Phew! I've been amiss from this blog for a good fortnight or so and I apologize - I had to impose a ban on myself. Not from you so much lol, but from downloading any more freebies until I managed to wrestle down the 50 GIG zip archive I already had (and that's just on one computer, all up I have 130G to unzip) as it was making my computer very sluggish and blogging, not to mention ANYTHING else was exceptionally slow. Mind you, I did happen to make a decent dent in the ominous "unzipped" folder which will now ensure I can open Photoshop at least, lol
I didn't have any room for months to allocate to the scratch discs (whatever they are - I set mine to be 3 GB do you think this is enough, wisely designer peeps -who may read this?)
As you may recall, last week was IDSD (International Digital Scrap-booking Day) and there was 14 pages of Craft Crave just to begin with, five worthwhile blog trains and of course the Goodie Train. I liked the novelty and prettiness of the theme, The Orient but I think overall some designers felt extremely inspired by the palette and theme but generally most designers most of felt a little flummoxed/stifled at how to create original pieces, for instance I now have fifteen geisha elements and twenty Asian coins, which I think I won't ever use, but I couldn't resist their cuteness. Fall Carnival remains my number one contender for best train of the year. Did you spend up big on the DSD weekend? One of my biggest motivators for designing myself is so I can raise just a small amount of funds to spend on paid kits - they really are ten times better than freebies.
And you know that I love my freebies. It's nice to just have everything co-ordinate rather than attempting to disguise the fact you have created a layout from a hodge podge mix of different designers, kits and colour schemes. However, beggars must not be choosers and for now, I am extremely grateful that freebies exist, so I can partake in this excellent creative outlet - I find just the process of planning layouts and collecting freebies cathartic, so I can imagine actually using my collection will be an immensely rewarding task. I still have only made one measly layout. But I am going to change that this week, as I am ready to post some layouts here - not on any gallery yet (argh!) and we can all have a chuckle - I am sure that I will be my own best/worst critic!
I also really enjoy MScraps (but how could you not with all of those esteemed designers in one place!) and lately I have been really impressed with the generosity of CatScrap, and have some beautiful QP albums as a result. What are your favorite blog trains? Do you prefer PSP heavy trains such as The Brat Pack Train or prefer the minimal elegance of an Mscraps train? I do love Jen Yurko's contributions every time along with many others (ok I will name names but my memory is flawed remember so excuse me if I spell you wrong or get the name muddled, I am recalling these from the top of one's head!) Doodelle, Scrap Matters peeps, Pixel Perfect Designs, Flergs, Ellie Lash, Vicki - A Work In Progress, Fei-Fei's Stuff, Captivated Visions, Caged Bird Designs, Aprilsa Designs -- ooh I know I am missing some, so I might in fact put together a list of best blog train submissions and award a prize - maybe take a vote? Yes, let's do that.
Let me know if you have a blog train favorite or perhaps you yourself are a designer, you are most welcome to nominate yourself (encouraged even!)
and I was right back to the red zone, with only 96mb to run the pc on (I do not recommend this, weird things start happening, I have expected to open my case and see twenty mischievous goblins having a drunken party inside, such was the inoperability of my computer.
Even though I'm 31 and therefore still acceptably permitted in nightclubs without looking entirely desperado, I am a bona-fide geek-chic. Give me gigabytes over an ice cold G&T any day. I've always been enchanted with the border-less freedom and instantly teleporting to a million (billion) cultures and locations of the Internet.. In fact, I was rather hoping the enamourment would subside into something less intoxicating, so I can return to the days of bone idle laziness occasionally. "Whatever can I do with myself today?" that seemed reassuring rather than the frenetic nojob ever gets finished before another one starts pace of middle age. Remember being bored? Doesn't it seem like ions ago, much before kids, careers that will not wait and everyone wanting a little piece of you that you can't even find for yourself thesedays? Yes, the internet is speedy time travel and my cultural passport with a click of the mouse.
You may have noticed I left a particularly touching comment or feedback on your blog, and this is why you are now reading this, as I left a link - that is not self-promotion really, as I travel to hundreds of blogs in a week and have no way of ever finding out what the designer or writer said in response, it's quite sad really. But, it won't stop me from leaving these warm-fuzzies or customer feedback (which as I am qualified in Marketing Research and customer relations, I'm one of those "can sell ice to eskimoes kind of girl" ).
I have decided I will post my comments here, so I can remember them and also invite my readers to add their thoughts and opinions, besides I do wish to model " Freebie Fan Club Model Behaviour Code" which states that leaving contexual comments on posts that you feel you are taking something valuable from away from or you just feel implored to cheer that designer up who for baffling reasons seems to have no readers judging from the appalling lack of thanks or comments, despite having a downloaded tally in the hundreds for the hard work and talent they share.
