Okay - I haven't had anything much to say lately, but I'm wondering if y'all do. Are we all happy slappy with the industry/community or is there something brewing you need to talk about? We're still here, so feel free to talk about whatever's on your mind.
26 comments:
Sorry... I've actually been watching the whole-
1) CK HOF
2) 2Peas Garden Girl secret board
implosions.
Honestly? Quitting.
I'm with Stephanie. Last pay period I got absolutely zilch from one of my stores. I know that my designs are pretty okay so I'm at a loss.
I'm tired of the cattiness and pettiness in the digi world. I'm tired of wondering whether the stuff I'm creating is gonna sell. I'm tired of seeing 'name' designers sell crap and have people rave over it.
I guess I'm just tired.
Maybe peeps are off stitching up Halloweeen costumes for kiddo's tomorrow night? :D
How about this thought... Saturday is National Digital Scrapbooking Day. Have you searched Google to see what all folks are doing? What (if anything) are you all planning for the special occassion?
I read a bit about the CK HOF but know nothing about the Garden Girl secret board.
I have been gone for a bit, but just learned there is no more hot digi picks blog, something about it being hacked. I am just sorry that people out there have fun doing such mean things. It is not the image I have of digiscrapping, but I am wondering who has time to hack someone's blog? What is up with that?
Now I wonder if it is digiscrapping community jealousy or random??? I wonder?
I have been embroiled in family issues and just dont have the energy or desire to deal with issues in my digi-life where I retreat to find a little peace and hope for creativity.
I have a lot of things I'd like to discuss about the digi scrapping community. Here's a few ideas:
-Why do certain scrappers get TONS of comments (like over 40) on EVERY single layout (even those that are just above-average)? Granted, the folks I'm referring to are great scrap artists, but not necessarily better than others who get far less praise. I'm just wondering how this comes to be and why it occurs.
-Why is there so much competition in the scrapping community? Do we have to constantly be bombarded with 'layouts of the day', Hot Picks' 'Gallery Standouts', HOF, Scrapper of the year, and on and on and on. Can't we just support each other and all be winners?
-Why do people start threads such as 'Who is your favorite Scrapper?" or 'Who inspires you?'. Don't people know that a lot of people get their feelings hurt by these types of threads? Why is there a need for this? It's like people want to start these popularity contests in hopes that it will make them more popular. I think it's insensitive to all the lurkers and all the people who don't ever get named.
-Another thing that bugs me is when scrappers post hundreds of layouts in a gallery and don't ever leave any comments or participate in the site. If someone is going to use a communities bandwidth to display their layouts, then they should participate in some way - either buying product, leaving comments or being active in the forums. Don't just upload and run!
These are the things on my mind tonight! Would love to see these topics addressed and discussed in detail sometime. I would love to hear other people's honest opinions.
So, everybody's still thinking, huh? :grin:
I don't know about the 2P GG thing, but HOF thing is totally ridiculous. I can't say I'm surprised it happened, because we all know that there are just "golden children" that are chosen by the big names & those are the people who are gonna win. I just didn't think they'd be so obvious about it.
Stephanie - I totally understand. About once a month I go through the same thing. I don't understand how I can still be barely treading water after 2 years when others are so successful. I actually think about quitting all. the. time.
I'm tired of the bitching & the pettiness, too. I'm tired of the mud slinging. I'm tired of people tearing each other down & talking smack.
9:31 - here are my thoughts on your questions...
1) I think a lot of that is people wanting to be BFF with these scrappers. Someone who's a Big Name Designer or Big Name Scrapper is going to get way more comments because people want to be associated with it. There's only so much time to leave praise, so certain people/styles are going to get the most attention, I think.
2) I completely agree with you. I'm so sick of seeing "Who's Hawt", "Who's Your Fave", "Standouts" and other stuff like that. Because it's always the same. people. Always. Most of those people are very talented & deserve the praise, but it's disheartening & annoying to the layperson who's never on the lists.
3) I honestly don't think people consider (or care) about how utterly annoying those threads are. We all know who the top 10 designers are. We all know those names will be mentioned again & again & again & again & again. I think so many designers scan those threads, just hoping that THIS time will be the time somebody mentions their name. I think for a certain percentage of people, they start these threads hoping to be noticed by their admir-ee. Others just don't realize that they might be hurting people's feelings. Others totally realize it & feel that if your feelings are hurt, you're too sensitive or you're all jealous. No. We're not jealous. We're bored with it.
