I can’t think of anyone super awesome that I would definitely want to read my blog.
It would be nice to be “found” though. If a graphic design headhunter was out searching for that one perfect creative person to fill their digital artwork void, I would love them to find me. It might be hard though, I have only shared a small portion of my digital artwork on here. I was hoping to pursue my digital artwork more this year, share it with everyone, as well as open up a shop for it.
I’ve only been blogging for less than a year, and certainly not consistently. That being said, its been brought to my attention these past few months about the INSANE amounts of intellectual property that is being stolen on a regular basis by various websites, many of which are claiming to “find” tutorials or do “roundups” of which are un-sourced. Now we all know when you say “found” you really mean “stole” and manipulated it to be whatever you wanted.
How many people are aware of some of the many sites that are doing this? I’ll admit I was in the dark about how important watermarking and logo placement was until this whole thing just became glaringly obvious. That said, I am reluctant to share some of my projects or tutorials with the world here, if they might just end up in the hands of thieves. In fact I’m trying to think up a way to keep certain sites from being able to access my page at all. I think thats possible.
http://guang.taobao.com/ Chinese website that steals your tutorials and its almost impossible to find a way to contact them to take it down.
http://www.saifou.com/ “Inspiring Images” that don’t link back to their sources.
http://www.repiny.com/ Images are there and ready for you to pin to Pinterest, again with no links to the original source.
http://www.usefuldiy.com/diy-nautical-necklace/ This website is blatantly stealing, the images are watermarked and yet there is no link back to the source. THIS is why its important not to put all the steps into one image!!
http://handmadera.blogspot.com/2012/04/braid-necklace-diy.html Oh hey, where did this come from? Because I know its not yours!!
And last but not least, there are plenty more stealing tutorials out there, Handimania, I don’t even WANT to link to their site! But I want you ALL to know, stealing someone else’s tutorial, images, content, words, photos, and ideas is STEALING! And it is wrong! And we shouldn’t stand for it!!
PS. Are you a handmade artist? Do you think you’re safe? Because you’re not!
Watermarking with your logo, your website, etc is incredibly important! Learn how to do it! There are a bazillion tutorials online to help you! Here are some of my favorites: Add automatic group watermarks by Craftionary, Add a Copyright Watermark by PhotshopEssentials, Video on Youtube by Jen Swedhin, Create in Photoshop by PhotographyBlog, How to Watermark without Photoshop by ArtsyFartsyMama. Figures, I can’t find the one I used, regardless, these all give great instructions and videos really help, plus if you don’t have Photoshop, no excuse! Don’t make it easier for someone to steal from you. Also, there is no shame in pasting your watermark right over your image subject!
And to go along with how insanely cranky and frustrated this whole talk makes me, I posted a comment to the Handimania Facebook page today for their “Ask us Anything! Monday” of which there are absolutely no answers, but like 20 questions. Someone said “where do you find the instructions for things you find on pinterest? I always see awesome pics of the finished products, but I can never find the instructions.” So naturally, I thought I would help out and give an answer: “The instruction are with the actual tutorial on the site they stole the content from.” As of 10:20pm EST that answer has been on the site for 9 hours. Soon after this, another brave soul made a similar comment.
I really think if we all spread the word, maybe more people, and maybe the people who don’t understand copyright infringement, will start to understand that its not ok to encourage this type of behavior. That stealing is stealing regardless of where or how its done. Just because you can’t hold it in your hand, doesn’t mean it wasn’t taken from somewhere without permission or without giving credit where it is due!
To make it easy for those of you who would like to share this message, I have made 2 screenshots of the above mentioned Q&A and already pinned them to some of my Pinterest boards. I would LOVE if you would repin them: http://pinterest.com/pin/212443307395164061/ (currently located in my Digital Scrapbooking board and includes both mentioned comments) & http://pinterest.com/pin/212443307395164142/ (which only includes my answer and is located in my DIY Projects board). I WILL be spreading these pins along my other boards, on my Twitter account, and to any other blogger I can. You don’t have to be a blogger or DIY-er or Handmade-maker to support this and say no to stealing. Every share could make a difference!
