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Post by sarahbee on Aug 25, 2016 12:58:04 GMT
I hope this doesn't sound cruel, but every time I look at the 7Gypsies website, I find myself wishing that Canvas Corp. would just let the brand die already...I used to LOVE 7Gypsies, but for several years now (since they were bought out) it's just been a sad shell of its former self. Like a bad Tim Holtz copycat or something.
Which got me thinking...are there any scrapbook brands out there that you feel are out of touch or no longer relevant to the industry?
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Post by ScrappyGlue on Aug 25, 2016 13:06:51 GMT
Just my opinion...but, Teresa Collins - used to love her stuff, now I just feel like it's Heidi Swapp reincarnated.
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Deleted
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Apr 29, 2024 21:24:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 13:11:51 GMT
I hope this doesn't sound cruel, but every time I look at the 7Gypsies website, I find myself wishing that Canvas Corp. would just let the brand die already...I used to LOVE 7Gypsies, but for several years now (since they were bought out) it's just been a sad shell of its former self. Like a bad Tim Holtz copycat or something. Which got me thinking...are there any scrapbook brands out there that you feel are out of touch or no longer relevant to the industry? 7gypsies doesn't look any different than it did 10 years ago. Yikes. Teresa Collins--I agree again because she was always trying to ride Heidi swapps wave of fame. Now, she's pushing herself as some lifestyle expert and relationship/family/lds goddess because she was able to continue a happily married life after her husband died. I'm not saying you can't find happiness but she really pushes her happiness just a bit too far which completely overshadows anything halfway creative she might do. Basically, she's an idiot.
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Post by coloradocropper on Aug 25, 2016 13:15:55 GMT
I just may hear a collective gasp on this one....I haven't been interested in anything Echo Park for a while now. Except for the occasional piece of paper that catches my eye, I'm, for the most part, over with BoBunny.
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Post by QueSeraSera on Aug 25, 2016 14:03:33 GMT
Agree on Teresa Collins. It doesn't seem to me that she is an original or creative. She coat tails to be famous and paid to travel. Her priorities are off IMO. I didn't even realize 7 gypsies was still around. I thought they closed already. Whoops. I rarely buy Echo Park, BoBunny, MME products. MME has some fun concepts but their designs are too fussy.
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Deleted
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Apr 29, 2024 21:24:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 14:11:31 GMT
I will add that with some of the big names closing up like basic grey, I've begun to notice smaller companies like Kaiser craft and there's still a lot of good stuff out there!
Eta I'm just now discovering jillibean soup and photo play too!
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breetheflea
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Posts: 5,887
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Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Aug 25, 2016 14:20:57 GMT
MME, I think they do the same thing over and over again in different colors...
I also think the same thing about American Crafts, come up with something new, enough pink and gold!
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 25, 2016 15:09:13 GMT
I am sick of Doodlebug and their big-headed creatures. But, that's just me!
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Post by dulcemama on Aug 25, 2016 15:36:52 GMT
I just may hear a collective gasp on this one....I haven't been interested in anything Echo Park for a while now. Except for the occasional piece of paper that catches my eye, I'm, for the most part, over with BoBunny. I have a love/hate relationship with Echo Park. There are lines that just blow me away with how awesome they are but then there are so many that are just meh. American Crafts keeps doing the same thing over and over. They could just stop now as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by paperpilekitten on Aug 25, 2016 16:06:26 GMT
I used to adore everything 7 Gypsies and I'm hoarding the treasures I have from them. It doesn't seem like there have been more than a few new designs since Canvas Corp bought the brand years ago and the products are very hard to come by for an international. No promotion or marketing and very few stores sell the products.
It's not the first time Canvas Corp has done this to a brand. Tattered Angels is another loved brand (I have a Raskog tray filled with their products – love them!) that Canvas Corp managed to effectively kill off. The founder of Tattered Angels, who had sold the company to get more time for the development and design work and get rid of the boring business side of running a company, was soon forced to leave over night despite being promised that they would let her stay on, and she even moved to the same city – she lost everything as the contract stated that she could not work in the business for any other company (she told the entire sad story on her blog when it happened).
The connection between 7 Gypsies and Tim Holtz is that he was wise enough to hire the 7 Gypsies design team full time (two very talented girls, if I remember correctly).
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Post by lisacharlotte on Aug 25, 2016 16:24:12 GMT
I loved Echo Park back in 2012. Now, not so much.
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Post by kiwigirl on Aug 25, 2016 16:29:36 GMT
I'm kinda over Dear Lizzy, Amy Tangerine and I've never been a fan of Shimelle's collections. I think AC should get fresh, new, one off designers to do collections and see what they come up with. Just because a designer has one great collection in them, doesn't mean they have 4 or 5.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Aug 25, 2016 16:39:11 GMT
I've always liked Amy Tangerine because it's obviously my style. But it is very repetitive release after release. I'd really like to see some new design aesthetics.
