Well, I guess I pushed myself too hard yesterday because now my neck is hurting again and my arm is even worse. I got to working on the post below and Trash to Treasure Hunting at DST and just could not stop. If you’ve got the time, there are a lot of great designers participating and I do believe this is the biggest treasure hunt I have seen at a scrapbooking site. I am really bummed about not being able to work much on the computer for over 3 weeks now. (Or do much of anything really) I was in the middle of working on another QP kit for sale at Candy Tree and planned to add a template kit too. I was also just about to start designing QPs for another site and I have some great birthday and valentine pictures of my daughter that I just can’t wait to scrap. They don’t call me Creatively Obsessed for nothing! LOL Darn pain, I wish it would just get better already. Off to take more pain killers, and sit in front of the TV I guess. I have watched more TV over the last three weeks than I have in the last year.

I recently learned that someone I have been involved with made a mistake that appears to be all too common among new digital scrappers. Over a period of a couple weeks last year, she shared a few files she should not have. They were not her designs. This person has expressed regret for her actions and did what she could to compensate for her mistake and do right by the original designers.

In light of these events, it seemed like a good time to express my support for Digital Scrapbook Designers and do what I can to spread the anti-piracy word.

Digital Scrapbook Designers work hard on their creations; they put a lot of themselves into their work. Please do not share files that are not your original from scratch or from commercial use creations (unless you have the designer’s permission). Remember to always give the designer(s) credit when you post in galleries, on your blog, in emails, etc.

With all that said, I should add that the majority of Digital Piracy is not committed by newbie’s who have not yet learned better. But by experienced scrappers who think they are not hurting anyone by sharing files. Digital file sharing is not the victimless crime many seem to think it is. (Just as shoplifting is not a victimless crime.) Digital Scrapbook Designers have many business expenses that these people don’t seem to realize. Let’s think about that for a moment… 

1)  Digital Design Software can cost hundreds of dollars

2)  Up to date computers with large amounts of memory are needed

3)  Backup software and hardware are a must

4)  Many designers need additional hard drives

5)  The cost of running a website and blog must be considered

6)  Designers pay a fee to the stores that sell their products

7)  If they have their own stores, designers pay site fees, shopping cart fees, etc

8)  They also have to pay FTP fees so they can upload products to stores

9)  There are advertising fees

10) Not to mention the time involved in making these creations. One “simple” kit can take days to create. 

Please remember this if you are tempted to share a file. If you see something that you know a friend would love, send them the store link or a link to the designer’s blog instead. Better yet, send them a gift certificate! Who does not love being the recipient of a RAK?

I have known a number of Digital Designers who have stopped designing because of Digital Piracy. It is a shame that the Digital Scrapbooking Community has had to loose out on their talents. I would hate to see other gifted designers give up for the same reasons. Please do your best to show your appreciation and support to these designers who are kind enough to share their creativity with us.

Thanks to Jessie for making the great blinkie you see above! Want one for yourself? You can get it here.

Hi everyone.

Sure wish I could spend more time here but I am still having problems with my shoulder/arm/neck/hand. It is painful to type or even sit here at my computer.I have been to 4 doctors; every one of them has a different opinion as to what is causing this. I had an MRI but it did not show anything. The last Dr I went to thinks the problem is lower in my back and they did not go low enough when they did the MRI. He is referring me to an orthopedic surgeon, I am just waiting for them to get back to me and let me know when I can get in. I did go to a massage therapist that specializes in acupuncture pressure points; thanks to him I can almost straighten my head.

Going stir crazy around here but it looks like I will be out for the rest of February at least.  I really hate this because I was just getting my quick page business going and now I can’t even work on that. Pretty much living on pain killers. They don’t relieve the pain completely, but at least they make it somewhat bearable so I can get though the day with my 4 daycare kids and then last long enough to get dinner on the table for my family most days.

Taking it as easy as I can, which is really hard for me as I am the kind of person that usually has a bunch of things going at once.

Hope all is well with you.