ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:40 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- Thank you to the person who reviewed SBG. I honestly did not want to wade through all the paper dolls, art journal, word art crap in hopes of finding a few gems. I love Natali, though. I would recommend her if you're considering buying from her. I also think Charlize has improved and find most of her elements really cute and fun.
By request, Gotta Pixel (part 1)
A+ Designs - Products are cheap and look cheap. Has some nice color palettes and some really gross ones. Everything is fuzzy looking between the weird elements and the overly grungy papers. Templates are cheap, dumbed down copies of what I've seen done better elsewhere. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Aprilisa Designs - Nothing new here. Her templates are copies of what others have previously done. Style varies from kit to kit and a few are mish mashy. I'm not sure if she's trying to be Mye or Connie, but she does make better patterned papers than both.
Armina Designs - I just don't get this designer. Her style is all over the place. Her forte seems to be extracted kits with lots of natural elements and blended papers, but she does all these wacky childrens kits. She makes some nice patterns and some are blah. Some of the colors are gross, too, but those are probably the store collab events they do. Templates are simplistic, but she adds some nice flair with swirls and doodles.
Bella Gypsy - I understand this is the one sister now. I don't remember which one, but it seems the production line has slowed considerably. Templates still look like cheap knock-offs and the kits are nothing new. The colors are really gross in most of the kits, but some are done well. Much better paper patterns than Connie, but the textures look fuzzy.
Colie's Corner - Mostly gross, gross color palettes. Kits are really cheap looking and her previews are flat and gross. Some kits have OK patterns and others barely have any. A lot of her templates look the same, just moved around a little here and there. This girl needs to find a neutral - stat.
Connie Prince - I know she is the designer everyone loves to hate, but she can really pump out the products. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it's some thing. Most of her color palettes are obnoxious and apparently cater to people who don't know how to calibrate their monitors. I wish she added a neutral here and there to even things out. Her paper patterns are the same from kit to kit to kit with little variation. Her kits are also a little small for the higher price tag. I thought she used to have more reasonable prices for the size of her kits. I like Connie's templates for paper style pages. They are easy to use and don't have a lot of extras for me to delete.
Crisdam Designs - Most kits are mish mashy, but most of the color palettes are easier on the eyes. Makes mostly nice patterned papers. Every other kit has at least one owl in it, so if you like owls, look here. Most of her products seem a little high in price for what they are.
danimoy designs - See A+ Designs review. I thought they were the same person. Lots of blobby things, which must sell well. Gross templates with little to no style.
Duo-licious - I guess this is danimoy and A+ Designs. Makes sense since they're basically the same designer.
Just Jaimee - I don't have any of her CU so I can't speak to the quality. I don't see any CU in her store a designer with half a brain couldn't make themselves. Her kits have odd color palettes mostly and the papers are overly grungy. Some of the patterns are nice, but mostly not so much.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:41 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com --------------------------------------- By request, Gotta Pixel (part 2a)
Kathryn Estry - Hideous previews. But then, the items themselves look awful, so I'm not sure how she could change that. This entire store looks like beginner stuff from 8 years ago. Doesn't stick to color pallette - in a bad way. Gross color palletes to begin with. Kits are mish mashy and just bad. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality. I couldn't make it past page 3. I wanted to vomit. I did glance at how many pages of products she has - 41 - and the stuff way in the back is old and expensive. It's sad to see she hasn't grown as a designer at all.
Kits4Kids - Familiar themes, but the little kids they use in their kits are cute if that's your thing (it's not mine). Papers are overly textured, but some have nice patterns. Elements are very digital looking, but are done well for that style. Does not stick to color palette and kits are a little mish mashy looking. Some of their prices are a little high for what they offer.
