Strange Things Cardmaking Influencers Do - EXPLAINED! 

I have found over the years that you are refreshingly candid and honest and try to offer your viewers relevant content, which is not the norm in this industry. Well done and I wish you continued success in the future! Arlene 🇨🇦

One way to support a crafter when you're not using their affiliate link is by watching or running the ads, muting them, and occasionally clicking the ad links to help them earn income from it. Justine you are one of my favorite crafters, and I frequently employ this method to show my support 😘

When I first discovered cardmaking, it became my grief-therapy after a loved one passed away. I saw all these videos of Cricut machines, believed that everyone thought it was the best thing since sliced bread and invested in one. I have found it take a lot of time and practice to discover which settings are needed for each type of cardstock or material and the interface kept changing on the Cricut website. Consequently the machine has been put to one side and lies unused. If I knew then what I know now - that many content creators are not necessarily what they seem to be (happy-go-lucky crafters who just want to share their passion), I would never have spent that much money on something with such a steep learning curve that necessitates the purchase of so many accessories/proprietary materials to cut. THANK YOU for being so honest here and sharing underlying reasons for content creator decisions. I may have been naive, but I was grieving and had no reason not to believe what people said when they reviewed products. Now I have learned to think ahead more carefully and purchase products not just because they look cute or are clever, but because they fit MY crafting needs/style.

Justine you did a fabulous job explaining how things work in the craft industry. I pretty much had things figured out but i have no idea how much it cost to run a channel and things of that nature. Of course the cost is probably different every year. Thanks for your honesty with us and I wish you the best and hope to see you around for many more years.❤

I've always appreciated the content from crafters that I get to view on YT. I realize it looks fun from this side of the screen, and, while you may be having fun, it's a job. And like any job, there are things you love and things you don't love about it. Sometimes I think viewers forget how much work, time and money go into creating these videos. You truly earn every single penny. Thank you for what you do!

👏 YES!!!! Standing ovation!! 👏 The review thing really bugs me. It isn't like we want to bash the company but I think like you I myself like to be honest with my audience and my integrity means everything to me but it is so hard to even say something like... "this isn't for me" Anyways... this is a great video!

I had no idea that a RU-vid channel was that expensive!! That definitely explains why so many creators do patreon, membership, or classes.

Thanks for being candid, Justine! Your honesty is refreshing in this overly politically correct environment!!

Thanks so much Justine. This was so interesting and honest! I think many of us forget that this is a business. We tend to feel like we’re crafting with a friend.!😁 It is always fun to see behind the scenes. We appreciate your hard work, and I’m always thankful that I can trust your honesty.

I LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! I agree with everything on here; thanks Justine for always being such a leader in this industry. We love you! Oh and spot on about comparison videos costing a lot. I have done so many on my channel and had to slow down because of the cost. When I do choose to do one, I do like to destash the ones I don't keep and that helps recoup some of the money.

Thanks for this honest, behind-the-scenes look at the nuts and bolts of putting out content at the rate and quality that you do. I hope it saves some time and explanatory emails! Your followers appreciate your talents and realize that it is truly work and passion to share it with us all. We appreciate you!

Very interesting content, TY. The longer I am a ‘member’ of the card making community, the more of these topics I have become aware of! I have gotten much more selective of what channels I watch and support as well. Those horrid haul videos where every product is “the most amazing/wonderful/ terrific” are definitely people I quickly unsubscribe to! I very much like seeing new techniques and when creators say what qualities of the stamp etc they are using makes the project a success, it allows me to shop my stash for similar. Budgets are a reality after all !! Supporting creators like you through classes have been terrific experiences! Thanks for another great topic video!🧑🏼‍🎨😀👍🏻👍🏻

I'm a disabled card crafter so I watch videos and then if I find something that I want to try I go to a store and buy it because if I shop online I'm afraid I might over spend and besides that I'm old fashion and I like to touch and feel the products I'm using. thanks for showing me the products that I may use

I was wondering about sorting by brand. I always found that kinda weird and extremely inefficient. Now it makes sense! Thanks!

Thanks, Justine! Great video, really helpful to understand how this all works. I LOVE your videos and have learned so much from you!

Always love your honesty!

Thank you for your honesty!

That's the reason I tune into you. Your honesty given as gently as possible. For me thinking about getting into the business, it is certainly something for me to think about

Loving the honesty. It's refreshing.

