL.
27. Eyeinspire: I'm noticing a trend here: the designers who deleted a color or two from the palette (or else used some of the colors as pops, instead of main colors) are the ones who are "getting my business," so to speak. I like her mini pretty well because it's calmer without the pink. I like her FB mini even better, for the same reason. That said, I like the elements on the FB mini but I despise the elements on the blog train mini. The ribbon w/ the buckle is my least favorite, followed closely by the multi-colored zig zag pattern on the flower. I DL'd both kits, and will keep/use the FB freebie in its entirety (if quality is good, which I expect it will be); I will only keep/use a couple of the papers from the actual blog train mini, though (the 2-3 on the right). The rest will visit my recycling bin.
28. DylabelDesigns: I was immediately drawn to the floral paper with the white background, and DL'd it just to get a better look. I might use that, and the postcard, but not the rest. The frames don't seem to match the feel of the rest of the kit, though they match the title. I'm confounded by the title of Vintage Chic when a decent amount of the items seem to be more 70s/retro to me. The all-brown paper is a nightmare to my eyes.
29. Marie H designs: I like what she was trying to achieve with this. The papers are decent, though my favorite one (the doodled floral on the right) seems to be too desaturated to really match the palette. I DL'd it to use with Kate's doodles, above. I might not delete these elements, but I might not use them either. Who knows. All in all, it didn't hurt my eyes to look at, but I didn't fall in love with it. It's decent, though.
30. Kooky Cat Designs: I believe this is my least favorite of the 10 I've reviewed so far today. The preview is blurry (or is it the papers/elements? I'll never find out, as I won't be DL'ing it). Everything appears to be too flat, and by that I (and other reviewers, I think) mean that the shadowing on elements is either missing or just didn't work properly. The flowers look completely digital, and if they're going to be flat like that they need to look like stickers (these don't). The flourishes have no character, as they just look like some swirls with a 10px stroke of brown applied. The bird might actually be cute to use (maybe with Misty's bird, from last night's reviews?), but I would probably skip this one and never DL it because of the blurriness issue.
To whoever requested earlier that I do the next 20, I hope I already got to yours. I will try to get to #31-40 later, just in case, but I have to go do something productive now or I will be rip-roaring angry at myself later when I have nothing to show for my day.
not everybody has been involved in digi scrapping as long as you two apparently have, & not everybody is up to date on every single website & abbreviation. it's not like the blog train address was already posted in this thread.
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I've been in digi scrapping only a few months and there's no need to be up to date on every single website if you know how to type into a google bar. That's all I did. It's not rocket science.
BTB 2nd Half
3Little Monsters - kept 2 elements and one paper. I wasn't thrilled with the quality.
Cabana Girl Designs - It was a wierd mix of cute elements and papers and then a lot of overly saturated, fugly elements and papers. I kept a less than half of the stuff.
Digital Artchives - kept most of it, thought the pinkish paper was pretty
Chocolate Geranium - deleted the whole thing
Color with Caryn - I only kept one paper and one element.
Delicious Scraps - kept the papers and a circle frame, the rest I deleted.
Pardon the Mess - kept the papers for solids, but not sure if I will keep them after I put everything together. Only kept 2 elements
Dutsji - A lot of pooly colored elements and the papers are lacking texture. I deleted everything except one ribbon.
Feli Designs - Wasn't impressed with the elements at all and only kept one paper.
Helly - nothing matches the rest of the BT b/c the colors are way off
Keep in Touch Designs - kept a little tag, everything else was boring and I deleted it.
Key of D - kept one ribbon that was cute, the rest was overly saturated and not usuable.
LuvEwe - kept everything for good basics.
BonScrapatit - kept the word 'art' only. The papers had no texture at all and a lot of the element were not great.
I'll be back with the last bit soon.
BTW - Simon and Piers - how do you get your name in orange? I don't usually use blogger.
^^^^^^^^^^
I mean blue...lol.
It' blue when they sign in instead of being anonymous.
Let's see if this works
Ok, that worked...I changed the spelling a little, but I like it.
The last part of the BTB
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
MHK Scrap Bytes - kept one floral paper and 2 solids and a ribbon, deleted the rest. I think element quality might be from poor CU.
Mandy King - kept the plaid paper, word art (love) and a stamp frame. I don't think the textures on the papers were very good at all, one had texture on the background, but no texture on the pattern. Didn't like the alpha at all.
Mommyish - kept quite a bit, but the pink paper was really ugly. Good basic elements though.
Moon Designs - I thought it might be cute from the preview which seemed ok (and not a cluttered mess), but it really wasn't very good and I deleted everything.
FYI - If you make a tag include a copy without any writing on it. (word strips are a different thing, although a blank one of those is always good as well).
No Reimer Reason - I kept the embroidered flower, 2 ric rac and the rainbow (although I may delete it after a closer look), but all the papers were really flat with no texture.
