3 Column Blogger Blog for Joye - Typepad Graphics for Sarah

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.

Stepher, Pam and a CONTEST!

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.

Blogs for Kit and Kaboodle

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.

New Blogs - Beth, Bridgette and Sarah

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!

My First Redo

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.

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

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???

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

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?

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!

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. :)

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)

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.)

Mavis and Kathi are Live!

Thanks for all your feedback lately, dear readers. Here is Mavis's final. She picked the curve design. Kathi is also live. I may be biased but her colors are fabulous! ;)

(Flower graphics credit to istockphoto.)

Mock-Up for Kathi

Kathi started with that beautiful photo of her kids at a time when you really just want to bottle them up and keep them young forever. And she likes the colors over here at Graphically Designing. Didn't it turn out sweet? I love tulips!

To Curve or Not to Curve? *addendum*

That is the question. These are mock-ups for Mavis. What do you vote?






*Addendum: By popular request I have added the scallops, facing both ways. I already have my opinion... what's yours?
Option 1, 2, 3, or 4? And yes, the curve is a little rough. It's a mock up. In the final it would be nice and smooth. ;) I hate to invest time if it's just going to be ditched.

Template for Julie, Mock Up and Template for Lisa

Julie from Hungary are I are trying to decide if we should do her template with a red accent or a baby blue accent. Decisions, decisions!




This is a template and header for Lisa. Unlike most templates I do where the sidebar headers are .gifs and have to be decided upon before completion, Lisa's sidebar headers are completely editable by her. Aren't I getting smart and nerdy???



I am whittling down that queue. I have a few who are not responding - so if you emailed me in early March about my queue and haven't heard from me, check your junk mail. After 3-4 tries, I am going to have to move on to the next person. :/

Mock Up for Beth

Becky and Krista are Live!

Beck wanted a 2-column, layered, textured scrapbook look and Krista loved the animated woman we found over at istockphoto. She wanted a 3-column space. Both are reflective of their personalities: warm, busy, homey, fun. Stop by - they're even cuter in person!




I especially loved the buttons they each chose. So different, but so perfect for their blog spaces. Watch this one!