Lip Smacking Scrap

mia- space

2010-02-13T12:54:00.001-08:00

more space

2010-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

space

2010-01-16T18:10:00.000-08:00

space and a question

2010-01-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

Has anyone seen anything new and exciting in any of the peeks? I haven't. Nothing to inspire me or renew my interest in the hobby.

New Year's Resolution.

2010-01-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

I resolve to post at least once a week. It maybe not be long or have much content but a least it will be a post. I just don't have much to say these days that hasn't been said before.

Today's topic:

Big Box vs Local Scrapbook Store.

I must admit I shop at the big box, usually an ACMoores. Why? I can now find almost anything I am looking for there. Their paper selection now includes most lines that I use. There embellishments far exceed anything my local LSS could afford to stock so choice is better and there prices are much lower.

Their people are just as friendly as those at the LSS, some are actually friendlier. No one's standing behind the counter whispering about my choice of papers at ACMoores or rolling their eyes about the theme papers the young mother near me is purchasing.

No one at ACMoores is cares if the Jolee's aren't cool, hell they have a whole aisle full of them, so someone must be purchasing a whole lot of them to command that much real estate.

What about my local scrapbook store, you say? I'm contributing to it's demise? What about loyalty? No, I am not contributing to the demise of any shop, as for loyalty - it's shopping, not a relationship. I don't owe any place I shop any loyalty. It's a business and it provides a product, just like the grocery store.

I don't go to a particular grocery store because of the owner, why would I spend 50% more for my hobby supplies because I like the owner? Sure she's nice, but so are those 40% off coupons. And the girl that works at ACMoores is nice, too.

Fresh space.

2009-11-25T16:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry everyone I was unable to ship the blog I had a bacterial infection, UPS didn't pick it up, and the kids were ill, oh and granddad got lost in Mall of America for 3 days and after that I couldn't leave him alone. But I have now moved on and grown from the experience.

Free space

2009-10-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Smart Business?

2009-10-08T21:34:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This is not a personal attack- it's an opinion about a company and an act of one Representative of that company; okay, it's also about a marketing idea that IN MY OPINION is chauvinistic in nature. (I wrote that with my red lipstick.)

Most people know I have never been a big fan of the moldy cucumber, those stupid multi-task contests that made people jump through hoops and purchase a ton of product for the chance to be honored with the domestic title of chef, because after all a woman's place is in the kitchen, just rubbed me the wrong way.

Well, I hate to say this but Mrs. Cucumber's place might really be the kitchen, because her latest business decision was in my opinion a poor one. Where has she been for the past two years? Has she not learned from others' mistakes that you don't go to the pod and make excuses for your poor business practices? Has she not seen what has happened to those who do?

Also, I don't know how much the company owes the lady that is complaining about not being paid - but somehow I don't think it's a very large amount, not enough to mean the survival of the company. If it is the company is not going to survive no matter what they do, it has no capital to reinvest, and is probably up to it's eyeballs in debt. If it's not, well that's the impression everyone has now thanks to Ms. Cucumber's post. She seems to want the OP to feel sorry for asking for what she is rightfully owed, to make her feel like she is helping put the final nails in the coffin. Sorry, but if a couple of thousand dollars is all it takes to make or break the jar, then you are running on too tight a margin.

Here's a link to the thread and below it the post from the company representative.
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=42&thread_id=2893479

PeaNut 430714 - 7/17/2009Posts: 10 Layouts: 0
Posted: 10/5/2009 2:40:20 PM
Axxxxx like many other companies are doing all we can to survive right now. Once the recession is over and the scrapbooking industry can begin to thrive again like it once did, we will happily pay down ALL of our debts. I have told you this many times and I am sorry if it is not what you like to hear, believe me when I say that I so wish it wasn't this way. I know that most companies are also in the same situation and others unfortunately have chosen to wave the white flag and surrender by closing their doors. Txxxxx

Who will be left standing by this time next year?

2009-09-30T15:33:00.001-07:00

Which scrapbooking companies will be left a year from now? I can't even begin to imagine at this point. Scenic Route's announcement is only the latest one. It made me think how many of these companies were less than 6 years old?

How many started as the upsurge in scrapbooking was reaching it's peak and would have died any way as part of the natural cycle and how many can really blame their death on the current economic crisis?

How many can blame it on lack of originality. I mean how many different papers with tiny fawns, big eyed owls, dots and circles does one person need? How many different flower patterns can one woman desire before she reaches her limit? How many different flourishes?

So my question is who do you think will be left standing in a year? How many will there be?

My best guess is that 50 percent will be closed or merged in a year.

New topic-free space.

2009-09-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am off to a poor start with the blog, I have no strong topics right now to discuss. Real life is very busy and I must admit I haven't had as much time as I would like to spend reading what is going on in the scrapbook world.

A few things from the last post.

