ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "ANONYMOUS" ON August 1, 2011 7:30 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------- FAIL TRAIN... I mean BLOG TRAIN!!!
So This morning I went through and picked out which pieces were actually nice.. (for my taste, forgive me if you don't like)
*not all of the designers have posted yet so there may be more*
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "ANONYMOUS" ON August 1, 2011 1:26 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------ I downloaded from only a few designers and some of them it was only for certain parts: designs by krista wishing well sherwood studio kate hadfield enkay digilicious bzb designs aprilsila lily lane market t for me luv ewe
A couple notes, first I can't believe how many designers can't even properly link to the next blog! Second, steadfast and immovable did a single alpha and yet it was 4 downloads, that seems like a little much! Third, I can understand adjusting the swatch a bit, especially the orange since it was out of gamut, but some of them are so different it's crazy.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 4:53 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------- Here's my take on the first 50 of the BTB (I'll do more later).
First - If I don't mention them then I didn't even bother to download it.
Amanda Millie Dee - kept 2 solid papers Aprilisa - kept the frame, string word art and one paper BZB Designs - kept almost everything, seems like a few things I might use Designs by Angel - I downloaded it, but deleted the whole thing b/c it was flat and bland. Daybreak Scraps - kept the frame (it's cute) and one paper DigiDeborah - kept the clip Digilicious Designs - kept the rolled flowers and a couple of papers Designs by Krista - I downloaded this one but deleted it all - didn't like the textures on the flowers and the papers were flat.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 5:08 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- BTB cont.
Digital Harmony - kept most everything - good for basics. EnKay - Kind of cute, kept most of it to use as basics EyeInspire - kept most everything except the borders which were ugly. HFD - not sure of the name b/c no preview was included or TOU. Kept a couple papers and none of the elements Inspired Designs - downloaded and deleted In the Small Things - downloaded and deleted Jen C - kept most of it - again for basics Jusme - Deleted everything - yuck! Kate Hadfeld - kept them, but will have to see what they look like opened in Photoshop
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON August 1, 2011 6:52 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------- (part 1)
I'm not sure why people get so pissed off when others ask for a Simon review. If you don't like it, carry on. It's really that simple. LOL @ sex toys review!
I don't normally bother to look at the bi-monthly blog train because it's almost always 90% crap. But, I will this time to see if I'm missing anything. I'm not reviewing everyone, so assume if it's not mentioned, I think your contribution is gross.
I would like to add that including that stupid slideshow is ANNOYING and SLOW. Just get rid of it. Who sits there and watches it anyway? Show us the swatch and move on.
Downloaded (my reviews are after I unzipped): Misty Cato - Don't like the metallic style applied to the stars. Don't like the texture on the solids and why no light blue solid? Seems odd since she made the other 5 colors. I didn't keep the solids or the stars.
Designs by Krista - Downloaded for the papers only. Deleted all the elements but the ribbon.
Wishing Well Creations (Not the Facebook alpha, though. The coloring is off.) - This didn't mesh with the other pieces of the train, but it's pretty and done well.
Kate Hadfield - Great quality doodles.
Adorable Digital Designs - After unzipping, I deleted everything but the banner. I only downloaded for the elements anyway. I liked the little clothes on the hangers and they are sadly jagged. It's a shame, because they are adorable.
Eyeinspire - Liked both minis (downloaded the 2nd from her Facebook page). Will desaturize the orange and brown, though. The borders need to be about half the height she made them.
Marie H Designs - Downloaded because I never heard of her. Very basic, but OK. Deleted half of it.
Sweet Tomato Designs - This doesn't really mesh with most of the blog train, but the papers are grunged nicely. Deleted most of the elements.
eNKay - Deleted half the papers. The elements are cute.
Daybreak Scraps - Deleted everything but the doodles.
Snips and Snails - This looked like a total mish mash, but I liked the banner and it was direct download. I ended up keeping the banner, the leaves, and the little tag. Liked the retro flower pattern paper, but the texture was gross.
Aprilisa Designs - Downloaded for the papers - kept only the patterns. Flower is poorly recolored. Other elements are basic. Kept the frame since it was there.
Trixie Scraps - Deleted half the elements (mish mashy) and kept 2 of the patterned papers.
t is for me - Downloaded only for the papers. Kept most of them and the button. Other elements are mish mashy and gross.
Luv Ewe - Kept the papers. The elements are poorly recolored.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON August 1, 2011 6:52 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- (part 2 - final part)
Looked OK, but didn't download: A-liya Digilicious Designs BZB Designs Studio 4 (template) Lilly Lane (templates) Designs by Helly (even though this totally doesn't mesh with much else on the train, it's pretty) Designs by Colleen Delicious Scraps
Not up at the time of my review... Mille Dee Designs Aimee Harrison Angel Hartline Feli Designs Mad Genius Designs Dancing Princess Designs Willow Grace Designs Scrappin Wright The Brown Owl Inspirations from Day Jill DZines
Overall, I now have a huge retro styled mega and a few little minis. It would have gone faster if that stupid slideshow didn't slow me down. It took me about an hour and a half to go through all the blogs, download what I wanted, then unzip and delete what I didn't want. That includes the time to write this review. I wouldn't say it was worth it as I'm happy to buy things and generally don't waste time with freebies. But, if you're on a limited budget, it's a nice way to get a lot of stuff if you have need for it.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 7:39 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------- Here's some more BTB review
4Princesses - Only kept 2 papers and a pink bow
Mara - papers were a mess, just kept a bow, border and bead spill
Marie H - kept it all
Misty Cato - a few of the elements were cute and I kept them, but the paper textures were really flat and boring
Robin Pali - kept the flower
Ruby Lane - kept the glitter spill and one paper
Sugar Berry Pie - kept 2 papers and 2 elements, the rest looked over saturated
Sherwood Studio - kept everything except the hearts
Snips and Snails - cute banner and kept a couple of solid papers, also kept a few of the doodles, but not all of them. Some of the elements had much poorer quality than others.
Sweet Tomato - kept the papers and the journal/frame thing
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 7:45 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- So - my 1-50 BTB wrap up
These are the ones that I kept all or most of the download.
BZB Designs Digital Harmony EnKay EyeInspire Jen C Kate Hadfeld Marie H Sherwood Studio Wishing Well
I'll go through the rest of the train tonight or tomorrow.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "ANONYMOUS" ON August 1, 2011 8:00 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------- Blog Train by Store - You'll get what I mean shortly.
Lilypad -
Kate Hadfield - Holy cow yum. I'm not surprised her contribution would be nice!
TDC -
Wishing Well Creations - Doesn't match the rest of the stuff (imo) but that is almost a good thing! Nice papers.
eNKay -
Downloaded it is nice but just not my style, I guess? The pattern on the flower paper is nice.. again the colors are just too bright for my taste
Mommyish -
Downlaoded despite the horrible preview. Surprised that the elements were actually very nice. Not a fan of the bead cluter. I hated the striped paper. The grunge pink/brown paper is nice. The solids have a good texture.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:00 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------ Someone suggested that a little constructive criticism/feedback for the good, bad, and ugly blog train contributions would be helpful, and I figured why not? A little disclaimer before I get started: although I now design and scrap digitally, I am a paper scrapper by heart and the fantasy realm doesn't appeal to me at all. Obviously these reviews will be colored by that. Also, I rarely download freebies and so many of the initial opinions will be from the preview. If I test the quality and it warrants discussion, I'll mention it.
For now, just the first 20 (here's part 1 of those):
1. Trish H. Designs: Not sure exactly why she puts up the glitters for general use. I know she's always made it available to the designers when the palette/theme is posted during planning, which makes sense (they can use it in their designs that way), The average digiscrapper, though, doesn't have a lot of use for glitter tiles. And the above-average digiscrapper usually ends up designing. Didn't DL.
2. jusme digital: I don't like that she desaturated the colors in the palette so much that they became pastel and hideous. The papers look blurry to the point of being dirty, and the color combos on each are awful. I think the gradient coloring on the acrylic hearts looks cheap. Simply put, it all looks too digital, and this isn't something that inspires anyone to preserve their memories while using it. If I wouldn't buy it in a store (i.e. if I were paper scrapping), I won't waste time downloading it. Didn't DL.
3. Lollipop Designs: I tend to judge blog train portions by usability, and this doesn't seem very usable. The papers might end up going with someone else's portion, yes, but by itself this portion is pointless. I don't need 4 papers that don't coordinate along with 5 ribbons. The preview shadowing isn't realistic, either, which makes everything look fake. All in all, there's nothing unique about any of this. Didn't DL.
4. Amanda & Millie Designs: I like the idea behind the paisley patterns/items, but it wasn't executed well. Looks beginnerish (to me, this means that it doesn't look realistic and looks obviously digital, even though the intent appears to be to look like realistic paper-scrapping elements, etc.). Didn't DL.
5. Misty Cato Designs: I like the idea she was aiming for (retro), and downloaded it to see what it looks like up close. The papers don't have much texture, but that's not really a big deal (it would work well for hybrid, for anyone who's into that). I might keep parts of it to pair with parts from other people.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:01 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- (part 2 of the first 20):
6. wordartworld: I'm trying to look past the fact that I don't like this color palette, and review each contribution for it's execution within the assigned palette. It's difficult. This mini is executed rather well for what it is (papers and word art), and when combined with other portions it might work out fine. I just don't like the papers on their own, and the mish-mash of textures used on each is confusing to the eye. Downloaded it just to see if the floral patterned paper might work with someone else's portion(s).
7. HotFlashDesigns: This is a mish-mash of realistic elements and paper style elements, and doesn't appeal to me. The papers are very beginnerish. Just dots and stripes, and a realistic teapot dropped onto a white background? Don't make a paper with a realistic element as your pattern, please, people. Also, who posts one really, really long blog post in a day... let alone three? This annoyed me, although I know it has nothing to do with her designs and I am sure I will get harpooned on here for mentioning it. Didn't DL.
8. Digital Creations from Millstream Cottage: I can't wrap my head around what this is. It says "5 patterned backgrounds" but I see at least 2x that many. I can hardly make out what's an element and what's a paper. The preview is just awful. To borrow a line from Simon herself, it makes me want to cry. Didn't DL.
