I was doing a pretty lame job anyway, so I’m just going to turn over the HUGE task of giving CHA-W previews to this girl Monica @ SCRAP ETC. She is just rocking the previews and there are too many for me to keep up.
I was happy to see some Basic Grey previews over there, as BG is the one I always most anticipate:
BASIC GREY “ARCHAIC”
BASIC GREY “SUGARED”
BASIC GREY “BOXER”
I need to see more of each to say for sure, but so far “Boxer” is the only one I’ll be shopping for. I’m no scrapbooking designer, and I know it must be terribly difficult to keep coming up with fresh designs, but I miss “the old days” of Basic Grey. Not loving their stuff like I used to. I mean, there are elements of each collection that I like but I no longer just drool over the entire collection and have “can’t wait to use it” dance parties around my scrap room (no, there is NO footage of these events so don’t even try searching “Scrapbook Obsession’s solo dance parties” over at YouTube”). Do you think they got new designers along the way, or they’re just trying a little too hard to mix it up? The colors have gotten too muted for one thing. And you know how I feel about that weird flower they keep using. The dinosaurs in “Archaic” look cute, but they’re too specific, i.e. how many dino layouts can one girl do? I was scrapping a birthday party this weekend and really, really tried to use some of my Basic Grey “Sublime,” but it was just too…out there. The colors were off just a shade from matching anything (and you KNOW how many colors there are to choose from in birthday party pix), and the graphics were so weird that I couldn’t relate them to anything. You have to know, I HATE to be saying all this about “my” Basic Grey because they have always been my staple. Ask me any time since I’ve been scrapping what can I not do without, and the answer has always been “Basic Grey and Bazzill.” So I just really, really hope they do not disappoint again at CHA {picture me with fingers crossed}.
Tonight at CKMB during Happy Hour, ERIN LINCOLN (CK Message Board Hostess) posted THIS question re: CHA previews.
So, what are your thoughts? Am I alone on the Basic Grey thing? What are you most anticipating from CHA?
Like most things CK these days, this newly-released product guide/special issue is already causing a stir among the scrapping masses. Discussions on 2Peas: HERE and HERE. One Pea was so unhappy, she gave her issue away FOR FREE. Debate on CKMB: HERE, HERE and HERE (this one is harshing on not just the product review issue, but CK of late, in general). I just bought mine at the grocery store lastnight (as I no longer subscribe)(but not for the reason you think).
Let me see if I can sum up the “issues” with this issue:
~ Paying good money for a scrapbook magazine that features only 3 or 4 layouts (15 if you count those in advertisements)
~ Just one big advertisement for their sponsors
~ Doesn’t give a complete list of things like electronic cutters
~ Apparently replaced the Top 10 Issue, which everyone seems to have liked (at least in comparison to this)
~ No “How To’s” to USE the products featured
~ Nothing new is featured, stuff we’ve seen before, “so last week”
~ Geared toward newbie scrappers
~ Couldn’t access online links that were listed, and why not just include that content in the magazine in the first place?
~ Not consistent in use of comparison charts, or in featuring ALL of a certain type of product
And with CK magazine in general lately:
~ Too much digital now
~ Bland, uninspiring, dog-earing a lot fewer pages
~ Less layouts
~ Less pages, more ads
~ Layouts are shown so small you can’t read the journaling, even when the article is about journaling
~ Would like to see more scraprooms, more of the latest products being used in layouts
~ What’s with the “lifestyle” articles like How You Met Your Spouse?
~ Going more toward altered projects and paper crafts vs. scrapbooking, which is okay just keep it to a moderate level not put it on the cover
~ Would like more from HOF and SOY scrappers
On a positive note:
~ Like the new cover style
~ Like the Dream Team, Candice Stringham, computer and photography tips, Jennifer McGuire, Fresh Faces
~ CK was responsive to complaints by getting rid of Organize It, Easy Patterns, and the full page photos of Ali Edwards, et al.
Disclaimer: Please note that the comments or points above are NOT my opinion, just a summary of what I read in the CKMB and 2peas threads.
What did you think of the issue, and of CK magazine in general lately? Are you liking the Product Guide and all the changes CK is making?
So I’m checking my blog this lazy Saturday morning, reading some nice comments left by my bud Dettao from CKMB, then click over to check my blog stats because, as I’ve said, I like to see which topics get you reading and commenting. When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a huge stat count for today, though it’s only morning here, and tons of clicks on the entry KRISTINA CONTES SPEAKS (MAYBE SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE?). Hmmm….bizarre…wrote that one way back in October ’07…still gets clicks almost every day…but over 300 on a Saturday morning?? Is WordPress messing with me…did my stat counter break…is someone’s enter key stuck and it clicked that article 299 times??
So I go check out CKMB ~ because that’s the best place to find out about ANYTHING that’s going on in scrapping, and I’m talking up-to-the-minute stuff ~ and of course, lovely BRIGHTSY (check out the thread just to see her siggie line; it’s my favorite ever) solved the mystery for me. As explained in this CKMB THREAD, there was an article in LA TIMES dated today, called A SCRAPBOOK CAREER IN SHREDS. OK, mystery solved…looks like it’s actually NOT over, and we’re going to start talking about KRISTINA CONTES…again. And I apologize if you’re one of the many who says, “Jeez, we’re tired of the whole CK Hall of Fame and Kristina Contes issue.” But if 300 scrapbookers on a slow Saturday morning want to know more about Kristina, I’m gonna’ write about it, provide some background, and invite all comments. Because for whatever reason, people wanna talk about it.
