artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,395 
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Post by artbabe on Oct 12, 2024 15:14:05 GMT
I have A LOT of opinions about Echo Park.
Negatives:
1. All of the die cuts are using the same old die shapes for every collections and the shapes are very rectangular.
2. So many words on their elements and stickers. And the fonts are ugly. Between the words and the rectangles it is very difficult to make embellishment clusters.
3. The designs are often very dated- it is like they are making the same designs they did 20 years ago. Nothing modern or fresh.
4. Every year the designs look the same. And a lot of them are ugly.
5. I really don't like Echo Park. I'm always excited to see new collections and every time Echo Park is a disappointment.
Positives:
1. I love their stencils. I've bought a ton of them. I love stencils.
2. If you are looking for nice b-sides with classic patterns and tone on tone, Echo Park is pretty good at that. The b-sides are versatile.
On to these collections:
November
EP Blast Off - This one isn't bad. There are a lot of b-sides and a few a-sides I like. Nice colors. The stickers are not wordy and they are cute. It is pretty tightly themed, though, with makes it less versatile. I'll probably get some of this, though. It is the best collection out of the bunch.
EP Little Builder - This one isn't bad either, but again, really tightly themed so harder to use. A few nice b-sides and the stickers are cute.
EP Valentine's Day - No, no, no. This is classic Echo Park, which means it is BAD. So many words and ugly fonts. Boring paper- only the flower piece is cute.
(No Carta Bella)
December
EP Hip Hip Hooray - This has nice b-sides- I'll probably get a few of these. The stickers and die cuts are really wordy- the fonts are ugly.
EP Little Things Mean A Lot - Oh no, this is bad. Ugly, wordy, cheesy. Shimelle did bug paper and elements so much better.
EP Lucky Charm - I absolutely love St. Patrick's Day and this is the worst collection I've ever seen. Every single thing that makes Echo Park bad is present in this collection. It has to be really awful to have a St. Paddy's day collection where I can't find one single piece I like.
(No Carta Bella)
Sad there is no Carta Bella. Those collections tend to be slightly better.
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,395
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Post by artbabe on Oct 12, 2024 16:16:01 GMT
That being said - does anyone really need an entire line for valentines or St Patrick’s day? And for the love of all that is Holy and good…HOW MANY st Patrick’s day lines do we need? I need (okay, want) a lot of them. Good ones, not this terrible one. I love St. Patrick's Day- I definitely scrap several layouts every year. I haven't liked the newer collections since the gnome (is that PhotoPlay?) one. I actually wanted more of that collection so I went on Ebay and Etsy and all over the web to find it. Finally found it online at some tiny scrapbook store I've never heard of before. I don't know how many complete collections I need but I buy a few pieces from St. Paddy's collections every year. My birthday is that week, too, so I just make it into a week long holiday. |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 12, 2024 19:53:22 GMT
I’m just excited to see THREE lines that aren’t pink and flowers! This was also my initial reaction! |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 13, 2024 6:30:13 GMT
I much prefer CB over EP ... I'm the opposite. Although I like its 80 lb/textured paper, I dislike CB's usual vintage aesthetic, cream backgrounds, pre-distressing, & dull color palettes (especially compared to product images). I do, however, like some CB collections that were reprinted as EP for Tuesday Morning (in its brighter colors on smooth 65 lb paper). |
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,152
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Post by camcas on Oct 13, 2024 6:53:37 GMT
PaperAngel- I am a diehard OA fan so that’s exactly why I like CB especially Steve Duncan’s collections I also don’t mind mixing cream and white on layouts But os course- to each their own and I do embrace the diversity of our craft
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pocketaddict
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Dec 14, 2023 3:50:23 GMT
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Post by pocketaddict on Oct 13, 2024 14:22:53 GMT
I really wish that companies would come out with some paper that has more "mature" color schemes. I want papers that have colors that work well for sports (like typical school colors) but that have varying basic patterns (stripes, circles, chevron, diamonds, triangles come to mind but I am not the most creative lol). totally agree with you. |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 13, 2024 21:07:54 GMT
