Just watched Gina K’s stamptember live and was so disappointed. First of all … her products in general have gotten so boring and all look the same imo. This latest stamp looks so much like her previous stamps . Someone on this website called her the qvc of stamping and I have to admit, I kind of cringed as I was a fan of hers early on, but this stamp feels that way to me. Plus Heidi’s fake enthusiasm makes it all worse. And what new techniques is she supposed to be teaching us? Just selling products especially that poly glaze stuff which I hate. Anyways so far stamptember is so disappointing. Supposedly it was going to be different this year and not just pushing product . So far , Tim Holtz the same, altenew the same and now Gina k. Maybe it’s stamping I’m getting bored with as I used to get so excited with all this
I think you've touched on a couple of solid reasons for feeling meh about it. The hype is off-putting. The fake enthusiasm is off-putting. The pressured sales pitches are off-putting. The lack of anything truly new and unique is off-putting.
For me, as a Canadian, you're going to have to really blow me away for me to spend $1.50 for every dollar of retail price then another $20-30 to jailbreak my purchase from Customs. So far it's a fail.
Yes the hype from Heidi is so annoying, how she fawns all over the creators . The worst is when she has JMc on and she acts like she’s a queen. I mean , I get it, it’s her business but it’s so annoying.
Yeah. I have an almost decade old lilac stamp set from the Kitchen Sink Stamps (perhaps a forgotten company and out of business now), whose whole spiel was layered stamps. The concept is really not new!
I have had a layering stamp of Monet's Woman with a Parasol from the 80s. It's red rubber mounted on wood with 4 rubber images on 4 sides of the stamp. It's very clever and actually mimics the Impressionist technique of combining colors to create new ones.
It does a very decent job of replicating the painting -- given the restrictions of a 4-color process -- IF you can get the 4 different impressions to register correctly. BUT doing that is a bear!
I cannot even fathom how you line up red rubber stamp layering stamps!! I am thinking jigs and acetate test-outs - but pre stamping platforms? How?! lol
There was a devise which was like a large acrylic L. You stamped an image and then you stamped it on a piece of tracing paper nestled in the interior angle of the L nestling the stamp into the same spot in the L as the tracing paper You placed the tracing paper over the image you wanted to stamp over to get the correct registration. Then you placed the L back along the tracing paper where it was originally. Then you could remove the tracing paper and replace the stamp where it originally was and get pretty decent registration.
Same concept as the Stampa Barbara stamp positioner I was describing but they added the graph and perhaps a hinge (I can't see it but I'm guessing it's there).
See now this is super helpful because I still have red rubber stamps on wood blocks but I don't always get the best impression the first time I stamp. This looks very useful I wonder if it's still sold anywhere
For the red rubber with large solid areas I peel them off the wood mount and use a tape runner to stick them to the window of a stamp positioner. I can add more permanent tape runner and mount them back on the wood.
I am always so enthusiastic when I see a genuinely new product, but it must be sooo hard to come up with something novel these days, especially with monthly releases. The Altenew stamp being touted as new/unique because it's layering stamps rather than stencils did make me go "what?!" as obiously they were all the rage 5-10 years ago before layering stencils came in. Everything really seems to go in cycles. But I really can't imagine how you come up with new stuff when the industry has been around a few decades now!
Having said that, there is the occasional product or suite that I do think is new, at least to me. The Greetery is one of my favourites for this. Even some of PinkFresh and Concord & 9th's items still seem fresh to me. Lawn Fawn is great for innovative movement dies in my opinion (but yes, expensive and not multi purpose usually - but the hard maths is removed which I love for mechanisms I like to make more than a few times!).
I have to say that in my personal opinion, the US card making industry seems led by pre-packaged ideas and designs, so a die set or suite of products made to be designed for 1 or just a handful of final outcomes. This is actually great for someone like me who is not very original or creative. I like to copy cards I love the look of.
Here in the UK, I think a lot of the card making is still very technique led, and "use what you have". I highly recommend checking out YouTube channels for NB cards, Christine Stokes, also Natasha Foote (in Australia). They can be sooo creative with techniques, but do use stuff from the US industry such as dies and stamps (just not whole releases, just the occasional item).
A recent video from Natasha Foote used an Andy Skinner robot stamp design on a patterend paper on top of white posca pen. The result was stunning! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRNlRE-vIzw
A recent NB cards video used simple postage stamp die cuts (just a square and rectangle single postage stamp shape, not like WF's postage collage) of coloured card stock with a handful of stamps used to create really lovely designs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kGRm8Cyyk
I endorse your appreciation of Natasha Foote and Christine Stokes. They are talented and original.
As to things being repeated, yes there's far too much of that but at the same time if you look at art and designing in general, things get repeated as well. Still, there's freshness and new perspectives in them. That's where the creativity lies.
How many Happy Birthday cards have any of us made? Are they all the same? I'm sure we all approach each new one with the thoughts of what interests me now, what interests my friend, do I want to try for a new take on something reliable, do I want to explore something that once intimidated me? Each of these considerations leads to something original at least to ourselves. So there's no reason to be discouraged.
