The Burning Question...

As the controversy continues over graphics, I have another question for you that was brought to my attention by another blogger that I respect a lot. If you have items on your blog that you promote or sell then do you have a commercial blog or a personal teacher blog? If you have advertisements on your blog do you have a commercial blog or do you have a personal teacher blog? What do you think? And who in blogland gets to define this? 

OOPS! Did I Just Say That?

Thank you to each person who responded about the CLIPART CRISIS! I appreciate your feedback. This has been a hot topic everywhere. I have really debated about this post over my drive home. I have never wanted to be controversial on my blog probably because I can do that in my regular life just fine! One of my main goals for blogging has always been to support teachers. I feel very strong about that to say the least. Just to explain exactly how serious I am on this issue, I will be the first to tell you I have rallied a group of teachers to Austin, Texas to support teachers. Through that process I learned that if I support a teacher, I am also supporting a class full of kids and that means a lot to me. This whole yes, no, maybe clipart thing has got me thinking. I LOVE DJ Inkers and I have spent a pretty penny through the years. On my blog you won't find and haven't found freebies with DJ stuff on it because I decided the last time this controversy swirled around that it would be better for me to stay away from something that is not clearly understood and changes like the wind blowing in Texas. Also, you get to a certain level in blogging and providing freebies, monitoring how many downloads is a task I just do not need. Take for example the freebies that are posted on TpT. When I look at my statistics I can clearly see that a freebie reaches 100 downloads pretty darn quick. So what happens at download 101? Do bells ring? Do they call your mom? Are you in blogland time out? Or are you in big, bad trouble? It doesn't take me long to figure out that this could be a hot mess of a problem that I need not worry about in my otherwise happy go lucky blogland life. 

Which brings me to my next point... I wonder do I really want to support anything that does not support teachers or would I rather support a teacher? Excuse me and let me rant just once... Do these people know how many people we drive to their businesses? When we blog and get all crazy about a product that is in the real world called free advertising and I did not have to sit through business 101 to figure that out. I will stop here and save my rants and ramblings for me, myself and I and get down to the heart of it all. 

As I was blog stalking I found a new blog called Ginger Snaps. I feel in LOVE. This is just one of the many REAL TEACHER bloggers that are selling graphics and understand what we use them for and why. I wrote Ginger Snaps and asked if I could feature her stuff because it was so cute and because these graphics are of the non controversial kind so you have to just love that. And let's be honest, any girl who loves the gingerbread man as much as me is A-OK in my book! 



I am sure you will agree that these graphics are way cute and how good are you going to feel supporting a real teacher that is just like us? Let me answer that, pretty darn good and it might just make you want a Ginger Snap and a glass of milk and chances are... well you know the rest of that book! 

FORBIDDEN Graphics Oh My!

With all the hoopla and hype about which graphics a teacher blogger can use, I have to say I LOVE Scrappin Doodles! Not only are there 100's of items to pick from and the quality is wonderful. And better yet... the customer care is top notch. Denyse at Scrappin Doodles goes out of her way to help each and every time. Once I was using her graphics and preparing for a presentation and something was wrong with my account. She spent an entire day troubleshooting and helping me get to my graphics so I would be ready for the presentation on Monday. If you are looking around to replace those FORBIDDEN graphics you should give Scrappin Doodles a try! 

Clipart Controversy Oh Me, Oh My!

Kinder Friends,

I had to share this with you because I am still confused. I asked if I could repost this post so that maybe we could get some discussion about this HOT Topic! Each time I read it I take a different perspective on this situation. Please let me know what you think. 

Hello DJ friends,

My name is Alix… I am the office manager here at DJ Inkers.  We just wanted to take a few minutes to update you on our blogging & usage policies.  This has been a hot point of discussion for awhile now… so we'd like to apologize for any confusion, miscommunication or inconvenience this may have caused you.  We have been trying to figure out the best way to handle this so that we can grow as a company along with the ever-changing technology.  The ways that people have used our clip art has changed a lot over the years!  :)

Of course, we want our customers to be happy and to have fun using our clip art & fonts.  We want you to be able to share & show your ideas too!  However, as a business, we have to protect ourselves.  We want new customers to discover DJ Inkers and to buy our products.  But, will they still come to us if they can just download projects for free all over the internet?  (This question is why this has been such a tricky situation for us.)

With all of that being said, we've had a company meeting to define our blogging & usage policies as clearly & simply as possible.  Hopefully, in a way that benefits YOU as a user & customer… and protects us as a company as well.

DJ Inker's Usage Policy

1. Individual clip art images & fonts can NOT be posted for sharing on the internet (no sharing CD's, downloads, fonts, clip art).

2. You can NOT, under any circumstances, sell projects you made using DJ Inker's products.  This is a copyright violation.

3. You CAN post projects that you've made using DJ Inkers products, as long as you follow these guidelines:

·         Only post your projects on personal or educational websites, blogs & groups.  No commercial sites (including teachers pay teachers & other businesses).
·         Files MUST be saved & posted in a 'flat' format (.PDF, .jpg, .gif, etc.) if they are available to the general public.  (Password protected is preferred.)
·         Do NOT post editable files (.doc, .eps, .ai, etc.) unless they are password protected and only given to people you know (students, parents, teacher aides).
·         Every project must clearly state:  "Graphics/fonts copyright DJ Inkers. http://www.djinkers.com/"
·         If a single project is being downloaded more than 100 times (publicly), please contact us to discuss further terms *& possible purchase of your project.
·         Businesses may NOT use our graphics on websites/blogs/marketing in any way.

4. You CAN decorate your personal or school blogs & websites using our products.  Just be sure to note on your site: "Graphics/fonts used with permission from DJ Inkers" & link to http://www.djinkers.com/.

