Buying cheap Stamps from China? Reconsider … OR: Why I feel like quitting as an Artist sometimes …

The tale of the starving Artist, we all know it. BUT if you work hard and put all your Heart into it, it can be proven wrong. You CAN be an Artist and make a living of it, even a good Living. However, there are Things that can be so frustrating that sometimes you doubt what you do and that make you want to quit what you are doing. I thought about talking about this here on my Blog for quite a While now, and there are Pros and Cons (yes, I know that this Article might actually point some new future Customers to those cheap China Platforms I am talking about, but those have to make that up with their own conscience). I finally decided to share my two Cents on this . . . I just need to talk about this on here to get it off my System . . . so please consider watching this Video I made talking about how you feel as an Artist behind Designs that get stolen and copied and sold for cheap on large Platforms . . . and if this will help that only just a few people reconsider purchasing those cheap Ripoffs . . . then it was so worth it . . . I still do believe in the good in People . . .


So . . . what is this all about?

It started last Year when two or three of my Stamp Designs where copied by a Chinese Company . . . but lately more and more Copies popped up and by now you can really find ALL of my Stamps as cheap China Copies on this Platform. For Years I am designing and selling my Cre8tive Cre8tions Stamps and I enjoy coming up with new Illustrations and bringing you new Stamps, I enjoy this so much. It is my Passion, it brings me so much Joy . . . BUT, I also have to sell them and make some profit with them, quite obviously, as any small Business has to. And then . . . some big chinese Companies just steal all of your hard Work, all of your unique Designs, everything that you put all of your Heart into . . . and they sell them for very little Money . . . actually for less than I myself have to invest to even have the Stamps manufactured. They just steal your Designs, they do not even care about Copyright, they do not care about the Artists they destroy with their Actions, they just ignore any copyright law, they even remove Watermarks . . . this is so sad . . . but what is even more sad . . . people do buy those cheap Copies . . . because they are cheap, because they can save a couple of Bucks . . . but please consider, you get what you pay for . . . you might get the same Designs as in my Shop, BUT, the Quality of those cheap China Copies is pretty poor and the Stamps will not bring you lots of Joy on the long Run . . . but some People do not care, they only see the Money they can save . . . what is left is the Artist behind the Designs, frustrated and sad, considering to quit creating those Designs alltogether . . .

So if YOU are buying cheap stolen Design Stamps (or other Products) on those cheap China Platforms . . . it is your persoanl Decision . . . but next time consider the Artist behind the Designs, consider that this supports the Chinese Companies and it helps them to continue to do what they do . . . stealing from small Artists and small heartdriven Businesses . . . buying on those Platforms destroys those small, unique Businesses and sooner or later your favourite Artists will not provide any new Designs, because it is just not worth all the hard work anymore . . .

I know there are many people out there supporting the Artists they like, supporting small Businesses . . . supporting ME . . . and I totally appreciate that . . . but on the flipside I know there are those other people out there as well . . . and this goes out to all of them . . . please think twice next Time, please consider the consequences and think about how YOU would feel about this as an Artist behind those Designs those Chinese Companies steal to make some quick Money with them.


So . . . until I made up my mind about how I will proceed with the Stamp Part of my Business and with future Releases I have a huge Sale in my Shop for all existing Designs until those are gone . . .

All Stamps are on Sale right now. Usually each Set is 16 Euro, now 9 Euro including Worldwide Shipping until Stock is gone.

