UKS 2021 - input?

[MiniOwner]

UKS has never 'died' as far as I'm concerned, it has changed but it is still the most incredible site and very precious to those who use it. It is an absolute lifeline to a lot of us I think and we just need more people to realise what they are missing. Thank you as always to those of you who make it all possible, especially MaryAnne, Karen and Sue.x

I have already emailed ideas to Karen and Sue and those offers of help still stand.

Sending much love to you all and thank you to all the members and especially Mary-Anne, Karen and Sue for all their hard work

Thank you

[scrapdolly]

Hi

Yes, this was the end of UKS - it just died - and this makes me incredibly sad.




I have made some wonderful, lifelong friends via UKS - and some of them are my closest friends. A forum that was before FB and was very active. I started chatting with a complete bunch of strangers, who supported me with my new found hobby and a young family and I still talk to many of them now, and regularly - I will point them in this direction and see if any will pop back. I would hate UKS to close because this is where it started for me.

It certainly isn't user friendly as it was in the 'good ole days' - and I still get a bit lost now - I don't think the social groups worked. I feel guilty for not commenting on the threads and the gallery for a challenge that I might have set - I sometimes post the challenge in the gallery and then forget to link it to the thread - its just too many steps sometimes, and often I am on my phone and its not user friendly on the phone - but then that could be just me

...and then COVID-19 hit - for some, it meant scrapping increased, for others their needs/crafting took a different direction - and they made PPE, scrubs and now masks and me...my life completely changed. I work in the NHS - and not only did things change when COVID-19 hit us - I also got a job promotion and increased my hours slightly. I am a Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist and have been heavily involved in the COVID-19 testing and the antibody testing. I have an autistic son who finished school very early in March, as he was at a SEN school and they closed early. A hubby and elder son who were both furloughed and I carried on working. We, like most families are returning to some normality, but Sam never returned to school and had to start college and its been a bit tricky. I also have elderly parents who are all scared of the current situation and are struggling (as are many) with the restrictions...and then to top it all my best friend lost her husband suddenly - so scrapping has stopped!

However it will return - I don't know when, as after Christmas I'll be packing up the craft room as we are having building work done - but this will create a new craft room for me! I'm sorry I cannot be more help - but I will return, I know my lovely friend Sue won't let me disappear.

Sending much love to you all and thank you to all the members and especially Mary-Anne, Karen and Sue for all their hard work

Sarah what a thoughtful post and firstly can I thank you for all you and all of your colleagues have done and continue to do. You are angels

I hope that life does return to a better normal soon for you, not least because your work absolutely rocked and I miss it x

[scrapdolly]

[QUOTE=Susie.A;6752381

UKS has never 'died' as far as I'm concerned, it has changed but it is still the most incredible site and very precious to those who use it. It is an absolute lifeline to a lot of us I think and we just need more people to realise what they are missing. Thank you as always to those of you who make it all possible, especially MaryAnne, Karen and Sue.x[/QUOTE]
Thank you x

[Crafty Lady]

I'm happy to take on the adopt a newbie job if that will help and I'm also happy to share the Friday 5 If you pm me we can discuss how to work it. I didn't know about the Spy Forum. I always go to New Posts but if there is a lot to read on one I go on when I go back to the list they have disappeared and I don't know what I have missed IYKWIM. I'm happy to collect points but I don't understand it that much. Also I was a member of Allsorts and Green Buttons but the allsorts seem to have died off and there's not very much going on with Green Buttons apart from saying good morning to each other. With points I don't know who to give my points total to as I was in 2 groups. I hate that some people are being offended, I'm sure it's not intentional, just constructive criticism. Unfortunately with COVID etc. I haven't been in the mood for crafting much but I'm determined to do more next year. Thank you to alal the care-workers/nurses on here and the people who keep UKS going for us all to enjoy.

[MaryAnne]

Thank you! I think one thing I really need to do is compile a list of the "tasks" that we feel need doing then people can say Why YES, I can do that! and we won't say yes to more than one person and risk offense and in some cases it might be good to have multiple people working on one job together, both from a split-the-load aspect and from an option POV.

I'll try to get that sorted in my head then on paper.

[scrapdolly]

I'm happy to take on the adopt a newbie job if that will help and I'm also happy to share the Friday 5 If you pm me we can discuss how to work it. I didn't know about the Spy Forum. I always go to New Posts but if there is a lot to read on one I go on when I go back to the list they have disappeared and I don't know what I have missed IYKWIM. I'm happy to collect points but I don't understand it that much. Also I was a member of Allsorts and Green Buttons but the allsorts seem to have died off and there's not very much going on with Green Buttons apart from saying good morning to each other. With points I don't know who to give my points total to as I was in 2 groups. I hate that some people are being offended, I'm sure it's not intentional, just constructive criticism. Unfortunately with COVID etc. I haven't been in the mood for crafting much but I'm determined to do more next year. Thank you to alal the care-workers/nurses on here and the people who keep UKS going for us all to enjoy.