RosyToes - I kept most of the elements which were done well and good for basics, but only 2 papers, the rest seemed really over saturated.
Rieka Rafita - I deleted everything due to really poor quality.
Stargazy Creations - Again, I deleted everything. Poor quality and flat papers.
Studio4 Designworks - Deleted everything.
t for me - I kept a lot of the elements, but none of the papers.
Truman Studio - I liked the papers, and a few of the elements (2 actually). The frame in the preview wasn't in the DL though, so maybe it would have been 3 elements.
Trixie Scraps - I didn't care for any of this and deleted everything.
And that concludes the Blog Train for me.
http://sugarbeansdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-on-ride-train.html
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
------------
I guess this is one example where someone is trying to promote a kit made based on the blog train palette.
---------------------------------
Poster One, Not annoying at all -- the papers alone were worth the stop. If there is more to be had, then how great is that?
Poster Two, did you read what she had to say on her blog?
_____________________________________
Personally liked the papers and agree that it was one of the nicest packs on the train. Really I'd rather have 10 good papers that I can work with then a handful of this and that I can't really make much of. Agree to that hey great there's going to be more quality free stuff on the blog later. It's free....really if you don't like it then don't download it. Also agree that if you think that designers do these blog trains out of the goodness of their hearts you're sadly mistaken. They do it for exposure, to gain a new audiance, get product out in the marketplace with the concept if you like the work you'll come back and see what other things they have for sale....and truly isn't the actual law of economics...nothing in life is ever free....there's a price whether it's your time etc. On a whole I think Simon had a good grasp on the quality and I too spent alot of time skipping many blogs as the patterns or elements weren't that great or useful. Love to hear Simon's thoughts on the remaining items or anyone elses. Apparently I skipped a few things because I thought the previews were UGLY but perhaps the items were decent so I'll have to go check those out.
Regarding Sugarbean's papers. I should hope that they are decent and of good quality, considering how long Rose has been in the design biz.
Randy/Randi, at first I liked your reviews because it was good to have another point of view on this blog than just Simon, but now I'm starting to feel that your "reviews" are really just a list of what you kept/deleted.
Would love to hear more from Simon Part 2/Piers, as the reviews are so much more detailed and actually go into what's wrong/right w/ each entry.
http://sugarbeansdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/come-on-ride-train.html
How annoying is this? Kit is supposed to be ready on the first. Marketing plus, customer service not so much.
------------
I guess this is one example where someone is trying to promote a kit made based on the blog train palette.
---------------------------------
Poster One, Not annoying at all -- the papers alone were worth the stop. If there is more to be had, then how great is that?
Poster Two, did you read what she had to say on her blog?
__________________________
So if this person was so right in posting just papers and holding out the rest until later in the month, then why has her blog apparently been updated/changed since yesterday and all talk of that is now gone? I'd say she either got reprimanded and/or she reads this blog and decided to change things after reading here. Either way, it seems silly to stand up for her when she didn't stnad up for herself, but changed things.
Would love to hear more from Simon Part 2/Piers, as the reviews are so much more detailed and actually go into what's wrong/right w/ each entry.
August 2, 2011 9:29 PM
They also take hours to do...
Would love to hear more from Simon Part 2/Piers, as the reviews are so much more detailed and actually go into what's wrong/right w/ each entry.
August 2, 2011 9:29 PM
------------
Wrong and right is just as subjective in Piers's reviews as it is in Simon's or anyone else's. Get a grip and stop asking people to spend hours reviewing your crap.
There must be degrees of following the rules... at least she had something up on her blog, and had a link to the next one. That is was something I really liked was icing on the cake.
What about these people?
52 Aimee Harrison --------http://girlboheme.com/gbstudios/
59 Angel Hartline --------http://angelhartline.com/blog/
86 Scrappin Wright -------http://scrappinwright.blogspot.com/
90 The Brown Owl --------http://brownowlscrapping.blogspot.com/
Inspirations from Day ----http://inspirationsfromday.blogspot.com/
Jill DZines --------------http://www.jilldzines.blogspot.com/
and even
85 Willow Grace Designs --http://willowgracedesigns.blogspot.com/
70 Mad Genius Designs-----http://bothmadandgenius.blogspot.com/
There is nothing up, and no link to the next blog. It really stops the train right in its tracks.
How does this work? Will they have to have a time out for next month before they can join again?
So the design factor is over. Did anyone find any new to them designers they like? Thoughts on the final round?
Re: 10:01pm's post
That's weird, b/c I know I saw a post from Day at DST in the designer forum earlier today, saying her blog post was scheduled and linked to next designer. Also, I read that ScrappinWright, I think, had to pull out of the blog train this time around. I thought she had posted something about it on her blog today/yesterday. Maybe not.
It really stops the train right in its tracks.
--------------
Really? You honestly can't go back to the main BTB site and click on the next designer on the list? One person's missing post leaves your train derailed? Um, ok then.
