please...

[greyparrot]

don't flame me...but I really need to say this.
Could we please please have a bit less of the one-upmanship? I was really chuffed to get this forum, but I haven't been able to bring myself to post as yet. Why? Because everytime someone 'new' posts, there seems to be someone else who has done it 'before and better'. I don't do a lot of altering of anything, but if I feel like this, surely, someone who is new to it, and enjoying it will not feel like sharing their work. Hope this makes sense, perhaps we could all just be a bit more sensitive to this? Jane if you wanna delete this, feel free!!

[KimmyS]

Correna, I am sorry you feel like this but I don't think that there is the intention to show something "bigger and better". I guess we are all just excited to have a forum for Altered Art and would love to share it.

We don't want anyone not wanting to share what they did now for fear of upsetting or intimidating anyone - I am sure we can all be totally inspired what others have done?

[LME]

I hope I have not upset you it is really nice to see some one interested in work done over the past year :unsure:

I have put stuff in my gallery and never got any comments for ages.

Sorry just got excited to show stuff :wub:

[greyparrot]

Linda you could never upset me you moomin! Gonna pm you now hun

[Flo]

I'm totally new to the whole thing - and to be honest I'm over the moon that all the 'oldies' (LOL, you know what I mean, don't hit me!) are sharing their luvverly stuff that I would have missed in the past because I didn't know at the time that I wanted to see it - if you catch my drift

In fact I started up a thread (in the ATC bit) specifically so some older stuff could be displayed, because when I started making ATCs (all of a couple of weeks ago) I had trouble finding examples in the main galleries....

I hope that wasn't what upset you Correna (getting paranoid!)

Sarah

[ScottishFiona]

Since this is the only area I ever chat on, hope it wasn't me either...

[LME]

Sorry I did not mean to get paranoid :)

I am really happy to see it is getting more noticed long may it continue :wub:

[izzy]

Linda - I love all your stuff! You have such a vivid imagination and create such wonderful things! :)

However, although I am not into altering , I do enjoy looking at it and sometimes see ideas that I can use in other ways. However, until Correna posted how she felt, I was feeling a little intimidated by all the experts and the people who seem to know so much. As a newbie to this form of art, ( tho to be honest as a teacher before I retired, we used to do a lot of recycling and make do and mend but we never produced anything as beautiful as Linda and a couple of others have made!) I would like to point out that there is a difference between encouraging people who would like to try altering and perhaps scaring them off by throwing all kinds of information and/or piccies at them!

I think it is a problem of semantics cos obviously if you enjoy something you will want to help and encourage butmay not realise that your very enthusiasm and years of experience can be off putting for the wee newbie who is just starting to experiment!

i would still like to drop in as see what you are all doing and thank you Jane for giving us all this opportunity to chat and exchange ideas without them getting lost in the much bigger site!

[greyparrot]

izzy you put things so much more eloquently than me! thank you! *removes size 6 from gob*

[Flo]

ooops - I probably haven't helped then - as I've definitely been trying to throw as much info and piccies at people as I can!

I'm very much the sort of person who wants / needs TONS of info though whenever I'm looking into something new. I was frustrated when I started looking into ATCs (which, like I said was very very recently so I'm definitely not an old hand) at the lack of info and so leapt on this new forum with glee as a way of imparting what I have been able to find out (from spending a month reading every book and website in the world that even mentions ATCs in passing!!) to all the even-newer-than-me people who are showing an interest.

That's exactly what I would have wanted to be on the receiving end of, so thought it would be useful.
It never occurred to me that it would be off putting.

Again - sorry!

Sarah

[helenpp]

Just adding my two peneth in! First Hugs to all!

I am loving seeing everyones hints and tips and seeing peoples work. Think that we should all just take advice as just that - something that can be taken or left if you want.

Understand that I do not do work to the standard of those shown but can only try when I know the hints and tips. Can understand all sides and hope that we can all help each other along the way to create beautiful ( even if just in eye of beholder!) objects and crafty stuff!

Happy crafting to all!

[lojo7868]

I never alter anything but i know linda irl and she is the most generous,lovely ,caring and helpful person i know, she has so many idea's and lots of beautiful work our joke with linda is if it's not nailed down linda will alter it lol big hugs to her :wub: see you soon and keep up all the lovely work hun xx,
Hugs,
Jo x

[soojay]

( even if just in eye of beholder!)

Happy crafting to all!


you've seen mine then Helen LOL !!

