tlcthecreativeblog

Card Update

2010-12-09T11:58:00.001-06:00

Thank you to all of you who ordered cards from me this season!! I truly appreciate it.

At this time, I am not taking additional card orders. Have a peaceful and JOYFUL season!

God bless, Tera

2010 Cards!!!

2010-11-07T22:36:00.001-06:00

I wasn’t certain if I would be able to offer this service again this year…BUT…I am SO excited to offer cards again this season! YAY!

All cards are 5x7 and are designed by me using digital papers and elements from the talented and sweet Michelle Underwood. I love the fresh, unique, fun and VINTAGE {with a touch of modern} look of these cards and I hope that you will too! I am just loving reds, turquoises and greens and browns this year!

My cards are SUPER economical and they print BEAUTIFULLY…perfectly crisp and lovely!

(ORDERING INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST)

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME!!! : )

Above: “Joy to the World – One Photo” So simple, classic, elegant and vintage with a focus on a special photo and a couple of lines from a meaningful and beloved Christmas carol. This card is stunning in it’s simplicity and it has a touch of sparkle.

Above: “Joy to the World - Two Photos”. So simple, classic, elegant and vintage with a focus on a special photo and a couple of lines from a meaningful and beloved Christmas carol. This card is stunning in it’s simplicity and it has a touch of sparkle.

Above: “Peace and Joy (RED)” {Please note: text is customizable} Vintage whimsy! I love this card…it’s so much fun. It’s perfect for a photo series or for several favorite photos!

Above: “Peace and Joy (PINK)” {Please note: text is customizable} Vintage whimsy! I love this card…it’s so much fun. It’s perfect for a photo series or for several favorite photos!

Above: “Peace and Joy - Vertical” {Please note: text is customizable} Vintage whimsy! Red and blue are everywhere this season and I am loving this color combination!

Above: “Love, Hope, Peace (PINK)” {Please note: text along the bottom is customizable} A favorite photo adorns the base of this sweet and vintage tree! Such a unique card!

Above: “Love, Hope, Peace (PINK) – Two Photos” {Please note: text along the bottom is customizable} Favorite photos adorn the base of this sweet, vintage tree.

Above: “Tree with Message (PINK)” {Please note: text along the bottom is customizable} A favorite photo adorn the base of this sweet, vintage tree. PLUS, I will happily add a short message of your choice, several verses or even a mini newsletter to the green square! The green square will fit approximately 55 words, give or take a few. Instead of green, the message square could also be pink!

Above: “One Great Photo” {Please note: text is customizable} Do you have that one GREAT photo that captures a special moment of 2010? If so, this card will allow your photo to be the star!

Above: “One Great Photo – Vertical” {Please note: text is customizable} Do you have that one GREAT photo that captures a special moment of 2010? If so, this card will allow your photo to be the star!

Above: “Seven Photo Collage (RED BACKGROUND)” {Please note: all of the text on this card is customizable, this card could also be a SIX photo collage AND the card is not blurry when it is printed…it just looks a bit blurry in this blog post} This card is dear to my heart…the design is based on the design of the card that our family sent to friends and family members last year at Christmastime. This card is perfect to feature a series of photos and it also works well for large families! Do you have several photos that you LOVE but are concerned that the colors and backgrounds don’t really relate to one another? Don’t worry…we can use black and white to unite all of your photos and cause family members and friends to focus on the faces in the card.

Above: “Seven Photo Collage (BLUE BACKGROUND)” {Please note: all of the text on this card is customizable, this card could also be a SIX photo collage AND the card is not blurry when it is printed…it just looks a bit blurry in this blog post} This card is dear to my heart…the design is based on the design of the card that our family sent to friends and family members last year at Christmastime. This card is perfect to feature a series of photos and it also works well for large families! Do you have several photos that you LOVE but are concerned that the colors and backgrounds don’t really relate to one another? Don’t worry…we can use black and white to unite all of your photos and cause family members and friends to focus on the faces in the card.

Above: “Seven Photo Collage (RED AND BLUE BACKGROUND)” {Please note: all of the text on this card is customizable, this card could also be a SIX photo collage AND the card is not blurry when it is printed…it just looks a bit blurry in this blog post} This card is dear to my heart…the design is based on the design of the card that our family sent to friends and family members last year at Christmastime. This card is perfect to feature a series of photos and it also works well for large families! Do you have several photos that you LOVE but are concerned that the colors and backgrounds don’t really relate to one another? Don’t worry…we can use black and white to unite all of your photos and cause family members and friends to focus on the faces in the card.

Above: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear BLUE”. I love the simple, vintage elegance of this card. It features a creased, distressed and a bit shabby background and it has just a touch of sparkle! This card was inspired by one of my favorite Christmas carols and it would be perfect for any photo but especially a photo that features soft colors.

Above: “Houndstooth – Vertical” {Please note: text is customizable} So classic! This stunning card reminds me of a vintage men’s suit. There’s a hint of girlie sparkle in the center of the four layer snowflake.

Above: “Love, Hope, Peace (Red)” {Please note: text along the bottom is customizable} A favorite photo adorns the base of this sweet and vintage tree!

Above: “Love, Hope, Peace (Red) – Two Photos” {Please note: text along the bottom is customizable} Favorite photos adorn the base of this sweet and vintage tree! Just a note…the left photo can be exchanged for a paragraph of text similar to the “Tree with Message (PINK)” card above.

Above: “Peace (GREEN AND BLUE)” {Please note: text is customizable} Vintage elegance! This card would work well with any photo…especially a photo with soft colors or even a beach photo.

Above: “Peace (BLUE)” {Please note: text is customizable} Vintage elegance! This card would work well with any photo…especially a photo with soft colors or even a beach photo.

