Cottageartsnet Digital Freebies Scrapbooking Templates And Design Elements

CottageArts.net offers a variety of digital freebies primarily focused on scrapbooking materials, including templates, papers, embellishments, and design elements. The website provides these digital resources at no cost to users who subscribe to their newsletter or visit during special promotional events. This article examines the types of freebies available, how to access them, usage guidelines, and the terms associated with these digital offerings.

Types of Digital Freebies Available

CottageArts.net offers several categories of digital freebies for scrapbooking enthusiasts:

• Scrap.Words: Digital word art samples from their Say it Again Scrap.Word series. The "Follow your Heart Scrap.Words" freebie was created specifically for readers of Somerset Memories magazine and Michelle's Digital Watercolor Painting article in the Spring 2015 issue.

• Chalkboard Design Kits: Trendy digital kits like "Chalkboard Love," which was created for readers of Somerset Memories and Michelle's Chalk Art article (Spring 2014 issue). These kits contain various elements that can be used in digital scrapbooking projects.

• Quick Pages: Pre-designed scrapbook pages like the "Butterfly Wings Quick Page (ScrapOver)" digital freebie, created for readers of Somerset Memories and Michelle's Mixed Media Quilt article (Spring 2012 issue). These are in PNG format and compatible with most image editors that support layers.

• Photo Tools: Digital resources for photo editing and enhancement, including textures and overlays. An example is a freebie created for readers of Somerset Memories and Michelle's Double Exposure article (Autumn 2014 issue), which includes photos to follow along with her DianaPhoto app tutorial.

• Photo Textures: Blendable photo textures like the one created for readers of Somerset Memories and Michelle's Mobile App Happy article (Spring 2013 issue). These are 12x12 photo textures that can be added to photos using image editors or photo apps that support blending.

• Seasonal Kits: Holiday-themed digital kits such as the "Winter Blessings" freebie kit, inspired by nature and softly falling snowflakes. This contains 1 paper, 3 embellishments, and 1 photo mask.

• Layered Templates: PSD templates with elements, papers, and photo masks on separate layers that can be customized. These are part of their Scrap.Templates series and are designed to help beginners learn digital scrapbooking while allowing for quick page creation.

Accessing CottageArts.net Freebies

There are multiple ways to access the digital freebies offered by CottageArts.net:

Newsletter Subscription

Users can sign up for the "What's New" newsletter to receive notifications about new digital downloads, tutorials, freebies, sales, inspiration, and more. The website explicitly states that they do not share subscribers' personal information with anyone. Alternatively, users can subscribe to their "Simply Digital" newsletter, which also provides access to special offers and freebies.

Promotional Events

CottageArts.net occasionally runs special promotional events, such as their 7th birthday celebration in May, where they offered daily freebies for five consecutive days. During such events: - Freebies are typically available for 24 hours, expiring at 9 am CT the following day - Each day features a different theme and corresponding freebie download - Missed freebies remain available for purchase in their shop

Direct Access to Specific Freebies

Some freebies are directly accessible through the website without requiring subscription or event participation. These are typically: - Samples of larger product collections - Resources created to accompany specific magazine articles - Promotional materials for new product lines

Using CottageArts.net Digital Freebies

The digital freebies from CottageArts.net come with specific instructions and compatibility notes:

File Formats and Compatibility

• Most freebies are provided in PNG or JPG format
• Layered templates are in PSD format, compatible with Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
• PSD templates can also open in Corel Paint Shop Pro, though some features like layer styles and text paths may not be available
• Photo textures are compatible with any photo app and image editor that supports layers and blend modes
• Quick Pages are compatible with most image editors that support layers

Usage Instructions

For layered template downloads, users are instructed to: 1. Unzip the download package using an unzipping utility such as WinZip 2. Save the templates and usage guidelines/instructions in a desired folder on their system 3. Customize the templates by moving, resizing, duplicating, rotating, or modifying individual layers

For photo texture freebies, users can: 1. Download the texture file 2. Add it to their photo using an image editor or photo app that supports blending 3. Follow the instructions provided in the accompanying Somerset magazine article for optimal results

Special Features

Some freebies include special features like: - Click Masks (photo masks) that can be used with photo editing software - Instructions for Pixels2Pages members on using masks in Artisan 4 or 5 - Pre-sized elements (some kits are sized at 8x8 instead of the standard 12x12)

Terms and Conditions

CottageArts.net digital freebies are subject to specific terms and conditions:

Licensing

• Products are generally licensed to one user for personal use
• A Limited Professional Use License must be purchased for each product used for professional purposes
• Users agree to the terms of Forever's Digital Content Licensing Agreement when downloading digital content

Privacy and Security

• CottageArts.net has a privacy policy stating they do not share subscribers' personal information
• The website is PCI DSS compliant, adhering to payment card industry data security standards
• When users provide credit card information, the site uses industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to prevent interception

Product Sizing and Customization

CottageArts.net digital products offer flexibility in sizing:

• Many products are available in standard scrapbooking sizes like 12x12
• Some products are available in 8.5x11 size, which can be searched specifically on the site
• Users can crop JPG or similar files to custom sizes as needed for their projects

Designer Collaborations

Many of the freebies feature designs from CottageArts.net's in-house designer Michelle Shefveland, as well as collaborations with other digital scrapbooking designers and websites. These collaborations often result in themed kits that combine elements from multiple designers to create cohesive scrapbooking resources.

Conclusion

CottageArts.net provides a variety of digital freebies primarily focused on scrapbooking materials, including templates, papers, embellishments, and design elements. These freebies are accessible through newsletter subscriptions, promotional events, or direct downloads from the website. The digital resources come in various formats compatible with different image editing software and include detailed usage instructions. While the freebies are primarily for personal use, they offer flexibility in sizing and customization for scrapbooking projects. The website maintains privacy and security standards to protect user information, and all digital content is subject to specific licensing terms.

Sources

1. CottageArts.net Freebies Page
2. CottageArts.net 7th Birthday Freebies Announcement
3. Winter Blessings Freebie Pak
4. Splitcoaststampers Forum Discussion
5. Maryse Vincent Template Freebie
6. CottageArts.net FAQ Page