Kristmess - I'm already sick of looking at the same color palettes over and over again. Same style as Kits4Kids, so I assume one of that duo is this designer. Again, digital looking, but done well for that style. Most everything is overpriced as far as I'm concerned. Mostly gross color palettes (who picks these things at GP?), but uses the little cute kids in most of her kits. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Laitha’s Designs - Another designer this blog seems to love to hate. Personally, I like her stuff. I have some of her CU and it has always been good quality. This is a designer who has a style and sticks to it. I have a few of her kits and enjoy using them. Some elements are a little blurry at 100%, but have never printed poorly. Some of her color palettes are blah, but most are sophisticated. Any patterned paper is soft and non traditional. This works for this style of kit. Most of her papers contain a lot of brushwork, but they're blended nicely and most aren't overly textured. Some of her kits are a little mish mashy.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:41 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com --------------------------------------- By request, Gotta Pixel (part 2b)
Laura Burger - Boring and mish mashy. Previews are flat and uninspiring. Overpriced for what you get as well. Style varies from kit to kit and within each kit. Doesn't seem to understand color, texture, or pattern. Her best kits are her shabby ones, although, they're seriously lacking in patterns. I still wouldn't download one of them for free, but they are her better kits. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Laurie's Scraps & Designs - If you like Connie, I'd check this designer out. Her products are a little less expensive and basically the same thing, but with better patterened papers. As with most here at GP, color palettes can be gross, but she has some nice ones. Needs better looking CT pages and previews (very flat). I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality. Boring templates done better elsewhere. Some kits are a little mish mashy.
Lindsay Jane - She's always been one of those designers I want to like, but there is something about her kits that's a real miss for me. Her papers are mostly boring and the elements just seem to lay there flat. There isn't enough contrast and interest in the elements. Even her "real" fabric flowers are flat and boring. I do like her "Scatterz". Her frames and borders are boring and near pointless. I also like her scallop and circle borders and think they're different. I may actually buy a set since they're cheap enough.
LorieM Designs - Very mish mashy. Mostly gross color palettes. I don't have any of her CU so I can't speak to the quality. Boring, simplistic templates. Her kits are also flat and the papers are boring. Many of the colors are very over saturated. Has many older kits in her store that don't seem to match her current style.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:41 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------- By request, Gotta Pixel (part 3)
Mye De Leon - Another of the love to hate designers. Most of her kits are very mish mashy. Very. Has some with decent patterned papers, but most are very blah and boring. Her border packs and cluster packs are usually very nice. Her templates are also nice and reasonably priced. Her previews are a little bit of a mess, but some are done well. Her style is all over the place. Her products seem very inconsistent from one kit to the next. She has some nice CT pages.
North Meets South Studios - This is Connie and Trixie Scraps. They do a monthly template grab bag which is well priced and usually OK. The kits refelct both of their styles - mostly boring papers, but fairly cohesive kits. I do question the use of Chuck E. Cheese in their most recent kit, but not enough to do anything about it. Their kits are themed and seem to be done well for their style.
Silvia Romeo - Overpriced. I'm not really sure how to describe the elements. They're digital looking, but appear to be extractions. Boring papers and some very gross color palettes. Very mish mashy, but I understand she's trying for that vintage feel. The lighting and coloring on the elements is very off for me. Nothing about the color palettes says vintage to me. Her previews are mostly bad and very flat (I'm seeing this a lot in this store). She seems to have some interesting elements in her kit, but this style is really done better by others and for a lot less.
Spinky Dink Scraps - I have some of her CU and the quality has always been good. Some of her kits are better than others. Has some nice color palettes and some gross ones. Some paper patterns are really nice and some are blah and boring. Kit style varies from kit to kit, and some are a little mish mashy. Some of her better, fuller kits are more reasonably priced than her smaller, more boring kits. So, that's inconsistent to me. Has some cute doodles in some of her kits.
Trixie Scraps Designs - Another of the love to hate designers. Many of her kits are just too dark. Dark elements on dark papers just doesn't work. Her style also varies from kit to kit. I've had some issue with her quality in the couple kits I have of hers. They're no longer in her store, so I'm guessing I wasn't the only one. Her templates are nice, but have a lot of extras I would just remove. She does have nice, full kits, but her papers are mostly boring. She has very pretty "page starters". She makes a ton of products that coordinate with each kit. If you're looking for blogwear, she has a ton. Has some OK color palettes, but some are just gross. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Wordart World by Jennifer - She actually sells more than word art, so her designer name seems pointless. Most of her word art is OK and most are reasonably priced when on sale. Her other products are mostly over saturated and basic. Some of her other products are very overpriced for what you get (especially her alphas). I don't have any of her CU so I can't speak to the quality. Based upon what's in her store, she should stick to word art.
All in all, I think Gotta Pixel is an average store with mostly average to below average designers. Their entire store is filled with mostly the same, gross color palettes and it makes it difficult to want to keep looking. These products must be what sells at this store since most designers make a lot of them and sell them cheaply when they're featured.
For the same price, the average paper style scrapper can get more over at Sweet Shoppe (among other places) and get better color palettes and better looking papers to boot.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:40 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------
Thank you to the person who reviewed SBG. I honestly did not want to wade through all the paper dolls, art journal, word art crap in hopes of finding a few gems. I love Natali, though. I would recommend her if you're considering buying from her. I also think Charlize has improved and find most of her elements really cute and fun.