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Post by ScrappyGlue on Aug 25, 2016 16:43:29 GMT
I'm kinda over Dear Lizzy, Amy Tangerine and I've never been a fan of Shimelle's collections. I think AC should get fresh, new, one off designers to do collections and see what they come up with. Just because a designer has one great collection in them, doesn't mean they have 4 or 5. I love the new Dear Lizzy line and absolutely adore Amy Tan and Maggie Holmes, but you are so right. New designers with FRESH ideas would be great!
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Deleted
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Apr 29, 2024 21:24:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 16:58:36 GMT
I'm kinda over Dear Lizzy, Amy Tangerine and I've never been a fan of Shimelle's collections. I think AC should get fresh, new, one off designers to do collections and see what they come up with. Just because a designer has one great collection in them, doesn't mean they have 4 or 5. I think these ladies have had some amazing collections, but look at brands like pink fresh and pretty little studios coming out with collections from relatively unknown designers. I've followed the artists for their scrapbooks and now new fresh lines are coming out. I think American crafts is its own worst enemy, milking every idea and every pocketbook completely dry.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 25, 2016 17:09:46 GMT
I used to adore everything 7 Gypsies and I'm hoarding the treasures I have from them. It doesn't seem like there have been more than a few new designs since Canvas Corp bought the brand years ago and the products are very hard to come by for an international. No promotion or marketing and very few stores sell the products. The connection between 7 Gypsies and Tim Holtz is that he was wise enough to hire the 7 Gypsies design team full time (two very talented girls, if I remember correctly). this is me exactly. I have a renewed interest in 7gypsies and am hoarding and stashing what little of their stuff I can still find. I'm more into their embellishments and ephemera than their chipboard stuff.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 25, 2016 17:10:39 GMT
for other stuff, I'm way over the American Crafts paper pads and also Teresa Collins.
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Post by peachiceteas on Aug 25, 2016 17:26:52 GMT
Amy Tangerine. Every collection looks the same and I am bored of it.
I'm not a fan of some brands like Bella Blvd, Echo Park and Doodlebug but I can appreciate that all their collections are different, even if they're not my style.
Not Amy Tangerine. I couldn't be any less phased by their new releases and it all always looks the same. At least Maggie Holmes is all samey but it's freaking adorable.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Aug 25, 2016 17:48:34 GMT
I've definitely gotten bored with some companies, I think that's why I really have found a love with Elle's Studio.
I might be the only one not over the moon with her constant collabs with Jen Schow...I truly love Elle's Studio for Elle's style, not anyone else's.
Carta Bella is a no for me. I'm digging out some old, pre CB EP collections and finding them less bright than I remember...and then it dawned on me...their new stuff is brighter because the distressed look was taken on by CB...which explains why I LOVE so much of their newer stuff (bright and cheery is easy to win me over) while CB starts to get more and more and more distressed and less appealing to me with every release.
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Post by mom on Aug 25, 2016 17:52:29 GMT
Dare I say: Studio Caico
I think its time for them to either shake up their designers or move along. Everything they do is the same.
I like Echo Park, but it is too themey for me to actually buy.
Teressa Collins is another one I never purchase form. It all just looks the same. I actually think she would be better off going full time in home decor stuff.
The AC group is over done as well. It all looks the same. For the first time, I didnt buy any Amy Tan papers. Just more of the same.
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smcast
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Mar 18, 2016 14:06:38 GMT
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Post by smcast on Aug 25, 2016 17:57:34 GMT
I'm going to miss Basic Grey. I also miss Chatterbox PP.
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nicolep
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Jan 26, 2016 16:10:43 GMT
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Post by nicolep on Aug 25, 2016 18:06:25 GMT
I have not read through all the responses but right when I read OP's question the answer in my head was Doodlebug. Cutesy has been overdone IMO.
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hutchfan
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Jul 6, 2016 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by hutchfan on Aug 25, 2016 19:32:43 GMT
I LOVE 7 Gypsies and hoard their items I do have. As far as companies I haven't really liked anything from AC and their brands, it all looks the same and I am sick of pink. I just buy bits and pieces that I like and I still love Thickers.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Aug 25, 2016 20:21:02 GMT
I will add that with some of the big names closing up like basic grey, I've begun to notice smaller companies like Kaiser craft and there's still a lot of good stuff out there! Eta I'm just now discovering jillibean soup and photo play too! I still miss Basic Grey. And am hoarding some of the papers of the final collection they put out earlier this year. Kaisercraft is considered a small(er) company? They're pretty big in Europe (and Australia I'm guessing). I'd say it's one of the few brands I'm 100% sure to encounter in any of our country's scrap stores. Nice paper quality too. I'm over any company who's been in the game for so long they can afford to use terrible quality paper (and bad printing) because they're holding the scrap industry by the b***s. I'm looking at you, AC + MME + whichever other big name I've ordered something from recently only to wonder where my money has gone to besides your pockets because the printing was terrible (like big visible lines all over the paper kind of bad) and super flimsy. Even half-boring bad customer service SC is at least able to keep up some paper weight in the $5 coupon mess. PS: Yah, I just got a few products from MME's Yes Please line because I knew it would work well for my minimalist style but I'm so disappointed in the paper quality. And the impossibility to use the B-side because the foil was pressed too hard into too thin paper meaning it's a hot mess.
