Thursday, February 28, 2008

2.29.08 Grateful Stitches & A bit of calm...


I'm out of the bathroom! LOL one of you commented yesterday that the next time I hide out there I needed to remember to bring chocolate... you gave me a good laugh (and a good idea!) LOL thanks for that!

One of my sickies is back in school today (leave it to an 8 year old to get the same flu that put me down for nearly 2 weeks and be over it in 2 days!) and the other is sleeping off of the tail end of it (but no vomit yet today, yippeeee!) Kea (the dog) is secured upstairs with the remaining sickie, the upstairs of our house is packed and in shipping crates and I am downstairs with the movers sitting on my couch (in hopes that it deters them from taking it for at least one more day!). The new fridge is here and GORGEOUS (why did we wait to replace that old ugly one until we were getting ready to sell the house??) and I managed to find a pair of shoes!!

All in all a better day for certain!

Today's freebie are a few stitches for Grateful. I love having my elements "sewn" onto my pages! Enjoy!

Also, for all of you who keep telling me to stop posting during this chaotic mess, I say "Thank you!" you are so sweet to think of me! BUT, I also say this; I LOVE doing this! I really do! It keeps me a bit more sane to take a few quiet moments, design something and write you all a quick note! So as long as I have the time, energy and desire, I'll keep posting!

I do have a quick question for you all though - leave a comment and let me know what you think ok? (I expect to hear from fellow designers as well as my blog readers now!) There is some discussion in a designer forum of which I skim occasionally, although rarely post, (some of you may know which one I speak of) about whether or not freebies hurt or help our industry. The consensus seems to be that new designers (not currently selling at a store) are helped by giving out freebies so that they get their work out there to be seen by store owners etc. but that "working" designers hurt their business by giving out a lot of freebies because it takes away the need for people to buy their designs if they can scrap for free with your freebies.

I see both sides of the discussion and I'm a bit curious to hear what y'all have to say about it (honest answers now...LOL)

oops! Almost forgot! Today's password is lovetoshare

Click HERE to download your stitches

Click HERE to check out my new kit Tiptoe at Digital Candy (still haven't reached my "spa day goal" LOL!!)

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Freebies, well I can tell you that I have so much digital scrapping 'stuff' already I don't think I would go looking for kits online to buy. However, I love to surf the blogs and read about everyones adventures and when I see a freebie I love that is what leads me to the 'stores' to find the kits. I also like to see the freebies downloaded and close up to see detail before I decide whether I like the designers work. I can't see that it hurts... you will either buy the kit because you love it or you won't. JMO.

Jill said...

I can see both sides of this...I personally think that giving a little bit is aways a good marketing tactic. You have to give a little to get it back. I agree with Bec that it is nice to be able to do something with someones work before you purchase, however I have gotten kits from some that I didn't see a freebie from. As far as the industry goes I personally think giving random freebies will keep people checking your blog/site and that will lead them to the pay for purchase items.

Thanks for being so open and willing to share your knowledge. Good luck with the rest of the packing and adjusting!

Rarole said...

Shauna,
Glad you are out of the bathroom!! :o) Freebies? Well, sometimes the stuff in a kit looks great in the preview, but I have bought a few kits based on the preview that don't really meet the "glitz" of a good preview. SOooo, having a sample in a freebie is what I look for. And the good ones get me right to the shop for the real thing!! I know a lot of people just accumulate freebies, and they may be the majority. However,honest scrappers are in search of the right colors, the quality and the 'specialness' of the kit and I think you only get a full idea of this in the freebie. The only other thing I can think of is that the designer make an add-on, price it reasonably and then refund the add-on price (through a lower kit price) for those who bought the add-on and are now coming back for the kit. How many days left before you are all on-the-road?? Where in NJ will you be going? Before we moved overseas we were from 'south' jersey near Philly. Thinking of you in your move every day - as we live it here - 3,000 miles away!

bsp2232 said...