23 comments
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  • Ingrid Johansson7. June 2019 - 17:30

    Andrea I am so sorry this shit is happening. I have been buying your stamps from yuor shop and I love them very much. Don’t give up. You are making lovely art. Love IngridReplyCancel

  • Line Amundsen-Porter7. June 2019 - 17:46

    I’m so sorry to hear about this Andrea. I love your stamps so much and always get excited when I get an email from you about new stamps. I hope this doesn’t stop you from releasing new ones in the future, but completely understand your frustration. Love, LineReplyCancel

  • Janis7. June 2019 - 17:59

    CHINA ….ugh.  I’m glad to be made more aware of the artist’s plight in this manner and will never buy the Chinese copies!!ReplyCancel

  • Cathy7. June 2019 - 18:10

    Thank you for putting this out in the open. I can only imagine how heartbreaking and frustrating this is when you do the work, the creative process. We often copy your art, you inspire us! But this disregard for you and other artists is very disturbing. I can only say I do not buy art type things from those entities. Your art has helped me through a couple of down times and you are appreciated.ReplyCancel

  • Sabine7. June 2019 - 18:30

    I´m so sorry that this has happened to you and I´m shocked how blunt they are in copying the designs. According to your pictures they haven´t even altered a single thing. I´m really shocked and I understand your feelings. I have bought several of your lovely stamp sets and I love every singel one of them. The designs are beautiful and the quality is exceptional! I hope you don´t stop making your beautiful stamp sets but on the other hand I would totally understand if you would quit :-(. Is there nothing that can be done? This is so frustrating. I wish you all the best!ReplyCancel

  • Meritxell Díaz Sanchís7. June 2019 - 18:35

    Hi, Andrea! I’m so sorry to hear about it. Here, in Spain, there is the same problem with some small artists since one year ago. All your stamp sets I have were bought in your online shop. Thanks for your creations. Cheer up! Big hugs!ReplyCancel

  • Christine7. June 2019 - 18:47

    I’m so sorry to hear this, Andrea. I would never do this and it breaks my heart that it’s happening to you. ReplyCancel

  • Gemma Calimeri7. June 2019 - 18:50

    Andrea, thank you so much for this message. I am not a stamper myself but I will for sure make sure to check who I am buying from in the future for the crafts I do enjoy. This is all very upsetting because yes when you are on a fixed income you try to save money wherever you can but buying stolen merchandise is obviously not the way to go.  I hope your message will reach as many as possible. ReplyCancel

  • Deb Dalton7. June 2019 - 21:00

    I totally agree that you should vent and scream about this!  What a shame that you do the work and it’s stolen.  I love YOUR stamps and would ONLY by them from your website.  I hope this doesn’t stop you from producing more beautiful stamps.  Shame on China but they do it in every category.  They should be penalized and fined for this intrusion.ReplyCancel

  • Linda Maher7. June 2019 - 21:34

    Omg Andrea how horrible!!!  I am so sorry this has happened.. I wish there was an easy answer and these people could be held accountable… so very unfair.  My heart goes out to you xxxReplyCancel

  • lv2bpooh7. June 2019 - 22:04

    This has happened to me as well. ☹️ I refuse to let it stop me from doing what I love. And us little guys can’t spend all our profits to get an attorney! So they win. ReplyCancel

  • Marcie8. June 2019 - 00:15

    Andrea, I am so sorry to hear this is happening.  I personally would never knowingly purchase stolen stamps (or any other art).  I’m very glad you have brought this to our attention.  I usually purchase supplies and art directly from the artist site or directly from a brick and mortar store.  This is terrible.  I hope you find a way to stop them.ReplyCancel

  • Patti Lockhart8. June 2019 - 00:16

    If they have copyrights, don’t you have recourse to sue them? I sure hope so. Also, is there a reason you haven’t mentioned the Chinese sites by name, ie Ali, Wish, Home?ReplyCancel

  • Nancy Pyter8. June 2019 - 00:50

    I’m so sorry this has happened to you!  I would never buy from anybody but an artist or a real store that sells art products.   I can only imagine how you feel.  I hope you find a way to still create your beautiful girls and sell them to us who appreciate you!ReplyCancel

  • Claret8. June 2019 - 01:04

    Andrea, so very sorry this has occurred and so sad that people continue to make money off of other’s creativity.  When I first wanted to draw faces, I purchased one of your first classes and face stamps.  I loved it.  Currentl, I am sewing handbags but so grateful for your creativity and designs.  Blessings as you continue on and you will prosper and thank you for making this known to your customers.  I am purchasing some of the stamps for my granddaughter.  Darling stamps!  Just do not have the time to do much with mixed media lately.ReplyCancel

