I can distinctly remember the first time I realized there was a “digital scrapbooking” industry. It was around 2004 or so, and I had already been a web designer for several years. At that time, I enjoyed my own form of digi- scrapping, mostly through personal websites – you know… a blog, before blogs were “cool”.
I was often frustrated with the limitations though. Quality graphics were hard to come by, and I could visualize what I wanted a website to look like, or a cute photo enhancement to look like, but creating that with “pixels” was time consuming and difficult (and often impossible – mostly because my imagination is better than my digital artistry skills!)
The day I found “digi kits” for sale was a happy, happy day. Finally there were other people just like me out there, trying to design, create, and SCRAPBOOK on their computers. I suddenly didn’t feel “weird” anymore for trying to do something others did with paper and glue.
In the last 5 or 6 years since I found OTHER digital scrapbookers, the industry has exploded beyond belief. And I have been very, very lucky to find my own little niche within that industry. I realized fairly quickly that I am not a digital KIT designer, but I’m rather a layout designer … a layout artist… a digital scrapbooker-for-hire. Or, if you want to keep it a little more simple for non-digi folks, I’m a graphic designer… using the designs of OTHER graphic designers to create something new.
I could not… could NOT do what I do without the fabulous (and very generous) digital KIT designers. Over the next few weeks, I’d like to offer up a Sunday Shout-Out to some of my favorites. Now that I think about it, it might take a year (or two), since I’ll do it just once a week… and I have SO many favorites.
I’m going to start with Miki Ferkul aka Microferk Designs. She sells her designs at Scrapbook-Elements. I’m starting with her because I’m using one of her graphics in my header here on this blog… and because a great many of my current samples and designs, in both etsy shops, were created using her products.
I have always loved her designs and her style. The day she changed her TOU to allow for crafting/designing for hire, I literally did a dance in my house. (Really, I did… and I told her so too!) I have a rather large section of my external hard-drive filled with her kits and products. She has designed so many lovely kits… and she puts out something new nearly EVERY week. I would tell her to slow down a bit, so I can catch up with purchasing all her designs, but I love, LOVE to see her new stuff every week.
A few of her latest designs that you really need to see (and buy…and use!):
SEE! I told you she was amazing!
Thank you, Miki, for being inspiring… and encouraging and generous to digi-scrappers/artists like me.
