Sunday, April 27, 2008

Sorry I've been 'under the radar' but its been a wonderful busy week. Our daughter came for a surprise visit over the weekend so we spent some quality family time together. More on that later!

Some time ago, I received an email from someone who was asking me for permission to use my blog elements for Commercial Use. This person was hoping I might grant a 'blanket permission' to use my creations for her 'Scrap for Hire' (for non scrappers this is where someone will make your photos and journaling into printable scrapbook pages for you, for a fee) and still others have requested use to make their own kits and elements. Well, we all have to start SOMEWHERE.

Unfortunately, the first request came exactly when some of my good friends who design were being severely ripped off by their kits being pirated, so to say the least, my mood at the time was bordering on indignant outrage - specially because my friends have always been 'generous givers' - providing many freebies on their sites. The long and short of it, was that I told this person I would carefully consider her request on the basis of if she had a specific project, and wished to use a particular item, that I would decide at that time, but that I was uncomfortable with just saying YES to everything. Part of the reason for this, is because for some designers, they work SO HARD and their income generated is a vital part of their existence and deserve to be paid fairly. If its all free, whats the incentive for people to buy from designers who make a living from this?

But, I've prayed about this some, and my thoughts were reminded how generous and helpful other designers have been to me in the past. I personally know how difficult it can be to get started, and it also takes a great deal of time and experience to get started. So, I decided to help some of you out there get (legally and encouragingly) started to design your own kits. My hope is when you DO get to the point you begin generating income of your own, you will turn some of your profits back into the digital scrapbooking community, by purchasing some of your items from the many talented, hard working designers 'out there'.

So I humbly apologize if I may have seemed a bit harsh to whomever may have asked just at that difficult time - and my desire is to see you succeed!

With no further ado, I'm giving away this little Designers Treat Starter kit for you to help you get started on making your own kits and elements.

If you're already a seasoned designer, you're going to appreciate this sweet Starter Set because it will make your life easy in so many ways! Free to use for Commercial Use projects, it contains some fully editable psd files so you can recolor each layer of the flowers, but I've also included some 2 inch wide 'strips' (one lightly grunged, the other in a solid pattern) and two full 12 x 12 inch overlays too! PLUS, some brushes and png files. The flowers have been created using a vector based program, so they are totally scalable without loss of quality. I've even put a paper together (using one of my new Major Grunge Overlays, available Monday at the Sophia Sarducci Shop) All bases are covered!

If you are a new designer, this will be a treasure trove of resources for you to experiment with! You'll be up and running with your own designs in no time!

Set contains:

1 paper sample
2 full size floral pattern overlays (png format)
2 two inch wide floral pattern strips
2 flower brushes (.abr)
2 single flowers (png format)
1 fully layered psd flower file

Price: TOTALLY FREE!






download

If you are looking for more designer resources, look no further than the Sophia Sarducci Store, where I'm launching a whole bunch of new products! If you hurry over for Monday, April 28th, you'll even hit MONDAY MADNESS, and will be able to purchase at a discount! These items are available both for personal and commercial use.






13 comments:

  1. well Barb to me you have always given freely and with the right motives ...given from the heart ...i would love to tell all how much help you and other designers have been to me ...and how anyone one of them would help in a minute ...it is sad to say i have seen some of the ladies who give from the heart and their talent be step on...and would love to say sorry for those who are so rude . again thanks for all your help...and for directing me to ladies who give willing to all

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  2. You are one of the most generous people I know, so don't feel bad for a moment. Thanks for this generous starter pack...maybe one of these days I might actually start!

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  3. Morning Barb!!!!!!!
    TY so very much for this FAB goody I'm not going to be using it right now but who knows what the future holds!!!! I may give it a try!!! LOL
    HUGE GIANT HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Thank you for your kindness and I am so glad that you got to see your daughter. Thanks a bunch!

    Hugs,
    Jonni

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing this CU kit!! i always love your generosity and kindness AND designs!! :D Have a BEAUTIFUL day! :D

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  6. Good morning Barb!!! I have SO enjoyed reading about your thoughts on designing and not being as good as the next and such. I, too, have had those thoughts and just keep reminding myself that DIVERSITY is the beauty of the world to me!

    Everyone has something to contribute and UNIQUELY so! Oh, and then of course, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"! LOL! I am always giving myself little "pep" talks! I mean, just looking at your goodies here on YOOUR blog makes me feel uncreative, but then I am realizing more and more that we ALL have something to offer and there is ALWAYS going to be somebody in SCRAPLAND that will enjoy what each of us creates!

    I ADORE your lace and will have to go and take a closer look when I have a moment. It looks SO delicate and PERFECT for some photos I need to be scrapping sometime soon!!!

    Thank you SO much for this MOST wonderful freebie via a designer's starter kit. I have been out and about looking for a couple of floral overlays to finish up some papers I am working on and "me thinks" these will work SUPERBLY!!!

    Olivia's Kitchen ROCKS and the "sketti" layouts are TOO cute!!! Now, you've just got to know how well this kit would work on my blog, but you see, I am NOT quite that creative!!! He, he ...

    Thanks again Barb, I am bookmarking you for future reads! I think I may have passed through once MANY moons ago, however not quite sure so I'd just like to say, you are VERY talented and SUPER creative and I've got to get over to Sophia Sarducci's and check y'all out!!!

    Have a GLORIOUS week ahead and Bon Scrapatit!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  7. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

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  8. Good Afternoon Barb:)
    Thanks for stopping by to say Hi again.I LOVE your visits.:)
    Soooo happy you got to see your DD again.YAY!!:)My DD left the nest and came flying back home again.LOL I sure missed her though when she was gone.:)
    Thank you soo much for the lovely kit.I'm not planning on selling anything in the near future..but if I do..I will remember you!!:)
    I had someone ask me something similar to what you were asked about using your stuff.Know what..I said no too.Thought about it and wondered why I did.Know what else..we can't change the past.It happened already.Every day is a new day for a new decision...go for it!!LOL You are one of the most generous and sweet ladies I know..Know what..you are also as human as the rest of us.Yes you are!!hehe

    Have a wonderful evening:)

    Hugs,
    Valinda

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  9. Thank you for this generous gift. I am just starting to try my hand as a designer (doing freebies only so far until I feel a little more seasoned), and it is hard work and very time consuming! But also very rewarding. I very much appreciate the help and support and free CU items that you and others have out there. Thank you!

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  10. What a wonderful gift! Thank you so much for sharing it.

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  11. Thanks for your generosity. i am not a designer but I have seen tutorials about re-colouring items so this will make it easy for me to be a 'pretend' designer. Thanks

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  12. Oh My Goodness my dear friend! You have the biggest heart and the most wonderful sharing nature-(of yourself and of what you create and believe!) I don't know how you could feel you have let us down, but I am going to thank you will all my heart for this wonderful freebie you are offering- I can't wait to open it as I know how AWESOME your work is!! THANK YOU!!
    And thank you for your wonderful gifts too- I will be using them shortly ;-)
    Sending you HUGE hugs and LOVES

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  13. Thank you so very much for this wonderful gift! I found your link on Kim B's website and I will be back on a regular basis. I am one of those hoping-to-be-a-designer folks, so these wonderful starting points will be very appreciated!

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