Above: “Vintage Red Vertical” {I could also use a square-ish frame instead of a vertical frame} I just love red and brown together and the chicken wire adds a fun, vintage whimsy!

Above: “Vintage Red Horizontal” I just love red and brown together and the chicken wire adds a fun, vintage whimsy!

Above: “Vintage Red Horizontal Two Photos” I just love red and brown together and the chicken wire adds a fun, vintage whimsy!

Above: “Vintage Banner Vertical” {Please note: text is customizable} I love this card…and I adore the modern look of the turquoise blue patterned paper and the banner is so much fun and vintage. This card could work well for a horizontal or perhaps even a vertical photo.

*** ORDERING INFORMATION ***

1. Choose the card design of your choice!

2. Simply send me an email with the name of your card choice, your full size photo(s) and the text of your choice!

3. I will then create your card proof and email the proof to you for your approval. : )

4. When you have approved your card design, you may Paypal me a design fee of $30. Then, you can choose your printing option. See options below…

*** EASY PRINTING OPTIONS ***

* Print your cards via Persnickety Prints: If you choose this printing option, I will email your card order to Persnickety Prints for you and they will print the cards and ship them to your home with envelopes! Persnickety Prints offers unbeatable quality and their prices are incredible! I cannot recommend Persnickety Prints highly enough…I use them for almost all of my printing needs. Cards are approximately 19.99 for 25 cards including envelopes.

* Print your cards via Shutterfly: I will email you the high resolution completed .jpg card and you can then upload it to Shutterfly and have the cards printed and shipped to your home!

* Local printing: If you choose not to use Persnickety Prints, you can also print your cards locally using the printing service of your choosing. It’s super easy!! I highly recommend Costco…I usually print all of my samples there. If you choose to print your cards locally, I will then email you the high resolution .jpg card file along with detailed (simple) printing instructions for you to take to the printers. If you choose Costco, they sometimes will give you envelopes. You can also find envelopes for 5x7 cards at Joanne’s and online as well. I usually order mine online (size 5.25x7.25).

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME!!! : )

God bless, Tera

Blogs and 2010 Seasonal Cards

2010-10-21T08:49:00.001-05:00

2010 SEASONAL CARDS…

I hope to post something about this in the next week or two! Keep checking back! : )

BLOGS…

For a time, I will not be designing blogs. I love designing blogs and I am hoping that my time away from designing blogs will be short! I certainly will post here at my design blog when I resume blog design.

God bless, Tera

Two New Blogs

2010-10-06T13:55:00.001-05:00

I have two new blog designs to show you that I LOVE!!

First up…

How cool is this blog? I designed this blog for a Sixth Grader who is a Civil War and American Military history buff. We went all fancy with a rotating banner. I just love how this blog turned out! His Mom is the best and I have designed FOUR blogs for their family! What an honor…a sweet privilege…truly!

Next up…

This blog is totally my style…scrappy, lovely, realistic digital elements…LOVE…my most favorite type of blog to design. I love all of the buttons, framed photos, etc. Tracey is a super sweet lady…check out her new design!!

God bless, Tera

The Toothpick

2010-07-26T16:12:00.001-05:00

What a super FUN blog! I just completed a blog for a sweet, ten year old, self proclaimed “FOODIE” who will be known on the WWW as “The Toothpick”. As a fellow foodie, it was my true PLEASURE to help “The Toothpick” and his sweet mom (I mean, SUPER sweet! Do people still say “super”?) come up with a design for his very first blog. : D

Welcome to blogland, TP!! : D I will be a frequent visitor!

God bless,

Tera

I’m Back and Ready to Roll

2010-05-26T09:50:00.001-05:00

My laptop is fixed! Yaaaay!

God bless, Tera

A Brief Hiatus

2010-04-28T10:22:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I took my laptop in for another round of repairs. (Bummer!) Hopefully I will be back up and running again in approximately 2 weeks! I will be able to receive email...so, feel free to send!

God bless, Tera : D

A New Blog for Beth and Sweet Words of Encouragement from Beth and Dana

2010-03-20T10:54:00.001-05:00

“Just Beth”. That is the title of my new friend Beth’s lovely new blog. : ) I helped Beth to design a blog that is just as functional, personal and informative as it is pretty.

In the spirit of her blog’s tag line, “The Hand that Gives, Gathers”, Beth just left for a service trip to Guatemala and she is going to blog all about her trip while she is there. So, visit her blog to check out her blog design and to read about the exciting things that will be happening in Guatemala as she partners up with Sue Hamel and the team from Mayan Hearts! : )

Unbeknownst to me, Beth decided to write a super sweet email detailing the experience that she had working with me to design her blog. She sent this email to a large group of friends and partners that work to help the people of Guatemala. I was so humbled to read this email and it was beyond sweet of Beth to send this out. Thank you, so much Beth! : ) It was an honor to work with you! Here are a few excerpts from the email:

“…I truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Tera helped me to build what I have come to feel is a very comfortable ‘sitting room,’ filled with lots of information that will introduce readers to me and might even provide them with some resources. I suppose, if I liked coffee, it would be like lounging in the Starbucks section of the local Barnes and Noble.

In my pre-kid life (which seems oh so long ago), I did organization development and training work, and – for a while – I consulted with a customer service organization. I feel like I’m a really good judge of the service experience, and I must tell you that Tera absolutely knocked my socks off. In the OD world, we often said that ‘feedback is a gift ~ both positive and constructive.’ Well, I’ve been trying, for days, to identify one piece of constructive feedback for Tera… just a little something that she might be able to do better… and, let me tell you, I’ve got nothin.’