I always like to make those designers feel heard - it can be very unnerving to be carrying on daily diatribes and conversations with oneself, in reality this is called insanity but online - it is called Blogging!
So, on that note, Goodbye to myself - and to whomever may be reading along.
I'll be posting more regularly now, this was quite easy to type (as I love to write and talk - can you tell lol?)
and I will be sharing my commentary on what posts I have read and commented on, which will provide some interesting discussion and exploration of some excellent designing talent at very least.
Fondly,
Miss Renee
p.s Spread the word and my link, I would be eternally grateful - talking to oneself can get terribly mediocre!
I am now going to list the freebies via my side link - which I will update every day (if needed) This way I can also share discussion and freebie hunting tips and news in the main blog post for our beloved readers.
Always check the sidebars for great links to great freebies - all personally handchosen by myself and if you work down the list, you will be assured of getting the maximum hit of freebie goodness from all over the world. So get your google translate ready - because a good freebie hunter must be fluent in all languages freebie style! Telecharger away!
Showing posts with label coming soon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coming soon. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
False Start but Coming Soon (No, really.)
I am quite sure that no one has actually read this blog yet but I do comment on a lot of scrap freebies
as any self respecting Freebie Hunter should. It's been a very busy freebie bonanza with all the contests for best Designer - first Designer Survivor then Digital Scrap Addicts (in it's third round now and IMHO the best of the bunch) and The Studio too. I also source from pretty much everywhere on the Internet and then some.
I have been collecting digital scrapbooking supplies since, oh.. May 2010 according to my first file date.
I have currently a LOT of zip files and a rapidly diminishing harddrive - although I must assure you that I have refined taste in what I like also, otherwise I could easily have double or triple the amount of have!!!
My amazed yet supportive partner stopped counting after I passed 150 GB. But it's been a big year for freebies and I had 2008, 2009 and 2010 to catch up on. Plus, every night and I mean every night, I hunt for about seven hours. (Edit- Correction I make sure every night has been hunted but I may do three nights catch up - if I have been unusually away - abducted by aliens, that kind of thing.)
I swear by my Craft Crave and about 10 other essential sites for the bulk and then I work on a folder list of about seventy blogs and websites and then I do the newsletters, shoppes and forums. Phew!
Can you see now how it adds up? Of course, you don't have to be as keen or as obsessed ;)
I am really amazed at how I can (and must) keep a memory of every scrap freebie, but I also have a good system that will tell me if I am doubling up before it downloads - all information and tips I taught myself.
I had no freebie fan club - but you will. I am hoping to maybe even learn some tips or two from other Freebie Hunters !!!
To be an effective digital scrapper you must be organised and committed. Make the so called "hobby" real. I have a very good plan and a very good set of tools. I have a lot of respect for the designers and the community. I participate in the community, I join Facebook pages, Google, Twitter, I Chat on forums and participate in customer feedback. I try and give back something that is worth something as I get something for free from them.
You must have all of these things going for you if you are serious about getting good quality, time limited freebies and an excellent collection of tutorials, photoshop actions, styles, tools, templates.
I estimate my collection is worth at least $3000 Australian. Especially with our weak dollar :(
Everything in the good ole USA is double for me, and triple if it is in Europe.
I am on sickness benefits, but have goals and very real dreams of working in this Industry. I am a super geek and as you are probably starting to figure out - I'm pretty high energy and love passion in what I do.
Because of my mental illness, working from home as a designer or something related has become a necessity for me. I could curl up and give in to my illness or I could choose to really go after my dream, and my dream is to help people capture special moments in their life and create beautiful things that I am proud of and that make people happy. I know the path is long, but I am ready for the journey. Hell, it has already begun.
This blog will no doubt document this too - I cannot help it, I am a chatterbox!
I am very proud of my collection, and it is all 100% legit. That's important as I want to design myself
and I need to keep track of what can be used where and when. The better freebies are only offered for a short window of time, to allow the designers to make money off their hard work - however I also know amazing designers who give away all year round - and I believe firmly that this has not hurt their brand in my opinion as I know their logo, products, style and even life details and feel connected by the gift - you cannot buy that kind of advertising from a web ad. I am loyal to the brand like nothing else - if anyone asks me who to go for an amazing photoshop style - I know who. Why? Freebies. Pure and simple.
