PTI stands for Papertrey Ink. This is a collective smack blog and Papertrey Ink review page. Papertrey Ink's continuously poor customer service has lead to a page dedicated to discussion of this stamp company and recommendations for alternative stamp companies. Minimal censorship here- I prefer to leave it up to posters' discretion.
The opinions posted on this blog belong to our visitors and we are not paid for our honest reviews ;)
After reading the last post where everyone is saying how uninspiring this release is, I suddenly realized that after years of getting the blog updates via email, I have not received one email with any of these sneek peaks in them. Have no idea why, maybe PTI limited who they were sent to??? Out of curiousity though, I searched out the 'sneeks' and am not impressed at all.
The oval die set is about the only thing I'm interested in. The stamps are mediocre and I haven't seen any DT project that's changed my mind. Normally, the countdown cards make the sets look better. Not this month.
If I had to buy something, it'd be Maille's tree set. I think the topper with the plaid design is pretty cool.
Not much to get excited about. Not sure if it is because I am just so turned off the whole PTI thing, or because it isn't up to snuff.
Of course, Nichole made the script dies work on her card - maybe just the angle of the photo but it didn't look as sloppy. Also, Maile's tree are cool and versatile. I liked the colours and layouts on Lexi's cards, but I think I have enough in my stash to make my own baby mobile cards.
Don't even get me started on the pooping birds, though...
Since Dawn has been doing the Studio Calico thing she has layered more and more stuff and it doesn't look that great. Her cards used to be quite nice but the mix of colors now are a bit scary. Can't cope with the pooping bird.
No, this release is *really* uninspiring. I'm not really sour on PTI and I don't find anything that makes me want to pull the trigger. And usually I'm pinning things from release week to my card board but today I've only pinned 1 of NHs cards and NONE from yesterday.
The sample cards are just thrown together. I don't get it. Maybe they are getting burnt out? They being the DT and NH.
As for stamp sets, I'd buy Maile's trees. I saw the set someone else posted from W+9 but it looked very similar to something I already have by SU from a couple years ago. I like Maile's set because all the tree tops are the same size/shape.
I agree..THE.worst.release.ever. I've unsubbed from all but Betsy anyway. I couldn't take dawn's cards anymore either The fake sunshine on the forums finished me off.
Did PTI have another pooping birds set? Or maybe another company? Maybe one with peacocks? I feel like this is not the first time I've heard the phrase "pooping birds" lol
I like Nichole. I think she can make not so good things look amazing, but I really think she had a lapse in judgement when she put Erin Lincoln on the team. Her cards absolutely shitastic.
About this release-I have been stamping for 15 years. When I first became interested in PTI about 4 years ago, everything was so fresh and new. I now find that a lot of the designers styles have stayed the same and I am getting bored. They are still good, it's just that my taste has changed.
I feel like 95 out of 100 times Erin's stuff is crap. It's a mish mash of stuff. Like she's not really putting in any effort. Once in a while though, she has a card that has a good idea you can take away. I may not like the actual card, but I can use that one idea/technique. It certainly doesn't help that her pictures are for shit.
I still feel there are many more talented and deserving cardmakers out there than Erin. I would love to see folks like Laura Bassen, Christina Maclaren, or Chunyuan on the team (not that they would want to).
Look stupid me typed in the last post and I can't be bothered to restyle it here, but am I the only one who thinks this c/s forum is offensive? I mean complaints and or issues are only to be voiced in a closeted forum? How draconian. They really don't want word to get out.
At this point, I'm looking forward to the strawberry set. I like Michelle Wooderson's concepts. I know most of you don't, but I've really come to like her stuff a some.
I think the CS forum is a stupid idea...now if and when I have a problem I have to go to this hidden forum to voice my concern? Who is going to check or go there? They already have a forum, why make a new one? Add a CS category to the forum. I do think they are trying to hide problems knowing people are not going to check there too.
This release is yuck! I have not pinned one card and I see nothing I need!
The trees are the only thing that are mildly tempting and only because of the plaid topper. It is not me as I still love and use many of my PTI stamps, but these last 2 months are scraping the bottom of the barrel for them. The cards are pure ugly for the most part.
Erin's stuff is awful. I haven't been to her blog since probably when she first came on the DT. Someone said before that she was asked to be on because of the technical side like doing the PTI radio or whatever and I'm thinking that has got to be it. It can't be for her talent in papercrafting because it's just not there. And as for Beth and Lizzie. Don't get me started.
I'm loving you guys today because for the last couple of years I thought I was the only one who found many of the PTI new stamp sets dull and that not all of the design team had talent oozing from their pores - which is what I'm always reading: Oh the DT is SO talented! Maybe some are most of the time, but not all are.
Erin does a nice card now and then but that yellow baby card on today's post is so hideous that it cancels out the others. The triple baby has nice colors, but those babies are so weird to begin with that she only did what she could with them. I think the mobile idea is just plain lame.
Anyone can sign up for the zen desk forum. I did just now. They want your name and email addy. Then you get an email with a link to set your password. Once you get in the system you can track your tickets (I don't have any). There is a forum tab at the top. Right now there are 3 posts in the forum, two about the website and one about international shipping.
Forgot to add: I agree about the separate forum being a way to isolate the CS issues. I too think they should simply have had a separate forum on there existing message board. Would have gone a long way toward appearing open and transparent.
I have to say that mobile in the baby set is offensive.... in that there was absolutely no creative skill put into its design. I mean, on every card I saw made with it I thought the designer just hand drew a mobile with a pen or something. It's just horrible in my opinion.
Maile seems to be the only one who held up her end of the bargain this release. I don't mind Dawn's tag set either, actually... If only someone would create something nice with it.
I'll say that Betsy's work the other day was still good, IMO. It's just that the product she had to use put her at a disadvantage. Again, IMO.
Most of the time I really like Erin's work. She seems very innovative to me. Today, however, her mojo is just plain gone.
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who's been disappointed in the DT lately. I remember just loving Mish's blog in the early days. Now all her stuff just looks messy to me. And Dawn...love didn't even begin to describe it. But then she started using those funky color combos; I just can't see the beauty in Aqua Mist with New Leaf. To me, it clashes. I thought her. Color Couture was an interesting concept but again, the color combos were garish to me. Never bought one.
I miss Debbie Olson's presence, Niki Estes, and even Lauren Meader for her wraps. Or maybe I just long for "the old days" when everything was new, fresh, and exciting...when the designers contributed on the forum because they were one of us, not because it was their assigned day of the week...when it seemed like new product was innovative and creatively designed, not just thrown out there to bring the monthly release to 12 sets.
Now it just seems like the same old, same old, but with cocky attitude and lousy service.
Wow, some of you might not like to hear this, but I actually really like the script alphabet dies now that I have seen their outline on Nichole's blog. And her card made them look good, too. (Don't hurt me...) I hate to say this, because Betsy is a rock star, but the way she used them yesterday made them look bad. She connected them all crookedly and it just didn't work. So sad!
I have never bought any of PTI's dies but I would actually be tempted by this one if I didn't own an electronic cutter. *off to find a font that looks as cool as these dies*
IF the letters are hard enough to correct decently that an artist like Betsy had trouble, I would be totally sunk trying to use them. They are also a bit large. A 5-6 letter word is about the best you could do.
NH using a thinner, patterned paper helped. Plus, the letters in "thanks" look better than "girl". Totally not Betsy's fault. If Betsy can't make it look good, there is going to be some shitastic stuff made by the common folk.
I always felt that DTs are given more credit than they deserve (for the most part). Obviously, there are some talented folks out there, but if you get to use the product first, your work is going to look fresher and seem more innovative. Just because you're the first to do a certain technique doesn't mean you're superior to the general cardmaking public. You just got first crack. For this very reason, I try to avoid the DT projects at release time.
I don't see how the weight of the paper makes any difference. If you look at Betsy's card from yesterday, you will see that she didn't keep the letters on the same baseline. The i is up too high and the l is crooked. She could have made them look so much better.
I'm one who has never let Nichole off the hook for what's happened over there but I will say that the stamps were generally better before she let everyone under the sun design stamp sets.
I was really sorry to see Becky O. leave - besides great cards I was really curious to see what other stamps she would come up with.
I don't see how the weight of the paper makes any difference. If you look at Betsy's card from yesterday, you will see that she didn't keep the letters on the same baseline. The i is up too high and the l is crooked. She could have made them look so much better.
