Tuesday 5 May 2009

Warning...controversial post..


Aha! Daring Cardmakers posted a challenge I'm equipped to do, and sitting in my workroom last night was very comfortable - we moved our sofas out yesterday in anticipation of the new stuff being delivered today. Believe me, when you're fat and forty-something, lolling on a floor cushion is just a small taste of things to come in terms of immobility and aching joints! So, mindful of this warning, I gratefully sat at my work table and made this card, featuring farm animals. Would you note the use of a ridiculous amount of the pink polka dot paper too please - well, it's a 4" square card, so I'm still not throwing polka dot paper around. But my largesse is due entirely to John at the Crafthouse Press who read the post in which I refuse to use up my paper and he sent me some more. We've worked together, he knows how ugly it could be if I panic! Kind, huh, and I am really thrilled at his thoughtful gesture.
Now obviously, because I'm terribly vain and wanted my family to be in awe of me, (yeah, but hang on, that was never a realistic outcome) we watched about 40 minutes of Craft Day on QVC on Sunday, before we left to join friends for a day out. My family was bored rigid, particularly as we quickly established that the products I'd been playing with weren't due to be on till much later. We watched Julian and Leonie present some metallic, embossed and die cut card stock that come as collections so you can make loads of cards that have matching detail etc. The stock is fab, wonderful rich colours and some great images (even a christmas kit!). But, and here's the controversy - if you fold a piece of A4 in half to form a card that's already printed with a frame and blah, then push out a die cut image printed and embossed in matching colours and to this add a foiled, printed, die-cut greeting, can you really say that you 'made' the card? Is adding a coupla foam pads and a bit of neatening a kiss-cut die shape really a craft? Don't get me wrong, the stuff was fabulously rich looking, and as good a quality as they promised for sure, beautifully presented, and Leonie's samples were wonderful; I liked it all, but isn't it, well, erm, cheating? I know they sell shed loads if it and I know therefore that thousands of people like it, but I want to know if it is really crafting? However much I like it all, I never buy it. I feel like it would be cheating. Where did I get this idea from - and is it ridiculous? Probably. I've experienced craft snobbery, and am ashamed to think that I'm promoting it by mentioning how I feel about these products, but hey - you can rely on me to have an opinion! And here's the bit about this argument that so proves that I'm a woman - just because I won't use it, don't ever let that stop you from sending me a card made with it - I really like it! We had a lovely day out by the way, and the non-crafting friends on whom I vented my theory were polite enough to stay awake just long enough to ask why it mattered. Oh. I have to come back and answer that in another lifetime, when I've thought of a response!
Several of you like the Scooby stuff - here's another - made with the background papers and stamps from the Crafthouse Press again. (used Pro Markers to colour it, I am so on trend, thanks to Cricut Queen's gift!)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love your cows. Its a fab card and I like the polka dots too! :)

I know what you mean though - I like to feel that I've really made my cards too! :)

Vanessa.

CoventryAnn said...

Im with you on this... i don't think punching out die cuts ang sticking them on a card is true crafting; it takes little or no skill, requires no real eye for what looks good (someone else has had that), it's simply an assembly line....But i'd hate to be called a crafting snob, i just want eveyone to have a go at the real messy stuff and MAKE something themselves.!

Anonymous said...

I nearly fainted when I saw the pink dotty paper. So glad I didn't and carried on to read the blog. I am so pleased you now have some more, and pleased Craft house press realised the need of your wiltshire friends to keep you happy!!!!!
Lady Nurse

Julie said...

Love your cows just love the black and pink together

Hello, I'm Vicki said...

i see your point too, and i thought the same thing whilst watching some of craft day!!! love your cards tho, they are fab xx

Teresa said...

OK I will stand up too and say that I am Ffroggie, and I an a craft snob! There I have admitted it.

Digi Stamp Boutique said...

Fab polka dots and even more fabulous moo cows...simply very stylish indeedy.

Re the debate....ooooh, it's been a while......my take on it is....if you're making cards to generate income, then quick and easy is best and they can still look fab....if you have taste...lol...although we all have different taste and I accept that. For those special cards then yes it needs a bit more thought...but for cash in the hand, whack it on, whack it out and whack the money in the bank! I think thats who these kits are for...but only my theory...

Thanks for all your comments Julia...I'm trying to get things back on track, but it will take a while...got a list as long as a long list can be....before I can enjoy my blog hopping again....but managed a titch tonight.....xx

Ginny said...

the cows are ADORABLE!!! fab card

and you know I TOTALLY agree with you, I have a few "premade" cards sitting gathering dust because I prefer to start with a "blank canvas"

p.s, thanks for the offer, em on way :0)

stephanie said...

Hey sissy, I think I would call the die cut cards "working smart"...... sounds GREAT to me . Here's another question for you, if i sketched out a cute little family of cows, scanned it onto my puter and colored it in and gave it amazing effects, printed it out, stuck it on a background paper and sent it to you.. would it be cheating?

jay670120 said...

love the cows and polka dots :) xx
jayne

Kathy said...

Thanks for sharing your fab card with us over at the DCM it's just perfect and I love all those pink polka dots.

I must agree with you about using largely ready-made stuff and then saying you "made" the card - when in actual fact, what you've done is assemble the bits. Unless you're putting a bit of your very own style on it you're just assembling someone else's idea, aren't you?

Claire said...

Great cards as always Julia & I'm with you on the cheating thing, I believe if you aint covered in ink & glue it aint crafting LOL!
x

Kit said...

I agree with your comment also, die cut shapes can take the craft out of crafting, however you can still use die cut shapes in a creative way...I am a fan of the cricut machine and this does cut everything out for you however you can still use it in a creative way. I dont believe in buying loads of pre cut dies and just sticking them on to a card without having to think creatively, although I can see how these would be useful for someone who is not particularly interested in the arty aspect of crafting and just wants to make their own cards quickly and easily.

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