I don’t believe in STEALING content from other DIY-ers and bloggers. Do you? If you agree that stealing is stealing and we should give credit to ALL the amazing people who take the time to show us how to make amazing things, SHARE THIS PIN! Tell sites like #Handimania that its NOT OK to take what doesn’t belong to them!!! #stealing #intellectual_property #stolen #content #diy #blogging #handmade #crafts #facebook
The website #Handimania STEALS other bloggers tutorials and steals photos without giving proper credit to the creator. Help me tell them, STEALING IS STEALING, we are NOT ok with you taking whats not yours! REPIN THIS and lets make sure they know we won’t accept this!!! #stealing_content #intellectual #property #stolen #thief #handmade #diy #crafts #blogging #bloggers
Today I decided to participate in the Sunday Social Linkup at Ashley’s Carnival Ride. Grab the button and answer the questions, then link-up to participate!
1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging?
My blog name is Christina Designs Art, Christina (thats me). I have been blogging since June 2012.
Fab You Bliss (wedding blog)
Daily Prompt: What’s the 11th item on your bucket list?
I don’t have a bucket list. However on my 35 Before 35 List #11 is: Figure out how to use my Wacom tablet and make art with it. That’s a good one. Maybe I can try something this year. It is my Year of Something New after all.
Then in my Year of Something New, my 11th month of November is: Family Time. I will spend that month with my family and friends and reconnecting with friends who maybe I haven’t spent much time with or talked to often!
Easy Peasy! I would most definitely choose to read others’ blogs. Let’s be real here, I just got started with this and while this time around I’m actually doing a decent job, there are so many more inspiring blogs out there and with awesome ideas. If I didn’t read blogs I would be bored and lacking a million ideas!
Obviously I hope to continue to improve this blog, but I love to read others’ blogs too much to let that go 🙂
“Glam invited the blogger behind fashion blog, Court + Hudson to a photo shoot inspired by a versatile fabric: cotton! Get some behind the scenes sneak peaks and check out the final outfits!”
Check out the behind-the-scenes photos here but don’t stop there! There’s a DIY section!
But wait!!! Before you get lost in the DIYs, be sure to view and rate it so Crowdtap will increase my points and likelihood that I will be chosen for more product reviews! I need 5 friends to view this page! Crowdtap will also make a donation to the Nature Conservatory after 5 page views!
I am a Crowdtap member and as such am asked to review products, TV shows, and spread the word about new websites or products every now and then! This is one such website that I have agreed to “spread the word” about! Please help my efforts by rating this site, once you get there the rating is at the top of the page! Feel free to connect with Crowdtap as well! I would love if you joined me 
OK, back to the fun stuff! Here are some cool picks:
Fun DIY Leather Pockets
Not a big fan of pompoms, but I can see where they are going with this!
Anyone else spend over an hour putting something together only to save it and get an ERROR and lose all your work?!
Thank you WordPress! I’m trying to make a nice static Home Page and twice now I have lost all my work!!!! It keeps asking “Are you sure you want to do that?” ERROR!!!!
YES I WANT TO SAVE DRAFT! HOW COULD THAT NOT BE THE RIGHT BUTTON!
Unbelievable! I couldn’t remember everything I just wrote if I TRIED!
OK so I think I really like this theme. I have a nice background that I set up, not a fan of the red but after awhile it kinda grows on you.
So whats the big problem, you say? Where’s my Homepage Link?? I can’t find it anywhere, the header isn’t a button, and it won’t let me add anything! I considered adding a static front page, so every time my page opened to someone the same page would be there making that the “homepage”, but then how do you access the blog?? This is so confusing and I really need some help!! WP Support isn’t helping me much, I’m probably not searching for the right thing tho!
If you have any expertise here, please share!!! THANKS!
Hi everyone! I have a NEW FACEBOOK page! I am moving and soon to be closing my old page, Pear’s Palette, in favor of a new page that more clearly connects all of my work together. Now my blog and facebook page will match! You may still find my Etsy page as Pear’s Palette and if you know of Craftstar, my profile name is PearsPalette there as well. However my shop is opening at Craftstar very soon under Christina Designs Art! I welcome you all to check it out, perhaps Favorite me now, so when my items are added you will know 🙂
My Twitter handle has not changed but my name showing will now be ChristinaDesignsArt.
I would love if you would all head over there and LIKE my new Facebook page!! Still setting everything up so theres not much to see yet, but these next few days will be spent setting it all up and getting it running!
Christina Designs Art 