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Post by joblackford on Jun 24, 2024 19:21:50 GMT
I think companies are focusing a lot on these things because they're a GREAT moneymaker for them, especially because it's much harder for people to give up something they already have. You never know if the next kit will be the perfect one that you regret missing out on! It's steady money, and also predictable in terms of inventory management. The events are probably the same - you sign up well in advance so they know how many units to manufacture, less danger that they will order a bunch of product that never sells.
But most companies are also pushing out new regular product lines every month or second month aside from kits and events. Some offer bundles to make it easier for people who have more money than time to think and plan. But I think plenty of people are still shopping at big box craft stores and online, picking up random things that catch their eye. I follow quite a few low key makers who are just doing their own thing making simple cards with basic supplies.
I think the community aspect of following along with hashtags or joining events is really motivating for a lot of people. It gives you a deadline and a push to sit down.
I am very protective of my space (and budget) so I rarely sign up for anything that involves buying products sight-unseen, and I tell myself I don't want to make the same cards as everyone else anyway, so I only buy leftover kits here and there. If it sells out it was too popular for my tastes ;P And I also hate to follow instructions so I usually go my own way!
I look at event threads here but the only thing I join on a regular basis is the monthly Sheetload of Cards (which is just making a posting to a hashtag, totally free and easy).
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Post by joblackford on Jun 24, 2024 19:00:26 GMT
I do still use dies and stamps but most of the cards I make are just patterned paper and purchased die cuts. I go through phases where I barely even want to stamp out sentiments so I might batch make a bunch, or print them on my computer, or use a pre-made set like Paper Rose or Doodlebug sells.
I am heavily influenced by Kristie Marcotte and Call Me Crafty Al. Both use sketches as a starting point. The Crafty Al Sheetloads are just a sketch that lets you have a lot of cards using one sketch, usually with only a couple of sheets of paper (kind of like the One Sheet Wonder concept, I gather). KM uses a selection of different sketches to make a paper pad disappear.
I'm in the process of using up a whole 6x6 paper pad with the latest Sheetload sketch, so all the cards will have the same basic design. Then I'll pull out a sentiment that will go with a bunch, and maybe a die cut image. I don't have matching ephemera because the paper is vintage. A stamped image tends to be my last resort, and if I do stamp I rarely color the image. I love a bold sentiment die cut for easy finishing.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 23, 2024 19:51:02 GMT
Oh man, I missed a day of chatting yesterday and broke my streak! I was just thinking this morning that it was about time that we'd be signing up for the next quarter... time flies... I got all my Sheetload cards glued yesterday, but haven't figured out the sentiments or focal point yet. I used up the whole paper pad Today I am headed out to a college grad party. An afternoon of talking to people I don't know is not really my jam but it will be nice for my hubby to catch up with some high school and college friends (and I should learn to be better at chitchat at some point).
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 17:44:47 GMT
I have 6 cards finished so far from an old MME paper pad I was given. The colors are not really my style but the papers go together well so I'm doing the June Sheetload with them. I don't have matching cs for the "you" and my distress color matching wasn't stellar so I think I will switch that to black and white going forward. I liked the "boop" dog for the robot papers because they already say beep and bop. June share - MME Boy Crazy by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 17:33:55 GMT
Oh my goodness! How scary. <3 Thanks for sharing it here. I have 3 cards pulled out and will get one of them in the mail on Monday.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 1:21:31 GMT
i am not surprised this would happen since they filed BK. we have a large Joann store but the SB section was been very lacking and not updated much since last year. i hope they aren't shrinking the SB/papercrafting department in favor of items like As Seen on TV stuff, Spa items or expanded home decor. They are out of bankruptcy and did not close any stores. Apparently the stores are now privately owned. We have a relatively new Joann's in the area. The place is huge! It is used to be a hardware store. There is a huge class area, and lots of scrapbooking, fabrics, and art supplies. I haven't been to the older one in the area. That place needed a facelift, I hope it got one. Oh, I didn't know that! Good news. I found a little info here www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/craft-retailer-joann-approved-exit-bankruptcy-slash-505-mln-debt-2024-04-25/Our Michaels is bright white and cheerful but the Joann down the street is all still full of that weird buff/almond color shelving which makes it look very dated. That plus the horrible lighting makes it really hard to do important things like match colors, which I find very annoying.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 1:14:48 GMT