In an effort to keep this short, let me just say that Tera was incredibly informative, responsive, thoughtful, open-minded, diligent, organized, patient, sweet as all heck, and she has a great sense of humor too. I stepped into the design process knowing absolutely nothing, and I feel like I’ve walked away well informed and ready to play.

I posted my first blog entry last night and look forward to daily posts while in Guatemala. Two weeks from Saturday… woo hoo!!!”

Cheers,
Beth from Boston

Also… Before I publish this post…

I had the amazing opportunity to help Dana Shelton and her family to design an adoption portfolio for their domestic adoption. Just weeks after Dana submitted her family’s completed portfolio, Dana and her husband were chosen by a Birth Family to parent a darling baby boy! I want to {CONGRATULATE} the Shelton family on the new addition to their beautiful family! Here are a couple of pages from their adoption portfolio:

The Shelton family’s portfolio was truly a work of heart and I was deeply honored to be a part of their adoption journey! They are truly a wonderful family!! Here are a few excerpts from Dana’s recent emails to me:

“We finished our home study today and it went great! I just wanted to let you know our social worker LOVED our portfolio! He said it was beautiful! : ) I told him a very talented friend put it together for me. Thanks again!!!”

“I just wanted you to know that our agency loved our scrapbook so much they brought it out at the last parent meeting (that my friends just happened to be at) and showed everyone. Everyone loved it! And then they showed it off at the board meeting last month! I just wanted you to know that you rock! : ) And my agency thinks so too! Have a blessed day!”

Thank you so much, Beth and Dana! It was an honor to work with you both!

God bless, Tera

I’m Back

2010-03-12T08:23:00.001-06:00

I have my laptop back. I’m not convinced it’s totally fixed but I’m going to live with it for a while before I make a final determination on that. ; D I’m available to accept new projects. : )

God bless, Tera

A Brief Hiatus

2010-02-22T18:04:00.002-06:00

I am taking my laptop in for repairs. : ) As soon as I have my laptop back, I will be able to begin new projects! : ) I will be using an older laptop in the meantime, so I will be able to receive emails and answer questions, etc.

God bless, Tera

An Art Teacher’s Blog

2010-01-16T11:24:00.001-06:00

I am seriously in love with this blog! {swoon}

I had the great pleasure of helping Stephanie design her personal blog, Counting Seeds. I was then so honored when Stephanie asked for my help with a blogsite…for her classroom! Stephanie is an elementary school art teacher who has decided to use a blogsite as a communication tool. I think this is such a great idea!

Stephanie took the photos for the banner…they are so cool! They were the inspiration for the entire blog design.

Thank you for the opportunity to work on such a special blog, Stephanie. I LOVED every minute of it! You are such a special person and you are so much fun to work with!

CLICK HERE to view Stephanie’s new blog… “Pipe Cleaners, Paper Cuts and Picasso”

God bless, Tera

A Fun Adoption Portfolio

2009-10-26T17:23:00.001-05:00

When you adopt domestically, an adoption portfolio book is very important. It is a book that represents your family! It is all about who you are, how you live, what is important to you and what your values are.

I love working on adoption portfolio books…it’s an honor and there is so much heart that goes into each and every one. I recently completed an adoption portfolio for the Shelton family…what a special family!

Sheltons… It was an absolute true pleasure to be a small part of your special journey! May you hear good news very, very soon! Please keep in touch! : D

A few pages…

I have been busy, busy! I have been working on seasonal card designs all week. It is my hope to be able to offer them again this year! I hope to have new cards and ordering information up within a week or so! This is the only time of the year that I offer cards. God bless,

Tera

Not So Random Stuff

2009-09-14T00:07:00.001-05:00

“Nothing in life is random, there's a purpose and a reason for everything that we encounter. That's the reason for this blog: to capture and remember the not so random occurrences, the rich events that make life what it is.”

Don’t you just love that? That is what Gina, the author of the blog “Not So Random Stuff” , has to say regarding the purpose of her blog. Gina’s blog is SO inspiring… The posts are all about faith, family and making a house a home. And, she features truly wonderful photos in her blog posts! Her blog is the latest blog on my “must read” list! And, I am SO in love with the design that we put together…check it out:

You just have to visit Gina’s blog in person! I think that you will decide that you must add “Not So Random Stuff” to your list of reads!

Thanks again, Gina! You are a dream to work with!

God bless,

Tera

A New Look for Susie Harris

2009-09-10T14:47:00.001-05:00

Have you visited www.susieharrisblog.com? If not, you should! Susie’s blog is filled with inspirational DIY projects and design ideas for your home. Susie also has a very cool Etsy shop that is filled with all sorts of fun goodies including customized family name signs (I have one hanging in my kitchen…love it!)

Susie sent me and email recently and said that she was ready to give her blog a new look. Although we will miss the beautiful blue from her previous blog design, her new design is lovely…it's fresh, clean and oh-so-Susie. : )

Below, you will see the previous design that Susie and I designed together…I will admit, I have some serious love for this design…hee hee…but everyone needs a change now and then… ; D

And, here is the NEW Susie Harris blog design…

The banner was created using a photograph that Susie took of one of the baskets in her home. Isn’t this a fun idea for a banner?

Thanks again, Susie for trusting me with your blog! It is always so much fun to work with you…you are so creative and talented! I love trying out new and fun ideas for your blog!

God bless, Tera

All You Can Do is TRI

2009-08-19T14:16:00.001-05:00

It is always a pleasure to design for Kelly. : D This is the second blog project that I have helped Kelly with. : D The title of Kelly’s new blog is: “All You Can Do is TRI”…the tagline for her blog is “From Couch Potato to Triathlete in Ten Months or BUST!” Don’t you just love that?! Kelly is currently training for a triathlon and I put together a blog for her so that she can blog about her journey…her new blog is both inspiring and fun!