9. Jen C. Designs: I wouldn't download either of her freebies (blog or FB), as neither seems usable for actual scrapping. The gradient papers, in particular, are awful, though they may appeal to someone who blends photos onto papers. The rest of the blog freebie is a mish-mash of items that don't really lend themselves to scrapping, You'd have to purchase her full kit/bundle, which I know was the point. But I disagree with that approach. It makes a visitor want to skip her download all together. Didn't DL.
10. designsbykrista: I actually liked this one, based on the preview. It's simple, acts as a sample (as a blog train contribution should), but can stand alone. You could scrap a page with this. Not sure about quality, as I didn't download. The preview works, though. Downloaded to see if a couple of the papers/elements will work with other portions. Won't keep it all.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:05 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- (part 3 of the first 20):
11. Samceline Designs: This looks too digital for me to want to bother with it. For instance, the kids: are they supposed to be paper? Acryilc? I'd say neither, and that's weird. I want to expand the preview to look further, but can't. Annoying. The whole thing seems to be a mish-mash of fantasy-type items and realistic paperish elements. A bad mix. Didn't DL.
12. Wishing Well Creations: Thank god someone finally made something neutral. I like the calm colors (so she hit the mark since it's titled Serenity). By itself, this is pretty unoriginal (just basic elements and nothing memorable), but you could scrap a page with this alone and you could also use it with other parts from other people. I agree with Simon that the FB alpha colors seem off, but I wondered if it was just because they're against the kraft packaging that clashes with the palette. I downloaded them and found that the green alpha is colored fine, but the blue alpha is way off fro the palette. I could use it with something else, and might (it's neutral), but not with this blog train.
13. Let Me Scrapbook!: A strange mix of items that don't seem to go together. Some of the elements seem cute, but make no sense with some of the other elements. I wish more designers would think through how an end user will use their creations. Simply put, it's clear that many designers are either not scrappers anymore, or bad scrappers. It's sad, really. Didn't DL, although the bathtub/girl was cute.
14. Snuggle Berry Pie Designs: Two problems here: that striped paper makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs, and anyone who would make it has just convinced me not to bother with the rest of the kit. Also, I can't make the preview any bigger, so I'm bored with trying to figure it all out, and I'm moving on instead of trying to figure out why the mishy-mashy elements and papers don't seem to go together. Didn't DL.
15. Brandi Beaver: No preview on her blog. I got bored and moved on. Some of you will complain that I should have DL'd it in order to review it, but instead I will offer this up as a lesson to newbie designers: you need a preview. You need a full-size 600x600 preview, preferably, but at very least you need any preview at all. p.s. your design name makes me laugh. I know, sophomoric humor. Sue me.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:06 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- (part 4 of the first 20):
16. Digi Deborah's Designs: See my review of jusme digital, above, with regard to the color alterations. I'll give her credit for making sure everything was the same basic style, though. It all looks like paper scrapping supplies, but I don't like most of it (due to the bad coloring).
17. Sherwood Studio Digital Designs: Another neutral-based kit, which I like. I DL'd it to use with Wishing Well's neutral items, along with a few of the color pops from the other designers here and there. I mention the other color pops because I simply don't like the acrylic hearts she included. The idea behind them was good, but the execution was bad. They don't go with the rest of her weathered/shabby items, and they seem out of place.
18. Tina Shaw: This is the worst one so far. Why? Flat preview, awful/no shadows, and overall blurriness. In addition, the color combos on separate papers/elements are hideous. Just because it's in the palette, doesn't mean you have to use it all together on every paper/element. Didn't DL.
19. Ronda's Scrap Bits: I like the idea behind this, as it isn't mishy-mashy. The color combos on the papers are generally pleasant, given the palette. The frame looks like it's the wrong color of blue/green, though and/or doesn't go with the rest of her kit. Also, the word art would be impossible to use on those papers and there don't seem to be any solids included. Another instance of me wishing designers thought ahead to end-users' needs. DL'd it for the striped paper, ended up deleting the rest. Honestly can't believe I am now DL'ing and collecting freebies. LMAO.
20. Adorible Digital: Thought the clothes were a cute idea, but I don't have any use for any of it. Might have DL'd to look further, but sadly had read Simon's review from earlier and knew the quality was an issue. Didn't DL.
That's it for me. I can only be this detailed for the first 20, because well, this took forever and my eyes are now bleeding from all of the brown/orange/pink.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 2, 2011 1:37 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- Nah, Hasselhoff generates enough bad press on his very own. I might never be able to forget the video footage of him drunk, making out with that hamburger on the floor...
I figured Piers was good (for the type of review I am trying to deliver), and Hasselhoff was good for the entertainment factor. Mainly I just needed a name change so that Simon wouldn't worry that she was posting reviews in her sleep.
Here's a few more from me (#21-25):
21. Simply Kelly Designs: I like the idea behind this one, because it's original. I don't really like the execution, though. Initially the papers look like they're all solids, though that's not the case. Scrappers want patterned papers for a reason, and if it looks solid unless you look really close at it, it's not serving its purpose IMO. Also, why add black to the one paper? I wish the paper w/ the volleyballs had actually worked, but it doesn't. The balls need some definition; they look like swirls because there's no defined outline for each ball. The word art balls are cute and would be usable, but there's not much else to work with. The ric rac looks very digital. Didn't DL.
22. KimericKreations: Her kit is called Simplicity, and it fits (because that's actually the first word I thought of when I saw it: simple). Overall, I like it, but I do have a few beefs with it: first, I don't think of grungy paint splats and smears when I think of simplicity. That part doesn't fit with the rest. Also, I have the same thing to say about the lack of patterns on the papers that I just said with Simply Kelly. I know she was trying to keep it simple, but maybe a couple of subtle patterns would have been nice. I downloaded it and will keep the papers to use as solids with a few of the other neutral kits I reviewed last night.
23. My4PrincessesDesigns: I'm mixed on this one. I like the floral paper, and the wood background paper, and I love the idea of driftwood for a Summer Beach kit. I just wish she had used different color combos on the surfboard and especially the umbrella, though, because both had the potential to be cute and didn't really work for me in the end. I didn't DL it, but it wasn't horrible. I just didn't love any of it enough to bother.
24. Kate Hadfield: I love this one, though I will admit that not everyone is into doodled elements for scrapping pages. But for those who are, these are top-notch and really cute. Props to her for using all of the palette colors and still managing to keep it from looking like a mish-mash. This actually looks purposeful. I will use these elements in a heartbeat as color pops along w/ neutral papers from some of last night's reviews (or even Kimeric's today), and maybe one or two of the multi-colored patterned papers I kept from last night's DL's. All in all, I like it, but I am not sure why she didn't do any papers, though.
25. Brandi White Designs: This is another of those minis that I hated initially (bad previewing), but upon closer inspection I realize that a few parts would maybe be useful if paired with pieces from other designers. Mainly the frame(s) and the tag, and maybe the dotted multi-colored paper (the texture isn't my favorite, though). The flower looks too flat/fake, and I'm not into glitter splats (but these might be fine, if you're into that). The pompom ribbon should be thrown away; it's awful.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 2, 2011 1:41 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------ (#26-30):
26. Ruby Lane: Another lesson on the importance of a good preview: this one looks horridly blurry and makes me want to move on immediately. The papers are too busy for my taste, and nothing else appeals to me (I, myself, don't often like the result of stacking multiple colors of flowers on top of each other, but it's a personal taste thing). And what is up with all of the glitter splats in this round of reviews? Didn't DL.
27. Eyeinspire: I'm noticing a trend here: the designers who deleted a color or two from the palette (or else used some of the colors as pops, instead of main colors) are the ones who are "getting my business," so to speak. I like her mini pretty well because it's calmer without the pink. I like her FB mini even better, for the same reason. That said, I like the elements on the FB mini but I despise the elements on the blog train mini. The ribbon w/ the buckle is my least favorite, followed closely by the multi-colored zig zag pattern on the flower. I DL'd both kits, and will keep/use the FB freebie in its entirety (if quality is good, which I expect it will be); I will only keep/use a couple of the papers from the actual blog train mini, though (the 2-3 on the right). The rest will visit my recycling bin.
28. DylabelDesigns: I was immediately drawn to the floral paper with the white background, and DL'd it just to get a better look. I might use that, and the postcard, but not the rest. The frames don't seem to match the feel of the rest of the kit, though they match the title. I'm confounded by the title of Vintage Chic when a decent amount of the items seem to be more 70s/retro to me. The all-brown paper is a nightmare to my eyes.
29. Marie H designs: I like what she was trying to achieve with this. The papers are decent, though my favorite one (the doodled floral on the right) seems to be too desaturated to really match the palette. I DL'd it to use with Kate's doodles, above. I might not delete these elements, but I might not use them either. Who knows. All in all, it didn't hurt my eyes to look at, but I didn't fall in love with it. It's decent, though.
30. Kooky Cat Designs: I believe this is my least favorite of the 10 I've reviewed so far today. The preview is blurry (or is it the papers/elements? I'll never find out, as I won't be DL'ing it). Everything appears to be too flat, and by that I (and other reviewers, I think) mean that the shadowing on elements is either missing or just didn't work properly. The flowers look completely digital, and if they're going to be flat like that they need to look like stickers (these don't). The flourishes have no character, as they just look like some swirls with a 10px stroke of brown applied. The bird might actually be cute to use (maybe with Misty's bird, from last night's reviews?), but I would probably skip this one and never DL it because of the blurriness issue.
To whoever requested earlier that I do the next 20, I hope I already got to yours. I will try to get to #31-40 later, just in case, but I have to go do something productive now or I will be rip-roaring angry at myself later when I have nothing to show for my day.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 2, 2011 6:35 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------ BTB 2nd Half
3Little Monsters - kept 2 elements and one paper. I wasn't thrilled with the quality.
Cabana Girl Designs - It was a wierd mix of cute elements and papers and then a lot of overly saturated, fugly elements and papers. I kept a less than half of the stuff.
