Free Blog Templates

I’m not too proud to beg …..All comments left in the month of May will be entered to win a Lisa Leonard Necklace.

Once a week, I plan to find my featured blogger from our Chic Chick Widget. Some of the most talented women and amazing sites can be found here. We have over 40 different categories of all kinds of blogs, etsy shops and websites.  By joining our widget, you can expose your blog on 100’s of blogs.  When you see our widget, do us a favor……click on one of the titles.  You won’t be sorry.  Have you placed your blog on our widget?  See more info here.

 

I found this blogger………

Life is too short to have an ugly blog…..especially when we have

Key Lime Designs.

You’ll find all kinds of free downloadable items for your blog…..

If you don’t find what you need, or you just can’t figure it out…….they have packages you can purchase too at a very reasonable price.

  Their free items are listed on the side.  Surely you can find something to spruce up that blog…….oh and these are for blogger by the way.  Sorry if I got you all excited for nothing.

She has 2 column, or 3 column designs.  She even has tutorials to help you understand what that means. Or cute buttons……….we love cute buttons! Enjoy poking around looking at their stuff.  I would LOVE to know how to design blogs……it would save me a fortune.   Off you go……..

 

Have you joined my Community?  We’re chatting up a storm over at Blog Frog.  Join us!

This week’s posts were sponsored by Quality Custom Designs. Need curtains, drapes or a valance?

Clover Lane

I Love Sarah’s writing.  Her blog Clover Lane is SO easy to read.  I feel like I’m her new BFF and I’m suddenly the God Mother to her 5 children. 

One of the reasons I’m featuring her today is for this perfect Fall craft idea.  Perfect for decorating the house for Thanksgiving too.

Waxed Leaves…….not only waxed leaves, but a waxed leaf garland.  Aha…….caught your interest didn’t it?  Sarah is really good at sharing.  Sharing how she does stuff…….

Love how this looks in her window.  Actually I love that window too.  But if you’re interested in making this leaf garland, she of course has a tutorial!

Sarah has a post about how she got her house.  It’s not something that would surprise most of us, because I think we can see ourselves doing just what she did. What surprises me, is it worked!  Stories this this makes me giddy. 

She left a note in the mailbox of a house she wanted.  The lady called her back the next year.  And she got her house!  The house needed some updating, but had amazing bones and character.  Of course her telling the story is much better than me. The living room before….

After!  Now, I’m not sure……but you may like the fact that she went through each room and shared with us how she decorates on a budget.  EACH ROOM!  Telling us where she got things, how much…….. See?  Bff.  I knew you’d like that.

Basement before…….

Basement AFTER!

Kitchen BEFORE…. Kitchen after………what I really want to know is does she really have NO clutter?  And 5 kids?  I don’t believe it………I won’t.  I can’t.

She talks about having this piece of furniture for a very long time……I think she got it from her dad???  The drawers were rickety, so she took them out and placed baskets.  Isn’t she brilliant?  I love the green…..but if you look closely in the photo above, it’s black.  I wonder what color it is now? 

     And because you must have order when you have all those kids……..she created a Mud Room in her garage…..I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.

Sarah has some great tips on everyday events.  She’s got a great plan for tackling Spring Cleaning…….good thing we have a few months.

She is also really kind for teaching us a few things for our blogs………like how to make a header.  She walks you through it.

 

Once again, lots of inspiration.  Thanks Sarah, you’re my new Bff.

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This post sponsored by Amber’s Announcing You 

Mabel’s House

This gal contacted me knowing I would love to see some of her photos.  What she didn’t know was how funny I would think she is.  I love her writing.

When you visit Mabel’s House you suddenly get that Mad Men feel.  She’s thrown in a bit of retro vintage to give it that urban feel.  Her decorating style is a little bit cottage and a little bit quirky.  It works. ……After reading that sentence, I may break out in that Donny and Marie song “I’m a little bit country…..I’m a little bit rock n roll”  Sorry…..it’s burned in my brain.  You all know I love me some Donny.  So cute and humble. 

But this post isn’t about Donny and surprisingly it’s not about my dog either……it’s about Elizabeth’s blog named after HER dog Mabel.  What a darling blog name……coincidently, it fits her style too.   (cute dog too)

Style like hers makes me think outside the box….I love how she mixes so many styles and like I said up there…….it works.  Lovin these shutters.   Great idea to place INSIDE next to a window……who says they have to be next to a window outside?  Who?

Sweet little bathroom.  Brings back memories of an apt I used to have when I was single living in Portland in the Lloyd District.  I had pink and black tile.  I loved that bathroom.  Are those curtains actually a vintage table cloth?  SHUT-UP!