11 April 2012 08:43 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` I meant that the thinner paper allows the letters to overlap nicer. Makes it look more like one seamless piece. You can see the ugly overlap in Betsy's pic.
Also, I think that the way that the r is shaped, Betsy had no other choice than to go crooked. I think the dies would have worked better if they weren't intended to link together.
I must be spending too much time here - I saw an email in an account I don't use much that said "A Victory over Unions?" and at first glance I read "unicorns," LOL!!
The notice about the secret CS forum is nearly on page 2 so wonder if that is any use - should stay at the top - perhaps they don't want everyone to see it.
This just seems to be a further attempt to keep hidden any CS issues that may arise.
So if anyone has still not received their prize pkgs, or anniversary sets, no one will know and everything will just look peachy.
I get it, birds with fancy tail feathers are cool. It's fine if you want to make them the next big thing. Owls were getting old anyway. But please, for the love of all that is holy, please design them in such a way that their fancy tail feathers don't look like squirts of poop.
I don't think the customer service forum is an intentional attempt to hide anything, but I do think that information about PTI is already spread out in too many places, so the Zendesk forum just adds another location where a customer MIGHT be able to find information, if they realize to look there.
There is the web site (honestly, a mess at the moment), Nichole's blog (at least that is mentioned more prominently on the web site now), the PTI forum, and now the Zendesk forum.
How could anyone really know where to look for answers?
By the way, until today, when Rick put up a notice that new members should e-mail him to register, I wonder how many people didn't even realize there was a forum there. If you were not registered, there was a message that said something like "this board has no forums". Once they closed the "Ask PTI" section, which you could read without registering, it looked like there was nothing there. I registered when Ask PTI was still there, but I don't know how long it took me to realize that if I registered, there was more content, other than the Ask PTI section.
Long way of saying, important information is scattered over a lot of different places with no easy way to find it.
Someone asked in the previous thread about Joan B...
On her post from 4/4, she explains that she asked to be removed from the forum. If you follow the link, her explanation is at the bottom of the post. http://paperlicious.typepad.com/paperlicious/2012/04/waltzingmouse-challenge-91-butterfly-masking-.html
I posted here about being removed from the forum and the same question was posed about just stop going. For me it was if I was removed or whatever, I just wouldn't go there. I still go there, but far less than I ever did. I don't even post. I'm not even sure why I go there. No one would miss me and I wouldn't miss them. I guess I just go to keep current or something? Boredom? I dunno. But if I was totally removed, I wouldn't go at all.
Disable or ignore them. Why the need to ask the mods to delete your account and then blog about it? Makes no sense to me.
How is the Zendesk forum an improvement to the current forum? Now, I have to go to yet a third unconnected site to get information? Talk about an electronic runaround. Will we be allowed to ask about stock and products on the current forum or is tha verboten? Seems like more work on our part to get concrete answers.
It's a case of why did it take them 5 years to figure out that they needed a way to handle CS?
This kind of thing should have been implemented right from the start and it would've been easily accepted as where to go to handle CS concerns.
It's probably going to be a positive change in the long run - about time. But I get the flak they're catching on it - and they deserve it for the same reason as everything else. It takes too long for them to get their act together.
The other day someone asked why we still come here if we haven't bought in a while. Honestly, this is the ONE place I can come for honest PTI info. What works, what doesn't, that there is a zendesk, that I can em Rick if I need help. I can't get good answers anywhere else.
Oh, and posts like 10:02's freshly squeezed birds made me belly laugh!!!
^^^^ Same for me! At least until Rick gets us a peek at threads by 'hovering' over them, I'd rather come here to see what's going on.
AND - you get info straight up. I remember seeing people on the forum being mean to anyone who made comments that were not 100% positive and never liked visiting there since. It's really irritating to see all of the lovey-dovey comments, too. Oh everyone here is so NICE! As long as you're drinking the Kool-Aid maybe.
I remember the days on SCS when anyone made any sort of sign that SU was not perfect, the demos jumped all over them and even got some people banned for suggesting SU was less than perfection.
I don't see any threads gushing over the new release. I guess we aren't the only ones who are not enthralled. Did you ever notice how few people are visiting the forum these days. Sometimes only 1 or 2 at a time. Used to be dozens at a time.
I noticed that. Steph made her list but no ones started any threads gushing over how great a set is or how amazing (name's) countdown post is. The dt's also pretty quiet. Hopefully they're hanging their heads in shame in a dark corner somewhere.
I feel for the members who aren't responsible for the crap released this month. (just thought of those tootin birds lol). You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
It's looking like the most lackluster release in a very long time. The bloom is definitely off the rose for so many people - even if they knocked people's socks off, I think a lot are just getting their stampy fixes somewhere else!
Another former customer speaking out on the SCS "Frustrated" thread. I'm glad people are still getting out the word - buyer beware. ======================= I saw this thread on SCS earlier today. Is it missing now??
That's really odd. I can't find it either. I'm subscribed to the thread, and the last post is listed for today at 3:50 p.m. Looking at the posts by the time of the last one, it's definitely not there, on either page 1 or page 2.
I totally love the Gina K cardstock and changed over several years ago. They don't have the range of colors but the colors they have are awesome. Also I prefer that it is not as thick since I do more scrapping and don't need or want that super heavy stock like PTI.
The other thing I love is that the white really is super bright white, unlike PTI, which I find to have an almost cream or greyish tint. I am super picky about my white being true bright white and Gina K's is. I admit I have never bought any Gina K stamps, not into them at all. i get all my stamps elsewhere, but that's ok.
In an effort to get an objective opinion from a neutral party, I showed the new PTI bird to my husband. I prefaced by saying, "Do you like this stamp honey? I'm thinking about getting it." (I'm not even considering it, but was trying to encourage a positive response.)
He hesitated, then said, "Is it...POOPING??"
Hahahahaha. Buyer beware. Even if you like it, the recipient of your card is going to be thinking, "Ew."
color me unimpressed with the baby set and the script dies and the patterned paper color choices this month. I do like Dawn's tag set and I actually like Pine's background. I even kind of like the poopy birds. Not going to buy any of it any time soon, but will liking them make me lose my smacker card?
20:17 here again. After a closer look, I like the pooping bird without the poopy tail. I like whoever it was that used the tail alone as a background accent (Nichole or Betsy, I forget). I kind of liked the sparkly rainbow poop/tail. But the way Melissa used it today it does look like explosive bird feces.
We've got two parrots, therefore we have two pooping birds in our house. They don't inspire me to create, and the poop, which can be substantial, doesn't resemble gems or rainbows. Enough said.
After reading the posts, I had to go and look. That poor bird. The baby face stamps is just sad and lame. I wonder why I'm having problems spending my points.
Well dang. The more I think about it the more I think maybe I need to get me a pooping bird stamp. Let's face it, my diet is not pristine and sometimes I too suffer from toxic gas or explosive diharrea. It's no fun to go through. But if I could stamp me a bird pooping rainbows and crystals maybe it just might make me feel a little better. LOL
Let's put out an "additions" set with sentiments for it. "Sorry you're having such a craptacular day!" "Into every life a little poop must fall." "Holy Crap [done in the "Lordy Bees" font] that's awesome."
Most of this release is not my style but I do like the background set ... maybe not the dots in the set but the larger more collage-y one. But that's not enough for an order so I will hold off for a while ... never ordered every month even before all the drama. Anyhow, they don't seem to be changing international shipping costs anytime soon ... It was mentioned a while back that it is still being considered but who knows if it will actually change.
So, I thought I posted this yesterday, but I am kind of looking forward to seeing the Michelle Wooderson strawberry set. Don't smack me too hard, but I kind of like her stuff a bit.
Yup, I can't wait to see what everyone does with the strawberries too. I love strawberry motifs. I doubt I'll buy these since I already have some other strawberry stamps, but I bet I will like the ideas.
I see two scenarios 1. continued customer service issues, like the latest one on the SCS thread. If so, pti will remain, but it will be like SU -- limping along, no longer trendy, rarely seen on blogs or galleries other than by devoted loyalists.
2. true change by PTI -- allowing former customers to flood back and allowing the designers and the DT to feel inspired again.
I'm hoping for door #2, but expect door #1, particularly since it appears that zendesk, etc. all still lead to Julie.
I am the only one that doesn't get the strawberry thing? It's ok (not ugly like the crapping bird) but how many strawberry baskets are you going to make?
