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Is anyone else not crazy about the new Martha Stewart stuff?
I visited Michael's for the first time since the new MS stuff came out. Some of it is pretty, but seemed pricey. Then, some of it I just didn't "get" like kits to make banners. Then again I'm on a super tight budget, so maybe that's why I didn't get awed by it on my way to the $1.29 gel pens!
So, what do you think of the new stuff at Michael's?
I saw it all up close last night. It was okay, but too much money for what it is. I didn't see a single thing that I couldn't stay away from. It's not ugly or anything. Just nothing so compelling that I'd be willing to pay that much for it. And I am not shy about spending $$ on things that catch my eye. Just ask my husband (or look around my dining room).
I am not one to buy something, anything really, just because it is made by (insert name). I am that way about clothes, shoes, furniture, stamps, you name it.
My criteria is if I like it, and think it is good value for the money, then I think about buying it.
Many times, I see something that I love, but think it is way too expensive for what it is. Then I look all over to find an acceptable substitute. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes not.
I feel the same way about the Martha line. Some of the things appeal to me, and seem to be good value for the money, some not.
For example, I got two rolls of her really elegant ribbon, a soft pink and an aqua, with brown edging. They were $2.99 a roll, and had 10 yards on the roll. I think that is a good value, and it's beautiful ribbon.
I also bought a cornflower punch for $9.99 which seemed pretty reasonable to me, and I know I will use it on lots of cards.
On the other hand, I went totally crazy over all the Michaels clear $1 stamps.:mrgreen:
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I saw it for the first time also, was not real impressed... Do we really need an 18x18 scrapbook?
I also found that I had to pick up each item to figure out what it was.. the packaging was very baffling.
Unfortunately I think Michael's cleared out some low end items (that I liked, thank you very much)to make room.
I could definitely do with out Martha Stewart in the Scrapbook Area.
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I tell you after all I had heard here on SCS, I was expecting wonderful stuff, not just one isle, I actually looked up it twice because I kept think there must be something good, all the girls said it was good! At least I know where my money won't be going
C
I love some of her stuff. I love the ribbon, glitter, punches, and the patterned paper. And I bought to much, Im not into rub on's and stickers and such so that stuff didnt appeal to me. As for markers and ink I found what works for me, so I pasted on that. The bird stamps were something I would find at an old lady's house. Her acrylic stamps were a good price I thought just not my style. So I loved the stuff I bought ;)
One thing that kind of bugs me - she has a (theoretically) cool binder system - each embellishment, idea card, sticker... anything flat, has holes in the bottom and she has a binder that you can put them all in, in color/theme categories. But! Only some of the stickers/embellishments have a resealable opening on the non-hole end so you can take them out and put them back in... I got one that had that, and one that had the holes but no way to reseal it.
I didn't actually get the binder thing - I just figured it out after I'd picked up a few things - but I'm glad I didn't, because the appeal of that to me would be being able to use some of the stickers and things and save the rest for later.
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I haven't even seen it yet, but refuse to support that charlatan in any of her endeavors... I've boycotted KMart and Sears, now Michael's is on my list....
I went today and was very impressed... with the display. The actual products were OK I thought, not really my style but a couple of things were cute. I liked some of the patterned paper but it seemed really flimsy for such a large scrapbook page. The ribbons were nice but I have such a huge stash at home I am not letting myself buy any more ribbon at all, so.
I was interested in the ribbon keeper. I liked the colors, the design and all, but two of the three ones I picked up had sort of frayed fabric corners in the slit opening. Since that is the area that will get a lot of use, and these were not perfect even though they were plastic-wrapped still, I decided to pass.
I ended up leaving M's with two new cuttlebug embossing folders and two dollar books for my kids, and no Martha! I will check back again, though...:-D
I thought it was OK. Didn't see anything I had to have. I bet it doesn't fly off the shelves. I might have tried something if I could have used a coupon.
Some I liked, some just weren't my style, some I could see using for the right project, and I thought some of the project kits were downright cheesy, BUT while I was looking at her stuff I kept getting distracted by the new K & Co. stuff on the opposite side of the aisle...it was wonderful! I bought nothing of Martha's, but did buy several K & Co. things.
