Papertrey Ink's (Lack of) Customer Service

I am a Canadian customer of Papertrey Ink and have been for some years (i.e. I've spent literally THOUSANDS of $$$ on their beautiful products). Of course, shipping to me here in Canada is expensive, but as there is no Canadian supplier, I don't have much of a choice. On occasion, perhaps once a year, I go into the US for vacation and arrange to ship my goodies (from Papertrey as well as other online suppliers) to a Kinek point located just across the border. I avoid the shipping costs and duties, and pay a minimal $5 pick-up fee.

One such occasion occurred recently, and I had actually placed SEVERAL ORDERS with Papertrey to pick-up at Kinek during my vacation, my last one including a die set that was recently re-stocked and for which I ordered another set for a friend (as we often combine our orders). Well, when I opened the box, one of those die sets was missing - only 1 was shipped, so I contacted Customer Service (Julie Heskamp, the owner of Papertrey Ink).

Of course, by this time, I was back home from my vacation here in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Actually about an hour north-east of Toronto.

Julie was very quick to reply, and exceptionally pleasant ("hope you're having a fabulous day" etc.), and replied back to me that yes, IT WAS THEIR ERROR IN NOT SENDING THE 2ND SET.

When she advised me of her resolution, it floored me!!! Even after admitting it was THEIR FAULT, they advised me that they could only send the missing die set to the original destination - i.e. the Kinek point in New York state, which is a 3-hour drive (one way) from my home!!

When I explained my situation - the distance, the pick-up fee, the fact I wasn't going to be visiting the States again for some time, the fact that almost all of my orders have been shipped to me here in the GTA with those few cross-border occasions, the fact that 1 die set can be sent to me here in Canada for minimal cost, and the fact that they admitted fault in this situation - she reiterated that they were only willing to send it to the original destination ("company policy"), or I could receive a credit for the $10 product.

It's a shame how dreadful their "Customer Service" is. They definitely have a way of making customers feel like their satisfaction is not worth their efforts or added expense, no matter how small.

No wonder they have an "F" rating at the BBB!

I'm saddened because I still like their product and realize that my decision to cease buying from them would mean absolutely nothing to them, no matter how much money I've spent with them over the years. I also can't help thinking that, if I were an American customer, would they be willing to send that missing die set to my home address in the US, or would they still insist on sending it to the Kinek point because it's their "Company Policy"??? I mean, 1 US address is the same as sending it to another US address, right?

It's highly likely it's because I'm a Canadian customer and it's too much trouble for them to correct THEIR error by sending the die set to me here in Canada at an added cost to them.

Shame on Papertrey Ink!

Neon Happy Birthday - Virginia's View Challenge #5

I have been following Virginia Lu's blog for a little while, inspired by her creativity and card designs (as well as her hilarious antics involving her DH, Dr. John). In fact, when she started her "Virginia's View Challenge" blog recently, I had every intention of playing along.

Five months later, I have finally managed to make a card to get in on the incredible fun (where does the time go??). And what could be better than this month's challenge than to use die cuts??? I mean, seriously, you should see my die collection! I have a terrible addiction to those lovely metal things, and there is no end to the fabulous designs coming out all the time. Can one ever have enough dies? I have yet to discover the answer to that, so in the meantime, I'll continue to buy the ones that catch my eye ;-)

This card uses the lovely Memory Box Blissful Butterfly Border, paired with the Papertrey One Liners: Happy dies -

I've also been wanting to play with some neon cardstock I picked up a while back, so took the opportunity to use the colours with the butterfly border die. I gave the white panel some texture by running it through my Cuttlebug with the Papertrey Linen & Canvas Impression Plate die, glued the border die on a slight diagonal, filled each pocket with the neon cardstock diecuts, then adhered the "Happy" diecut at the base. I can't tell you how hard it was to leave the top portion alone ... have I mentioned how difficult I find it to make a CAS card??? LOL

The inside of this card completes the sentiment with "Birthday".

So there you have it ... my entry into this month's Challenge - to use diecuts. Why not join in on the fun?

Trillium Gift Card sets

If you read back on a previous post in which I featured a Retirement card for a dear friend, you'll know that I picked up the My Favorite Things Die-namics set "Lily" as I thought it would work nicely for a "Trillium" flower, the official flower of our Province of Ontario. My SIL requested a card set to give as a gift when she visits a B & B this summer.

I came up with a couple of designs that feature this lovely die set. This is my first:

The first design uses Stampin' Up's Hardwood Background stamp on the main panel stamped in (SU!) Crumb Cake ink on Kraft cardstock, then stamped again on white cardstock for the inner circle that holds the flower die image. I surrounded the circle opening with a Spellbinders Stately Circle die in (SU!) Garden Green cardstock, the same colour cardstock also used in the flower & stem using the Die-namics Lily die.

The sentiments on all the cards were stamped in (SU!) Garden Green ink using PTI's Wet Paint Stamp Set, a current fave :-)

Of course, thinking perhaps she wouldn't like it, I went back to the drawing board and came up with another design:

The second design I decided to leave as blank cards to be used for any occasion ... but using some of the same elements (i.e. Garden Green cardstock, the exact same flower).

A Spellbinder's Floral Oval die surrounds the lovely "Trillium" flower, and I used some neutral designer paper that I had in my stash. I added a bit of bling around the upper right corner of the oval by gluing 3-3mm Yellow Gold Pearls purchased from Pizzazz Aplenty, my favourite supplier of bling in so many amazing colours & sizes! (Pssst! By the way, they also happen to be having one of their BOGO sales, so head on over to their site & stock up!! You have until the end of the month, or until supplies last.)