I was looking forward to the strawberry set but the preview just didn't appeal to much to me. Interested to see what Garden Variety holds...only thing I sorta like is Maile's set but not worth ordering just for that. I have plenty of stamp sets that still have a lot of life in them.
I usually think that about paper "trinket" type things. I don't like getting them because what are they going to do - sit around and collect dust?
But what I like about the strawberry basket is that it's big enough to actually get some use out of it especially for gifts. And I am not a Betsy fan but I think the liner she made could even get me to sew.
BUT.... this would have been my line of thinking in the olden days of PTI when I could be excited about ordering from there. I just won't anymore. What makes me feel better is that I know they are losing money this month b/c of their lousy business sense and attitude, so it's making a difference this time.
OMG! Lincoln's card today is one hot mess!!! And she says she used that quatrefoil die for no reason other than it "looked good." How lame - it doesn't!! I at least wanted to read that she thought it looked like a trellis or lattice or something. Egad.
Basket is cute, but after you have made 2 how many more do you need and what do you do with them. I thought the strawberry stuff had potential for some really creative things, but the DT did not come through.
I was excited to see the strawberry set because I like Michelle's sets but I don't love it. I have a Cameo so I'm not the least tempted by the basket die.
I will probably like the garden variety stuff but I still have the other set that I have only used a few times. Same for the button set. I like it but really don't use it much.
I'm sorry, but why oh why is PTI so late to the party with that script font?? There are so many better ones out there already for manual die-cutters not to mention all the e-cutter free fonts. It's just not that attractive of a font. Is this just another example of them thinking whatever they touch turns to gold and the masses will gobble this up?? Lame.
the only thing I'm even remotely interested in is the postmarks BG stamp. I haven't purchased a thing from them since last Nov. I think my love affair is over. I'm even becoming a bit embarrassed to use/feature their stuff on my projects and in my YT vids. Maybe I could put a disclaimer in there, something like "and this is a really old PTI set purchased back before they became serious money-grubbing flakes"
Well, I see Nichole's awesome proofreading super skills are out in full force again today. *facepalm* If she didn't do it ALL THE TIME I wouldn't feel the need to smack. But this is ridiculous. Honestly, do the business owners who put out such sloppy work not realize that when they represent their company with such stupid, easily preventable mistakes they are losing credibility? Or do people just not care about things like that anymore? Why would the people in a business not do their best to make sure their communications were as accurate and polished as possible? I weep for our culture. (Thank you for letting me rant.)
On the other hand I quite like the Strawberry Patch line-up and all the samples from everyone. Wow. Hehe
Thanks! That Flourishes set is on point. I prefer the fonts of the PTI set, but there's something off about the tops of the berries in their set. It looks too cartoonish or something.
Was so looking forward to the strawberry post. What a disappointment! After you've made one basket what will you use the die for? Dust gatherer IMHO. And I just don't like the look of it. If it had looked more like the regular pint sized blue-ish things that berries actually come it, I'd be more interested. The DT is boring me.
Couldn't have said it better, I was really pumped up about seeing the strawberry set . Does nothing nothing nothing. The basket is cute but I have a cricut or I would just use recycled strawberry baskets to get the same look. And the stamps do nothing. The DT sets are so busy and all the closeups and weird angles are good for pictures, but I can't tell anything. Why does everything have to be a project? Why can't they just make a simple card?
So not interested in strawberry salts or hand lotion.
Someone mentioned that faux stitching awhile back so I went to have a look. By the second page, I figured it would end -- saw that card with the branches or vines and birds and thought 'no stitching!' LOL - then she added a piece (probably so she could add the stitching!). Sheesh does she get paid by the stitch or something?
My guess is that they are required to do projects sometimes. I agree with all the photos. You really don't need more than one - two if there's a reason to show specific detail.
I won't buy any of the strawberry stuff because I know I won't use it. I like the little basket, but I won't pay $21 to make something 1 time. I'm kind of surprise by Mish's project - or lack thereof. This is her set with her name on it and she's probably getting paid off of sales and that's all she did with it? Kind of like Lisa Johnson. What's that phrase - ? They both dialed it in, phoned it in this month. Just very lackluster. No effort at all.
I usually love Betsy's and Melissa's PTI work, but lordy bees, how overworked are those projects?? Layers upon layers of stuff. It's just too much. I mean, who would you give that too? I am starting to smarten up - most of these products - do you really have the time to make this stuff? Do you want to? Who would want this junking up their home?
Think I've been watching too much Hoarders and want to simplify my life.....
Actually I think ACN's website may have gotten hacked. I tried to visit this morning and my browser gave some error message. The error said something to the effect that it could not open to the website address. Except the address was not ACN's. It was some weird address with the ending ".ru". Russia?
I'm with you 9:47. That's why I can't get into mini albums. i gave one to my mom and she doesn't know what to do with it. someone gave me one and it sits in my craft closet...haven't even put any pics in it.
I got a card in the mail from a friend the other day that was so fat and thick the post office said there is .20 postage due.
So what do I do? leave 2 dimes in my mail box? I'm inclined to not worry about it because I've sent out many cards that had more than enough postage on them and no one ever gave me a refund...so i'm thinking it all comes out in the wash.
What is the deal with Teresa Collins? It's like she hit the scene from out of nowhere and now I see her everywhere. And i don't even like her stuff. Damask....really? Hasn't that been done to death? LORDY BEES!
Gag me with a friggin' spoon on that post by Dawny Fawny. What the hell.
That's what customers are for you know - stroke the massive egos of the poor overworked DT. 20 or 30 projects for the "countdown" (what is that - the sneak peek period leading to the release?)? Get a clue Ms. Full of Yourself -- you do this for purely selfish reasons and we know it. Maybe being on this freak show DT is just too much for your poor little self.
About Dawn's thread. I think I just threw up in my mouth. And it shouldn't surprise me at all. Remember when she went out and got a post office box so that all her adoring fans could send her cards and gifts? Are there really that many people that do that to warrant paying the rental fee at the USPS every month? Just give your home address to people when they ask for it. No one is going to come and stalk you or try and steal your glassware or your hottie hubs.
I'm not saying post her home address on her blog, but you can tell which ones are the nutjobs and not give your address to them. But be that as it may, do you really think there is a ton of mail headed her way each month from fans around the globe? She's not Santa FFS!
Why do we need so many photos of 1 card/project when none of them are close ups? Like ACN, she took a photo of the card, then it's like she rotated it 45 degrees and took another photo. I just don't get it.
Who hits the "back" button after entering payment information? Even if you've done it incorrectly, you never, ever hit the "back" button during the checkout process. Never. Some people shouldn't be ordering on the interwebs.
Speaking of typos and language usage, can someone please tell me if this is wrong or if I'm not reading it correctly?
In the "Most wonderful time of the month" post that stays at the top of the blog during the countdown and release, it says "The countdown commences with release day on the 15th."
Shouldn't it say the countdown "concludes" with the release? Commence means to start and the countdown started on the 10th.
In my opinion, Mish shows how easy it is to make this stuff WITHOUT purchasing the basket die or the stamps. I could make the same thing with ANY strawberry sticker, stamp or die cut.
She should be guest star stamper on the PTI-knockoff blog. Lol.
I usually really like Michelle's work but it looks like she really threw this project together last minutes. I guess Project Life, er, spending time with her family is taking more time than she thought.
Seriously? A strawberry stamp set? How original.... I swear I've NEVER seen THAT done.... TO DEATH! Talk about people who think their shit doesn't stink! "Introducing the PTI design team...."
Seriously? A strawberry stamp set? How original.... I swear I've NEVER seen THAT done.... TO DEATH! Talk about people who think their shit doesn't stink! "Introducing the PTI design team...." ==================== They obviously don't think that BIRD'S shit stinks. Lol.
As for Dawn ... I guess moonlighting as CS was exhausting. Lol.
Mish's post was very "formal" too. Like this statement: "What I envisioned with this set product wise, Nichole delivered upon her execution with this stamp set and dies. " No more gushing or funny little anecdotes. I think she stayed on because she had some sets coming up, but will be gone after this year. Wonder if there was a huge blow up between her and Nichole?
Re: Mish and Nichole , my own personal opinion is that Mish told Nichole that she wanted to spend more time with her family and that Nichole found out alongside everyone else in blogland that she was going to do project life with Becky h.