But take note - you have to give and take. I worry this doesn't happen enough. Hence this web blog will help me know at least I am giving something back, if that makes any sense? Freebies are not our entitlement - once they are gone - they are gone. This would close off this amazing creative energy for many people that simply cannot afford or justify using the small amount of grocery money or budget on digital scrap supplies as they start to learn and the greatest thing is you don't have to spend heaps of money to do this awesome art.
I cannot reduce this amazing community and talent to just calling it a "Hobby". For some of us, it is exactly that. But to many it is a career of creation, a way of life - to make something beautiful for people to record precious moments of their life they will treasure for as long as they live - pretty freaking awesome I think!
The feeling of kinship that has developed (albeit a little onesidely as I am yet to really know these designers) as I have seen who is the earnest, who is brilliantly talented, who is trying damn hard, who is on low mojo and who is just so lovely and open and welcoming and helpful that you feel like they are almost like a friend.
That just doesn't know your name, lol. Well, this blog will change that. I love spreading warm fuzzies and I am sure that is why I love freebies, as it is more the gift of giving and I love that - it makes me feel good to say thanks and to take a little time to really let them know I appreciate it. Not enough downloaders do it.
But - hear me out - we are all not like that. This blog is also our chance to say "Hey, some of us actually really appreciate the freebies and always comment - and hell we would buy heaps if we could but we cannot at the moment, so we pay in thanks and appreciation. I also spread word of mouth about designers that, because I have beautiful freebie samples, I can personally attest to quality. Plus, I know where to spend my money when I do have it. It goes straight to my favorite freebie haunts. You betcha!
I do it every night, and I am blessed with a great cable bandwith plan, an excellent set of tools, good grasp of what's on and where and I believe in always creating good karma and fuzzies, so I try and thanks to every one at one stage or another and this of course will become more noticeable once this blog is finally in full swing.
I will then share with you my tools and my adventures of being a digi freebie hunter (with a heart and a polished set of manners) and hope you will share your adventures with me. I won't of course be sharing the actual freebies, as this is totally against the principles of the designers and the community and I would appreciate if people did not approach me for direct links or swaps/shares. That is not the purpose of this blog, it is more a place for me to record my thoughts and feelings as a passionate digi scrapper and hopefully one day a designer - that is reason for me being so passionate and dedicated to building my tools.
I am however, hopelessly shy about actually doing layouts - isn't that funny? I feel like I want to be a cluster queen and a layering genius on my first attempt - and yet when I did try it my results were embarrasingly amatuer that I felt I had actually made the beautiful elements look worse! So, my blog is also to document (as a return thank you to my designer friends) what us customers and fans and community feel about hot topics and hot designers and also for me to allow them to explain to us a few things about freebies and why they are done or not done and we can let those know who we adore (with some cute awards that I will create) that we LOVE the freebies and the content and the newsletters and just spread around some warm fuzzies - sound good?
I have been so impressed with the community friendlyness but I am yet to really establish myself
as a community figure, I just leave a comment here and a comment there and although I have joined almost all sites and shops and forums (my bookmark folder is really the most amazing sight and I have plenty of tricks to help you - with making 4shared work in under 30 seconds to how to make shop freebies a painless process
with the help of a few essential tools. Those links and tips I will share, that is not being a digital pirate.
Digital Piracy (although to be honest I have never encountered) is considered a big threat to our Industry and I can totally understand that this robs designers of hard earned time, skill and most of all - earnings.
Many designers do it for sheer love of being generous and creative (freebies that is) and I want them to really know just how much we appreciate them - because lets face it - it is not always nice to be bundled in with those nasty no commenters ever (I can understand not commenting every time) I certainly don't want that to be the lasting impression they get of a freebie hunter, because a true freebie hunter is just as passionate about the creative arts and freebies do lead to better things. Sales, brand recognition, word of mouth advertising and brand loyalty are all valuable benefits to be gained by offering freebies.
Let's all be honest - Everyone loves a freebie. Well, I want everyone to love a Freebie Hunter too.
So, that's the mission - whether the bigger community choses to accept it or embrace it (and I will be doing freebies of my own as soon as I can - just have to give back I feel!) is up to them but this will be my little place to send those designers so they can see my thanks and appreciation for everything they do.
Hopefully we can learn a little bit more about the designing world and what goes into making our Freebies and perhaps even listing a top ten - who knows! Me. But I'm not giving it all away just yet.
I suggest you follow this blog as updates will be a little scattered until next week.
I want the blog set up right, so I need to make a design and clarify my marketing approach.
