Graphically Designing

3 Column Blogger Blog for Joye - Typepad Graphics for Sarah

2008-07-21T22:22:00.004-05:00

Oops! I totally forgot to get a screen cap of Joye's blog before I installed it. But I promise I'm going to be better about it from here on out. But here it is, in its finality. She loves warm, autumn colors - golds, browns, burnt oranges and sunflowers. Didn't it turn out sweet? I present... My Happy Place.

Sarah blogs over at TypePad. I haven't quite figured out the nuts and bolts installing behind the scenes there (but I'm working on it!). I made Sarah some graphics - a header and buttons. She's got the header up already. Her blog is entitled Blue Castle, after a favorite book.

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"I Left My Heart in San Francisco"

2008-07-17T11:07:00.004-05:00

Well, not really, but that does seem to be a street musician favorite around here. And Hotel California. ;)

Just a quick note to let you know that I arrived safely in San Francisco. I will be at BlogHer for the next few days - so if you've emailed me, I'll be a little slower getting back to you.

More designs coming up! The queue is still CLOSED. I've had a bunch of emails asking to get it on it. Check back often - I hope to reopen it in the near future. In the meantime - please brush up on My Terms.

PS - San Francisco is beautiful but c-c-c-cold!

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Just for you!

2008-07-15T19:44:00.003-05:00

Ta-daaaaaaaa!

A before and after! I finally remembered to take a screen cap of Alane's before project just for you guys. Isn't it quite a transformation? Alane wanted a wide, clean, boxed off space - but without the look of a bar graph boxing off those elements can bring. So her main posting area is blocked off, but the sidebars mesh into the background. It's the first of it's kind I've done like that. You can visit Alane's blog live, here at Reaping a Harvest.

Before:

After:

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Business As Usual!

2008-07-12T16:56:00.006-05:00

I've been tinkering around with more business card design. Most people who have an online presence want their business cards to match their websites or blogs. It helps establish your brand if all your images have a fluid coordinating design.

So I decided to practice with my own blogs. Here are the headers for my blogs - the colors, fonts, and graphics are part of my brand or image. So I wanted to tie them into the business cards.

My purpose for having business cards for my personal blog is for online social networking - so I didn't include a full name, phone number or address. I just wanted a way to get my name and my blog's web URL out there. This is what the final cut would look like - it would be designed with extra space around it, meant to provide a print cushion and cut off.

For my Graphically Designing card, the parameters didn't change much. I wanted it to look like my blog, so it would be recognizable. I wanted the url to be easy to find. Unlike my personal business card, I needed it to state what I do here at Graphically Designing. I design blogs. So I made sure to say so. This one has white space around it to show the 'bleed space'. The actual card, once cut at the printer, would be flush with the color lines.

So here is what I considered when making business cards for bloggers:
- matching graphics
- identical hexidecimal colors
- identical fonts
- easy-to-read url
- first name only, to protect identity
- fit the parameters of standard business card sizes (including "bleed space") for ease of printing.
- saved in a file usable by any printer (PDF, png, PSD or jpg is what most printers prefer).

Would you like a business card designed? Pricing depends on your needs. Email me for pricing and details.

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Contest Winner

2008-07-11T23:54:00.003-05:00

Pam extended the contest over at her own blog, but my contest is up!

My handy-dandy random.org no-pressure-on-Darcy picker picked #23. I had to count a couple times, because I kept counting Pam. I don't think Pam wants to win her own artwork, so skipping Pam that makes #23 Katy Lin from The Great Adventure. Turns out Katy is the mind behind the widely-growing, popular "My Husband Rocks" memes. Hey Katy - my husband does rock. I so need one of your tees! Congrats.

Shoot me an email, girlfriend. I'll hook ya' up with some artwork.

If you didn't win this contest, go leave a message over at Pam's blog. You still have a chance to win. I'm totally entering!

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Stepher, Pam and a CONTEST!

2008-07-07T23:44:00.006-05:00

Okay, okay - I got the hint. You want me to go back to posting *befores* and *afters*. I am happy to announce that I did do the befores for my upcoming projects. These ones aren't included yet but I promise to make it all worth it in the end!

The first make over is for those of you who love incorporating photos into your blog's header or banner. See all those photos? Count 'em! There're 13 photos - all taken by the blogger herself - in that header. I love when bloggers use their own images or art. In definitely makes for a one-of-a-kind blog. Stepher has traveled to some pretty cool places. She picked a travel theme for her sidebar buttons. See the plane and globe and the cruise ship?