I know that many have said that this is not a big deal (the fake spending time with family excuse) but maybe it was s big deal to Nichole.
Someone above mentioned wishing for a berry basket (instead of a strawberry basket) and I happened to see this from Scrapyland. I used to buy from them (but haven't in awhile) - always good experiences.
It is also completely possible that NH is a B* and DT members, Mish included, eventually grow tired of it. I think NH is burning bridges fast. Customers, DT, other company owners...
Someone above mentioned wishing for a berry basket (instead of a strawberry basket) and I happened to see this from Scrapyland. I used to buy from them (but haven't in awhile) - always good experiences.
Thanks for sharing that. I know Ellen Hutson has been carrying Lifestyle Crafts products and maybe she'll get that die in soon, too! I like it.
Mish sure did not have her heart in this release/projects. I would guess that NH is not to happy about this. I do wonder what is going on, I guess I am nosy :) you would think that she would be trying harder to sell that strawberry stuff.
That little tag sure says a lot about how Michelle feels about her relationship with PTI. For a sneak that the DT has been hyping for days I'm shocked that she makes no effort to try to sell that stamp set.
Someone above mentioned wishing for a berry basket (instead of a strawberry basket) and I happened to see this from Scrapyland. I used to buy from them (but haven't in awhile) - always good experiences.
I'd like to think that Mish is smarter than we give her credit for. She might be obligated in some way to stick it out with PTI, but perhaps doesn't feel good about supporting them. I didn't see her making a fool of herself (like Dawn) spraying canned sunshine all over the CS stink on the forum. Maybe she wants to keep her pride intact.
Wow, all that strawberry stuff would be $73. I would have to love strawberries and PTI to spend that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Good point. $73 can buy all TWO of the baskets I would ever make with that die. With real strawberries. And $70 leftover. Lol.
Too funny. Plus, what I really love about this is that it's those crazy "inspiration photos" gunking up Nichole's blog (and others who lamely copy every blasted thing she does) that are now more inspiring than the DT/NH ideas themselves, LOL!!!
You can buy a dozen berry baskets for $6 on etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/87475910/12-berry-baskets-quart-size-berry-boxes I can't imagine wanting more than that...ever. The shop also has other kinds.
So does Mish get a cut since she drew up the concept but didn't actually dig up the clip art to make the set? And after the Strawberry Fruit Fusion set...or whatever it's called...why not just introduce the strawberry sentiments and basket. Oh, wait, I know. That previously mentioned $73 PTI stands to rake in. No thanks.
To me, Mish does not show a huge amount of integrity even if she was smart to jump a sinking ship. The whole lying about spending time with family thing just rubs me the wrong way. That is not to say that I blame her or that I'm defending Nichole in any way, I'm not. I personally just don't like the way that she went about it. I know, I know, get over it, everybody does it. Spare me the lecture.
291 comments:
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I like Maile's trees.
I liked Maile's tree set also, very cool.
After reading the last post where everyone is saying how uninspiring this release is, I suddenly realized that after years of getting the blog updates via email, I have not received one email with any of these sneek peaks in them. Have no idea why, maybe PTI limited who they were sent to???
Out of curiousity though, I searched out the 'sneeks' and am not impressed at all.
The oval die set is about the only thing I'm interested in. The stamps are mediocre and I haven't seen any DT project that's changed my mind. Normally, the countdown cards make the sets look better. Not this month.
If I had to buy something, it'd be Maille's tree set. I think the topper with the plaid design is pretty cool.
Yeah, another completely uninspiring day. I don't think I can go to Dawn's blog anymore - my retina is permanently burned.
I am a bright girl.....but Dawn's cards are just the same thing over and over and over again.
this.is.the.worst.release.ever
Wow,there is not one pretty stamp set!
The oval dies are the only useful item.I haven't seen every release, but this one sucks!
You made me look!
Not much to get excited about. Not sure if it is because I am just so turned off the whole PTI thing, or because it isn't up to snuff.
Of course, Nichole made the script dies work on her card - maybe just the angle of the photo but it didn't look as sloppy. Also, Maile's tree are cool and versatile. I liked the colours and layouts on Lexi's cards, but I think I have enough in my stash to make my own baby mobile cards.
Don't even get me started on the pooping birds, though...
Since Dawn has been doing the Studio Calico thing she has layered more and more stuff and it doesn't look that great.
Her cards used to be quite nice but the mix of colors now are a bit scary.
Can't cope with the pooping bird.
No, this release is *really* uninspiring. I'm not really sour on PTI and I don't find anything that makes me want to pull the trigger. And usually I'm pinning things from release week to my card board but today I've only pinned 1 of NHs cards and NONE from yesterday.
The sample cards are just thrown together. I don't get it. Maybe they are getting burnt out? They being the DT and NH.
As for stamp sets, I'd buy Maile's trees. I saw the set someone else posted from W+9 but it looked very similar to something I already have by SU from a couple years ago. I like Maile's set because all the tree tops are the same size/shape.
The rest of the sneaks.....meh.
I agree..THE.worst.release.ever. I've unsubbed from all but Betsy anyway. I couldn't take dawn's cards anymore either The fake sunshine on the forums finished me off.
Did PTI have another pooping birds set? Or maybe another company? Maybe one with peacocks? I feel like this is not the first time I've heard the phrase "pooping birds" lol
I like Nichole. I think she can make not so good things look amazing, but I really think she had a lapse in judgement when she put Erin Lincoln on the team. Her cards absolutely shitastic.
And see I like Erin Lincoln a lot! I think NH's biggest lapse is anything to do with Beth Silaika and probably Lizzie Jones. Yuck.
And see I like Erin Lincoln a lot! I think NH's biggest lapse is anything to do with Beth Silaika and probably Lizzie Jones. Yuck.
weird, sorry for the dupe!
Alternatives...
Background Basics: Postmarks
http://shop.heroarts.com/products/productdetail/part_number=CG313/1571.0.1.1
Trendy Tree Tops
http://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=113258
http://www.wplus9.com/funky-foliage/
Baby Face
http://karenfosterdesign.com/scrapbooking-kfd/clear-stamp-sets/baby-clear-stampset.html
http://www.waltzingmousestamps.com/products/half-pint-heroes (for the faces)
posted on the last thread by accident.
About this release-I have been stamping for 15 years. When I first became interested in PTI about 4 years ago, everything was so fresh and new. I now find that a lot of the designers styles have stayed the same and I am getting bored. They are still good, it's just that my taste has changed.
I feel like 95 out of 100 times Erin's stuff is crap. It's a mish mash of stuff. Like she's not really putting in any effort. Once in a while though, she has a card that has a good idea you can take away. I may not like the actual card, but I can use that one idea/technique. It certainly doesn't help that her pictures are for shit.
I still feel there are many more talented and deserving cardmakers out there than Erin. I would love to see folks like Laura Bassen, Christina Maclaren, or Chunyuan on the team (not that they would want to).
Look stupid me typed in the last post and I can't be bothered to restyle it here, but am I the only one who thinks this c/s forum is offensive? I mean complaints and or issues are only to be voiced in a closeted forum? How draconian. They really don't want word to get out.
At this point, I'm looking forward to the strawberry set. I like Michelle Wooderson's concepts. I know most of you don't, but I've really come to like her stuff a some.
I think the CS forum is a stupid idea...now if and when I have a problem I have to go to this hidden forum to voice my concern? Who is going to check or go there? They already have a forum, why make a new one? Add a CS category to the forum. I do think they are trying to hide problems knowing people are not going to check there too.
This release is yuck! I have not pinned one card and I see nothing I need!
Thank you to 6:12!
The trees are the only thing that are mildly tempting and only because of the plaid topper. It is not me as I still love and use many of my PTI stamps, but these last 2 months are scraping the bottom of the barrel for them. The cards are pure ugly for the most part.
A hidden forum means a hidden problem which means the new customers remain untainted until their own fiasco appears, and it will.
Erin's stuff is awful. I haven't been to her blog since probably when she first came on the DT. Someone said before that she was asked to be on because of the technical side like doing the PTI radio or whatever and I'm thinking that has got to be it. It can't be for her talent in papercrafting because it's just not there. And as for Beth and Lizzie. Don't get me started.
i am wondering if it's really a "forum" or just a place to track the progress of your own issue.
maybe once someone is in that system, they can come back and tell us about it.
I agree with the comments on Beth and Lizzie.
