1. tb8282
    Star
    tb8282
    tb8282
    353 posts
    tb8282

    I used to subscribe to Simple Scrapbooks, Scrapbooks Etc and CK. Obviously SS is out of business with SE following that path too. I like CK but do not love it. I tend to get my inspiration here and other places online, though I like to look through the magazine. Plus I want to support the industry. I got an offer for $24.97 for one year and $10 for the second year. What do you think?

  2. rukristin
    Star
    rukristin
    Kristin <3
    rukristin papercrafts 2568 posts
    rukristin

    CK tends to publish a lot of two-page multi photo layouts -- and I'm the exact opposite type of scrapper, so it wouldn't be for me. But if you're a two-page kinda scrapper than its always nice to have that print magazine that you can flip through :)

  3. tb8282
    Star
    tb8282
    tb8282
    353 posts
    tb8282

    Good point on the two page layouts, I had not thought of that. I used to do only 2 pagers for years and years. Seriously, at least 75% of my over 2 dozen albums are that way. But in the last couple years, I have moved to the one page layout. Hmm...

  4. Tinkerbeth
    Star
    Tinkerbeth
    Tinkerbeth
    Life in Idowa 854 posts
    Tinkerbeth

    I have stopped subscribing to scrapbook magazines. Occasionally I pick up a Scrapbook Trends magazine, but I get most of my inspiration here and on Pinterest—for free!

  5. christi
    christi
    christi
    with a lime... 443 posts
    christi

    $24.97/year seems really high.
    I still subscribe to a quite few magazines. I love magazines.

    I had been a CK subscriber since 2000 but did not renew last winter. I just don't care for the magazine anymore. The articles are short. The tips seem rehashed. I really like a magazine to have well-written articles. Not just a bunch of layouts. To me, there just wasn't a lot of new and exciting on the CK pages lately.

  6. hannal
    Star
    hannal
    Hanna
    Blog 8036 posts
    hannal

    I would not resubscribe to CK at this point. especially for that price. I love when their dream team has lots of inspiration, but lately I haven't seen a lot in the magazine that i am in love with.

  7. lilkoala3
    lilkoala3
    lilkoala3
    I am my favorite scrapbooker. 545 posts
    lilkoala3

    I feel like that may be a bit pricey. I think I remember paying like 15 for a year, but I could be wrong. Did you search online for deals?

    I still subscribe, but sometimes the content is just... painful... and ugly...and repetitive... I honestly think sometimes that their writers have never scrapbooked. But there is something nice about cozying up in a coffee shop with a magazine, and I do come away with some good ideas. I read it on the train to work.

  8. kathyb
    kathyb
    kathyb
    4630 posts
    kathyb

    My CK sub is up very soon. I won't be renewingmthismyear. I've been disappointed with the last 12 months. I find online galleries and blogs much more inspirational. It's a shame as I've always loved CK, but it hasn't been the same the past year or so.

  9. justem
    justem
    Emily Spahn
    justem 5965 posts
    justem

    I have to be honest...I buy CK once in awhile, but I don't know if I would subscribe. Unfortunately their "style" as of late is like the exact opposite of my style!! I think there IS a lot of inspiration online, but if it is something that you really enjoy, I'd get it. It's such a personal thing...

    Okay I didn't help at all!

  10. ms.snickerdoodle
    ms.snickerdoodle
    ms.snickerdoodle
    2278 posts
    ms.snickerdoodle

    I let my sub lapse. I just wasn't enjoying it anymore. I get much more inspiration from scrapbook trends, although I wish they had articles.
    I think CK has kinds of lost their way lately, and it makes me sad.

  11. lilkoala3
    lilkoala3
    lilkoala3
    I am my favorite scrapbooker. 545 posts
  12. blurcrazyuk
    Star
    blurcrazyuk
    Maria Stanley
    5 Cheeky Monkeys 1704 posts
    blurcrazyuk

    I am glad to see I'm not the only one. I loved CK for years and the last 6+ months have just been so blah. It's almost like I've evolved and they haven't. I'm cool with 2 page layouts because on a rare occasion I still do them but my style is just so different than the bulk of what's published. My sub is due this month and I'm not renewing either....

  13. iowapapergirl
    iowapapergirl
    iowapapergirl
    170 posts
    iowapapergirl

    My lss doesn't even carry CK anymore. They seem to be irrelevant, not the cutting edge trend setters they used to be. I think ending HOF was the nail in the coffin. The only thing I pick it up to see at the library is the ads and I think they dropped their subscription too.