Actually this convo intersected in my brain with a few videos I watched today - one about using little used stash supplies and another couple about pearly shimmer - and I think I have a plan for how I can do something different but also use some of my favorite products. I think I'm going to challenge myself to use solar pastes on my cards. I think it's one of those things that looks fancy but isn't especially difficult. I'd love to use my fav ornament die set again
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Post by joblackford on Jun 22, 2024 1:08:36 GMT
Oh, gosh, i'd forgotten that the Pea Christmas card exchange is twice the size of the regular quarterly ones! I made SO MANY cards last year! I think it was over 100 when all was said and done. I do enjoy an assembly-line/batch process project for cards and I generally do a couple SLoCs for Pea exchanges and at Christmas for colleagues and more distant family/folks who I don't think will completely appreciate a higher effort, one-of-a-kind sort of creation. EtA: I know of at least instance where the same relative has given one of my kids the same (Hallmark) birthday card two years in a row. My mom may have done so with me, too. Of course no one ever complains. You just sort are silently amused. I'm sure getting two similar but not identical handmade cards is even less likely to cause anyone to fuss.Ha. One year, not too long ago, I got the exact same card from both my son as well as a good friend of mine. Clearly, I'm an easy read. I've definitely gotten duplicates from different people as well as duplicates of what they sent last year. I notice because I'm me, it's kind of my job, and also because I remake the cards afterwards so I pay more attention when I'm cutting them down. Of course I don't mind in the slightest! but I still don't like the idea of sending out the same card again myself. ETA: I guess I haven't had it happen with b'day cards, only Xmas, which is more of a bulk mailing situation.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 21, 2024 23:19:01 GMT
I stress too much about finding just the right color for die cutting or matting layers or whatever on my cards so I'm thrilled if I can get colored cardstock that I know will coordinate. Even more so with Doodlebug's limited color palette, knowing that there's a good chance I'll have scraps that will match at least one color in a busy pattern. I don't mind if it's something like petite prints or actual cs, it just helps me stretch my papers further and saves a lot of legwork.
Probably related to people shopping online more. It's hard to color match anything across brands or lines unless you can see it in person. I used to go to Joann for matching cs but they have the worst lighting so that was a big hassle.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 21, 2024 23:11:48 GMT
I use Nuvo delux.. it comes in small bottles.. I think I may need to switch... but it works sooo very well... just a little more $$$ Should I make the switch>?? I still have 3 small bottles of Nuvo so it wont be anytime soon Nuvo is a really nice glue. I would've stuck with it if I hadn't been given a full bundle of the Bearly Art by a friend. BA is quite thin so it's easy to use with the fine tip nozzle on the back of tiny die cuts, and I think it works out a lot cheaper if you buy the big bear bottle. But you should probably try it out in your climate and with how you craft before committing to a change. There's not really any right or wrong answer, just personal preference.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 21, 2024 23:07:24 GMT
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Post by joblackford on Jun 21, 2024 23:04:16 GMT
I have been busy finishing up random house things in preparation for being away for a couple days. I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow to do the C9 Summer Camp online event with a pea (MichyM). Then Sunday, on our way home, I'm meeting a high school friend for lunch. I'm really looking forward to the weekend!! In addition to chores, I did a little baking. I have a batch of S'mores Cookie Bars in the oven. I've never had them before but goes with the theme for tomorrow... Try to stay cool, peas! How fun is that?! I hope you guys have a good time together And let us know how the baking turned out. Yum.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 21, 2024 21:36:51 GMT
It's another hot day here so my hubby decided to visit his mom today instead of working on the house in the blazing sun. So I have a quiet house to myself this afternoon. I'm working on some cards using old papers that are not at all my colors, but using the Sheetload sketches it doesn't matter much, as long as the papers coordinate well with each other. That said I'll be happy to get back to more bright and cheerful, less grungy papers soon.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 21, 2024 3:41:58 GMT