I'm loving you guys today because for the last couple of years I thought I was the only one who found many of the PTI new stamp sets dull and that not all of the design team had talent oozing from their pores - which is what I'm always reading: Oh the DT is SO talented! Maybe some are most of the time, but not all are.
Erin does a nice card now and then but that yellow baby card on today's post is so hideous that it cancels out the others. The triple baby has nice colors, but those babies are so weird to begin with that she only did what she could with them. I think the mobile idea is just plain lame.
Anyone can sign up for the zen desk forum. I did just now. They want your name and email addy. Then you get an email with a link to set your password. Once you get in the system you can track your tickets (I don't have any). There is a forum tab at the top. Right now there are 3 posts in the forum, two about the website and one about international shipping.
Forgot to add: I agree about the separate forum being a way to isolate the CS issues. I too think they should simply have had a separate forum on there existing message board. Would have gone a long way toward appearing open and transparent.
I don't see much talk on the forum about how wonderful this release is...where are all the unicorns?
I have to say that mobile in the baby set is offensive.... in that there was absolutely no creative skill put into its design. I mean, on every card I saw made with it I thought the designer just hand drew a mobile with a pen or something. It's just horrible in my opinion.
Maile seems to be the only one who held up her end of the bargain this release. I don't mind Dawn's tag set either, actually... If only someone would create something nice with it.
I'll say that Betsy's work the other day was still good, IMO. It's just that the product she had to use put her at a disadvantage. Again, IMO.
Most of the time I really like Erin's work. She seems very innovative to me. Today, however, her mojo is just plain gone.
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who's been disappointed in the DT lately. I remember just loving Mish's blog in the early days. Now all her stuff just looks messy to me. And Dawn...love didn't even begin to describe it. But then she started using those funky color combos; I just can't see the beauty in Aqua Mist with New Leaf. To me, it clashes. I thought her. Color Couture was an interesting concept but again, the color combos were garish to me. Never bought one.
I miss Debbie Olson's presence, Niki Estes, and even Lauren Meader for her wraps. Or maybe I just long for "the old days" when everything was new, fresh, and exciting...when the designers contributed on the forum because they were one of us, not because it was their assigned day of the week...when it seemed like new product was innovative and creatively designed, not just thrown out there to bring the monthly release to 12 sets.
Now it just seems like the same old, same old, but with cocky attitude and lousy service.
Wow, some of you might not like to hear this, but I actually really like the script alphabet dies now that I have seen their outline on Nichole's blog. And her card made them look good, too. (Don't hurt me...) I hate to say this, because Betsy is a rock star, but the way she used them yesterday made them look bad. She connected them all crookedly and it just didn't work. So sad!
I have never bought any of PTI's dies but I would actually be tempted by this one if I didn't own an electronic cutter. *off to find a font that looks as cool as these dies*
IF the letters are hard enough to correct decently that an artist like Betsy had trouble, I would be totally sunk trying to use them. They are also a bit large. A 5-6 letter word is about the best you could do.
8:15, I agree. I think we are going to be seeing a lot of people butchering those things with crooked connecting.
I think the reason that the CS went to a different forum is because they have to do that for the zendesk to work with tracking tickets.
I DO think they should have a sticky at the top of the forum that explains where the CS forum is and explain why it's set up that way.
PTI still holding steady at poor handling of CS. Have to keep the grade at an "F."
As usual the Three Stooges are a day late and a dollar short with their "customer service announcement".
Wonder if they know what that hole in their ass is for?
I thought those tags might be nice too -- the first one was too gunked up with too much on it, but the others I've seen on DT blogs look better.
Oh man... color couture. I bought into that concept but stopped pretty darn quick. Anyone see the "design seeds" site?
http://www.design-seeds.com/
it's fabulous!
RE: script font
NH using a thinner, patterned paper helped. Plus, the letters in "thanks" look better than "girl". Totally not Betsy's fault. If Betsy can't make it look good, there is going to be some shitastic stuff made by the common folk.
I always felt that DTs are given more credit than they deserve (for the most part). Obviously, there are some talented folks out there, but if you get to use the product first, your work is going to look fresher and seem more innovative. Just because you're the first to do a certain technique doesn't mean you're superior to the general cardmaking public. You just got first crack. For this very reason, I try to avoid the DT projects at release time.
I don't see how the weight of the paper makes any difference. If you look at Betsy's card from yesterday, you will see that she didn't keep the letters on the same baseline. The i is up too high and the l is crooked. She could have made them look so much better.
I went back to 2010 and 2009 on Dawn's blog and she has always used those bright color combinations.
This release is horrible so far. What gives? Is the creative mojo not there because of all the PTI crap that's been going on?
Yes, that mobile is bad!
I'm one who has never let Nichole off the hook for what's happened over there but I will say that the stamps were generally better before she let everyone under the sun design stamp sets.
I was really sorry to see Becky O. leave - besides great cards I was really curious to see what other stamps she would come up with.
oh man, thanks for the design seeds link. had never seen that before but my eyes are very happy now!!!
Anonymous said...
I don't see how the weight of the paper makes any difference. If you look at Betsy's card from yesterday, you will see that she didn't keep the letters on the same baseline. The i is up too high and the l is crooked. She could have made them look so much better.
11 April 2012 08:43
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
I meant that the thinner paper allows the letters to overlap nicer. Makes it look more like one seamless piece. You can see the ugly overlap in Betsy's pic.
Also, I think that the way that the r is shaped, Betsy had no other choice than to go crooked. I think the dies would have worked better if they weren't intended to link together.
That design seeds is pretty cool...could use that in everyday life...
I must be spending too much time here - I saw an email in an account I don't use much that said "A Victory over Unions?" and at first glance I read "unicorns," LOL!!
Glad you all like design seeds!
The notice about the secret CS forum is nearly on page 2 so wonder if that is any use - should stay at the top - perhaps they don't want everyone to see it.
This just seems to be a further attempt to keep hidden any CS issues that may arise.
So if anyone has still not received their prize pkgs, or anniversary sets, no one will know and everything will just look peachy.
I still have some reward points and didn't want to order until the website problems and general CS issues had been dealt with.
However, with CS issues not being allowed on the general forum, how will one know if everything is working well???
I don't have many points, and at this stage just feel like letting them go.
Trend spotting: Crapping birds
http://americancrafts.typepad.com/studio/2012/04/fresh-squeezed-projects-by-leah-farquharson.html
9:46 - not sure what you mean... last time i was in the forum (this morning) Nichole had placed a sticky in the announcements section.
Truth is Hostage, that is so gross especially since the post says "Fresh Squeezed." Eewwww.
(had a typo before)
9:16: okay, I see your point.
Nancy, I know...I thought the same thing too... GROSS!
Dear Papercrafting Industry,
I get it, birds with fancy tail feathers are cool. It's fine if you want to make them the next big thing. Owls were getting old anyway. But please, for the love of all that is holy, please design them in such a way that their fancy tail feathers don't look like squirts of poop.
Sincerely,
A concerned crafter
^^^ amen!
I don't think the customer service forum is an intentional attempt to hide anything, but I do think that information about PTI is already spread out in too many places, so the Zendesk forum just adds another location where a customer MIGHT be able to find information, if they realize to look there.
There is the web site (honestly, a mess at the moment), Nichole's blog (at least that is mentioned more prominently on the web site now), the PTI forum, and now the Zendesk forum.
How could anyone really know where to look for answers?
By the way, until today, when Rick put up a notice that new members should e-mail him to register, I wonder how many people didn't even realize there was a forum there. If you were not registered, there was a message that said something like "this board has no forums". Once they closed the "Ask PTI" section, which you could read without registering, it looked like there was nothing there. I registered when Ask PTI was still there, but I don't know how long it took me to realize that if I registered, there was more content, other than the Ask PTI section.
Long way of saying, important information is scattered over a lot of different places with no easy way to find it.
Someone asked in the previous thread about Joan B...
On her post from 4/4, she explains that she asked to be removed from the forum. If you follow the link, her explanation is at the bottom of the post.
http://paperlicious.typepad.com/paperlicious/2012/04/waltzingmouse-challenge-91-butterfly-masking-.html
Does that strike anyone else as a bit odd? Why not just stop going? I guess if you got a lot of PMs but I think you can also just disable them.
I posted here about being removed from the forum and the same question was posed about just stop going. For me it was if I was removed or whatever, I just wouldn't go there. I still go there, but far less than I ever did. I don't even post. I'm not even sure why I go there. No one would miss me and I wouldn't miss them. I guess I just go to keep current or something? Boredom? I dunno. But if I was totally removed, I wouldn't go at all.