Speaking of using your own images or art, this next project uses all of Pam's own artwork. Even the background was taken from one of her paintings. Know what she used to make that texture? It's coffee! Be still my beating heart. Have I mentioned how intimidating it can be to work with a *real* artist? Pam went easy on me. To include all her pieces I had to take 3 screen shots. Look at her talent!

And because I love showcasing mom-prenuers in the blogosphere, Pam and I have teamed up for a contest. You can win one of the pieces from Pam Warden Art. Eek! It's so fabulous I want to enter my own contest (Hey, Pam, can I do that?!)

YOU can enter! How? Simple - here are the rules:

- Go to Pam's blog and etsy shop and look around at her art.
- Come back here at tell me which is your favorite piece - the one you'd love to have!
- You have until Friday at 10 pm CST to enter.
- Winner will be announced here and at Pam Warden Art.

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Blogging Tip: How to Change Your Blog Font

2008-07-02T14:35:00.011-05:00

Before changing your template, always download a backup!

Changing your blog font always comes with a Caveat -

People who visit your blog will only be able to view the fonts that are coded on their own computer. So even if you love fonts, and collect them by the dozen, you really are limited to the basic set of fonts that come standard on most computers. If you pick an obscure font and code only that font, only YOU will be able to read your blog.

It is always smart to choose several fonts. When your readers visit your blog, their computers will read your code and pick the first matching font it can find and display that font.

To change the display of your font, find the code that looks like this (your fonts listed may be different!):

<Variable name="bodyfont" description="Text Font" type="font" default="normal normal 100% Georgia, Serif" value="normal normal 109% Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS, Arial, sans-serif">

<Variable name="headerfont" description="Sidebar Title Font" type="font" default="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif" value="italic normal 78% Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS, Arial, sans-serif">

<Variable name="pagetitlefont" description="Blog Title Font" type="font" default="normal normal 200% Georgia, Serif" value="normal normal 200% Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS, Arial, sans-serif">

<Variable name="descriptionfont" description="Blog Description Font" type="font" default="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Sans-serif" value="normal normal 78% Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS, Arial, sans-serif">

<Variable name="postfooterfont" description="Post Footer Font" type="font" default="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Sans-serif" value="normal normal 78% Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS, Arial, sans-serif">

So now let's say you want your blog to display the fonts: Lucida Calligraphy, Comic Sans MS or Baskerville Old Face. And, for convenience, let's say that was your order of preference. This means, first the computer will look for Lucida Calligraphy, if it finds it, it will display... if not, it will look for Comic Sans MS, etc.

Keep the current fonts listed. They are a good back-up! Nearly every computer in the world has either Times or Georgia (serif) or Arial, Trebuchet or Verdana (Sans Serif). Above all, you want your blog readable.

Change EACH CODE you found above to include the new font names, like this (I only changed the first example, for brevity!):

<Variable name="bodyfont" description="Text Font" type="font" default="normal normal 100% Lucida Calligraphy, Comic Sans MS, Baskerville Old Face, Georgia, Serif" value="normal normal 109% Lucida Calligraphy, Comic Sans MS, Baskerville Old Face, Trebuchet, Trebuchet MS, Arial, sans-serif">

Click preview to make sure it looks the way you want. If so, save and viola'! You now have a custom font for your blog.

You can read other blogging tips like centering images or changing font size and color by clicking here.

Now go get techie with yer bad self.

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I Gave Myself a Makeover!

2008-07-01T18:56:00.002-05:00

Ohhhh ahhhhh. The changes are subtle, but can you see them?

Debbie, from This is the Life, started calling me The Fairy Blogmother after I redid her blog and updated her sidebar buttons. She absolutely cracks me up, and with her permission, I've adapted her nickname for me into the blog design. Thanks, Debbie! And if you haven't read her blog yet, you should. She's witty and funny.

And if you haven't yet checked out the awesome new Graphically Designing Portfolio - go take a peek over there! It's a 1-column blog, inspired by another fabulous blogger!

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Blogs for Kit and Kaboodle

2008-06-30T19:38:00.007-05:00

Okay so their names really aren't Kit and Kaboodle, they're Kat and Rhea, but these two peas-in-a-pod were so fun to work with. First, they kept an eye on each other's test blogs, each cross-commenting on their own blogs and each other's blogs. Second, they have the same sense of humor. If they weren't separated by 6 states I'd swear they were twins.

