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Post by joblackford on Jan 25, 2024 19:20:43 GMT
Love him, or hate him, this is one thing Tim Holtz does well. He has the live launches to show makes, then demos a lot of his products and tools. And I think he is fairly honest. He is pretty quick to say, "My________ does ________, and if that is something you don't like, or it won't work for you, don't buy it." And I don't think he means is smart-aleck-y.Some think he is snarky, and maybe, but his demos and lives are free, and I can take a lot of snark if I am actually learning what the products are for. ETA: His videos have talked me both INTO and OUT of purchases. I wish other releases were done the same. Design team makes are good, but somebody who designed the products show me what they can do, and without having to do blog hops and such! LOL I agree. He can come off a little snarky, but I think it's partly frustration, because he spends so much time explaining to people over and over that if you don't like grunge, don't do grunge. If you want perfect stamping don't use an ink called Distress! etc etc A lot of people jump on the bandwagon and then complain that the products don't so things they were never claiming they were for... He's dangerous for me to watch because he enjoys what he does so much I sometimes forget that I don't like those same things. But that's a me problem, not a him problem. He does seem to do a great job sharing how he uses his products and totally different ways other designers use them.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 25, 2024 2:50:42 GMT
I was just browsing the past kits at Hero Arts and almost none of last year’s kits have sold out! It used to be that a year later there was almost nothing left. I think only Feb 2023 has sold out if both classic and premium and there were a couple of months where one or the other was all gone. I wonder if they’ve increased their supply or if demand has fallen off. I watch Scott use the kit on Card Cut Ups YT channel each month and despite his creativity I have barely been tempted by anything.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 25, 2024 2:36:08 GMT
I tend to go my own way with most products, although I do enjoy using the monthly sheetload sketches because it’s a way to start cutting into paper and getting a design going. I usually go my own way once I get started. I have a few favorite layouts that I tend to gravitate towards, even when I’m trying to do something else. I once imagined I could follow along using the same sketches as Kristie Marcotte to use up a paper pad but very quickly detoured and did my own thing.
I do appreciate seeing inspiration as a starting point with new stamps, stencils, or dies, but I don’t usually look at them once I get started, unless I get stuck for new or good ideas.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 24, 2024 17:22:38 GMT
I have noticed the same thing. I watch YouTube at night and the tone of videos has also changed over the years. They used to be instructional and casual shares. Now they feel more like infomercials. All the product mention is over the top. I used to listen to recommendations but now I don’t trust they aren’t just pushing product. Since I watch YouTube I just search for/by name if I can remember the set I’m looking for. I’m getting ready to make some cards with Honey Bee’s Cone Flower and luckily there are others, not just DT that have loaded videos. Yes! Honey Bee also has a private group, if you're on the Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/542458196136764I joined to see a live demo for a set that I wanted to use and take a look now and then at people's shares. I'm realizing with the set that I'm looking for that the generic name "candles" is only part of the problem. I don't know think the set has as many interesting variations as I imagined when I bought it, so very few people have shared their cards because they're all kind of the same.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 24, 2024 0:25:03 GMT
I think I might be done scrapping Christmas! At least I got to the end of my list of page titles I started awhile ago. Need to go through my photos to make sure before I start packin' up the holiday crafting supplies... I DO have a NYE layout I plan to make, but I can make a kit for that while I pack. Too bad I don't feel like sorting and stowing. So that job won't start today. Even though I know it will make it easier for me to scrap my other photos whimpering for attention in their envelopes on my desk. Good for you! It will be fun to get started on something new Earn us some planning and organizing points! ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/Q_m8lDOvc_3Le3r1GKdf.jpg) I'm still working on my Christmas digital book. No hurry there. I realized I could add a page with a photo of our old house from 1983 to contrast how it looked when we drove by last month, and that makes me want to add a few more nostalgic photos. I've finished my year end book but I'm waiting for a better discount code before I order it. I have some other gifts to mail to NZ along with it, which I'd love to get off my desk, but blurb has trained me to wait for 20-30 or more percent off before ordering.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 23, 2024 18:57:22 GMT
