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Post by Leone on Jan 23, 2020 23:45:09 GMT
I am hoping Anna Griffin comes out with a Valentine House die to go with the Haunted House and Gingerbread House dies.
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kate
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Post by kate on Jan 24, 2020 0:12:32 GMT
I'm sad about all the square stuff - I prefer rectangular cards that I can just pop in the mailbox with regular postage.
I really like the fanciful concentric frame dies - those are right up my alley! The pop-up flower dies are interesting, too, though I'll have to see the price. I suspect they'll be beyond my range.
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Post by riversong1963 on Jan 26, 2020 15:47:13 GMT
Sara Davies did a Livestream video showcasing all the products that will be on HSN on Tuesday. Yes, the TS will be a metallic (silver, rose gold, purple, and gold) version of the big Gemini with a bundle of dies, etc. Here's the link, but I have to warn you that it's 3 hours long. The TS is at the beginning, though. Crafter's Companion HSN Preview |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jan 26, 2020 20:19:08 GMT
This seems dumb. Can't find anything else new, might as well just make it again in a new color. And the number of people they put on air gushing about how they just had to have a new one because of the color offerings. SMH. I enjoy craft days but I now mute every phone call. |
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Post by artsyk on Jan 26, 2020 22:25:38 GMT
I'm sad about all the square stuff - I prefer rectangular cards that I can just pop in the mailbox with regular postage. I really like the fanciful concentric frame dies - those are right up my alley! The pop-up flower dies are interesting, too, though I'll have to see the price. I suspect they'll be beyond my range. Could you make the card square and then put it in a rectangular envelope to save on postage? I know Hallmark used to do that with a bunch of their cards. |
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Post by Leone on Jan 27, 2020 0:02:17 GMT
I agree about the square cards. Maybe in England they don’t require extra postage.
As much as I like Crafters Companion, I can tell I am getting tired of it. I have too many items I haven’t even tried to use, The TS being a Gemini seems boring and repetitive.
I really wish HSN would feature new vendors with some new creative products. I really have made too many cards that I don’t need.
I have been taking some One Stroke Painting classes using the Donna Dewberry method. They have been fun and everyone in the class has been successful. But you end up with stuff that just clutters up the house. We have painted on soap, candles, glass, tiles, eye glass case and paper.
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kate
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Post by kate on Jan 27, 2020 2:32:01 GMT
But you end up with stuff that just clutters up the house. That was the thing that got me hooked on cardmaking: be creative, then send it OUT of the house!  ITA about the TS. I have a Gemini and love it. I do NOT need it in another color. I haven't tired of AG. Just when I think I'm over her, she comes out with something else I like. Re: all the square stuff... I know I could mount the squares on a rectangular card base or just mail the square card in a rectangular envelope, as artsyk suggested. It guess it doesn't appeal to me on the same visceral level as the more immediately-usable things would. Thank you, Leone, for validating my fears about the one-stroke painting problem! I am curious about trying it, but I do NOT have any room in the house for accumulated art projects! |
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Post by riversong1963 on Jan 27, 2020 12:13:49 GMT
Totally agree about HSN having more variety when it comes to vendors and presenters as well. I have tons of CC products, but they keep coming out with more gorgeous stuff. I can totally resist a new metallic Gemini. My purple and white one is doing just fine. I'm not a big AG fan. Too many flowers for me. But she does come up with some nice products, and I do buy some occasionally. Like another poster said, I mute or fast-forward the calls, since I find the gushing and sappiness very annoying. Tuesday is my early day at work, so I should be able to catch a lot of the shows. The DVR is set to record everything. And I have some money put aside.  |
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Post by Leone on Jan 28, 2020 16:01:13 GMT
Very uninspired. I doubt I will buy anything. They repeated the same show about six times during the night.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 28, 2020 18:00:10 GMT
I haven’t watched a craft day show in a while. I’m listening to it in the background while I work. I did buy the TSV gemini. My big shot is on its last leg. The handle keeps popping off and I’m tired of messing with it  It sounds like those of you that have it like it |
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Post by Leone on Jan 28, 2020 21:07:09 GMT
Yes, Gemini is very good. However, the plates beak and are expensive.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 28, 2020 23:22:34 GMT
Yes, Gemini is very good. However, the plates beak and are expensive. Good to know, thank you! |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jan 28, 2020 23:58:54 GMT
Yes, Gemini is very good. However, the plates beak and are expensive. Good to know, thank you! Try looking on youtube for alternate options. The cutting mats work really well for most people. I haven't used them myself, but the magnetic platform from WRMK comes with a 'plate' that is basically the same thing and I've been impressed with it every time I use it. Intricate dies that won't work with my regular sandwiches cut like a dream using the platform with the included mat (used in my bigkick, but same idea just different sized plates for the Gemini).