For those who might be new to the issue ~ grab a cup of coffee, get on your comfy sweats, and read THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS. Then come back here and read ~ the LA TIMES ARTICLE. Ok, we’re all caught up now, we’re on the same page, now let’s discuss…
First of all, Big Snaps to Kristina for getting scrapbooking in the LA Times! I’m always mystified about how we’re still this underground thing, this little enclave restricted to 5 magazines, the internet, and the occasional online article. Why are we given just scraps (forgive the expression) of a mention on television, mainstream magazines, etc.? Gadzooks, there’s now a scrapbooker in 1 of every 3 households! Throw us a bone, people!
As for the LA Times article itself, I’m with Kelli on CKMB…I’m very suspicious about why it’s been written about 3 months after the fact? And why both the Newsweek and LA Times articles are clearly from the Kristina slant, with quotes from Ms. Contes herself? I mean, she’s clearly generating this, right? And even if she’s not seeking them out, she could surely say “no thanks” when they ask to interview her. If I were tired of being scrutinized, tired of being called horrible names from fat, old lady, out of touch, “snowflake stencil”-using scrapbookers, I would just let it lie and go on with my life. Is it just me or she kinda contradicting herself?
And when you say things like: “They’re from the Stepford wife kind of mind-set…You’re doing something different, you must be evil,” you’re going to majorly upset some people, KC. I don’t think I’ve ever once criticized her scrapbooking; in fact, I’ve complimented her talent as have many others. I have always enjoyed her style, visited her blog well before this ‘scandal’ started, and admired her photography and art talents. It’s not my style of scrapbooking, but she has a definite uniqueness that I APPRECIATE, not criticize. Just for the record, my only criticism has ever been that CHEATING IS WRONG. The end. Whether you intended to, were in too much of a hurry to check the rules, or someone else (like a major scrapbook magazine) helped you break the rules, you still broke the rules. You should pack up your Legos and go home. And apologize before you leave. By all means, we forgive you and keep playin Legos with us, but don’t THROW the legos at us (Ouch, Kristina, that hurts! Play nice, like your momma taught you). But it seems to me you don’t have articles written in a national newspaper 3 months after the fact and then complain that no one will leave you alone. Or criticize people and expect them not to lash back.
Okay, I have to go clean the house now before DH gets home. Oh, and I’m going to do some scrapbooking with my “teddy bear stamps,” “foam stickers and glossy glitter glue.” And some Martha Stewart 18×18 paper. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about this article in the future (wink).
So this drama has been going on since October 2007. Why are we so fascinated? Tell us what you think…c’mon, I Effer Dare ya…
I think Blog Stats are very compelling reading, and they’re something I look at every day. I’m so interested to see how people find my blog, which search terms they used, what other blogs they linked over from, and which of my posts are getting clicked on. It won’t surprise you when I say that the more controversial the figure or topic, the more traffic it gets. This would include Martha Stewart, for instance, whom I wrote about HERE , HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HEREand HERE. The most hits I’ve had in one day EVER {559} were when Martha Products Coming to Michaels and Martha Calls Scrapbookers Trailer Trash (well, I paraphrase…) were the topics we were all talking about. But the Martha talk has died down, although the MS posts do still get a steady stream of traffic. Another old standby on my blog is anything having to do with Scrapbook Organization. Again, not surprising, right? We’ve all been scrapping long enough that we’ve accumulated LSS-sized stashes and we need to know how to organize it all.
But since I started blogging in January 2007, the controversy to beat all controversies has been the Kristina Contes / CK Hall of Fame 2007 scandal. Back when I was writing about it (see HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE)…even then, I talk about how obsessed I was with it all. I literally couldn’t fall asleep easily for a couple of nights just running the situation through my head, trying to decide how I felt about things, and how I was going to write about it. We had some good comments about it, and I’ve done an update on the situation when decisions about HOF were made by CK and other fallout (see HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).The feeling I was getting from the message boards at the time (I frequent CKMB and 2PEAS) was that, within a month or so, everyone was kind of tired of the issue and the majority wanted to move on. So I did…
Never forget: I’m here for YOU. I got yo’ back. We on the same page, girlfriend!
So imagine my surprise as each day goes by and 2 months later “Kristina Contes” and “CK HOF Scandal” and “Kristina Contes blog” are still the most popular search terms for incoming traffic to my blog. And that the posts about KC and HOF are at the top of the Most Popular Posts list. Here are the Top 10 posts of the last 30 days:
Keep in mind, those are the Top 10 out of 203 total posts. Yesterday (12-6-07), the entry KRISTINA CONTES SPEAKS (MAYBE SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE?) got 100 hits! Out of 394 total hits for the day, and two months after the post was written.I haven’t been to her blog recently, but I decided to click on over to KRISTINA CONTES BLOG to see what’s the haps with her these days. And here is the message I was so rudely greeted with:
If you are a reader of this blog, tell us who you are! Sign in using your Account.”
So there!
So maybe it’s just me getting that message ‘cuz I’m on her shit list for not praising her in Comments about how totally cool she still is or how she ROCKS! or how she shouldn’t let those lame shut-in jealous scrapbookers get her down. But, obviously, I’m not going to “invite myself” to her blog.I mean, unless something else really juicy happens and I need to log on so I can get the 4-1-1 for you (possible blog-crash worthy headlines:“Former CK HOF Takes Hostages on New York Subway” or “Kristina Contes:I’m as Famous as God”; you know, something like that…).
ETA 12/10/07: Okay, NOW they’re talkin’ about this on 2Peas. About how her blog is now Invite Only, whether the HOF was a big deal or not, did she bring it on herself, and should we just leave her alone already??? Here’s the LINK.
Do you recognize anything in the title of this post? Yep, it’s one way Kristina describes herself. So, do you still Kare about Kristina? Why do you think I’m still getting so many hits on this topic? What are your polarizing (or normal) thoughts on the matter?