Thank you so much for your offers - brilliant and I have noted them on a list (I seem to have a lot of lists)

You are so right - it has been an awful year for everyone with COVID and lockdowns and all the inherent worry and distress that has caused for so many reasons. One of the things that is now well recognised as helping people's mental wellbeing is crafting so I think we are in a good place here with a hobby we love to support our own mental health and that of others through crafting and shared enjoyment.

[tigerlady]

Add me into the list, I will take on extra duties and know my way round here pretty well!
I would be happy to share the Newbie duty with you, Sheila, if you want help? Two of us doing it would hopefully mean every message was seen and replied to quite quickly.

[wendylorraine]

I've read the thread and it's so great to know how many can keep it running. Due to what technology I have I carry help. I'm in crafters retire with g61 and it seems like it's just is at the moment. Due to mental health struggles I've not crafted much cards have been all I can manage. But hoping 2021 I can start again with doing layouts. I really love this site and look forward to making more friends.
Thank you to everyone who helps keep it going.

[yiayia]

Hi all. I have been following this conversation with a great deal of interest. My busy life doesn't give me a lot of regular spare time and I only make cards - not scrapbooking. BUT - I would be happy to adopt a newbie if a cardmaker wanted to join us. So perhaps the person who takes this on might want to park that at the back of their (already crowded!) mind?
There have been times when the chat groups have been a lifeline for me - especially right now as it happens. I have a lot of wonderful friends on here who are very supportive and I try to be the same for others as well. Long live UKS!!
Thank you so very much for all the hard work, time and effort you put in to provide this wonderful site.

[alison 2]

Yes, there only seems to be two very active groups at the moment.
The Allsorts plod along, checking in every now and then, and reporting points gathered. Sheila let me know your points in the Allsorts chat or by pm or email. .

As there are only 4 teams and about 20 people submitting points they don’t really seem worth it to me. I love the challenges and try to make them work with what albums I’m working on, but adding something to a page just to get full points is not why I scrap, but I find myself doing it all the same and I’m not really happy with that page
I think people will do challenges anyway, and will have the flexibility to interpret them to suit their own situations

I chat in the SNAP and daily chat thread, and the GB thread, and as most of my team chat in those it seems pointless repeating ourselves in the team social group.
It’s lovely that others have joined in to those threads since this conversation has started


I think making a list of challenges and who would like to do what’s a great idea, so everyone knows where they are. Weeklies like Friday 5 are a big commitment so I think probably are best shared with more than one person. adopt a newbie sounds a good way forward, although I have never had any experience of that

I have a couple of ideas too, I will try and email Karen and Sue later, I have a baby in the house right now so can only pop in here for short bursts, hope I’ve not been talking rubbish

[Crafty Lady]

Add me into the list, I will take on extra duties and know my way round here pretty well!
I would be happy to share the Newbie duty with you, Sheila, if you want help? Two of us doing it would hopefully mean every message was seen and replied to quite quickly.

Hilary, that would be great, we could have 3-way conversations and therefore more posts from newbies, Yiayia, you could help with cards if needed. I also make cards, but do lots of other things.

[alison 2]

Oh, I also think getting the UKS Facebook page active and linking to here is a good idea, as that seems to be where everyone goes these days and hopefully it would increase our presence again

[elainevking]

I would still want to scrap the challenges but don’t mind not collecting points at all. They don’t feel worth it to me either.
I’m happy to chat in the daily thread and it loooks as though there may be more people joining in there now which is awesome.
Sheila I think we don’t chat in the GB thread as often because we all chat in the daily chat and photography forum so I find myself repeating myself if I add it there too.

[scrapdolly]

I would still want to scrap the challenges but don’t mind not collecting points at all. They don’t feel worth it to me either.
I’m happy to chat in the daily thread and it loooks as though there may be more people joining in there now which is awesome.
Sheila I think we don’t chat in the GB thread as often because we all chat in the daily chat and photography forum so I find myself repeating myself if I add it there too.

Totally agree Elaine. I find the challenges a joy - they inspire me and get me scrapping (I run out of ideas otherwise and poor Nigel ends up setting me challenges!) and I don't need the points. I had already decided to stop collecting points at the start of this month. The community daily chat thread is brilliant as a way forward for people too.

[scrapdolly]

It looks like Hialry and Shelia are going o take on the newbies and I think I speak for the whole forum when I say a huge thank you from everyone. It is a vital cog int he whole UKS machine and has been sadly missed. Please, if others want to help I am sure Hilary and Sandra would welcome more help but they will coordinate it.

now edited to give the right name - doh!