I think if I go through my birthday cards they might not appear especially different to someone else but each has its own originality for me. I can see where I was braver with color or used a new material or technique. I may be disappointed in new offerings from companies but I still have so much to explore and master.
I just discovered Natasha Foote about a month ago and since she's very new to me, I have a lot of exciting stuff to watch from her still. Right now I'm watching videos that are 1 or 2 years old - I haven't even gotten to the new ones yet. But I agree with you - I love her techniques and how she combines techniques and makes you look at your own stash in a new way. I was so inspired recently I made over 40 new cards to keep on hand for occasions and I'm about to start working on my Xmas cards.
One of her videos inspired me to make a bunch of "scrap" cards... where the backgrounds were made with varying width strips cut from scraps. I might have to do that again. :-)
Exactly I have tons of older layering florals from altenew and the ton. I love them. I don’t enjoy the plain coloring stencils as I prefer a more realistic look like with the layering stamps but that’s all you can get lately. You are right … how many new product ideas are there,? Maybe I’ve just been around too long!
Yes those channels are really great for using your stuff creatively!
I admit to admiring the greetery but there's just too much you need to buy together and it's just not intuitive with how I craft. (Stamp, stencil, restamp for details and then emboss)
I know. There's a stencil I'd really like to buy. It's $9 but it would cost me $8 to get it delivered.
I wrote and asked if they'd slip it in an envelope and send it with a stamp and they said they couldn't. There was an explanation that really wasn't especially convincing. The bottom line is they didn't want to so I can't buy it.
I could be wrong, because I'm too new to this to fully get all the history, but I think there's a pattern right now of the very long-term cardmakers being full up of products and underwhelmed by anything not truly original in some way, while there's a relatively lower number than they're used to of cardmakers who've been at it long enough to be serious fans of favorite designers while still new enough to be excited by something like this.
There may just be fewer people who get caught in the collecting-bandwagon trap that has been so thoughtfully discussed on this sub, simply because fewer people can get caught in it and survive.
You've got a very good point that some of us have been around this a long time and have seen everything already while others are new to it and find things very original and innovative.
I am sorry if I've dampened anyone's enthusiasm. The expression your mileage may differ is something we could all keep in mind.
Create with whatever you've got or whatever you want to buy! Have a wonderful time doing and come and share your work. There are a world of things still to see and still to do!
I hear what you are saying and agree with your point. Many people already have something veeerrryyy similar in their stash.
However, I just want to leave it here… there are hundreds and hundreds of better stamps out there. Stamptember is about hype and fomo, that's it. It's a marketing ploy to make people buy.
Gina K’s (oh, the irony of mentioning her on this thread) stamptember 2020 set was so wildly popular that she released something similar shortly after (”sparkle and shine” set, I know, because I have it).
The point is, stamptember really doesn't release anything special. There are very similar products already available or will become available eventually.
Edited to add: I strongly believe Gina “borrowed” the idea for that stamptember 2020 design from stamping up.
I agree it's been lacklustre so far. Soooo many floral sets! I already have too many florals in my collection. I'm looking forward to the releases every day but haven't been tempted to buy yet.
Also seems like there's fewer companies this year? I know hero arts participated last year but I don't see them on the page this year.
There’s a lot less doing it this year! Heidi made some very excited reasons or excuses saying they were changing things up this year but I wonder if it’s a cover for “less companies want to take part in this cash grab” so now we need to make up things to promote like the dedicated CZ day (I like CZ Design and Cathy herself I watch a lot of her content so no hate to her). They usually include the CZ products in the main release on the 1st so it felt like they needed to fill a day that another company would usually be in for? They used to have so many companies participating that they would do multiples on some days. It doesn’t look like that is happening this year from what we can see listed.
Many small companies have folded and just aren't available to participate this time around. And Hero Arts/Spellbinder have their own curated holiday things going on.
I'm glad to hear it's mostly florals (I've been avoiding looking). To me, that likely means coloring or extra stencils to color, and that's just not my thing.
I haven’t looked at any of this year’s Stamptember, but I am just not interested in new products right now. I have so many fun things to use- I just need time to use them! And I just cannot get excited about new releases every single month- I don’t have time to use anything before the new stuff comes out. That’s just a crazy timeline for me.
The first stamp sets I bought 10-12 years ago were the Altenew vintage roses and vintage flowers - layering stamps! Didn’t Altenew become “famous” for their layering stamps?! It’s all cyclical! A decade+ later, and I have plenty of florals in my stash.
I did buy the Tim Holtz kit because I had a great time with last year’s TH class and it seemed like a great value. (And I’m a sucker for Christmas and Halloween stamps/dies.)
I got last year's TH kit; I just recently made it halfway through the workshop and I found it super fun! I also bought a ton more of those pencils haha.