By request, Gotta Pixel (part 1)
A+ Designs - Products are cheap and look cheap. Has some nice color palettes and some really gross ones. Everything is fuzzy looking between the weird elements and the overly grungy papers. Templates are cheap, dumbed down copies of what I've seen done better elsewhere. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Aprilisa Designs - Nothing new here. Her templates are copies of what others have previously done. Style varies from kit to kit and a few are mish mashy. I'm not sure if she's trying to be Mye or Connie, but she does make better patterned papers than both.
Armina Designs - I just don't get this designer. Her style is all over the place. Her forte seems to be extracted kits with lots of natural elements and blended papers, but she does all these wacky childrens kits. She makes some nice patterns and some are blah. Some of the colors are gross, too, but those are probably the store collab events they do. Templates are simplistic, but she adds some nice flair with swirls and doodles.
Bella Gypsy - I understand this is the one sister now. I don't remember which one, but it seems the production line has slowed considerably. Templates still look like cheap knock-offs and the kits are nothing new. The colors are really gross in most of the kits, but some are done well. Much better paper patterns than Connie, but the textures look fuzzy.
Colie's Corner - Mostly gross, gross color palettes. Kits are really cheap looking and her previews are flat and gross. Some kits have OK patterns and others barely have any. A lot of her templates look the same, just moved around a little here and there. This girl needs to find a neutral - stat.
Connie Prince - I know she is the designer everyone loves to hate, but she can really pump out the products. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it's some thing. Most of her color palettes are obnoxious and apparently cater to people who don't know how to calibrate their monitors. I wish she added a neutral here and there to even things out. Her paper patterns are the same from kit to kit to kit with little variation. Her kits are also a little small for the higher price tag. I thought she used to have more reasonable prices for the size of her kits. I like Connie's templates for paper style pages. They are easy to use and don't have a lot of extras for me to delete.
Crisdam Designs - Most kits are mish mashy, but most of the color palettes are easier on the eyes. Makes mostly nice patterned papers. Every other kit has at least one owl in it, so if you like owls, look here. Most of her products seem a little high in price for what they are.
danimoy designs - See A+ Designs review. I thought they were the same person. Lots of blobby things, which must sell well. Gross templates with little to no style.
Duo-licious - I guess this is danimoy and A+ Designs. Makes sense since they're basically the same designer.
Just Jaimee - I don't have any of her CU so I can't speak to the quality. I don't see any CU in her store a designer with half a brain couldn't make themselves. Her kits have odd color palettes mostly and the papers are overly grungy. Some of the patterns are nice, but mostly not so much.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:41 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete---------------------------------------
By request, Gotta Pixel (part 2a)
Kathryn Estry - Hideous previews. But then, the items themselves look awful, so I'm not sure how she could change that. This entire store looks like beginner stuff from 8 years ago. Doesn't stick to color pallette - in a bad way. Gross color palletes to begin with. Kits are mish mashy and just bad. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality. I couldn't make it past page 3. I wanted to vomit. I did glance at how many pages of products she has - 41 - and the stuff way in the back is old and expensive. It's sad to see she hasn't grown as a designer at all.
Kits4Kids - Familiar themes, but the little kids they use in their kits are cute if that's your thing (it's not mine). Papers are overly textured, but some have nice patterns. Elements are very digital looking, but are done well for that style. Does not stick to color palette and kits are a little mish mashy looking. Some of their prices are a little high for what they offer.
Kristmess - I'm already sick of looking at the same color palettes over and over again. Same style as Kits4Kids, so I assume one of that duo is this designer. Again, digital looking, but done well for that style. Most everything is overpriced as far as I'm concerned. Mostly gross color palettes (who picks these things at GP?), but uses the little cute kids in most of her kits. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Laitha’s Designs - Another designer this blog seems to love to hate. Personally, I like her stuff. I have some of her CU and it has always been good quality. This is a designer who has a style and sticks to it. I have a few of her kits and enjoy using them. Some elements are a little blurry at 100%, but have never printed poorly. Some of her color palettes are blah, but most are sophisticated. Any patterned paper is soft and non traditional. This works for this style of kit. Most of her papers contain a lot of brushwork, but they're blended nicely and most aren't overly textured. Some of her kits are a little mish mashy.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:41 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete---------------------------------------
By request, Gotta Pixel (part 2b)
Laura Burger - Boring and mish mashy. Previews are flat and uninspiring. Overpriced for what you get as well. Style varies from kit to kit and within each kit. Doesn't seem to understand color, texture, or pattern. Her best kits are her shabby ones, although, they're seriously lacking in patterns. I still wouldn't download one of them for free, but they are her better kits. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Laurie's Scraps & Designs - If you like Connie, I'd check this designer out. Her products are a little less expensive and basically the same thing, but with better patterened papers. As with most here at GP, color palettes can be gross, but she has some nice ones. Needs better looking CT pages and previews (very flat). I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality. Boring templates done better elsewhere. Some kits are a little mish mashy.