I did a quick review of the DST blog train. I only downloaded the kits that had something in the preview that caught my attention. In alphabetical order:
Barb Speck:
The nuts & bolts are ok. The rest doesn't appeal to me. The entire kit looks disjointed & doesn't go together.
Designs by Krista:
The patterned papers are nice & simple. When looking at the ribbon, the colors & diagonal texture give it a crazy optical illusion effect on my monitor that makes it look like the middle section is getting narrower as you look right, & wider when you look left.
Digilicious_pieceofcake:
I like the flowers, particularly the rolled flowers. I like the lime green frame, although I'd prefer it without the bow. I don't care for the patterned paper.
Dylabeldesigns:
The pink scalloped circle frame, green dot pp & pink flower are ok. Postcard would be better without the big blobs on the side. The big patterned paper is too busy for me personally.
Enkay:
Hanging doodled frame is cute. The large flower design paper I can see as a printed scrapbook paper - it's bright but it's fun. Enkay was able to incorporate the color palette in a fun way.
Kate Hadfield:
Her doodles are well executed with nice coloring & shading. If you like doodles, her stuff will probably appeal to you.
Keep In Touch Designs:
I like the orange swirl & the first 2 patterned papers. The rest of the kit doesn't appeal to me as it's very digital looking, & kind of generic.
Mags Graphics:
Her striped alpha is fun, & looks like it would suit a happy layout about the beach.
Mommyish:
I like the rolled flower. The pink grungy paper with the swirls is hideously ugly! This kit does not go together. The wooden picture frame looks like it would go with a shabby chic style, but the paper is grungy & gross, & the labels & bows look more contemporary style. The styles are so different in this kit it looks like it has a split personality.
Sherwood Studio:
I like the swirled tree thing. Most of the papers are ok & the texture resembles real paper.
Sunnyday Scraps:
I like the glittered swirl. The butterfly could be a cute accent. The rose is very digital looking, but it is well executed & nice for someone who likes that style. I don't care for the rest of the kit, it doesn't look like anything goes together. I don't understand that lacey thing that's on the candle holder (it looks like a lace fire hazzard).
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
^^^
Ok I'll bite - and you can be honest my feelings are not on the line - what's 'not good' about the rest of my mini? Are my papers too textured/ not textured enough? Are my elements blurry? I'm curious what you are seeing when you look at it.
re my papers too textured/ not textured enough?
-----------------------------
There is no texture on the papers. They are flat and the pattern was just placed on them. It wasn't blended in which you can't do because there is no texture. The green paper is blurry. The yellow paper color is poorly managed and the detail is lost. Learn how to use displacement maps.
The string colour is poorly managed. The contrast was ruined with the recolor.
The star on the string was not shadowed. It's flat and uninspiring.
the frame is not trimmed. Is it plastic or is it wood? I think there's too much bevel on it. The same goes for the star
The buttom is lost in brown. The orange is over saturated. The detail is lost. If it had any texture it is also lost because the color is poorly handled.
The circle with the rivet is shadowed incorrectly.
The ribbon and stitching is blurry.
It's not just about blurry and not blurry or strays or no strays, it's about looking at light and contrast and how it affects what you're trying to put on canvas and what you're making.
^^^^
I downloaded the kit in question out of curiosity and would have to agree with the above.
My take on Blog Trains.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
Anonymous said...
My take on Blog Trains.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
August 3, 2011 6:57 AM
-----------------------------------
Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
My take on Blog Trains.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
August 3, 2011 6:57 AM
-----------------------------------
Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
^^^
Ditto this. You're the type of non-customer we designers all love to hate. Hope your computer crashes, you ungrateful hag.
^^^
Another thought for you: we actually don't care if you DL our portion or not. Threatening us with "if you use 4shared I will just bypass you b/c I don't want to wait" has no affect on any of us. I'd say "take your business elsewhere," but I will bet you $1,000,000 that you rarely purchase anything anyway.
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
_______________________________________
So designers are not allowed to post anything else on their blog? For how long, all month?
^^
Exactly! We sign up usually a month in advance and give our blog URL at that time. Obviously we wouldn't have it posted by then to give a direct link to the post, so you'll have to - god forbid - scroll a little to get to the post if we've made other blog posts since then. You can't expect us to NOT use our blog for anything else.
I had a problem with one of the sites - wish I could remember which one now - but it froze up my computer both yesterday and again today. Did anyone else have any problems like that? It was right after a 4-share download so I'm wondering if there was a virus or something but my virus software didn't "catch" anything. Just wondered if anyone else had problems - could just be my computer.
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
^^^
Ok I'll bite - and you can be honest my feelings are not on the line - what's 'not good' about the rest of my mini? Are my papers too textured/ not textured enough? Are my elements blurry? I'm curious what you are seeing when you look at it.
==================================
Here's my 2 cents.
Papers
Blue Pattern - too big and random which makes it hard to scrap with
Orange Pattern - don't care for the pattern/color combo
All papers - could use more depth by adding a texture or two on top of what is there right now.