Disable or ignore them. Why the need to ask the mods to delete your account and then blog about it? Makes no sense to me.
How is the Zendesk forum an improvement to the current forum? Now, I have to go to yet a third unconnected site to get information? Talk about an electronic runaround. Will we be allowed to ask about stock and products on the current forum or is tha verboten? Seems like more work on our part to get concrete answers.
It's a case of why did it take them 5 years to figure out that they needed a way to handle CS?
This kind of thing should have been implemented right from the start and it would've been easily accepted as where to go to handle CS concerns.
It's probably going to be a positive change in the long run - about time. But I get the flak they're catching on it - and they deserve it for the same reason as everything else. It takes too long for them to get their act together.
And the jury's still out on if that's happening.
Another former customer speaking out on the SCS "Frustrated" thread. I'm glad people are still getting out the word - buyer beware.
The other day someone asked why we still come here if we haven't bought in a while. Honestly, this is the ONE place I can come for honest PTI info. What works, what doesn't, that there is a zendesk, that I can em Rick if I need help. I can't get good answers anywhere else.
Oh, and posts like 10:02's freshly squeezed birds made me belly laugh!!!
I love it here.
^^^^ Same for me! At least until Rick gets us a peek at threads by 'hovering' over them, I'd rather come here to see what's going on.
AND - you get info straight up. I remember seeing people on the forum being mean to anyone who made comments that were not 100% positive and never liked visiting there since. It's really irritating to see all of the lovey-dovey comments, too. Oh everyone here is so NICE! As long as you're drinking the Kool-Aid maybe.
Give me smackers any day!
I remember the days on SCS when anyone made any sort of sign that SU was not perfect, the demos jumped all over them and even got some people banned for suggesting SU was less than perfection.
I don't see any threads gushing over the new release. I guess we aren't the only ones who are not enthralled. Did you ever notice how few people are visiting the forum these days. Sometimes only 1 or 2 at a time. Used to be dozens at a time.
I noticed that. Steph made her list but no ones started any threads gushing over how great a set is or how amazing (name's) countdown post is. The dt's also pretty quiet. Hopefully they're hanging their heads in shame in a dark corner somewhere.
I feel for the members who aren't responsible for the crap released this month. (just thought of those tootin birds lol). You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
It's looking like the most lackluster release in a very long time. The bloom is definitely off the rose for so many people - even if they knocked people's socks off, I think a lot are just getting their stampy fixes somewhere else!
Another former customer speaking out on the SCS "Frustrated" thread. I'm glad people are still getting out the word - buyer beware.
=======================
I saw this thread on SCS earlier today. Is it missing now??
Nope. Still on the first page of General Stamping.
That's really odd. I can't find it either. I'm subscribed to the thread, and the last post is listed for today at 3:50 p.m. Looking at the posts by the time of the last one, it's definitely not there, on either page 1 or page 2.
Does anyone else see a birdie with either a toxic gas problem or explosive diarrhoea?
Birdie Stamp
I totally love the Gina K cardstock and changed over several years ago. They don't have the range of colors but the colors they have are awesome. Also I prefer that it is not as thick since I do more scrapping and don't need or want that super heavy stock like PTI.
The other thing I love is that the white really is super bright white, unlike PTI, which I find to have an almost cream or greyish tint. I am super picky about my white being true bright white and Gina K's is. I admit I have never bought any Gina K stamps, not into them at all. i get all my stamps elsewhere, but that's ok.
19:06, Yes. Read upthread for a day or two. And welcome to the party.
In an effort to get an objective opinion from a neutral party, I showed the new PTI bird to my husband. I prefaced by saying, "Do you like this stamp honey? I'm thinking about getting it." (I'm not even considering it, but was trying to encourage a positive response.)
He hesitated, then said, "Is it...POOPING??"
Hahahahaha. Buyer beware. Even if you like it, the recipient of your card is going to be thinking, "Ew."
Combine that bird with the baby mobile and you have yourself one upset baby!!
Oops,I hadn't read the whole thread yet and had just seen the bird. Sorry!
color me unimpressed with the baby set and the script dies and the patterned paper color choices this month. I do like Dawn's tag set and I actually like Pine's background. I even kind of like the poopy birds. Not going to buy any of it any time soon, but will liking them make me lose my smacker card?
20:17 here again. After a closer look, I like the pooping bird without the poopy tail. I like whoever it was that used the tail alone as a background accent (Nichole or Betsy, I forget). I kind of liked the sparkly rainbow poop/tail. But the way Melissa used it today it does look like explosive bird feces.
We've got two parrots, therefore we have two pooping birds in our house. They don't inspire me to create, and the poop, which can be substantial, doesn't resemble gems or rainbows. Enough said.
After reading the posts, I had to go and look. That poor bird. The baby face stamps is just sad and lame. I wonder why I'm having problems spending my points.
Well dang. The more I think about it the more I think maybe I need to get me a pooping bird stamp. Let's face it, my diet is not pristine and sometimes I too suffer from toxic gas or explosive diharrea. It's no fun to go through. But if I could stamp me a bird pooping rainbows and crystals maybe it just might make me feel a little better. LOL
Let's put out an "additions" set with sentiments for it. "Sorry you're having such a craptacular day!" "Into every life a little poop must fall." "Holy Crap [done in the "Lordy Bees" font] that's awesome."
Let's hear some more.
It could be a get well card (pooping bird):
-Sorry you are losing it.
-Hope everything comes out OK.
-As the stomach turns.
-Good luck with your colonoscopy.
Most of this release is not my style but I do like the background set ... maybe not the dots in the set but the larger more collage-y one. But that's not enough for an order so I will hold off for a while ... never ordered every month even before all the drama. Anyhow, they don't seem to be changing international shipping costs anytime soon ... It was mentioned a while back that it is still being considered but who knows if it will actually change.
So, I thought I posted this yesterday, but I am kind of looking forward to seeing the Michelle Wooderson strawberry set. Don't smack me too hard, but I kind of like her stuff a bit.
Wow, I quite like Maile's cards this release. Don't need a tree set but it's cute.
I agree with you, Trell, the strawberry set looks kinda cute, especially if it fits other previously released sets.
Yup, I can't wait to see what everyone does with the strawberries too. I love strawberry motifs. I doubt I'll buy these since I already have some other strawberry stamps, but I bet I will like the ideas.
I see two scenarios 1. continued customer service issues, like the latest one on the SCS thread. If so, pti will remain, but it will be like SU -- limping along, no longer trendy, rarely seen on blogs or galleries other than by devoted loyalists.
2. true change by PTI -- allowing former customers to flood back and allowing the designers and the DT to feel inspired again.
I'm hoping for door #2, but expect door #1, particularly since it appears that zendesk, etc. all still lead to Julie.
HTH
I still think that "vintage collage" background looks like the bird crapped all over it.
And those bird stamp sentiments are great!!
To be fair, I just looked at the post today and the strawberry stuff is really cute and I like it all ~ stamps, patches, basket, sentiments.
I will still NOT order. Yay, me!
I am the only one that doesn't get the strawberry thing?
It's ok (not ugly like the crapping bird) but how many strawberry baskets are you going to make?
Don't care for the strawberry theme,but I think all the dies save this release.
I was looking forward to the strawberry set but the preview just didn't appeal to much to me. Interested to see what Garden Variety holds...only thing I sorta like is Maile's set but not worth ordering just for that. I have plenty of stamp sets that still have a lot of life in them.
The strawberry stamp set didn't turn out at nice as I thought it would - but the basket is cute. Although I doubt whether I would make many.
What's to bet that the dies run out of stock on release night.
I usually think that about paper "trinket" type things. I don't like getting them because what are they going to do - sit around and collect dust?
But what I like about the strawberry basket is that it's big enough to actually get some use out of it especially for gifts. And I am not a Betsy fan but I think the liner she made could even get me to sew.
BUT.... this would have been my line of thinking in the olden days of PTI when I could be excited about ordering from there. I just won't anymore. What makes me feel better is that I know they are losing money this month b/c of their lousy business sense and attitude, so it's making a difference this time.
Pssstt... hey Flanders chick...... didn't you notice that the ribbon you picked is too big for the holes in that basket???