Becky Higgins is leaving CK - Big Surprise there, NOT. I am surprised she has stayed as long as she did. The way the company has been restructured, the magazines shuffled around and closed down makes me wonder why all the talent is looking for some place else to be.

Rusty Pickle is missing their Super people on the Shazam line, wasn't Shazam some superhero's tag line? Apparently you need to have a licensing agreement to use Spiderman, imagine that!

Sorry kiddies for the rehash - but here's some free space for you.

Scrapbook events, are they worth it?

2009-09-03T16:59:00.001-07:00

In today's economy are you planning to attend any scrapbook events like DD's next Inspired, the next Creative Escape or CKC nearest you? Do you think you get your moneys worth from these?

Is it about learning new techniques for you, or is it a chance to get away from your day to day routine, visit with friends, network with new people and rub elbows with the "stars".

I have been to are a few classes with a well known scrapbook star at a LSS and CKC. The first CKC I was well pleased with the classes and the instructors, the second a little less, the rooms seemed a little more crowded the classes a rehash of the year before and the shopping a lot more tightly packed. The last one was disappointing to the point that I only signed up for 2 classes and visited the shopping area.

This past year I didn't even see anything I wanted to take when the email came from CK that registration had opened. It wasn't even about the money, it was simply about the classes or rather the lack of new classes. It really never was about learning new techniques for me, however, it was more about working with different products then I normally would.

Good Lord, go away for awhile and look what happens!

2009-08-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

I come back to an email box stuffed full of notes from people wanting to know what happened. Well, let me tell you all I have no idea. I really haven't had anything to do with ScrapSmack since I gave up ownership.

The best I can gather one of the ladies took the other ladies rights away and then shut it down. I don't know anything other than that.

Am I sad? Well part of me is and part of me isn't. I will now tell everyone the reason I gave it up. I have renewed my relationship with Christ and felt compelled and condemned by the whole thing. Not about honest discussion of product or design or even business practices, but over the personal attacks on people that were not based on anything other than dislike and yes, jealousy.
I also felt compelled to keep my word about not censoring anything on that blog, so giving it away was the only way I could do both.

Is that hypocritical? You may think so, but the truth is we are all a little hypocritical and a lot more people posted on there than you would believe, the very same people who would go to their favorite message boards and condemn the blog were more often than not the ones posting and sometimes about the very people they were the friendliest to in other places.

No ones hands are clean where this is concerned, yes, I hosted it, but YOU read it. YOU posted on it. YOU made it popular. There were a lot of days when that blog got more than 8000 unique hits. It would not have lasted as long as it did if people weren't reading it. I would have gotten bored talking to myself. But anyway -I am not trying to make excuses - I will not. I own my part in it, just as everyone who read or posted owns their part - All I can say is I am sorry for any part I played in allowing the nastiness and personal attacks to happen, and I guess I had a big part in that by giving it a home.

I'm I sorry for calling out dishonest contests, poor business practices, or voicing my opinion about products, magazines and what appears to be favoritism in the industry? No. I still feel we all have a right to do that. I still feel that if I purchase something I should get what I pay for.

I still feel that too many of the message boards and blogs are full of endorsements that have been bought with free product and spots on design teams. And that to me is dishonest. To me it is almost a betrayal of trust to go on a messageboard and praise a product you are associated wit h and disclose that association, it feels slimy. If you are a paid spokesman on television the tiny fine print clearly tells the viewer so, no such tiny fine print exists on the Internet.

So if you are participating in that practice, be up front about it and tell people you are receiving the product or working on the design team. Their are scrapbookers who do that, who daily post their layouts using product given to them by companies and say so - it doesn't change my thoughts about their layout or their use of the product. It just increases their integrity.

Anyway, I am not sorry about the honest discussions about true problems in the industry and dishonest business practices but please know I am sorry about the blog being the vehicle for personal attacks and that so many people's feelings being hurt and I am sorry for my part in it.

Sincerely;
Guess Who

PS: this one will be a place for honest discussion about scrapbooking, products, businesses, and other related things NOT a place for any personal attacks.

It's the time of year when I begin to browse the stores for ideas..

2009-08-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

It's the time of year when I begin to look at Thanksgiving and Christmas stamps, papers, and card ideas. Every year at the end of summer my mind drifts to cooler days, changing colors, turkeys and Christmas.

With those thoughts I also find myself browsing for stamps, papers, and looking at card ideas. I start out with excitement planning my cards for both holidays. Snagging that perfect paper from the long aisle, finding the exact stamp, matching ribbon and button; reading every sentiment until I find one that is suitable for everyone on my list, not too religious, not too cute, not too simple.

I always start out with the intention of making about 50 cards for each occasion, I usually end up with about 15 which get sent to my family members. Everyone else gets a "store-bought" card. I simply run out of time. Does it matter to them, no - I don't think so. I think like most of us they are happy to receive the card, knowing that we have thought of them.