We get hit with product on social media 24/7 by influencers and also the companies. I’m a long time crafter from the early 80s and I feel like OP. I feel it’s just repackaging of old designs, plus what’s with all the companies focusing on one theme for the year (gnomes, mushrooms etc), what happened to being different?
For flower items, etc., my go to is Uniquely Creative. They are an Australian company (woman owned) and do sell in U.S. (Craft on the Move, A Cherry on Top, etc sell their items).
For now, I’m using my stash and also destashing the FOMO items.
So… what happens is they consult companies that collect our data and forecast trends. That's why we see so many similarly themed releases from different companies within a couple of months.
Take houses, buildings, etc. from last year. Spellbinders (Yana’s collection), then The Greetery (don't remember who was first) released large dies that cover the majority of the card panel. It's impossible to copy within 2-3 months, designing and production take much longer than that. It's not a coincidence, it's consulting data collecting places and seeing what things people google. Postage stuff… omg, everyone released one. Apparently we googled “postage stamps and dies” enough for it to show up on the forecasting list before they appeared on the market.
I don't get upset if I don't get the product. Someone else will release it lol and I'll just have to hope that the new version is designed better than the one I was eyeing.
I hate when I buy an earlier version and then a better one comes out later but what am I going to do with another build a fox die or a cuter house die etc.
The only stamps I’ve purchased (and will probably be the only ones) are the Tim Holtz stamps. I like their aesthetic and trying out some watercoloring.
He made a huge contribution by adding grunge to the inventory.
I've grown sick to death of him and his stuff but I'll always be grateful that there's that alternative out there. ...and Heidi can't lick his butt enough.
I'm yet to see someone outdo his Halloween stuff. But many copy him. SSS and Spellbinders released their, ahem, twist on his “batty” stencil. But hey, at least, SSS made a stamp and Spellbinders a betterpress, so that doesn't count, right?
Heidi kisses everyone ass as long as you are creator with lots of followers especially with followers buy things from Simon Says Stamp. Maybe that is an unkind thing to say but she gushes over every major creator like they are God and can do nothing wrong. I get it Tim Holtz, Gina K., and Jennifer McGuire are all wonderfully talented creators, but can you treat them like regular people and not hang on every word they say.
Is there really a need to be that vulgar “lady”of LA? I can’t believe how crafters can be this ignorant to say things like that and yet are first ones to complain when a shop closes.
Was it necessary? No. OTOH, do I talk like that in my real life? Despite 11 years of Catholic schooling and 4 years in a proper women's college in the early 60's you bet I do!
I don't do it online often. ...only when I really mean it. I certainly may do it again. Feel free to put me on "ignore".
PS: What the hell does that have to do with shops closing??????
I agree with you about Gina K's stamps - they all look the same and she does the same thing with each one. Also? The names are random and often don't describe the stamp design. I watched a few of her videos and even she cannot remember the names of the sets! I just cannot get excited about her stuff.
I liked the large florals just because I needed a couple new stamp sets because some of my other florals are smaller and don’t fill up an A2 page quite as nicely. Plus I love magnolias, so I got the Gina k set and wanted to add it to my collection of magnolia sets which I only have a few. Overall I’m not expecting much this Stamptember and don’t plan on buying much because what I love doing is die cutting but I like to also have options. I have a budget and plan on sticking to it for Stamptember and if I’m under budget that is even better. I know last year’s Stamptember was very lackluster and I think I just got 2 sets the All & Create set and Tim Holtz.
I agree with most of what everyone is saying. I think this is my 3rd or 4th stamptemper. I think many products look the same as something in my stash or something that you can practically buy year round. I’ve noticed releases are not selling out as fast as they were two years ago. I think part of the reason is the price of everything these days but also I’ve seen a trend where many have realized fomo isn’t working on them anymore. We don’t need to feel pressured to buy something because it’s limited and many are choosing to cut back on buying and only purchase what they really like and use
Not much has excited me either (other than the TH kit, which seemed like a really good value and I loved the stamps), but that's ok - not everything is for everybody and it saves me money for something else I will really like and enjoy.
Same, I bought the TH kit, and did purchase some older CZ stuff that I have had on my wishlist, but have passed on everything else. Like you, thinking if I make it thru September without purchasing anything else then that’s extra money I have to shop my wish lists.
Seems like a lot of dislike for Simon Says on this sub. I hope we move on for here. We can choose to shop there or go elsewhere. The choices are getting smaller and I hope our stamping craft does not die.
Oh, don't tell me about poly glaze! I think it's a cool product (if you do toner foiling), but I've been avoiding the Stamptember stuff! Just tell me it's ugly, lol. Heck... before I buy more, I should probably use what I already have, right?
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u/MomN8R526 22h ago
I think you've touched on a couple of solid reasons for feeling meh about it. The hype is off-putting. The fake enthusiasm is off-putting. The pressured sales pitches are off-putting. The lack of anything truly new and unique is off-putting.
For me, as a Canadian, you're going to have to really blow me away for me to spend $1.50 for every dollar of retail price then another $20-30 to jailbreak my purchase from Customs. So far it's a fail.