Tips for Budding Designers

[Ambowife Designs]

I noticed that a few of you were asking what to put in a kit and I came across a list shared by one of the designers at DST so I thought I'd post it here. It's huge so you might want to cull some of the things on there and maybe add a few things too. Any spelling errors are not mine LOL

Firstly a few tips that all designers will tell you.

1. Everything should be 300 ppi thats pixels per inch
   
2. Elements should be on a transparent background and saved as a png file
3. they should also be on their own file, not a page of buttons, alphabets included
   
4. All papers should be 12inches square and 300 ppi, that's 3600px by 3600px and saved as a jpg file
   
5. There should be no stray pixels outside your elements and no jagged bits around the edges of your elements. Use some feathering to smooth out your edges (1 px) and zoom right in to 100% on them to see if there are any pixels you might have missed when deleting parts outside the element's boundary.
   
6. Always have your terms of use file in all your zip files
   
7. Save your previews for web at a resolution of 72dpi and no bigger than 600 x 600 px
   
8. Keep all your file/folder/zipfile names the following format.
   designer name(or initials)_KitName_item#
   Like this ambowifedesigns_pastelpop_p1
   
9. Zip files should keep dial up customers in mind and not be larger than 45mb

Okay here's the list with thanks to Michaela Ferkul ~ Microferk Designs

PATTERNED PAPERS
Stripes- Up & Down , Sideways, Dots, flowers, paisley, patterns, plaids, ginghams, Watercolors, Swirlies, Words, Grungy/Shabby, Crackled, Paint Splatters, Paint Strokes, text, definitions, letters, quilt, circles, stars, hearts, squares, checkered, diamonds, demin,
SOLIDS: CLEAN, SHABBY/ GRUNGY
kraft, note papers, cardboard, bazzill-like cardstocks
Alphas, Numbers, Characters
(Gold, Silver, Copper, Brass, Rust, Pewter, Iron, Antiques) Metal Embellishments
Eyelets
Brads
Strung Brads
Loopy Brads
Staple
Photo Prongs
Paper Clips
Safety Pin
Stick Pins
Binder Clips
Snaps
Jump Rings
Photo Hangers
Prong Fasteners
Spiral Clip
Thumbtacks
file fasteners
Washers
Bookplates
Hinges
Nuts
Gears
Rivets
Screws
Nails
Nailhaeds
Buttons
Button Strings
Button threads
Metal Tags
Paper Tags
Fabric tags
Jewelery Tags
Tag Strings, Tag Tie Ribbons
Clothing Tags/Tab
Files tabs
Tabs
pockets
Journal Pockets
patches
Journaling strips
Journal mat
journal accent
labels
Punch labels
flowers
Stitches Embellishments
charms
charm ring or metal chain links
fibers
ribbon slides/buckle
bows
ribbons (Sheer, Satin, Grosgrain, Velvet, Lace, Dots, Stripes, Patterned, Stitched)
ribbons halves
ribbon ties
Threaded Ribbons
Doilie
ric racs
twill
twine
trims
strings
wires
yarn
rope
Floss
Picks (Guitar Picks)
Bottlecaps
photo mats
photo corners
vellum
Index cards
file folders
postcards
stamps/brushes
stickers/clip art (brushes or doodles colored in)
Rub Ons
brush strokes /splatters
overlays
Inked Edges
frames
borders
word art
doodles
word embellishments
Magnet Words
postage stamp
Paper Tears
torn embellishments
Epoxy embellishments
chipboard embellishments
Gel/Plastic embellishments
Fabric embellishments
date items
film strips
Polraids
Beads embellishments
glitter embellishments
jewels /gems/blings embellishments
Sequins embellishments
Fiber/Felt/Fuzzy Embellishments
Chains
Bracelet
Necklace
Rings
Brooch
Vintage Embellishments
Slides
Glass Embellishments
Belts
Leather Embellishments
Denim, Courdory Embellishments
Zippers
Zipper Pulls
Zipperhead Tabs
Mesh
WaxSeal
Tickets embellishments
Envelopes
Cards
Library Pocket
Paintchips
Tapes
Barcode Embellishments
Templates
Quickpages

That should give some inspiration LOL.
Any designers who have something to add, feel free!!

