pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,529 
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Post by pinklady on Dec 4, 2018 1:55:40 GMT
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Dec 4, 2018 5:48:30 GMT
I loooove dandelions. My kids love to run around the school grass that surrounds the playgrounds and bring them to me. I have countless photos of them smiling huge with a bouquet in their hands or blowing on them to make wishes.
I also love daisies and think the fairies are awesome. Such a vintage take on everything...not my usual style but more me than the cutesy fairy images saturating the market. I also want the stars stamp. I am having a hard time telling myself to go for it because I honestly don't know when I'd ever use any of it, but it so hard to find much beyond an embellishment or small stamp set centered around dandelions.
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Post by jstblondie on Dec 4, 2018 8:00:51 GMT
I love this set especially the star background stamp. I wish I had the money I’d buy it.
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Post by anniefb on Dec 4, 2018 17:16:19 GMT
Didn't interest me at all, which is probably a good thing!
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Post by sleepingbooty on Dec 4, 2018 17:30:15 GMT
I dig the mouse blowing the dandelion that looks like he's actually eating it (look. at. his. lil. lips). You do you, mousey, don't let society put you in a box and dictate what you can and can't do.
PS: I hope dandelions aren't poisonous to mice.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Dec 4, 2018 18:19:23 GMT
I dig the mouse blowing the dandelion that looks like he's actually eating it (look. at. his. lil. lips). You do you, mousey, don't let society put you in a box and dictate what you can and can't do. PS: I hope dandelions aren't poisonous to mice. Haha, I don't see that at all. He's blowing on it and making a wish.
I had a long paragraph detailing 3 incidents that make me really dislike mice (even cute ones like this one) but decided it best not to share, lol. I really can't stand mice and even though I think the image is cute, I probably won't ever use it...mice are gross.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Dec 4, 2018 18:33:02 GMT
I caved. I got the kit and the add on stamp...plus some ugly jewels that were a buck so I could get free shipping (sucks being 2 cents short, lol).
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Post by Embri on Dec 4, 2018 21:09:42 GMT
Is it really just one sheet of stamps, matching dies, four pieces of paper, a gel pen and some sequins? 35 bucks for that?
*rubs chin* I'm not seeing the value here. Wait, that doesn't even include shipping? : / Yeah, not impressed.
The stamps are cute though, but nothing I haven't seen before.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Dec 4, 2018 22:28:44 GMT
Is it really just one sheet of stamps, matching dies, four pieces of paper, a gel pen and some sequins? 35 bucks for that? *rubs chin* I'm not seeing the value here. Wait, that doesn't even include shipping? : / Yeah, not impressed. The stamps are cute though, but nothing I haven't seen before. When they upped the stamp size to be more of a permanent fixture in the kits, the extras became endangered. Some months you get a bit more than others, but the larger stamp sets are more expensive and they usually up the number of dies as well. That eats up a significant chunk of the kit value. This time every image stamp has a die, which is uncommon and something I really like about the kit. 6x8 stamps retail for around $24.99 depending on the company and if dies for most 4x6 stamp sets run $20-$30 depending on how many there are, it wouldn't be a leap to say that $30-$40 is a good measure for a die set that coordinates with a 6x8 stamp. There was a lot more specialty paper and inks included when the stamps were half the size. Those few things didn't add up to the retail value of a larger stamp and die set, in my opinion. It just means that they sell their kits knowing that they aren't meant for people who aim to work just within a kit, they are meant for people who already have the basics. My gripes with their kits are when they make the card cover dies a piece of the kit instead of an add-on. The only kit where I didn't feel it ate too much into the overall value was the carnival kit from a few months ago.
If you subscribe, shipping is actually included but the cancellation window is something like a month ahead so you don't know if you're going to actually want the kit for the next month until it's too late (upside is that most of them sell on eBay for a profit). Overall, I do agree that it seems like a simple kit (especially when you compare it to what you get from SSS or Tonic for about the same price before shipping), but I feel like they have more (even if it just more stamps and dies) value than the first year of kits when people went apeshit every month, so much so that they had to skip their 2nd or 3rd month just to make sure they had the time to up the quantity.
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,294
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Dec 4, 2018 22:45:50 GMT
I dig the mouse blowing the dandelion that looks like he's actually eating it (look. at. his. lil. lips). You do you, mousey, don't let society put you in a box and dictate what you can and can't do. PS: I hope dandelions aren't poisonous to mice. Haha, I don't see that at all. He's blowing on it and making a wish.
I had a long paragraph detailing 3 incidents that make me really dislike mice (even cute ones like this one) but decided it best not to share, lol. I really can't stand mice and even though I think the image is cute, I probably won't ever use it...mice are gross.