I hardly even noticed that it was just one patterned paper Shakti - very nice Is the background the new die you mentioned? Love the color combo.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 20, 2024 22:50:15 GMT
This week my "work" is to sell a bunch of easels that a family member used to display artwork around her house after she ran out of space on all of the walls. (literally, baseboard to ceiling on almost every wall of the house 😳 ) Thankfully I've already had interest in a couple of them. I unpacked 13 more Hummels to photograph and list over the summer too. It's hot here today but not heat-dome-hot. Are you sweltering Shakti? I have a couple of free hours now, to either craft or watch a bit of Bridgerton... Yesterday I chose the latter.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 20, 2024 3:30:36 GMT
I received my order yesterday, hurray! It was like it was my birthday or something, I don’t typically make this big a purchase of sets. I probably won’t really dig in until after the PF event next weekend but I had to make one card front with the Tweet Life set this morning, that set is just soooooooocute! I can’t wait to come up with some fun cards with it. I think it will be particularly good for Sending Smiles to Seniors donations. As anyone else received their order, and have you had a chance to play yet? I didn't order from the sale, but had ordered Tweet Life immediately before it. That set is FANTASTICALLY cute!!!! I happen to have the Tim Holtz Crazy Talk stamps that have "a liitle bird told me...." and "it's your birthday....". It works perfectly with it. And they are so easy to do! ETA: Jennifer McGuire did a cute card with them back around the release. The JM video is what caught my attention and keeps me coming back to looking at that set. I'm not sure if I loved the colors more, or the birbs, so I've hesitated to buy it. If I'd gotten to the sale faster I might've caved though... It's VERY cute.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 21:57:56 GMT
The only things I have on my list to possibly buy from them are sold out. And when I look closely I'm not sure I would get them anyway. They're not really my style at this point. Too fussy, too much coloring. I noticed they're selling through scrapbook dot com now (a recent development, I think) so I don't think they're going to close in the very near future, but it does seem like they're struggling.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 21:43:27 GMT
I overthink, because that's who I am. I make a ton of holiday cards throughout the year for charity, but when it comes to family and friends it's too hard to choose who gets what if all the cards are different, I make several that are perfect for the same person and none that are quite right for some pother people, and I worry I'm going to give someone the same cards as last year... and I always debate whether some people would prefer a photo card rather than a crafty card. One year I created a flatlay photo featuring some photostrips of us, which I thought was kind of cool but I don't think anyone else agreed.
So my new rule for myself is to pick a product or design that I know I haven't used before, probably a newer item, and make slight variations of it for everyone. I am constitutionally incapable of making exact multiples. I haven't thought about this year's plan but I'm hoping I see something that speaks to me. Otherwise I will probably use a poinsettia embossing folder I have.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 21:34:35 GMT
I adapted the sketch to repurpose a peony card that was a weird size, about 8.5"x3.25" - big enough to make 2 cards. I used 4 strips instead of 3 in the panel and left the height of the original card as it was so I could enjoy as much as possible of the image. I found some coordinating papers in pale tones and moved the strip up a bit. I secretly cut it into 1.5" pieces since most wouldn't be showing and I wanted to highlight a specific part of the pale pink lace pattern. I don't think I'll add a sentiment for now but I thought these could work for sympathy or a basic thinking of you card. June share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 17:53:34 GMT
It's nice of you all to share your stories here. I guess I'm the most boring person in America. I grew up in the country and went to a small country school - 8 kids in my graduating 8th grade class. I love to watch basketball and Chicago PD and wish Taylor Swift would retire. Sorry Swifties. I'm sure you're not boring at all. That tiny school sounds intriguing! Wow. Did you have to go to a bigger high school? My friend taught at a middle school in Japan that was so small that instead of each class eating lunch together in their classroom the whole school sat in a circle. I couldn't get my head around that (especially in crowded Japan!) but I guess it was in the boonies near the end of the train line, but they were committed to having a local school. But they could've gotten on the train and gone to the next school that was a little bigger. I'm guessing your next school over was a long way away. Funny that you love Chicago PD specifically. Every Wednesday we watch Med (which I call Gore) and Fire and then turn off before PD starts!
