Makin' Cute Blogs

The Ugliest Blog Contest & Giveaway from Lady Jane Designs

Carolynn — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:28:12 +0000

To celebrate 2012 Lady Jane Designs has decided to throw an ugliest blog contest. If you want to start the year off right with a custom design that is as unique as you and your blog then the giveaway is perfect. Your blog does not have to be ugly for you to enter your blog just needs to be in need of a makeover. How this giveaway works, below you will see Rafflecopter entry form. In order for you to be entered into the giveaway you need to sign up for Lady Jane Designs Newsletter. There are also additional ways that you can earn entries. The Giveaway will end on February 1st 2012. At which time five finalists will be randomly chosen. I will then feature the five finalist and and allow for readers to vote on who they believe deserves the custom blog makeover the most. Voting will end February 12th and a winner will be chosen by the number of votes they receive.

Featured on FPTFY, NEW Shop, and a new Freebie!

Carolynn — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:10:54 +0000

There are a lot of things going on up in here today :) #1: I did a guest post over at Free Pretty Things for You! I did a Tutorial on how to add tape strips to your images using Pixlr.com, so go check it out!

#2: I have a NEW shop! Not everything is uploaded yet, and the design is not finished yet, but it works a lot better than the old place. So check that out here.

Lastly: With the release of the new shop, I made one of my Seamless Pattern/ Paper packs into a freebie! So now you can get all 4 “Grid Paper” Seamless Patterns and Papers for free! Click here to get it! BTW, it is Free for Personal & Commercial Use too!!!

What’s happening in 2012?

Carolynn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:22:24 +0000

I am so excited about 2012! I always love the new year, I love setting goals, and just getting myself pulled back together. It seems like the new year comes with a new sense of self and motivation. I hope that everyone is on track with their New Year’s Resolutions. I have a lot planned this year for Makin’ Cute Blogs, and other projects, so I thought it would be a good time to give you a sneak peek of what I am working on!

1. I am working on a complete overhaul of the Design Shop, not only will it be BETTER, but it will also include new contributors! Which means that I will be offering lots more stuff. So while I make you wait for the changes, EVERYTHING in my shop is 40% off through Jan. 6th!! This includes the DIY Blog Design Course, which makes it only $59.40!! All you have to do, is sign up, and your coupon will be there for you to use.

2. I am working on a new DIY Blog Design Course, this time it is for WordPress!! I Hope to have it finished within the month.

3. Speaking of WordPress, there are a lot of people making the switch, so I will be trying to make a lot more tutorials using WordPress. Don’t worry, I will continue to add Blogger tutorials too! If you would like to request a tutorial for the new year, Blogger or WordPress, request it here.

4. Lastly, but definitely NOT least, I am working on a BRAND spankin’ new website! I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. It has been one of those things that I have been day dreaming about doing for a long time, so it really fun to be able to put it together. I really wanted to have it done and posted by January 1st, but what can you do, it is not quite there yet. I won’t tell you what it is yet (…it’s a secret), but you will be happy to know that EVERYTHING will be FREE!!! That is the only hint you get :)

A look back at 2011!

Carolynn — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:38:40 +0000

There are many things that made 2011 a great year!

First off: You guys! I am so thrilled to report that Makin Cute Blogs’ stats have improve by 10 TIMES since last year at the same time!! Last year we were seeing approximately 71 visitors per day, this last week, we have averaged over 700 visitors per day!! I can’t thank you enough for your support, and I hope that we can continue to grow and make this blog even better.

Second: We have added so many great tutorials and articles. I wanted to put together a quick recap of last year’s tutorials, just in case you missed any of them.

Thanks for making my 2011 a wonderful year! You are the best readers ever!

Priceless Design Studio: Grand Opening & Giveaway!

Carolynn — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:56:49 +0000

I have been in touch with Katie for a little while before her Grand Opening, and let me say that I am very impressed with her work! With no further ado…. Meet my friend Katie from Priceless Design Studio!

Hi! My name is Katie Price and I am so excited to announce the Grand Opening of my new custom blog design business: Priceless Design Studio. Between now and January 5th, visitors who order a custom blog design package will receive $25 dollars off their bill. In addition to the grand opening sale, I am also giving one lucky blogger a FREE Custom Blog Makeover, worth $125! If you order a blog during the sale and also win the giveaway, I will refund your deposit and throw in a $25 gift certificate for you to give a friend towards a custom blog makeover of their own. Click here to enter!

Check out some of my most recent work!

Blog Designer Spotlight: A Mommy’s Blog Design Studio

Carolynn — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:34:23 +0000

April has been a sponsor of Makin’ Cute Blogs for a while. She is so sweet, I have enjoyed being able to get to know her! Even if you aren’t looking for a blog design, her blog is definitely worth the visit. I pop over there occasionally, and she always has useful articles and tutorials for any blogger. Check out her site here.

