I hate to say it, but theres no way such a small company could make and produce so many different designs (PET tape, regular stickers, stamps etc etc) / artwork with so many different materials (it would take so much equipment to produce such a variety and quantity) and remain designing everything in house. I would hazard a guess this is either somewhat AI generated or done through Ali-express or both. It's such a shame because the idea is so wonderful.
definitely made me suspect when i heard about this sub box before, especially the pricing being too good to be true. seeing it’s AI-generated explains a lot. ick!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially considering this stuff seems pretty well-made otherwise (and admittedly the aesthetics are super fun), but the designs are definitely ai-generated. Some are fully ai and some look to be made using ai elements. I normally don't try to point it out but I remember you saying in a previous video that you were trying to stay away from the ai stuff so I thought I'd mention it
Ack, the more I look at it now the more I see it. It's wild, I wouldn't expect it from a small company so I didn't even have my guard up. Their website mentions they create all their designs in-house or carefully curate collabs which I guess I interpreted to mean made by people 🥲
Some of the designs also pop up on sites like Aliexpress and Temu, that doesn't really have to mean anything (those sellers love to steal designs) but together with the obvious AI of it all it is giving private labelling which I'm not a huge fan of. I'd probably pass on this.
As someone who has never really created art herself, could you explain to me please how I can see that something is ai genereated? Like what are hints to always search for and stuff?Thanks!
I came to say this, too. It's been so hard to find any fantasy-themed stationery that isn't blatantly AI lately and it's heartbreaking. The best way I've found around it is visiting individual artist's websites and gallery shops.
YESSSS OMG I saw this vid on my YT front page and immediately went down the comments to say this!! So many stationery oriented shops use AI for quick designs and cashgrab these days...
The thumbnail got me fast! I love historical themes because that's what I mostly read and watch. It's surprisingly hard to find among all the modern stickers/crafts.
I love your reaction to the first subscription box! Whenever I see 4 elements I always think of Avatar: The Last Air Bender. Oh no! The PET tape!! I'm so glad you were able to peel it back up!! For the envelopes since they're hard to open anyway, maybe use a letter opener? Might help? Just a thought. Ahhhhh!!! I love the November Box!!!! LOL you even said it! You'll slice open the envelopes one of these days! Oh my gosh!! The horse stickers are beautiful! I definitely need to get the November box I am very much thinking of subscribing to Cora Crea Craft! These boxes are right up my alley! Thank you so much for the amazing video Erin! 💜
17:55 The ancient remedies stamp could be used for a quick media summary. You could put an oval cut-out of the cover/image, then the type would be how you consumed it, with herb being genre/trope, actor/character, quick thought, etc., and the right hand column could be where you write the rating number with a star symbol under it (or stamp 5 stars vertically rather than horizontally). ☺ You could do similar with meals, having a doodle or photo of the meal in the oval, the type being the name, herb being the basic ingredients, and right column being a yes/no or rating on the dish. On a monthly/daily type setup I'd stick a pretty sticker or stamp in the oval then put my weekly (non-daily) tracked task in the main body. The right column could then either be more decoration, or blank in case things are done more than weekly that month (say dusting happened 8 times rather than 4, for example). Or if the cleaning happens in a pattern, put the room name as type, then the steps in the herb, with the dates done in the right. Ex: Type: Side room Herb: Dust, then damp wipe, shelving. Breakdown cardboard to burn/recycle. Vacuum floor, then stairs. Right Column: Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1 😅
Try using a baby wipe for cleaning the stamp after using it, I use them after stamping and drying it with a kitchen roll. That way if you are different colours you don't overlap the colours
They've actually contacted me to clarify - I'll report with greater detail soon but at this stage happy to confirm that nothing they do is 100% AI, there's a human artist involved, at least in part, in all of it.
So sad to see people defending the use of AI in this comment section. Generative AI is stealing from artists and reusing their work without their approval, to profit on their back; it is unethical and destroys everything that makes art valuable: the human intention and passion behind it. Moreover, it hurts the environment. Please take some time to do researches and listen to artists when it comes to AI, no self-respectful artists will ever encourage people to use it.
No, you can’t sadly - 3 month subscriptions will cover the 3 months from when you subscribe. You can skip, but it will skip the following 3 months 🥲 it’s unfortunate but from a logistical standpoint I get it!