4) Yup. There are so many CT members that are required to post LOs in so many places, but they don't have time to go through & praise at those places. I have to admit - I have done this myself. I try to leave praise for everyone who leaves it for me, but sometimes I just can't do it. I suppose that means I oughta quit posting LOs in so many places.
I wanted to sort of clarify things. I am a scrapper not a designer (well not in that sense), I've done some freebies for friends for tags only. Which is a whole other thing.
Anyways, why do I think about quitting:
1. I put up some in my opinion quality layouts, layouts that stay true to me and my family, and also have been sharing a major event in my life. And nothing - no comments. I've gotten a few, but really as of late - notta.
2. I am tired of the cliques in the industry. I've tried to respond to every post I could, I've left comments on layouts and still its beating my head against a brick wall. You CANNOT break in because some of these people do not want new people in. Thats the feeling I get.
3. RAKS - oh they have me steaming. It's the SAME people over and over and over and over. Seriously, how many RAK's does one person need in a week? Go through and see some other people here. (although I did get a prize for even trying to guess for a RAK). And I don't think you can count contests or guessing as RAKs. RAK's are Random Acts of Kindness...they are free, you don't do anything to get them, you get them because someone is kind.
4. Contests - I think this really isn't helping the situation as of late, it seems its only breeding more anger and that feeling of the clique - big name scrappers vs little name scrappers.
When DST was down, I wasn't missing it all that much.
Honestly I heard stories of some people coming in to digi scrapping to turn around and leave..and thats going to be me.
I agree with the frustration and the acknowledgement of the few, but I found that if I make my layouts and share them on my personal blog, not in galleries, I dont have those kind of issues. the layouts are for me and my family, and that is who I want input from -- not those our there trying to do the praise game.
I have more fun not posting my stuff in galleries. I read the fourms, sometimes, and I tend to get annoyed with some of the stupidity -- and I have to say certain members really do rub me the wrong way. I remember crude or inappropriate comments they have made, and it just doesn't sit well.
stephanie, i hope you continue scrapping for yourself and do what makes you happy. i also dont feel that much of this community is welcoming, but i still scrap, just dont share much of it
Oh Stephanie, I had this whole long post done and suddenly it's gone! Bottom line of my whole long post was, please don't quit! You're doing this for the memories and for your family. They are who counts, it's their praise that matters, and not that of the galleries. It took me a long time to come to terms with that, but once I did I found I enjoyed my scrapping even more. The only things I find myself posting these days are my CT pages, otherwise I haven't been posting anything. So please, if you really do love digi as much as the rest of us, don't give up, keep plugging away girl!
I just want to say that for those of you fed up with DST, my advise is to find a smaller site and make yourself at home. I do read and occasionally comment over at DST, but I just don't care too much about "fitting in" there because I've found several other digital communities where I'm a lot more at home and people are generally less in cliques, you know? There was a "home" thread a while back that had some good choices, for me I really like it at Digichick for the social aspect, it's friendly and no drama at all. I'm sure there's lots of other sites like that, they just aren't the big hub of activity that DST is. Anyway, just wanted to say that I've been enjoying my scrapping and my time online a lot more since I sort of bowed out of the whole DST-rat race thing. So maybe you don't need to quit just yet, maybe just find a new place to call home :)
Ditto 10:55! And I get a lot more done since I'm not hanging out at DST trying to fit in. It just isn't ever going to happen and I'm okay with that now!
sometimes I think about quitting most of my CTs (there are a couple I'd never give up though LOL) and scrapping with all that I buy. I'm starting to feel really bad about buying stuff that won't get used
the one thing I like about DST is being able to talk about diff sites and sales. I hang out at The Digi Chick a lot but it's not like I can talk about competing sites there, KWIM? the downside is that all that scrap talk pretty much has to be positive.
I try to ignore the stuff I don't like. I don't know about fitting in there. The membership is huge. But if you read and respond to enough posts you start recognizing people. have no idea if anyone knows who I am though. I'm certainly not one of the cool scrappers.
Awww Stephanie, if you enjoy the process of creating digital layouts and having them for yourself and your family, I hope you'll find a way to hang in there. In the long run your own enjoyment and the memories that you are preserving are the true rewards.