Digital Artchives - kept most of it, thought the pinkish paper was pretty
Chocolate Geranium - deleted the whole thing
Color with Caryn - I only kept one paper and one element.
Delicious Scraps - kept the papers and a circle frame, the rest I deleted.
Pardon the Mess - kept the papers for solids, but not sure if I will keep them after I put everything together. Only kept 2 elements
Dutsji - A lot of pooly colored elements and the papers are lacking texture. I deleted everything except one ribbon.
Feli Designs - Wasn't impressed with the elements at all and only kept one paper.
Helly - nothing matches the rest of the BT b/c the colors are way off
Keep in Touch Designs - kept a little tag, everything else was boring and I deleted it.
Key of D - kept one ribbon that was cute, the rest was overly saturated and not usuable.
LuvEwe - kept everything for good basics.
BonScrapatit - kept the word 'art' only. The papers had no texture at all and a lot of the element were not great.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 2, 2011 7:49 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- The last part of the BTB
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
MHK Scrap Bytes - kept one floral paper and 2 solids and a ribbon, deleted the rest. I think element quality might be from poor CU.
Mandy King - kept the plaid paper, word art (love) and a stamp frame. I don't think the textures on the papers were very good at all, one had texture on the background, but no texture on the pattern. Didn't like the alpha at all.
Mommyish - kept quite a bit, but the pink paper was really ugly. Good basic elements though.
Moon Designs - I thought it might be cute from the preview which seemed ok (and not a cluttered mess), but it really wasn't very good and I deleted everything. FYI - If you make a tag include a copy without any writing on it. (word strips are a different thing, although a blank one of those is always good as well).
No Reimer Reason - I kept the embroidered flower, 2 ric rac and the rainbow (although I may delete it after a closer look), but all the papers were really flat with no texture.
RosyToes - I kept most of the elements which were done well and good for basics, but only 2 papers, the rest seemed really over saturated.
Rieka Rafita - I deleted everything due to really poor quality.
Stargazy Creations - Again, I deleted everything. Poor quality and flat papers.
Studio4 Designworks - Deleted everything.
t for me - I kept a lot of the elements, but none of the papers.
Truman Studio - I liked the papers, and a few of the elements (2 actually). The frame in the preview wasn't in the DL though, so maybe it would have been 3 elements.
Trixie Scraps - I didn't care for any of this and deleted everything.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "CDN EH" ON August 2, 2011 11:14 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ---------------------------------------- I did a quick review of the DST blog train. I only downloaded the kits that had something in the preview that caught my attention. In alphabetical order:
Barb Speck: The nuts & bolts are ok. The rest doesn't appeal to me. The entire kit looks disjointed & doesn't go together.
Designs by Krista: The patterned papers are nice & simple. When looking at the ribbon, the colors & diagonal texture give it a crazy optical illusion effect on my monitor that makes it look like the middle section is getting narrower as you look right, & wider when you look left.
Digilicious_pieceofcake: I like the flowers, particularly the rolled flowers. I like the lime green frame, although I'd prefer it without the bow. I don't care for the patterned paper.
Dylabeldesigns: The pink scalloped circle frame, green dot pp & pink flower are ok. Postcard would be better without the big blobs on the side. The big patterned paper is too busy for me personally.
Enkay: Hanging doodled frame is cute. The large flower design paper I can see as a printed scrapbook paper - it's bright but it's fun. Enkay was able to incorporate the color palette in a fun way.
Kate Hadfield: Her doodles are well executed with nice coloring & shading. If you like doodles, her stuff will probably appeal to you.
Keep In Touch Designs: I like the orange swirl & the first 2 patterned papers. The rest of the kit doesn't appeal to me as it's very digital looking, & kind of generic.
Mags Graphics: Her striped alpha is fun, & looks like it would suit a happy layout about the beach.
Mommyish: I like the rolled flower. The pink grungy paper with the swirls is hideously ugly! This kit does not go together. The wooden picture frame looks like it would go with a shabby chic style, but the paper is grungy & gross, & the labels & bows look more contemporary style. The styles are so different in this kit it looks like it has a split personality.
Sherwood Studio: I like the swirled tree thing. Most of the papers are ok & the texture resembles real paper.
Sunnyday Scraps: I like the glittered swirl. The butterfly could be a cute accent. The rose is very digital looking, but it is well executed & nice for someone who likes that style. I don't care for the rest of the kit, it doesn't look like anything goes together. I don't understand that lacey thing that's on the candle holder (it looks like a lace fire hazzard).
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 3:29 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- BTB #31-35 (per request):
31. Scraps by Mara: Shadowing on the preview is a vast improvement over the entry before (Kooky Cat), so these papers/elements actually have some realism. Paper is WAY too grungy for my tastes, although I know there are some who prefer it that way. In general, though, I've found over time that those who prefer that amount of grunge are few and far between, so I think this detracts from the kit. The coloring is off, too (the leaves are not even close to the palette colors). The shadowing on the stacked flower is much too harsh to appear realistic. All in all, this is not a kit for my tastes. Didn't DL.
32. Sweet Tomato Designs: Something about the preview struck me as strange, and I finally realized that the shadow for the paper on the far right is WAY off; looks like it was on a separate layer that got accidentally dragged too far out. Beyond that oddity, this kit looks nice. Appears to be well-made and of good quality from the preview, and has some useful elements that are cohesive with the papers. This could be used as-is, which we all know I grade highly. It would also coordinate w/ some other portions from other designers, though not as well as a few others' b/c the theme/feel of this kit isn't at all like anything else we've seen so far. Didn't DL, but only b/c I didn't like the color combos on 3 of the papers and I knew I wouldn't use it in the end. But this was one of the more well-put together efforts, in terms of cohesiveness within a kit.
33. { Ocean Wide Designs }: At first glance, this appears to be one of the better offerings in this blog train. The way she used the color palette is pleasing to the eye (and as any veteran designer knows, a color palette and your kit preview can go a long way to getting you a sale: it's the first (and sometimes only) thing that draws in a potential customer). So kudos to her for getting me to look. Unfortunately, that's where my praise ends. After inspecting the preview up close, I don't find a lot that looks worth my time. The fake acrylic action/style used to create the buttons is awful. Why not scan/photograph and extract real buttons? These are bad. BAD. The shadowing on both of the stacked flowers is extremely unrealistic, as well. They look almost as digital as the acrylic buttons. Yuck. All of the frames and the stitching are good, basic offerings, and would get used along with other people's papers/elements. I DL'd just to get a closer look at the papers (which were brought up by someone else already on this blog a day or two ago). I wasn't impressed, but they weren't horrible. Patterns are a personal preference thing, anyway. Bottom line: I give this a B for marketing (she got me to look closer), but a C- for execution.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 3:30 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- ...continued from above...
34. Milly Dee Designs: Oh how I wish that designers would post full 600x600 previews on their blogs. Yes, it's important/necessary, people. We shouldn't have to click to make it bigger, but if we DO click: it should be an option! If you want to link from your photo previews to your shop (or to the actual DL)... which you SHOULD do... then you need a 600x600 preview. End of rant. As for the kit itself, I like her originality and creativity. This is obviously handmade work, and not CU-laden recolored crap. I wish she had done something to make her papers seem more coordinated (even a solid paper in between each one that ties them together would have helped), because they seem mish-mashy and detract from what's really on display here: the doodled elements. After following Milly Dee for a few months (other contests, etc.) I know that she does her own doodles and artwork, and these are cute. I love the flower with the patterned petals. I think the outline on the banner is too thick, however, when compared to the outlines on the other elements. I DL'd it for the doodled elements, and will discard the rest. The elements will be cute with other items I've already gathered.
35. Paper Capers Designs: Meh. There's nothing truly wrong with this offering. Word art is just that: word art. Plain, simple, and often boring to look at on a preview (but useful along with other items when scrapping). But if I were participating in a blog train with a set palette to work from, I think I'd incorporate that into my word art, rather than offer up boring black line art/etc. This holds especially true when the theme of her pack is "why be normal?" and, well, this pack is nothing BUT normal. Didn't DL, got bored and moved along.
(I'll be back later with the next 5 that I promised, #36-40)...
Also, my e-mail for reviews is piersunhacked at gmail dot com.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 9:38 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------ BTB #36-40:
36. Digital Harmony: As a whole, the preview for this one doesn't do a lot for me, as I am not into pink, brown, and blue together as a color combo. Blame the palette for this. Looked at as individual pieces, though, this isn't a bad portion. The papers are textured enough to look like cardstock, but not so much that they're out of control. The patterns are all plaid, which is a little boring as far as patterned papers go, but it's titled "pretty in plaid" so it's hard to complain (and also because it's a free mini and there are so many other interesting patterns available from other designers, so I'm not lacking). The journaling paper is cute, and the stamped pattern is a nice touch. The preview is put together/shadowed pretty well (with exception to the flower stem on the left). Everything looks relatively realistic. Making the heart frame appear to have wire detailing was an interesting idea/nice touch, as a way to spice up a CU piece in a new way. I'd give this one a B / B+.
37. Inspired Designs: I almost laughed out loud while looking at this one, because my first thought was "wow the color on the papers looks waaaaay washed out," and then I read the title of the product: "Washed Out: Distressed Papers". Well, she certainly hit the mark, then! LMAO. These papers look decent. I'm not in love w/ the color combos used on the plaid papers, but that's not to say that this is bad designing. Just not my personal preference. The solids will be nice to use w/ some other things I've picked up along the way. Looking at some of her other products, it looks like she can create some decent elements, and I wish she had done that here, too. Other than that, no real complaints.
38. Created by Jill Scraps: This is the most mishy-mashy submission I've looked at this afternoon. It would appear that she's a newer designer who hasn't yet figured out her style, and is instead just throwing together random items that are colored to the palette. Fake acrylic frame, realistic/extracted flower/leaves, fake acrylic button w/ realistic thread, ribbon, string, etc. None of it really "goes" together, other than it's colored to coordinate. The papers are OK, nothing stunning, with exception to the blue paper that's apparently supposed to be embossed (?)... that should have been left out. The shadowing on the bevels is WAY too severe, and no paper would have grooves that deep/sharp. Didn't DL.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 9:39 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------ ...#36-40 continued...