[zzaa_za]

Wow!
Thank you so much Tracy. This is really useful for me. I will have to save it on my computer.

BIGGGGG HUGS

[Ambowife Designs]

LOL No worries May, I saved it as a text file in notepad for myself, Glad you think it will help

[number128]

wow, that is a looooooong list,

thanks so much for providing it along with the helpful hints

off to create some elements now
thanks again
Sue

[naz1996]

Newbie designer saying thanks a bunch!

[Amberpony]

Thanks for the list Tracy

Now I can stare at it and brain storm when I run out of Ideas

I was really thinking of a standard list of elements like Frames, ribbons, etc like the standard amount of things in a kit. before one would add unique items.

[Ambowife Designs]

I always have
Papers, some patterned some solid (I add cardstock in all the colors of the palette just so they have coordinating cardstock to crop)
ribbons/fibers,
fasteners,
journaling blocks,
frames (decorated and plain),
flowers,
tags,
bows,
ricrac,
fabric,
vellum,
photo mats, and then I add the unique stuff.

I try to stick to the traditional scrapbooking style and the scrappers need things to attach the photos to the page, journal on, layer with, etc. But, there are more and more kits with fantasy style scrapping in mind now and they don't seem to cater as much to journaling, photo matting and attachment. Each to their own I say, and there's a market for both

[littlespooky]

Dear Tracy, that was so thoughtful of you. what a list...wowwo! now i feel like designing something...lol

[michellemarie]

Wow! What a list! I had to save that to notepad as well. It will take some time to read LOL Thank you!!!

[Amberpony]

Thanks Again Tracy
This is a very Helpful list.
With the 2 list now I have something to keep me on Track
Well Maybe :eek: I seem to make about 5 elements before I decide that one is Good Enough LOL

Now Off to add the new list to my Note Pad.

[Marcie]

Oh wow this is a great help. Love the list of stuff to put in the kit. Helps out a lot. I do agree with you, ambowife, about the fanatsy kits versus traditional kits. I like both personally as it depends on what I'm doing. I'm not into real fanatsy though. Although those kits are gorgeous and I love to learn how to do that, but for now just learning how to do the normal kit is enough for me.

[Joba2]

May I ask what is a fantasy kit???

[kimberkatt]

Fantasy kits are those real whimsical type of kits... wow... it's kinda hard to explain... let me go get a preview to show you what I mean... I know the perfect kit in the SAS store!

I would consider Funlandia by Lara's Digi World a fantasy kit... it's packed with very non-traditional type elements, frills, swirls, sparklies... just very whimsical.... and I think it's adorable! I love this kit! What an imaginaton Erika has! You should check out the layouts her CT did wth this kit! I wish I had a fraction of their creativity! :p

[lschlacht]

What are the rules for the Budding Designer? When does the contest end?

Thanks
~lisa

[Ambowife Designs]

Hi Lisa, this is a post from last year's contest. We have a Next Designer Contest every September to find the next designers for the Studio . It's a lot of fun (and stress sometimes LOL) and I was an entrant along with Mitsybelle, Monika and our own beloved leader Piggyscraps a few years ago.
We then moved this post to our New Designer forum as we thought it might help those trying to get into designing.

You can however always submit your kits through our New Designer Program which is designed to give budding designers a taste of what it's like to be a designer at a site and sell in a web store.
If you would like to submit a kit just start a thread here in the following forum posting previews and we will see it. Or PM Toiny (piggyscraps)

http://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio...play.php?f=147

[Rhondasue]

Thank you so much for the list of ideas! It is a great tool to have on hand! I appreciate all the time it took to make the list! HUGS TO YOU!