Anyway, Kat from Sunshine and Lemonade, is my second redo. I love when clients come back. It makes me feel so loved. Kat is a sassy, spunky, fun blogger who needed some buttons that fit her. My repertoire has grown since I did her blog, so now she's got fun buttons. I also redid her header - same idea just updated.

Rhea is deep in the heart of Texas. Funny, I've always wanted an excuse to refer to someone as "deep in the heart of Texas". ;) Her blog ties in her home state, her family, and her passion for the tangled written word. Check out her button and divider - it's a boot bouquet!

Here is Rhea's button for her blog. If you'd like her button, visit her blog and snag it from her sidebar.

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New Blogs - Beth, Bridgette and Sarah

2008-06-26T11:42:00.005-05:00

First - don't forget to enter my contest!

It's been awhile since I've been able to post the updates, but I can't not mention them. I have had some fantastic projects lately. I do hope you'll go visit them. It always seems these pictures never do them justice!

Here's is Beth's - visit her blog in person to see the cool circle buttons she picked and the Gothic flourishes. Her blog feels like a library treasure with those old books. Notice the rich colors, and look what she choose for her divider between posts!

This one is soft and subtle, with a touch of romance. Check out Bridgette's "Hunkaroonie". Her background is a sweet, barely-there damask pattern. Those stripes really make it pop! I'm taking notes on San Francisco right now for the BlogHer Convention next month.

This is Sarah's over at Sensibly Sassy. I had fun dressing up Sarah's caricature. First we made sure her laptop was a Mac. We also swapped out the boring black flats for some sassy red heels. Aren't those poppies divine? Oh to be young and sassy cute! ;)

Thanks, girls! I loved these projects. Each of you has a space so different from the others and so uniquely YOU!

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High and Dry - CONTEST!

2008-06-23T18:26:00.006-05:00

Thank you for the comments and emails. We are high and dry from all of Iowa's crazy flooding. It did set me back a few days on the design queue - I apologize to those of you sitting so patiently (or maybe not so patiently!) in it.

But, good news! I'm hosting a contest! Please head over to my other blog to enter. You can win one of Christa Jean's handmade jewelry pieces from her etsy shop - The Christa Collection. You may recognize Christa's blog; I recently designed her space and she has one of only a handful of animated headers in the blogosphere. Thanks for contesting with me, Christa!

Head on over to www.lifewithmy3boybarians.com!

We will return to regular programming 'round here soon. :)

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Spotty Communication

2008-06-13T16:50:00.002-05:00

If you've turned on CNN today you can see that parts of Iowa are totally under water, downtown Des Moines is evacuating, Cedar Rapids already has. We are removed enough and high enough to be safe from flooding, but we do risk isolation because all the roads to me have bridges that are nearly spilling over.

So, we've been filling tubs, doing laundry, grocery shopping, vaccuuming, bathing everyone, etc... all the things that need water and power just in case. It's doubtful we'll need it, but precautionary stuff has taken me away from the computer.

I apologize for being so spotty in my communications. If you have emailed me - I will get back to you very soon!

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My First Redo

2008-06-12T16:44:00.004-05:00

I have now been doing this for a year - can you believe it? Lisa at Koinonia Academy was one of my very first blog makeovers ever - last summer. I have learned so much since doing hers. She is my first "client" who is back for a redo. How fun is that? A repeat customer!

Here is her new final product!

Thanks, Lisa, for giving me another chance at making your space beautiful.

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Thanks for Your Help! Tamara, Wendy and Caryn are Live!

2008-06-11T16:23:00.000-05:00

Tamara chose a beautiful scrapbook-style layout for her blog Roots & Wings.... Her colors all came together so beautifully. She now has a cutomized place to show off her twin daughters. This one is even more beautiful in person!

Being the mom of "Boybarians", I certainly understand the play on the "Savages" in this family - The Sun-Kissed Savages. They homeschool; dontcha love the nod to the savage education with the arrow through the apples?! This template is styled after my own personal blog, with Wendy's personality.

And lest you think your voice is not heard - it's heard here! You voted and Caryn listened. We chose "Next to the Continent" based on your votes.

Here is her final product , On African Time. It's a beautiful tribute to her homeland of South Africa. Isn't the mask in the shape of Africa fantastic???

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Some Mock-Ups For Caryn - We Need Your Vote!

2008-06-07T13:50:00.005-05:00

Caryn needs your help! We absolutely loved the African mask in the shape of the content, but we're having trouble deciding about the lettering. So she wants to hear the voice of the people. Please look over these mock-ups and vote above which font style is your favorite for her blog.