I will go to an IG page, in this case maybe Spellbinders, Ranger or Simon Hurley, and then find and select "Tagged" and you will get a feed of posts from random people showing their makes and tagging the companies and designers. Not really any way to search it, but I find that there are examples made with some older product, especially if you scroll down a little ways closer to when the product came out. This is a little more helpful that just the account feed where they are showcasing the newest releases. I do this on a desktop. Still have not found "tagged" option on the phone app. Thank you! I think that might be the trick I need to find stuff on IG. Searching for tags wasn't working for me at all. Of course people often tag the designer when they post but I couldn't think of how to see that after the fact ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) I'll try it out on my devices and see. I think on the app there's a way to see it - iirc there are buttons for grid feed, reels, and then maybe one for "tagged in" posts on the person's profile, above their grid, but I'll have to take a closer look and see if they've changed that again... ETA: it's in the same spot on the desktop and iPad app versions! The app just has an @ type of symbol but it's the far right option just above the grid of photos. I've already found some cool ideas scrolling through SH's tagged posts ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 23, 2024 18:44:25 GMT
I also look at scrapbook dot com product pages to see if people have uploaded projects there. Often it's just the official samples and maybe a DT member video or two. Most of the products with a lot of customer examples are scrapbooky stuff. I guess cardmakers aren't so much in the habit of sharing there. It's never occurred to me to share photos there.
I didn't know that some companies actually pull down examples on their own webistes for retired products. That really stinks!
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Post by joblackford on Jan 23, 2024 15:46:35 GMT
Our weather has been so blah this January that it’s made it hard for me to get much done. Probably because the kids are inside and “bored” a lot. It was a bucket load of snow followed by arctic weather and now freezing rain making it an ice rink outside! I’m looking forward to this weekend and the warm up (it’ll be in the mid to low 30s!) Right now I’ve just been editing a lot since I can do that in spurts and it’ll help when I get the longer time to actually scrap. Oh ugh! That weather sounds like a drag… But the editing you’re doing will give you an easy way in when you do get back to scrapping. That’s really smart.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 23, 2024 0:00:29 GMT
Does anyone else notice that it's harder to find examples of stamps and dies in use unless the item just came out? I feel like the pace of releases these days is so fast that there are very few examples shared in the months after the release - people have already moved on to the next thing.
I have the Simon Hurley candles stencil, which is admittedly hard to search for because it doesn't have a very unique name. But it's crazy to me because this set sold really well - it was constantly going out of stock - but I can't see much that people have made with it.
I've found some random candle cards on Pinterest. Instagram feels pretty difficult to search for specific things these days. I did a search on YT and found a couple of videos that might lead me to others, or maybe not.
Where do you look for inspo for specific products? Or are you fine with looking at more generic inspiration?
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Post by joblackford on Jan 21, 2024 0:25:46 GMT
I got one last card out of the Hanukkah scraps and now I'm in between projects, not quite sure what I want to work on next - I have a lot of ideas but nothing that's screaming ME NEXT! Jan share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Jan 21, 2024 0:22:09 GMT
Glad you found the sharing thread @angel97707 ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) I'll drop a link here in case anyone else has had trouble finding it or wants to see and share 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/143317/1-sharing-threadWe're about two thirds of the way through January! How are things going? Somehow the beginning of the year both drags and disappears on me. It will be Valentines Day before we know it. I'm so glad i don't have a card shop to keep track of any more. I used to get to Jan 20th and panic that I should already be in full Valentine mode when I've just barely gotten over Christmas! Are you working on anything seasonal?