39. Snips and Snails Designs: This one looks pretty cute initially, except for the fact that it's mainly made up of very recognizable CU products (the average consumer wouldn't notice this, most likely, but I do). I like a couple of her patterned papers, and DL'd to get a better look. The stickers are cute if used on solid papers. The overlay/blending work on the banners needs improvement, as they look markedly more digital than the rest of the offerings. I like the stitched frames, hate the buckled ribbon. Overall, not bad... but needs to be cleaned up a bit.
40. A-liya: This is my least favorite from today (out of #31-40), but this may be due more to my personal preference toward a paper-scrapped style than due to the kit itself. Simply put, I don't gravitate towards kits that include lots of realistic/extracted elements that couldn't actually be pinned/glued down to paper IRL. I DL'd it to take a closer look at the quality/etc., as I don't feel I can be completely objective about the style... most of the elements/extractions are flawless and clean. A couple of elements had drop shadows, which I don't like, but the elements in question were shiny/glowy to begin with, so users might not mind (?). The string with beads could use some shadowing work, as it looks completely flat and unrealistic... strange, in a kit filled with realistic elements that seems to be made for those who enjoy that style. Not my cup of tea.
And with those reviews, I have now fulfilled my obligation to whoever asked for #20-40! Phew.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 8:26 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------- BTB #41-50 (per request)... please note that I've stopped DL'ing because I have no need for any more freebies, so these reviews are based on previews alone unless otherwise noted (if I DL to check quality):
41. Designs by Angel: A visually cohesive kit. She deleted a couple of colors from the palette to calm things down, which I like. The doodled style flows throughout almost all of the papers/elements w/ exception to the strangely-shaped tag w/ real string (I would have gone w/ a doodled tag instead, to match the rest of it). For scrapping purposes, I would have liked to have seen the pattern on the flowered paper a little smaller and more frequent (so the pattern could be seen when just pieces of the paper are used on a layout, since the pattern is very cute). All in all, this is a generally good entry.
42. eNKay Design: Her site bandwidth is exceeded right now, so I can't get to her blog. I will mention that I did see her portion a week or so ago when I did my first round of reviews: it had some cute doodled elements, and a pleasant color combo. I remember liking it. I just can't pick it apart any further right now, other than to tell her that she probably needs to find a new web host...
43. Digilicious Designs: She muted the palette colors & left out the brown (with exception to a few color pops using it), which was a good idea. I don't like her method of previewing the papers, though, as I really can't see them (this is too bad, because they look like they might be nice, but how is a customer supposed to be able to tell by looking at a tiny corner on each paper?). The kit is called Piece of Cake, but this surprised me because after looking at the papers I figured it would be a gardeny-themed kit (lots of flowers, not much cake). The elements are also half-garden-y and half-cake-y, so I think her kit theme could use some de-mish-mashifying. Shadowing on the preview is off; it's not realistic to have a frame that thick w/ the same basic shadows as flat pieces of paper. Same goes for the rolled flowers = shadowed incorrectly.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 8:27 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------- ...continued...
44. BZB Designs: She also got rid of the brown and used it as just an accent color on elements; the result is nice. This is a well-previewed portion, with shadowing that makes these papers/elements look realistic (though I would have deepened the shadows on the bird, the leaf, and the brown tag; these 3 seem sorta flat). My only real problem w/ this one, if you can call it a problem, is that there's nothing really unique here. For blog train passengers, I know it's good to get a portion w/ some basics now and then, to use w/ the rest of it, so I'm not really complaining. I just don't know that there's anything included here that would bring someone back to her again in the future because this kit's probably not making a lasting impression on anyone. Although... now that I think about it, in this particular blog train, doing something simple and basic (and even boring) does sorta set you apart from the crap, so maybe I take that back.
45. In The Small Things: She says her portion is a mini, but it's 19 elements and 11 papers in 3 DL's. To lots of designers nowadays that's a full kit, LOL. Due to use of all of the palette colors, this one is busy and hurts my eyes (in fact, even the preview design is busy). The 3 patterned papers in the middle (butterfly, flowers, flowers) look cute and simple, and I wish they were previewed separately w/ a few solids and without any of the dark brown, and with maybe 5-7 of the flower elements instead of this entire mish-mash of items. The preview looks blurry to me; I'm constantly amazed by the sheer number of blurry previews I run across all the time. How do designers not understand the importance of a preview? I'm guessing these designers are the ones who buy fruit in the grocery without picking it up and feeling it/looking at it first.
SOrry for all of the extra commentary, I'm feeling extra wordy today. I'll be back later with #46-50, as long as I can force myself to review "Connie's" portion that she had no part in creating, because what I really want to do is skip it out of principle...
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 12:31 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------- BTB #46-50:
46. Designs by Connie Prince: I've decided not to review this one, in order to make a point. Shari, it's time to get your own blog and then I'll review your contribution next time. It's doubtful you're the one who requested that I review #41-50 in order to get your own portion reviewed, anyway... but if, by chance, it was you who asked: maybe this will teach you a lesson. It's time to stop riding your mentor's coattails, and fly out of the nest into the big, scary designer wild. The fact that you've been designing Connie's blog train minis for the better part of the past year has been irritating to a lot of people (it's been brought up on this blog multiple times before), and I've now jumped onto that bandwagon, as well. Next!
47. Daybreak Scraps: Please, please, please get a blog design that supports 600x600 previews! Actually, it looks to me like this one does/would support it, so I'll cry foul on user-error for failing to have a larger preview (and/or the option to click on the preview to see a larger version). From what I can see, however, I will say that this is a pretty good preview of a seemingly average product. The shadowing is good, the elements look realistic, and the kit theme is cohesive. I hate the color combo, however, and want to gouge out my eyeballs any time I see brown and orange together on a paper or an element, let alone both. It would appear that the actual design execution is pretty good here, but oww those colors. Additionally, would anyone EVER use those 2 patterned papers together for anything? Ever? Ick. She would have been better off leaving out the brown paw-print paper, or else keeping it and pairing it with neutral solids instead of a multi-colored stripe pattern. Just saying.
48. Robyn Pali Designs: Who is this? I've never heard of her before, but my first thought when I visited her blog was that her logo is cute but was cuter the first time around, when it was Thaty Borges' logo. This has nothing to do with my review, but it's strange nonetheless and worth mentioning. As for her blog train kit preview, it's blurry and the preview itself is muddled and confusing. It would appear at first glance that the large papers stacked behind everything are included in the kit (especially b/c they match the palette, somewhat). It's just the 6 paper strips in the front, though, which (although blurry) look relatively nice. Exceptions: I despise the texture used on the brown solid (it might be nice on another color paper, but for a brown that dark it just looks... off), and again w/ hating the brown/orange color combo w/ reference to the paper on the right (a neutral cream/offwhite would have worked better than the orange). As for the elements, they all look pretty nice except for anything that includes the color orange: her orange doesn't seem right to me (too dark/almost bordering on Halloweenish and depressing). It makes the ribbon look almost metallic, which I doubt was intentional. The sign-post is cute. The blurriness on the preview makes it appear that the button has massive jagged edges or strays, so I DL'd to look closer and it's actually fine. Let this be a lesson (again!) about the importance of a preview. A customer would never have paid to check that out, they'd have simply moved on to another shop.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 12:35 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------- ...continued...
49. Aprilisa Designs: This one's well done. She pared down the number of colors in the palette, and muted them enough that the mini has a calm feel to it, even w/ the inclusion of orange (which is not a serene color). The elements look realistic, the preview is well-done, and the shadowing is good. The only thing noteworthy about it is the fact that there's nothing noteworthy about it. It's plain, basic, and unmemorable. But she's probably established enough (compared to most of the people I've reviewed, that is) to be able to get away with lacking a "wow" factor for a blog train submission.
50. MaitriScraps: Oh dear. It took me a minute to figure out what should be said about this one. First, there appear to be no patterned papers. Not the end of the world, but I do think you're supposed to include at least a couple, per the blog train rules. After reading her post, though, I fear that there actually ARE patterned papers, and that they're supposed to be sparkly. It's honestly hard to tell if the sparkles on the preview are on the papers or just separate elements (scatters). I think it's the latter, since her theme was something about a starry night. Strange theme, IMO, because the paper/element colors do NOT channel "starry night" to me (maybe if she had gone w/ just the greens, blues, and browns in the palette). The remaining elements all look excessively digital to me, especially the ribbon, staples, flair, and beads(?). It would seem that everything was created with an action, which isn't my style. I would go so far as to say that it isn't anyone's style (and instead just a mistake made by newbie designers), but I see it so often in the digital scrap world that I actually believe there must be a market out there for it. But mark my words: you will never see this style of product in one of the top stores.
This ends my reviews of this month's blog train. If yours didn't get reviewed but you wish it had, I am sure you can go back and read what we've all written about the other submissions and gather a lot of ideas about what's good, what's bad, and what's just downright ugly. Something that's been said above surely applies to yours, too.
I'm excited now to move on to other shops, as requested.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "ANONYMOUS" ON August 1, 2011 7:30 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete-------------------------------------------
FAIL TRAIN... I mean BLOG TRAIN!!!