I have admitted to myself that I am not making the cards for the people I am sending them to; I am making them for my pleasure. I enjoy it pure and simple. I am going to make them again this year, but I am going to start earlier so by the time I finish maybe I will have 25. I am also going to stand for a long time in Hallmark finding just the right "store-bought" card to send, too.

The Cricut

2009-08-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

I have the Cricut. I received from my husband for Christmas year before last. He saw that infomercial one morning while getting ready for work. I will admit that I don't use it much. I have never used anything I have cut out on the first layout.

I have cut letters for posters, and other things for cards and small cards with it. But not enough to really warrant the purchase price of the machine and the individual cartridges. I'll be honest those are the most expensive alphabets and cards in history. If you took the number of things I've made and divide it by the price of the Cricut and accessories - I paid about $20.00 an item. Honestly I don't think it's worth it, unless you have a certain style or make a lot of cards and boxes.

I went searching for inspiration, because I felt guilty about not using it more and found the following blog http://regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/ . The things on it are cute, but most are not my style. I visit it and think "Oh, that's cute - I think I will make this for so and so, but really I don't - It's just easier to find a die and the paper and cut something out on the Sizzix than to pull the Cricut out, find the right cartridge, locate the right shape and figure out which buttons in what order to push, set the size, realize I have set it to big, reset it and then cut it out. Heck, by the time I do all of that I can have the whole card made using my Sizzix and stamps.

It's just too much trouble for a card and it kind of sucks the joy out of the whole process. Cutting out the embellishments should not be the most labor intensive part of card making. I would rather spend my time with the stamps and pens, markers and watercolors, that's the part of the process that brings me joy, but to each their own.

So, I am looking to replace my poor old Sizzix with one of the newer manual machines that will take the new larger dies. One that I can use all those big old red dies in and all the wonderful embossing folder with. Which should it be?

Bind-it-All

2009-08-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am going to admit something, my husband goes shopping with me, sometimes. If you spot an older man with a flattop standing around in the LSS, holding a purse, they could be mine. Occasionally he will also look and point things that he thinks I might be interested out to me. This is what happened with the Bind-it-All. We were on a trip to Atlanta and stopped by the Achievers. It happened to be "make and take" day, and a very nice lady spent several minutes showing my husband the Bind-it-All among other things.

He is an even more enthusiastic shopper than I am. He called me over to show me all the wonderful things that the BIA could do to make my crafting better. I believe he's thinking to himself - "If she buys something, then she can't say anything when I buy the Fishmaster 5000 next week at BassPro." I just nodded and told him it was nice but I didn't really need it.

Several months later armed with a 50% off coupon I headed to HL. Now I have another admission. I shop for pleasure. I hardly ever shop with a project in mind or a particular product. I am an impulse buyer. If I shopped out of need I would never shop. I have more than enough stuff to do any project I have in mind. Actually I could and have created project kits for 10 people out of the spare room.

After cruising all the aisles in HL that day my eyes fell on the BIA. The old one, the blue one and I thought, "well for $25.00, why not?" Besides nothing else was appealing to my shopping senses that day. So armed with my 50% off coupon, the machine, and a few o-wires I headed to the checkout counter.

I had looked at this product before and hadn't purchased it. Honestly, I wouldn't have purchased it then except I had that coupon. Why? I was afraid it would join the family of unused tools in my bottom drawer or the top of my closet. I mean how many spiral bound albums was I really going to make? I hadn't made any in the past. Why would I now?

Let me tell you, I love it. I is one of the most used items in my spare room. I use it to make my own notepads, planners, recipe books, to bind clippings and articles for work. I use it for everything, but not so much for scrapbooking. I have only made one album with it and used it in one volunteer scrapbook class I taught. Albums made with it feel disposable to me and when I spend time making a layout I want to protect it in a nice page protector.

I'm back.

2009-08-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it. It's harder than I thought to keep my opinions to myself. But this time I thought I would open a blog to discuss product, not people- well not people unless they are THE product. Not husbands, not kids, not asses, not hairdos, if you want to discuss those things there is a blog where those things are discussed frequently try to keep it there.

It's no secret I love vintage, anyone who has seen my prior work knows this. It seems that vintage is once again a trend. To some of us it is more. BasicGrey's Nook and Pantry is right up my alley. I will be using it to make recipe books. Look out one maybe coming your way this Christmas.

I like MME's The Spiders Web Halloween line. Haunted Parlor, Spiders Silk, Cauldron Bubbles, Witch's Lace are nice versatile papers; I can see being used with vintage photographs that have nothing to do with Halloween.

Their Ooh La La for Him is another line I like. The colors and patterns have a 1930s look. Will I buy it? If I catch it on sale. Otherwise, no. I have way too much stuff even after two major clean outs.

So what new releases do you like or not like- what new tools are you chomping at the bit to add to that bottom drawer - where all the other things you can't live without but never use live?