  14. msmoonlite
    msmoonlite
    91 posts
    msmoonlite

    Let me be the odballl.....I would and I did resubscribe. I spend more than that on a week of Starbucks. The last thing I want to see is another SB mag go out of business, and I do tend to get my inspiration from magazines. I'm not a lover of Pinterest, and I'm also not a frequent gallery visitor. I've been scrapping for 14 years, and I still stick to my "old school" ways.

  15. tb8282
    Star
    tb8282
    tb8282
    353 posts
    tb8282

    Thanks everyone! I have decided not to extend my subscription. I agree with some of the comments above that CK is not really my style and most of the articles in the magazine do not seem interesting or cutting edge to me. I may pick up an individual issue if I like the content, but I think I am done with subscribing.

  16. SarahSC
    Star
    SarahSC
    SarahSC
    Lives of the Cowgirls 312 posts
    SarahSC

    I was totally in the "not wanting another scrapbook magazine to go under" camp, but then in April, CK sent me a DVD that I didn't order and told me I'd have to pay for it and subsequent DVDs unless I returned it (at my expense). Totally not cool in my book. Rubbed me the wrong way and I will not be renewing because of this.

  17. SwannPrincess
    Star
    SwannPrincess
    Sarah Swann
    The Scrap Angel 1891 posts
    SwannPrincess

    I just renewed my subscription, but it might be the last time. I don't dog-ear as much from CK as I used to. Mainly the 2 page thing for me. Occasionally I'll do a two-pager, if I have tons of pictures for one layout, but not often. I usually get my inspiration here, Pinterest or blogs.

  18. jenrn
    jenrn
    Jen Chapin
    Blog 776 posts
    jenrn

    I didn't renew mine. For the last issue I received, I only found one layout that I liked, one of Maggie Holmes'. Other than that the few scrapper's styles that I like (Jen J, Lisa T, Laura V...etc) I can get inspo from those online here, 2peas, blogs, etc.

    I do think they need to cater to quite a broad audience and most of what they publish does not inspire me at all. Also the products they showcase are sometimes 6 months old so why do I want to hear about stuff that is already old news?

  19. Beth Ann
    Star
    Beth Ann
    Beth Ann
    6191 posts
    Beth Ann

    I won't be re-newing mine. I just don't ever do 2 pagers and since they went to just 6 issues per year, I just don't get much out of it, I'm afraid. It makes me sad though...

  20. sagruss
    Star
    sagruss
    Stephanie
    Scraps Of Life 171 posts
    sagruss

    You could always gift a subscription to your local library. Then you could sub and never look at it and still feel like (a) you're supporting the mag and (b) have a place where you can go check it out and read it. All with no guilt for never looking at it or not enjoying it as much as you used too! (If you are a US resident it's also a tax deduction!)

  21. alaska_laci
    alaska_laci
    alaska_laci
    Whether you care or not... 2386 posts
    alaska_laci

    The renew sub is the highest you can get it (other than shelf). If you decide you really want it, go to the site & sign up as a new customer, its cheaper.
    I really dont like the magazine since Lisa's not in charge any more. I feel like they only feature LO's where the trends are 5-10 years old. They're not keeping up very well. I'm not into LO's that are perfectly placed. So I will not be renewing.

  22. laceyweeks
    Star
    laceyweeks
    laceyweeks
    0o0 snapshot 0o0 1266 posts
    laceyweeks

    I did...but I do agree with the others that its not really up to date. I realize that there are different types of scrapbookers out there, but I wish they would include more of the styles we see here. I hoope they mke some changes soon...from what it sounds like from this thread that a lot of you aren't going to renew...and this publication isn't going to be around much longer either. It totally makes me sad :(

  23. AmyBugCrafts
    AmyBugCrafts
    Amy
    401 posts
    AmyBugCrafts

    I am probably not going to renew. All of the magazines are so full of ads...For the price you pay there should be less ads. Scrapbook Trends is really bad about it. I know there has to be some but for a pricey sticker price I want to see some substance and feel like I got my $$'s worth.

  24. listgirl
    listgirl
    Christine
    Blog 975 posts
    listgirl

    I still have my subscription with CK, but thinking of not renewing after it ends. Many of the pages they feature are not my style. And I was shocked to see Amy Tangerine's first line with American Crafts featured in the "new products" section, like 4 months after it was released already. Are they really THAT behind the times? It's not "new" if a line already came out months ago and we've already been using the products for months!

  25. jacobmommy
    Star
    jacobmommy
    jacobmommy
    215 posts
    jacobmommy

    I dropped my sub. I get so much inspiration online free that I cannot justify the cost.