Lindsay Jane - She's always been one of those designers I want to like, but there is something about her kits that's a real miss for me. Her papers are mostly boring and the elements just seem to lay there flat. There isn't enough contrast and interest in the elements. Even her "real" fabric flowers are flat and boring. I do like her "Scatterz". Her frames and borders are boring and near pointless. I also like her scallop and circle borders and think they're different. I may actually buy a set since they're cheap enough.
LorieM Designs - Very mish mashy. Mostly gross color palettes. I don't have any of her CU so I can't speak to the quality. Boring, simplistic templates. Her kits are also flat and the papers are boring. Many of the colors are very over saturated. Has many older kits in her store that don't seem to match her current style.
ORIGINALLY POSTED BY "SIMON" ON July 27, 2011 11:41 AM at http://dsthof.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------------
By request, Gotta Pixel (part 3)
Mye De Leon - Another of the love to hate designers. Most of her kits are very mish mashy. Very. Has some with decent patterned papers, but most are very blah and boring. Her border packs and cluster packs are usually very nice. Her templates are also nice and reasonably priced. Her previews are a little bit of a mess, but some are done well. Her style is all over the place. Her products seem very inconsistent from one kit to the next. She has some nice CT pages.
North Meets South Studios - This is Connie and Trixie Scraps. They do a monthly template grab bag which is well priced and usually OK. The kits refelct both of their styles - mostly boring papers, but fairly cohesive kits. I do question the use of Chuck E. Cheese in their most recent kit, but not enough to do anything about it. Their kits are themed and seem to be done well for their style.
Silvia Romeo - Overpriced. I'm not really sure how to describe the elements. They're digital looking, but appear to be extractions. Boring papers and some very gross color palettes. Very mish mashy, but I understand she's trying for that vintage feel. The lighting and coloring on the elements is very off for me. Nothing about the color palettes says vintage to me. Her previews are mostly bad and very flat (I'm seeing this a lot in this store). She seems to have some interesting elements in her kit, but this style is really done better by others and for a lot less.
Spinky Dink Scraps - I have some of her CU and the quality has always been good. Some of her kits are better than others. Has some nice color palettes and some gross ones. Some paper patterns are really nice and some are blah and boring. Kit style varies from kit to kit, and some are a little mish mashy. Some of her better, fuller kits are more reasonably priced than her smaller, more boring kits. So, that's inconsistent to me. Has some cute doodles in some of her kits.
Trixie Scraps Designs - Another of the love to hate designers. Many of her kits are just too dark. Dark elements on dark papers just doesn't work. Her style also varies from kit to kit. I've had some issue with her quality in the couple kits I have of hers. They're no longer in her store, so I'm guessing I wasn't the only one. Her templates are nice, but have a lot of extras I would just remove. She does have nice, full kits, but her papers are mostly boring. She has very pretty "page starters". She makes a ton of products that coordinate with each kit. If you're looking for blogwear, she has a ton. Has some OK color palettes, but some are just gross. I don't have any of her CU, so I can't speak to the quality.
Wordart World by Jennifer - She actually sells more than word art, so her designer name seems pointless. Most of her word art is OK and most are reasonably priced when on sale. Her other products are mostly over saturated and basic. Some of her other products are very overpriced for what you get (especially her alphas). I don't have any of her CU so I can't speak to the quality. Based upon what's in her store, she should stick to word art.
All in all, I think Gotta Pixel is an average store with mostly average to below average designers. Their entire store is filled with mostly the same, gross color palettes and it makes it difficult to want to keep looking. These products must be what sells at this store since most designers make a lot of them and sell them cheaply when they're featured.
For the same price, the average paper style scrapper can get more over at Sweet Shoppe (among other places) and get better color palettes and better looking papers to boot.