Indefinite hiatus
Hey everybody!This day was coming, I won't lie. c: And here's where an explanation as to why I'm going on indefinite hiatus is appropriate... Alright then!
Well guys, though I dropped the whole casual site facade when I renewed my layout request site, this site has always been a holiday/seasonal site. And to be honest with you all, if I was some sort of superwoman, I would keep TICC open forever. I love making these layouts, guys. I wondered to myself why I never made layouts when I was active and reviewed instead! But anyway, I have no regrets.
I want to thank my lovely guild who took me back with open arms after quitting and for being an unending source of support with all my endeavours. You guys are remarkable. I want to thank my affiliates and lister for their enthusiasm to affiliate (or any friendly association for that matter) with my little site. You may remove me. c: I also want to thank everyone who requested - I think there would have been forty or so of you - for taking the time to request a layout from me. What an honour! Your enthusiasm and all the wonderful compliments I received made my temporary stay truly incredible. Thank you all.
Will I be back? Probably. I think I will miss making layouts because it was such a relaxing way to spend my summer holiday. As to when I will be back, I may be back around late June to early July as my inter-semester break will be three weeks and, again, I will have nothing to do. If not then, then so long as there is a community for me to come back to, I will return in the summer once again, which will be late November. However, the possibility of me never returning exists (though I sincerely hope I can return). Perhaps by then I will have moved on from Neopets and making layouts. (A friend of mine, after showing him the layouts I made here, said that he would hire me one day as an artist when he finishes his current web design project. So maybe I'll be doing that instead?) Who knows? We'll find out in due time!
Thank you everyone, for everything. My stay has been enjoyable and I think I made the right decision coming back. I wish you all the best of luck with exams, school, college entrance, starting new schools, new careers, new dreams and new endeavours, and the future. You all have my best wishes.
(If any of you want to get a hold of me, I am reachable in the wonderful world of where things tumble. these-intricacies is the name.)
Farewell, and I hope to see you all again.
Best,
Rika
P.S. Until university starts, which is end of February, I'll be putting up some content. Expect PNGs, perhaps premade layouts and resources. All the content will remain here throughout the year, or so long this account exists.
hi there! welcome!
It's a hot day out - care for some ice cream from The Ice Cream Cart?Good day, guest! Welcome to The Ice Cream Cart! We are a humble little site that offers layout requests, all hand-drawn by yours truly, Rika (rikaachu). To your right is my little helper, Rica - you'd probably recognize her as my teahouse waiter! - happy and eager to serve you the best and most satisfying ice cream that, I hope, you will ever have.
22nd February 2012
- 2 layouts added to the portfolio.- Also, I start university next week, so if my library books don't arrive tomorrow (Animal Farm and One Day - yay!) then I will make some premades. If they do, then this will be my last update for a long time. c: I bid thee adieu. :*
20th February 2012
- 1 new premade layout.
16th February 2012
- Progress report on layout: Still drawing.- 1 new trinket; love-themed (unused imagery for a layout).
- Added new section, Typewriter Quotes + Lyrics
15th February 2011
- Updated the navigation.- 7 open/closed request signs.
14th February 2012
- Updates will be concise and to the point, and will serve the sole purpose of informing you of new content.- Recomposed layout so content box is bigger.
resources
conditions of use
1. Don't claim the graphics are yours, redistribute them or steal them.2. Please leave credit; either link it back to my lookup (rikaachu) or back to The Ice Cream Cart.
open/closed signs
- All signs have transparent backgrounds.- Feel free to recolour them to suit your site's colour scheme if necessary (but please remember to leave credit).
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content
- Premade LayoutsPremade layouts for you to use!
- Little Trinkets
Little graphics hand-drawn by yours truly to use!
- Typewriter Quotes and Lyrics
Quotes and lyrics for you to use for any reason - integrating them in your own graphics or showing off your musical taste.
