UKS - the way forward

[__TJ__]

firstly maryanne i didnt know you had had a heart attack, im so sorry to hear that it must have been terrifying for you. im very happy to hear that you are on the mend despite family issues.
not sure i really have the right to comment because ive been AWOL for so long, but UKS will always have a place in my heart as the first online community i joined. before facebook came along this was my home page and the place i met some of my closest friends. Ive been separated from my stash for a couple of years now and have tried to struggle on and scrap but knowing i have fourteen green holographic wheelbarrows buried somewhere in there i dont want to buy one more just for a page. I have been scrapping more recently but havent been on UKs for a fair while.

that all said, id donate any day of the week, and timezones notwithstanding id happily help out in any way i can. have to learn my way round first
sometimes things come into our lives and they are super important at the time and then they move on or you move on and its over, this is not that. id be gutted if UKS wasnt there - even if we dont talk as much as we used to.

i made so many friends here, and i miss that.

[jackie40]

Happy New Year to you, and again I want to thank you for providing this great platform.

I must admit that I don't use it as often as I used to, but I would hate to see it go has it has always provided a great source of craft inspiration.

The donate button sound like a good idea.

[Ladybing]

Hi MaryAnne, I am sorry to hear about your heart attack. I often forget to sign in because I think I was confused about all this house members and teams stuff and I just wanted to chat and have inspiration on the main boards. I came here in 2011 shortly before moving to the UK and I loved getting info from local people. I like the rest use fb more than forums although having said that if there was more discussion and challenges (who doesn't love a good challenge) I would come back -that takes time. i don't mind hosting challenges and such. Although I must confess I don't understand the points thing either. I just want to do a challenge and post it.

[Chris55]

First I'd like to thank you Mary Anne for all the hard work you've put into keeping UKS going for all these years. So sorry to hear that you've been ill and hope you're well on the way to recovery.
I'm disappointed to read that so many people prefer to chat on Facebook. Our group decided against it as our allegiance is with UKS. We're a very chatty supportive group of friends, not just ladies who scrap and I'd be very sorry to lose them from my life.
My vote is a big NO to Facebook.

[scrapmate uk]

I am not primarily a scrapper but I come on here at least once a day and try to join in any crafty chat. I am not on FB or Twitter because I spend enough time on the 'net as it is! A forum is only as good as the people who use it and whilst this used to be a very busy place it has become a lot quieter. I find the same thing has happened on another forum I use as well so it isn't just a UK Scrappers problem. I don't know what the answer is but I know it would be a shame if this forum fell by the wayside.

[mmmbisto]

Hugs to you MaryAnne, it's been a while since I was an active member but have many fond memories of the cyber crops and such that we had and as a result have quite a few members as my FB friends.
I have every intention of getting back into crafting and scrapping this year come spring when, in our new home, our utility room will house my craft nook
I'm not 100% sure how much I would use the forums to be honest though, I do come here as a reference and to see what sponsors are selling what and if they have what I'm looking for - I purchased a planner over a year ago and have been into that lately.

It would be sad to see it go but as I have not been active much it would be partly my fault for not participating more. But thank you MaryAnne for your work and for bringing me some long time friends into my life it's actually so nice to see some of the names I remember too

[Suky]

Quote 'I am, also, bemused by some comments saying that people don't want others reading their posts..does this mean they have something to hide? If they don't want some people to read what they put, maybe they should consider whether they should be posting things they wouldn't want others to read? '
Elaine, I think that sometimes we discuss things of a very personal nature as close friends and it would make us uncomfortable to think others were reading it.

My teamies and I chat on FB Messenger as it 'pings' to alert us of messages and with modern phone, tablets and the like we can (and do) chat almost everywhere much more easily. As I said in my earlier post, I want UKS to stay but I understand it may have to change and linking to FB may be one of those changes.

[alison 2]

So sorry that you've had such a bad time Mary Anne, hope 2016 brings better things for you.

I LOVE UKS and would hate to see it move to Facebook. Here I can find what I want, and look back on old challenges, etc. I would have no idea how to find things on Facebook, it's ok for updates but as someone said , I only look at recent posts on there, and very rarely contribute
we have had some fabulous challenges and inspiration on here, and thank you to all those who have contributed. I do think we all need to try chatting more in the threads, more than just 'here's my LO' . I think it is a case of Use it or Lose it and I for one don't want to lose it.
Green buttons have had weekend mini cyber crops in the past, maybe each house could organise one every few months for everyone, they always seem to encourage activity.

I find the challenges and points system a great incentive to get on and do something, but I'm sure it doesn't suit everyone. People are also very welcome to join in the challenges without being in a team, it's not compulsory

Mary Anne, I am happy to help any way I can. I am not technical so couldn't help on that side but I am happy to help with challenges etc.

[alison 2]

Yay, it's great to see so many people chatting again on here, not just on this thread. I do hope it continues x

[Efemera]

I don't post much.. In fact hardly at all since the introduction of the social groups, especially as I asked to join one and was refused... However I do visit several times a day and I like to see what's new and would miss it if it was to disappear. I have actually done 3 layouts in the past 2 weeks!

[janine.orourke]

Hi Mary Anne,
So glad to hear things are improving for you, I hope they continue to do so.
I would hate it if UKS were to go, I come on usually a couple of times a day to have a nose around. And I am most definitely wanting to sponsor again (was wondering when the email would come LOL!)

[elainevking]

Couldn't agree more Alison. So good to see more people chatting!
I can only echo the sentiments of many that say they don't want UKS to disappear or change. I love it here and contribute every day..both on my team thread and the house thread as well as challenges, swaps, cjs etc..you get out of it what you put in. If no one bothers to come on it is inevitable that it will dwindle. I am on FB and enjoy that too..I think that if Challenges were shared each week to FB we would get lots more interest..the same as this thread has had. If people prefer FB there is no reason they cannot follow the link to contribute to to UKS by following the link. It just needs someone to post the links when it is relevant onto the UKS thread on FB...maybe the person that starts the thread can share it on FB too?
I should just say that if everyone wants to move everything to FB..there will soon be no forums, no blogs etc..just FB? Is that REALLY what you all want?
I am, also, bemused by some comments saying that people don't want others reading their posts..does this mean they have something to hide? If they don't want some people to read what they put, maybe they should consider whether they should be posting things they wouldn't want others to read?
I really appreciate the efforts that you put in MA and all the others that contribute. Please keep up the good work and continue whilst also embracing the social media side of things too to aid with the 'moving of the times' that some have referred to. I hope your health continues to improve.

[jemm]

Hi MaryAnne. Sorry to hear of your health issues...... I am another who has been AWOL.... Haven't scrapped in forever but decided I would start again this year and only reappeared on the site today. I too hope that UKS stays as it is (well when I have reaquainted myself with how it all works now) I don't think it would be the same on facebook.

[Sav]

Mary Anne so sorry to hear that you have been having a bad time I hope 2016 will be better for you and your family. Thank you so much for all that you do on here.

I too would miss UK scrappers I have made such good team friends here and there is always advice and help on any of the forums when needed and there is always plenty of inspiration.

[magsellis]

Wishing you strong health for 2016!

I visit UKS every day and post in various conversations several times a week. I am part of different swaps and CJs and I look to UKS challenges every week, which I do most of the weeks. UKS is part of my creative life, Scrapbooking and photo and mixed media as well as some card making. It has expanded my creative horizon and I have made new friends , so I don't want it to go!