Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 9:04:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 21:31:00 GMT
I’m glad at least to see the 12x12 add on. I get that rising shipping costs make things difficult but am really sad to see the demise of so many traditional SB kits. Still confused. Will there always be a 12x12 add on? Can I just order the add-on? If anyone has sorted this and can share, I'd be grateful.
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mamakven
Full Member
Posts: 407
Oct 2, 2014 22:01:19 GMT
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Post by mamakven on Jan 2, 2019 22:35:09 GMT
I’ve been a subscriber for something like two years so maybe I’m getting a discount for subbing by the year but I’m being billed $25.45 every month for the pocket kit. Waiiiiit. I’m locked into the old pricing. She had to raise the price last year and those already in subs were locked into the old pricing. Sorry. I don’t even pay attention because this kit is my monthly box of happy. I’m almost never shopping outside my subs anymore except the occasional good sale (hello Bella blvd). Ahhh... that makes sense! I’ve gone back and forth between subs. I used to return to CTK Always and honestly I totally feel like I’m cheating on Trina because hers was my first kit club and longest lasting sub. Plus her CS is top of the top of the top notch. The only thing is that her kits settled on a more bright pastel feel to them, and I’ve moved toward more muted colors. Right now I’m subbing to The scrap room and hovering over the subscribe button on cocoa daisy, bummed about the demise of the 12x12 kit though. I digress. Anyway, I may well consider getting CTKs new albums. They are pretty revolutionary.
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Jan 2, 2019 22:37:55 GMT
I’m glad at least to see the 12x12 add on. I get that rising shipping costs make things difficult but am really sad to see the demise of so many traditional SB kits. Still confused. Will there always be a 12x12 add on? Can I just order the add-on? If anyone has sorted this and can share, I'd be grateful. You can just order the add on as a one-off. From what I've read, I believe it's going to be a regular add on item for months to come.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 25, 2024 9:04:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 8:12:01 GMT
I asked Citrus Twist about the TN page protectors. Packs will be sold around March.
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Post by lasteve1 on Jan 8, 2019 12:44:51 GMT
So... after reading this thread and on a day I needed some serious retail therapy, I ordered 5 old pocket life kits from citrus twist. I’d never ordered from them before, but the kits looked interesting online and I was so excited waiting for them to come. They came last night and I opened them up and I am seriously disappointed. I’m worried this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I wanted to put it out there.
After all the complaints about studio calico for having poor print quality, etc., I expected the other companies to be on top of this stuff. But the card quality is very poor. There is ink bleeding onto the wrong side of the card and fuzzy cut edges. Some of the ephemera pack is not fully punched out and the cut apart labels are printed on basically copy paper. One of the kits I got, the 6x8 pages were torn out of a 6x8 paper pad and still had the branding strip with fresh tear marks on them! Many of the embellishments seem to also be poorer quality, like the chipboard sheet is vastly inferior quality (both in print quality of images and flimsiness of chipboard) to anything inked produces.
Once I got over the quality, I liked some of the elements. The card designs were mostly good and same with the stamps. I really love that cursive typewriter font that is used frequently. The puffy alphas seem nice quality. But the ephemera packs are just too huge, there is no way I could use all of that and many of the elements aren’t things I would use anyways so if I subbed those would just pile up in my stash. Ephemera packs are one of the things I haven’t found a good organization system for yet. I reiterate my concerns from before with the color schemes used... I just don’t get the neon yellow being in every kit?
I haven’t used the kits yet, but I plan to try to use one for this current week and see how it works out. But, I doubt I’ll be ordering again, at least for awhile. And this really makes me appreciate the quality of studio calico products more!
