Thursday, January 22, 2009

About Beautiful Blog Designs

Please read this post to see the changes made recently for bloggers and designers.


What is Beautiful Blog Designs?


Beautiful Blog Designs is a blog dedicated to helping bloggers find free and premade blog templates, as well as showcase the many talented female blog designers. Most of the designers listed here are work-at-home moms who design blogs as a way to bring in extra income for their family. Beautiful Blog Designs is more than just a list of designers, though. Read this post to see all the BBD has to offer.

I do not receive any compensation from any designers or bloggers for featuring their blogs or advertising sales and giveaways. Nor do I receive free designs for this blog or my personal blog, Moving Forward. When I recommend a designer in a post or by use of their button in my sidebar it is because I think they are talented and have a great service to offer.

Giveaways offered here are almost always purchased by me, out of my own pocket. Why? Because they are fun and I truly enjoy helping others. Occasionally a designer will ask me to host a giveaway, and I am always clear that it is coming from them, not me.

How did Beautiful Blog Designs get started?

My name is Amanda and I have been blogging since August, 2008. I was quite satisfied with my generic Blogger template for the first few months until I really started visiting other blogs. I was amazed by the beautiful blog templates and wanted one for myself. After much searching, I discovered Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates and gave my personal blog, Moving Forward, a free facelift. After a while I upgraded to a custom design by Designs by Summer.

Each time I visited a blog, I was very intrigued by their blog design, checking out the designer who created it. Sometimes I found free templates provided by the designer, sometimes premade. I was bookmarking so many, I thought I would start a blog to help other new bloggers find a way to beautify their blog, either with a free template or by purchasing a premade or custom design. Thus Beautiful Blog Designs was born (with a free template from Made by Madeline).

As for the design of BBD, the current design was created by Designer Blogs. Previously I have worked with Designs by Summer for header and custom navigation bar. I highly recommend both designers!

Who is Amanda?

I am a homeschooling, work-at-home mom of four children, ages 11 to 4. I live in rural SC and take pictures of my kids and cows. For the past three and a half years I have been a consultant and supervisor for Usborne Books. How I find time to blog, I do not know.

I enjoy helping others and that is what BBD is all about.






Let others know about BBD with this button:

If you benefit from this blog by finding a free or premade design you like, or find a designer you want to work with, please let others know how you found it by using the button below for a few days after installation. Or, if you think this site is just too darn neat and want to shout if from the roof tops, add this button to your sidebar.



















Get your own free Blogoversary button!

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Amanda, I hope you'd find me and my templates good enough to get included on this blog. Have a look and decide...

My blog where I play with Blogger and help others:

http://bloggerfaqs.blogspot.com/

My templates for Blogger:

http://bloggerfaqs.blogspot.com/search/label/Blogger%20XML%20Templates

Jenny said...

Hi Amanda!
Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog (http://simplydelightfulblogdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/free-background-pink-rose-dots-3-col.html)
I have changed a lot about my site since the last time you visited! I would love to do a giveaway on your site, which I absolutely am in love with!!! You can email me at simplydelightfulblogs at gmail dot com to discuss options! I look forward to hearing from you!

Anonymous said...

Hi
I came across your blog and thought I would pass on the information of Blogs for a Cause, my daughter designs blogs and charges a small fee which goes to a charity and for her missionary work in Africa, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
http://madebynikki.blogspot.com/
She has a September special on now.

Lena said...

Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for telling others about me! This is the first time I came across your site. I took at your moving forward blog and read about the loss of your daughter- and I wanted to thank you for sharing. I too have experienced quite a bit of loss and it just never gets any easier.

I think this site is awesome! it is a nice way to compile blog designers and templates all in one place! great idea!

I am definietly going to link to your site on my personal blog!

Lena Toews
http://www.simplyfabulousbloggertemplates.com/

Ellie said...

Hi Amanda! =)

I'm not sure how I came across your delightful little clearinghouse of blog design, but I thought I'd say hello. I actually have a humble little blog shop of my own called Rainy Day Templates. I'm not sure what the protocol is to be rewarded with a listing on your site, but I'd be happy to offer my services as a guest blogger, if that'll increase my chances.

At any rate, it's brilliant that you're providing so much information to your readers about Blogger, through the tutorials and tips and what not. An informed blogger is a much happier blogger indeed.

Anyway, keep up the fun and prettiness. =)

Best,
Ellie Moore

Paksya said...

good content of your blog...
http://www.blog-virtualspace.blogspot.com

Celeste said...

Hi Amanda! Came across your blog and it's wonderful! I get so inspired by seeing fellow designers' work and to come here and have a huge list is fabulous. I would love to be included in your list! You can find me at http://lolatinidesignstudio.blogspot.com

I would love to offer a a design giveaway to your readers. Thank you!

Cheers!

Rachel said...

What a great idea for a site! I just started designing with a friend and would love to be added to your list!

www.rvblogdesigns.com

Nancy said...

Hi Amanda: This blog is the greatest help I've ever seen in my bid to be a blogger.
I have been unable to put any "pretty" into or on or around my blog. It is just alot of writing with nothing interesting to catch your eye....simply because I didn't know how to do that!
I looked at other blogs and drooled because they presented so well like Monda's "Fresh Ribbon" and all her other categories...fantastic!
So,Amanda, Something is wrong with importing free backgrounds into my blog. I have a goggle blog. When I get to the "use other gadget" place and paste the info into the URL box it tells me that I have "a dysfunctional URL"??? I cut and pasted the whole thing in? Perhaps you can clue me as to the problem? I would truly appreciate it!
Thanks so much, Amamda!

If this isn't the right place for this let me know. thks again!

Im nanceport120@yahoo.com

Key Lime said...

I love using your blog! It is super helpful! I have a newly started design blog(free backgrounds and pre-made templates). I would love if you would take a look at it and see if its a blog you would like to add to your list! Thanks so much!
www.keylimedesigns.blogspot.com

Shan G said...

Hi,

I am a new designer for both WP and Blogger. I am also a blogger. Would it be possible to get on this list as well?

Erin said...

Hi Amanda!

I just recently started my blog using a free template I found (www.funwithfreebies.com). I love the design but the side bar needs to re-coded to allow for widgets. Do you know of anyone that could help me with that for free? I am just getting started and appreciate any help I can get!
Thanks,
Erin

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