I don't buy any stamp sets that have mice or rats (or gophers or moles) on them. I can't kill them one minute and then the next put a cutesy image of them on a card. LOL! |
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Post by Embri on Dec 4, 2018 23:25:48 GMT
When they upped the stamp size to be more of a permanent fixture in the kits, the extras became endangered. Some months you get a bit more than others, but the larger stamp sets are more expensive and they usually up the number of dies as well. That eats up a significant chunk of the kit value. This time every image stamp has a die, which is uncommon and something I really like about the kit. Hm, yeah still not seeing the value. *shrugs* Sorry! Just because other companies charge that much doesn't mean I'm going to feel it's a worthwhile price. I'd counter that most of them are heavily gouging their market, especially on the coordinating dies prices. The only way I'd consider a kit is if the total bundle price significantly discounted the cost, at least 50% less versus buying the individual items. And I'd have to love every single item being offered. Which is probably never going to happen.  |
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Dec 5, 2018 0:51:44 GMT
When they upped the stamp size to be more of a permanent fixture in the kits, the extras became endangered. Some months you get a bit more than others, but the larger stamp sets are more expensive and they usually up the number of dies as well. That eats up a significant chunk of the kit value. This time every image stamp has a die, which is uncommon and something I really like about the kit. Hm, yeah still not seeing the value. *shrugs* Sorry! Just because other companies charge that much doesn't mean I'm going to feel it's a worthwhile price. I'd counter that most of them are heavily gouging their market, especially on the coordinating dies prices. The only way I'd consider a kit is if the total bundle price significantly discounted the cost, at least 50% less versus buying the individual items. And I'd have to love every single item being offered. Which is probably never going to happen. Well, in terms of retail value versus what has value to use personally, I totally get what you're saying. The retail value is definitely there, though. The kit actually sells for about half of what the retail pricing would be. Retail pricing on 6x8 stamps is $25 and the dies most certainly would go for $30-$40 plus a few dollars for the wimpy accessories. I am a total cheap ass and don't pay retail pricing for much of anything, so my idea of worth is also not the same as retail pricing. I was just saying that in terms of the going market/retail value, the kit is not missing anything. My guess is that they saw more rapid sell outs in the kits that had larger stamps/more dies with little filler versus those with smaller stamps/fewer dies and more filler. I completely agree that we each hold our own idea of what carries value and understand that to you this kit doesn't hold value. There are a few past kits that are selling on eBay for upwards of $200 (in most cases it's not that extreme anymore, but there are still several that sell for more than double the kit's original selling price), including several I personally felt were of no use to me and therefore didn't meet my expectations of value but those kits ARE selling for those higher prices because there are people that want them.
Have you looked at the Tonic Craft Kits? I think they are a tremendous value and include so many fun extras. I just wish there was at least a teaser with the kit for the month before disclosing the theme or project type so I would know to watch out for them if they were of interest to me. There are plenty of themes/project types that don't appeal to me even though the kits are packed. The cat frame kit or whatever it was from last month was not appealing to me at all, but I'm still a little bummed I missed out on the giant leaf ornament kit from the month before. It hurts enough that I'm trying to keep better track of their timeline for launching kits so I don't miss out on another I would love to have. This month's launch is Friday. They do a full kit reveal live on their Facebook (I'm pretty sure it's the main one, not the USA account), too. Their kits are impressive because they include so many of their other products. I think the main difference with them and Hero Arts is that HA is kind of no frills. Other than ink and ink adjacent (like their new watercolors) products, stamps and dies are who they are, whereas Tonic Studios makes a wide variety of products and have an easier time manufacturing mini versions of things for their kits (even though they often include full sized versions of products as well) because it's all theirs.
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Post by Embri on Dec 5, 2018 7:32:36 GMT
I severely doubt any of the 'big name' craft companies are ever going to offer anything I'll find a good deal, for a few reasons. 1. Canadian. Getting any kit shipped up here basically doubles the costs, between exchange rate, additional shipping, taxes, customs & duty, etc. 2. My idea of a good price on dies falls in the 1-5$ range. I think the most I've paid for a crafty tool was 15$, for my Sizzix. I have limited dollars and remain heavily committed to getting the most out of each one. 3. Super risk adverse. I do not like surprise 'grab bags', random chance or anything else where I might end up disappointed with what I've bought. That makes most subscription boxes fall squarely in the 'not for me' category, and that's okay! I'm still glad they're around for people who do like them. Different strokes for different folks 'n all.
200$ for a subscription box after-market is crazy-talk! Sounds more like hype and fear of missing out than actual value; really, anything that's very popular is going to come around again, by the same company or another. It's all a matter of patience. Just because something's a 'limited edition' doesn't automatically impart it with worth. But I'd imagine the subscription organizers know that implied scarcity sells, and businesses are going to do whatever makes them the most profit.
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clio
Full Member
Posts: 113
Dec 3, 2017 13:07:05 GMT
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Post by clio on Dec 5, 2018 15:53:03 GMT
For me it’s the challenge and breaking out of my box. The Hero kit is charming despite fairies which normally aren’t my thing. Dandelions :-) I enjoy Hero & Tonic kits not because of limited edition FOMO but because they are less formulaic than some other kits that I’ve gotten the past and only get occasionally now. Both push me to think and create in different ways with designs I’d never otherwise acquire. Have even bought an occasional surprise box for the same reason-making a book using the carnival set to tone down some pseudo “magic kingdom” paper right now. Additionally, I find I go back to both kits regularly and combine elements with newer product - last year’s Santa’s village & an older snow globe with the advent calendar, sentiments from earlier this year and there’s a wreath from a couple years ago that I use constantly.
It all comes down to personal perspective. Each person has their own idea of “good value” this fits mine. In the end if you are happy with what you’ve added to your collection at a cost you are comfortable with and, most importantly, create something that pleases you that’s what matters.
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Post by Embri on Dec 5, 2018 16:18:23 GMT
It all comes down to personal perspective. Each person has their own idea of “good value” this fits mine. In the end if you are happy with what you’ve added to your collection at a cost you are comfortable with and, most importantly, create something that pleases you that’s what matters. Yup, that's very true! Value is very much an individual judgement call, and what's perfect for one person can be completely wrong for another. It's so hard to say what any single crafter will find the most useful, heck even I find it hard to decide what I myself really need sometimes, and nobody has more experience being me than me! XD |
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