Solids - I kept those, but again, they really could use more texture.
Button - overly saturated and kind of 'dumpy' looking
Circle Element - I like the idea, but the shadowing is weird.
Frame - I just don't like the pattern on it and I tend to use plain frames as I don't like them to distract from the photo.
String - overlay saturated in color which has messed up the shadowing and contrast on the string.
String with Star - Cute idea, but thier is no shadow and again the string is not good.
Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
^^^
Ditto this. You're the type of non-customer we designers all love to hate. Hope your computer crashes, you ungrateful hag.
Absolutely not ungrateful at all and I am a well known designer but if you think I'm the only designer that thinks like this then you are burying your head in the sand and the reason designers don't participate in the Blog Train is because they don't need to hear all the garbage about how bad their kits are even if they aren't. Obviously if one is a top designer and selling well, one doesn't necessarily have to do a Blog Train. I occasionally do it because I use to find it fun and easy but I've not been doing it every time just for this reason and hags like you who think others should jump out their ass for you. You are the one who obviously doesn't get it.
And to the person who thinks I said don't post anything all month you need to go back and read what I said. I said if you don't put your Blog Train first on your Blog then I won't go hunting for it. You can make up your post early and save and then you can cut and paste to make sure your kit is first on your blog when it's time. If you are too lazy to do that then you lose out and I'm too lazy to go hunting for it. There were several who after trying to find the damn thing, gave up and I don't want to guess on where to find the links either.
So the design factor is over. Did anyone find any new to them designers they like? Thoughts on the final round?
August 2, 2011 10:06 PM
***
I thought the final round sucked overall. Actually, I thought most of the rounds sucked overall.
I will follow: Chulin Designs, Sugar Kissed, and Millie Dee who are all new to me. At this point, it's unlikely I'd buy from any of them, but if they improve, I would consider buying from all 3 and all for different reasons.
There are others that I follow already (Amanda Carlson and Inspired by Dominic) and will continue to follow.
I am excited to see the DSA contest and look forward to more reviews. I hope Piers and Randi are as well (and anyone else)!
How are the designer's losing out by you not downloading their free product? You've already said it must be first on the blog, because you don't want to see their other products. Which means you won't buy the designer's products anyway. Sounds like the only people losing out are the freebie hunters who can't be bothered to scroll past for sale items to download the freebie.
I would never create and hand out a freebie unless I was using it to promote myself and my designs. The is the only reason it makes sense to put a freebie out in the first place. I actually could not care less if that annoys the freebie hunters.
That last post was in response to 8:51 AM.
My take on Blog Trains.
If you use 4Shared I won't wait for the download to begin so I just by pass those
If you don't have blog kit first thing on your blog I won't spend time to go hunting for it. I don't want to look at all the rest of your kits.
If I can't find a link right away to your kit I won't spend time hunting for it.
If you're on the list but haven't bothered to get your kit kit there, you've just wasted my time and yours.
If you ask me to leave a comment, I probably won't. I leave comments to those who don't expect it.
With 100 kits to download, there are just too many to worry about all of the above. I want to get what you've offered and not have to spend a whole lot of time doing that. A blog train is supppose to be fun and quick but if I have to spend a lot of time then it becomes unfun real quick.
August 3, 2011 6:57 AM
***
I actually agree with most of this.
Unless it's the last person on the blog train, waiting for 4shared usually isn't a problem. It can queue up while I'm looking at the other blogs. But with Mediafire also being free with no wait, it seems pointless to use 4shared.
The blog kit being first on your blog thing - I'd agree with this for the first day of the train. The point of the blog train is to get your product into people's hands, not pimp what is on sale in your store right now. Include a coupon in your download! I could not believe only ONE person put a coupon in their zip out of all the ones I downloaded (Wishing Well Creations). If people like your freebie, they may check out your store!
After the first day or two, put whatever you want on your blog.
If people can't find the link, why would they download? Being organized and making things neat and easy to find is part of marketing. That is fact. I think people who get pissed about this do not understand the point of doing a blog train from a marketing perspective. CLUE - it's not to get people to linger on your blog to find a link you're too stupid to make visible.
As for signing up and not having your blog post done - poor. If you opt out at the last minute, just schedule a blog post saying you're no longer participating and link them to the BTB. It's just professional. As for not having your entry up, if you can't figure out how to schedule a blog post, you may want to reconsider selling on the internet.
The comment thing - get over yourselves. If you're making freebies for the fake comments people leave, you need therapy. Lots of it.
I have a little different taste that Simon so I have different designers that I would follow (or at least check out) in the future.
Milly Dee
Inspired by Domenic
Chunlin
Digital Harmony
Chris Matthis
Brine Design
Amanda Carlson
Marie H
Foosa Moon
Sugar Kissed
Not all of these people finished all 6 rounds, I'm guessing they quit during round 5.
