Templates vs Kits

[srussell]

I'd like to start another discussion... Would you rather have a template? or a kit? :)

[kode]

I like both templates and kits! The thing with most of the templates so far have been to where you can adjust them to the way each individual likes so it is almost like having a kit! It's great.
That's a great question too Steve!

[catseyes]

changes so i like what i make from them i am happy.
susannah

[Jessica]

i prefer by far kits. having a template already laid out just blocks my creativity... the part i like most about creating a scrapbook is making a layout.
but I guess not everyone has time to actually make a pretty l.o., so customizable templates are good also.

[Jezza]

I like both :)

When i'm feeling not as creative, I love to just use a template, and when the creative juices are flwoing, bring on the kits, I say! :D

[Moonbeam]

I like both..as long as I can change it to suit me.. I hate having something that is "someone else' BUT BY FAR I AM EXCITED WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON A "kit" I'm like a kid with a new toy

[Kazr]

I too get very excited on finding a new KIT & would love some new ones avaialble from here, the ones I find & usually adore are usually copyrighted so we can't share them amongst our friends here,so if they were available here to change as we see fit, that would be a bonus :)
I love this program,and all the templates-it has so much to offer but Kits could be another way to go :)

[srussell]

One idea I had was to take the elements previously created from a template ( i.e African Safari, etc.), add some addition elements and backgrounds, zip them up and offer them as a "kit". I'm already offering the alphas as kits (i.e "Bling", etc.)

Granny is already doing something like this on her site...
http://scrapbookingmarket.com/wahmsite/viewpage.php?load=products.php&id=scrappinggarden

Comments?

[Moonbeam]

Oh Yes! Yes! Yes! I would love that Steve... Fantastic

[srussell]

Oh Yes! Yes! Yes! I would love that Steve... Fantastic

Ok, that's what I thought... I've got to set up some infrastructure for those kits on my website, but it's doable...

[Moonbeam]

Coolness:cool: personified!!

[Jessica]

thanks steve, very thoughtful of you :)

[Granny]

I like templates, because I have no imagination as far as putting things together, but I love kits because you ca mix and match and they end up in the Max directory and are easily accessible while working.

One thought about copyright. I don't mind people using my embellishments in other templates, or sharing them with others.... As long as no one tries to turn around and claim them as their own or sell them. It takes a lot of work to do those, they are made from scratch, and sometimes it takes several programs to make. Not that they're that great, it's that I put the time and effort to make them. So as long as people don't abuse them, it's ok to share my work.

I also try to share freebies whenever I can, but I must charge for some of the work, or I'll have to bump off my rich cousing so I can feed the cat and the Chiguaguas!!!!!

Granny :eek: :p

[srussell]

I like templates, because I have no imagination as far as putting things together, but I love kits because you ca mix and match and they end up in the Max directory and are easily accessible while working.

One thought about copyright. I don't mind people using my embellishments in other templates, or sharing them with others.... As long as no one tries to turn around and claim them as their own or sell them. It takes a lot of work to do those, they are made from scratch, and sometimes it takes several programs to make. Not that they're that great, it's that I put the time and effort to make them. So as long as people don't abuse them, it's ok to share my work.

I also try to share freebies whenever I can, but I must charge for some of the work, or I'll have to bump off my rich cousing so I can feed the cat and the Chiguaguas!!!!!

Granny :eek: :p

Yes, I agree with Granny... These items do take a lot of effort and imagination to create. Just give credit where credit is due...

I don't mid sharing, but I have a wife and two Black Labs to feed as well, so I have to charge for certain templates, especially the ones that have lots of embellishments or take a long time to construct.

BTW, If you go to a site like www.flickr.com and see a photo you like, just send an email to the owner... 99% of the time they'll let you use it! That's what I do when I need a specific type of photo. Then everybody's happy!

[canneberge]

I like kits and templates as long as I can add my personal touch lollll- but in general I love everything that you do. Clap - clap - clap for Steve (he deserve it)

[nnorcutt]

I like kits more than templates. I very rarely use a template--I'd rather design the layout myself. Your elements are great Steve, so a kit done by you would be awesome! Thanks for all you do. :)

[Corey]

Clap - clap - clap for Steve (he deserve it)
Me -> Clap, clap, clap... :D

[srussell]

You don't have to clap for me... No really,don't ... "I like to thank the Academy, the producers, my felllow scrapbook artisians and most of all, my Mom, Janice, who without her I wouldn't be here in the first place..." :p

[srussell]

It's look like kits are taking the lead. Here's a good question... how the heck are you suppose to know what to put in a kit in the first place without designing a template? :confused:

In my opinion, you can't just throw a bunch of files in a folder and call it a kit, you have to have some interaction between the objects, backgrounds, etc. Then you've got items like colors, relative sizes, how the photos get worked in, etc.