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Post by joblackford on Jan 20, 2024 18:09:09 GMT
I think I'm the odd man out, but I would say skip it... I really hope that everything goes according to plan and you get beautiful grandbabies in a few years. Then there will always be something Winnie the Pooh related to purchase, it's such a popular character! That said, years ago I purchased some baby & pregnancy products that I was in love with for a future baby. Then I struggled with infertility for years and ultimately ended up not being able to have another baby (I had one daughter when I was very young). Getting rid of those products was just another painful experience, and one that wasn't needed. This is just my take from personal experience, def don't mean to be a downer... That said, if you would be happy to use the collection for other pictures, such as old photos of your daughter when she was little, and you can get some use out of it now and regardless of if/when future babies happen, that might be a reason to get it anyways. This is where my mind went too… Also, non-Disney Pooh is out of copyright now, so Classic Pooh may be showing up in more product lines.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 20, 2024 18:02:19 GMT
I know most of the first people, not the ones at the end. Carissa is usually very good, otherwise no one I would call a must-see.
Scrapbook dot com are pushing their own brands very hard lately so it doesn’t surprise me that they’re all using exclusive products. Very long infomercial is the right way to describe it. Personally I just watch the replay and fast forward to see what each person is doing.
If you really like all the products they are discounted heavily, but I usually don’t want it all. And that also tells me that their regular retail price is a scam and I will never buy their stuff full price. I got tempted by Kristie Marcotte’s fall fox card project last year but in the end I didn’t get it and life has gone on… and it’s only when I mention it that I think, oh yeah, I love foxes and funky 70s bedsheet prints… So maybe I’ll get it someday.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 19, 2024 16:12:16 GMT
I would just make sure that you will definitely be able to find it in your stash if and when you want to use it for a future project. And I personally would also try to use a bit of it now, maybe scrapping some old photos of your DD, so if something happens that prevents you from using it for future baby you will have still gotten some immediate enjoyment out of it. I’m wary of buying things too far in advance, but if you love it and you can afford it, knowing that products don’t stick around, go for it.
ETA: you’ll probably be happier being chilly and managing a small budget than trying to freeze completely… since this is more about choosing where to spend your money rather than needing to stop spending.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 19, 2024 3:21:03 GMT
like Jaded Blossom's gnome dies I love those but yeah, not headed down that slippery slope If they ever finish the collection I might choose a few favs, if I’m not totally over them by then.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 18, 2024 23:59:35 GMT
Not only do I refuse to buy full sets of things, if I see a product that I can tell will just keep coming out with new additions each month (like Jaded Blossom's gnome dies) I will resist buying even one so I'm not tempted to keep adding and adding. I just don't have the space, the time, the energy... etc. And I find it difficult to commit to only one thing, so although I would love to have all of Catherine Pooler's inks and *only* have those I know I will end up wanting other inks too. Even if I could trust that the palette was complete (so I could budget to buy the full set and be done) I know there are colors I wouldn't use (so many browns!)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 17, 2024 18:11:02 GMT
Apparently every state had some kind of weather advisory or warning yesterday, or something like that. And my eyeballs have been freezing just watching the Canadian weather news! How cold did you get grammadee? Are you through the worst of it? Through the worst of it for now. Would not be surprised to see another cold snap or two before the end of March. I think the coldest it got here on the thermometer was -42C. But some places were reporting as low as -50 range in wind chills. Thank goodness our homes are constructed to withstand low temps b/c they come every year, so heard only one story of pipes freezing. And that was for a washer/dryer in a porch attached to a mobile home. Still no more than a few inches of snow here, and we usually count on a thick coating to insulate tree and perennial roots, so we will see in the spring what the results of this weird winter are. Oh boy, I hope your plants and trees survive! One of the cardmakers I follow who lives in the Canadian prairies was doing a live from her sort-of-finished-garage *with the heaters on* because she said wind chill was -55C/-67F or some such craziness. I haven't watched yet to see if she made the card extra quick to get back in the warm part of the house. As you said, it's all about what we're used to/what's typical and what houses were built for. It looked like the fire department was being called out a couple of times an hour over the weekend for "public service" calls, I suspect to shut off water mains because of frozen pipes. Our neighbor's water meter/main froze but when we looked at it the problem was obvious - the previous owner's landscapers had lowered the grade around the steel meter box. Duh! Ours is safely tucked into the concrete sidewalk and earth. I love to talk about the weather! Especially weird weather. I'm seeing lots of people crocheting temperature blankets and even though I know I don't need that kind of long term commitment it would bring together two of my interests ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) http://instagram.com/p/C1ltbr9NwYV