Pennants:

Paper Blocks:

Across the Continent:

Next to the Continent:

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Designing for Charity

2008-06-06T12:36:00.000-05:00

People who know me well know that March of Dimes is my absolute favorite charitable organization. My family has been personally touched by their mission. So when they've got a project for me I always hope I can be of service. The Iowa Chapter is having a Ladies' Gala this summer called "High Heels for High Hopes" to try and raise money for research to prevent prematurity, birth defects and infant and pregnancy loss. I was asked if I could design something for their event. Here is their finished product.

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The Queue is Temporarily Closed Again!

2008-06-05T22:32:00.001-05:00

Thank you all for the interest!

The queue has been filled. I have about 6-8 weeks of work so I'm closing the queue. I will post again when I get through this round, and I'll open the queue back up.

If you emailed me prior to 10 pm CST today - you are on the list. Anything after that - I"m sorry! I hope to open soon.

Thank you all. I look forward to working with those of you on the wait list.

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Blogging Tip: How to Make a Clickable Link, or URL link

2008-06-04T00:52:00.006-05:00

In my email, I've been asked how to make a link. This is especially useful for your sidebars because Blogger's add a link feature isn't the best. The great news is that it is very simple to make a clickable link.

Let's say you want to link to my blog, Life With My 3 Boybarians. Just like that! You would type:

<a href="http://www.lifewithmy3boybarians.com">Life With My 3 Boybarians</a>

Now let's say you'd like to link back to me here at Graphically Designing. Replace the url (web address) and what you'd like the link to say. It would look like this:

<a href="http://www.graphicallydesigning.com">Graphically Designing</a>

Sometimes you want to link in the middle of a sentence.
"Click here to visit my portfolio!"
Whatever you type after the URL and in between the > and the < will be the clickable words. That sentence looks like this:

Click <a href="http://graphicallydesigningportfolio.blogspot.com/">here</a> to visit my portfolio!

Now you try it! Show the blogosphere how savvy you are!

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Surprise! The queue is OPEN!

2008-06-02T14:08:00.004-05:00

It's been closed since April - but as of today the queue is open!

I will only accept the first 25 blogs and then I will close it again. The reason I do that is because those at the end will have a long wait time! I can usually only do 2-3 blogs a week. This last time - I had a large number of people who took a place on my queue and either (1) changed their minds (2) went elsewhere for services or (3) changed their emails by the time I got to them. Communication is key - so to avoid any of the above I like to keep the queue short and sweet.

To get in my queue, click the email me button or visit my profile. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Mystele and Christa are live. Mock-Ups for Wendy and Tamara

2008-06-01T13:21:00.002-05:00

Mystele (rhymes with Michele) is live! Isn't her "little glimpses" project divine? You really have to see it in person. And if you're in the market for beautiful folk art - you've found the right person. Her work is beautiful. And you know what? It's intimidating to do design for an artist. Artists see the world through an aesthetic eye. Hope I was able to give Mystele a place to showcase her talent.

And Christa! Christa, Christa, Christa! Christa over at {transforme}, is also a bucketful of talent and goodness to boot. Her blog MOVES! Head on over to her blog, and keep an eye on her header for about 20 seconds. How cool is that? She really made me flex my design muscles. And, I'll fill you in on a little secret... shhhh! Christa and I are pairing up for a CONTEST! Coming soon - very soon - over at my personal blog, Life With My 3 Boybarians, we will be having a content for one of Christa's gorgeous pieces from her etsy shop. You're the first to know!

Tamara wanted a scrapbook-style, feminine place to showcase the goings-on of her gorgeous twin girls. We used a 3 column template and some scrapbook elements created by Nikki Painter. Her sidebars are still under contruction, but isn't that header fantastic?! Love the colors!

Finally, finally, finally! Someone who appraoches me with, "I really love YOUR blog, Darcy...". There's a first for everything! I made Wendy a template styled after my own LWM3B blog with a floating header and sidebars. The arrow and apples are a play on her "Savages" with the apples as a nod to their homeschooling. Isn't she clever?

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

2008-05-22T14:41:00.006-05:00

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!

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Sparrow Journey is Live! Mock Up for Joy.

2008-05-19T00:31:00.003-05:00

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!

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Thank you and Congrats to Beth!

2008-05-18T12:42:00.003-05:00

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!

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Blog Makeover Contest - Your Vote Decides!

2008-05-15T00:36:00.007-05:00

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

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Surprise! Mother's Day Contest!

2008-05-11T12:44:00.009-05:00

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!

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