It is my goal to cater for experienced and newbie digiscrapper freebie hunters and designers who wish to have some insight into what you think of certain freebies and even other aspects of our community - like newsletters. Who has the best ? Who do you wish gave freebies but doesn't... Why don't they?
All shall be revealed my friends....
Speak Soon xx That's a promise.
Hey comment if you ever do read this - I see four people have followed this blog - I promise it will get better and it will look totally different next week. Do not be frightened away by the uglyness! LOL!
Miss Renee
Miss Behaving has been my username for so long but I am intensely aware of a beautiful designer by the same name and I do not wish to be confused or cause any distress, but I need to settle on a consistent name and brand - hence the little delay. I'm a little bit OCD but you will get to know all about me soon.
But you probably guessed from the amount of freebies - right?
MissBehaving.
as any self respecting Freebie Hunter should. It's been a very busy freebie bonanza with all the contests for best Designer - first Designer Survivor then Digital Scrap Addicts (in it's third round now and IMHO the best of the bunch) and The Studio too. I also source from pretty much everywhere on the Internet and then some.
I have been collecting digital scrapbooking supplies since, oh.. May 2010 according to my first file date.
I have currently a LOT of zip files and a rapidly diminishing harddrive - although I must assure you that I have refined taste in what I like also, otherwise I could easily have double or triple the amount of have!!!
My amazed yet supportive partner stopped counting after I passed 150 GB. But it's been a big year for freebies and I had 2008, 2009 and 2010 to catch up on. Plus, every night and I mean every night, I hunt for about seven hours. (Edit- Correction I make sure every night has been hunted but I may do three nights catch up - if I have been unusually away - abducted by aliens, that kind of thing.)
I swear by my Craft Crave and about 10 other essential sites for the bulk and then I work on a folder list of about seventy blogs and websites and then I do the newsletters, shoppes and forums. Phew!
Can you see now how it adds up? Of course, you don't have to be as keen or as obsessed ;)
I am really amazed at how I can (and must) keep a memory of every scrap freebie, but I also have a good system that will tell me if I am doubling up before it downloads - all information and tips I taught myself.
I had no freebie fan club - but you will. I am hoping to maybe even learn some tips or two from other Freebie Hunters !!!
To be an effective digital scrapper you must be organised and committed. Make the so called "hobby" real. I have a very good plan and a very good set of tools. I have a lot of respect for the designers and the community. I participate in the community, I join Facebook pages, Google, Twitter, I Chat on forums and participate in customer feedback. I try and give back something that is worth something as I get something for free from them.
You must have all of these things going for you if you are serious about getting good quality, time limited freebies and an excellent collection of tutorials, photoshop actions, styles, tools, templates.
I estimate my collection is worth at least $3000 Australian. Especially with our weak dollar :(
Everything in the good ole USA is double for me, and triple if it is in Europe.
I am on sickness benefits, but have goals and very real dreams of working in this Industry. I am a super geek and as you are probably starting to figure out - I'm pretty high energy and love passion in what I do.
Because of my mental illness, working from home as a designer or something related has become a necessity for me. I could curl up and give in to my illness or I could choose to really go after my dream, and my dream is to help people capture special moments in their life and create beautiful things that I am proud of and that make people happy. I know the path is long, but I am ready for the journey. Hell, it has already begun.
This blog will no doubt document this too - I cannot help it, I am a chatterbox!
I am very proud of my collection, and it is all 100% legit. That's important as I want to design myself
and I need to keep track of what can be used where and when. The better freebies are only offered for a short window of time, to allow the designers to make money off their hard work - however I also know amazing designers who give away all year round - and I believe firmly that this has not hurt their brand in my opinion as I know their logo, products, style and even life details and feel connected by the gift - you cannot buy that kind of advertising from a web ad. I am loyal to the brand like nothing else - if anyone asks me who to go for an amazing photoshop style - I know who. Why? Freebies. Pure and simple.
But take note - you have to give and take. I worry this doesn't happen enough. Hence this web blog will help me know at least I am giving something back, if that makes any sense? Freebies are not our entitlement - once they are gone - they are gone. This would close off this amazing creative energy for many people that simply cannot afford or justify using the small amount of grocery money or budget on digital scrap supplies as they start to learn and the greatest thing is you don't have to spend heaps of money to do this awesome art.
I cannot reduce this amazing community and talent to just calling it a "Hobby". For some of us, it is exactly that. But to many it is a career of creation, a way of life - to make something beautiful for people to record precious moments of their life they will treasure for as long as they live - pretty freaking awesome I think!