Again, we sincerely apologize for any confusion or misinterpretation of our terms of use.  I hope this helps to clarify & settle the situation.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. smiles@djinkers.com  1-800-325-4890

SHOULD I REMOVE MY FREEBIES OR NOT?  I SHOULDN'T LET THIS STRESS ME OUT THIS MUCH...BUT I LOVE TO SHARE...THANKS, AMBER

Thanks Kinder friends for letting me repost your post! 

FREEBIE!

Hey Kinder Friends,

The New Year is fast approaching and snow is on my mind! I am starting to think about getting back into the swing of things in Kindergarten. I have been busy making and creating things for the classroom. It's been a ton of stress fun! I am still having a sale at my TpT store and Teacher Notebook store as well. And I just posted something FUN and FREE! If you grab your freebie please leave some feedback! 

Wishing you a warm and wonderful Winter! 

Join me in the coming weeks in the Science Lab as we get geared up for the winter season! 

11 in 11 Linky Party!

I decided to join in the fun of the linky party right after I threw a Kindergarten sized fit that my computer crashed and it did not save the changes to my new Science unit... I spent the next FEW HOURS trying to get this computer to work. I am finally back up and running and do not have the energy to redo what the computer has undone... 

11. Favorite Movie- YIKES, I actually hate movies and can barely sit through one because I am thinking of all the things I want to do other than sit and watch a movie. But if you are making me pick a favorite it would be none other than...

Source: imdb.com via Rosie on Pinterest

10. Favorite TV series- I can watch these do laundry, cook dinner, check my email, text a friend and still know what is going on in the end.

Source: google.com via Beth on Pinterest

Shhhh, but I have a secret obsession with Jerseylicious, go figure.

9. Favorite Restaurant- The only place you can eat brunch by a fire, listen to Christmas music and shop all in one place!


8. Favorite thing I tried- I would have to say blogging. I stumbled onto blogs by accident and in an instant I was hooked. Within minutes, I was hooked and right then and there I decided to start a blog and when I realized what I had done I questioned my sanity about entering into something I knew very little about. For the first time in my life I just went with the flow and had no expectations and I guess the rest is history.

7. Favorite gift received- I loved the ripped bag of random snowmen my son gave me.


and... I LOVED the twin purses I got for Christmas.



Oh, and I LOVED the Christmas charms I got to make my family Christmas charm necklace.

6. Favorite thing I pinned- I can't wait to do this and more and blog about it on my science blog.

Source: countingcoconuts.blogspot.com via Little Miss Kindergarten on Pinterest

5. Favorite blog post- I should probably say the darn Glitter Germs post because it is the most viewed and it is at the top of the list almost every stinkin' day and if you are interested it is always on my sidebar as one of the most annoying popular post but my personal favorite was a Cinco de Mayo post that got me my one and only negative comment from ANONYMOUS.

It's Still a Celebration blog post.

4. Favorite accomplishment- I think my favorite would have to be my blogs. I say that because when I told a few teacher friends about blogging I was laughed at and teased. It doesn't bother me at all. I learned a long time ago to never let the negative keep me from doing something I believe in. I BELIEVED that blogging could benefit me as a teacher. I BELIEVED that I could better meet the needs of the children in my classroom through mutual collaboration with other teachers. I BELIEVED that if teachers could combine their strengths it would be the children who would benefit the most.

Source: Uploaded by user via Little Miss Kindergarten on Pinterest

3. Favorite Kindergarten picture- believe this... we grew that darn lettuce and that was not the first harvest friends... it was the LAST!

2. Favorite recent memory- Christmas morning was a good memory for me. My husband woke up early and had special hot chocolate for me on Christmas morning. I also had the Christmas gift I wanted when I was five waiting for me.  

1. Goal for 2012...

Source: Uploaded by user via Little Miss Kindergarten on Pinterest

\

Source: bitsotruth.blogspot.com via Little Miss Kindergarten on Pinterest

In other words, no matter your passion or dream... 

Source: mybody-myhealth.tumblr.com via Little Miss Kindergarten on Pinterest

Many wishes to you this New Year. Thank you for everything!

A Year of Calendar Chants! UPDATE

A New Year and a new beginning! If you have previously purchased the Calendar Chants packet on TpT you will be notified of the updates to this file. I added a special something for the 100th Day of School! If you have not grabbed your copy for the New Year... it's on sale! 

The Crafty Community!

The Crafty Community has reached 100+ followers! 

What a super marking point for Crafty Community!

We've hit 100 followers, and we're hosting a Hobby Lobby Give-Away...

Win a $20 Hobby Lobby Gift Card just by:

Click this link to ENTER! 

- following this site

- blogging about us

We can't wait to have you grow with us in our crafty little community.

Simply leave a comment that you follow us for one entry.  

For a second entry, we'd love for you to do a brief post about us and leave a second comment.  

Thanks so much, we grow by word of mouth.

Roll the Dice Winter!

Roll the Dice is dressed up and ready for winter. Grab your copy today for free before it gets dressed up for a new season. If you grab your copy please consider following my TpT store or leaving some feedback. This download is for three pages! 

Currently all items in my stores are on sale! 

Calling All DFW Metroplex Teacher Bloggers!

I am reading about a lot of Teacher Blog Meet Ups and it makes me wish I lived in Florida or California! I am curious about how many Teacher Bloggers are in the DFW Metroplex area. If you are in the area and would like to meet up please drop me a line. 

Thank YOU Sale!

Happy New Year!

I am having a sale at my Teachers Notebook Store and my Teachers pay Teachers Store as a way to say thank you for supporting me this year. I have had so much fun blogging and connecting with everyone. I am looking forward to a new year full of fun and learning.