Kelly chose a BLOGwear design for her blog that uses a predesigned BLOGwear kit from The Shabby Shoppe. I highly recommend BLOGwear blogs…they are fabulous! If you are interested in a BLOGwear blog, check out the predesigned BLOGwear kits at The Shabby Shoppe…make sure to view all of the kits…there are THREE pages of gorgeous kits to choose from! Once you find a kit that you love, contact me…I will purchase the kit on your behalf and we will then begin your BLOGwear blog customization and installation!

CLICK HERE to see Kelly’s new BLOGwear blog design. : )

Why choose a BLOGwear design for your blog?

* The designs are FABULOUS!

* You can know beforehand exactly what your blog banner will look like.

* The cost of a BLOGwear blog is just $45 including ALL graphics fees.

* BLOGwear customization and installation is QUICK…on average, from the time that I start working on your blog, it can take me as little as 48 hours to customize and install a BLOGwear blog if we have quick communication!

CLICK HERE to view all of my blog design packages.

God bless, Tera

Mi Sol

2009-08-13T00:32:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege to meet Carrie Pagliaro, a sweet and amazingly talented photographer and fellow “Guatemama” to two adorable children, during our adoption processes. I was so honored when Carrie asked me if I would be willing to help her to create a web presence for her photography business. Carrie chose to go with a blogsite for her business website. Her blogsite will be used both as a website and as a blog. Visit Carrie’s new blogsite, Misol Photography, and enjoy browsing through her beautiful, warm new home on the web! You are simply wonderful, Carrie! You are an incredible photographer and I just know that your business will be a great success!

God bless,

Tera

Sweet Adventures

2009-07-25T23:07:00.001-05:00

Working with Mera from “The Adventures of Gabby and Hunter” was indeed a sweet experience! Mera was a delight to work with and we were quickly able to agree on a beautiful, elegant and personal design for her blog. Really… How purty is this blog? ; )

Stop in and visit Mera at The Adventures of Gabby and Hunter and read about the passion that she has for God, for her family and for living more simply and naturally.

Thank you for choosing me for your blog design, Mera…it’s always a pleasure to meet a fellow Guatemama!

God bless,

Tera

Gifts of Hope

2009-07-08T20:58:00.001-05:00

I have just completed an online marketplace using a blogsite layout for Across All Borders…an organization that works to provide orphan care and outreach to families living in extreme poverty in Guatemala. The funds that will be generated through the Gifts of Hope marketplace will go directly into helping to fund AAB’s work in Guatemala.

If you are not familiar with Guatemalan crafts, artwork and textiles {or even if you are} you should check out the beautiful items that are available at Gifts of Hope: Across All Borders Marketplace. I especially LOVE the beautiful painting and the lovely terra cotta angel ornaments. Items are limited right now but additional items will be added in October. And, I hear that Guatemalan coffee will be available through Gifts of Hope very soon. : )

God bless,

Tera

Counting Seeds

2009-06-01T00:25:00.001-05:00

It was meant to be…

I think that Stephanie (the author of the blog “Counting Seeds”) was meant to find little ol’ me here at A Little Bit of TLC {The Creative Blog} because everything about her blog design process was seamless!

Stephanie chose my custom blog package for her personal blog and as soon as she chose her graphics, we were quickly on the way to making her blog a reflection of who she is. I love the color palette and I also love the little touches that let visitors know that they are visiting {Stephanie’s} blog. Blogging is personal…I think that blog design should be personal too! Here is a sneak peek of the completed design…

I love it! CLICK HERE to visit Counting Seeds. Stephanie, thank you for being a dream to work with! Keep in touch!

God bless,

Tera

Ad for Across All Borders

2009-05-22T22:09:00.001-05:00

I created an ad for Across All Borders. The ad will appear in an upcoming issue of Weaving Families online magazine.

** UPDATE: CLICK HERE to view the magazine! **

I’m always happy to help when I can!

God bless,

Tera

Scrappy Goodness

2009-03-04T22:41:00.001-06:00

I met Kelly from Scrapbook Creations by Kelly and Custom Lifebooks through our adoption agency…we both used the same placement agency for the adoptions of our beautiful Guatemalan children.

Kelly is a sweet, creative and very talented stay-at-home Mom who LOVES paper scrapbooking. She has turned her beloved hobby and passion into not one but TWO home businesses.

Kelly’s latest business, Scrapbook Creations by Kelly, will help clients in her local area to organize and preserve their photos and memorabilia items and put them into scrapbooks.

Kelly turned to me to help her create a web presence for her new business venture. I had a wonderful time working on this blogsite with Kelly! Kelly is currently hard at work adding content to her blogsite pages! Click HERE to visit her.

I had such a wonderful time working with you, Kelly!! You are so talented…your layouts are inspiring!! I hope that your new business venture will be a great success!

God bless,

Tera

Bienvenue!

2009-02-16T22:39:00.001-06:00

That is the warm welcome that you will receive when you visit Susie Harris’ fun and inspirational blog!

I have been visiting Susie’s blog for several months. I love her decorating ideas, the little peeks into her home, her crafty ideas and her genuine posting style.

Susie is one talented lady! She makes tassels and she also makes signs like the one the below. She hand paints and distresses each and every sign! *swoon*

Recently, Susie has been wanting a fresh new look for her blog. She had a vision of what she wanted but wasn’t sure how to fully execute her vision.