So This morning I went through and picked out which pieces were actually nice.. (for my taste, forgive me if you don't like)
*not all of the designers have posted yet so there may be more*
Actually Good -
http://mistycatodesigns.com/mcdblog
http://www.wishingwellcreations.com/
http://adoribledigitaldesigns.com/2011/08/blog-train-freebies-2/
http://mariehdesignsscrap.blogspot.com/
http://sweettomatodesigns.com/blog
http://scrappingwithangel.blogspot.com/
http://enkay-design.com/blog/
http://digilicious.typepad.com/digi_licious_designs/
http://bzb-designs.com/blog/
http://scrapinfusions.blogspot.com/
http://aprilisadesigns.blogspot.com/
http://mybagofscraps.com/
http://www.scrapawhileatstudio4.blogspot.com/
http://coffeeandtforme.blogspot.com/
http://mommyish.net/
Decent -
http://sewretrosoyou.com/2011/08/01/the-august-blog-train-retro-summer/
http://kimerickreations.blogspot.com/
http://eyeinspire.com/blog/
http://dylabeldesigns.blogspot.com/
http://digitalharmony-dhds.squarespace.com/
http://inthesmallthings-scraps.blogspot.com/
http://www.cabanagirldesigns.com/blog/
http://blog.colorwithcaryn.com/
http://www.dutsji.com/
http://www.designsbyhelly.blogspot.com/
http://riekarafita.blogspot.com/
http://roseytoes9.blogspot.com/
http://luvewedesigns.com/
http://designs-by-colleen.blogspot.com/
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "ANONYMOUS" ON August 1, 2011 1:26 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete------------------------------------------
I downloaded from only a few designers and some of them it was only for certain parts:
designs by krista
wishing well
sherwood studio
kate hadfield
enkay
digilicious
bzb designs
aprilsila
lily lane market
t for me
luv ewe
A couple notes, first I can't believe how many designers can't even properly link to the next blog! Second, steadfast and immovable did a single alpha and yet it was 4 downloads, that seems like a little much! Third, I can understand adjusting the swatch a bit, especially the orange since it was out of gamut, but some of them are so different it's crazy.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 4:53 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------
Here's my take on the first 50 of the BTB (I'll do more later).
First - If I don't mention them then I didn't even bother to download it.
Amanda Millie Dee - kept 2 solid papers
Aprilisa - kept the frame, string word art and one paper
BZB Designs - kept almost everything, seems like a few things I might use
Designs by Angel - I downloaded it, but deleted the whole thing b/c it was flat and bland.
Daybreak Scraps - kept the frame (it's cute) and one paper
DigiDeborah - kept the clip
Digilicious Designs - kept the rolled flowers and a couple of papers
Designs by Krista - I downloaded this one but deleted it all - didn't like the textures on the flowers and the papers were flat.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 5:08 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------
BTB cont.
Digital Harmony - kept most everything - good for basics.
EnKay - Kind of cute, kept most of it to use as basics
EyeInspire - kept most everything except the borders which were ugly.
HFD - not sure of the name b/c no preview was included or TOU. Kept a couple papers and none of the elements
Inspired Designs - downloaded and deleted
In the Small Things - downloaded and deleted
Jen C - kept most of it - again for basics
Jusme - Deleted everything - yuck!
Kate Hadfeld - kept them, but will have to see what they look like opened in Photoshop
more to come soon - gotta tend to the family.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON August 1, 2011 6:52 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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(part 1)
I'm not sure why people get so pissed off when others ask for a Simon review. If you don't like it, carry on. It's really that simple. LOL @ sex toys review!
I don't normally bother to look at the bi-monthly blog train because it's almost always 90% crap. But, I will this time to see if I'm missing anything. I'm not reviewing everyone, so assume if it's not mentioned, I think your contribution is gross.
I would like to add that including that stupid slideshow is ANNOYING and SLOW. Just get rid of it. Who sits there and watches it anyway? Show us the swatch and move on.
Downloaded (my reviews are after I unzipped):
Misty Cato - Don't like the metallic style applied to the stars. Don't like the texture on the solids and why no light blue solid? Seems odd since she made the other 5 colors. I didn't keep the solids or the stars.
Designs by Krista - Downloaded for the papers only. Deleted all the elements but the ribbon.
Wishing Well Creations (Not the Facebook alpha, though. The coloring is off.) - This didn't mesh with the other pieces of the train, but it's pretty and done well.
Kate Hadfield - Great quality doodles.
Adorable Digital Designs - After unzipping, I deleted everything but the banner. I only downloaded for the elements anyway. I liked the little clothes on the hangers and they are sadly jagged. It's a shame, because they are adorable.
Eyeinspire - Liked both minis (downloaded the 2nd from her Facebook page). Will desaturize the orange and brown, though. The borders need to be about half the height she made them.
Marie H Designs - Downloaded because I never heard of her. Very basic, but OK. Deleted half of it.
Sweet Tomato Designs - This doesn't really mesh with most of the blog train, but the papers are grunged nicely. Deleted most of the elements.
eNKay - Deleted half the papers. The elements are cute.
Daybreak Scraps - Deleted everything but the doodles.
Snips and Snails - This looked like a total mish mash, but I liked the banner and it was direct download. I ended up keeping the banner, the leaves, and the little tag. Liked the retro flower pattern paper, but the texture was gross.
Aprilisa Designs - Downloaded for the papers - kept only the patterns. Flower is poorly recolored. Other elements are basic. Kept the frame since it was there.
Trixie Scraps - Deleted half the elements (mish mashy) and kept 2 of the patterned papers.
t is for me - Downloaded only for the papers. Kept most of them and the button. Other elements are mish mashy and gross.
Luv Ewe - Kept the papers. The elements are poorly recolored.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON August 1, 2011 6:52 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------
(part 2 - final part)
Looked OK, but didn't download:
A-liya
Digilicious Designs
BZB Designs
Studio 4 (template)
Lilly Lane (templates)
Designs by Helly (even though this totally doesn't mesh with much else on the train, it's pretty)
Designs by Colleen
Delicious Scraps
Not up at the time of my review...
Mille Dee Designs
Aimee Harrison
Angel Hartline
Feli Designs
Mad Genius Designs
Dancing Princess Designs
Willow Grace Designs
Scrappin Wright
The Brown Owl
Inspirations from Day
Jill DZines
Overall, I now have a huge retro styled mega and a few little minis. It would have gone faster if that stupid slideshow didn't slow me down. It took me about an hour and a half to go through all the blogs, download what I wanted, then unzip and delete what I didn't want. That includes the time to write this review. I wouldn't say it was worth it as I'm happy to buy things and generally don't waste time with freebies. But, if you're on a limited budget, it's a nice way to get a lot of stuff if you have need for it.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 7:39 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------
Here's some more BTB review
4Princesses - Only kept 2 papers and a pink bow
Mara - papers were a mess, just kept a bow, border and bead spill
Marie H - kept it all
Misty Cato - a few of the elements were cute and I kept them, but the paper textures were really flat and boring
Robin Pali - kept the flower
Ruby Lane - kept the glitter spill and one paper
Sugar Berry Pie - kept 2 papers and 2 elements, the rest looked over saturated
Sherwood Studio - kept everything except the hearts
Snips and Snails - cute banner and kept a couple of solid papers, also kept a few of the doodles, but not all of them. Some of the elements had much poorer quality than others.
Sweet Tomato - kept the papers and the journal/frame thing
Wishing Well - kept everything
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 1, 2011 7:45 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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So - my 1-50 BTB wrap up
These are the ones that I kept all or most of the download.
BZB Designs
Digital Harmony
EnKay
EyeInspire
Jen C
Kate Hadfeld
Marie H
Sherwood Studio
Wishing Well
I'll go through the rest of the train tonight or tomorrow.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "ANONYMOUS" ON August 1, 2011 8:00 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete----------------------------------------
Blog Train by Store - You'll get what I mean shortly.
Lilypad -
Kate Hadfield - Holy cow yum. I'm not surprised her contribution would be nice!
TDC -
Wishing Well Creations - Doesn't match the rest of the stuff (imo) but that is almost a good thing! Nice papers.
eNKay -
Downloaded it is nice but just not my style, I guess? The pattern on the flower paper is nice.. again the colors are just too bright for my taste
Mommyish -
Downlaoded despite the horrible preview. Surprised that the elements were actually very nice. Not a fan of the bead cluter. I hated the striped paper. The grunge pink/brown paper is nice. The solids have a good texture.
--- will post more later. Time for dinner.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:00 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete------------------------------------------
Someone suggested that a little constructive criticism/feedback for the good, bad, and ugly blog train contributions would be helpful, and I figured why not? A little disclaimer before I get started: although I now design and scrap digitally, I am a paper scrapper by heart and the fantasy realm doesn't appeal to me at all. Obviously these reviews will be colored by that. Also, I rarely download freebies and so many of the initial opinions will be from the preview. If I test the quality and it warrants discussion, I'll mention it.
For now, just the first 20 (here's part 1 of those):
1. Trish H. Designs: Not sure exactly why she puts up the glitters for general use. I know she's always made it available to the designers when the palette/theme is posted during planning, which makes sense (they can use it in their designs that way), The average digiscrapper, though, doesn't have a lot of use for glitter tiles. And the above-average digiscrapper usually ends up designing. Didn't DL.
2. jusme digital: I don't like that she desaturated the colors in the palette so much that they became pastel and hideous. The papers look blurry to the point of being dirty, and the color combos on each are awful. I think the gradient coloring on the acrylic hearts looks cheap. Simply put, it all looks too digital, and this isn't something that inspires anyone to preserve their memories while using it. If I wouldn't buy it in a store (i.e. if I were paper scrapping), I won't waste time downloading it. Didn't DL.
3. Lollipop Designs: I tend to judge blog train portions by usability, and this doesn't seem very usable. The papers might end up going with someone else's portion, yes, but by itself this portion is pointless. I don't need 4 papers that don't coordinate along with 5 ribbons. The preview shadowing isn't realistic, either, which makes everything look fake. All in all, there's nothing unique about any of this. Didn't DL.
4. Amanda & Millie Designs: I like the idea behind the paisley patterns/items, but it wasn't executed well. Looks beginnerish (to me, this means that it doesn't look realistic and looks obviously digital, even though the intent appears to be to look like realistic paper-scrapping elements, etc.). Didn't DL.
5. Misty Cato Designs: I like the idea she was aiming for (retro), and downloaded it to see what it looks like up close. The papers don't have much texture, but that's not really a big deal (it would work well for hybrid, for anyone who's into that). I might keep parts of it to pair with parts from other people.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:01 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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(part 2 of the first 20):
6. wordartworld: I'm trying to look past the fact that I don't like this color palette, and review each contribution for it's execution within the assigned palette. It's difficult. This mini is executed rather well for what it is (papers and word art), and when combined with other portions it might work out fine. I just don't like the papers on their own, and the mish-mash of textures used on each is confusing to the eye. Downloaded it just to see if the floral patterned paper might work with someone else's portion(s).