What a great video and explanation of the why behind what viewers see. I know the old phrase, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all, and I can see how that would keep a channel from getting into an unwanted disagreement. I like your explanation of seeing how much a creator uses a product or if you ever see them use it again as a true review. Well done and you explained everything with style and grace. Thanks for all of the hard work you put in for us viewers! 💕🤗

Thanks so much for these answers and the courage to share.

Thank you! This was fascinating and enjoyable.

thanks Justine. I appreciate your explanation!

Thank you, your video has made things much clearer for me, especially when I invested in something only to never see the influencer use it again, I love your honesty and integrity and also the wonderful content and sharing your creativity

Congratulations, your honesty is greatly appreciated and love your work🤩🥰

Justine, I always love your info!

Thank you for being open and honest, that’s rare.

Great video topic! Thank you for your information and sharing of your experience and knowledge.

This was so good and helpful. Thanks for explaining.

Thank you for sharing, Justine! I like watching the behind the scenes type videos.. and although most of this information wasn’t new to me, I enjoyed listening to people’s experiences regarding content creation.

Really find your down to earth videos refreshing. Thank you for that. It is stressful living in Texas now and your content is always something I look forward to.

Great video, thanks for explaining those concepts!

Great informational video. Your candor and transparency are part of why we love you.

Thank you for your honesty and explanations. You explained things I have wondered about.

Thank you. I appreciate this video. Good information.

This is a great video. Many things I've wondered about. Now I know. Makes it easier to understand. Thank you so much ❤

Thank you for this information. It made me more aware of how we can help our favorite crafters. I will be more diligent about using affiliate links and clicking on ads. This was all new and helpful information.

Thanks Justine!

Thanks so much!! I always appreciate you opinions and honest take on the industry.

I appreciate your honest in this video. It is very refreshing. I think it is very much worth noting that crafting professionals and hobby crafters are very different. There are tools that influencers use that make sense for filming, but aren't necessary for at-home crafting. But, lots of crafters feel they need them because their favourite cardmaker uses that tool. (Not to mention some people will heap piles of praise on a tool and then stop using it a month later...) I really appreciate your videos because you come across as very real. Thank you for all you do.

Thanks for being honest with us. Thanks for being a creative inspiration to us.

Excellent content. Thanks for sharing.

Love your honesty and courage to speak about industry practices openly. I figured them out after several years of following card making influencers. While I love all of you, there were some that pushed me always to use my credit card and it's only now I realize that I have 5yo supplies I've yet to use. JM is excellent, in fact, she's very professional in showcasing her talent and how to use supplies, I love her end-of-year crafty videos but have stopped watching her after I realized that she's always pushing new products I mean I could always depend on her to show how to use a new product right alongside a release -- despite saying that she's not working for any company -- and always praising branded tools over cheaper ones that are the same as the branded and more expensive ones. Like, I saw the PF paper pouncers at a goods store here in the UAE for $1.50 each!! God bless you, you're a breath of fresh air and who knows, we might meet in Germany at a craft fair there. :)

Many thanks for sharing the inner working of content creators! So Much Work! We appreciate you very much! 😊

Thank you for confirming my suspicions about craft industry practices. Another thing I love about you is your candidness.

Thank you for your honesty and personal experience about the crafting industry!

I’ve always appreciated your honesty and the content you create. I’ve been a fan for years!!!

I love your honesty. ❤

Thank you for explaining the way things work. I have been curious and this video was helpful.

Very interesting for sure! Thanks for sharing your talents! ❤

Justine... Hello from NYC. You are always so real and kind and honest - oh and creative. Thank you so much for all the explanations about what influencers do. Yes, you love what you do and are creative and genuinely enjoy creating wonderful projects, but at the end of the day, you're giving us FREE content and it is a business needs to show some profit. We totally get that! Wishing you continued success.

You have such an amazing way of being honest without being insulting. I've followed you for many years now, not only enjoying your beautiful work, but this very real approach to the crafting industry. It's really rare to see. I really admire it and as a very small content creator myself, it's reassuring. Thank you for all that you do!

Justine, Thank you for this clear explanation of how content creating and design teams work. I find it refreshing that you laid it all out, and that you explained why you choose what you will do.

Thanks for that !

Thanks for a behind the scenes look at the business side. Your clarity and honesty are refreshing.