[lalheg]

Maybe it all depends on your style of learning? I'm a visual learner so have to see what people are on about and if that was what was getting under Correna's skin - sorry, I forgot that there are different styles. Definitely if you look at my stuff you can see lots of mistakes and could do betters - no way are they as good as the experts on here. As said earlier - it is just so exciting to have a dedicated corner here!

[helenpp]

you've seen mine then Helen LOL !!
Oh no - hope not offended as your stuff is lush!

glad you popped a LOL on end!

Hugs to all and long may we help each other along some bumpy roads.

[LME]

Thanks I do understand honest I am just too enthusiastic :)

I had never done any crafting till I joined here in Dec 03 I think my trouble is I am a jack of all trades master of none so if anyone asks for help I just jump in and dont think.
I dont want anyone to think I am an expert I am just a Mum a Nan and a care worker been on a few courses tried lots of experiments which I am happy to share what you see is what you get I hate to upset people and if asked would help in anyway I can :)

[little_lucy_13]

I've not done much altering, and so my stuff is pretty amateur, which is why we need these threads. Those who have more experience can guide us through the altered path..........

[Hils]

I think it's great to see some more altered stuff on here. It can be a bit daunting seeing how fab some of the stuff is, but then you could say the same of new scrappers who look at some of the lush LOs in the gallery from seasoned scrappers... :)
I guess the other thing that can be a bit daunting is that those who have been altering for a while know each other quite well already - but again that is something else that newcomers to the main forum face anyway :)
As long as we have lots of how tos along with the inspirational look what I've dones the balance should prove OK. And I still want to know how to make a book into a box!!! :lol:
Anyway Correna, your altered tins were/are absolutely lush - have you got any pix of them so everyone else can see how lovely they were? :) And did I tell you it's my birthday next week? ;) :lol: :lol: :lol:

[soojay]

LOL No Helen I was just jokeing...
I Love all the different styles..I ALWAYS love other peoples work more than mine but i think most people do don't they?
The great thing about altered art/scrapbooking is that anything goes and what someone might think is just ok, someone else will think is brill. We should worry about what is right or wrong or we will miss out on all the fun :)

[greyparrot]

Oh Hils! Like the treasure chest you were all excited about earlier? I shall grant that wish for your birthday! I have the full magazine article sat here for you!

[Hils]

Ooooo yes, just like that treasure chest! You are a gem Correna :)

[Clare]

Thanks I do understand honest I am just too enthusiastic :)

I had never done any crafting till I joined here in Dec 03 I think my trouble is I am a jack of all trades master of none so if anyone asks for help I just jump in and dont think.
I dont want anyone to think I am an expert I am just a Mum a Nan and a care worker been on a few courses tried lots of experiments which I am happy to share what you see is what you get I hate to upset people and if asked would help in anyway I can :)


Linda - you are utterly unique - dont ever change! :wub: one the nicest, friendliest and most helpful people Ive had the pleasure of meeting (even if I didnt actually realise it was you at first :lol: )

[Gallifrey]

Thanks I do understand honest I am just too enthusiastic :)

I had never done any crafting till I joined here in Dec 03 I think my trouble is I am a jack of all trades master of none so if anyone asks for help I just jump in and dont think.
I dont want anyone to think I am an expert I am just a Mum a Nan and a care worker been on a few courses tried lots of experiments which I am happy to share what you see is what you get I hate to upset people and if asked would help in anyway I can :)


(((Linda))) you could never be a "just"! YOu are a wonderful caring person, with a massive talent for altering! I am glad you on hand to help me as I start off with ATCs and mail art.
Yes, the inspirational stuff that has been posted is overwhelming, but I can aspire... (just like my scrapping!) :lol:

[LME]

Shukks Kathie (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))
I am rubbish at scrapping :wub:

[Sprinkles]

I hope I haven't upset anyone, like some of the longtime ATCers, I'm getting over enthusiastic with having our own forum and want to shout about all the altering that's been going on before we got given this.

There's no right or wrong with altering, just jump right in and have a go, and see where your creativity takes you girls :)

It's lovely to see so many new faces and shared inetersts, please don't feel that you can't shout about your work too, it's probably really really good and you just need to be more confident in showing it off ;) :D

Nura x

[DanityDoll]

I think it's good that so many people do alter and that we can all share what we've done, but I think that if you're going to reply to what someone else has done then you should'nt be negative and say well I've done it, mine is better etc, etc because really it puts people off posting their altered art. Anyways I like seeing EVERYONE's work - whether they are newbies or whether they've been here forever, everybody's work is unique to them so maybe we all ought to remember that and be constructive in our comments :) Thank you for doing this thread Correna, I agree with what you said and I wasn't going to reply but changed my mind :)!!! Anyways I think this new bit on UKS for the alterers is good so lets try to keep it that way.