7. HotFlashDesigns: This is a mish-mash of realistic elements and paper style elements, and doesn't appeal to me. The papers are very beginnerish. Just dots and stripes, and a realistic teapot dropped onto a white background? Don't make a paper with a realistic element as your pattern, please, people. Also, who posts one really, really long blog post in a day... let alone three? This annoyed me, although I know it has nothing to do with her designs and I am sure I will get harpooned on here for mentioning it. Didn't DL.
8. Digital Creations from Millstream Cottage: I can't wrap my head around what this is. It says "5 patterned backgrounds" but I see at least 2x that many. I can hardly make out what's an element and what's a paper. The preview is just awful. To borrow a line from Simon herself, it makes me want to cry. Didn't DL.
9. Jen C. Designs: I wouldn't download either of her freebies (blog or FB), as neither seems usable for actual scrapping. The gradient papers, in particular, are awful, though they may appeal to someone who blends photos onto papers. The rest of the blog freebie is a mish-mash of items that don't really lend themselves to scrapping, You'd have to purchase her full kit/bundle, which I know was the point. But I disagree with that approach. It makes a visitor want to skip her download all together. Didn't DL.
10. designsbykrista: I actually liked this one, based on the preview. It's simple, acts as a sample (as a blog train contribution should), but can stand alone. You could scrap a page with this. Not sure about quality, as I didn't download. The preview works, though. Downloaded to see if a couple of the papers/elements will work with other portions. Won't keep it all.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:05 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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(part 3 of the first 20):
11. Samceline Designs: This looks too digital for me to want to bother with it. For instance, the kids: are they supposed to be paper? Acryilc? I'd say neither, and that's weird. I want to expand the preview to look further, but can't. Annoying. The whole thing seems to be a mish-mash of fantasy-type items and realistic paperish elements. A bad mix. Didn't DL.
12. Wishing Well Creations: Thank god someone finally made something neutral. I like the calm colors (so she hit the mark since it's titled Serenity). By itself, this is pretty unoriginal (just basic elements and nothing memorable), but you could scrap a page with this alone and you could also use it with other parts from other people. I agree with Simon that the FB alpha colors seem off, but I wondered if it was just because they're against the kraft packaging that clashes with the palette. I downloaded them and found that the green alpha is colored fine, but the blue alpha is way off fro the palette. I could use it with something else, and might (it's neutral), but not with this blog train.
13. Let Me Scrapbook!: A strange mix of items that don't seem to go together. Some of the elements seem cute, but make no sense with some of the other elements. I wish more designers would think through how an end user will use their creations. Simply put, it's clear that many designers are either not scrappers anymore, or bad scrappers. It's sad, really. Didn't DL, although the bathtub/girl was cute.
14. Snuggle Berry Pie Designs: Two problems here: that striped paper makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs, and anyone who would make it has just convinced me not to bother with the rest of the kit. Also, I can't make the preview any bigger, so I'm bored with trying to figure it all out, and I'm moving on instead of trying to figure out why the mishy-mashy elements and papers don't seem to go together. Didn't DL.
15. Brandi Beaver: No preview on her blog. I got bored and moved on. Some of you will complain that I should have DL'd it in order to review it, but instead I will offer this up as a lesson to newbie designers: you need a preview. You need a full-size 600x600 preview, preferably, but at very least you need any preview at all. p.s. your design name makes me laugh. I know, sophomoric humor. Sue me.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 1, 2011 10:06 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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(part 4 of the first 20):
16. Digi Deborah's Designs: See my review of jusme digital, above, with regard to the color alterations. I'll give her credit for making sure everything was the same basic style, though. It all looks like paper scrapping supplies, but I don't like most of it (due to the bad coloring).
17. Sherwood Studio Digital Designs: Another neutral-based kit, which I like. I DL'd it to use with Wishing Well's neutral items, along with a few of the color pops from the other designers here and there. I mention the other color pops because I simply don't like the acrylic hearts she included. The idea behind them was good, but the execution was bad. They don't go with the rest of her weathered/shabby items, and they seem out of place.
18. Tina Shaw: This is the worst one so far. Why? Flat preview, awful/no shadows, and overall blurriness. In addition, the color combos on separate papers/elements are hideous. Just because it's in the palette, doesn't mean you have to use it all together on every paper/element. Didn't DL.
19. Ronda's Scrap Bits: I like the idea behind this, as it isn't mishy-mashy. The color combos on the papers are generally pleasant, given the palette. The frame looks like it's the wrong color of blue/green, though and/or doesn't go with the rest of her kit. Also, the word art would be impossible to use on those papers and there don't seem to be any solids included. Another instance of me wishing designers thought ahead to end-users' needs. DL'd it for the striped paper, ended up deleting the rest. Honestly can't believe I am now DL'ing and collecting freebies. LMAO.
20. Adorible Digital: Thought the clothes were a cute idea, but I don't have any use for any of it. Might have DL'd to look further, but sadly had read Simon's review from earlier and knew the quality was an issue. Didn't DL.
That's it for me. I can only be this detailed for the first 20, because well, this took forever and my eyes are now bleeding from all of the brown/orange/pink.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 2, 2011 1:37 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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Nah, Hasselhoff generates enough bad press on his very own. I might never be able to forget the video footage of him drunk, making out with that hamburger on the floor...
I figured Piers was good (for the type of review I am trying to deliver), and Hasselhoff was good for the entertainment factor. Mainly I just needed a name change so that Simon wouldn't worry that she was posting reviews in her sleep.
Here's a few more from me (#21-25):
21. Simply Kelly Designs: I like the idea behind this one, because it's original. I don't really like the execution, though. Initially the papers look like they're all solids, though that's not the case. Scrappers want patterned papers for a reason, and if it looks solid unless you look really close at it, it's not serving its purpose IMO. Also, why add black to the one paper? I wish the paper w/ the volleyballs had actually worked, but it doesn't. The balls need some definition; they look like swirls because there's no defined outline for each ball. The word art balls are cute and would be usable, but there's not much else to work with. The ric rac looks very digital. Didn't DL.
22. KimericKreations: Her kit is called Simplicity, and it fits (because that's actually the first word I thought of when I saw it: simple). Overall, I like it, but I do have a few beefs with it: first, I don't think of grungy paint splats and smears when I think of simplicity. That part doesn't fit with the rest. Also, I have the same thing to say about the lack of patterns on the papers that I just said with Simply Kelly. I know she was trying to keep it simple, but maybe a couple of subtle patterns would have been nice. I downloaded it and will keep the papers to use as solids with a few of the other neutral kits I reviewed last night.
23. My4PrincessesDesigns: I'm mixed on this one. I like the floral paper, and the wood background paper, and I love the idea of driftwood for a Summer Beach kit. I just wish she had used different color combos on the surfboard and especially the umbrella, though, because both had the potential to be cute and didn't really work for me in the end. I didn't DL it, but it wasn't horrible. I just didn't love any of it enough to bother.
24. Kate Hadfield: I love this one, though I will admit that not everyone is into doodled elements for scrapping pages. But for those who are, these are top-notch and really cute. Props to her for using all of the palette colors and still managing to keep it from looking like a mish-mash. This actually looks purposeful. I will use these elements in a heartbeat as color pops along w/ neutral papers from some of last night's reviews (or even Kimeric's today), and maybe one or two of the multi-colored patterned papers I kept from last night's DL's. All in all, I like it, but I am not sure why she didn't do any papers, though.
25. Brandi White Designs: This is another of those minis that I hated initially (bad previewing), but upon closer inspection I realize that a few parts would maybe be useful if paired with pieces from other designers. Mainly the frame(s) and the tag, and maybe the dotted multi-colored paper (the texture isn't my favorite, though). The flower looks too flat/fake, and I'm not into glitter splats (but these might be fine, if you're into that). The pompom ribbon should be thrown away; it's awful.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 2, 2011 1:41 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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(#26-30):
26. Ruby Lane: Another lesson on the importance of a good preview: this one looks horridly blurry and makes me want to move on immediately. The papers are too busy for my taste, and nothing else appeals to me (I, myself, don't often like the result of stacking multiple colors of flowers on top of each other, but it's a personal taste thing). And what is up with all of the glitter splats in this round of reviews? Didn't DL.
27. Eyeinspire: I'm noticing a trend here: the designers who deleted a color or two from the palette (or else used some of the colors as pops, instead of main colors) are the ones who are "getting my business," so to speak. I like her mini pretty well because it's calmer without the pink. I like her FB mini even better, for the same reason. That said, I like the elements on the FB mini but I despise the elements on the blog train mini. The ribbon w/ the buckle is my least favorite, followed closely by the multi-colored zig zag pattern on the flower. I DL'd both kits, and will keep/use the FB freebie in its entirety (if quality is good, which I expect it will be); I will only keep/use a couple of the papers from the actual blog train mini, though (the 2-3 on the right). The rest will visit my recycling bin.
28. DylabelDesigns: I was immediately drawn to the floral paper with the white background, and DL'd it just to get a better look. I might use that, and the postcard, but not the rest. The frames don't seem to match the feel of the rest of the kit, though they match the title. I'm confounded by the title of Vintage Chic when a decent amount of the items seem to be more 70s/retro to me. The all-brown paper is a nightmare to my eyes.
29. Marie H designs: I like what she was trying to achieve with this. The papers are decent, though my favorite one (the doodled floral on the right) seems to be too desaturated to really match the palette. I DL'd it to use with Kate's doodles, above. I might not delete these elements, but I might not use them either. Who knows. All in all, it didn't hurt my eyes to look at, but I didn't fall in love with it. It's decent, though.
30. Kooky Cat Designs: I believe this is my least favorite of the 10 I've reviewed so far today. The preview is blurry (or is it the papers/elements? I'll never find out, as I won't be DL'ing it). Everything appears to be too flat, and by that I (and other reviewers, I think) mean that the shadowing on elements is either missing or just didn't work properly. The flowers look completely digital, and if they're going to be flat like that they need to look like stickers (these don't). The flourishes have no character, as they just look like some swirls with a 10px stroke of brown applied. The bird might actually be cute to use (maybe with Misty's bird, from last night's reviews?), but I would probably skip this one and never DL it because of the blurriness issue.
