Tutorials Recently Added

In my continual effort to learn more about blogging and how to work with my own blog template, I am always in search for good, relevant tutorials. Here are some that I found (and added to the Tutorials page) over the last couple of weeks that I either used myself or thought would benefit those stopping by here.

• Dummies Guide to Blogging showed me to add space between pictures or text without using the spacebar (which is usually ineffective).

• Adori Graphics shared about the easy edit feature (I knew this one, and use it often). Also, she taught me how to removed the "posted by" line at the bottom of a post.

• Moxie Design Studios posted on the difference between tags and categories and how to make use of them both.

• I discovered a great place for video tutorials, for all those visual learners out there. Magic With Blogs shares how to do many different things, showing step by step via a video.

• Search for Blogging shows step-by-step how to create your own custom Twitter background.

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Would you like to enter to win a free custom blog design? Head over the the Giveaways page to see which designers are doing giveaways and where to enter.

Designer Showcase: Lemon Cherry Blogs

The designer being showcased today is Lemon Cherry Blogs. Katie Lane is the designer there and does a wonderful job creating custom looks for each of her clients. In addition to Lemon Cherry Blogs, she is co-owner of {Insert Self} a design site for logo, website or business blog designs. Phew! She is one talented, busy lady!

Below are some of her more recent designs from Lemon Cherry Blog Designs. Traveling the Blogsphere is her most recent design and I agree that it is awesome!




Lemon Cherry Blogs offers very affordable two design packages for the Blogger platform, as well as some a la cart items. She works in other platforms, but works by the hour for those instead.

To share her recent designs and offer blogging and design tips, Katie has a blog Lemon Cherry Blog. She also has a personal blog, Sunshine and Bubblegum, which is lively and fun. Stop by if you have a chance.

If you are looking to spruce up your blog design, head over to Lemon Cherry Blogs. Katie will give your blog a "freshly squeezed" design to suit you!

Restarting Designer Showcases

Tomorrow I will restart my designer showcase series, where once a week I feature a blog designer who offers custom blog designs. I used to do these, but when my dad was ill and passed away I got off track.

I will try my best to do features when that designer has their queue open so if readers see a designer and want to work with them, they won't have to wait and watch for the queue to open.

Readers, if I feature a designer who has done your blog design, please leave a comment so we can all stop over and see their work and, of course, leave some comment love for you.

Designers, don't worry if you don't see your site featured right away. I have a schedule for the showcases and I will get to you.

Beautiful Blog Series: Mulberry Spot

This week's beautiful blog is Mulberry Spot. The blog is owned by Hannah, a mom of three young children and she writes about gardening, sewing, cooking and homeschooling.


I chose Mulberry Spot to show how by simply having a beautiful, well designed header for your blog can change a blog from bland to beautiful. She uses a white background which really makes her header pop, as well as lovely pictures of her sewing and gardening projects. Her sidebar is tidy and not distracting; overall a beautiful blog!

Hannah, congratulations on having a beautiful blog! If you would like to share this feature with others, here is a button for you.

<a href="http://beautifulblogdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc341/saludamom/bbdfeaturebutton1.jpg"/></a>

Free Custom Blog Designs

Would you like a custom blog design but just can't afford one right now? I found one great designer who offers custom blog designs for free! Adori Graphics is run by Louise, a wonderful lady who has a heart for service. She started out designing blogs for people who were using their blog as a journal, therapy for problems they were dealing with. Now she has branched out and designs for anyone.

Here are just a few of her beautiful designs:





Adori Graphics also offers some lovely, unique, FREE backgrounds with matching headers which you can customize (or maybe she can do that for you also). Those are wonderful for those wanting to change their design immediately and not wait for a personal design.

And, while you are there, check out her great tutorials! Louise really has a heart for others, and is so generous in all she offers! If you would like a free custom blog design, you had better hurry because her queue is just about full! If you go there and her wait list is full, become a follower so you can find out when she has openings.

Also, if you are a designer-in-training, know a good bit about PhotoShop and HTML, Louise is looking for someone to work with her. Obviously there is no pay, but what a great way to get on-the-job training!

Beautiful Blogs Series: Creative Organization

The beautiful blog I am sharing this week is Creative Organization, a blog that provides organizational tools that are both creative and functional. She has such helpful tips that she has been featured on Tip Junkie! You can tell her passion for organization flows over to her blog, as it is well designed and well organized.

Creative Organization is owned and run by Carla, a mom of two and part-time substitute teacher. I love how the blog design is based off a piece of paper and only uses some colorful, modern flowers as embellishment. She has kept her side bars tidy, but still has some fun, like adding a clock in the shape of a slice of lemon (and coordinates with her blog design perfectly).

The designer who created Carla's blog design is Designer Blogs by Erin. I simply love Erin's work! Her designs are always crisp and clean, yet beautiful!

Carla, I love your blog and I know others do also! Here is a button if you would like to share your feature on your blog, either in a post or on your side bar.

<a href="http://beautifulblogdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc341/saludamom/bbdfeaturebutton1.jpg"/></a>

Designer Sales

Designer Blogs by Erin is having a summer sale for 10% off any orders, including their gorgeous premades! Erin often has an full queue so get on her list before all the spots are full!