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Jan 8, 2019 14:17:43 GMT
lasteve1 I subbed with them for only several months in the very beginning but I remember that they had more of the shiny printed cards and yes, if they used 6x8s or 6x6 papers from an existing line, they were torn from a pack. I recall my cut apart labels (which I dislike cut apart anything) to be printed on cardstock, though. I don’t remember overprinting/bleeding over the edges of the cards, but I do remember it was the shinier printing, which isn’t my favorite but looked ok when it was in the pocket. I think what got people most excited (and perhaps still) was that it was a decent value (they did pack a lot in their kits when I was a sub) and their excellent customer service. I think if Inked kits had more stuff, more value in their kits, a number of people would’ve perhaps said something but been more understanding about their past printing or quality control issues. I think Inked’s customer service and QC issues combined made their already skimpy kits feel worse.
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Post by lasteve1 on Jan 8, 2019 15:03:56 GMT
pancakes thanks for the feedback, that’s helpful to know. I agree that inked customer service is awful. But at this point with my scrap stash and budget, I would rather have a kit with less, but well made, products than a lot of cheaply made stuff that just sits in my stash. But I could definitely see the opposite if I didn’t have a stash problem and wanted more options. I know what you mean about the shiny cards, the ones from feed your craft are like that. These aren’t like that, they remind me of Becky Higgins core kits with thickness and print quality and have that dull almost chalky look because the print quality isn’t that good, so none of the colors are vibrant. So maybe they changed the cards since you subscribed? ETA: here’s photos of the most egregious card. The first one is the messed up side. You can see the black ink along the edges and see the pattern through it in places. The second is the back side so you can tell what you are seeing through/bleeding onto the other side.
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Jan 8, 2019 15:10:59 GMT
pancakes thanks for the feedback, that’s helpful to know. I agree that inked customer service is awful. But at this point with my scrap stash and budget, I would rather have a kit with less, but well made, products than a lot of cheaply made stuff that just sits in my stash. But I could definitely see the opposite if I didn’t have a stash problem and wanted more options. I know what you mean about the shiny cards, the ones from feed your craft are like that. These aren’t like that, they remind me of Becky Higgins core kits with thickness and print quality and have that dull almost chalky look because the print quality isn’t that good, so none of the colors are vibrant. So maybe they changed the cards since you subscribed? They very well might have — I was a sub only for six months when they were first open. Interesting that they’ve gone to the BH core kit printing. Even with all of Inked’s faults, I still prefer their card texture to others. Like the super slick Kelly Purkey ones or the shiny FYC ones. There are def two camps of shoppers for sure..
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Jan 8, 2019 15:43:37 GMT
Oh man. This whole TN thing. I can't see this lasting and being the standard for the future of memory-keeping. Personally, I don't care for it, and I don't see this being the standard of future memory-keeping. I really believe digital will be the future. I don't like that either
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Post by lasteve1 on Jan 8, 2019 17:28:33 GMT
Oh man. This whole TN thing. I can't see this lasting and being the standard for the future of memory-keeping. Personally, I don't care for it, and I don't see this being the standard of future memory-keeping. I really believe digital will be the future. I don't like that either I agree with you here.
I used to vehemently hate digital though. Like despised the way the layouts looked at couldn't understand how it could be a substitute. However, I feel like digital supplies and styles have caught up to me a bit and I actually really like a lot of digital/hybrid pages and I've gotten into making a few hybrid pages myself and making some complete digital layouts to print in a photo book.
That said, I don't think it could ever replace physical products for me. I just love being crafty with paper and adhesive and embellishments! Sitting at a computer working in photoshop, while fun & creative, is not the same thing. I definitely could see transitioning some projects to digital, but I would never let go of the physical stuff completely because it's just too much fun!
There are other factors, besides scrapbooker interest, in favor of digital products taking over though. For one, it's way easier for a new small business to open up an etsy shop and produce digital files than to have to deal with finding a manufacturer/deal with shipping for physical products. Secondly, there is no shipping cost. Third, there is no real overhead cost to producing new products other than the designer's time and for someone who is selling in their own shop this is probably very attractive--even if no one buys their products, they haven't really lost much. On the flip side, if there is a ton of interest in a product, they can sell it an unlimited amount of times and it will be 100% profit. In contrast, there is a real risk to investing in manufacturing products if no one buys them and if they are popular there will be inventory issues, plus you'll have to deal with lost/damaged packages/products, etc.