To whoever requested earlier that I do the next 20, I hope I already got to yours. I will try to get to #31-40 later, just in case, but I have to go do something productive now or I will be rip-roaring angry at myself later when I have nothing to show for my day.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 2, 2011 6:35 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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BTB 2nd Half
3Little Monsters - kept 2 elements and one paper. I wasn't thrilled with the quality.
Cabana Girl Designs - It was a wierd mix of cute elements and papers and then a lot of overly saturated, fugly elements and papers. I kept a less than half of the stuff.
Digital Artchives - kept most of it, thought the pinkish paper was pretty
Chocolate Geranium - deleted the whole thing
Color with Caryn - I only kept one paper and one element.
Delicious Scraps - kept the papers and a circle frame, the rest I deleted.
Pardon the Mess - kept the papers for solids, but not sure if I will keep them after I put everything together. Only kept 2 elements
Dutsji - A lot of pooly colored elements and the papers are lacking texture. I deleted everything except one ribbon.
Feli Designs - Wasn't impressed with the elements at all and only kept one paper.
Helly - nothing matches the rest of the BT b/c the colors are way off
Keep in Touch Designs - kept a little tag, everything else was boring and I deleted it.
Key of D - kept one ribbon that was cute, the rest was overly saturated and not usuable.
LuvEwe - kept everything for good basics.
BonScrapatit - kept the word 'art' only. The papers had no texture at all and a lot of the element were not great.
I'll be back with the last bit soon.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "RANDY" ON August 2, 2011 7:49 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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The last part of the BTB
Mad Genius - kept a ribbon and two starts, the rest was not good enough to keep.
MHK Scrap Bytes - kept one floral paper and 2 solids and a ribbon, deleted the rest. I think element quality might be from poor CU.
Mandy King - kept the plaid paper, word art (love) and a stamp frame. I don't think the textures on the papers were very good at all, one had texture on the background, but no texture on the pattern. Didn't like the alpha at all.
Mommyish - kept quite a bit, but the pink paper was really ugly. Good basic elements though.
Moon Designs - I thought it might be cute from the preview which seemed ok (and not a cluttered mess), but it really wasn't very good and I deleted everything.
FYI - If you make a tag include a copy without any writing on it. (word strips are a different thing, although a blank one of those is always good as well).
No Reimer Reason - I kept the embroidered flower, 2 ric rac and the rainbow (although I may delete it after a closer look), but all the papers were really flat with no texture.
RosyToes - I kept most of the elements which were done well and good for basics, but only 2 papers, the rest seemed really over saturated.
Rieka Rafita - I deleted everything due to really poor quality.
Stargazy Creations - Again, I deleted everything. Poor quality and flat papers.
Studio4 Designworks - Deleted everything.
t for me - I kept a lot of the elements, but none of the papers.
Truman Studio - I liked the papers, and a few of the elements (2 actually). The frame in the preview wasn't in the DL though, so maybe it would have been 3 elements.
Trixie Scraps - I didn't care for any of this and deleted everything.
And that concludes the Blog Train for me.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "CDN EH" ON August 2, 2011 11:14 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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I did a quick review of the DST blog train. I only downloaded the kits that had something in the preview that caught my attention. In alphabetical order:
Barb Speck:
The nuts & bolts are ok. The rest doesn't appeal to me. The entire kit looks disjointed & doesn't go together.
Designs by Krista:
The patterned papers are nice & simple. When looking at the ribbon, the colors & diagonal texture give it a crazy optical illusion effect on my monitor that makes it look like the middle section is getting narrower as you look right, & wider when you look left.
Digilicious_pieceofcake:
I like the flowers, particularly the rolled flowers. I like the lime green frame, although I'd prefer it without the bow. I don't care for the patterned paper.
Dylabeldesigns:
The pink scalloped circle frame, green dot pp & pink flower are ok. Postcard would be better without the big blobs on the side. The big patterned paper is too busy for me personally.
Enkay:
Hanging doodled frame is cute. The large flower design paper I can see as a printed scrapbook paper - it's bright but it's fun. Enkay was able to incorporate the color palette in a fun way.
Kate Hadfield:
Her doodles are well executed with nice coloring & shading. If you like doodles, her stuff will probably appeal to you.
Keep In Touch Designs:
I like the orange swirl & the first 2 patterned papers. The rest of the kit doesn't appeal to me as it's very digital looking, & kind of generic.
Mags Graphics:
Her striped alpha is fun, & looks like it would suit a happy layout about the beach.
Mommyish:
I like the rolled flower. The pink grungy paper with the swirls is hideously ugly! This kit does not go together. The wooden picture frame looks like it would go with a shabby chic style, but the paper is grungy & gross, & the labels & bows look more contemporary style. The styles are so different in this kit it looks like it has a split personality.
Sherwood Studio:
I like the swirled tree thing. Most of the papers are ok & the texture resembles real paper.
Sunnyday Scraps:
I like the glittered swirl. The butterfly could be a cute accent. The rose is very digital looking, but it is well executed & nice for someone who likes that style. I don't care for the rest of the kit, it doesn't look like anything goes together. I don't understand that lacey thing that's on the candle holder (it looks like a lace fire hazzard).
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 3:29 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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BTB #31-35 (per request):
31. Scraps by Mara: Shadowing on the preview is a vast improvement over the entry before (Kooky Cat), so these papers/elements actually have some realism. Paper is WAY too grungy for my tastes, although I know there are some who prefer it that way. In general, though, I've found over time that those who prefer that amount of grunge are few and far between, so I think this detracts from the kit. The coloring is off, too (the leaves are not even close to the palette colors). The shadowing on the stacked flower is much too harsh to appear realistic. All in all, this is not a kit for my tastes. Didn't DL.
32. Sweet Tomato Designs: Something about the preview struck me as strange, and I finally realized that the shadow for the paper on the far right is WAY off; looks like it was on a separate layer that got accidentally dragged too far out. Beyond that oddity, this kit looks nice. Appears to be well-made and of good quality from the preview, and has some useful elements that are cohesive with the papers. This could be used as-is, which we all know I grade highly. It would also coordinate w/ some other portions from other designers, though not as well as a few others' b/c the theme/feel of this kit isn't at all like anything else we've seen so far. Didn't DL, but only b/c I didn't like the color combos on 3 of the papers and I knew I wouldn't use it in the end. But this was one of the more well-put together efforts, in terms of cohesiveness within a kit.
33. { Ocean Wide Designs }: At first glance, this appears to be one of the better offerings in this blog train. The way she used the color palette is pleasing to the eye (and as any veteran designer knows, a color palette and your kit preview can go a long way to getting you a sale: it's the first (and sometimes only) thing that draws in a potential customer). So kudos to her for getting me to look. Unfortunately, that's where my praise ends. After inspecting the preview up close, I don't find a lot that looks worth my time. The fake acrylic action/style used to create the buttons is awful. Why not scan/photograph and extract real buttons? These are bad. BAD. The shadowing on both of the stacked flowers is extremely unrealistic, as well. They look almost as digital as the acrylic buttons. Yuck. All of the frames and the stitching are good, basic offerings, and would get used along with other people's papers/elements. I DL'd just to get a closer look at the papers (which were brought up by someone else already on this blog a day or two ago). I wasn't impressed, but they weren't horrible. Patterns are a personal preference thing, anyway. Bottom line: I give this a B for marketing (she got me to look closer), but a C- for execution.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 3:30 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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...continued from above...
34. Milly Dee Designs: Oh how I wish that designers would post full 600x600 previews on their blogs. Yes, it's important/necessary, people. We shouldn't have to click to make it bigger, but if we DO click: it should be an option! If you want to link from your photo previews to your shop (or to the actual DL)... which you SHOULD do... then you need a 600x600 preview. End of rant. As for the kit itself, I like her originality and creativity. This is obviously handmade work, and not CU-laden recolored crap. I wish she had done something to make her papers seem more coordinated (even a solid paper in between each one that ties them together would have helped), because they seem mish-mashy and detract from what's really on display here: the doodled elements. After following Milly Dee for a few months (other contests, etc.) I know that she does her own doodles and artwork, and these are cute. I love the flower with the patterned petals. I think the outline on the banner is too thick, however, when compared to the outlines on the other elements. I DL'd it for the doodled elements, and will discard the rest. The elements will be cute with other items I've already gathered.
35. Paper Capers Designs: Meh. There's nothing truly wrong with this offering. Word art is just that: word art. Plain, simple, and often boring to look at on a preview (but useful along with other items when scrapping). But if I were participating in a blog train with a set palette to work from, I think I'd incorporate that into my word art, rather than offer up boring black line art/etc. This holds especially true when the theme of her pack is "why be normal?" and, well, this pack is nothing BUT normal. Didn't DL, got bored and moved along.
(I'll be back later with the next 5 that I promised, #36-40)...
Also, my e-mail for reviews is piersunhacked at gmail dot com.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 9:38 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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BTB #36-40:
36. Digital Harmony: As a whole, the preview for this one doesn't do a lot for me, as I am not into pink, brown, and blue together as a color combo. Blame the palette for this. Looked at as individual pieces, though, this isn't a bad portion. The papers are textured enough to look like cardstock, but not so much that they're out of control. The patterns are all plaid, which is a little boring as far as patterned papers go, but it's titled "pretty in plaid" so it's hard to complain (and also because it's a free mini and there are so many other interesting patterns available from other designers, so I'm not lacking). The journaling paper is cute, and the stamped pattern is a nice touch. The preview is put together/shadowed pretty well (with exception to the flower stem on the left). Everything looks relatively realistic. Making the heart frame appear to have wire detailing was an interesting idea/nice touch, as a way to spice up a CU piece in a new way. I'd give this one a B / B+.