The problem I have with Martha's scrapbooking line is that she jumped on this bandwagon to make money on a sure thing-scrapbooking/papercrafts. If she was in on this from the very beginning with a product line helping to develop and promote the paper crafting industry I would probably feel differently about her stuff. She waits years for the businesss of scrapbooking etc to get established and sees everyone else making sure money on it and then BINGO she hears the sound of Cash coming in and she jumps in with a product line. And then in a very insulting way her execs tell us to do it with more style and innovation (referring to that other thread about the news article about dumpy crappy craft stores not being good enough to carry her product.) They know where the $$$$ signs are and I see that as the main motivater behind her product line when she really could have been an innovater of this years ago. And then being exclusive to Michaels, no coupons no sales etc is just not marketing friendly to folks like us.
I've been to Mike's twice since MS has been out and didn't buy anything (of hers) either time. I do like some of her punches, but they are too small for my taste - prefer the Marvy "Giga" & "Mega" sizes. She has some pretty papers, but I don't want the hassle of trying to cut 18" paper in my Cutterpede...KWIM? I might check out the glitter and adhesives next time I'm in need of any.
As one of the other posters said above, I was blown away by the new K&CO lines and overall, I'm happy with the way our local Mike's has upgraded. It would be nice, though, if they carried the Marvy scalloped punches in oval and circle and not just the square...
So, what do you think of the new stuff at Michael's?
I like the MS product line very much--always been a huge fan of her sense of style, personally speaking; bought some at Michael's, then ordered more online from her store when it opened because I regretted not getting a number of items when I was actually there in the store :grin:
When I analyzed prices on ribbon, for example, it seemed to me to be competitively priced when compared to products of similar quality produced by other major manufacturers in the industry.
For example, I bought a 12 yd. spool of 3/8" wide piped ribbon, priced at $2.99. 25 cents per yard for this type of ribbon is actually a very good deal!
I paid $1.99 for a spool of 1/2" wide ribbon 5 yds. long--polyester grosgrain with a stitch running down the center--which equated to 40 cents per yard. This was from a "budget" line of ribbon at Michael's, called Dashes, Dots & Checks.
When you check the price per yard or pieces per package, etc., you may find that certain products are indeed more reasonably priced than they seem at first glance.
Of course, no price seems reasonable, if the product doesn't appeal to you, so that kinda goes without saying. ;)
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I was so dazed by the glitter colors that I walked out of the store with 2 of the same punches. Have to exchange one. My 10 yo DD was quite impressed with some of the craft kits, but she liked the K & Company GS stuff even more.
I like quite a bit of it and bought several things -- I'm sure I'll go back to pick up some more. As with all things though, not everyone likes the same thing so some of us like it and some of us don't . . . it's all good!
I too went to my Michaels' twice last week.. Just to check out her stuff-- thinking that 'maybe it's not all out yet, I'll come back in a few days to see the rest...' LOL I liked her glitters, i didn't think the price was terrible on it at all.. Her papers though some are pretty, not exactly my taste- I looked and looked, and then settled on buying nothing of hers.. I hope that her stuff improves a bit, and that maybe her papers come out in smaller sizes.. Just my opinion though.
THANK YOU! I'm not one to bash products on here but I do have to say I'm not crazy about the Martha Stewart line.
I'm one, too, that is not shy about splurging on products. I was so excited when I saw the shelves stocked in Michael's and was so disappointed when I came out with NOTHING! (my dh was shocked too!)
I ventured to M's one day last week and expected the aisle to be all lit up with spot lights or something. MS is in the first aisle as you walk in and it is so dimly lit and boxed were still on the floor. None of the stuff impressed me enough to buy it. I didn't see anything *new* to buy. Now the K&Co I was ALL over that and drooling. PRETTY papers! snort! and I am LOVING the photo album with the lil red wagon on it . . . CUTE!