Thank you, Justine. I think it's important for those of us on the other side of the screen to know how the industry works. When we know what we can do to help RU-vidrs earn something from the free videos they produce, we can do it!! Please remind us from time to time the ways we can help. Thank you for all the time and effort (and $$) you put into giving us these lovely, free videos. I for one really appreciate what you do!

I would like to say thank you for organising the card making summit with Lauren. It was so informative and the content was wonderful, so many different techniques. Good luck in your future endeavours and congratulations.❤❤

I appreciate your transparency and honesty. I think the video was informative and hopefully doesn’t give your channel any issues.

Thank you for explaining. As a viewer, I had no idea of the costs behind the scenes. I enjoy your videos and will watch when I have time. Thanks.

You are just the greatest to inform us like this. I always appreciate your unique content and I love being one of your VIP members. One of my favorite informational videos you put out was the one where you played all the different characters. I laughed out loud during that entire video. Thanks for all your hard work and wonderful content!

I very much appreciate the information and your honesty. I have only recently started to understand about what affiliates were about. I rarely buy an item featured at the time I see it (I have so much already) but will try to remember to go back and click on a link when I'm ready to purchase an item. New products are being thrown at crafters all the time and it's very hard to resist. Even if the Influencers are just featuring a technique and you may have something in your stash that will work, just fine however, you see a stamp, die, or stencil (or all three) used and you immediately want it (at least I do). I am becoming overwhelmed and I've been a card maker for 20+ years. I unsubscribed from quite a few suppliers' websites because it became too much. I'm a recent subscriber to your channel and will continue to watch.

You shed some light on things I didn't know. Thank you for your honesty...

I really appreciate your point of view, Justine. I think this is one of the many reasons that I enjoy your videos. You are upfront and honest in what you are sharing with us, and that’s a big win for me! Cheers to you from 🇨🇦Calgary, Alberta🇨🇦

I appreciate your candor as well as the information about a you tube channel.

Thank you for your candor. I have really cut back on the number of content creators I watch. Some I can tell are not overly excited about new tools (being cautiously honest) and others act like everything is the greatest thing since sliced bread. C’mon! I appreciate you!!

Thanks for this informative and very interesting video. I too often wondered about how content creators do a certain technique and get it right the 1st time around but when I try it it almost never goes well my 1st time leaving me quite irritated and discouraged then I kinda get mad at the creator for NOT showing that they too don’t always get it right the 1st time

Justine - I see you as a pioneer. You do what other content creators don’t do and that is explain the truth. You’re open and honest. Most of the things you explained, I kind of figured out already. But other things were a surprise to me and I am glad you were open enough to explain them and I really do hope that you don’t get in any trouble for it although I kind of think you may. It reminds me a little bit of a movie I want saw with Dudley Moore called Crazy People. It had to do with being open and honest and advertising.. You have such a relatable way about you and that’s why I love your videos!!

Interesting information! TFS! I see you're getting closer to that 100K goal!!! Good luck!

This is a great video. Your skills and kindness are apparent in every video. But this video will be valued for its honesty and candor. Thank you.

Loved this.

I sort by brand as some sets have more than one theme in them and there's too many themes in my opinion. I recently switche doff all ads on youtube as they make me nom ore than a few pennies. affiliates has not worked for me either being only a small channel. I've tried I buy everything myself and yeah it's a lot of money, just a good pc or microphone or software to make content, so now I see it as a hobby and feel no pressure or desire to put out content 3 times a week to please the algorithm only. I love your channel and honesty

Really informative video- thanks

Interesting. Some things I didn't know so thank you for explanning those.

I appreciate your honesty! I don’t have a dedicated craft room so I need to really think through what I buy now. Someone showing a product helps me figure out if I need it or what size to get (grip mats come to mind😊). I had no idea what it could cost per year so thanks for bringing that to my attention. I will make more effort to use affiliate links as I do like to support those I watch.

I enjoyed the insight given per your video. I have always thought you tubers were more than generous with not only time but expenses and so try to acknowledge even those videos I found less than informational or useful. I wish you the very best with your upcoming little one. What an exciting time for you. Love your card making videos and your organizing videos are so wonderful. Thank you for sharing and again, all the best.

