Oscraps

Just curious - CTs

tanteva

tanteva

Mistress of Mayhem
I've been thinking about this with CTs, and I was just curious, and wanted to see what everyone else thinks.

How many CTs is it possible to be on and still do a good job?
If you are on a CT (or more), how did you end up there?
What's the best and the worst part of CTing?

My answers:
I'm on 3 CTs right now, and I think I could handle 1 or 2 more. I've been looking at calls for a week or two now, but not found anything interesting.

Digitals' and Angie's team I applied for, but Silvia invited me after seeing a couple of LOs I did with her kits. After I've been on her team for a couple of months she offered me the spot as her CT leader, since she thought I had organisationial skills ... have no idea how she ended up believing that ;)

The best part is being able to scrap with great kits, and not having to pay for them :D Also - it can be a kick in the you-know-what when you have no inspiration. You HAVE TO scrap, and usually the creative juices start flowing as soon as you get going.

The worst part for me - when you are on a store team: at times you get assigned a designer who is absolutely NOT your style, and you have to create something your not really comfortable with. It doesn't happen often, but when it does - it's NO fun :)

Looking forward to hear what you all have to say.
 
How many CTs is it possible to be on and still do a good job?
I think that all depends on the person. There's one scrapper I'm familiar with who is on more designer and shop CTs than I can count on my fingers and toes. Yet I still see her everywhere, she's very active and gets things done.
Myself, even though I'm self employed, I'd never be able to do that much CT work. There's a few designers who's CTs I would kill to be on, but unless they have a call, I'm not applying to anymore.

From a designer standpoint... I care about how active people are on forums, and if they have a good history of being consistent in how much they scrap. If they are consistent and on ten teams, then I'm OK with accepting them. If they're inconsistent and not on many CTs, then I'd be less likely to accept them. For example... I've had people ask to join my team who haven't done more than a few LOs over the last month. I'd say no to them in that case.

If you are on a CT (or more), how did you end up there?
I'm on I think five teams right now. Three I was asked to join, two I applied for.

What's the best and the worst part of CTing?
The best part is being able to help out the designer and promote their stuff. I love to promote the designers I CT for. One of the designers is having some rough family stuff and hasn't been able to release any new products... so I've been promoting her web design business. I love getting Thank You's from her when I get her a new client :) The worst is CTing for a designer who does the same thing over and over again, which makes it really hard to come up with original LOs for every kit.

Not a question... but something in addition... as a designer, I love it when people ask to join my team. Calls are a ton of work, and right now... even though I can see myself needing more people in a few weeks... I don't have the time to do a call. But I always have time to respond to people "cold calling" to join.
 
How many CTs is it possible to be on and still do a good job? That depends on the person, their outside of digi world commitments, family needs and their time- I know for me- although I would love to be on lots of CT, but do not have the time.

If you are on a CT (or more), how did you end up there? I started with an offer from a designer at a chat ( I had been scrapping a lot with that designers product). After seeing how enjoyable and challenging it was, I applied for other CT's, and was asked to be on a CT by a designer. I have designers with a variety of styles, which I love because it has challenged me to grow in my art.

What's the best and the worst part of CTing? The best- playing with new kits without breaking my bank as well as promoting the designers kits. The worst- when everyone has a new kit due the same day and my outside of digi stuff is full.

I want to say I have grown so much since I started CTing and love all the designers I CT for.
 
Great questions...

So, I think how many CTs you are on can totally depend not only on the person but the designers. Some designers come out with stuff weekly and others less often. Plus if you are on a store CT that is much more work than simply being on a single team because then you get involved in the happenings at the site also. One time I was on 7 teams and I was miserable. My max is 5 teams but I prefer about 3. I'm on a store CT so I kinda feel a little pressed with my other teams and have no idea how some of the girls around here are on several teams and totally rock it.

So, how did I end up on my CT's? I didn't apply on any of the teams I am currently on. I asked for 2 and was asked by a CT manager for one and invited for the store team. Initially the teams I was on I had applied for and that was fun.

Best Part of being on a CT - my original motivation was to cut my costs. I would be on a team that I kinda liked so that I could get free product. The problem I found with that was that I was still drooling over someone else's stuff and so I didn't save any money. Now I have found that being on a team for someone whose products you love is much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Not to mention easier. So that is what I love...getting to play with someone else's art and making it my own. I mean that is what scrapping is but this is where you are chosen to do it. A totally differnt aspect.

What I don't like: Being overwhelmed. I always get overwhelmed at Christmas time. From November to January. I feel like too much is going on. So, that is the thing that I don't like is being overwhelmed.
 
Hi Eva! I'm still pretty new but I'm on 2 CTs (3 designers) and I figured I'd answer bc you might find something you were looking for in my answers.