Susie had a great banner idea that she was using and she found an ad that she wanted to pull some inspiration from. I quickly realized that my “usual” design style was not going to work for this blog design. I was excited that I was going to be stretched a bit creatively (and, I was also a wee bit intimidated…hee hee…right, Susie?) We put our heads together and went to work! Everything clicked and fell into place. I just love it when that happens!

The inspiration:

The “before”:

Purty, fresh and clean…just as it was!

The “after”:

Ooooolala! We took what she had and made it extra wonderful.

Susie was as sweet and genuine in our telephone consultation as she is at her blog. She was very patient with me as we dealt with sickness at our house this week and a bloggy glitch! It was truly an absolute pleasure to work with her. Thank you, Susie!! CLICK HERE to visit her new blog! And, while you’re there, check out the fabulous goodies in her Etsy shop!

God bless,

Tera

Sprucing Up

2009-02-06T23:07:00.001-06:00

Please excuse my mess as I spruce things up a little bit around The Creative Blog. I’m doing a bit of pre-spring cleaning! : D

God bless,

A Blog-site and a Blog for AAB

2009-01-26T01:38:00.001-06:00

Across All Borders is a brand new organization that will begin working in Guatemala this year! I am a supporter of organizations like AAB, Mayan Families, Global Orphan Team, Guatemalan Harvest, etc. because the main focus is on Guatemala. And, with adoptions currently not being viable in Guatemala, HELP is definitely needed!

I helped AAB with a new blog-site and with a redesign of their current blog. A blog-site is basically a blog that can mimic a website. A blog-site usually has “pages” (which are actually posts) and some sort of a linking system (either a link bar under the banner or a link bar in a side bar). Blog-site design is a new service that I am offering! The nice thing about a blog-site is that you can have the look of website with the ease of use that comes from having a blog.

I had a wonderful time working on this project…it was very rewarding!

CLICK HERE to visit the AAB blog

CLICK HERE to visit the AAB blog-site

God bless,

A BLOGwear blog and an Adoption Portfolio

2009-01-16T21:58:00.001-06:00

I have been working on several projects. One project was the installation and customization of a BLOGwear kit from The Shabby Shoppe. Another project was a domestic adoption portfolio that I have been working on slowly for a long while and the third project is a project that will be revealed in the next week or so. : )

Here is the finished BLOGwear blog:

I just love how Trisha’s blog turned out! Trisha is a talented (and super cool) demonstrator for Uppercase Living. She wanted a special space to post tips and decorating tricks using the amazing UL products that are her favorites. Trisha chose the ADORABLE Gabby BLOGwear kit from The Shabby Shoppe for her blog. She picked out the photos that she wanted for her banner (seriously, how cute is her family?) and I inserted her photos, enhanced them just a tad and customized the banner and the buttons with the text of her choice. : ) The background that she chose is a beautiful, almost sea glass blue digital paper from Design by Dani that we both absolutely love.

Thank you, Trisha…you are very sweet and you were just wonderful to work with! May your business be very successful!

If you are interested in a BLOGwear kit customization and installation for your blog, just send me an email. : ) My next opening will be in mid to late February (however, I might be able to squeeze you in a bit sooner than that). Using a BLOGwear kit for your blog is a very cool option… The kits are predesigned by The Shabby Shoppe, so you will know in advance what your blog banner will look like. Using a BLOGwear kit is very economical too. The entire blog makeover (including graphics) is $45 and the entire design process from start to finish can be very, VERY quick. Check out my left column for more information about this fun and exciting blog design option.

Onto my adoption portfolio project… : )

Seegal is a friend of mine and we met during our adoption processes. We both used the same adoption agency when we adopted our sweet baby girls from Guatemala. Seegal’s family is now hoping to complete their family by adopting another baby girl through domestic adoption. I was honored to work together with her to complete her domestic adoption portfolio books. We worked long and hard on this project together and Seegal was an absolute dream to work with. We took a lot of extra time to really research the creation of a portfolio because we were both new to the process and we wanted to “get it right”. We had a lot of fun too! I enjoyed myself so much that I am going to start helping other families with their portfolios, as time allows, starting sometime in February or early March. Check back for more details. : ) Here are just a few sample pages from the 12 page books:

Seegal chose the beautiful Olivia digital kit from The Shabby Shoppe and we used frames from Heather Ann Designs.

Seegal, thank you so much for allowing me to have the honor to work on such a special and important project with you. I learned so much and you are a sweetheart. THANK YOU!

A side note: I am going to be busy until February (although, I might be able to sneak in the installation of one more BLOGwear kit if you contact me ASAP…hee hee).

God bless,

A Special Card Request

2009-01-02T12:08:00.001-06:00

I was approached by Guatemalan Harvest to create a card just for them. I was excited and humbled to receive such a request. Sometimes when I am busy, I refer custom card orders to a talented friend. However, I had what I thought was the perfect kit for this card (the card was created by me and the kit is from Design by Dani) and I happily went to work on the card project. Guatemalan Harvest wanted something that was very festive. I just love the colors in this card:

Around Christmastime, I was also approached by Global Orphan Team and I helped them to make their card design printable. I was happy to help them! I loved working with both of these wonderful groups. I am currently working on yet another project for another s00n-to-be non-profit organization. I have been so honored to receive these requests and to be able to support these wonderful organizations. ALL of them are worthy and ALL of them are greatly needed!! I love that they want to help Guatemala (and other countries around the world) in unique and honorable ways based on individual and God-given callings, visions and strengths.

Now, more than ever, (especially given the fact that adoption in Guatemala is not currently viable) please consider supporting an organization that helps the people of Guatemala! God bless,

THANK YOU!!

2008-12-18T17:35:00.001-06:00

From the bottom of my heart… Thank you so much for your support! I ADORED creating cards for so many of you this season! What a joy and what an honor to be able to create so many family Christmas cards and to be able to see your beautiful families and to get to know some of you a little bit better.