Very interesting. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you for doing this! It's a fine line between being truthful about why we do what we do and turning folks off. Since I can't spend much time on my channel right now, I do what I want. That means buying my own supplies, so it would be nice if more folks actually bought through my affiliate links;) I've only done one review that could be considered negative, but I was "testing" it for the first time and decide to video it. It was pretty funny and several folks thanked me for saving them the time and money. I don't think you can still get the "toner ink pad" any more lol! It's no wonder! Take care!

Some companies do not even honor concerns from customers who review their products. One very well known company, which always asks for reviews, tried to deny the problem I reported in various contacts with me with several reasons that I may have done something wrong. The worst part is they did not add my less than rave review to their review statistics. I no longer purchase directly from that company. I feel a lack of confidence in their honesty which is so hard to tolerate.

Really enjoyed your honesty! I’m not a content creator in the sense you are, ( not even close 😅😅)I am an Altenew Educator who frequently will join in on Video Hops. I love my altenew products so much! But yes, to run my small (very small😅) business, I know I spend more than I make. It’s my therapy, my hobby! I find you refreshing to watch! Could relate to your video! Look forward to seeing more of these videos!

Thanks for the candid "insider" info. It was fascinating and I admire the kindness and awareness of others' efforts that you approached it with. I particularly had a laugh thinking about a recent product release that everyone reviewed positively and don't seem to use anymore.

I appreciate your honesty. There was a RU-vidr that published negative comments on a product & that company dropped the RU-vidr from their affiliate program. So at times, there is backlash.

hi Justine! I recently found you and subscribed, love your ideas but this one is harder to hear and I don't know why, but figured you would want to know. happy crafting!

Im my first comment I forgot to say how much I appreciate your honesty and how carefully candid you are.

Thank you for your honesty. 8-)

Thank you for your honesty I do hope you don’t get into trouble ❤

Great video ❤

That was interesting. I watch most creators to learn and just enjoy the craft time. I do admit to a craft kit sub that was influenced by a YTer, but I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Sometimes it's very informative to watch people whose style is vastly different than mine and it's really fun when you get to see multiple crafters use the same product and come up with completely different creations.

Good video. We’ll explained and trustworthy.

Thank you for some great info. Awhile back I saw a video about the glue press on a channel I have never seen. It wasn’t a glowing review but was honest from her point of view. Since I do not have one I can not agree or disagree with what she said. It was nice to see someone explain in details why it didn’t work for her and why it may not work for me. Cheers

Spot on! 👏

Thank you

He Justine. I appreciate the time you take making your videos and LOVE them! How are you storing your blending foams (I can sort of see them on you desk)?

Justine, this was such an enlightening video. I had no idea it cost so much to run your channel! I appreciate your honesty. I look forward to many, many more years of seeing your fantastic videos!

Thank you for your honesty. I do like when the RU-vidrs I watch have a buy me a coffee button. It is my way of thanking them directly-especially if they entertainment often!! Imagine if your 93K subscriber all just gave $1.00!! You would make much more than us watching ads or buying from the affiliate links. (Hopefully that money all goes to the creator!) SO...maybe add that button to your channel. That could then be in addition to the ad watching and affiliate links.

I had no idea that it costs so much to show your channel! Wowzers! Im glad I’m a watcher & not a RU-vid’er!

All good information, thank you! Would you mind sharing where your ink storage is from?

Thanks for this information! I’ve toyed with the idea of starting a channel, so you’ve given me some things to consider before I make that leap. And, as an aside…your shirt… Expecting? So, perhaps congratulations are in order? 😃

Thanks

I'm finding myself watching paper crafters that aren't influenced by craft companies more and more. There are only 2 I purposely watch now. Craft companies need to recognize this is a hobby for most of their customers and not essential, especially with the cost. Honestly all of us are as creative as the influencers, the difference, we pay for our supplies. I'd like to see a few of these creators acknowledge their blessing. Being given product absolutely leaves one to spend money on the "I have everything" craftroom. Most have lost sight of that concept.

Thank you for such a truthful and informative video! Everything you explained makes perfect sense. Regarding affiliate links, I have two important questions. If I use a link will the creator get a small commission on just the item we clicked on (sometimes there are more items I want to purchase) or the whole order I place? I tend to click on a link and save it in my basket. I may shop further, but not buy the item for a few days. Will you all still get credit for the sale? If I do decide to buy, I want to support you all the best I can.