U/C. Check back later.
typewriter lyrics & quotes
conditions of use
1. Don't claim the graphics are yours, redistribute them or steal them.2. Please leave credit; either link it back to my lookup (rikaachu) or back to The Ice Cream Cart.
quotes
U/C. Check back soon.
lyrics
Layout requests will be unavailable until June/July or late November. Thank you.
read first
Read the below first to see if you're interested in my layouts.1. I hand-draw all my layouts. I can use premade imagery, but you must state so in the request form.
2. I do not do linear layouts, unless I supply the imagery and you code it yourself. (Only because I lack the coding knowledge to do such layouts.)
3. You may change the coding to your liking, but that still does not make the layout yours (and therefore, you must still leave credit).
4. Be sure to check out my portfolio to see if you like my style. Tell me your favourite book after you tell me your name to show that you've read all of this. Please bear in mind that I do have a limit in terms of my capabilities!
5. Be aware that you should be prepared to wait for, at the most, three weeks. If any more, I will inform you.
6. You will be neomailed when it is finished and notified of where you can find the layout. I strongly advise that you save the provided coding immediately after seeing it.
the icky but important things called rules
1. Don't steal my layouts, don't claim that the layouts I make are yours -- there won't be any warnings, I'll just simply report.2. It would be preferable - but not absolutely mandatory - that your site is open for, at least, more than a month. However, if you need a layout for opening, then I am willing to help you with that.
3. Please neomail me when you use the layout - I'd love to see it being put to use!
the requesting part
If you are interested in requesting - yippee! - then be prepared to do some things for me to make this much easier for me.
1a. When describing your layout to me, try and give me a detailed description.
The simple reason: I am very indecisive when making things that are not for myself. I want to make a layout that you will like, and I see that being accomplished if you give me a detailed description. (However, bear in mind to allow some freedom in the case of a technicality issue.)
1b. However, if you don't have a detailed image of your future layout in mind...
That's fine! I will do my best to improvise and whip up something to surprise you. Though, if you have any ideas or colours or imagery in mind, do share!
2a. What do I need to describe to you?
- Imagery (main subject matter/main image or setting/place)
- Colour scheme (shades of what colour and warm colours, cool colours, etc.)
- Theme (any word to help you convey what you're picturing - happy, scary, bright, minimalist, etc.)
- Text (title text, subheading text, fonts of title and subheading, any text you want in the layout, etc.)
- Navigation links (what are the links on your navigation? I will most likely to do an image map unless told otherwise.)
- Other (anything else you would like me to know -- extras scrollbars for featured sites or the like, little images for neomails or layout-related imagery scattered around the site -- anything.)
2b. I don't know what I (specifically) want in the layout!
No need to worry! Just tell me as much as you can and I can always bounce ideas off you during the process of making the layout.
3. Custom graphics?
Any sort of graphic/resource that will go with the layout I make you. Custom bullets, neomail resources, open/closed signs -- let me know what you need!
Requests are closed.
Neomail me that form!
Questions you may have
(For questions unrelated to layouts, see the other FAQ.)
I (for whatever reason it may be) don't want to use the layout made - what do I do?
If this is the case, please tell me - I won't be offended. However, if you do not want the layout, then I will, for the sake of being efficient and not wasting it, remove the name of your site and make it a premade so anyone can use it. As for remakes, unfortunately, I will not remake it - as much as I'd love to, it would be unfair to those who are waiting for a layout, since layouts take a long time. However, feel free to request again.
Why must my site be open for at least a month?
Remember, this isn't a fixed rule, but it is something that would be preferable. With your site at least a month old, it's just sort of collateral for me that you're quite serious about your site and that you won't close after a week of using my layout. However, as stated in the above, if you need a layout for opening, I'll be happy to supply you with that.
Does the imagery have to be cartoon-like?
Since my skills are very limited to simple cartoon-like imagery on the tablet, unfortunately the answer is yes. However, if you want me to do some traditional art for your layout - whether it be using colour pencils or grayscale sketching - I'll be more than happy to try that out for you. Just let me know on the request form and we can go from there!
The layout you made for me is slightly different to my description. How come?