Also, since this is the full size machine, you can get the smaller plates for the junior and run them in sideways since the length on the junior plates is the same as the width of the opening on the full size machine. This will help save your plates if you don't cut exceptionally long or large dies frequently.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 29, 2020 0:06:25 GMT
Try looking on youtube for alternate options. The cutting mats work really well for most people. I haven't used them myself, but the magnetic platform from WRMK comes with a 'plate' that is basically the same thing and I've been impressed with it every time I use it. Intricate dies that won't work with my regular sandwiches cut like a dream using the platform with the included mat (used in my bigkick, but same idea just different sized plates for the Gemini).
Also, since this is the full size machine, you can get the smaller plates for the junior and run them in sideways since the length on the junior plates is the same as the width of the opening on the full size machine. This will help save your plates if you don't cut exceptionally long or large dies frequently.
I’m actually planning on getting some of the junior plates! I will be keeping an eye out for them, they are out of stock on HSN right now. I also plan on watching several youtube videos |
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Post by artisticscrapper on Jan 29, 2020 4:05:42 GMT
I’ve been wanting a Gemini for about 3 years so I caved and bought the TS. I’m not wild about the metallic/mirror finish but oh well, it’s a nice bundle. I got the rose gold. Last Sunday was my birthday so happy birthday to me! I also bought the set of double sided dies and the special plates you need. gmcwife1 Amazon has the plates. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 29, 2020 4:48:31 GMT
I’ve been wanting a Gemini for about 3 years so I caved and bought the TS. I’m not wild about the metallic/mirror finish but oh well, it’s a nice bundle. I got the rose gold. Last Sunday was my birthday so happy birthday to me! I also bought the set of double sided dies and the special plates you need. gmcwife1 Amazon has the plates. I was just on Amazon pricing the plates Funny, I really didn’t care for the finish either, I would have preferred a teal non metallic |
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Post by Leone on Jan 29, 2020 13:22:14 GMT
My junior size plate broke very quickly. I tend to use them more often and I just keep using the cracked one.
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kate
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Post by kate on Jan 29, 2020 22:21:11 GMT
Also, since this is the full size machine, you can get the smaller plates for the junior and run them in sideways since the length on the junior plates is the same as the width of the opening on the full size machine. This will help save your plates if you don't cut exceptionally long or large dies frequently. I never would have thought of this - thanks for the tip! Congrats to you new Gemini "mommies" - I love love love mine. I just bought a replacement plate on Amazon for $10, I think. I've had the machine almost a year. I never replaced my Big Shot plates in all the years I had it - but that says much more about how much I actually USE the Gemini than about the quality of the plates! I use it every single time I craft. A few AG things I wanted were sold out by the time I checked out. I ended up with some of her older dies that were on clearance, as well as a couple of other things that weren't part of Craft Day. |
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Post by hmp on Jan 30, 2020 0:12:08 GMT
I swear Sara Davies could sell me the Brooklyn Bridge & I would buy it. I love her energy & enthusiasm. Also appreciate her attempts to teach techniques despite the host’s sell, sell, sell pressures.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jan 30, 2020 1:48:10 GMT
I swear Sara Davies could sell me the Brooklyn Bridge & I would buy it. I love her energy & enthusiasm. Also appreciate her attempts to teach techniques despite the host’s sell, sell, sell pressures. She is awesome, but I wish they'd get a host (even if they were literally part time and JUST did the craft shows) that wasn't a total dunce when they have craft events. I want to watch the craft shows, but knowing how awkward the hosts are just really makes it hard for me to watch. I will walk out of the room during reruns of movies or shows when I know an awkward and uncomfortable scene is coming up, so the HSN craft shows are incredibly painful for me to watch. When they aren't uncomfortable, I'm screaming at the hosts the proper terms for things that you know they've only just heard of glancing at their cue cards just before they go on air.
