TODAY and TOMORROW ONLY!! Don't Miss it!

The cost includes the initial design and 2-3 revisions You will get a PNG file, as well as an Avatar that you can use for your profile pic, facebook, etc.

To save your spot on my schedule please make your full payment below, and fill out my order form at the bottom of this page:  http://www.dforte.com/Design_Forte/Custom_Illustrations.html

My first opening if for Tuesday, Jan. 4th.  It is 1st Come, 1st Serve.  You can see how my Work Schedule works here: http://www.dforte.com/Design_Forte/Work_Schedule.html   To get on my schedule, you must pay and fill out an order form.

When you make your payment, you need to make it for the full amount, $60 + Add-ons (if any).

The sale ends January 1, 2011 at Midnight! 

You may use these designs for anything you like, buy you may not sell them, or give them to anyone else, they are for your use only (you may send them to another designer to be used in a design for you, but they MAY NOT use them for anyone else!)

BTW: I am going to do some tutorials over at Makin' Cute Blogs soon to teach you how to use these in your DIY Custom Blog Designs, so if you want to purchase this to use in your Blog Design, I will show you how to use it in your design!

Custom Blog Design Sale!!

I am actually AHEAD of my schedule on my Custom Blog Design :)  That like NEVER happens, so I thought this would be a perfect time to do a little sale!  I am putting my 2 most popular packages on sale until the New Year.  So if you want to save a place at these AWESOME prices, and get on my Wait list, please make your deposit by midnight on 1/1/11!  CLICK HERE to check out my Design Website to see my portfolio, pricing, and other info.

The DIY Contest is Happening!

I decided to go for it and do the contest.  Click below to find out the details, and see the prizes!

DIY Custom Blog Design Contest (a possibility)...

I need your help!  I have put a lot of work into my new blog "Makin Cute Blogs" lately (resulting in the sad neglect of this blog).  I have been working on a Super huge Tutorial(s) of tutorials.  I have been showing readers how to do a Custom Blog Design from the bottom up (so if you are a poor penny pincher like me and can't afford to have a designer do your blog, I have been teaching everything you need to know to to do it yourself).

Anyway, so I have been thinking of having a fun little contest!  It would be open to anyone that is interested (except professional designers).  I would give you 2 or 3 weeks to Makeover your blogs, then I would open up a link list of some sort where you can enter the contest.  Then I would probably narrow it down to 10 or so blogs as the finalists.  I would get a few other designers to help me "judge" and determine a winner!  And of course there would be a super cool prize for the winner!!!

I need to know if anyone is even interested in participating, so if you are, please comment :)  If I don't hear from anyone, I just don't see it happening.

You can check out all the super cool DIY Custom Blog Design Tutorials HERE, and there are more to come!

Black Friday Special!

Hey everyone!  I wanted to offer a little Black Friday deal for my Custom Blog Designs!  So if you order and pay your deposit TODAY (before midnight), you can get 30% off my normal rates!!!

Enter Promo Code:  bfriday

If you don't get it today, if you order by Monday (before midnight), you can still get 20% off my normal rates!!!

Enter Promo Code:  holiday

See my Custom Blog Design Portfolio, Packages and Prices Here!

Feeling Better and Cute Halloween Pics!

I just wanted to say thanks for the kind words.  I am feeling a lot better, it really was just a rough day.  Had my vent.... now I am back on track :)  I thought I would share some cute pics from our Halloween, hope you guys had a good one too!

Feeling Lousy

So I usually try not to get too much into my personal life on this blog (not sure why, I am just not one to express my feelings to others outside of my husband).  But I am just feeling lousy today and I decided that I just needed to vent.  It has been a tough month(s), won't get into the details, but isn't it always the case that when it rains.... it pours. 