Technical difficulties, I expect. If it is too complex, I may simplify it or if it is too simple, I may add some extra detail. If you are unhappy with a part of your layout and want me to remove things (not add, I'm sorry), then let me know and I can fix it for you.
I don't really want a layout for my site, but I have an idea for a layout!
I love hearing ideas - just neomail me and tell me your idea!
Do you make layouts for about me pages or guild pages?
Of course! So long as you follow all the rules and have read them and follow them, then I see no problem. c: I don't make layouts for userlookups or shops - simply because I don't know how to. D:
Got a question? Let me know.
portfolio
Newest to oldest. Drag for full-size.
For Quinn at Flowerbomb
For Chelsea at Short and Sweet
For Suh at Ayuda
For Macie at The Escapist
For Kuro at The Digital World
For Ari's Portfolio
For Maddie at The Music Book
For Spencer at Interlude
For Cookies at Celestality
For Tina at Oriental
For my old review site, The Teahouse
Return to Resources | Proceed to Extras
trinkets!
conditions of use
1. Don't claim the graphics are yours, redistribute them or steal them.2. Please leave credit; either link it back to my lookup (rikaachu) or back to The Ice Cream Cart.
3. Do not use them in your own graphics (without my permission).
nova pops!
(Hover for the name of the item!)
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faerie foods
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love-themed
the extras
- Behind TICCInterested in a little site history? Have a little read of the story behind The Ice Cream Cart!
- Rika's Page of Pointnessless (external link)
The name says it all!
link back, if you want
questions you might ask
How long will The Ice Cream Cart be open for?Anytime between opening and when the semester starts, which is late February. I may leave it open during the semester and make layouts a little side/weekend project, but we'll see how it goes.
Are you going to be doing this every holiday?
It would depend on the holiday.
Why did you come back?
I had hopes that I would dedicate my holiday time to some volunteer work; I've applied for volunteer positions IRL and have yet to hear an answer because of the holiday period. As I have not heard an answer, my days are spent reading, playing video games and being absolutely bored. So I thought I'd busy myself.
Can you review me?
Drop me a neomail and have a go at asking - it'll depend on the time I have however.
Got a question? Let me know.
little nick-knacks for safe keeping
credits
- Layout drawn and created by me, Rika (rikaachu).- Background from Teacake Backgrounds, recoloured by Rika.
a little history
I think a good question one might ask is why The Teahouse is no longer The Teahouse and is now called The Ice Cream Cart.For those of you who are not familiar with The Teahouse, it was a review site which I had during mid 2010 to mid 2011 - it was a little under a year old - and it was, without a doubt, my pride and joy. I loved reviewing and I loved helping people. My time with The Teahouse was very successful and I do not regret all the things I did, no matter how over the top and crazy they were. I closed because of some real-life happenings. I don't regret closing either.
I came back out of boredom and Neopets has always, undeniably, been my outlet of creativity -- and I can help people with what I make.
More importantly, the reason why I decided to change the theme was because I felt that it seemed wrong to have The Teahouse, which was always a review site and always associated with reviews, to become a layout-request site. It just felt wrong to me.
I chose The Ice Cream Cart because I wanted to dedicate this theme to my old friend and my probably best neofriend (ever), Evan (aloveletter). Nothing has happened to her - she is probably doing amazing in university and has moved on from Neopets. But in late 2010, she and I were talking about her then theoretical review site, Esteem, which still exists though it is long inactive. We were talking about what theme she could go with, and she had this idea of having an ice cream shop which would go perfectly with The Teahouse. She decided, at the end, to go with a no-theme review site, hence Esteem, but the idea of an ice cream shop never left me. And so I'm dedicating this layout to her, because she is wonderful and even though I'll never meet her, I'll never forget her. c':
And that's pretty much it! Thanks for reading! :D
premade layouts
conditions of use
1. Don't claim the layouts are yours, redistribute them or steal them.2. Please leave credit; there should be a visible link to my lookup (rikaachu) or back to The Ice Cream Cart.
3. You may edit the layouts to your liking but credit is still required.
the layouts!