Q: What platforms do you design for?

A: I currently design for Blogger.com but in January we will be offering designs for WordPress as well so keep an eye out.

Pricing starts at… Custom designs start at $150 but you do get a lot for that price. Come take a look. I also have some premades available starting at $60.

Special Offer for Makin’ Cute Blog readers…

A: I do reward my clients for their time. If you create a post about your upcoming blog design created by A Mommy’s Blog Design Studio (with a link to our site) we will give you $15 off your new custom blog design order or $10 off a premdae blog design. This offer is currently for Blogger.com designs only.

Q: What is your design Style?

A: I specialize in mommy, girly, and illustrated designs either for personal or for your business blogs.

Q: Tell us a little background about your business…

A: I’ve always enjoyed creating and designing things from baby blankets to little girl tutus. I fell in love with blogging in 2008 and hired someone to design my blog. I enjoyed tweaking and designing my own blog so I took some classes. Then I started designing blogs in 2010.

Q: What sets you apart from other designers?

A: I enjoy working with my clients and when we put our heads together we come up with great ideas! Blog designing fits all of my best traits. I pay attention to every detail and can get as creative as I want.

Design by A Mommy’s Blog Design Client Testimonials:

“I would like to thank April from A Mommy’s Blog Design Studio for the amazing transformation. My experience with April was comfortable and easy. I was worried on how the first draft would look. I’m not the best at explaining what I want, but April got it almost 100% the first time. A few minor tweaks and she came up with what you see! It was so much easier then what I was expecting, and I felt surprisingly at ease throughout the whole process.”- Randa from http://www.thebewitchinkitchen.com/
“It makes me really happy to see this space now. I have to give April all the credit for its look, as I only gave her a vague description of what I wanted. Me? Indecisive? Never! Her prices were really reasonable, some of the best I found. She even offers a discount for posting about your upcoming blog design. April was easy to work with and put up with my craziness. (I just had to have glasses on the big boys, is one example. lol) Plus she’s fast.”- Stacie from http://www.stacieslife.com/
“I’m sure by now you’ve all noticed my gorgeous blog design. It’s time to give credit to the person who designed, created and installed my beautiful new look- April at a Mommy’s Blog Design Studio. April can do it all- from custom blog design to all the “little” things that are so tricky to do on your own (like creating advertising space, making custom post headers and signatures, installing meta tags and even feeding posts to your facebook account). Every blogger needs someone like April on speed-email. She’s very creative, responds quickly to inquiries and is oh so good at what she does.”Kate from http://www.cozyupblog.com/

Check out some of April’s Work!

WordPress 101

Carolynn — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:20:56 +0000

Okay, so I have been getting LOTS of email and questions about WordPress lately, and I ran across an AWESOME deal over at WP101! It is only $19 for a LIFETIME subscriptions to their training videos. I just ran across the deal, and I have no clue how long it is going to last, so take advantage of it! Click on the image below to check it out.

If you are brand new to WordPress, or if you are looking to make the switch, I highly recommend checking this out.

Blog Designer Spotlight: Design By Thauna

Carolynn — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:49:12 +0000

I have recently gotten to know Thauna a little bit from the Blog Designer Network. Every conversation that I have had with her, she has a very kind, and helpful! Turns out, that she even lives only about an hour from me, totally small world we live in. I am sure that she would be a pleasure to work with. Click here to visit her site.

Q: What platforms do you design for?

A: I design exclusively with the WordPress Genesis Framework. Recently my Blogger to WordPress Migration + Basic Theme Customization package has been very popular.

Pricing starts at… $200

Q: What is your design Style?

A: My style is clean and bold; fun and whimsical. But ultimate goal is showcase your style. I do both personal and professional sites.

Q: How long have you been designing blogs?

A: I have been designing sites with the WordPress Genesis Framework for a little over a year. Before that I dabbled some in Blogger, but now I’m a 100% WordPress addict.

Q: Tell us a little background about your business…

A: I have been a Web Designer in the corporate world for almost 4 years. Blogging and designing my own blogs started as a hobby. Once I moved to WordPress and found the Genesis Framework, I was hooked. I started dabbling a bit and have now expanded my business and reduced my “real job” hours to part-time. I feel blessed to be able to do something that I’m passionate about and I get to work with amazing clients.

Q: What sets you apart from other designers?

A: I will truly get excited about your project. It’s important to me to give my clients a space that they love and are proud of.

