Freebies From Professionals

Typically Beautiful Blog Designs only features bloggers and designers who are woman, and not considered "big dog" professionals. I have steered clear of listing free Blogger templates or Wordpress themes from huge, professional sites because I wanted those who come here (mostly women) to be able to relate to the designers I focus on and to help out those women trying to make extra income, working from home.

Well, I decided that I would have at lease one post listing professional sites that offer attractive, free templates or themes so that those utilizing this site can decide on their own whether to use them or not.

Free Blogger Templates

• bTemplates
  
• Blogger Buster
• BloggerStyles 
• Blogger Templates Free
• eBlog Templates
• Gecko & Fly
• Mashable

Free Wordpress Themes

• Blog Oh Blog
• CrazyLeaf Design Blog 
• Free Theme Layouts
• Free Themes 
• Fresheezy
• Smashing Magazine
• Theme Splice
• Top Wordpress Themes
• Wordpress Templates

I am sure this list will continue to grow, but I thought it was a good starting point. If you know of another place for free templates or themes, please let me know in a comment.

Don't forget that I have listed free Blogger templates and Wordpress themes made by work-at-home women (mostly moms) in this post.

Free Blog Designs - Template-Mama

I want to introduce you to a wonderful site to find free blog templates. Template-Mama is a blog that provides many, many unique and custom-like designs. These templates have more design elements than many of the free templates available at other designers' sites.

Template-Mama kind of stumbled into blog design. To tweak her own blog, she started to learn HTML code and it just took off from there. She creates Blogger templates as a hobby, for her own enjoyment, but it has pleased her that others have enjoyed them also. She does not expect payment for any of her templates, but if you use a template, I encourage you to donate what you can to help cover her cost of PhotoShop upgrades.

She has more than 80 different templates to choose from and here are just a few of my favorites from her selection:




In addition to the beautiful, free templates, she also write tutorials (click on "tips" in her label cloud) and provides links to other sites with free templates.

Template-Mama, you are very talented and very generous to donate your time to help others. I can't wait to see your future designs, because you keep getting better and better!

Here is a button for you to post on your blog 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>

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!

More Unbelievable FREE Designs!

I have twice before posted about this designer, but because of the service she does for the blogging community, she will be mentioned again and again. Lena Toews, who runs Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates, creates amazingly beautiful blog templates for the public to download - absolutely FREE! She has already has a huge number of designs available, but she has recently added even more.

When I first wanted to graduate from the generic templates Blogger provides, Lena's site is where I went. I was tickled to get such a pretty design for free. I did have to learn the in's and out's of changing my template, but her tutorials are very good and got me through.

Anyway, here are a few of her recent designs:




Aren't they awesome? To see more, scoot over to her site and search by date or by theme. You won't be disappointed. I outfitted my test blog with one of the new designs, and I love it so much I want to make another blog just to use it.

If you take a look at my test blog, notice the blog title font. If you download a free template, yours won't look like that, rather it will have plain, block text. I customized mine using PhotoShop Elements. Lena has a tutorial on how to customize your header, and if you don't have a photo editing program, you can download Paint for free.

If that seems too complicated for you, leave a comment here that you would like your header customized and I will do it for you - free. I need to know which template you are using, your blog title and tag line (if you have one). The only thing I ask in return is that you put my button in your side bar.

New Free and Premade Templates

Lena at Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates has released some more beautiful, completely free templates. Simply to go her site and follow the instructions. Here are a couple I think are especially lovely.

**************************************************

LeeLou Blogs has come out with a few more beautiful premade templates and the cost is only $15. Below are just a couple of the new premades they designed. Click on one of the templates to see all the new premades.



Also, LeeLou has added MANY new free layouts which you can view here.

**************************************************

Special Note: Blogger made some changes that have caused many designer's templates to be problematic when uploading. LeeLou believes that she has found a fix for the problem, in regards to her templates and the fix may work for other designer's templates as well. It is worth a try.

Check out this post and make the changes she recommends. This fix is for those who have been using free templates already and those trying to upload now. Hopefully it will get your template working for you.