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Post by joblackford on Jan 17, 2024 17:59:43 GMT
Did you get more snow? Hopefully not the freezing rain… We missed out on all of it, except a light dusting at the beginning of the big cold that blew away immediately in the big wind. We’re back to shade of gray and drizzle, although a lot of people are still dealing with frozen/burst pipes. We’re glad we added tons of extra insulation last year when our furnace was randomly failing. Apparently every state had some kind of weather advisory or warning yesterday, or something like that. And my eyeballs have been freezing just watching the Canadian weather news! How cold did you get grammadee ? Are you through the worst of it? We had freezing rain last night, so everything is coated in ice including the snow from Saturday that never melted. It's all supposed to disappear and get warmer this afternoon... ugh, I was worried about the ice over snow. We had that last winter and it was not good. Hopefully it's all gone soon!
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Post by joblackford on Jan 17, 2024 16:05:12 GMT
I've been trying to scrap on this 3-day weekend... We're kind of snowed in (the Pacific NW doesn't really believe in snow plows, we just wait for the snow to melt) and it's not going to get above freezing until Tuesday. Meanwhile, every time I sit at my desk, someone needs me somewhere else in the house... Maybe tomorrow. I discovered (after it snowed) I am out of dark brown cardstock, again... I apparently use a lot of brown cardstock, as I am always running low. First stop on Wednesday after the snow melts, my localish craft store. Then maybe to the grocery store... Did you get more snow? Hopefully not the freezing rain… We missed out on all of it, except a light dusting at the beginning of the big cold that blew away immediately in the big wind. We’re back to shade of gray and drizzle, although a lot of people are still dealing with frozen/burst pipes. We’re glad we added tons of extra insulation last year when our furnace was randomly failing. Apparently every state had some kind of weather advisory or warning yesterday, or something like that. And my eyeballs have been freezing just watching the Canadian weather news! How cold did you get grammadee? Are you through the worst of it?
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Post by joblackford on Jan 15, 2024 22:53:59 GMT
I like the colour but I am not sure that I "need" it in any of the distress formulations. I have Ground Espresso in the regular distress ink. I can see that this would be lovely for stamping where you want a colour a bit softer than black. I will hold out hope that it is released by Ranger in its Archival formula. The Distress formulas just don't give me the crispness I like in a stamped image (may be user error) but I have better luck with Archival. As for inking my edges, I have been leaning to matching the paper as closely as possible, and when I use a brown Gathered Twigs is my holy grail colour ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Not user error. They’re designed to look distressed! Much better suited to blending and mixed media techniques. The oxides stamp better than regular distress but still aren’t ever going to give you crisp finely detailed results.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 15, 2024 22:48:31 GMT
angel97701 So glad to hear you've had a chance to craft despite your prolonged move. Your photo board sounds like a wonderful celebration of your son's wrestling journey. boymom5 we have crazy cold weather here too, although our snow is forecast for when we finally get above freezing on Tuesday. It must be a challenge keeping everyone busy and not getting cabin fever. I hope you get some crafting done. Sometimes having that pressure gets me working more efficiently, or at least helps me take the first step - getting the photos sorted out - so I can dig in when I actually have some time and energy. I worked on placing the last month of photos in my year end photobook. I have been working with the same photos in my JYC book so it feels a little stale or redundant, but I have to remember that they're for two different audiences. I make JYC for myself, the yearbook is to share. I haven't done much embellishing or design this year, just trying to get things laid out and then I can go back and fancy things up if I want to. JYC is about 80% done I think. I want to work on cards too but I don't have enough focus to do all the things and read for book group on Tuesday and finish my crochet project. I need to pick one thing and do it for a couple of hours and then switch! I can finish my crochet blanket today and grab my 100 bonus points ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Do you do a digital yearbook for each year and then print for others? Or is it a scrapbook you make of the year and then others can look at it? I make a 7x7” book digitally through blurb for myself and print extra copies for my parents and aunt - easy Christmas gifts, and it’s a way for them to feel more connected since we live in a different country.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 14, 2024 22:28:55 GMT
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Post by joblackford on Jan 14, 2024 19:31:40 GMT
PEAS I AM A DECLUTTERING GENIUS! So.... have any of you any thought of actually using the things in your stash in your albums? I just spent the day catching up on DD's 2022 albums and decided to jump right in and use those cards, and embellishments, and pretties...so that I get to actually SEE them and APPRECIATE them rather than constantly just reorganizing them into different containers and systems. I know, I truly am a genius... Stay on this forum for more life changing and stash busting decluttering tips and tricks ![:cheer:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/tlEjEu6lJ7JqxYH6fLO8.jpg) woohoo! and you know that means that crafting time also counts as decluttering time... all the wins!