OMG! Lincoln's card today is one hot mess!!! And she says she used that quatrefoil die for no reason other than it "looked good." How lame - it doesn't!! I at least wanted to read that she thought it looked like a trellis or lattice or something. Egad.
I AM BERRY SICK OF THE PUN
HA!! Some people probably love it so much their crapping like a PTI bird.
Why do some of the Dt use so many damn photos?? Two at most of a card is enough.
crapping like a PTI bird....LOLOL!
I'm another that dislikes punny sentiments. They come across as very juvenile to me.
I love a good pun. These berry sentiments don't fall in that category.
Basket is cute, but after you have made 2 how many more do you need and what do you do with them. I thought the strawberry stuff had potential for some really creative things, but the DT did not come through.
I was excited to see the strawberry set because I like Michelle's sets but I don't love it. I have a Cameo so I'm not the least tempted by the basket die.
I will probably like the garden variety stuff but I still have the other set that I have only used a few times. Same for the button set. I like it but really don't use it much.
I'm sorry, but why oh why is PTI so late to the party with that script font?? There are so many better ones out there already for manual die-cutters not to mention all the e-cutter free fonts. It's just not that attractive of a font. Is this just another example of them thinking whatever they touch turns to gold and the masses will gobble this up?? Lame.
the only thing I'm even remotely interested in is the postmarks BG stamp. I haven't purchased a thing from them since last Nov. I think my love affair is over. I'm even becoming a bit embarrassed to use/feature their stuff on my projects and in my YT vids. Maybe I could put a disclaimer in there, something like "and this is a really old PTI set purchased back before they became serious money-grubbing flakes"
I agree that I have found myself embarrassed to use anything but old PTI sets on my blog.
I just saw the new seed packet frame on Melissa's blog and thankfully, I don't like it at all!
There are so many companies out there with cute strawberry stuff over the past couple of years, that PTI was too far behind to make it a hit.
^^^ Name/Link some.
Well, I see Nichole's awesome proofreading super skills are out in full force again today. *facepalm* If she didn't do it ALL THE TIME I wouldn't feel the need to smack. But this is ridiculous. Honestly, do the business owners who put out such sloppy work not realize that when they represent their company with such stupid, easily preventable mistakes they are losing credibility? Or do people just not care about things like that anymore? Why would the people in a business not do their best to make sure their communications were as accurate and polished as possible? I weep for our culture. (Thank you for letting me rant.)
On the other hand I quite like the Strawberry Patch line-up and all the samples from everyone. Wow. Hehe
Here is a gorgeous one:
http://shop.flourishes.org/Strawberry_Picking_Stamp_Set_p/ss070.htm
And check this out:
http://www.google.com/search?q=strawberry+stamps&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=1umGT-arI-GOiALx3uDLDw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CE0Q_AUoATgU&biw=1480&bih=986
Thanks! That Flourishes set is on point. I prefer the fonts of the PTI set, but there's something off about the tops of the berries in their set. It looks too cartoonish or something.
I didn't go past the first sentence on Nichole's blog today. One grammatical error a day is enough for me.
Anyone have any other sources for something like the seed packet stamps?
Was so looking forward to the strawberry post. What a disappointment! After you've made one basket what will you use the die for? Dust gatherer IMHO. And I just don't like the look of it. If it had looked more like the regular pint sized blue-ish things that berries actually come it, I'd be more interested.
The DT is boring me.
eekgads! Nichole's grammatical errors make me vomit. EVERY. SINGLE. POST.
Hire someone to proof read, seriously.
Strawberry Patch is a set full of strawberry images is full of possibilities! -NH
I'll be right back... I'm going to bang my head into the nearest brick wall.
I never read the dt posts unless I am wanting information about something.
Couldn't have said it better, I was really pumped up about seeing the strawberry set . Does nothing nothing nothing. The basket is cute but I have a cricut or I would just use recycled strawberry baskets to get the same look. And the stamps do nothing. The DT sets are so busy and all the closeups and weird angles are good for pictures, but I can't tell anything. Why does everything have to be a project? Why can't they just make a simple card?
So not interested in strawberry salts or hand lotion.
kwerner-unsubscribe. Sorry, that white faux stitching is old.
I don't mind the projects. I don't think that everything has to be a card. The dt does a nice mix of both.
Someone mentioned that faux stitching awhile back so I went to have a look. By the second page, I figured it would end -- saw that card with the branches or vines and birds and thought 'no stitching!' LOL - then she added a piece (probably so she could add the stitching!). Sheesh does she get paid by the stitch or something?
My guess is that they are required to do projects sometimes. I agree with all the photos. You really don't need more than one - two if there's a reason to show specific detail.
The white stitching reminds me of that spiral paper clip. It's okay once in a while but not on every second project!
"anticipation pumping thru your veins as you wait for the machine to power on so you can race to Nichole's blog"
Ya Dawn. That's it for me (sarcasm).
Oh shit, you girls are cracking me up today.
I won't buy any of the strawberry stuff because I know I won't use it. I like the little basket, but I won't pay $21 to make something 1 time.
I'm kind of surprise by Mish's project - or lack thereof. This is her set with her name on it and she's probably getting paid off of sales and that's all she did with it?
Kind of like Lisa Johnson. What's that phrase - ? They both dialed it in, phoned it in this month. Just very lackluster. No effort at all.
Damn - no kidding re: Mish. A tag? And a basket that isn't made with the die?
Guess she ran out of time.
More on Mish. And it's not even close up on the set/products. That's a damn shame.
And Ashley, here's $5, pay your damn website bill. How does it always not work on release time? OK, maybe not always, but this isn't the first time.
Maybe since she DTLite she didn't get the die!
I was gonna say, maybe Mish's product didn't arrive until the 11th hour.
That would be funny -- join the club! You never know when your products will come.
I usually love Betsy's and Melissa's PTI work, but lordy bees, how overworked are those projects?? Layers upon layers of stuff. It's just too much. I mean, who would you give that too? I am starting to smarten up - most of these products - do you really have the time to make this stuff? Do you want to? Who would want this junking up their home?
Think I've been watching too much Hoarders and want to simplify my life.....
i didn't notice ashley's site not being up...the photo NH posted of ACNs project made me not want to see any more.
I don't get Mish's tag. And an ugly one at this, and didn't even use the basket die? LOLOL.
Actually I think ACN's website may have gotten hacked. I tried to visit this morning and my browser gave some error message. The error said something to the effect that it could not open to the website address. Except the address was not ACN's. It was some weird address with the ending ".ru". Russia?
after someone posted that flourishes link, i've been browsing that site for the last 30 mins.
they are definitely a place for floral and copic lovers.
Dear Dawn,
Seriously... Nichole is not the first one to ever have thought up making a berry basket out of cardstock.
I'm with you 9:47. That's why I can't get into mini albums. i gave one to my mom and she doesn't know what to do with it. someone gave me one and it sits in my craft closet...haven't even put any pics in it.
I got a card in the mail from a friend the other day that was so fat and thick the post office said there is .20 postage due.
So what do I do? leave 2 dimes in my mail box? I'm inclined to not worry about it because I've sent out many cards that had more than enough postage on them and no one ever gave me a refund...so i'm thinking it all comes out in the wash.
Talk about an attention seeker. Why not just ask us to get down and kneel in front of you?!!!
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34698
What is the deal with Teresa Collins? It's like she hit the scene from out of nowhere and now I see her everywhere. And i don't even like her stuff. Damask....really? Hasn't that been done to death? LORDY BEES!
Hey Smackers, I've had a hellish week at work.Would you all kindly email me to gush and fawn over my awesome work? Thanks so much:)
email addy: itotallyrock@thecenteroftheuniverse.com
I want to like the flourishes stamps but I just don't. The flowers are too bulbous.
Gag me with a friggin' spoon on that post by Dawny Fawny. What the hell.
That's what customers are for you know - stroke the massive egos of the poor overworked DT. 20 or 30 projects for the "countdown" (what is that - the sneak peek period leading to the release?)? Get a clue Ms. Full of Yourself -- you do this for purely selfish reasons and we know it. Maybe being on this freak show DT is just too much for your poor little self.
give me a break.
Let's place a bet that the "praise for PTI" post is first answered by a member of the dt saying thank you!
10:36, I tried to email you but it bounced back. Should I send an email to CS via zendesk?
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!
Oh my Lordy, this design team work is just so much for my poor little ol' self. I just could not do this if it weren't for the kindness of strang-ahs!