How many CTs is it possible to be on and still do a good job?
Well, I think it's a personal thing and you have to take into consideration your job (if you have one), your family time and the one thing I think is important is how long it takes you to scrap a page. If you can scrap a great page quickly than obviously you can probably do more than someone who doesn't scrap quickly. If you find yourself sitting around thinking "I could be scrapping right now" then obviously you can do more.

If you are on a CT (or more), how did you end up there?
I got to know the designers who I CT for from interacting with them on the forum. I knew both of them from here and I was sure I liked them and their work before I mentioned that I'd like to be on their teams. I think it's good to know the person a little bit (at least for me) bc the interaction between them and the team is really important.

What's the best and the worst part of CTing?
Best: Working with awesome designers that put out awesome products. I love it when someone tells me they love what I did with their kit.
Worst: Trying to figure out where you can post links and where you can't in the galleries (my own issue because I'm new and just don't know where it's ok to link and not). The other worst thing is working with a designer who puts out crap and expects you to do miracles with it. I worked on a kit that was so random it was crazy - none of the colors matched, the elements didn't go together at all (think of a kit with something like a kitten and a bulldozer in it).

If I can maybe make some suggestions?
1.) There are a lot of OKCs (one kit calls) out there so maybe answer one of those so you can do a LO whenever YOU want to instead of being stuck with that commitment of a long term spot AND you get to pick the kit!. The OKCs are listed on DST, DSA and maybe MSA too. They post the kit and say what they're looking for so you can see what you'd be working with. Let's you get to know the designer a little bit too maybe.

2.) Find a designer you want to work with and YOU ask THEM. Don't wait for a call. Like Meg said - a call is a real pain for a designer. Buy a kit or two of theirs and do a couple of LOS and then send them a note and point them to your gallery (I loved working with your ABC kit, it was versatile, fabulous and so easy to scrap with - here's the link to my gallery so you can see what I did with your ABC kit. If you have any CT openings in the future, I'd love to be considered for a spot.) Bam, you put the word out - see what they come back with. If you really liked working with their kits tell them - who wouldn't love to hear that? Besides, if you cold call them, you aren't putting yourself up against 5000 other people to be judged if they did a call. It's just you :)

Hope those things help you in your decision making and good luck!!

Suzy
 
suezeeq12 said:
(think of a kit with something like a kitten and a bulldozer in it).
---
2.) Find a designer you want to work with and YOU ask THEM. Don't wait for a call.
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LOL to the first thing - been there, done that :)

Second: interesting. I really hadn't thought about contacting designers I'd like to work with. Maybe it's a Swedish thing - you just don't impose on people :) But as you say - of course they'd be flattered to get the question, and like you say - they might need people, but don't want to go through the whole ct call thing.

And thanks for the tip on one kit calls, I'll try and look into that.
 
OceanWideDesigns said:
From a designer standpoint... I care about how active people are on forums, and if they have a good history of being consistent in how much they scrap.
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Interesting! This is something I've kinda thought about. I've seen CT calls where I really like the design, but then they are selling on a forum where I'm not active - and I really let it go. Can't keep up with another forum. I have a hard time keeping up with GP, Digitals, Oscraps and Faith Sisters ... don't need a new place to hang around LOL

(Silly me spend most time here at Oscraps, than on the sites where my designers are - how smart is that?!? LOL)
 
LaurieW said:
outside of digi world commitments, family needs
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:confused: Not sure what you are talking about here ... :biggrin:

Oh, and I totally agree about the part of growing. I've learned so much from being on a team. If the team is great - you get so much support and tips and hints.
 
tanteva said:
Interesting! This is something I've kinda thought about. I've seen CT calls where I really like the design, but then they are selling on a forum where I'm not active - and I really let it go. Can't keep up with another forum. I have a hard time keeping up with GP, Digitals, Oscraps and Faith Sisters ... don't need a new place to hang around LOL

(Silly me spend most time here at Oscraps, than on the sites where my designers are - how smart is that?!? LOL)
Click to expand...

I am actually less likely to stay with a team that isn't here because I am less commited to them because I have no association with the forum and I don't want to spend time in that gallery and forum when I could spend time here. So, in general I just don't enjoy being anyplace else. I just think it is easier to CT where you are the most comfortable.
 
Great questions Eva!! and love reading all the responses!!

I was on several CT's last year and it did become quite overwhelming so I stepped down from quite a few at the end of last year and early this year. I am much more happier now!! I LOVE the scrapping bit, its the uploading to all of the galleries that I find painful! LOL!!! but I do it to promote the wonderful designers that I CT for. I am on 3 site CT's now and 2 individual designers and like someone else said, it gets pretty hairy when they all put out new kits at the same time!!! :)

Bottom line is, do what you can and enjoy it! When it stops being enjoyable its time to change things up a bit!! :)
 
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