I have a little different taste that Simon so I have different designers that I would follow (or at least check out) in the future.
Milly Dee
Inspired by Domenic
Chunlin
Digital Harmony
Chris Matthis
Brine Design
Amanda Carlson
Marie H
Foosa Moon
Sugar Kissed
Not all of these people finished all 6 rounds, I'm guessing they quit during round 5.
August 3, 2011 9:48 AM
Half of this list is exactly the same as Simons. Not sure how that's "different taste."
Not all of these people finished all 6 rounds, I'm guessing they quit during round 5.
____________________________
You'd actually follow someone based on the challenge instead of going over to their stores and view what they actually sell when they have the freedom to do whatever they want? There are a lot of designers that I saw from this challenge that have really great products up and that I'd buy from but you don't have on your lists.
This is exactly why I don't base by buying behavior on what's been reviewed here.
You'd actually follow someone based on the challenge instead of going over to their stores and view what they actually sell when they have the freedom to do whatever they want? There are a lot of designers that I saw from this challenge that have really great products up and that I'd buy from but you don't have on your lists.
This is exactly why I don't base by buying behavior on what's been reviewed here.
August 3, 2011 10:23 AM
If they have really great products, then why didn't they make some during the challenges?
Also, general, pointless comments like these don't help anyone. Who are these alleged designers and why are you so afraid to list them?
You'd actually follow someone based on the challenge instead of going over to their stores and view what they actually sell when they have the freedom to do whatever they want? There are a lot of designers that I saw from this challenge that have really great products up and that I'd buy from but you don't have on your lists.
_______________________________
Why wouldn't you follow someone based on a challenge?
Half of this list is exactly the same as Simons. Not sure how that's "different taste."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I suppose I could have said 'additional' designers. Yes, many of the designers are the same as Simon, but their work was good so why wouldn't they be.
I, unlike Simon, also like kits that trend towards the cutesy/kid stuff, so that would be where I'm 'a little different' in taste.
This is Piers again. I can't post anything right now; everything I've put up in the past 10 minutes has disappeared within 1 minute. Hope to have more luck later... meanwhile, there wasn't anything juicy in the deleted comment above this (at 12:36), I was just trying to get this to work and it put things in the wrong order.
This is exactly why I don't base by buying behavior on what's been reviewed here.
________
I am too unfashionable to take anything here with more than a grain of salt. For those who like details - a reviewer here of Mad Genius Designs wanted more texture in the papers, but too many times I've seen it go overboard. I read where one person likened it to the texture of a bathroom rug at 100% and to me that is so much worse. I'll take the Mad Genius backgrounds over those popular enormous texture patterns, thank you.
The Designers from the Contest I'll be watching for:
2 AM
Dona Ritchie (This 'n' That by Donakat, Dona Does Digi, donakat)
Art by Pamla (Pamla Klenczar)
Chunlin Designs
Keep in Touch Designs
P'tit Studio (Katia)
Chris Matthis Designs
and Milly Dee (but we found her in a different contest first, right?)
Thanks for those who responded. I'll look again based on what your feedback is ... but, to be honest, some of the feedback you gave I just don't agree with (ie: I don't like heavily texture papers, especially lights, I don't like patterns that are blended into the papers, looks blurry to me, etc) so that is stuff I probably wouldn't change. But I appreciate that you took the time to respond.
Jewel said...
Thanks for those who responded. I'll look again based on what your feedback is ... but, to be honest, some of the feedback you gave I just don't agree with (ie: I don't like heavily texture papers, especially lights, I don't like patterns that are blended into the papers, looks blurry to me, etc) so that is stuff I probably wouldn't change. But I appreciate that you took the time to respond.
August 3, 2011 2:27 PM
________________
I downloaded your contribution too. I agree with you about the papers. I hate heavily textured papers. I think they don't print well and they don't look pretty. I liked your paper textures. I liked the pattern on your orange paper, but I agree with the other person who said that the star pattern was too large. I also agree that the string was not colored well. It was very washed out. Did you apply a filter to your ribbon? It looked pixelated and strange up close. I like the star with the eyelet in it, it's cute. So is the layered paper circle element. In general, I liked the overall look of your contribution. It was a cute idea and I thought you chose good pieces for a mini in theory. The execution does need a little work though. Hope that helps.
^^^
ITA w/ this. Just goes to show you that there's a vast array of personal preferences in this business/hobby, and there's a designer out there for everyone.
Ocean Wide Designs writes in the DCR,
"Stupid smack people...They don't have lives, so they envy others. "
You're wrong, I have a life and I'm certainly not envious of yours. I just don't happen to like the blog train this month.
^^^^^^^^^
But Meg knows all, right? This blog needs to just be shut down because it's "stupid".