So, what is everyone's opinion of what the perfect kit would be? Any links to examples created by other companies, etc? May something you've bought?

[Moonbeam]

you know you have something there.. I have never seen a Kit on its own they always have a page and a theme too.. at least the ones I have seen.. so it would be very differnt to just have a goody bag of assorted embellishments.
You know the themes folks were asking you for! PIck everyday things .. have a look at the pages inthe gallery and go for embellishments that would improve them in your mind...
You have a flair for stuff like that.!

[nnorcutt]

Check out www.shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp They have awesome kits to download for free. It should give you a good idea of what usually comes in a kit.

[Marion]

Thanks for the link, the freebies are awesome!

Marion

[srussell]

Check out www.shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp They have awesome kits to download for free. It should give you a good idea of what usually comes in a kit.

Great link... Thanks for pointing me in the right direction

[Granny]

Oh, Steve, I don't know. Michael Angelo said the sculpture was hiding in the block, all he did was chip away the extra marbel! :p

No, I agree with you, you need a basic template. But you're great at templates. I guess that after making the first page, you just provide the rest without actually putting every thing in place. Just put it in a zip lock baggie and put a link to it.

Granny :rolleyes:

[Moonbeam]

yeah! then think of the fun we can have putting it all together

[Kazr]

hi all ,
Could I make a sugggestion involving kits please..... some of the kits available are huge files 40mg & over,& for us dial up users we can't always download them in one file, some sites are kind enough to put them in seperate files, like for eg, backgrounds, (if each background is a large file, they can also be a seperate file for each background),accents & embellishments, templates etc etc.
I know broadband is the way to go & maybe in the future I will be able to afford that but for now that would be a lovely compromise & please know it would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[Kazr]

hi
here is an example of what I was suggestimg above,hope it helps :)

http://www.shabbyprincess.com/SweetSprinkles.asp

[srussell]

hi
here is an example of what I was suggestimg above,hope it helps :)

http://www.shabbyprincess.com/SweetSprinkles.asp

Kazr, that's a great suggestion! See what I can do when putting kits together... Might have to do a seperate web page for each kit.

[Kazr]

Dear Steve
I know I & many others in here admire your creativity & anything that you produce will be wonderful. Thank you for permitting me to voice my opinion,it is truly appreciated & I am sure we will love the end results.
A seperate web page sounds great to me, looking forward to them :D

[srussell]

Dear Steve
I know I & many others in here admire your creativity & anything that you produce will be wonderful. Thank you for permitting me to voice my opinion, it is truly appreciated & I am sure we will love the end results.
A seperate web page sounds great to me, looking forward to them :D

Well, this isn't just for me... it's for anyone who might be thinking about putting together kits or templates. Any and all input is appreciated and encouraged. Trying to get a handle on what the masses are looking for. :)

[Kazr]

Steve
I do understand , I only wish I had the talent to produce something that imaginative myself, but any one who is wiling to share a kit is amazing & generous in my eyes :)
Some common themes which would be appreciated are:

Birthday
Pets
Anniversary
Girl (definately) you can tell I have Granddaughters :)
Boy
Baby
Holiday
Christmas
Ist Car-Licence
Anyone else have any ideas for Steve or other Creators, I don't want to spoil it for others :)
Thanks in advance :D

[srussell]

This is a great list and everyone has offered several great suggestions. I have a legal pad of over 100 new themes and adding new ideas every day. Those might take me a week or so (ha ha)... Now if there were just 72 hours in each day.

Just for a refresher, everything I've created for free or available for purchase is located here... These are mostly templates, except for the alphas.
http://www.iireproductions.com/clients/indigorose/sbm_templates.htm

And I'm also looking into the best way to offer up the kits and putting an infrastructure together to manage those all the parts and pieces...

Granny & Moonbeam, do you think that'll keep me out of trouble for a day or two?