I would say that 90-95% of my purchases have come from freebies. (I usually buy 1-2 kits a week.) There are just so many stores and designers out there that it's confusing. I'll follow up on a freebie at a store and purchase more things from that designer. While I'm there I usually sign up for the store's newsletter to keep up to date on new releases. I feel that if I have to make a choice between a purchase from a place that I've enjoyed freebies from or a place that doesn't offer freebies but has products I like, I'm going to feel more 'loyalty' towards the place I've gotten freebies from and purchase from there. Also, I don't have the time or attention span to go through page after page of products, so a freebie that I fall in love with will lead me to a store where I'll find more things that I want to purchase from that designer.

Thanks, Shauna! :)

Anonymous said...

I agree with all that's been said above. When I first started digital scrapbooking I downloaded any freebie going, once I knew that it was a something I was going to stick with I started becoming more discerning, found my "style" and now only download freebies that suit me, and often go to the stores and buy the full kits that go with them. I have bought at least 5 kits in the last few weeks from freebies.
Colette

scrappinmint said...

I tend to look for freebies most of the time since I'm on a budget so tight it squeaks. I also splurge and buy from stores and designers that I'm fond of or I will purchase items if I can't find something particular in a freebie. I think they're right about freebies being good for new designers, if it weren't for freebies from some of them I would have never known they exsisted. As far as freebies hurting well known designers, I don't think so. When I find one that I really like I tend to collect more items from them beyond the freebies. In fact most the kits that I have purchased have been from seeing that designers freebies first. I think I have made about 10 purchases in the past year (I took four months off from scrapping over the summer so it's actually a 8 month period).
On another note, I was wondering where you would rather have comments- Cbox, blog comments, or 4 shared? I tend to leave them here and there but wondered what you prefered?.
Glad things are settling down some with all your sickies and packing and your having a better day. :)

Anonymous said...

Paper scrappers don't think twice about spending $5-10 per layout on items. When you think of how much it would cost you to buy that if it was paper, then the $1-5 a kit doesn't seem so bad - and you can reuse the parts over and over again, recolor them and it saves the environment.

As far as my behavior, in the beginning I used to grab freebie after freebie because I discovered the hobby while out of a job. The freebies allowed me to find who was good and who wasn't, to find the things I like to use most and learn about overstretching an element. Now I design myself. I think freebies are needed to promote a kit, although you only offer good teasers - save the very best parts for the kit. Quick page freebie with a couple of elements thrown in the zip file is how I do my freebies. If you want to play with the whole kit, you buy it.

LilSeed said...

I'd say my digital elements are about 50/50. I don't download freebies I don't care for just because they're free and I only purchase kits that draw me in, so I do both. It's not the freebies that hurt the industry - it's those who don't use them responsibly (like the people who stole from you). In any case, I think those who are serious about digital scrapping will buy the kits that appeal to them and download freebies that also appeal to them.

Unknown said...

I am not a designer, but i see both sides of the issue. Being on the "customer" side of this, I love getting the freebies, cause I get to see a person's work and get to know their style. If I like it then I go to their store and buy things. I think Freebies is just a great way to get people hooked on your designs and to attract new customers.

Again, thank you for what you do. I love seeing people's creativity!

Anonymous said...

I am fairly new to digiscrapping and a friend of mine showed me where to find freebies. I was going crazy looking and downloading freebies! Once I opened them up, I would go to the designers store and buy away! I probably purchase on average 15 kits a week You can never have too much :)

kmeillier

Maria Balderas said...

First of all, Lovely stitches! As alwayz wonderful work!!

Next, I love freebies, but if there's a kit I love and it's for sale, I don't think twice about purchasing it.

Crystal said...

Here's my opinion. Quite frankly as an aspiring designer, I plan on taking a page from one of the best. Kim b offers 1 or 2 freebies (small ones) to promote a kit when she releases it. I first started going there for the freebies...then I got hooked on the kits and her personality. I think blogging with freebies is a great way to develop loyalty.

Anonymous said...

I think offering freebies is an awesome marketing tactic. For me, quality is key. I can't tell you how many times I've downloaded a freebie, and then been disappointed in the quality. If I'd had to purchase the product, and then found out the quality wasn't what I wanted, I would have been really upset. And then when you download super awesome freebies with great qualities, you remember the designer, and when you're looking for something specific, you're more likely to purchase from them, because you know the designer creates quality products that meet your standards. I like designers who are willing to share--ones who don't make me feel like they're only in it for the money, so they only care about me as a customer if I'm willing to fork out the money.