I have been feeling so torn between work and family lately, I don't know if there are any other WAHMs out there that feel the same way.  Sometimes I just want to spend 100% of my time with my beautiful kids, but I just can't (even if I wanted to be a full-time stay at home mom, my finances won't allow).  I have to remind myself everyday that I am lucky enough to be here with them everyday, even if I am not giving them my full attention at all times. 

Anyway, I don't really know why I wrote this, just wanted to vent a little I guess....

Recent Custom Blog Designs

I am finally feeling myself after dealing with Kidney Stones and Kidney Infection last week :)  HOORAY!

So I have a lot of catching up to do.  These are my most recent designs that I have finished, I hope you like.  Please visit my awesome clients and check out their fun unique blogs!


Teeny Tiny Fashions - She was soooo great to work with and she makes the cutest kids clothing!  I can't take credit for the little kid illustration, she purchased it from iStock :)

Little Details Photography - Helen is in the UK, I really enjoyed working with her.  We did a logo design and a Flash Header, she even had me do some print materials.  She also is a very talented photographer :)

Fried Pink Tomato - Jaime is a Southern Girl and her blog is just so much fun!  I can't take credit for the cute illustration, a different designer did that for her.

I need your help over at Makin Cute Blogs!

I need some feedback regarding what content my readers may be looking for..... Head over and see what you think of my topic ideas.




Oh by the way, I should have at least 2 new backgrounds up in the next day or 2, I just gotta get them on on the website :)

Interview with Amanda

I have posted about Amanda over at kevinandamanda.com before, but I wanted to share the mini interview that I did on her over at Makin' Cute Blogs.  She was so kind to answer my email questions.  Go check it out here!

It's HERE! Makin' Cute Blogs

 I mentioned earlier that I was working on another blog, well the day has finally come to show it off.  I hope you like it.  It really is mainly geared toward designers, but it is great for the motivated do it yourself designers too!  I have posted a new tutorial over there on how to make your posts expandable.  I also have a new freebie that is available for personal AND commercial use.  Check it out, and drop me a comment on what you think.

http://makincuteblogs.blogspot.com/

Thanks!!

Finally a new Background!

So I have FINALLY taken a few minutes to create a new background and accessories to go with it! My life has be sooo hectic for the last 5 months (still hasn't slowed down), so I decided I better take a few and make something fun. This background was inspired by the little nest drawing, that I found in a super old book that I found in my mother's basement. The latest date I can find in the book is 1905, and no copyright, so I lucked out :) There are more fun images, including the bird that I put on the matching header, so hopefully in the future, I can include more of those in my designs. Click HERE to get these for your blog. Enjoy!

Featured on...

Hey I just wanted to share that I was featured over on Six Feet Under! I answered some interview questions about me and my blog, so if you would like to find out more about my start in blogging head over and check it out: http://sixfeetundersite.blogspot.com/2010/08/words-with-blogger-wednesday_11.html

MOVING!

So I just wanted a to take a second and VENT my frustrations with Moving! When it rains, it pours right. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am super swamped with work and with a disaster of a house that I have to be out of by next Wednesday. Anyway, I am so grateful for all the emails, but if you are wondering why I haven't replied to you yet, that is why.

PS. I have a new blog that I am working on for Custom Blog Designers and DIYers, so stay tuned, I hope to have it up within the next month and it will be so awesome!

My Talented Husband! { Utah Photographer }

I know that I have posted about him before, but I just finished his new blog design. It looks so good and his photos are fantastic, so please check him out and leave him a comment :)

Recent Custom Blog Designs

Bringing Up The Bly's
Dapheny is a military mom with her husband and little girl. I had a lot of fun with her illustration, because she wanted it to be girly and still show a little of her military life. Check her out and drop her a comment! http://bringingupblys.blogspot.com/

This is what she said about her design: My husband always says it was an ego-booster marrying me because I insist on always having the best of everything! So naturally, I went to Carolynn for my blog makeover. Her custom blog headers are beautiful and she did an amazing job doing everything she could to capture the little details of my family! I was so impressed! We're a military family and I'm leaving soon for training, so I was ready to get my blog up and running, but didn't want to share it with too many people until it was organized, so I inquired about a rush order and I had it in a matter of days! I can't wait to come back to her for add on's and new custom headers as our family grows and changes! Thanks so much, Carolynn!