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 17:45:14 GMT
I really don't care at all about sportsball (sportspuck? sportsstick?) but I was actually happy for you when I saw the Oilers win mentioned in my morning news email. lol. I actually know a few fans, and besides, it just seems like they should win. I have no idea! lol I was vaguely unsettled yesterday so instead of trying to push into a project I went through all the stuff in the round robin that came back to me. I had pulled some things out to try but when it came to actually getting ink out to stamp/stencil I decided I didn't like them enough to be bothered. But I've set aside a few things. And I'm happy I didn't speed through that peony-card-remake-Sheetload because I found a couple of papers in the box that suit it really well, much better than the colored cs I pulled. They're papers I would never have bought. I'll try to get that done so I can share today. The sun is out and my energy is back
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 17:34:52 GMT
My 15-year-old DS has ADHD (formerly just ADD), and getting accommodations, trying to get his teachers at his IEP meetings, the communications with his teachers (or lack of) Ugh. How did you find out you had it? I'm 99% my dad has it. One of my sisters has it. My other sister claims to have it... I wonder if I have it sometimes but don't check off enough boxes. I LOVE Little House on the Prairie, and used to watch the show on TV and get ticked off at my mom when we'd miss it... Now I prefer the books and find the analysis about what was actually true fascinating. My Sister-in-law is a Psychologist and the head of one of the Psychological organizations in Canada, so after my son was diagnosed i discussed it with her, and brought up my Dad (she agreed he had signs of it), and myself. She sent me a bunch of tests to fill out, the same ones my son had to do, and the ones we as parents had to do for him - so I had lots of discussions with my parents, as well. She didn't write up the formal report like my son has (since it was free/she was just being helpful, and I don't need it for work or anything), but it was definitive. If I wanted medication she'd write something up for me, but I don't. She did say it's possible to have ADHD tendencies/traits but it not quite reach the level for a diagnosis - so it's possible you have that. There is a 50/50 chance of having it if one of your parents has it. I tried to rewatch Little House a few years ago and only got halfway through the first season. I much prefer the books and analysis, too. I got obsessed a year or two ago, again, and reread all the books, biographies, watched a bunch of videos about their true life, etc. I'm onto my next obsession now, though, lol. It's amazing how many people, especially adult women, are now realizing they may be neurodivergent in some way (incl. me) and I've been seeing signs in other family members too. None of us has a diagnosis, nor particularly need one I suspect, but it explains a lot of things. I appreciate being able to see that some of my "failings" are just adhd brain. It helps me learn to forgive myself (and others). I also see where some of us have some tendencies and traits but because we just thought we were just wrong or bad at certain things we figured out how to mask the problem and/or cope with it.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 4:01:18 GMT
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 3:44:16 GMT
I'll buy y'all new bottles if mixing old and new leads to ruination
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 0:45:14 GMT
I've asked a question about the schedule on their IG, fwiw. I'll let you know if they answer.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 0:35:24 GMT
I refill when it gets to hard to squeeze my little bottle. I refill using the big bear bottle, so it's all the same vintage, (haha) so the old/new doesn't apply. That's me too. When it gets down to the point where it's harder to squeeze I refill from the big bear. I don't think I could ever get the bottle I'm using empty and clean, too much trouble, and nothing bad has happened in the past few years of mixing old and new glue. I'm on my 2nd big bear bottle. I shake it around a bit to mix it up.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 0:27:03 GMT
I'm wondering why anyone who wants to store stickers doesn't buy a sticker album. They used to be a common thing that most kids had; specially coated pages designed for just the right amount of adhesion. Pretty sure I still have three or four kicking around downstairs on the bookshelves. Sticker albums are still around in the planner community, I think, but I've never seen any scrapbookers talk about using them. I never had one as a kid. I would've loved one if I knew they existed! I loved stickers but not committing to sticking them on things.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 0:21:34 GMT
I make small photobooks (year in review, holiday or travel albums) so most pages don't get a title at all. They may get a caption or journaling, maybe an embellishment with words on it, or word art that was part of the digital template that serves as a kind of title. The book barely even gets a title! Sections within the book might be given a title page by the month or destination. I've never been a fan of a clever or witty title, tbh.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 0:08:36 GMT
I miss Paperclipping Round Table. They were definitely ahead of the time and well produced. I didn't even really do scrapbooking in the traditional sense, but listened almost every week. TBH I wasn't even a huge fan of the hosts, but the conversations were interesting and relevant to memory keepers/photographers beyond traditional scrapbooking. I only know most of the scrappy celebs I know because of PRT. I tried a few others here and there after they ended but didn't enjoy the hosts or the discussion.
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Post by joblackford on Jun 19, 2024 0:03:15 GMT
Mine was similar when I went in a few weeks ago. Many very bare shelves, although at that time they still have plenty of AC Designers stuff. It looked to me like they might give up the scrapbook/paper craft stuff. I think there's still a niche for them offering fabric crafts since there aren't many other stores selling fabric (in most towns Joann is about the only option, I think) but with HL and Michaels in most towns that have a Joann I'm not sure it makes sense for them to continue trying to compete.
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