I will bet that the "Praise for Pti" thread gets answered first by a DT member saying thank you.
It might get part way down the board first and then a dt member will bump it.
About Dawn's thread. I think I just threw up in my mouth. And it shouldn't surprise me at all. Remember when she went out and got a post office box so that all her adoring fans could send her cards and gifts? Are there really that many people that do that to warrant paying the rental fee at the USPS every month? Just give your home address to people when they ask for it. No one is going to come and stalk you or try and steal your glassware or your hottie hubs.
Sorry, I disagree.
I don't blame her for not wanting to give out her home address.
When PTI was super hot a few years ago, I wouldn't put it past a rabid fan to just stop in unannounced.
I'm not saying post her home address on her blog, but you can tell which ones are the nutjobs and not give your address to them. But be that as it may, do you really think there is a ton of mail headed her way each month from fans around the globe? She's not Santa FFS!
Yea, I think ACN's site is hacked too. The message that shows up is not the one that shows up when you don't pay your bill.
I was right! LOL!
The "Praise PTI" thread was part way down the board and it was answered/bumped by Dawn!
I deserve a special prize (snicker).
Why do we need so many photos of 1 card/project when none of them are close ups? Like ACN, she took a photo of the card, then it's like she rotated it 45 degrees and took another photo. I just don't get it.
If you like the basket die and have a Silhouette/Cameo, there is a similar design called "woven basket" in the store.
Who hits the "back" button after entering payment information? Even if you've done it incorrectly, you never, ever hit the "back" button during the checkout process. Never. Some people shouldn't be ordering on the interwebs.
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34693
Speaking of typos and language usage, can someone please tell me if this is wrong or if I'm not reading it correctly?
In the "Most wonderful time of the month" post that stays at the top of the blog during the countdown and release, it says "The countdown commences with release day on the 15th."
Shouldn't it say the countdown "concludes" with the release? Commence means to start and the countdown started on the 10th.
"The countdown commences with release day being on the 15th." sounds better to me.
or
"The countdown commences on the 10th and ends with release day on the 15th."
In my opinion, Mish shows how easy it is to make this stuff WITHOUT purchasing the basket die or the stamps. I could make the same thing with ANY strawberry sticker, stamp or die cut.
She should be guest star stamper on the PTI-knockoff blog. Lol.
@ 13:14 good observation, but moot point. The countdowns never really conclude. Sell sell sell. Everything else is an inconvenience.
lmao @ 13:19
I usually really like Michelle's work but it looks like she really threw this project together last minutes. I guess Project Life, er, spending time with her family is taking more time than she thought.
Dawn is so full of herself it is comical.
Nichole should not be allowed to write a blog until someone with knowledge of grammar proofs it for her.
SO the "countdown" is 5 days? And Dawn does 20 to 30 projects for those 5 days?? Who's the idiot here? Her "boss" or the dingbat herself?
LOL @ 13:26!!
Seriously? A strawberry stamp set? How original.... I swear I've NEVER seen THAT done.... TO DEATH! Talk about people who think their shit doesn't stink! "Introducing the PTI design team...."
Release time is so much more fun having discovered Smackland. I'm looking forward to tomorrow ;)
Seriously? A strawberry stamp set? How original.... I swear I've NEVER seen THAT done.... TO DEATH! Talk about people who think their shit doesn't stink! "Introducing the PTI design team...."
====================
They obviously don't think that BIRD'S shit stinks. Lol.
As for Dawn ... I guess moonlighting as CS was exhausting. Lol.
I wonder if the cloud die could work as a puddle underneath that bird. Hmm... their sets really do work together nicely.
.....told you about the faux stitching. KW has been doing it a bit less, but it just annoys me now lol
What a yawnfest this release has been. There is NOTHING that is tempting me to order.
Mish's post was very "formal" too. Like this statement: "What I envisioned with this set product wise, Nichole delivered upon her execution with this stamp set and dies. " No more gushing or funny little anecdotes. I think she stayed on because she had some sets coming up, but will be gone after this year. Wonder if there was a huge blow up between her and Nichole?
Re: Mish and Nichole , my own personal opinion is that Mish told Nichole that she wanted to spend more time with her family and that Nichole found out alongside everyone else in blogland that she was going to do project life with Becky h.
I know that many have said that this is not a big deal (the fake spending time with family excuse) but maybe it was s big deal to Nichole.
Someone above mentioned wishing for a berry basket (instead of a strawberry basket) and I happened to see this from Scrapyland. I used to buy from them (but haven't in awhile) - always good experiences.
http://www.scrapyland.com/Lifestyle_Crafts_Berry_Container_p/dc0267.htm
It is also completely possible that NH is a B* and DT members, Mish included, eventually grow tired of it. I think NH is burning bridges fast. Customers, DT, other company owners...
Someone above mentioned wishing for a berry basket (instead of a strawberry basket) and I happened to see this from Scrapyland. I used to buy from them (but haven't in awhile) - always good experiences.
Thanks for sharing that. I know Ellen Hutson has been carrying Lifestyle Crafts products and maybe she'll get that die in soon, too! I like it.
17:38, I would not be surprised. It's getting hard to ignore all of the comments made by people who have had personal contact with her.
Mish sure did not have her heart in this release/projects. I would guess that NH is not to happy about this. I do wonder what is going on, I guess I am nosy :) you would think that she would be trying harder to sell that strawberry stuff.
This gal is a real genius. She figured out it is faster and more accurate to cut circles using a die rather than by hand.
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34712
That little tag sure says a lot about how Michelle feels about her relationship with PTI. For a sneak that the DT has been hyping for days I'm shocked that she makes no effort to try to sell that stamp set.
Someone above mentioned wishing for a berry basket (instead of a strawberry basket) and I happened to see this from Scrapyland. I used to buy from them (but haven't in awhile) - always good experiences.
http://www.scrapyland.com/Lifestyle_Crafts_Berry_Container_p/dc0267.htm
---------------------------------
Thanks for finding this. IMO it looks so much cuter, sturdier, and on sale for 1cent cheaper. Gotta love it.
I'd like to think that Mish is smarter than we give her credit for. She might be obligated in some way to stick it out with PTI, but perhaps doesn't feel good about supporting them. I didn't see her making a fool of herself (like Dawn) spraying canned sunshine all over the CS stink on the forum. Maybe she wants to keep her pride intact.
Wow, all that strawberry stuff would be $73. I would have to love strawberries and PTI to spend that
Interesting that several talented DT members seem to be uninspired all at once. Maile, Mish, ummm ... all of them. Is it a coup? Time will tell.
Wow, all that strawberry stuff would be $73. I would have to love strawberries and PTI to spend that
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Good point. $73 can buy all TWO of the baskets I would ever make with that die. With real strawberries. And $70 leftover. Lol.
$73 - no way!! I've got my friendship jar with a strawberry filler. I can slap that puppy on a tag and call it a day. sheesh.
This gal is a real genius. She figured out it is faster and more accurate to cut circles using a die rather than by hand.
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34712
Too funny. Plus, what I really love about this is that it's those crazy "inspiration photos" gunking up Nichole's blog (and others who lamely copy every blasted thing she does) that are now more inspiring than the DT/NH ideas themselves, LOL!!!
You can buy a dozen berry baskets for $6 on etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87475910/12-berry-baskets-quart-size-berry-boxes
I can't imagine wanting more than that...ever.
The shop also has other kinds.
I have the strawberry from last year (fruits and dies) I think I have used it twice, hard to justify this set. How many strawberries does one need?
So does Mish get a cut since she drew up the concept but didn't actually dig up the clip art to make the set? And after the Strawberry Fruit Fusion set...or whatever it's called...why not just introduce the strawberry sentiments and basket. Oh, wait, I know. That previously mentioned $73 PTI stands to rake in. No thanks.
To me, Mish does not show a huge amount of integrity even if she was smart to jump a sinking ship. The whole lying about spending time with family thing just rubs me the wrong way. That is not to say that I blame her or that I'm defending Nichole in any way, I'm not. I personally just don't like the way that she went about it.
I know, I know, get over it, everybody does it. Spare me the lecture.
@18:21 thanks for sharing the Etsy link - those are great!
The forum is dead, has been all week!
Where has Rick been?
I was just wondering about Rick myself.
If I had to guess I would say that Rick doesn't want to get involved in the personal bashing. That is purely my opinion and not based in fact though.
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