Mimi, Joy and Nikke are Live! Mock-ups for Mystele and Christa.

Mimi wanted something bella and femminile. This is her end result. Che bella!



Joy wanted to highlight the country boy in her hubby and her city girl, runner roots. Aren't the stripes cute? I made them with colors from her blog to tie it all together. The country boy and city girl graphics were purchased at istockphoto.



Nikke wanted an animated fish and a 2-column blog. Isn't this sometimes true about motherhood? Do you ever feel like you're swimming in circles? This was a fun makeover!



I LOVE Mystele's project. She is artistic and fun. She makes gorgeous folk art. I wanted to highlight as much of her own work as possible in her space. Isn't she talented?! (We have already updated this a few times - you'll have to come back for the drastic finished product!)



This is a very early mock-up for Christa. Christa is going to give my design muscles a thorough work out! I love when I am pushed to try new things. Her blog will feature animation. Flex, flex, flex!

Sparrow Journey is Live! Mock Up for Joy.

Brenda over at Sparrow Journey is live. I have to admit, I got a little blog envy over those dots. Aren't they fabulous? You have to visit her in person to see it all for yourself. The photograph is such a fun contrast image - delicate little bird, fierce-looking barbed wire.



This is a mock-up for Joy. I don't even think she's seen it yet. I love the color-block header! I hope she does, too. This is another 'contrast' graphic. See the country boy and the city girl? Well, somehow the stork is bringing that city girl and her country boy a package soon. Will it be a PINK package or a BLUE package? You'll have to read her blog to find out!

Thank you and Congrats to Beth!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Blog Makeover Contest. It was fun to get to know each of you over at your blogs and watch the contest unfold. It was trial and error on my part - lesson learned - never post a poll at 1 am!

Beth over at Sunny Side Up won the contest. I hope you'll come back and see her transition.

Some of you have also asked about the queue and and the process of getting on it. I am hoping to open up the queue soon - as soon as I get the list back down into single digits I will open it back up. Please know that when it is your turn it does require you to be at the computer a little more often than what is probably usual for most of you. We work with great intensity for a couple days. This allows me to keep a good pace and not leave others in the queue waiting so long. When you're up - please check your email often. It will help the wait time a lot!

Thanks again to everyone who entered and congrats again to Beth at Sunny Side Up!

Blog Makeover Contest - Your Vote Decides!

The entries are in! Now it's your turn. Your vote will decide. Who do you think needs a blog makeover? Vote above!

Option #1: Carrie Stuckman

Option #2: Heritage Academy

Option #3: Sunny Side Up

Option #4: The Green Greek (the blog she wants to make over is found here - The Happy Turtle.)

Option #5: Rhea Hollan

Option #6: Tap the Smile

Option #7: Mom of Six

Surprise! Mother's Day Contest!

This one is for you, Moms!

This contest is for one complete blog makeover for the winner. Contest winner will receive:

* custom header / banner graphic
* custom template - 1, 2 or 3 columns, winner's choice. (Blogger only)
* matching color (Blogger only)
* 1-5 sidebar buttons: ideas include 'about me', 'archives', 'blogroll', etc.
* signature graphic
* divider graphic
* install (Blogger only)

The value of this package, if you search around the internet is anywhere from $75 - $500+!

Rules:
1. To enter this contest, you must post a blog about your favorite memory with your mom. You can also choose to blog about your favorite memory AS a mom.
2. Post the above contest graphic in your post by copying and pasting the code below:

<center><a href="http://www.graphicallydesigning.com"><img src="http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff293/my3boybarians/MDcontest.gif"></a></center>

3. Enter the url link to your post in my comments sections.
4. Only one entry per IP address. Contest ends Wednesday at 11:59 pm CST.
5. On Thursday, come back and VOTE for your favorite Mother's Day memory post.
6. Call your mother and tell her you love her and you're sorry that you cut off all your sister's hair, dated 'that guy', or in my case, threw wet towels on the carpet.

Many will enter, one will win! Enter now!

Kristina and her Sweet Peas are live! One for Mimi.

Kristina's blog Sweet Pea Wanderings is now live! We ended up choosing the font from the second mock up header, but the peas from the first. Go visit her and see the design live. It's feminine and whimsical but still simple and clean!

This one is for Mimi. We are still missing a few design elements. The right side of the header is still pretty blank... but these mock ups are just launching points. We'll have a couple more revisions coming on this one. Stay tuned!



Also - Nikke if you're reading this - where are you? Please email me! :)

Mock Ups for Kristina

Love the bright colors. Love the pea theme! Here are mock ups for Kristina; her blog is called "Sweet Pea Wanderings". Projects like this remind me that I need a tablet. Graphics like this would be so much easier with a stylus instead of a mouse. ;)



Header option #2 - I made the older sweet pea have some hair. :)

Mock Up for Nikke

Her blog name is "Mom is in the Fishbowl". She wanted a 2-column blog. How many of us can identify with the feeling of swimming in circles? So I made a cute little mommy fish swimming around as her first mock up. Isn't she cute?

Valarie and Jennifer are live! Mock Up #2 for Brenda.

Cute, huh? Valarie's blog is fresh, hip with a twist of retro. I love it! Go take a peek for yourself, she's live!



This blog is like a chorus line from her life's theme song. You'll have to visit Jennifer in person to read the song lyrics, but didn't it turn out fun?! Makes me crave lemonade and a quick run through the sprinkler!



And this beauty is Brenda's second mock-up. We just weren't feeling the other bird graphic. We decided to go simple in the header for this mock up, and let the background make all the noise it wants. Divine!



(spring, flower, water graphics, in part, to istockphoto. sparrow photo credit stockexchange.)

Can you feel the breeze? Anna is LIVE!

Picture it... a warm, salty breeze. The squawk of the seagulls. The soft crashing of the waves on the seashore. Far-off sounds of children playing in the sand. This blog... this beach house blog takes you there. Can you feel it? Anna K wanted a blog that feels like you're sitting at a old, comfy desk. I imagined a beautiful vacation beach home, filled with 'treasures' found along life's journey. Very...very... peaceful. Click to see the image up close.



(several design elements credit to istockphoto)

Julie is Live!

She picked red! And her blog is a perfect example of really using buttons. She has clickable links at the top which take you to her and her busband's ministry site, family videos, etc. And the film strip - such a clever idea! I love the black and white on red! Julie and her family live in gorgeous Budapest, Hungary.

Mock Ups for Jennifer, Brenda and Valarie

Look who's been a busy girl! Here are mock-ups for Jennifer, Brenda and Valarie.

Jennifer:


Brenda:


Valarie:


Look how different they each are! I just have the best "clients" ever! No two days "at the office" are ever the same. Do you love your job as much as I do?

(Water and flower design elements credit to istockphoto.)