I'm still here... and still freebie hunting

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!

Whoops!  My horribly flawed memory had a slight malfunction -  I forgot I had a blog almost - almost!

I have been on a unzipping blitz for the last four days and admit that I am now getting more of a feel of what my sorted scraps do and don't need.  It seems to me that a lot of elements are repeats of the same things namely flowers and epoxy! Flowers of all kinds - paper, beaded, ribbons, ceramic, felt - it seems flowers are popular scrapping items. Nothing against them personally, but I have enough of them now - ditto for butterflies, flairs, psp anything (honestly I really am done with those kind of elements, I almost crave real items - real buttons, real ribbons and real extractions. The artistic interpretations are best left to doodlers, as I can never have too many of them. I really enjoy designers who think outside the box when creating elements for themed kits. One of the goals I will have a designer is to be creative and constantly injecting personality and individuality into the design so my customer can tailor the layout to them specifically, through clever elements that allow maximum participation and interaction. I'm going to have a look around the shoppes and web to showcase some specialty elements and the designers here on the freebie fan club. It would be handy to know - especially if we can get some exclusive freebies for the blog to publish.  I am curious to hear about your freebie stashes - what folders are bulging?  What elements do you love receiving as freebies?  I love getting anything for my "specific date related" folder meaning date wheels, mini calenders, elements that you can show the date on the layout in an eye catching way.  

I also love anything memory keepsake related - camera elements, labels, cursive script minimal word art, neutral colours, journal spaces that are unique.. in fact, I have noticed that I am moving away from collecting glittery clustered items and now seek a cleaner, more sophisticated use of whitespace and a few themed elements to accent the story of the layout, rather than using elements to tell the story.  Posh indeed!

Running List of My Freebie Travels Tonight (list updates)

http://designbydani.com/girltalk/category/freebies/    Dani's Freebie Archive for Halloween Goodies.
http://suzee-q-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/10/wackadoo-wednesday-freebie-post_27.html Starting Here.

The Freebie Fan Club Top Ten Links (Updated Weekly)

Today we have published our first Top Ten Rated Freebie Hunter Essential Sites and I wish to explain how this exciting and valuable little list of destinations should deliver you the very best freebies that are on offer on the Internet that week - all in one little column and no direct links of course, only to the blogs themselves.
Hunting is part of the fun and also visiting the actual freebie giver and clicking their links provides them with valuable information on what freebies are popular and also a chance for us to comment our thank yous and keep updated with all of our favorite designers.

Over time I intend to interview and delve more into my personal selection process and what each directory specialises in and where the timed freebies are and what materials they are made from.  Personally, you will find that I will generally publish what I only consider to be the best handpicked or directories.  Sometimes, like this week CraftCrave will be number one (that is a directory - your portal to literally thousands of freebies, tutorials and even blogger and crafting supplies - I check this every day without fail.)

 But, it is only number one for sheer numbers of good freebies in a week, meaning you need it this week as the freebies are spread long and far.
Suzie Q (check out her other super blog - this woman is amazing!) I swear her taste and mine are of one of the same - I love her suggestions the best this week. Susie is no doubt a busy lady but she is really spoiling us with nearly three consistent updates a week now - the Freebie Fan Club loves you Suz!!

Yeah, so there is many reasons a link is a certain position, it may be for effort and quality or consistency - I will normally let you know with an article post like this one. Craft Crave is automated in most respects, and has some really comprehensive finds this week - I cannot wait to interview all of them and get the real inside story on how they work and what they look for!

Go on, Tell me your number one essential freeby finder/giver in the comments! 
Our top sites are going to be invited here to have a look around and see what we think!!

 From being a dedicated Freebie hunter myself, I find the links in my sidebar here keeps me abreast of the really sensational items - and also outstanding acts of designer and shopfront generosity.  The links are in order of my personal favorites for that week - some are are well known directories, ongoing promotions or "hand-pickers" that I find are on form and that I am enjoying  (but you must be consistently posting to be in the top 5 ) and if I can be honest - they do a fabulous job.

Due to the proficiency of the existing searchers and designers, I saw no reason to add yet another blog to the already brillant system, however I did notice there was no actual blog dedicated to a collection of the collectors (figure that one out) nor any one place the designers feedback to freebie hunters could be read and for us to convey our feelings to them. The Freebie Fan Club endeavors to fill this helpful niche, and have lots of fun and comradely discussion on the way!  Please start to spread the word or follow this blog so we can begin to build momentum - I am getting wonderful feedback from both designers and freebie hunters and fans so the future looks very promising.  I just hope I still get time to do some digital scrapping - hee hee!

I may post the occasional blog link or my thoughts on a contest or blog I feel is doing something new, amazing or just useful to let people know about.  But in terms of everyday posting a list of freebies, that is already happening and it is my job to let you know who does it the best and every week, these trends do change.

It does come down to my personal tastes sometimes in my personal recommendations, but I assure you if you do follow all my top ten that week - you will see a wide variety of designer freebies and in some cases they will double up, but that doesn't mean you should not persist with checking all ten - as some engines are focused on particular blog lists and search words I find - for instance CBH Scrapbooking Search Engine is not my first point of call but it is worth a visit as most Paint Shop Pro Designers and new blogs and old blogs can turn up hidden in the pages.  We shall discuss the Search Engines and I am happy to always hear from my readers about a particular handpicker or directory that is doing a good job and reaping interesting finds.
I do have my favorites and I am sure you do too?  As for individual blogs of designers, I will most likely
release a few blogrolls that are specially selected and perhaps a monthly highlight with an appreciation award may be starting soon.

Rather than post a bloated blogroll mishmash of all freebie places, as I have a list of 678 places to find freebies, I would rather we offer you a certain standard of freebie - to be honest, the best criteria sometimes for me to judge is whether I would buy it and also how good quality or useful that element can be.
I will cover this more in a future blog. Time limited freebie hunting is usually the trickiest, and no blog defines the different times or styles. So again, my niche will be to do that.

 I have seen the current digi blogroll and whilst it is amazingly comprehensive - there are a few problems.
Designers do come and go, things happen and sometimes a link will be a dead end.
New ones are popping up every day - and they deserve just as much attention too.
Therefore, it would be just too much information to publish the entire list and the last thing I want to do is to saturate the new digi scrapper with information that may be overwhelming.   There will be surveys and also polls so we can establish what we do prefer when doing the actual Freebie Hunting,  our pet loves and our pet hates.  I will be then able to offer this to the designers and get some more information from them on perhaps why things are the way they are.

More to come on this soon.  For now though, go and have a little look at the Top Ten I have selected for our first week, I promise you won't be disappointed :)   Feel free to comment on your choices and your opinions, as always, in the comments.   The links are on the right of the blog - over here ----------------------->
It will be a changing list every week (to be fair) I do wish to send people to blogs that may not be getting the compliments and feedback they deserve for the freebies offered and so you may be called upon to go and spread some good vibes - after all, we are a community first, and a  freebie hunter second.

Happy Hunting!!

Miss Renee