PaperAngel - I am a diehard OA fan so that’s exactly why I like CB especially Steve Duncan’s collections I also don’t mind mixing cream and white on layouts But os course- to each their own and I do embrace the diversity of our craft Interestingly, I also consider OA a favorite (mostly for its classic patterns on reverse sides which I still use), often mix white & off-whites on layouts (necessary when Simple Stories sans Simple Vintage is a favorite), & embrace/encourage diversity in the industry. Specifically, it's the CB (&/or any brand) collections with (yellow) cream backgrounds (that IMHO appear dated/old-fashioned), heavy distressing (especially around the edges which makes the paper look dirty) &/or dull colors (that camouflage the pattern) that I avoid (ETA: e.g. CB Gone Fishing - Reel It In). I definitely prefer the signature non-dull colors, no vintage imagery/distressing/etc., & white backgrounds of EP collections. |
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camcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,152
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Post by camcas on Oct 14, 2024 3:16:11 GMT
Yes- I also don’t like the grungy edging
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 14, 2024 6:27:37 GMT
Note the October release ( HERE) is predominantly CB. |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 15, 2024 7:24:20 GMT
Blast off - I like the colors so I'm drawn to the non-themed patterns ... Same; I especially like the multicolored stripes ( Journaling 4x6 Cards) & plaid ( Explore Plaid). |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 15, 2024 19:18:27 GMT
... Hip Hip Hooray - ... For some reason, I find that confetti die offensive $10 for a few little squiggly scraps of paper. ha! ... I had the same reaction to the Celebration Confetti Die Set! |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
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Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 16, 2024 11:05:25 GMT
And for the love of all that is Holy and good…HOW MANY st Patrick’s day lines do we need? It appears only a handful of brands release St. Patrick's Day-themed mini collections & at most one per year. As indicated in the OP, Echo Park (which manufactures two brands - Echo Park & Carta Bella) revealed only the EP Lucky Charm collection for this year. Per its website, it appears EP has never released a St. Patrick's Day-themed mini collection under the CB brand during its 12-year existence (see THERE) & only five times under the EP brand (2024, 2023, 2016, & two in 2014 - see HERE) since its inception in 2010. IMHO the St. Patrick's Day collections (& few others) are a welcome reprieve from the stereotypically feminine & oversaturated floral collections that dominate the industry. |
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Post by refugeepea on Oct 17, 2024 1:44:09 GMT
I like quite a few B sides of the little builder collection. Nothing else really stands out.
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nicolecardella
Full Member
Posts: 118
Member is Online
Nov 5, 2022 0:36:28 GMT
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Post by nicolecardella on Oct 17, 2024 13:16:56 GMT
I guess my issue with St Patrick’s Day lines is…do we need NEW ones so often? I guess I’m not a collection scrapbooker so having whole new collections for a once yearly event seems like overkill. Same for Valentine’s Day….although I can find use for those hearts on other projects.
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Oct 17, 2024 22:43:01 GMT
Thanks for your responses. I like the color palettes in both months' releases - especially appreciating the break (except for the Valentine's Day mini) from the stereotypical feminine/oversaturated floral norm - & added both a non-themed/versatile multicolored stripe & plaid patterned paper from each of the Blast Off, Hip Hip Hooray, & Lucky Charm collections to my wish list plus a stencil (i.e. Good Luck Clovers). ETA: I noticed none of the collections includes enamel dots. |
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amysolovay
Full Member
Posts: 343
Sept 4, 2022 6:25:20 GMT
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Post by amysolovay on Oct 20, 2024 5:28:18 GMT
LOVE the "Shamrocks Paper" from Lucky Charm collection (for the B side), and I also love the Lucky Charm Solids Kit.
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amysolovay
Full Member
Posts: 343
Sept 4, 2022 6:25:20 GMT
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Post by amysolovay on Oct 20, 2024 5:29:47 GMT
PaperAngel - I am a diehard OA fan so that’s exactly why I like CB especially Steve Duncan’s collections I also don’t mind mixing cream and white on layouts But os course- to each their own and I do embrace the diversity of our craft Cream and white together was a fashion trend last year. I'm not sure if its still a thing this year or not. |
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Post by ebbie on Oct 27, 2024 15:02:56 GMT
I will be getting Little Builder in both 12x12 and 6x6. First time in a long time I contacted a LSS and put in a request 🙂
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