Design by Thauna’s Client Testimonials:

Angelina: “Thauna is one of those people who is ALL professional but yet personal at the SAME time… She works effortlessly to make your vision come to life, while sharing her insight and knowledge with you but leaving you with the control and power over your vision.”
Holly: “I’ve enjoyed working with Thauna, from Designs by Thauna. She was incredibly professional, thorough, and assisted me with all of the necessary changes I needed to make my blogsite what I wanted it to be. No question was left unanswered and she always provided great detail when explaining how each function of WordPress worked. I’d work with her again, in a heartbeat. I was very new to the blogging world and Thauna was the perfect designer to help make this transition not only painless, but enjoyable. I look forward to updating my blogsite and I’m not afraid to ask her questions. I know she’ll always be there for me.”
Pam: “I am very happy that I chose Thauna to design my website. She was creative, professional, and patient every step of the way. I was apprehensive about the process because I’m not at all tech savvy, but Thauna streamlined everything and made it all very easy to understand. I’ve received many compliments from people who visit my site, and I’m thrilled with the final product! I will definitely use Thauna for all of my future website needs.”

Check out some of Thauna’s Work!

A new blog for the New Year!!

Carolynn — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:34:58 +0000

So over the last 6 months or so, I have purposely taken on less Blog Design work, why? Because I really needed the time to get my Local Business (I own a small local graphic design business) up and running. Now that I am settled in and have a good idea of my schedule, I have decided that for beginning in January I want to get back in to the Blog Design business!! I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. The main thing that I have been doing for the past six months is working on totally “boring”, non-girly stuff! As fun as it is to design for the local dentist in town (I really like doing that too!), I just really miss my girly side!

Soooo…. to kick off the new year, I have done 2 things.

1. I have dropped my prices :)

2. On top of the new prices, I am going to be offering these awesome discounts all the way until the new year!! These sales are good for ANY of my Design Services. *Discounts will be applied to your FINAL invoice, not your deposit.

I only offer 2 packages for blog design, but when you click on the package, there are plenty of add-ons, so you can customize your package to fit your needs!

If my packages and pricing do not fit within your budget, check out the other FABULOUS designers on my Find a Blog Designer page!

Check out this recent blogger blog design that I did for Sarah from Sarah Hinchey Photography!

Blog Designer Spotlight: The Pixelista

Carolynn — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:57:18 +0000

I am so excited to share with you what I am starting here at Makin’ Cute Blogs! I have really tried hard to make this a great place where you can find out EVERYTHING you need know about making a cute blog. Since we don’t all have the time to do it ourselves… I really wanted share with you all of the great designers that are out there. Believe me, there are lots of great blog designers out there, so if you are on the hunt, Makin’ Cute Blogs will help you find the designer that matches your needs. I will be spotlighting a Blog Designer every Thursday (or at least ALMOST every Thursday). Each Designer will be asked a series of questions, which will hopefully give you the information that you need to find the perfect designer! You can also find an extensive list of Blog Designers HERE.

This week’s Blog Designer Spotlight is Jessica from The Pixelista! Not only is she our Featured Sponsor, but I know her personally and let me tell you, she is a sweetheart. Always professional and kind, I would recommend her to ANYONE looking for a WordPress blog design. Without further ado….

Q: What platforms do you design for?

A: I do custom blog designs exclusively for the WordPress Genesis Theme Framework. My Custom WordPress designs start at $250! I also have a bunch of free Blogger templates available. :)

Q: What is your design Style?

A: Four words I would use to describe my style are vibrant, playful, clean, and professional.

Q: How long have you been designing blogs?

A: I have been designing blogs since November 2008, so just over 3 years!

Q: Tell us a little background about your business…

A: I started designing blogs as a way to put myself through college, and I never expected that it would morph into a full-fledged, lucrative career for me! I absolutely love what I do and I feel so privileged to work with great clients on a daily basis. :)

Q: What sets you apart from other designers?

A: Clients most often tell me that they chose me as their designer because of my attention to detail. I am a perfectionist, and I take pride in putting a little extra TLC into each of my designs!

Q: Do you have a special offer for Makin’ Cute Blogs Readers?

A: Now through December 25th, 2011 you get 20% bonus cash towards your blog design when you purchase a holiday gift card!

Pixelista Client Testimonials:

Tracy LeCompte - “Jessica has once again been fantastic to work with. The switch was painless, and well worth it!! … If you are considering making the switch, or just looking for a fantastic design for your blog, I encourage you to check out Jessica @ the Pixelista!” [read more]
Tiffany Cruz - “I am head over heels in love with Jessica, she is amazing…Jessica has helped me brand myself and I couldn’t be happier with the results…I’m so elated she is my blog designer go to gal. Jessica’s work is fabulous…her work is well worth the wait.” [read more]
Stacie Vaughn - “If you are looking for a designer who listens, is creative and passionate about her work, is attentive to detail…and is just all round AMAZING, then I fully recommend you contact The Pixelista.” [read more]

Check out some of Jessica’s (The Pixelista’s) Work!