Kristina Contes finally speaking...

[JackieAG]

As a parent I hope I am teaching my child the difference between right and wrong, how to play by the rules, to admit when they have made a mistake, to learn and grow from their mistakes and to respect the feelings of others.

It is obvious she is not a parent.

[In-Focus]

Emily (Eddie-n-Harley) is right--CK's legal advisers have probably put a gag order on all of them for the time being. They will want to research all their legal options and liabilities before another word is said. Can't believe that didn't extend to KC. Her blog post certainly suggests that it should have. She comes across as a spoiled, petty, immature woman who has little or no integrity or character. CK really picked a winner to represent their company, huh?

My subscription runs out this month, and I will not renew. I will also not buy any more of their books or special issues, or any other product/service--including CKU and Conventions--unless they do the honorable and ethical (and likely legal) thing in this matter.

I am still undecided on continued participation on the message boards. I don't pay to participate, so CK doesn't make any money from me on that. And the ladies I have met here are not to blame for this fiasco.

But I am on record as knowing that what CK and KC (and others) did was wrong--morally, ethically, and legally. I don't knowingly support companies that behave this way. This was all just a little too "in-your-face" to ignore or accept. So there.

[Veruca Salt]

Are you kidding me???? What a bunch of condescending crud... She is so full of herself and takes to responsibility for her actions.

Of course, she is WAY to busy to worry about stuff like THE RULES.

What a load of you know what. Her response is immature and completely riduculous. What nerve.

I for one will never buy anything she is involved with... and I am so mad right now that includes Hambly!

[scrapchickee]

Seriously?! I got deleted for posting this, and to think it somewhat defends CK and KC...I'll repost it giving CK the benefit of the doubt that they wouldn't purposely delete something that gives them all some credit...maybe it is because I don't buy into the scrap celeb worship. I go to the conferences and buy the mag for the inspiration and skills these chicks bring, and I don't care if they've won a contest or not. Anyways:

I actually was okay with her post. She could have ignored the whole situation and let it pass, but she stepped up and said something to you all. I don't care about HOF or the supposed glory of being a CK celebrity, and she doesn't seem to either.

If you read every contest rule, term of use, etc that you come across in your life, well good for you. She says she didn't and it was an accident and she says she stood up where she could. When will it be enough for you people? Was she ushered into the HOF because of her connections? Who knows, but all the people complaining about that seem to think there's some conspiracy about every published piece in this magazine. If you are one of those theorists, it will always be something with you and you might as well leave now. If you are like me and you just want to be inspired by a sketch or two or some layouts in the issue, then none of this really matters and life goes on just the same. I don't care if she scrapped the Mona Lisa, as long as it inspires me.

And CK, be smart and don't delete this. I am giving you and your HOF'er the benefit of the doubt here. Focus on the crazies who want to burn your issues and waste the time and energy of your sponsors by bombarding them with emails.

[kathy in stlMO]

Well, yea, it's not the end of the world. No one is saying it is, KC. But when people find out that you are not a person of morals and integrity, and principles, that is very disappointing. I feel very sorry for you. I would not want my daughter to win like that.

[RedThreadScrapper]

She could have ignored the whole situation and let it pass, but she stepped up and said something to you all. I

When will it be enough for you people?

1. She would have been better off keeping her thoughts to herself. Her silence showed more class than what she posted on her blog.

2. When CK or KC does the honorable thing.

[paper-klipz]

first let me say, i don't know Kristina at all..can't say i've even seen her lo's before, so i'm not judging her based on some predisposed notion of who she is or her work. In following this saga, i've tried to weigh this whole thing from both sides and imagine i was in her situation. What would i have done? Well i can never for sure say 100% what i would do, noone can until they are faced with the situation themselves but i'd like to think i would have handled it way better than she did. I also think if Kristina had taken a little time to empathize and put herself in the other contestants shoes, she may have posted a little differently. Again, i don't know her but i imagine, if she was an HM and it was someone else who won and had not followed the rules, she might also feel as some of these other contestants do.

I do understand to a point her blog post, after all if you were being personally attacked and "smacked" for more than a week straight, you might be tempted to come out with your gloves up as well. I think Kristina's biggest error at this point was going on the defensive against this. I honestly am disgusted by her blog post, but i am guessing that it was directed more at those who have been using this controversy as an excuse to personally attack her. And she as a person has a right to be angry and retaliate if that is what she chooses.

However, I think Kristina should have taken more time to honestly and sincerely apologize to the other contestants for any problems her error caused. She should have sincerely acknowledged that those people have a legitimate cause to be upset that her entry, which was clearly against the rules, won, regardless of whose fault it was. Instead her blog post barely addresses those other contestants. In reading and rereading her blog entry, i saw only one line that could possibly address the other contestants "But in all seriousness, to those of you who's feeling are hurt b/c of this, i am sorry." Personally, i consider that to be a pretty hollow apology given the context and tone of the remainder of her entry.

I also don't think her first paragraph where she explains the cause for the error was very nice to the other contestants
"Here's the deal. I absolutely did use Nisa's headshot in my entry. When I made my pages, I was simultaneously working on Dare book stuff and didn't even think twice (or fully read) about the rules (I was WAY more worried about assembling my entry and how to show all the pages of my minibook attached to a piece of black bazzill by a ball chain). Anyway. I never imagined I would actually win, so there was no moral dilemma or thought out plan. I made pages I liked. I sent them in. I didn't expect to win. Period." to me by saying she didn't really give the contest her full attention sounds arrogant. Why enter a contest for the title/prize/recognition if you can't be bothered to give it due attention? For many this contest was not just some other random contest. If it means/meant so little to her, she perhaps should not have entered.

I sincerely believe that no matter how CK and Kristina handled this, some would still not be satisfied, but all parties definitely could've handled this with a little more grace, empathy and courtesy. Acknowledge the error, sincerely apogize and offer to make ammends.

[scrapchickee]

I sincerely believe that no matter how CK and Kristina handled this, some would still not be satisfied, but all parties definitely could've handled this with a little more grace, empathy and courtesy. Acknowledge the error, sincerely apogize and offer to make ammends.

Sure, absolutely.

The thing about it is that everyone wants CK and KC to suffer for this, but if we don't get over it and move on, we are the ones to suffer the most. If you choose to still subscribe, do you want to pay double the subscription price every year to make CK pull all HOF merchandise, reimburse people who've bought it and want refunds, etc? That costs money to do and if CK feels that is what they must to to appease the masses, we the readers will eat it in the end. Sure, if you cancel you don't pay in that way, but if you've been inspired by Elsie, Ali, Becky, etc in all your years of scrapping then you won't get that ever again and for all the issues that would be a shame. My vote is for amends through action -- it is Oct 2007 and 2007 is practically history. Let CK focus on being proactive in finding new talent for contest and regular contributions. Let CK be proactive in making sure everyone follows the rules or amend the rules so people can just have a photo release if it is so difficult to keep track of.

[chorleyt]

I can understand people being upset that rules were not strictly adhered to, but it seems to me that many people are now resorting to direct insults which cannot be the way forward. If you don't like Kristina's style then fair enough, how dull would the world be if we all liked the same things. But to start commenting that your children could do better, and the language on her blog is crass etc etc is not necessary. If you don't like the blog don't read it.

That's just my opinion and I hope I'm entitle to air it here :roll:

[Truth Matters]

"And if I was doing something shady or trying to cheat then you never would have seen the photo credit in the first place (DUH). Wait, I think that bears repeating. DUH."!

What kind of person uses DUH twice in an appology??

KC and CK make me so proud to be a scrapbooker today.......how about you??