ROTFLMAO
WV: randi
Thanks for the additional feedback. I didn't run a filter on the ribbon but perhaps it's one that needs to be tossed from my CU. I don't use a lot of CU - mostly ribbon and strings - because I don't have the right equipment to make them myself and make them well. I'm going to play around with that string some and see if I can't make it less washed out ... and if not, I'll toss it, too. I appreciate the feedback on the large star pattern - that was, quite honestly, an experiment ... since we all have dozens of papers with small stars I thought I'd do something different. So, now I know that experiment was not so well received and I won't do it again.
LOLOL. Meg THINKS she knows all. She reads this blog all the dang time, and posts, too. don't let her fool you for a damn minute.
The "enablers", or whatever are called, are a bit stupid or perhaps they think we are stupid. The dig threads from the past (even 2008!!!) and post about their designer's kits. And then other enablers follow, and there you have a list of kits that noone was searching of!
The "enablers", or whatever are called, are a bit stupid or perhaps they think we are stupid. The dig threads from the past (even 2008!!!) and post about their designer's kits. And then other enablers follow, and there you have a list of kits that noone was searching of!
Ocean Wide Designs writes in the DCR,
"Stupid smack people...They don't have lives, so they envy others. "
--------------------------------
I think this blog is as informative (if not more so) than the forums that I also read. If you want to know the industry you have to get the info on both the good and bad.
Ungrateful people like you are the reason many of the top designers don't participate in the blog train.
^^^
Ditto this. You're the type of non-customer we designers all love to hate. Hope your computer crashes, you ungrateful hag.
August 3, 2011 7:26 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
^^^
Another thought for you: we actually don't care if you DL our portion or not. Threatening us with "if you use 4shared I will just bypass you b/c I don't want to wait" has no affect on any of us. I'd say "take your business elsewhere," but I will bet you $1,000,000 that you rarely purchase anything anyway.
--------------
Clearly neither of you are top designers either. You are just bottom rung and struggling. I can tell you are struggling because you have no business sense at all. I suggest doing some more productive and lucrative with your time.
^^^
Where is the lack of business sense?
How is it that not bending over for ungrateful people is bad business sense?
If people can't find the link, why would they download? Being organized and making things neat and easy to find is part of marketing. That is fact. I think people who get pissed about this do not understand the point of doing a blog train from a marketing perspective. CLUE - it's not to get people to linger on your blog to find a link you're too stupid to make visible.
As for signing up and not having your blog post done - poor. If you opt out at the last minute, just schedule a blog post saying you're no longer participating and link them to the BTB. It's just professional. As for not having your entry up, if you can't figure out how to schedule a blog post, you may want to reconsider selling on the internet.
-------------
Agree with all of this.
Ocean Wide Designs writes in the DCR,
"Stupid smack people...They don't have lives, so they envy others. "
----------
Smacking the smackees? I guess she doesn't have a life either then.
Where is the lack of business sense?
How is it that not bending over for ungrateful people is bad business sense?
-----
How is that bending over? What bending over did you do exactly?
Calling your customers, potential or otherwise, ungrateful is bad business sense.
Haha COLS is trying to contribute to the Designer Apprentice prizes, hopefully Sara has enough sense to ignore her.
Piers a.k.a. Simon Part 2) here again, testing out my new (unhacked) account and name...
Mad Genius -
Hi, I just checked out your kit, my feedback from a scrapper's point of view (not designer).
I liked your solid papers & I liked that they weren't too grungy or crumpled. I actually liked the big star paper & especially the subtle grid in the background. I know this pp could be tricky to work with b/c of the big star, but I think it would be cute with a couple photos (& then the scrapper wouldn't have to add too much other stuff to the page).
The orange pp is fun for a graphic style (although personally I would prefer the design color to be in cream/white on the orange, but I know you probably used the aqua as part of the color swatch).
I do like that your papers don't have heavy folds or grunged streaks on them because I don't want to use papers that look like a car drove over them. This is a selling feature for me. I think your papers would appeal to scrappers that like the paper scrapping look but the convenience of digi.
I like your fun stars, circle & the eyelets in them. Cute accents, could be used on boy or girl layouts.
I like the green patterned paper on the frame, & wish there was a whole sheet of it in the kit.
Just thought I'd try to give some constructive feedback since you asked. Hope it's helpful. Good luck with your designing. :)
Has anyone ever bought digital paper/elements from Echo Park before? I hadn't, until today. Got suckered into their dollar deal because it looked cute, and was shocked when I unzipped it and found jagged edges on circles on both papers and elements. On circles! How do you end up with jagged edges on circles? Is this their normal quality, and if so, how are they such a big/popular company? This is supposedly just a digital version of paper goods that they actually sell in stores. ???
I love how people smack a smack blog they're a) aware of and b)read.
Nothing like a bunch of hypocrites to liven up a Wednesday.
I saw the entries are starting to come in over at DSA's Designer Apprentice. I will check them out and review once there are more entries.
Any other requests other than OScraps (which is on my list)?
PIERS HERE. Giving this another try, as it appears that others are now able to post (and their posts are staying put?).
