Is the recession winning?

Hello there ladies.

I'm sorry I haven't been around much but my mum has been taken ill again and I've had to go and look after her and my dad which has kept me busy and away from the computer for a while.

However, I've had a chance to look round a few of the sites offering sneak peeks of the new CHA stuff, and while some of the new bits are definitely yelling at me to run out and buy them, the vast majority of it just looks recycled.

Have the manufacturers just decided to tread water with their new products, keep their business and customers ticking over until we all have more money to spend?

We are hearing every day about more and more companies of all sorts going to the wall, and the craft shops seem to be going the same way. While DH and I both work, we have definitely noticed a drop in our disposable income as his overtime has dropped away considerably, and our summer holiday this year is non-existent to allow for our annual ski trip this winter. I know I can buy whatever I want within reason for my scrapping, and DH can indulge his hobby of old cars, but we have both voluntarily tightened our belts because there is nothing out there that is so attractive we want to rush out and buy.

So what about the rest of you? Are you going to be hassling your favourite shop to get the new stuff in quickly, or are you keeping your money in your pockets?

Inspiration - or Desperation?

Somewhere on the last couple of threads someone suggested a topic on the what seems to be hundreds of "Inspiration" blogs and sites out there, and as all seems quiet in scrappyworld at the moment, I thought I would pick it up for the new topic.

I've had a look round at a few and to be honest either I'm looking at the wrong ones or there isn't much good free inspiration being given away. I can see that with magazines folding all over the place, and money to buy books in short supply, these sites will get a bigger and bigger number of visitors having a look at what they offer. Personally I didn't find any of the ones I looked at getting me reaching for my scrapping supplies , and I usually end up back at somewhere like Page Maps which i have used for ages.

Creating Keepsakes used to have an interesting little page where you could tick the boxes of the sort of layout you wanted to do, single page, one photo, ribbon, 3 patterned papers etc and it would produce you a sketch to work from, I can't seem to find it at the moment though. That sort of thing is much more my cup of tea where I get a mystery page that I have had some input myself rather than going by someone else's.

So what about you lot? When your Mojo has gone walkabout where do you go for inspiration?

I know I'd be interested to hear what others thought of the ones I looked at, hence why I deliberately haven't named them, and if any of the sleuths can find that CK design your own sketch page please post it!

Why do you / don't you submit your work for publication?

We have had a few threads about the qualities of the various magazines recently, and in nearly every thread we get comments about seeing the same old names and faces in the reader galleries of the UK magazines.

The Editors tell us that this is because they don't get submissions from people so their selection pool is small. I find that last one hard to believe as with only a few pages of reader gallery in every issue, surely they must get enough submissions on any subject that there is no need to feature more than one page from any reader in any issue? Its not always a case of brilliant work and inspiring pages getting in there as there have been quite a few pages published which are great examples of how not to scrapbook.

Judging by the comments from the regular posters on here, it sounds as though there are a lot of UKS members answering the in magazine calls every month. I say they answer in magazine calls as, until ST posted their call on 3rd June after becoming a sponsor, the last time Shimelle posted a call for SI submissions in a thread that was all their own until then was on the 7th January this year.

So what makes you decide to submit or not to submit your work to a reader gallery for publication?

I don't submit for a number of reasons namely

• I don't have a page which meets the criteria for the call and can't be arsed to go and do one specially
• I have a page but miss the deadline for submitting it
• I don't think my work is good enough - at least until I see some of what was accepted for the call I was considering
• I've seen some friends submit stunning work and get knocked back
• I don't buy SI any more as its got so boring and predictable and my TSBM sub has just run out and I'm not renewing so I don't have any idea what they are looking for at the moment.

The main reason I won't submit though is that on the whole I scrap my photos and memories for the family, and don't want DH, the kids and the dogs and cats and even myself splashed all over the pages of a magazine and up for ridicule on a blog like this if my work isn't up to your standards. My work isn't private, I take my current album along to crops for my friends to see, and most of the rellies on both sides always ask to see my latest offerings, but to be honest that's the audience I want to appreciate my efforts.

So, what are your reasons for seeking fame and glory in print?

Or not?

Free for All Weekend

As requested on the last thread, a free for all for you over the weekend.

While you are smacking the great and the good of the scrapping world, can you please think of some topics we could discuss. I'm fed up of hearing the complaints about boring topics or threads running out of steam, without hearing some sensible suggestions for things to discuss instead. You can either make suggestions in the thread, or you can email them to me on the addy up above.

3 - 2- 1 - GO!

Threads on this blog

From Feb 2008 this blog will only hold 3 of the latest threads, as new ones are made the oldest will be deleted permanently.

I have been asked why I do this as some have tried to search for older posts. I feel it is only fair that there is a very short life span of some of the posts that can be upsetting to those being smacked regardless if they are a business or not.

We are, after all human and have feelings so if you have been smacked at all on this blog please note that probably within a week the whole thread will be gone!

If anyone who has been smacked would like to discuss the possible removal of comments about them before it would vanish using the 3 threads policy, please feel free to contact me directly, and I will consider each case on its merits.
However, please note that I will not deal with any email on this subject from third parties, if you want it to be removed you must contact me yourself.

UKSS