Community Blog Posts

seems like a poor substitute for open conversation on the message board where there was freedom to express your opinion or ask your question when the time was right for you. But at least it seems that they heard people when they took the message boards down.

I am still in mourning.

Me too @celisemcl - and I don't think this will bring me back. I miss the message boards - scheduled, approved blog posts are not the same thing at all

I'm sorry but please STOP! Stop with the negativity. The reason the boards got taken down is exactly this. The talking behind backs but where everyone can see (this is the internet where thousands and thousands of people can see this) its worse than being a friend who talks behind your back. It's a form of bullying. If my girls could read I wouldn't allow them on here to read what grown women are saying about others. Exchange emails and email each other but please please don't do it here. I stopped going to the boards a long time ago for this reason. Somewhere I used to love going for a really really long time. Please don't bring it here. For me the boards were gone a long time ago because it was like poison visiting them and seeing all this. The world needs love not hate. They took the boards down because no was getting that point. I don't blame them.

@mugsie if Studio Calico did right by their customers you would be absolutely right; a whole bunch of unnecessary negativity. But clearly that was not the case as demonstrated by the sheer volume of long time SC supporters who would voice their frustrations at being so clearly ignored. The entire 'internet is the devil filled with evil bullies' dogma doesn't apply here. This is (was) a community of crafters that kept being taken for granted time and time again who came to the boards because there was nowhere else.

@msmoonlite I'm so sorry thats how you feel. I have been with SC since the very beginning (for the first few years I just used my sisters account). I love SC and don't feel that way. Its a business with a lot of ladies who rely on it yes. If there is an issue why not speak with them directly? If you still aren't satisfied with the outcome of that conversation maybe go elsewhere? If I have ever had an issue I start a conversation and whatever the problem was it's been solved and I am happy. I also don't believe nor did I say "internet is the devil filled with evil bullies' dogma. I believe its an easy place for people to voice things that they otherwise wouldn't be able to say to someone in person. I am really sorry you feel that way, maybe bring it to their attention and see what happens. Typing it here doesn't solve anything and makes those making sny remarks look mean and I'm sure they aren't in real life.

@mugsie I'm a bit of a lurker here, but I just have to comment on this. You said this "If there is an issue why not speak with them directly? If you still aren't satisfied with the outcome of that conversation maybe go elsewhere?"

That's what people were doing. Alot of people were contacting SC via conversations and all they got were copy and paste answers or no answer at all. They were ignored. Sooo, how do you get their attention, try making a comment on the message boards, maybe there will be a response from SC.

And...people have gone elsewhere. There is an amazing message board 2peasrefugees that I highly recommend. Anyone can say anything they want. There's no deleting comments or posts. Conversations get a little heated sometimes, but that's what makes it interesting. It's not all puppies and rainbows over there. But, it's a super nice community. There is so many nice people there and such a wealth of information on almost any topic.

But, back to my original reason for making my comment, it's not all just about SC and all the problems people have with this company as of late. Sometimes people just have to vent. In person or online. If this is supposed to be a friendly community, then that's what friends do. We vent to each other about stuff. Of course we all talk about the goodness in our lives as well. But there are those times we gotta vent. Whether it's about SC or the postal service or the chores we have to do at home. Sometimes a girls just gotta vent.

With this being a friendly "community" as SC wants to keep calling it, we should be able to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. And just talk. Let out our frustrations....and I'm not just talking SC frustrations. Maybe others are having the same frustrations and we can help each other through them.

I think it's very naive to think that everyone all the time will be thinking of puppies and rainbows about everything all the time. Again, I'm not just talking about SC. We are going to be negative and complain. We are human, stuff bugs us. It's nice to have a group of people to just chat about the stuff that bugs us. And of course the stuff that makes us super happy.

But, to tell people to stop being negative and complaining....why does anyone have to right to tell someone else what they should say on a message board about any topic? Good or bad.

In my opinion, say what you want about anything. It's up to me and everyone else if I want to read it or just skim on by your topic.