Earlier today, I lost access to the e-mail account that went along with the "Piers Hasselhoff" account. Couldn't log-in, and received a message from gmail saying there was suspicious activity. Later this afternoon, I find a post on this blog from "Piers", about Ocean Wide and the DCR, that I did NOT post, even though it is from Piers.
Can't explain what has happened, other than to say that either Blogger is having issues today, or someone has hacked into the "Piers Hasselhoff" account. The latter would appear to be the case, as the rogue post mentioned above would suggest.
This is just (another, third) attempt to bring everyone up to speed and let them know that Piers Hasselhoff will no longer be doing reviews. Or, his reviews will be by an imposter, if they are posted. I'm signing out as Piers, and you can find me (for now, anyway) as "Piers Unhacked". We'll see how long it lasts...
Jen C was not the only one. There were a bunch of designers who took the opportunity to promote other goodies before the blog train freebie.
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I think that is smart. Why wouldn't you take the chance to advertise?! This blog train has a lot of traffic!
It hasn't even been a month and there's already another new designer asking for everyone to tell them how much they make and what to do. Is it really that hard for these people to look a page or two back in the DCR for answers?
so how much they make according to what's posted in the DCR a few pages back??
I love how people smack a smack blog they're a) aware of and b)read.
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Yes, so here is someone really interested in the Ocean Wide Design contribution review.... or have I missed it?
Has anyone ever bought digital paper/elements from Echo Park before? ..... was shocked when I unzipped it and found jagged edges on circles on both papers and elements
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bummer. some of their stuff looked cute & i've been considering purchasing it.
it's weird that there would be jagged edges on their stuff because it's already been printed as real scrap paper.
that should say
so how much *do* they make according to what's posted in the DCR a few pages back??
it's a reasonable question for someone new considering starting. although not sure how many would share that info...
She just started in a store 3 months ago has made $20.00. What does she expect?
"I'm not sure if it is just part of the oversaturated market, my designs not being unique enough, or if the shop I am at just doesn't get much traffic."
All three? Why is she even asking if she already has an answer?
The super bright signature image and avatar definitely make her stand out at DST, but not in a good way.
It hasn't even been a month and there's already another new designer asking for everyone to tell them how much they make and what to do. Is it really that hard for these people to look a page or two back in the DCR for answers?
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I don't remember ever seeing a thread that had those answers.
Jen C was not the only one. There were a bunch of designers who took the opportunity to promote other goodies before the blog train freebie.
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I think that is smart. Why wouldn't you take the chance to advertise?! This blog train has a lot of traffic!
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I don't. I just bypassed that blog and the others who did the exact same thing.
She just started in a store 3 months ago has made $20.00. What does she expect?
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That's pretty crap.
I think that is smart. Why wouldn't you take the chance to advertise?! This blog train has a lot of traffic!
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Traffic doesn't guarantee sales. Think of a shopping mall during summer. Lots of teenagers loitering at a mall reminds me of the blog train, most aren't interested in making a purchase, just free samples at the make up counters.
Traffic doesn't guarantee sales. Think of a shopping mall during summer. Lots of teenagers loitering at a mall reminds me of the blog train, most aren't interested in making a purchase, just free samples at the make up counters.
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haha. That's a pretty funny analogy.
cdn eh - thank you very much for taking the time to share that with me! I posted a response to you earlier and it didn't show - sorry! I really do appreciate your time to download and give me that feedback :)
Another designer moving on? Anna Aspnes has left Designer Digitals and all her products have been removed from the store, so quick!! I really like her style... will have to wait to see were she lands.
^^^^
Wow, she's been there since forever, although I do remember her being at SBE before that. Maybe she's packing it up for good?
http://annaaspnes.typepad.com/anna/2011/07/farewell-designerdigitals.html
"Due to certain contractual obligations, my digital products will not be available for purchase for a period of 30 days beginning today. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please know they will be coming back."
That's... Odd? I've never heard of a contract like that.
"Due to certain contractual obligations, my digital products will not be available for purchase for a period of 30 days beginning today. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please know they will be coming back."
That's... Odd? I've never heard of a contract like that.
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I've heard of such contracts in the business world (in which you can't sell at a competitor for X amt of time), but haven't ever run across that in digi. Wonder if Designer Digitals has that clause in there for all of its designers?
Has anyone ever bought digital paper/elements from Echo Park before? ..... was shocked when I unzipped it and found jagged edges on circles on both papers and elements
------------------------------
bummer. some of their stuff looked cute & i've been considering purchasing it.
it's weird that there would be jagged edges on their stuff because it's already been printed as real scrap paper.
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Exactly, I couldn't have been more surprised. But it's bad. Really, really bad. A few of the elements were journaling cards with word art on them, and the curves of the letters are all pixelated and jagged, even. How? Why? If I could figure out a way to get screenshots up here for you to look at, I would.