Thank you so much for helping me to raise over $100 for our sponsored student in Guatemala! Thank you also to the sweet and generous donor who donated the funds to purchase a new outfit (a huipil and corte) for Caterina. I am so excited to see a photo of her in her new outfit!! THANK YOU!!

My blog design services are listed in the left column. In the right column, you will find my current design schedule for your reference.

CLICK HERE to read "Five Steps to a Purty Blog"...my post about how my process of blog designing will work.

Thanks again for all of your support!! Enjoy the rest of this joyous season.

God bless,

Blog Design

2008-10-30T21:27:00.000-05:00

Scroll down to see the various blog design packages that I offer. If you are interested in blog design, check out the packages below and then check out the following links:

* Five Steps to a Purty Blog

* FAQ

Please note: Price does not include the cost of the digital elements kit that will be used to create your blog design. The advantages of choosing this blog option: You will have a custom look...your blog will never look exactly like anyone else's.

CLICK HERE to see an example of a custom blog design.

This custom blog package includes:

* 2 or 3 column Minima blog installation
* A custom blog banner
* A matching background graphic or color
* Up to 8 side bar buttons
* Up to 4 simply framed sidebar photos (if desired)
* About Me statement or graphic
* Simple signature graphic (if desired)
* Font work

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This custom blog design package is very similar to the $65 custom design package. The greatest difference is that the Blogsite package includes a link bar either below the banner or in a sidebar. A custom coded link bar can make a blog feel and function a little bit more like a website. The links in a link bar can linked to other websites and they can also link to “pages” within your blog. The pages are actual blog posts. I will link the links for you and I can create the actual posts and then you can go back in and “edit” in order to add your own content.

The cost of this package is $100 not including the cost of digital elements kit that will be used to create your blog design.

CLICK HERE, HERE and HERE to see examples of custom Blogsites.

This custom blogsite package includes:

* 2 or 3 column Minima blog set up
* A custom blog banner
* A matching background
* Up to 8 side bar buttons
* Up to 4 simply framed sidebar photos (if desired)
* About Me statement or graphic
* Simple signature graphic (if desired)
* Font work

Plus:

* A link bar under the banner or in the sidebar with up to ten links. I will add up to ten pages for you in Blogger (or you can create them easily on your own) but YOU are responsible for adding all of the content to those pages (it is the same as editing a regular blog post).

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AND ALA CARTE

DIY: If you are interested in installing the custom banner, background and buttons that I design for you completely on your own without any assistance, the cost of the custom blog package will be $45 (not including the cost of graphics) instead of $65.

{ ALA CARTE OPTIONS }

Custom Blog Banner: $40

GoDaddy.com Domain Set Up for Your Blog: $20

125 x 125 pixel Custom Ad Square: $15

125 x 125 Custom Ad Square Plus Sidebar Code: $20

Blog Button: Approximately $15

Photo ONLY change in a blog banner: $10

NEW: “Two by Two” Ad Coding for Your Sidebar with Custom Colored 125 x 125 “Your Ad Here” graphics. $30

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{All prices and package items are subject to change.}

Grand Opening

2008-10-22T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone (and Nester blog readers). : ) Welcome! This is my very first post to my new blog!

A few of you might know me from my personal/family blog A Little Bit of TLC aka Guatemama. I have decided to create this blog to blog about creative type stuff...blog design, tutu making, card creating, yada yada. : )

AND, I am pleased (I think...I'm a bit nervous) to announce:

* I will begin to take on a few commercial Blogger blog design projects here and there. (Did I just say that? YIKES...hee hee) More info about blog designs below.

* I am also going to offer seasonal cards from now through the second week of December.

$5 of each card design order will go towards helping Caterina who is our sponsored student from Guatemala through Mayan Families.

Card Designs:

Would you like unique, fun, customized cards to send to family and friends this holiday season?

I will be happy to help you to add a photo or photos and text to the card that is perfect for your family for just $15! I will then email you the completed (flattened .jpeg) file and you can then take the file to the print shop of your choice for printing! (I also offer a print and ship option for extra fees...email me for details. However, having the cards printed yourself at a reasonably priced photo lab like Costco is by far the most economical option.)

Below you will find the card choices that are available (if you click on some of the cards, you will have an enlarged view).

Card design credits: Shabby Miss Jenn Designs, The Shabby Shoppe, Design by Dani and Me...Tera (thanks to Dani Mogstad from Design by Dani for the graphics used on the cards that I designed myself).

Please note: I am very sorry, but due to time contraints, at this time, I am not able to design a different/exclusive/unique design for each individual customer... The card designs below will be the only designs that I will be offering (although, I hope to add a few additional designs in the next week or so)... and each card design will be available to an unlimited number of customers. Thank you so much for understanding!

Above: Christmas Blessings (5 x 7 card by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani)

Above: Noel (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani)

Above: Shabby Plaid (5 x 7 card design by The Shabby Shoppe)

Above: Vertical Stars (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani)

Above: It's Cold Outside (5 x 7 card design by SMJ Designs)

Above: Ornaments (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera inspired by Dani using graphics by Design by Dani)

Above: Holly (5 x 7 card design by Design by Dani)

Above: Horizontal Stars (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani)

Above: Glitter Frame (5 x 7 card design by SMJ Designs)

Above: Brown and Berry (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani.

Above: Christmas Colors (5 x 7 card design by The Shabby Shoppe)

Above: Black and White (5 x 7 card design by SMJ Designs)

Above: Comfort and Joy (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani). This is my FAVORITE card! I think that it is so unique. I adore the colors and the verse comes from one of my favorite Christmas songs. Love it!