Even with all of that, I think there will always be a market for physical products because I do think a lot of people don't see digital as a true substitute, but unfortunately I agree that physical product offerings will shrink overtime in favor of digital.
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tsabhira
Full Member
Posts: 250
Jun 26, 2014 3:38:01 GMT
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Post by tsabhira on Jan 9, 2019 1:24:13 GMT
Me either. I attend crops and almost everyone attending scraps traditional 12x12 with multiple photos per page. I see the online kit clubs that have such limited product as niche markets. I might use a TN for a one off project but I don’t see how any serious memory keeper can just use that tiny size. So right there you’ve cut your customer base to only those who want to do such a small project. I just don’t think it’s a sustainable business.Do Do we really have to define "serious memory keeper" by the size of the medium? I did about 20 fully filled TNs last year. It's because of the smaller size that I got so much memory keeping done.
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Post by mom on Jan 9, 2019 3:23:34 GMT
So... after reading this thread and on a day I needed some serious retail therapy, I ordered 5 old pocket life kits from citrus twist. I’d never ordered from them before, but the kits looked interesting online and I was so excited waiting for them to come. They came last night and I opened them up and I am seriously disappointed. I’m worried this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I wanted to put it out there. After all the complaints about studio calico for having poor print quality, etc., I expected the other companies to be on top of this stuff. But the card quality is very poor. There is ink bleeding onto the wrong side of the card and fuzzy cut edges. Some of the ephemera pack is not fully punched out and the cut apart labels are printed on basically copy paper. One of the kits I got, the 6x8 pages were torn out of a 6x8 paper pad and still had the branding strip with fresh tear marks on them! Many of the embellishments seem to also be poorer quality, like the chipboard sheet is vastly inferior quality (both in print quality of images and flimsiness of chipboard) to anything inked produces. Once I got over the quality, I liked some of the elements. The card designs were mostly good and same with the stamps. I really love that cursive typewriter font that is used frequently. The puffy alphas seem nice quality. But the ephemera packs are just too huge, there is no way I could use all of that and many of the elements aren’t things I would use anyways so if I subbed those would just pile up in my stash. Ephemera packs are one of the things I haven’t found a good organization system for yet. I reiterate my concerns from before with the color schemes used... I just don’t get the neon yellow being in every kit? I haven’t used the kits yet, but I plan to try to use one for this current week and see how it works out. But, I doubt I’ll be ordering again, at least for awhile. And this really makes me appreciate the quality of studio calico products more! honestly? I am glad to see you posting about this. I had ordered some awhile back and wasn't thrilled with the quality either. The potential was there for a great kit - but the quality just ruined it for me. Im at the stage in life (and in my memory keeping) that I am willing to pay more for quality rather than just nickel and dime cheap products. CT has been a no-go since that one order from me.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Jan 9, 2019 3:53:57 GMT
Me either. I attend crops and almost everyone attending scraps traditional 12x12 with multiple photos per page. I see the online kit clubs that have such limited product as niche markets. I might use a TN for a one off project but I don’t see how any serious memory keeper can just use that tiny size. So right there you’ve cut your customer base to only those who want to do such a small project. I just don’t think it’s a sustainable business.Do Do we really have to define "serious memory keeper" by the size of the medium? I did about 20 fully filled TNs last year. It's because of the smaller size that I got so much memory keeping done. Curious- how do you store all those TN’s? I’ve been scrapping for a long time, and I am worried about long term storage for these albums. I switched to 9X12 two years ago, and I’ve cut back on the food pics etc..., yet.. I still worry that it’s too much paper and “stuff.”
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 15:23:27 GMT
My kit and album will be here today. I ordered the album at the last minute just because I’m curious about it. I’ll post pix and sizing on Instagram this afternoon.
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,604
Jul 31, 2014 5:23:25 GMT
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Post by craftymom101 on Jan 9, 2019 16:26:11 GMT
My kit will be here today as well. I didn't order an album and plan to use the kit for my regular 12x12 pages. We'll see how it goes.