37. Inspired Designs: I almost laughed out loud while looking at this one, because my first thought was "wow the color on the papers looks waaaaay washed out," and then I read the title of the product: "Washed Out: Distressed Papers". Well, she certainly hit the mark, then! LMAO. These papers look decent. I'm not in love w/ the color combos used on the plaid papers, but that's not to say that this is bad designing. Just not my personal preference. The solids will be nice to use w/ some other things I've picked up along the way. Looking at some of her other products, it looks like she can create some decent elements, and I wish she had done that here, too. Other than that, no real complaints.
38. Created by Jill Scraps: This is the most mishy-mashy submission I've looked at this afternoon. It would appear that she's a newer designer who hasn't yet figured out her style, and is instead just throwing together random items that are colored to the palette. Fake acrylic frame, realistic/extracted flower/leaves, fake acrylic button w/ realistic thread, ribbon, string, etc. None of it really "goes" together, other than it's colored to coordinate. The papers are OK, nothing stunning, with exception to the blue paper that's apparently supposed to be embossed (?)... that should have been left out. The shadowing on the bevels is WAY too severe, and no paper would have grooves that deep/sharp. Didn't DL.
...to be continued...
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 6, 2011 9:39 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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...#36-40 continued...
39. Snips and Snails Designs: This one looks pretty cute initially, except for the fact that it's mainly made up of very recognizable CU products (the average consumer wouldn't notice this, most likely, but I do). I like a couple of her patterned papers, and DL'd to get a better look. The stickers are cute if used on solid papers. The overlay/blending work on the banners needs improvement, as they look markedly more digital than the rest of the offerings. I like the stitched frames, hate the buckled ribbon. Overall, not bad... but needs to be cleaned up a bit.
40. A-liya: This is my least favorite from today (out of #31-40), but this may be due more to my personal preference toward a paper-scrapped style than due to the kit itself. Simply put, I don't gravitate towards kits that include lots of realistic/extracted elements that couldn't actually be pinned/glued down to paper IRL. I DL'd it to take a closer look at the quality/etc., as I don't feel I can be completely objective about the style... most of the elements/extractions are flawless and clean. A couple of elements had drop shadows, which I don't like, but the elements in question were shiny/glowy to begin with, so users might not mind (?). The string with beads could use some shadowing work, as it looks completely flat and unrealistic... strange, in a kit filled with realistic elements that seems to be made for those who enjoy that style. Not my cup of tea.
And with those reviews, I have now fulfilled my obligation to whoever asked for #20-40! Phew.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 8:26 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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BTB #41-50 (per request)... please note that I've stopped DL'ing because I have no need for any more freebies, so these reviews are based on previews alone unless otherwise noted (if I DL to check quality):
41. Designs by Angel: A visually cohesive kit. She deleted a couple of colors from the palette to calm things down, which I like. The doodled style flows throughout almost all of the papers/elements w/ exception to the strangely-shaped tag w/ real string (I would have gone w/ a doodled tag instead, to match the rest of it). For scrapping purposes, I would have liked to have seen the pattern on the flowered paper a little smaller and more frequent (so the pattern could be seen when just pieces of the paper are used on a layout, since the pattern is very cute). All in all, this is a generally good entry.
42. eNKay Design: Her site bandwidth is exceeded right now, so I can't get to her blog. I will mention that I did see her portion a week or so ago when I did my first round of reviews: it had some cute doodled elements, and a pleasant color combo. I remember liking it. I just can't pick it apart any further right now, other than to tell her that she probably needs to find a new web host...
43. Digilicious Designs: She muted the palette colors & left out the brown (with exception to a few color pops using it), which was a good idea. I don't like her method of previewing the papers, though, as I really can't see them (this is too bad, because they look like they might be nice, but how is a customer supposed to be able to tell by looking at a tiny corner on each paper?). The kit is called Piece of Cake, but this surprised me because after looking at the papers I figured it would be a gardeny-themed kit (lots of flowers, not much cake). The elements are also half-garden-y and half-cake-y, so I think her kit theme could use some de-mish-mashifying. Shadowing on the preview is off; it's not realistic to have a frame that thick w/ the same basic shadows as flat pieces of paper. Same goes for the rolled flowers = shadowed incorrectly.
...to be continued...
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 8:27 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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...continued...
44. BZB Designs: She also got rid of the brown and used it as just an accent color on elements; the result is nice. This is a well-previewed portion, with shadowing that makes these papers/elements look realistic (though I would have deepened the shadows on the bird, the leaf, and the brown tag; these 3 seem sorta flat). My only real problem w/ this one, if you can call it a problem, is that there's nothing really unique here. For blog train passengers, I know it's good to get a portion w/ some basics now and then, to use w/ the rest of it, so I'm not really complaining. I just don't know that there's anything included here that would bring someone back to her again in the future because this kit's probably not making a lasting impression on anyone. Although... now that I think about it, in this particular blog train, doing something simple and basic (and even boring) does sorta set you apart from the crap, so maybe I take that back.
45. In The Small Things: She says her portion is a mini, but it's 19 elements and 11 papers in 3 DL's. To lots of designers nowadays that's a full kit, LOL. Due to use of all of the palette colors, this one is busy and hurts my eyes (in fact, even the preview design is busy). The 3 patterned papers in the middle (butterfly, flowers, flowers) look cute and simple, and I wish they were previewed separately w/ a few solids and without any of the dark brown, and with maybe 5-7 of the flower elements instead of this entire mish-mash of items. The preview looks blurry to me; I'm constantly amazed by the sheer number of blurry previews I run across all the time. How do designers not understand the importance of a preview? I'm guessing these designers are the ones who buy fruit in the grocery without picking it up and feeling it/looking at it first.
SOrry for all of the extra commentary, I'm feeling extra wordy today. I'll be back later with #46-50, as long as I can force myself to review "Connie's" portion that she had no part in creating, because what I really want to do is skip it out of principle...
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 12:31 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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BTB #46-50:
46. Designs by Connie Prince: I've decided not to review this one, in order to make a point. Shari, it's time to get your own blog and then I'll review your contribution next time. It's doubtful you're the one who requested that I review #41-50 in order to get your own portion reviewed, anyway... but if, by chance, it was you who asked: maybe this will teach you a lesson. It's time to stop riding your mentor's coattails, and fly out of the nest into the big, scary designer wild. The fact that you've been designing Connie's blog train minis for the better part of the past year has been irritating to a lot of people (it's been brought up on this blog multiple times before), and I've now jumped onto that bandwagon, as well. Next!
47. Daybreak Scraps: Please, please, please get a blog design that supports 600x600 previews! Actually, it looks to me like this one does/would support it, so I'll cry foul on user-error for failing to have a larger preview (and/or the option to click on the preview to see a larger version). From what I can see, however, I will say that this is a pretty good preview of a seemingly average product. The shadowing is good, the elements look realistic, and the kit theme is cohesive. I hate the color combo, however, and want to gouge out my eyeballs any time I see brown and orange together on a paper or an element, let alone both. It would appear that the actual design execution is pretty good here, but oww those colors. Additionally, would anyone EVER use those 2 patterned papers together for anything? Ever? Ick. She would have been better off leaving out the brown paw-print paper, or else keeping it and pairing it with neutral solids instead of a multi-colored stripe pattern. Just saying.
48. Robyn Pali Designs: Who is this? I've never heard of her before, but my first thought when I visited her blog was that her logo is cute but was cuter the first time around, when it was Thaty Borges' logo. This has nothing to do with my review, but it's strange nonetheless and worth mentioning. As for her blog train kit preview, it's blurry and the preview itself is muddled and confusing. It would appear at first glance that the large papers stacked behind everything are included in the kit (especially b/c they match the palette, somewhat). It's just the 6 paper strips in the front, though, which (although blurry) look relatively nice. Exceptions: I despise the texture used on the brown solid (it might be nice on another color paper, but for a brown that dark it just looks... off), and again w/ hating the brown/orange color combo w/ reference to the paper on the right (a neutral cream/offwhite would have worked better than the orange). As for the elements, they all look pretty nice except for anything that includes the color orange: her orange doesn't seem right to me (too dark/almost bordering on Halloweenish and depressing). It makes the ribbon look almost metallic, which I doubt was intentional. The sign-post is cute. The blurriness on the preview makes it appear that the button has massive jagged edges or strays, so I DL'd to look closer and it's actually fine. Let this be a lesson (again!) about the importance of a preview. A customer would never have paid to check that out, they'd have simply moved on to another shop.
...to be continued...
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "PIERS" ON August 10, 2011 12:35 PM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
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49. Aprilisa Designs: This one's well done. She pared down the number of colors in the palette, and muted them enough that the mini has a calm feel to it, even w/ the inclusion of orange (which is not a serene color). The elements look realistic, the preview is well-done, and the shadowing is good. The only thing noteworthy about it is the fact that there's nothing noteworthy about it. It's plain, basic, and unmemorable. But she's probably established enough (compared to most of the people I've reviewed, that is) to be able to get away with lacking a "wow" factor for a blog train submission.
50. MaitriScraps: Oh dear. It took me a minute to figure out what should be said about this one. First, there appear to be no patterned papers. Not the end of the world, but I do think you're supposed to include at least a couple, per the blog train rules. After reading her post, though, I fear that there actually ARE patterned papers, and that they're supposed to be sparkly. It's honestly hard to tell if the sparkles on the preview are on the papers or just separate elements (scatters). I think it's the latter, since her theme was something about a starry night. Strange theme, IMO, because the paper/element colors do NOT channel "starry night" to me (maybe if she had gone w/ just the greens, blues, and browns in the palette). The remaining elements all look excessively digital to me, especially the ribbon, staples, flair, and beads(?). It would seem that everything was created with an action, which isn't my style. I would go so far as to say that it isn't anyone's style (and instead just a mistake made by newbie designers), but I see it so often in the digital scrap world that I actually believe there must be a market out there for it. But mark my words: you will never see this style of product in one of the top stores.
This ends my reviews of this month's blog train. If yours didn't get reviewed but you wish it had, I am sure you can go back and read what we've all written about the other submissions and gather a lot of ideas about what's good, what's bad, and what's just downright ugly. Something that's been said above surely applies to yours, too.
I'm excited now to move on to other shops, as requested.