Above: Velvet Ribbon (5 x 7 card design by SMJ Designs)

Above: Peace (5 x 7 card design by SMJ Designs)

Above: Scripture (5 x 7 card design by me...Tera using graphics by Design by Dani)

Above: Reindeer (5 x 7 card design by Design by Dani)

How this will work:

1. Pick out the design that you love and that will go best with the photo(s) that you would like to use. (I am able to change your photos to black and white if you are interested)

2. Email me with your card request and with your FULL SIZE, non cropped photos . Also, send me your personalization information. Depending upon the request, I might be able to change some of the text on the cards.

3. I will take your photo(s) and personalization information and I will create a proof for you. I will then email you the proof for your approval.

4. We will discuss any changes you would like to make. Once I receive an email from you confirming your approval, you will then send me $15 via Paypal and I will email you the full size, high quality card.

5. You will then be ready to print your card! My advice is to save the file to a CD and then take it to a high quality printing facility in person. I highly recommend Costco. Yep, Costco...if you order fifty 5 x 7 cards, you will pay less than 20 bucks and all of your cards will be printed on high quality photo paper! You will need to inform your printing specialist of two things: Instruct them to NOT use any sort of color correction. Also, ask them to "bleed to the edge". I like to have the cards printed with a "lustre" finish instead of a "glossy" finish. Need envelopes? You can purchase small quantities of 5.25x 7.25 (size A7) envelopes at Michaels and at Archivers you can purchase value packs. There are also several inexpensive online sources: Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

(NOTE: I want to make the do-it-yourself printing option available to people because it is the most economical option... However, I DO have a print and ship option available as well for extra fees if you do not want to go someplace to have the cards printed on your own. Email me for details)

Blog Designs:

As time permits, I will work on a few blog design projects. Please check my blog design schedule in the right column for openings. I also have posted my portfolio in the right column.

I am fairly new to Blogger, I am not a "professional" blog or website designer by any means (I am self taught...I have been tinkering for years) and I definitely have my limitations but I think that I will be able to do a good job working on the blog projects that I will be taking on. : )

I will be offering THREE design options at this time. Option one: A custom design and installation option (blog banners and buttons, etc. designed by me and installed on your blog). Option two: For this option, I will customize and install gorgeous (did I mention GOREOUS?) BLOGwear blog kits from The Shabby Shoppe. Option three: As a side option, I will also offer a few DIY and Ala Carte choices as well. Check out the option details in the left column of this blog and email me if you have any questions or if you would like to discuss a project. I have listed my blog design options and prices in the left column.

CLICK HERE to read "Five Steps to a Purty Blog"...my post about how my process of blog designing will work.

If you have any questions, please contact me or check out the FAQ in the right column where you will find a TON of information.

I am brand new to this so please have mercy on me as I work out any kinks! : D I am looking forward to many new challenges. I will be limited in how many blog projects that I will be able to take on because my family comes first. Thank you so much to all of you who have encouraged me to step out and do this! : )

God bless,

Five Steps to a Purty Blog

2008-10-20T20:36:00.001-05:00

1. Check out my "Design Schedule" in the right column to see if I am taking on new projects. If I am booked, I can put you on my waiting list. Look over the design options by clicking on the “Blog Design” link above and decide what might work for you. Check out my portfolio in the left column to see if my design style fits your personal style. Then, send me an email and we will discuss the project that you are interested in. We can decide together if I will be a good fit for your project. I know my limitations and if I am not sure that I will be the best designer for your project, I will refer you to someone you will love!

2. If we decide to move forward together, I will send you a design questionnaire to fill out. You will also need to pick out a digital graphics kit (I will email you a list of digital designers). I will be able to help you to decide which kit might be right for you...please contact me when you have narrowed down your choices (I will need to make sure that the kit will work for our purposes). You will then pay me for 1/2 of the design fee.

3. When I am ready to begin working on your project, I will contact you about making the official purchase of the digital graphics kit. You will then pay for the graphics and I will begin working on your project. Some projects might take a week or even longer to complete and other projects might take a few days. During the time that I am working on your project, we will be emailing back and forth very often. PLEASE check your email several times a day after we have officially started working on your project…I will have many questions for you! I will allow a certain amount of reasonable "tweaking" to the design before I install it on your blog...I really do want you to LOVE your blog graphics! : )

4. Pay the second 1/2 of the design fee and I will install your completed design to your Blogger blog. That process could take between 1 - 3 days. Your blog might look a bit "kitty wompus" during that period of time. ; ) But, in just a little while, your new blog will be complete! : ) If you have any questions, please contact me or check out the FAQ in the right column where you will find a TON of information.

I am brand new to this so please have mercy on me as I work out any kinks! : D I will only be able to work on a limited number of projects because I am a stay-at-home mom to a busy toddler and my family comes first. : D I am looking forward to many new challenges. Thank you so much to all of you who have encouraged me to step out and do this!

God bless,

Tera

FAQ

2008-10-09T14:03:00.003-05:00

How long does it take for you to complete a blog project? That depends upon several factors... Your blog package choice, what I have going on at home, the length of my toddler's naps, the changes that you ask me to make to your design, how quickly we exchange emails (that is very important), etc. A soon as I start working on your blog project, I will ask you to check your email several times during the day. During your blog design period, we will exchange NUMEROUS emails and it is very important that you are able to return my emails in a timely manner throughout the day. It normally takes me many hours to complete one blog project. Those hours could be packed into a couple days or spread out into a week or more. I am typically able to complete a project in a couple of days to a little over a week. I will try my very best to complete your project ASAP!