@mugsie - I rarely engage in arguments here (conversation is not argument), but I have to reply. I object strongly to being accused of bullying. I did not direct my comments to a specific person and they weren't about a specific person or people. Instead I was commenting on my perception of scheduled, reviewed blog posts as a substitute for the message boards. In my opinion, it isn't the same thing at all.

But it is clear that you like the idea. And that's great. I didn't tell you that you were wrong or a bad person for having a different opinion. (In my mind, that is the definition of bullying and I can interpret your reply that way if I choose to.) The world would be a really dull place if we all thought the same way.

So I respect your opinion but feel differently. I hope you can offer me and others the same courtesy. And honestly that difference is why you continue to be a subscriber and I cancelled my subscription of more than 5 years.

If that's what you believe than that's totally fine, of course it is. The conversations I saw happening on the boards were a form of passive aggressiveness just like here right now. This isn't a place for that. This is why the boards are shut down. For those who respected them they are no longer able to use them constructively and gain inspiration from them. I didn't call you a bully @juliee at least it wasn't meant that way. Can you honestly say you feel your comments were kind? As soon as I read your comment it felt like their were boxing gloves being prepped. @pixiegrrl believe me I know life isn't puppies and rainbows, especially my life as of late. So it would be nice to come to a place to gain some sunshine and inspiration, where there isn't venting. Where you have to worry about how you'll feel after reading comments of other fellow craft lovers. That's why I stayed away from the boards. That's why many did. It was depressing. Now it's trickling down here.
Maybe I have it totally wrong and everyone liked having a place to go to vent their frustrations publicly on the web for everyone to see. But isn't this not that place to do that? I am saying this all kindly. I am not trying to argue, I am trying to understand why people would want a space within Studio Calico, a scrapbooking kit club, to vent their frustrations out loud. I just don't see this as being that place. Texting a girlfriend? Wine night with the girls? Emailing or talking with a friend? Those are great places to vent :)

@mugsie I think I will add to this conversation. I admit that my post above was a bit sarcastic. It was meant to be, but it was far from bullying. You stated yourself that you left the boards a long time ago. Let me tell you that the gals that were left were nothing but kind and supportive. The positive posts far outweighed the negative. (at least in the time that I was actively participating) We were there for the camaraderie, the inspiration and the challenges. There was still (on occasion) a negative post. I read them, and chose not to participate. You can choose to read them or not as well. I love your idea of a positive place to participate, I'm just not sure that's 100% realistic 100% of the time. You know what else (and this is not meant to be snarky) your posts could also be construed as negative. I guess it all depends on your perspective.

Wait, I’m confused. You LEFT the MB, while everyone else posting here were loyal to SC and had many positive experiences and made friendships on the boards.

And now you are back and chiding those who are mourning the sudden loss of the boards.

Who is the bully here, exactly?

That looks like such a fun little gadget!!

@TerrieAllison I would love it if you put something up on the blog about your experience with the Prynt!!

If only. . . .

agreed - this isn't the same at all. The message boards meant that when I was stumped with a project (like the one that has been on my desk for 10 days) or worried about my daughter or needed a recipe at midnight, I could post. And 9 times out of 10 someone would answer me before much time passed because scrappers were up somewhere in the world. A highly controlled, scheduled system just doesn't fill the void.

Thanks much for your review @TerrieAllison I use the Heidi S planner too and add photos after printing in pic frame collage and cutting them apart to fit the page protectors in the planner. I do like the idea of 'print on the go'. From some of the reviews I read the photo quality is reported as much better from the Prynt -- more 'true' colours. Decisions! Decisions!

Shannon, I hope you will decide to get the Prynt printer. To me the picture quality is just as good or almost as good as my PictureMate Zoom. I hardly ever use my instax anymore.

Your reviews and apparent love for this printer are making it very difficult to resist the lure of a new toy! Stop saying nice things about it...please! LOL!

I’m happy to hear this review- I’ve been wondering about the color quality and think you should totally write a blog post!

Ditto

Me too

It wouldn't be so bad if they would actually participate in more than just Instagram (and they have a great team working their accounts there). A blog just isn't the same level of interaction that many of their customers are looking for. I hope you join in at 2PeasRefugees - they're a great group and it's getting more lively on the SB board now.