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Designed by Leslie is having a sale to celebrate having completed 20 blog designs in a month (that is an accomplishment!). She is offering 10% off of any orders submitted in July.

Leslie will be teaching for the first time next year and she will use money earned from her blog design business to help buy supplies for her classroom; a very worthy cause!

New Design Reveal and a Giveaway!

My personal blog, Moving Forward, turned one over the weekend and to celebrate I had Summer design a new look for me. I am thrilled with it (of course - she is so talented!) and wanted to share it with my friends here at BBD.

What the new design has:

1. Lots of white space, loads quickly
2. Clean lines, cheerful colors and simple design
3. A navigation bar to help me keep things organized
4. Wide post sections so pictures I share from my Nikon d60 can be larger
   

Now, to celebrate I am giving away $15 towards any design elements or custom design at Designs by Summer. You are welcome to head over there and participate in the giveaway also. It ends July 17th, so don't delay. Please note that you need to enter there, not here.

Beautiful Blogs Series: Poca Cosas

This week's beautiful blog is Poca Cosas, a charming and elegant blog about design and entertaining. Susan, the owner of the blog, is a residential designer and does a wonderful job of inspiring her readers with tasteful and elegant design ideas and tips.

The designer who created such a unique look for Susan is Shannon at Eightcrazy Design. I love, love the mix of colors used on Poca Cosas's design! Also, I love how she made unequal, well defined sidebar sections, a little one just about Susan and then a larger one down below. And, what helps keep the design beautiful is that Susan has kept her sidebars neat and tidy, without a lot of clutter, something I strive for myself.


So if you are looking to be inspired, travel over the Poca Cosas and take a look. It is definitely a blog design that is a little different, but a little bit the same and packaged just perfectly!

Susan, you have a gorgeous blog and if you would like to share the recognition from BBD, here is a button to use in a post or on your sidebar.

<a href="http://beautifulblogdesigns.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc341/saludamom/bbdfeaturebutton1.jpg"/></a>

Giveaways Happening This Week

Here are the giveaways happening this week (for those following and don't come to the blog often):

Karrie at A Fistful of Coupons is giving away a custom blog header. Giveaway ends July 10th.
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Sweet Cheeky Designs is celebrating its first birthday by giving away TWO custom blog designs! Giveaway ends July 9th.

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The Design Girl is giving away one premade blog design each week during the month of July.

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Hilary at Scrapblog Designs is giving away a custom design. Go to Little Bites of Heaven to enter. Giveaway ends July 10th.

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Restored 316 Designs is giving away a beautiful premade template. Giveaway ends July 31st.

Beautiful Blogs Series: The Hinton Home

Welcome to the first post in my Beautiful Blogs series, where once each week I feature an amateur blog with a particularly attractive blog design. This week I am starting off with The Hinton Home. I recently stumbled on to Rachel's blog and thought the design was so beautiful yet simple, that I just had to share it first. The design was created by Kelly at Fabulous K Creative, and she should be very proud!

One of the things I love most about the design is the mix of block and handwritten fonts, and how two colors were used. It created a great contrast without being too busy. And, I adore the vine that weaves through the header and is used as post dividers. The background is white, so not too busy or overwhelming and it is quick to load (a big deal when people are surfing).

While Kelly, at Fabulous K Creative created a wonderful design, Rachel, the blog owner, has done a nice job of keeping her sidebars clean and uncluttered, with just the right amount of text and buttons, which keeps her readers happy and coming back.

If you have a moment, stop by The Hinton Home and look around (don't forget to leave a comment). Her design is so lovely, it might inspire you to try something new!

New Series: Beautiful Blogs

I have been trying to think of something new to offer on BBD, besides announcing blog design giveaways or providing tutorials and designer showcases (which will begin again soon). Well, today I had a revelation; why not start a series where I showcase a "mom blogger"* with a beautiful blog design!

Once a week, on Mondays, I will feature a blog which I think is particularly attractive, both in design and function. Screen shots will be provided as well as a link to their blog and their blog designer. Here are some of the things I look at when deciding who to feature:

1. Is their design pleasing to the eye?
2. Does it load quickly?
3. Are their sidebars uncluttered and organized?
4. Is the blog well designed and user friendly?
5. Is the blog up-to-date? (I will not feature a blog that is idle)

I have bookmarked many already, so I have enough to do several weeks worth of showcases, but I would love to hear from you also. If you know of a blogger who has a beautiful design, please let me know, either in a comment or via email (on left sidebar)

This series will begin Monday, July 6th so stay tuned!

Attention Blog Designers! If you have a blog or two which you are very proud of, please email me the link(s) and I will include them in my list to showcase.

* The blogger does not have to be a mother, but a woman who is an amateur blogger, not a professional.

Winner of the Custom Twitter Design

Congratulations to Rachelle at Mommy I'm Hungry! She is the winner of the custom Twitter design from Delicious Designs by Trista. I can't wait to see what Trista creates for her.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway and I sorry I couldn't have all of you win. Even though you didn't win a free design, I highly recommend hiring Trista to design a custom Twitter page for you. You won't be disappointed.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

46 

Timestamp: 2009-07-02 11:59:03 UTC