Yes, so here is someone really interested in the Ocean Wide Design contribution review.... or have I missed it?
August 3, 2011 10:30 PM
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I believe all the "judges" passed her contribution by as "gross".
Probably why she has her panties in a wad.
Ocean Wide and Mellybird (who isn't in the train, but they remind me of each other) each have a weird paper pattern vibe going on. I thought I wasn't young and hip enough to appreciate it, but maybe it's just "off"?
Some of the new designers charge too much for their kits. There isn't enough product in them to substantiate their cost.
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=283935
Is anyone else getting sick of all the threads about the new DST owner's changes? I wish they would just address everyones complaints about the advertisements just so they would shut up.
^^^
Notice that people keep posting the same questions and observations in various places, without checking that it is reported somewhere else: scrap talk, NSBR, DST questions, DCR.
Either theyre not checking, or just trying to get attention. I don't see how it can be so hard to just post things where they belong, and in this case in te News & Questions area.
^^^^^^^^^^^
With regards to the above referenced topic at DST...I don't think Tammy ever makes it out of Hot Topics. My guess, she doesn't even have a clue that there's a new owner or that they changed server...or any clue about anything outside of Hot Topics. I don't think I've ever seen her anywhere else and I don't understand why she goes to a scrapping blog if all she wants to do is talk politics.
^^
You're right, her gallery is sparse and I never see her post anywhere else at DST or at shops.
from a few posts up .... who is Meg?
Meg = OceanWideDesign
Meg=OceanWideMouth
LOL! never heard of her, either one of them.
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=284010
someone is just asking for more trouble. I doubt there ever was a negative comment!
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=284010
^^^^^^
Are you naming her along the design qualites of mellybird and ocean wide open Meg? ROFL.
If you venture out to see her (darq illlusion) 'designs' put on the darkest sunglasses you have. When I saw it (and I wasn't prepared to see this on my bright screen) I wished it had been dark and an illusion.
^^^^
She's aptly named. She is delusional. I've seen some of her posts in the HT forum and she just throws a tantrum whenever anyone points out the inaccuracy of her remarks or asks for proof of her so called facts. There was zero need for her to post in the HT about her blog comment, she just wanted to throw another tantrum.
I love Songbirdy, don't know who she is, but I love that she calls out Darq on her bullshit.
All I can say is WOW, she sure is defensive. The comments from Songbirdy are polite and spot on, yet the responses from Darq Illusions are right off the deep end. Why start a thread like this, and then bash the people that respond to it? Attention whore.
^^^^^
Darq is always doing that, always. I've rarely seen her answer anyone without her getting rude and defensive and then calling everyone out.
If you venture out to see her (darq illlusion) 'designs' put on the darkest sunglasses you have. When I saw it (and I wasn't prepared to see this on my bright screen) I wished it had been dark and an illusion.
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Your last line just made me laugh out loud. Love it.
Some things you just wish you could "unsee", Darq's grotesque blog is one of them. Just goes to show that people will buy any old crap that someone is selling.
She should spend LESS time in the hot topics, and more time growing her "design" skills ... using the word "design" very loosely here.
I don't recall, did Simon review SSD?
She should spend LESS time in the hot topics, and more time growing her "design" skills ... using the word "design" very loosely here.
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But she's in 15 stores*, she must be 'good'.
*slight exaggeration.
I don't recall, did Simon review SSD?
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Yes, it was a while back. But that wasn't the part you really missed. What you *really* missed was Sugar Shack Designs coming on this blog (signed-in as herself) and going nutso b/c everyone is always talking about her ("SSD") on this blog. Oh, and we all have language problems. I think that sums it up. Her last post was right around 2200 of the previous space, I think? (I just looked it up... I'm not Rainman or anything)
LOL on the Rainman comment! Thanks!
Would Simon like any of the designers at Oscraps? It seems like they have a lot of C&S Designers. ( Plain Papers and ultra-small elements which Simon appears not to like too well.)
Re: the Echo Park digi paper that are jagged, have you contacted Echo Park?? What did they say?
I hope that it was just a bad file or something, because I don't understand how a design that was already printed as real paper would have such a bad digi file.
Good luck with contacting Echo Park. Please let us know if you get a better digi file from them.
Three years ago OScraps was my favorite store. I still love Paislee Press and I do like One Little Bird although the kits are small for the money, but that is about it. Sue Cummings could have some nice wordart if it weren't so tiny. Other than that it's just not my taste anymore.
Hopped on over here from another blog as I designed something for this blog train which some of you wrote negative things about. Many designers say they're wanting to leave the blog train now after reading your ungrateful comments but actually i'm thinking it's useful to see what people really think and I'm planning on using your feedback constructively. Would be nice to see more feedback that is constructive rather than negative though - there's a way to say things you know? Many of the designers have worked hard on this (even if you haven't appreciated it). Why not be less snarky and more constructive, that way they can use your comments to improve what they offer? Just my 2 cents.
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