How long does it take for you to complete an adoption portfolio? The depends upon several factors… Besides the factors listed in the answer to the previous blog project question, there are additional factors that can have an effect upon how long an adoption portfolio project will take. When you decide to have me start working on your project, please have your Birth Family letter ready for proofreading and please have your photos selected, etc. Also, as I mentioned in answer to the previous question, it is VERY important that you check your email MANY times throughout the day. We will exchange many, many emails and it is very important that we are able to exchange information as quickly as possible. Your design time can double or triple depending upon how prepared you are to start the project, how quickly we exchange information, etc. I do allow *some* changes to the portfolio design but I might not have the time to complete entire design overhauls. It is important to me that you love your portfolio so I will try to work with you on minor design changes.

Will you allow me to request changes to the banners, buttons, etc. once you send me the graphics for approval? Yes, within reason. I really, really want you to LOVE your graphics and blog design...that is very important to me. With that said, one banner can sometimes take me many hours to complete and because my family comes first, I might not have time to create multiple banners for one project, etc. I will make certain reasonable changes though because I truly want you to be very pleased and satisfied with your blog design. I want you to LOVE your blog!

What is your design style? I love high quality, realistic looking digital elements and papers and I am fairly particular about selecting artists. My style of banner/button design is a collage, hodge podge and a sometimes shabby sort of look. I think that white creates the perfect background for highlighting blog posts and sidebar elements.

How do you choose the digital graphic artists? Simply, because I love their work. : )

Will you be adding additional artists in the future? Hopefully, yes.

I have found a kit that I really love that was created by an artist that is not on your list. Will you be able to use that particular kit in a blog design for me? Maybe. : ) We will have to get permission from the artist first. Not all digital artists allow for commercial use. Please note that waiting for a response from an artist will most likely delay your project a bit. : ) However, I won't mind waiting. : D

You say that the price of the digital graphics that are required for your designs can range between FREE and just under $30. Why is there such a range in the price? A digital graphics kit will be free if: 1. I already own that particular kit and 2. The designer of the kit does not charge any commercial fees. The Shabby Shoppe charges $25 per blog for commercial use. Trust me, the quality is WELL WORTH the added cost. The Shabby Shoppe is one of my favorite digital graphic shops. If you decide to go with a BLOGwear kit instead of having me design a custom blog, I charge a flat fee of $45 and that fee will include ALL graphics and fees (there will be a small additional fee if your blog is a commercial blog).

Will you purchase the digital kit for me? Yes, I will be purchasing the digital kit for you on your behalf. Many times I will waive the cost of the graphics at my discretion but I will have to charge you for a commercial use fee if there is one. Because I will be purchasing the digital kit on your behalf, you will not receive the kit itself. You will instead receive all of the "flattened" blog graphics that I will create for you with the items in the kit (the banner, buttons, etc.)

Do you only work on Blogger blogs? Yes, at this time I only work on Blogger blogs. But, if you have a WordPress blog, etc. I might be able to create a banner and a few additional graphics for you, sized to your specifications. However, you would then be responsible for the installation of your graphics.

What happens if my blog breaks after you create it? I *might* be able to fix your blog for a fee but I can't guarantee that I will be able to get to the bottom of all issues. It is a very good idea to use the Blogger backup feature before making changes to your blog.

How do you create banners, buttons, etc.? I use digital graphics and Adobe Photoshop Elements.

How do you create blogs? I rework layouts in two ways: I use the Blogger page elements and I also manually alter the code.

Do you use graphic templates or scrap for hire graphic templates for your blogs? If you choose a custom package, all of the banners and buttons, etc. will be put together by me and even though I do have a certain design style and favor certain layouts, no two blogs that I custom design will ever look exactly alike. If you choose to use a BLOGwear kit, you will be using a high quality, professionally designed kit that I will customize just for you.

I have to scroll from side to side to view your entire blog and the blogs of several of your clients. Why is that? I design blogs to be viewed with a minimum screen resolution 1024 x 768. If you have to scroll from side to side to view some of the blogs, try switching to a higher screen resolution.

Is there any project that you will not work on? Yes. If I am too busy to take on additional projects or if I don’t feel like I am right for a certain project, I might decide not to take on a particular project or projects. Also, I am a born again Christian. That is the most important thing in my life. If I think that a project compromises my beliefs, I will have to turn it down. Thank you for your understanding!!

Do you plan to offer other items as well...like cards and invitations, tutus, etc.?

I offer seasonal cards and I begin offering them in November. At this time, I am not offering my tutus for sale.

Do you offer custom digital adoption lifebooks?

Sorry, not at this time. I only offer adoption portfolios.

Adoption Profiles

2008-02-16T22:48:00.001-06:00

I digitally design adoption portfolios for domestic adoptions.

Please email me directly for details and for a price estimate. jasonandtera at gmail DOT com

Sample Pages:

A Few Testimonies:

“I just wanted you to know that our agency loved our scrapbook so much they brought it out at the last parent meeting (that my friends just happened to be at) and showed everyone. Everyone loved it! And then they showed it off at the board meeting last month! I just wanted you to know that you rock! : ) And my agency thinks so too! Have a blessed day!”

“We finished our homestudy today and it went great! I just wanted to let you know our social worker LOVED our portfolio! He said it was beautiful! : ) I told him a very talented friend put it together for me. Thanks again!!!”

“I had my coat on, I was out the door, and the bell rang...guess who it was? Fed Ex...
Excited and anxious, I had to open my precious box to lift out a profile.
I can't tell you how delighted I am. It looks even better IRL than it does on the screen.
For real, I LOVE it. Absolutely LOVE it.
Going to show it off to the family…”

Seasonal Cards

2008-02-14T09:36:00.000-06:00

CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2010 CARDS!