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Post by gigi333 on Aug 25, 2016 20:27:00 GMT
Wow. I got all 4 of the new mme collections and I'm really happy with them all. Though I totally agree the b side can't be used but I'm a little magpie so I always use the glitzy side anyway
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Post by dulcemama on Aug 25, 2016 20:43:23 GMT
Dare I say: Studio Caico I think its time for them to either shake up their designers or move along. Everything they do is the same. I like Echo Park, but it is too themey for me to actually buy. Teressa Collins is another one I never purchase form. It all just looks the same. I actually think she would be better off going full time in home decor stuff. The AC group is over done as well. It all looks the same. For the first time, I didnt buy any Amy Tan papers. Just more of the same. I never really liked Studio Calico. Never saw what the hype was. Ditto Teressa Collins. And she uses really odd color palettes. Amy Tangerine has always reminded me of the old ki memories Love Elsie lines....just made me go dig those out of my stash. Other brands under the AC umbrella... still on the fence. Crate Paper is having an identity crisis but I like some of their most recent stuff. Pink Paislee is hit and miss. Heidi Swapp - pretty but boring. Pebbles is doing o.k. but nothing really stands out to me. Et cetera.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Aug 25, 2016 20:52:27 GMT
Wow. I got all 4 of the new mme collections and I'm really happy with them all. Though I totally agree the b side can't be used but I'm a little magpie so I always use the glitzy side anyway Haha, I was planning on using about half of the B-sides so imagine my disappointment! The 3x4 card set is made of such a flimsy paper it's making Becky Higgins cards look like high end stuff. And several of the die cuts in the pack already had a small tear and/or slight crease due to how thin the paper is. Maybe I'm harsher on quality of paper because I pay the premium price being in Europe. Just the 6x6 pad set me back almost 9€ or over US$10! For something I now likely won't be using about half the product of, that's very expensive. And far too expensive compared to what I can get from brands who do choose nice paper and are barely more expensive (and in certain cases cheaper!).
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Aug 25, 2016 20:52:35 GMT
I haven't liked a line from MME since Cupid's Arrow...they've embraced the off white and distressed look and I can't get behind them as a result. I just hate it all. The ugly pinks and creamy browns or whatever they use. I have no idea how anyone can like the My Story lines...I think they are hideous. Then again, I'm used to being in the minority in terms of what I like.
Pink Paislee is another that is really going downhill this year. I think they were knocking it out of the park last year and this year, not only have I liked less of their releases (and never really cared for the Paige Evans stuff, either...again, I know...minority opinion here) and the fact that their ephemera count has gone from nearly 100 pieces a few years ago, to 70 something (still not terrible) in lines like Cedar Lane (it would be hard for any company to top my love of that line) to Outfitters having 40 pieces and for the same price or a price increase. It's disappointing.
I will also complain about EP branching out into ephemera. The designs are almost all repeats of the sticker sheet and the bigger pieces from the cut aparts, just in slightly different sizes (even the colors are the same)...and a paper is 99 cents...a 12x12 sticker sheet is $2.99...but their ephemera is FIVE BUCKS and you get like 30 pieces...you get so many more from the stickers and paper for sooooo much less. Talk about feeling like getting ripped off. But that's not what you were talking about, was it...sorry...I'll shut up now.
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Post by sarahbee on Aug 25, 2016 21:26:19 GMT
I used to adore everything 7 Gypsies and I'm hoarding the treasures I have from them. It doesn't seem like there have been more than a few new designs since Canvas Corp bought the brand years ago and the products are very hard to come by for an international. No promotion or marketing and very few stores sell the products. It's not the first time Canvas Corp has done this to a brand. Tattered Angels is another loved brand (I have a Raskog tray filled with their products – love them!) that Canvas Corp managed to effectively kill off. The founder of Tattered Angels, who had sold the company to get more time for the development and design work and get rid of the boring business side of running a company, was soon forced to leave over night despite being promised that they would let her stay on, and she even moved to the same city – she lost everything as the contract stated that she could not work in the business for any other company (she told the entire sad story on her blog when it happened). The connection between 7 Gypsies and Tim Holtz is that he was wise enough to hire the 7 Gypsies design team full time (two very talented girls, if I remember correctly). This is what I've noticed the most. I remember when even HL was full of 7Gypsies and Tattered Angels too. I remember the TA business/scandal from when it happened as well. It really makes me wonder why they bother to buy brands if they're just going to run them into the ground. I knew that TH's line looked familiar for some reason. His stuff is generally a little too "out there" for me, but it certainly does remind me of 7Gypsies in their glory days. SaveSave
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Post by QueSeraSera on Aug 25, 2016 21:41:20 GMT
scrapaddict702 I agree about Paige Evans. Don't care for her ornate fussy style or products.
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