I have received quite a few very sweet emails regarding my previous post and my own little bloggy (most of the emails have questions about using digital scrapbooking kits and digital pre-designed blog graphic kits for creating blogs). You all asked a ton of really good and thoughtful questions! : ) So, I thought that I would post to try to answer some of the questions...
There is a difference between digital scrapbooking kits and pre-designed digital blog graphic kits that were created especially for creating blogs.
GORGEOUS and fully designed banner, button and background kits (like the kit that is featured on Amber's blog) make putting a blog together fairly simple if you have basic blog design skills and Adobe knowledge. The pre-designed kits allow you to simply add your own pics and text to the fully designed banners, buttons, etc. and then you add the graphics to your blog. No graphic designing is needed because the banners and the buttons are already purty and ready to roll! Make sure to read the terms of use that come with each kit...for example, some kits allow for commercial use and some do not, some kits can be used to set up blogs by a paid designer and some can not, most require you to give credit where credit is due, etc. Please email the designers directly if you ever have any questions about the use of their kits...they are usually very helpful and knowledgeable too. : )
Also, besides pre-designed blog kits, you can purchase kits filled with miscellaneous coordinated digital scrapbook graphics. The misc. kits do not include completed banners, buttons, etc. The misc. graphic kits require you to use the graphics that are contained in the kits to create your own designs for scrapbook pages, crafts and sometimes even blogs. Design work fun is involved in working with those kits...you aren't simply adding text and pics. My current blog was created by using this type of a kit. It is important to read the terms of use that come with the kits to make sure that the artist has approved the use of their art for blogs, etc.
Was that helpful at all? An expert I am not, by any means. : P
One of the most common questions from recent emails: "Are you going to start a blog design/redesign service?" Maybe, but I am just not sure. Is that a lame coy answer? *blush* I might like to but nothing definite has been decided. I may decide to start something at some point in the future. : ) Tinkering with my blog has been a hobby for some time and I like to help friends for fun from time to time. I have recently really enjoyed using digital scrapbooking graphics on my blog...it is so challenging and fun! If I decide to set up a formal business at some point, I will certainly let you know. But as of this moment in time, a formal TLC design business does not exist. : )
God bless,