Sara Davies is a joy to watch...she doesn't need any help from the random hosts they assign to her. She'd be better suited to just have an assistant from her company join her in demonstrating the products and have some practice with production to learn how to move from item to item as needed, honestly. The hosts don't pressure me to buy anything crafty because they don't even know what they're talking about...how can you sell something when you know absolutely nothing about it and make assumptions about the item that are completely wrong and the company rep has to try and figure out a way to steer away from the nonsense they're spewing.
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Post by Leone on Jan 30, 2020 14:09:11 GMT
I agree about the hosts except for Suzanne Runyon. She is a real crafter and is responsible for getting HSN to carry crafts. She did craft shows on QVC. The QVC craft days use to be really a big event. Then QVC dropped crafts...decided to sell expensive vacuums and a lot of boring stuff. Suzanne moved to Florida and started working on HSN. At first she had just an hour or two of crafts occasionally. It has blossomed into monthly 24 hour craft days. If HSN didn’t do it, there would be nothing. Crafters Companion has brought new energy into the industry. Sara is amazing. However, I have too much of CC that I’m not using...the colors are repetitious and there are too many flowers and butterflies...I was getting the subscription boxes and should have stopped them early on.
The hosts on HSN have always been pretty lame about describing products.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Jan 30, 2020 16:08:20 GMT
I agree about Suzanne Runyon. She does know crafting. I'm not sure if any of the other hosts even craft. (Although, Suzanne was getting a lot of grief on a FB group for suggesting crafters ditch their older Gemini machines just to get a new color. That was pretty ridiculous.)
I do like watching Sara Davies. She's a good brand ambassador. Her knowledge of the product is refreshing, as is her enthusiasm.
My favorite "she can sell me anything" is Beth Kingston. She demos Diamond Press and Xyron products. She's a little quirky and I love her. I'm a pretty big fan of Diamond Press products. I bought the Celebration Stamps Auto ship and then cancelled it. Now I'm second guessing my decision and kind of regretting that.
I did splurge on one thing: The Crafter's Companion Foil Press for the Gemini machine. I have a Go Press and Foil that is used with the Cuttlebug and it has never worked all that great. I'm hoping the Gemini product is better.
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Post by riversong1963 on Jan 30, 2020 17:21:40 GMT
I didn't buy anything this time. I find most of the hosts very annoying, especially Suzanne Runyon. But at least she doesn't interrupt and talk over the presenters constantly, like some of the others do. Yes, she knows about crafting, but she comes across as being very insincere. Every item she promotes is "the best," and telling consumers to "give away" the item they just bought last month in order to justify the new (almost exact) item she's hawking at the moment is insulting. I know it's her job, but it's still insulting and phony.