Very pretty, but far too expensive in Australian dollars unfortunately (plus whatever shipping would cost). It’s a shame that there are so few of these type of subscriptions in Australia - I haven’t been able to find any decent ones here at all.
Save your money for something that isn't AI generated ;) you will find gems that will support actual artists AND cheaper. Maybe some australian artists are into selling these kind of products!
@ it’s not so much the AI - it’s the fact that there doesn’t seem to be many subscription boxes of lovely stationery/journal in Australia. There are plenty of non-AI designed boxes in US and UK that are gorgeous, but the cost is ridiculously high. This one featured in the video is $82 AUS (not including shipping) which is a stupidly high price, considering how little you actually get (and as you say, the designs seem to be AI generated anyway). I really try to follow and subscribe to Aussie (or kiwi) creators, as I thought it would be more relevant to me, but I’m finding it really surprising (and a bit disheartening) that the majority always seem to be touting products from US stores…and with the state of the currency conversion plus the cost of living crisis, I’m starting to wonder if all these creators are millionaires! 🤣🤣 I had hoped that there’d be more Australian based content but there doesn’t seem to be many Australian companies (or small artists) doing subscription boxes. So I find that when an Aussie or kiwi creator showcases US products and stores mainly, I end up unsubscribing 🫤
It’s really tricky to walk this line for me - the vast majority of my audience are in the US, so when I ask what people want to see a lot of them are requesting to see things that are available to them. I have tried out the Aussie boxes I’m aware of (and one of them has stopped being produced now) but they were kind of underwhelming, definitely not made for people who creative journal, and those videos didn’t perform especially well. Since this is largely my job now I have to take that into account. If you’ve come across any Aussie sub boxes you’d like to see me try please let me know - it’s possible I’m just not aware of them!
Calling all Erin Smith fans!! I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for content creators similar to Erin that they like who specifically make reader journal content. Thanks
Love the boxes. I think the apothecary box would be fun for wellness. Using the stamps to mark herbal tea or electrolytes in water. Makes it fun to connect today with yester yore. 😊 just got the digital download which is very worth $5 bucks. it is so rewarding to pay the artist for the joy of using their materials.
Ive subbed to CC for the better part of 2024. I love their products. I apparently don’t care about AI since frequently ask ChatGpt for to make images and correct my excel formulas. It’s the world we live in. Im glad you tried them and are continuing. 😊The writing box is gorgeous!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using AI. It’s where the future is going. I use it at work as well. (Not for art.) It allows people that might not have the artistic talent to describe their thoughts and ideas and create something they normally could not.I also want to support artist and I do that as well. I love Cora Crea Crafts and have subscribed to them for years. I actually get all levels of their boxes because each one is different. Their stuff is so unique and beautiful and there is a person involved with creating that and choosing how it’s developed. I may have a different opinion from some and I get wanting to support artists like I mentioned. I think there’s a place for both. It doesn’t keep me from supporting artists whose work I love.
I've been on the fence about this sub the last month but this video helped make the final decision. My only problem now is I've found the past box extras page and my paycheck is in serious danger.
![I bought a counterfeit stationery advent calendar ✨ Journal Vlog [giveaway closed]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jvlqKjcDCD0/mqdefault.jpg)
I hate to say it, but theres no way such a small company could make and produce so many different designs (PET tape, regular stickers, stamps etc etc) / artwork with so many different materials (it would take so much equipment to produce such a variety and quantity) and remain designing everything in house. I would hazard a guess this is either somewhat AI generated or done through Ali-express or both. It's such a shame because the idea is so wonderful.
definitely made me suspect when i heard about this sub box before, especially the pricing being too good to be true. seeing it’s AI-generated explains a lot. ick!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, especially considering this stuff seems pretty well-made otherwise (and admittedly the aesthetics are super fun), but the designs are definitely ai-generated. Some are fully ai and some look to be made using ai elements. I normally don't try to point it out but I remember you saying in a previous video that you were trying to stay away from the ai stuff so I thought I'd mention it
Ack, the more I look at it now the more I see it. It's wild, I wouldn't expect it from a small company so I didn't even have my guard up. Their website mentions they create all their designs in-house or carefully curate collabs which I guess I interpreted to mean made by people 🥲
Some of the designs also pop up on sites like Aliexpress and Temu, that doesn't really have to mean anything (those sellers love to steal designs) but together with the obvious AI of it all it is giving private labelling which I'm not a huge fan of. I'd probably pass on this.