[srussell]

[QUOTE=Kazr I only wish I had the talent to produce something that imaginative[/QUOTE]

You assemble scrapbook pages, right? That's extremely creative!!!! Don't sell yourself short!!!! :D

Sometimes it's all about finding your niche. Look at Moonbeam's murals (which are just absolutely amazing!), Corey's paintings and music, Ladybug's alphabets... I'm sure all of these people didn't learn how or love to do these things overnight or necessarily born with these talents... :) Nobody is born to scrapbook! (well, maybe Granny)

[Granny]

All right, Steve!!!!

Actually, I agree with you. Kazr, you make some awesome templates. Me, I could not put a decent template together if my life depended on it. I'm just happy to make the stuff to go on it.

And I do have stuff coming... It's just in the making, but you'll see!!! :eek:

Oh, and thank you for sharing that link. That's a great idea. Just yesterday Ladybug and I were discussing the problems with dial up and the best way to offer things. So this imput is very welcome.

Granny :D

[Kazr]

Thank you Steve, Granny & Moonbeam
I do appreciate all your wonderful & positvie comments,I am OK with putting together something that has all the bits,or mix & match but to actually make them, I think you are all so blessed & yes I know it takes time & great effort... good things can't be rushed, so we await in anticipation for the next kit or template.
I have to say this, this is the friendliest bunch of scrappers & I feel
so darn lucky to have met you all, I have now been a widow for 5 yrs & life was getting a bit dull for me, apart from my wonderful Parents,Children, Grandchildren & Pets, you have turned my life about & given me an interest again, I thank you all for that .(sorry, didn't want that to sound a plea for sympathy,just wanted you to know I appreciate all the help & friendship).
hugs & xxxxxxxx Karyn.

[srussell]

You are most certainly welcome... :D

[Corey]

That's awesome Kazr. Glad we could be a part of your creative rejuvenation. :)

[Kazr]

Corey & Steve
Can't thank you enough ,have a big grin on my face every time i visit now ,see :D

[Moonbeam]

Thank you Steve, Granny & Moonbeam
I do appreciate all your wonderful & positvie comments,I am OK with putting together something that has all the bits,or mix & match but to actually make them, I think you are all so blessed & yes I know it takes time & great effort... good things can't be rushed, so we await in anticipation for the next kit or template.
I have to say this, this is the friendliest bunch of scrappers & I feel
so darn lucky to have met you all, I have now been a widow for 5 yrs & life was getting a bit dull for me, apart from my wonderful Parents,Children, Grandchildren & Pets, you have turned my life about & given me an interest again, I thank you all for that .(sorry, didn't want that to sound a plea for sympathy,just wanted you to know I appreciate all the help & friendship).
hugs & xxxxxxxx Karyn.
Hello my Aussie mate!
I'm glad you "feel" the friendship vibes here... I feel at home with these friendly people too and please know we are with you and for you as a real person not just a name on a forum.. We can chat any time on the NSBR thread (NSBR = Not scrapbook related) There is definately a nice spirit here among the community... Take care,
Moonbeam

[Granny]

Kazr... We are so happy to have "you". Is so refreshing to have one sane person is this, this, this..... asylum! Don't you dare leave us to our crazy selves!

Granny :rolleyes: ;)

[Kazr]

Thank you so much Moonbeam & Granny,
wow thats a first, me being told im actually Sane , what a refreshing thought LOL
I agree we are not just a name but are actual people sharing everyday life
with each other & I do believe we have the very best of friendships here, its always a pleasure to visit .:D

[Moonbeam]

Thank you so much Moonbeam & Granny,
wow thats a first, me being told im actually Sane , what a refreshing thought LOL
I agree we are not just a name but are actual people sharing everyday life
with each other & I do believe we have the very best of friendships here, its always a pleasure to visit .:D

Yeah But look who told you that.. Does it make you doubt it?

[Kazr]

Hmmmmmmmmmm now that you mention it LOL.
I don't mind being amongst the Nutty Bunch, a lot of fun to be had by all :)

[Moonbeam]

Absolutely Karen.. There is not enough laughter in the world today...

[Granny]

Ok, I talk it all back. I said it in a moment of mental aberration!!! You are "all" a bunch of nutty fruit cakes! :p

Granny :D

[Hilda]

I found this today and love it.....DigitalExpressClub.com
There are kits that interface with Scrap Max!
Hilda

P.S. Also take a look at Deco-Pages.com