HSN needs to bring in new presenters, items, and companies. I realize that Anna Griffin and Crafter's Companion/Sara Davies bring in tons of money for them, but I know a lot of people who have stopped watching and buying on HSN because of the lack of variety.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Jan 30, 2020 22:30:43 GMT
I didn't buy anything this time. I find most of the hosts very annoying, especially Suzanne Runyon. But at least she doesn't interrupt and talk over the presenters constantly, like some of the others do. Yes, she knows about crafting, but she comes across as being very insincere. Every item she promotes is "the best," and telling consumers to "give away" the item they just bought last month in order to justify the new (almost exact) item she's hawking at the moment is insulting. I know it's her job, but it's still insulting and phony. HSN needs to bring in new presenters, items, and companies. I realize that Anna Griffin and Crafter's Companion/Sara Davies bring in tons of money for them, but I know a lot of people who have stopped watching and buying on HSN because of the lack of variety. I like the IDEA of a lot of AG's stuff, but I don't do vintage. Even if there was a kit with a theme I didn't find completely unappealing, I probably wouldn't be able to use it once it got to me because it's just not my style. If they took some of her ideas with the kits she produces for HSN to modern aesthetics it might make the crafting product feel more like they are targeting young people instead of the stereotypical older woman. I'm not saying they aren't trying (Sara Davies looks ageless to me...I didn't know she was still child bearing age until she showed up on HSN craft day pregnant...I just assumed she was one of those middle age women with the gift of not looking her age, primarily because of her professionalism...maybe it's the accent, lol) but the majority of the paper product they sell is never going to appeal to me if it continues to look like something out of history books. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 30, 2020 23:38:23 GMT
I didn't buy anything this time. I find most of the hosts very annoying, especially Suzanne Runyon. But at least she doesn't interrupt and talk over the presenters constantly, like some of the others do. Yes, she knows about crafting, but she comes across as being very insincere. Every item she promotes is "the best," and telling consumers to "give away" the item they just bought last month in order to justify the new (almost exact) item she's hawking at the moment is insulting. I know it's her job, but it's still insulting and phony. HSN needs to bring in new presenters, items, and companies. I realize that Anna Griffin and Crafter's Companion/Sara Davies bring in tons of money for them, but I know a lot of people who have stopped watching and buying on HSN because of the lack of variety. I like the IDEA of a lot of AG's stuff, but I don't do vintage. Even if there was a kit with a theme I didn't find completely unappealing, I probably wouldn't be able to use it once it got to me because it's just not my style. If they took some of her ideas with the kits she produces for HSN to modern aesthetics it might make the crafting product feel more like they are targeting young people instead of the stereotypical older woman. I'm not saying they aren't trying (Sara Davies looks ageless to me...I didn't know she was still child bearing age until she showed up on HSN craft day pregnant...I just assumed she was one of those middle age women with the gift of not looking her age, primarily because of her professionalism...maybe it's the accent, lol) but the majority of the paper product they sell is never going to appeal to me if it continues to look like something out of history books. Same for me with AG and CC! I just don’t do florals or vintage. But I did tell my friend I want to do more layering like AG does |
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Post by artisticscrapper on Jan 31, 2020 4:33:01 GMT
My TS new Gemini came today! That’s practically Amazon fast, considering I’m in SoCal. I’m going to watch a few videos first even though it looks pretty easy. Can’t wait to try it out this weekend.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Feb 1, 2020 9:19:54 GMT
My TS new Gemini came today! That’s practically Amazon fast, considering I’m in SoCal. I’m going to watch a few videos first even though it looks pretty easy. Can’t wait to try it out this weekend. Wow, that was quick! Have fun with your new toy! |
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kate
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Post by kate on Feb 2, 2020 1:06:42 GMT
I love Sara Davies. She makes me want to buy everything, too! The reality, though, is that the CC stuff is not *quite* my style. Most things are just a half-beat off of what I really like. I buy some of it anyway - I am big into florals, and some of the CC papers are just gorgeous. AG is right up my alley, although the card kits sometimes look a little too prefab for me. My favorite things of hers are all components, rather than the complete everything-you-need-including-adhesive kits. I got a box of her Mini Flowers and Sentiments on a past Craft Day, and they are SO useful for quickie cards! I can pick my own backgrounds, frames, and other embellishments - either Anna's or someone else's. I ordered a Craft Factory kit because it was on sale - many of their things look prefab to me, but this one kit spoke to me. I'll let y'all know how it looks IRL when it comes. I ADORE Beth Kingston! I totally want to go out for drinks with her! |
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It sounds like those of you that have it like it 