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Post by joblackford on Jan 14, 2024 19:19:44 GMT
angel97701 So glad to hear you've had a chance to craft despite your prolonged move. Your photo board sounds like a wonderful celebration of your son's wrestling journey. boymom5 we have crazy cold weather here too, although our snow is forecast for when we finally get above freezing on Tuesday. It must be a challenge keeping everyone busy and not getting cabin fever. I hope you get some crafting done. Sometimes having that pressure gets me working more efficiently, or at least helps me take the first step - getting the photos sorted out - so I can dig in when I actually have some time and energy. I worked on placing the last month of photos in my year end photobook. I have been working with the same photos in my JYC book so it feels a little stale or redundant, but I have to remember that they're for two different audiences. I make JYC for myself, the yearbook is to share. I haven't done much embellishing or design this year, just trying to get things laid out and then I can go back and fancy things up if I want to. JYC is about 80% done I think. I want to work on cards too but I don't have enough focus to do all the things and read for book group on Tuesday and finish my crochet project. I need to pick one thing and do it for a couple of hours and then switch! I can finish my crochet blanket today and grab my 100 bonus points ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 13, 2024 20:37:03 GMT
Haha, I watched Kristie's video the other day and wondered if you had jumped on the car. She did a cute one with a gnome being dangerous, standing up in the car...
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Post by joblackford on Jan 13, 2024 20:34:04 GMT
UPDATE: In celebration of the 20th year of the Distress line that started with a brown, the final new color is Scorched Timber (link to ACOT), "a smoldering deep, dark brown with charred undertones" (see video posted by joblackford upthread). Thoughts? What's on your wish list? Are we sure this is really the final color? Hasn't he said that before? It's the last planned, at least the last for a few years. This is the end of a line that he has had in production/planning since about 2020. He always says 'never say never' - it's all up to Ranger and the market and whether there's really any gaps in the palette. I suspect they will work on new products rather than new colors for a while. ETA: Tim said "as far as I'm concerned the palette is complete" with the 72 colors.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 13, 2024 17:28:47 GMT
I think I'm over distress inks in general (when I'm not watching TH demo it, lol, he tricks me into thinking I like mixed media!) but I actually quite like this one. He described it as deep dark and cool brown, a bridge between browns and greys, and a way to deepen other shades without using something as harsh as black soot. At some point if I decide I need a brown distress ink (I have none at all) this might be the one I choose.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 13, 2024 17:20:18 GMT
I actually don't have a single brown distress! I should maybe get one someday... This one might not be a bad choice since it's cool and deep dark. I'm not a brown fan.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 13, 2024 17:18:27 GMT
Scorched Timber. Dark brown.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 13, 2024 16:00:00 GMT
Shimelle reminded us on her livestream that Tim said it would be a neutral. Not long to wait now...
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