Hope you like my "Trillium" cards & Happy Canada Day!

Thank You Momiji Centre

I was lucky enough to get accepted as a vendor at a lovely local Art/Craft sale which took place this past weekend, an event I've had my eye on for some time but never thought I'd be a part of.

The venue is totally A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! It was located in the central hall of a Japanese Retirement Residence, which was open to the Public for this event. As you entered, you passed a Koi water garden (sigh!). There are 2 enclosed "Libraries" on either side of the long corridor leading to the back, and the ceiling was almost completely glass to allow that gorgeous sunlight in. Both Libraries had super large wood/glass doors, which were open for the event and housed local artisans showing off their beautiful, handmade work. I was located towards the back of the main hall, which had tall bamboo plants almost to the ceiling, on a direct path to a fundraising Cafe that sold sinfully delicious desserts & snacks - could I have gotten a better spot??? Not at all!!! LOL

To be honest, I didn't care a bit if I sold any of my cards ... I was so humbled by the friendliness of the residents and their friends and families, how completely respectful they were. They truly made us vendors feel like "family", and I can't wait to go back and see them again. The Event Coordinators and Volunteers also deserve to be recognized as they did a wonderful job - a huge "Thank You" to you all!

I wanted to show off a lovely card rack that was gifted to me by my Sister-in-Law, Donna. I sent out word to family that I was looking for one but never in my life did I expect to have one of them find the PERFECT ONE, and in such short time. It arrived just in time for this event. It's a 16-pocket spinner, and is located on the left side back corner of my table.

Each of my customers received my business card with each purchase, which provides the link to this blog, so if you happen to be one of them, I want you to know how very appreciative I am for your support and that I hope we meet again at the Momiji Centre at next year's event.

Thanks so much for dropping in and reading my post!

Pop! Clink! Fizz!

I had a lot of fun - and frustration (LOL) - putting this card together.

I've always had a vision in my mind of how this card would come together ever since I saw the PTI release for this stamp set - PTI's Propose a Toast stamp set & co-ordinating die.

It doesn't look anything like my mind's vision! :-)

Does that ever happen to you? It's rather common for me. Many times I set out to create a card, only to go off on another creative curve to end up with a design that is nothing like what I thought it would be. Oh well ... at least I got something done!

The basic pieces of my original idea are here. I used Acetate with the Propose a Toast die to simulate glass champagne glasses, and the words to portray what happens when a bottle of bubbly is opened for a celebration. The PTI Notched Hearts Banner Die Collection diecuts were an afterthought (did I mention I have a HARD time doing CAS cards? LOL).

The sentiment is from PTI's Congratulations Mini Stamp set, and a few iridescent rhinestones were added to finish this card off.

Thanks for "popping" in ;-)

Foliage Thank You card

Early in the Spring I spent the weekend with some card making gal pals at a cottage up north. We go twice a year to spend the 2 or 3 days stamping to our hearts content, without feeling guilty that we're not cleaning the house, or watching the kids (for some of us), or making meals for our DH's. Each of us is responsible for one meal, we all pitch in where needed, but mostly, we gab, we laugh, we drink, we enjoy each other's company and feed each other's creativity. If one of us arrives feeling a sense of no mojo, that quickly changes with the inspiration from what others create.

This card was inspired by one of our gang, Christa, who has a fabulous CAS style that I admire, and try to imitate (i.e. CASE).

As you can see, it's a very simple - yet elegant - card that can be used for any occasion/sentiment. In this case, the stamp set used is Stampin' Up's French Foliage (now retired), with the "Thanks" sentiment from PTI's Wet Paint stamp set. The edges of the card were sponged using Vintage Photo Distress ink to soften the look a bit, and the sentiment panel was accented with Stampin' Up's Real Red cardstock to bring out the linear pattern on the MME graph DP a bit.

Hope everybody had an amazing Father's Day weekend!

Retirement Card for a Dear Friend

Sometimes when I see the digital pictures of the cards I've made, I really - REALLY - wish I knew how to take better photos as I never seem to do the cards justice. (Note to self: learn some basic photography skills!)

This 5" X 7" card is a case in point!

I have a very dear friend who will be retiring after 37 years of teaching, and a more giving person I have never met. Of course, I had to make her a card to celebrate this momentous time in her life, and this is what I came up with:

I recently acquired the My Favorite Things Die-Namics Lily die set (which I thought would make amazing White Trilliums, which are the official symbol for our province of Ontario). As soon as I saw all the lovely cards made with this die on Pinterest, I had to use it for her card.

I used cream & soft pink as the main colours on this card, with Stampin' Ups Mellow Moss for the stems/leaves. The flower "parts" were all cut from the pink cardstock, with some areas coloured with a pink Tombow marker to give them a bit of definition.

I then used the Spellbinders set "A2 Devine Eloquence" and cut the 2 largest dies in cream, adhered the larger to a pink base, then popped up the second die cut in the centre. The largest cream base was dry embossed using an Anna Griffin Embossing Folder release from Cuttlebug (5" X 7"). PTI's Tiny Tags die/stamp set were used for the "Enjoy" sentiment. I finished it off with a satin edged organza ribbon bow.

I hope she likes it ...

Thanks for stopping in - enjoy your day!