As someone who has never really created art herself, could you explain to me please how I can see that something is ai genereated? Like what are hints to always search for and stuff?Thanks!
I came to say this, too. It's been so hard to find any fantasy-themed stationery that isn't blatantly AI lately and it's heartbreaking. The best way I've found around it is visiting individual artist's websites and gallery shops.
YESSSS OMG I saw this vid on my YT front page and immediately went down the comments to say this!! So many stationery oriented shops use AI for quick designs and cashgrab these days...
The thumbnail got me fast! I love historical themes because that's what I mostly read and watch. It's surprisingly hard to find among all the modern stickers/crafts.
Oh my heart dropped when the PET tape roll ended like that! 😵
Literally SAME!
Omg this is sooooo tempting. 👀 The style is just gorgeous. And the quality looks pretty incredible. Aaaaahhhh I want to try this!
I love your reaction to the first subscription box! Whenever I see 4 elements I always think of Avatar: The Last Air Bender. Oh no! The PET tape!! I'm so glad you were able to peel it back up!! For the envelopes since they're hard to open anyway, maybe use a letter opener? Might help? Just a thought. Ahhhhh!!! I love the November Box!!!! LOL you even said it! You'll slice open the envelopes one of these days! Oh my gosh!! The horse stickers are beautiful! I definitely need to get the November box I am very much thinking of subscribing to Cora Crea Craft! These boxes are right up my alley! Thank you so much for the amazing video Erin! 💜
I was chanting 'SAVE IT SAVE IT SAVE IT' when you were pulling the PET tape off the paper)
Thanks for this video! I’m trying out their box next month!
This is absolutely gorgeous, please say you'll still unbox them on your channel. Merry Christmas Erin, have a good one xxxxx
On the vlog for sure 😘 have a beautiful Christmas! Xx
17:55 The ancient remedies stamp could be used for a quick media summary. You could put an oval cut-out of the cover/image, then the type would be how you consumed it, with herb being genre/trope, actor/character, quick thought, etc., and the right hand column could be where you write the rating number with a star symbol under it (or stamp 5 stars vertically rather than horizontally). ☺ You could do similar with meals, having a doodle or photo of the meal in the oval, the type being the name, herb being the basic ingredients, and right column being a yes/no or rating on the dish. On a monthly/daily type setup I'd stick a pretty sticker or stamp in the oval then put my weekly (non-daily) tracked task in the main body. The right column could then either be more decoration, or blank in case things are done more than weekly that month (say dusting happened 8 times rather than 4, for example). Or if the cleaning happens in a pattern, put the room name as type, then the steps in the herb, with the dates done in the right. Ex:
Type: Side room
Herb: Dust, then damp wipe, shelving. Breakdown cardboard to burn/recycle. Vacuum floor, then stairs.
Right Column: Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1
😅
I have been getting this subscription for a while and absolutely love it!!
The medieval set is GORGEUOS ✨ I want those stamps!
These are really cool 😎 stationery boxes!!! Thank you Erin for sampling them for us!!! 🤩💖✨
I bought the treasures box for December and it's so elves and I'm so excited to get it!!
It was fun to see you get so excited. Great boxes! I’ll have to check out this website. TFS
Hey Erin! Love this subscription, it is indeed very carefully curated
What lovely boxes! If I weren’t doing a low buy year, I’d be signing up for sure! Maybe next year. 😅
Try using a baby wipe for cleaning the stamp after using it, I use them after stamping and drying it with a kitchen roll. That way if you are different colours you don't overlap the colours
Hmmm this is definitely my vibe but I can’t see myself using most of what’s in the subscription. Thanks for doing the research!
Ai or not, this stuff looks so nice Erin
The silhouette of the queen in the cloud is very Spark of the Everflame book cover vibes. Very fun subscription boxes.
Love these!
It might be worth contacting the company to ask what they do with AI vs what they actually do in house?