Anonymous said...

I am new to digital scrapping. I love the fact that there are freebies out there. I also give me the opportunity to see who I like. If I am really looking to do something particular I will for sure buy something.

Anonymous said...

I own a Yahoo Group that searches for links to freebie scrapbook sites. My favorite sites have been found while searching for these freebies and these are the ones I spend my money in. If a freebie catches my eye I will stay in the site and come back to it when I am in a buying mood. I know my members also spend money in these sites.

On another note, If there weren't any freebies, I'm worried that the smaller designer blogs might get forgotten for the bigger commercial sites.

Anonymous said...

thanks for the stitches for Grateful. I search for freebies and use them but if I see a kit in a store I really like I will buy it. Like one person said I think if you like the kit, even if you have a cazillion (is that a word? lol lol) freebies you will still buy the kit

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you made it out of the bathroom. I will remember chocolate when it is my turn in a couple months. I have found your site and made your cyber-acquaintance due to the freebies I found in the beginning. Now your tutorials are helping me wrap my head around some stuff I was avoiding. I found several favorite designers whom I will frequent as budget allows. Gotten to know a few others through there blogs and gotten an education from them. Priceless. I do feel more loyal to those who have shared generously instead of throwing me to the mercy of regretted purchases. I feel much more able to buy with confidence when I know a designer has a style compatible with my project. Have a great move.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I forgot to say that freebies allow me to find out if my system is compatible with the designers work. I have gotten other software based on knowing what works with my product also.

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the stitches!!! I love a stitched look too.
Well, being a Libra, I can see both sides of the issue too :-). But speaking for myself, I collect the freebies and when I find something I really love and the quality is there too, then I'm off to buy the kit if I can afford it (money happens to be tight right now). So to me, giving a few freebies of a kit or giving a mini kit is an enticement.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the great stitches today. And I too am glad you got out of the bathroom.

As far as freebies go I only download if I like them or if I think they go well with my style.

I think some designers have gotten way out of control on their prices. I will pay a higher dollar if it really suits my style but some prices are just ridiculous. I realize that it takes alot of time to create designs, but afterall they only create them once. Seems to me that they could make more money if the dollar tag wasn't so steep. I purchase several kits a month but I only have so much money to spend on them so I find myself waiting for sales. And I actually buy more from the designers that offer freebies as opposed to the ones that don't. Some of them I think just have to big of an ego.

Anonymous said...

honestly i cans ee why some desingers minght worry but in truth Im not going to buy anything unless it is something that I need to have that completes my photos. I wont go looking for another flower paper ( no offense meant here; i love flowers lol). Freebies link me all over the place to discover new people. Sometimes it takes awhile before I buy from my freebie ladies but I always do eventually. I just have to wait for them to come out with the thing that I NEED to have, and then I purchase like mad lol. But without the freebies they wouldnt have ever been on my rotation of checking in the first place. Hope this helps.

LivE said...

I love freebies, I give out freebies, and I love buying stuff as well. I don't think giving freebies can hurt any designer... it's a way of marketing one's product, and given the number of freebie hunters, I'm sure giving freebies could only encourage them to go get the full kit or other kits created by a designer whose freebies they like. :D Have a happy day!

Anonymous said...

Hi! Im only a guest here. Thank You for shering You're talent, and wisch you health. Greeting's from poland.
Aricia.

Anonymous said...

I'll pop back another time to look at your candy store. It seems to be down at the moment.
I will donate as well later - just because of who you are and what you've written, so there! LOL!
When I'm buying, I do support the designers I've enjoyed great quality freebies from. And I have also downloaded some poor quality items as freebies so know who to stay away from. Giving freebies is really like advertising. I wouldn't know of half the designers I do now if it hadn't been for the freebie search engines.

Unknown said...

I think freebies are part of the draw back to a blog. The freebies also make me more likely to go check out someone's store. And if the freebie is an add-on or some element that coordinates with an existing kit, then I'm more likely to buy the kit after getting the freebie.