Designer Showcase: Smitten Blog Designs

The designer being showcased today is Smitten Blog Designs. This studio is run by Oregon neighbors Kate and Heather and opened for business in August 2008. They design free, modern and original templates to liven up your blog. They have produced several templates that are sold for $10 or less (an incredible deal!) as well as adorable free templates.

They have a nice variety of premade templates for sale, but they are all "limited editions." Once a design has been purchased a certain number of times, Smitten Blog Designs retires it so that the templates aren't overused. So, if you see something you like, don't wait till later because it may not be there. And, to help their clients with the installation and other blog questions, they provide a wonderfully detailed tutorial.

Here are just a couple of their limited edition premade blog templates.



In addition to the premade templates, they have an extensive gallery of free templates. And, right now they have adorable Valentine's templates (which also work nicely for marriage/relationship blogs).



Now, if you don't see just what you want among their free and premade templates, Smitten Blog Designs can make you a custom design for your blog for just $30! That is an incredible value!

If you do use one of their free or premade blog templates, don't forget to add one of their beautiful buttons to your sidebar to show your appreciation for their work.

If you are already using one of their templates, please leave a comment so I can go visit and admire your beautiful blog.

Free Valentines Templates and Backgrounds

If you like your blog to change for seasons and holidays, there are some beautiful and creative templates and backgrounds available.

Lena at Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates just made four free Valentine's Day templates available. Below are two of that I think are just lovely and would work well for marriage or relationship blogs! The titles on the templates are her name for the design, and your blog title will replace it once you have installed the templates (she has an awesome tutorial on how to install your template - REMEMBER to backup your blog before changing anything!).

Want to spice up your blog for Valentine's Day but don't have time to save and replace widget's and other sidebar items? Well, blog backgrounds are the way to go and Izzie Grace Blog Backgrounds has created several new Valentine's backgrounds that are so cute! Below is just one of the twelve "love" backgrounds she has available.

LeeLou Blog Designs has created a free Valentine's desktop (below) which is just adorable! Also, they created some sweet buttons you can add to your sidebar or post on the special "love" day, February 14th.

If these tips and links help you, I would love to hear from you! Comments are the best way to show bloggers some love!

Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates

If you want a huge selection of gorgeous FREE templates go to Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates. The designer there is Lena Toews and she has shared many, many incredible templates for you to use, 100% free of charge. You simply browse through the categories and pick out the one you want. She has also provided a wonderful tutorial on how to change your own templates.

After looking out on the Internet for quality blogger templates, she decided to start making her own templates in her free time. Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates has a simple goal: to create beautiful, stylish, free and functional templates for those using the new blogger beta. If you are after a more original design, she also makes inexpensive custom blogger designs.

When I wanted to change from my plain Blogger template, her site was the one I went to. There were so many beautiful templates, it was hard to choose just one. Following her excellent directions I had the template loaded in less than 5 minutes.

Here as some examples of her free templates:

If you are looking to upgrade your template, but don't have the money right now for a custom one, shoot over to Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates. Lena is sure to have one that is just right for you.

Free Templates

The following designers have free templates available for download. Many of them have helpful tutorials on how to load the template to your blog.

Please note that I have found some of the templates do not work. If you repeatedly have trouble, I recommend finding a different one instead of fighting to make that one work.

Free Blogger Templates:

• Adori Graphics
• April Showers
  
• Better in Pink
• Blog Designs by Sheila
  
• Blog Designs Free
• Blogger FAQS
• Blogger University
• Butterflygirlms Blog Designs
  
• Candy's Free Designer Templates
• Dawn Farias (Free Headers)
  
• Emily June
• Izzy Grace Blog Backgrounds
• Key Lime Blog Design
• J.J. Diaz Designs
• Made by Madeline
• Mckenna Dawn Blogs
• Rainy Day Blog Design
• Real Life Designs
• Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates
• Smitten Blog Designs
• Split Decisionz
• Template Mama  (Closed for now)
• The Posh Box Blog Design Studio
• Twispired Blog Design
  
• Yummy Lolly

Free Wordpress Themes:

• Creative Girl Studio
• Dress My Blog
• EZwpthemes