Mrs. A in the Cove
Leanne has a blog that is definitely worth looking at. She has such a fabulous sense of style. We did a full makeover for her, so beautiful and simple. http://mrsainthecove.blogspot.com/




Jamie Fitzgerald Photography
It was so great working with Jamie! She is so talented. Check out her blog, we did a flash header, a logo design, and more! http://jamiefitzgeraldphotography.blogspot.com/



Mommy Tags
Maize was so good to work with, I love the Mommy Tags business that she runs, her Tags are sooo cute and unique! Check out what we did with her blog, and don't forget to go to her website too to see the her tags! http://mommytags.com/



Maize Hutton Blog
Maize from Mommy Tags, also had me do her blog. I love it, she found this great old book cover that I added a little color to, and we altered the template to work with it. It is fun and totally unique. Her blog has some really fun ideas and things, go read it and leave her a comment! http://maizehutton.blogspot.com/

Where is Minima?

So I panicked slightly when blogger started making all their changes. It at first appeared to me that with the new version of blogger that Minima was no longer available as an option for a template. This really bugged me, because there are so many great tutorials out there that use minima to alter the look of your blog. Anyway, for those of you who worried like, me.... I found it. All of the old templates are located on your "Edit HTML" page, at the very bottom.

Shout out! Kevin & Amanda

I am all about free stuff, so just wanted to give a shout out to one of my favorite sites! KevinandAmanda.com I have been a regular to their site for quite some time, but I just felt the desire to share it with all of you. If you have never been their before, she has a bit of everything, from Free Fonts (YES FREE, which I use all the time), to recipes, and tons more!

FREEBIE: "Sweet N' Summer" Mini Digital Scrabook Kit!

I am so sorry that it has been sooo long since I have posted or done anything with my website, I have been sooo busy and I just had my baby (my 2nd)! I had him on May 17th, so I am just getting back into the swing of things now.

I am really excited to share this with you! I have NEVER even attempted to digital scrapbook before, and I really don't know why. Anyway, I have always thought it would be fun to try my hand at it and of course I wanted it to be my OWN design.... so why not make my own kit! I really hope you enjoy it. For you that are pros at digital scrapbooking (unlike me :), I am sorry in advance if I didn't make the kit right.... I don't really know how they are traditionally made, so I just did it the way I assumed they might be :p

DOWNLOAD
This Digital Kit is free for Personal and Commercial Use.  Files are NOT to be sold as is.  They MAY be used to create items to be sold, but may NOT be sold by itself in it's original form.  I do very much appreciate a link back and/or credit, but it is not required.  Thanks!

(This is my new baby! Isn't he sweet??)

Need Photography?

My Husband has done photography on the side for quite some time, but only recently has he decided to really pick it up. He just put up a blog, still in the works, but I would love for you to go look at it! Leave him a comment for me ;)

Anyway, if you are lucky enough to live in the Utah County Area, (or anywhere in Utah, we travel :) He is offering 50% off for the first 10 sessions booked (he already has super reasonable pricing, so this is a steal!).

http://lastingphotography.blogspot.com/

2 Newest Blog Makeovers

I just wanted to share with you my newest makeovers!

First was Jacki's Blog: I loved drawing her beautiful family! Go check out her blog and make sure to leave her a comment!

http://nurturemewhole.blogspot.com/

Second was Season's Blog: This was the first flash header that I have ever done! I actually quite liked how it turned out. I don't have it on my pricing yet, but if you are interested in one, just email me and I can quote you a price. Her photography is so beautiful, so make sure to visit her site!

http://seasonatwaterphotography.blogspot.com/