The feeling of kinship that has developed (albeit a little onesidely as I am yet to really know these designers) as I have seen who is the earnest, who is brilliantly talented, who is trying damn hard, who is on low mojo and who is just so lovely and open and welcoming and helpful that you feel like they are almost like a friend.
That just doesn't know your name, lol. Well, this blog will change that. I love spreading warm fuzzies and I am sure that is why I love freebies, as it is more the gift of giving and I love that - it makes me feel good to say thanks and to take a little time to really let them know I appreciate it. Not enough downloaders do it.
But - hear me out - we are all not like that. This blog is also our chance to say "Hey, some of us actually really appreciate the freebies and always comment - and hell we would buy heaps if we could but we cannot at the moment, so we pay in thanks and appreciation. I also spread word of mouth about designers that, because I have beautiful freebie samples, I can personally attest to quality. Plus, I know where to spend my money when I do have it. It goes straight to my favorite freebie haunts. You betcha!
I do it every night, and I am blessed with a great cable bandwith plan, an excellent set of tools, good grasp of what's on and where and I believe in always creating good karma and fuzzies, so I try and thanks to every one at one stage or another and this of course will become more noticeable once this blog is finally in full swing.
I will then share with you my tools and my adventures of being a digi freebie hunter (with a heart and a polished set of manners) and hope you will share your adventures with me. I won't of course be sharing the actual freebies, as this is totally against the principles of the designers and the community and I would appreciate if people did not approach me for direct links or swaps/shares. That is not the purpose of this blog, it is more a place for me to record my thoughts and feelings as a passionate digi scrapper and hopefully one day a designer - that is reason for me being so passionate and dedicated to building my tools.
I am however, hopelessly shy about actually doing layouts - isn't that funny? I feel like I want to be a cluster queen and a layering genius on my first attempt - and yet when I did try it my results were embarrasingly amatuer that I felt I had actually made the beautiful elements look worse! So, my blog is also to document (as a return thank you to my designer friends) what us customers and fans and community feel about hot topics and hot designers and also for me to allow them to explain to us a few things about freebies and why they are done or not done and we can let those know who we adore (with some cute awards that I will create) that we LOVE the freebies and the content and the newsletters and just spread around some warm fuzzies - sound good?
I have been so impressed with the community friendlyness but I am yet to really establish myself
as a community figure, I just leave a comment here and a comment there and although I have joined almost all sites and shops and forums (my bookmark folder is really the most amazing sight and I have plenty of tricks to help you - with making 4shared work in under 30 seconds to how to make shop freebies a painless process
with the help of a few essential tools. Those links and tips I will share, that is not being a digital pirate.
Digital Piracy (although to be honest I have never encountered) is considered a big threat to our Industry and I can totally understand that this robs designers of hard earned time, skill and most of all - earnings.
Many designers do it for sheer love of being generous and creative (freebies that is) and I want them to really know just how much we appreciate them - because lets face it - it is not always nice to be bundled in with those nasty no commenters ever (I can understand not commenting every time) I certainly don't want that to be the lasting impression they get of a freebie hunter, because a true freebie hunter is just as passionate about the creative arts and freebies do lead to better things. Sales, brand recognition, word of mouth advertising and brand loyalty are all valuable benefits to be gained by offering freebies.
Let's all be honest - Everyone loves a freebie. Well, I want everyone to love a Freebie Hunter too.
So, that's the mission - whether the bigger community choses to accept it or embrace it (and I will be doing freebies of my own as soon as I can - just have to give back I feel!) is up to them but this will be my little place to send those designers so they can see my thanks and appreciation for everything they do.
Hopefully we can learn a little bit more about the designing world and what goes into making our Freebies and perhaps even listing a top ten - who knows! Me. But I'm not giving it all away just yet.
I suggest you follow this blog as updates will be a little scattered until next week.
I want the blog set up right, so I need to make a design and clarify my marketing approach.
It is my goal to cater for experienced and newbie digiscrapper freebie hunters and designers who wish to have some insight into what you think of certain freebies and even other aspects of our community - like newsletters. Who has the best ? Who do you wish gave freebies but doesn't... Why don't they?
All shall be revealed my friends....
Speak Soon xx That's a promise.
Hey comment if you ever do read this - I see four people have followed this blog - I promise it will get better and it will look totally different next week. Do not be frightened away by the uglyness! LOL!
Miss Renee
Miss Behaving has been my username for so long but I am intensely aware of a beautiful designer by the same name and I do not wish to be confused or cause any distress, but I need to settle on a consistent name and brand - hence the little delay. I'm a little bit OCD but you will get to know all about me soon.
But you probably guessed from the amount of freebies - right?
MissBehaving.
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