[Sprinkles]

Evening everyone, I thought this was dead & buried in the water, but obviously not!

Chiquitita - I think it's good that so many people do alter and that we can all share what we've done, but I think that if you're going to reply to what someone else has done then you should'nt be negative and say well I've done it, mine is better etc, etc because really it puts people off posting their altered art.

I've been following this forum since it started and let the original mention of people doing something 1st or better go, as I realise it was a newbie to altering feeling a little daunted, and that maybe all of us going on about everything we'd done could be a little off putting for people not sure about displaying their work. I completely understood where Grey parrot was coming from, and hope she now feels a little at ease with it all.

However, after reading virtually every post on this new forum, there is no-one to my mind who has portrayed themself as being better at doing this or that, people have meerly said how they did something differently, and I certainly haven't seen anyone post any negative comments about anyone elses work. In fact from everything I have seen up to now, everyone has been really encouraging on this forum, and wanting people to share their experiences - not as it is portrayed in the above remark.

I hope this is the end of what has started to be a really friendly, easy going forum, we certainly never had these issues on out ATC thread and I hope this is the last of it on here!

I'm not usually one to get on my high horse, but sometimes when push comes to shove.....

Nura x

[DanityDoll]

sorry i didn't mean to bring it back up - i didn't check the dates and as i only got back a few days ago i'm only really catching up on the goings on!!!! :) i was really just stating my opinion though so i'm hoping no-one is offended.

[Sprinkles]

That's fine Vicki, everyone's entitled to an opinion, but if things get remarked on that haven't actually happened then it is upsetting to those of us who have been friendly, encouraging and supportive of old-timers and newbies :)

Nura x

[DanityDoll]

yup i can see your point, there are alot of encouraging people on here - no-one is disputing that!!!! i think it keeps alot of people going, the amount of encouragement you do get!!! it's very nice to come on here and get so many good comments from people :)

[Jay]

I'm very new to altering, but everyone has been really kind about my work and helpful too. I love looking at other peoples work and don't feel intimidated at all by seeing the beautiful things others create.
Please don't stop showing your fabulous things.

[little_lucy_13]

I understand entirely what you mean by the one-upmanship, Correna. I've been flamed for asking if what I did was ok. It's put me off doing anymore swaps, as I haven't even done anything like it before (hope I'm making sense). Sorry for me being a relatively new newbie :blink:

[Pemmie]

I have not been an active member of UKS for some time now but do on the odd occasion log in to read up and look at the gallery etc. I was pleased to see the new section for altered bits and pieces and I sat and read nearly everypost yesterday( because this is my interest) and I found nothing ' one - upmanship' about anything! This forum seems to run along the same lines as the old ATC threads and everything seems just as friendly as ever. There are lots of people here with differing styles and ideas, what the point of joining in if you cant share and swap and show off your projects? OR how will others learn ?

This is one reason why i dont join in nowadays, theres always someone , somewhere, taking offence at something.

Newbies and the likes, stop apologising for being a 'newbie' and get on with it, for godsake we all started from scratch didnt we??? :nono:

[lalheg]

Thanks for that Pemmie. I have sat on my hands for ages and pondered about what I am going to say.

In a nutshell - do we ask experienced scrappers to not show their fabulous creations in case it upsets, scares or puts off newbies or do we look upon such works as inspiration and something to aspire to?

[Hils]

Oh bums, I do wish there weren't threads like this on here!
I haven't noticed any oneupmanship at all, just people keen to share their work (understandably, esp since the altered art forum is new) and people happy to share their knowledge and help out anyone who needs it. I've been on both sides of this knowledge sharing and inspirational viewing....
Please, experienced folk, don't go away and not show anything. Newbies, it can be a little daunting on forums where it seems like everyone knows everyone else - we all know that cos we were all newbies once! Similarly we know what its like not to know how to do stuff. But that doesn't mean that cos we're sharing our work that we think its better than anyone else's - far from it - lots of people have to work quite hard to get the courage to post it on here, however long they've been doing it for.
It's great to see what everyone is doing, however long they have been doing it for, and surely the point of a forum is to share knowledge, tips, inspiration etc? Let's just enjoy it :)

[willsmom]

hear hear hils :D

trish xxx

[izzy]

We ahve all expressed our opinion now, so why dont we just agree to move on and enjoy whatever it is we do? :)

[LME]

Thanks maybe it can just sink :)