  • Karen8. June 2019 - 01:35

    So sorry.   ReplyCancel

  • Julie Whitechurch8. June 2019 - 09:57

    Andrea I understand your frustration and disappointment but please don’t give up. They have already stolen much from you. Don’t allow them to steal your passion and enthusiasm also. While you didn’t have a choice over what they have already taken, you have complete control over your decision to continue and enjoy your art. Moving forward perhaps you could advertise your new designs with finished art work only, avoiding showing the line design of the stamp. Or maybe offer your stamps as part of a course like your Facecinating Girls Course, again just advertising the finished art work. Think outside the square. While theft is a terrible crime, taking away a persons ability to share their creativity with the world is far worse. Praying you will find the way. Love Julie.ReplyCancel

  • Linda Goldfarb8. June 2019 - 14:38

    Andrea, I know how frustrating and angering this stuff is. I had  a similar experience with my artwork and ended up taking down my website as a result of it. However, since this is your entire livelihood, that won’t be possible for you. I have an idea-don’t know if it will help, but here goes. You a have a following of loyalists and your groupies in your facebook and newsletter accounts. What if you made video walkthroughs  of your new stamp collections/designs.The loyalists would be able to see your new offerings and you could keep the images off the trolling of the Chinese crooks. I don’t know if it would work, but I can’t believe the crooks actually watch videos as they troll websites for things to steal. I will always buy my stuff directly from you. Please know there are people out here who believe in supporting the artists first.ReplyCancel

  • Melody8. June 2019 - 15:19

    Thank you for sharing Andrea, it is very important to let people know what is happening! I intentionally support small businesses whenever I can.  It would be understandable but I would sure hate to not have you selling your new creations. Blessings and Hugs ReplyCancel

  • Barbara Haane22. June 2019 - 19:54

    Ich habe das Thema auf meinem Blog aufgegriffen, weil es mich sehr beschäftigt und ärgert! Danke für deine Darstellung, ich habe diesen Beitrag gerne verlinkt.ReplyCancel

  • Anka24. June 2019 - 13:38

    Liebe Andrea, ich bin über den Blog von Barbara (scrapimpulse) auf dich gekommen und mich ärgert dieses Thema genauso wie euch alle.
    Ich selbst bin kein Designer, sondern Käufer. Aber ich weigere mich auch, Plagiate zu kaufen, nur um ein paar Euros zu sparen. Offenbar läßt diese Geizhals-Mentalität jegliche Moral und Ethik verschwinden. Das ist kurzsichtig und mehr als dumm. Leider greift Dummheit heutzutage immer mehr um sich. Ich frage mich, was die Leute wohl sagen würden, wenn ihnen jemand ins Portemonnaie greifen würde oder sie einen Monat arbeiten gingen und am Ende würde der Arbeitgeber sagen: Sorry, kann dir kein Gehalt überweisen, das hat schon jemand anderes in deinem Namen bekommen. Da würde es dumme Gesichter geben!
    Für die Klau-Anbieter lohnt es sich ja nur, weil gekauft wird. Wenn es keiner kaufen würde, würden sie es nicht tun. Daher: WIR Kunden haben die Macht! Nur WIR können es stoppen! Und ich rufe alle da draußen auf: Gebt ehrlich verdientes Geld für ehrlich produzierte Waren aus!
    Liebe Grüße und ich wünsche dir Durchhaltevermögen!AnkaReplyCancel

  • Lisa Snowdy22. July 2019 - 04:18

    Andrea I am so sorry this has happened, it is totally wrong and  I hope there is something legally you can do about it. I haven’t been crafting the past year or so but when I get back to it I’ll definitely be buying from you direct. Please do not give up! Maybe you have to make some adjustments with copyright or selling through a company that will help protect your artist rights. Best of luck to you!!!ReplyCancel

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