They've actually contacted me to clarify - I'll report with greater detail soon but at this stage happy to confirm that nothing they do is 100% AI, there's a human artist involved, at least in part, in all of it.
Loved the video and the boxes! I will be subscribing!
Hi Erin, what size are you covers? I’m new in your Chanel and always has issues with my covers sizes, or to small or to big, thanks :)
So sad to see people defending the use of AI in this comment section. Generative AI is stealing from artists and reusing their work without their approval, to profit on their back; it is unethical and destroys everything that makes art valuable: the human intention and passion behind it. Moreover, it hurts the environment. Please take some time to do researches and listen to artists when it comes to AI, no self-respectful artists will ever encourage people to use it.
Omg I’m so happy you did try this out!!! The second box is actually perfect for a gaming journey for medieval RPG games ❤
Hey, that box is so cute! If I get the 3-month subscription, can I skip a month?
No, you can’t sadly - 3 month subscriptions will cover the 3 months from when you subscribe. You can skip, but it will skip the following 3 months 🥲 it’s unfortunate but from a logistical standpoint I get it!
Very pretty, but far too expensive in Australian dollars unfortunately (plus whatever shipping would cost). It’s a shame that there are so few of these type of subscriptions in Australia - I haven’t been able to find any decent ones here at all.
Save your money for something that isn't AI generated ;) you will find gems that will support actual artists AND cheaper. Maybe some australian artists are into selling these kind of products!
@ it’s not so much the AI - it’s the fact that there doesn’t seem to be many subscription boxes of lovely stationery/journal in Australia. There are plenty of non-AI designed boxes in US and UK that are gorgeous, but the cost is ridiculously high. This one featured in the video is $82 AUS (not including shipping) which is a stupidly high price, considering how little you actually get (and as you say, the designs seem to be AI generated anyway). I really try to follow and subscribe to Aussie (or kiwi) creators, as I thought it would be more relevant to me, but I’m finding it really surprising (and a bit disheartening) that the majority always seem to be touting products from US stores…and with the state of the currency conversion plus the cost of living crisis, I’m starting to wonder if all these creators are millionaires! 🤣🤣 I had hoped that there’d be more Australian based content but there doesn’t seem to be many Australian companies (or small artists) doing subscription boxes. So I find that when an Aussie or kiwi creator showcases US products and stores mainly, I end up unsubscribing 🫤
It’s really tricky to walk this line for me - the vast majority of my audience are in the US, so when I ask what people want to see a lot of them are requesting to see things that are available to them. I have tried out the Aussie boxes I’m aware of (and one of them has stopped being produced now) but they were kind of underwhelming, definitely not made for people who creative journal, and those videos didn’t perform especially well. Since this is largely my job now I have to take that into account.
If you’ve come across any Aussie sub boxes you’d like to see me try please let me know - it’s possible I’m just not aware of them!
Calling all Erin Smith fans!! I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for content creators similar to Erin that they like who specifically make reader journal content. Thanks
I just bought the past Prehistory box and some other clearance stuff. Very excited!!!
Love the boxes. I think the apothecary box would be fun for wellness. Using the stamps to mark herbal tea or electrolytes in water. Makes it fun to connect today with yester yore. 😊 just got the digital download which is very worth $5 bucks. it is so rewarding to pay the artist for the joy of using their materials.
Thank you for sharing this. I have been curious about their subscription boxes. This seems like great value, and I may have to try it.
Ive subbed to CC for the better part of 2024. I love their products. I apparently don’t care about AI since frequently ask ChatGpt for to make images and correct my excel formulas. It’s the world we live in. Im glad you tried them and are continuing. 😊The writing box is gorgeous!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using AI. It’s where the future is going. I use it at work as well. (Not for art.) It allows people that might not have the artistic talent to describe their thoughts and ideas and create something they normally could not.I also want to support artist and I do that as well. I love Cora Crea Crafts and have subscribed to them for years. I actually get all levels of their boxes because each one is different. Their stuff is so unique and beautiful and there is a person involved with creating that and choosing how it’s developed. I may have a different opinion from some and I get wanting to support artists like I mentioned. I think there’s a place for both. It doesn’t keep me from supporting artists whose work I love.
I've been on the fence about this sub the last month but this video helped make the final decision. My only problem now is I've found the past box extras page and my paycheck is in serious danger.