I do think the Citrus Twist kits are a great value and I hope the new kit works for me.
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 18:28:37 GMT
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 18:29:52 GMT
Plus the 6 rings line up with the studio calico pp that are 6 ring. So you can cut down or use your fuse tool.
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Post by mom on Jan 9, 2019 18:31:52 GMT
julie5 can you show the inside with the protectors? Pretty please? edited - never mind! I found photos on their website. It does look cool...
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 18:33:09 GMT
julie5 can you show the inside with the protectors? Pretty please? It’s the last photo-and I put a piece of 6x8 paper behind one to show the size better.
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 18:35:02 GMT
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Post by mom on Jan 9, 2019 18:36:43 GMT
julie5 can you show the inside with the protectors? Pretty please? It’s the last photo-and I put a piece of 6x8 paper behind one to show the size better. sorry! I was looking on the photos here and not on insta (Im lazy!). Thank you!
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 18:37:47 GMT
mom it will still let ypu scroll through here if you’re on the mobile version.
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Post by mom on Jan 9, 2019 18:39:48 GMT
mom it will still let ypu scroll through here if you’re on the mobile version. not on mobile - Im on my desktop. But now I see the arrows! I didn't see them earlier!
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Jan 9, 2019 18:56:42 GMT
julie5 what do you plan on doing with the album? I'm curious what page protectors CT will have. Is it actually 8x4 or 8.25x4.25?
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,611
Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Jan 9, 2019 19:01:25 GMT
julie5 what do you plan on doing with the album? I'm curious what page protectors CT will have. Is it actually 8x4 or 8.25x4.25? . I think it’s more like 8.25x4.25. There’s a tad bit of room in the protector. I bought a book worm stamp from the ct store to document my reading challenge I’m doing this year. I think this album is perfect for that. I’m not 100% sure yet but I wanted to see the album in person. Now that I have it, I love it!
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Post by quietgirl on Jan 9, 2019 19:06:57 GMT
julie5 what do you plan on doing with the album? I'm curious what page protectors CT will have. Is it actually 8x4 or 8.25x4.25? . I think it’s more like 8.25x4.25. There’s a tad bit of room in the protector. I bought a book worm stamp from the ct store to document my reading challenge I’m doing this year. I think this album is perfect for that. I’m not 100% sure yet but I wanted to see the album in person. Now that I have it, I love it! Thanks for sharing. I was curious. They look really nice.
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nicolep
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,080
Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Jan 9, 2019 19:09:59 GMT
julie5 what do you plan on doing with the album? I'm curious what page protectors CT will have. Is it actually 8x4 or 8.25x4.25? In the video that Dearly Dee has on YT she said they were 8.25 x 4.25. I am kind of intrigued. I may buy one just to try it out as a 'mini'.
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Jan 9, 2019 19:52:18 GMT
mom it will still let ypu scroll through here if you’re on the mobile version. not on mobile - Im on my desktop. But now I see the arrows! I didn't see them earlier! I never knew that either! Wow! And thank you soooo much for sharing!
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Post by mom on Jan 9, 2019 19:53:53 GMT
julie5 what do you plan on doing with the album? I'm curious what page protectors CT will have. Is it actually 8x4 or 8.25x4.25? In the video that Dearly Dee has on YT she said they were 8.25 x 4.25. I am kind of intrigued. I may buy one just to try it out as a 'mini'. This is where I am, as well. Not sure it would be big enough for PL or even DD (or maybe it would be??) but I think it could be a good travel mini album.
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Post by scrampinmystyle on Jan 9, 2019 20:24:55 GMT
In the video that Dearly Dee has on YT she said they were 8.25 x 4.25. I am kind of intrigued. I may buy one just to try it out as a 'mini'. This is where I am, as well. Not sure it would be big enough for PL or even DD (or maybe it would be??) but I think it could be a good travel mini album. I LOVE the idea of using it as a travel album!! I wanted to order, but decided against it because I like the other colors better. I also think the other colors would be great for summer documenting. Sometimes I separate summer, sometimes I don't; just depends on what I have going on.
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