Not a huge Martha fan but this is a huge step up for Michaels and any fresh stuff in those tired ol' paper crafting rows has to be a good thing! I hope the stores keep it looking nice and well stocked.
Mary Beth
true, but then I'd have to buy a new cutter, as all of mine (even my Carl) only accomodate 12x12....
Don't think many people are willing to do that just for a few sheets of paper IMO....
I was lamenting that I'd only sprung for the 15" Carl, and not the 18" when I saw those papers, but, as I read the above, it finally hit me:
I actually already have a hand-held Fiskars Rotary Cutter, acrylic ruler, and cutting mat, so it won't be an issue for me to figure out how to cut down these papers!
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Not a huge Martha fan but this is a huge step up for Michaels and any fresh stuff in those tired ol' paper crafting rows has to be a good thing! I hope the stores keep it looking nice and well stocked.
Mary Beth
ITA! I was thrilled to see all the new K & Co., Bare Elements by Creative Imaginations, etc. I don't get to Michael's very often--an hour away from me--so it was refreshing to see all the new products they've brought in now!
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I'm not a fan of Martha either. I did walk down the aisle once but nothing popped out at me. I did see the cute pig paperbag puppet but when I saw the price of $3.99 for ONE puppet, I hung it back up. That's nuts. A pink paper lunch bag and a few stickers. AND.. the fact that coupons are off limits, well that's nuts too.
I guess it's just one of those "to each his own." If you like it, great! If not, well we have other things to buy. ;) We still vote with our wallets, regardless if it's Wal-Mart, Michael's or wherever.
Kimberly
__________________ "There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness." -- Dave Barry
I have to say I was REALLY pleased with the new Martha Stewart line!! This is the kind of product you only get to see at HIGH end paper stores and it's at a fraction of the price. Her line of packaging of food gifts is especially exciting!! Beautiful colors, eyecatching designs and not an outrageous price. DEFINITELY a bonus for the Michael's chain!
And as far as her "criminal" background, she paid her debt to society and is being a productive citizen providing TONS of jobs for people. Isn't that what we WANT from people that broke the law? Isn't that the ideal? Aren't we supposed to forgive those who faultered and repented? Just my humble opinion, since this is a poll...
And as far as her "criminal" background, she paid her debt to society and is being a productive citizen providing TONS of jobs for people.
You know, that she has been to prison never entered my mind. I think she was made an example of because she is so public, and the fact that we didn't hear much on the news about her "dear" friend who gave her the tip about the stocks, well, how common must that kind of insider trading be if they made such a huge deal about MS doing it, but no one else? My guess - it happens all the time.
Her products just aren't my style, and especially not for the cost (even if they are competitive with some things I like). I have always felt she comes across as a snob and since perfection never enters my realm, there is no way I could ever do what MS does, so why pay attention to it? Nothing she has ever done and sold has appealed to me because it seems put on, high above my world. Irrational thought, of course, but mine nonetheless. But her prison record, and whether or not she has paid some debt to society, never entered my mind at all.
My Michaels is 2 hours away so I haven't seen it in person yet. I don't plan on rushing there to see it either. I have never been a fan of Martha. I did look at her online store and wasn't too impressed; but I'm one who likes to be able to pick up something and get a closer look before I buy.
And as far as her "criminal" background, she paid her debt to society
I tend to agree with this as well; she broke the law, was held accountable for her transgression, and served the sentence handed to her by the court.
I also suspect that insider trading is not "uncommon", and, that because she is so public, the media went for the jugular and targeted her as an example. IMHO, the criminals responsible for the Enron Scandal were, and still are, worth far more scrutiny and outrage, considering the victims hurt by their actions, but that's another disucssion for another time . . .
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I have only looked at her new line on the website, but I like it. There are some very creative ideas in her designs, and I'm sure she didn't do it all by herself but worked with a design team. Of course I didn't like everything, but there is no company that I have found where I *love* everything. I think she brings some new things to the market, and that's what free enterprise is all about.
Is anyone else not crazy about the new Martha Stewart stuff?
OMG! Thank you! --ya' sparked me!