All the gallery comments, stand-out threads, cliques, contest, "RAKs" etc. are a natural part of a large online community; particularly one in which a large segment is looking to make a profit. Please don't let them take center stage in your own heart. Ignore them if you can, drop out of the scrapping 'community' if you need to, but keep scrapping.
As I was growing up my mom carefully preserved photos of me from every stage of my life. She wasn't a 'scrapper' but her photo albums and associated notes are full of love and care and I cherish those album more than just about any other physical possession. For those who are scrapping for your families, your children won't care if your layouts got 50 comments at DST, were published in CK or won some contest. What they will know is that you treasured your moments with them enough to make sure they would always be remembered.
Bravo Misty, perfectly said! I just can't tell you all how much happier am I since I'm scrapping only to make my kids and me happy. I've really been out of the swing of things with my CT scrapping and have to get whipped back into shape, but I've gotten so much done the past couple of weeks, and it's just amazing! And it feels right, KWIM?
I completely agree with 10:55 and Misty.
10:55 said find a small community. I don't think anyone in real life goes to a large convention like CHA to make friends - that's absurd. They go there to find out about products, techniques, etc. The same goes for DST. It's not design for making friends. So don't think of it as such. I started out digi-scrapping in a very small community. One that most people haven't even heard of on DST - Deco-Pages. I loved it. It was small, about 25 regular members posting in the forum, nice layouts of peoples memories and family, and a real family feel. I got my start designing there too. Would I have started designing if I thought I'd have all of DST to compete with? No way.
And Misty's bang on with her response. This is about memories. Who cares what some stranger in Ohio thinks of your layout? Do it for you and you alone. I think the internet contribute to the competitive attitudes. After all, do paper scrappers at a crop in some scrapbooking shop say "Well they were all oogling over Mary's layout and only two people said they liked mine". Face to face interaction by nature makes people more civil and polite with one another, or it should. There are no faces on the internet. Not really.
Sorry for my rant... LOL
One thing that's bugging me lately is the whole CT call thing. When there are so many threads lately about "I hate rejection, and how the CTs are picked" and "I want to be on a CT", why do I have such a hard time getting a response to my calls? Am I the only designer who's having a hard time finding CT members, despite having repeated calls, approaching people in the "Get noticed" threads, approaching people who have said they are looking for a CT, etc.?
Ok I am taking ya'lls advice, and I am actually having a goal, I won a free shutterfly 8 x 8 book (may need help with that) for my parents Christmas present featuring my girls. Thats my goal..and its my personal goal, not a DST/CT oriented goal.
AS for smaller forums, point me to one.. :)
For the deisgner who asked about the CT's, I understand, I think people just want to be on these bigger names, the problem is that some don't realize you have to start somewhere. I am sorry your having a hard time :(
Stephanie here's a few sites I've found friendly . . .
Scrapartist
Digichick
Scrapgirls
Designer Digitals
i'm working on an 8x8 shutterfly book right now!
I used Wendyzine's 8x8 Shutterfly toolkit action from PickleberryPop. OMG, that thing ROCKS! Has saved me so much time.
Right now I'm stumped on what to do for the cover. I have no theme for my book.
I'm in love with NDISB. They took me in and it's such a comfy place.
For the most part I stay away from DST...reminds me of high school and all the clique-y stuff that went on there too.
I'd rather stick with my tried-and-true friends at Butternug Squash and NDISB.
How was everyones DSD? Did ya'll have fun?
I had such a great weekend, I enjoyed everything, participated in as much as I could - scrapped for myself while using some of the designers products, and just overall relaxed. :)
But now I want to get a job somewhere in the scrapping world being a challenge girl, I have a lot of challenge ideas. ROTF
I think this weekend really changed a lot for me, because a. I scapped so much and did so much that got my inspiration kicking. and b. I saw a lot of great people come out and just have fun in the chats.
Thank you all for your support and kindness - I am taking your advice and scrapping for myself, and its nice. :)
There you go Stephanie! It's a great feeling! I did a couple CT layouts and posted them this weekend, but otherwise I scrapped 10 pages, just for me. I surprised myself with how much I got done, but it just felt good!
there is a new discussion blog out
http://jessjayne-empowered.blogspot.com/
just wondering where you are?
okay, just wondering if this blog is not going to be kept up any more? i do enjoy the discussions
I still check in just about everyday, I miss it too! I think what I like the best is we have some good discussions without having 500+ posts to wade through!
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