Now I’m not a hipster and would probably pass up a couch like this, but I’m seriously liking what she’s done here.  She gave this old furniture you may see at your local Good Will a breath of fresh air.  So hip.  I think my mother had those tables…..see what a coat of paint will do……and those lamps.  Just re-do the shades by adding burlap (LOVE BURLAP) and paint them that trendy blue….You’ve got yourself a highly fashionable room for not a lot of money.  We LOVE that!  You don’t need new to be cool.

Speaking of being thrifty.  It’s really the best way to be…..really.  First she found this darling cabinet.  I even like it just as is.Then she found this hutch top………TaDa!    And then……..she added them together.  Brilliant!  You know what else I love?  I love that she took the cabinet doors off…..I would have never thought to do that.    Alright all you crafty gals…….When you visit her….don’t forget to leave her a comment.  It’s all about making me look good people.  I can handle you not leaving ME comments all the time….I mean, I’m directing you AWAY from my site day after day, that’s just too many clicks………but if you’re not leaving the featured bloggers comments, then I’ll just assume that no one is reading. Then I’ll curl up in a ball and cry…….then I’ll have to start doing more housework instead of playing on the internet blogging.  Then if you give a mouse a cookie………..  :)

Blog Design GiveAWAY!!!!!

Don't you hate it when bloggers don't update their blogs? Gawd I hate that..........I mean why even have a blog if you're not going to keep it filled with exciting happenings for everyone to drool over.

Guilty........I've been a horrible blogger! Horrible! But the good thing about my blog is that I have over 400 back posts you can browse through for hours of inspiration. So give me a break.......training a puppy is hard work........it's taking my blog time........she better get this potty thing down so I can continue bringing inspiration to you on a more regular basis.

How about if I make it up to you with another give away? I had a few planned for my April Blogiversary.....well here is it the last week of April and I'm still not finished.

How about a FREE BLOG DESIGN GIVEAWAY!!!!!Danielle from THE DESIGN GIRL is one of those darling designers that has talent oozing out her finger tips. She is somewhat of a partner to TCB, she's one of our designers we refer people too for our smaller 100x100 button.

She has designed so many blogs! She has agreed to give away one of her GRAND blog packages! (value $120) Thank you Danielle........you ROCK!

This is big people.......I mean who doesn't want a new blog design. I need one for my personal site......have you been over there? Snoozeville.......but I suppose when you're as saucy of a writer as me, it can be plain right? ............... No? These are just a few header designs she's done.Since she's giving away a blog design, I would LOVE to show you her latest projects. She's designing stationary. I would SO love to possess this talent. I think I really should become a graphic designer.......I know I'd be good.......because I would just copy people like Danielle. :)This bird one of my fav! Sweet.......sweet peas..........For those of you who want to do it yourself........blog designing that is.......she has a few tutorials on her blog. Love that. Because sometimes I'm just too embarrassed to ask a simple question....it looks like I know what I'm doing because TCB is all purdy......thanks to Shannon......but in reality.......I know nothing. OK.........You have until Thursday at 5pm to leave me a comment. Tell me what kind of sandals or summer shoes I need to buy. (remember I am a very casual kind of girl who wears Nikes every day.......I wore crocks for cryin out loud, so obviously I need help.......make them comfortable!)

Living Locurto & Just Something I Made (2 blogs 2day)

I've got a lil sumpin sumpin that's gonna make you squeal! 2 blogs today!

I recently met Amy with Living Locurto through Twitter........ and while cruising her blog, I found Cathe with Just Something I Made. Both blogs are full of stuff we love. I can't believe I hadn't seen these beauties before. Like I said, these blogs are full........ FULL of little diddies to keep you busy or dreaming forever.

They are both graphic designers.........which totally turns me green..........I just know I was a graphic designer in a past life.........or maybe a bikini model.....

Amy has a ton of great ideas on her site, but what I love the most are her FREE downloads. In addition to all her creativeness on her blog, she also has a design business, Atomic Egg........both this gals have more sites than a baby has rolls. They are busy.....

To keep herself organized, she has a weekly meal plan......with photos!

More free download ideas...........Amy is a fan of home birthday parties.........I can bet you right now that she doesn't have a child born in the winter and she doesn't live in a wintry climate............like me! And her children are still small.........No way was I having ten 10yr old boys in my house. So if you're up for some crazy making.....she has some cute ideas for birthday parties for your little ones.

Cathe had something on her blog that made me fall off my chair. She's got a love for anything vintage......she found this cubie thing below..........what is it anyway? Whatever it is, I love it and I want it.She used pretty scrapbook paper to line each cube. I know! You want to hate her, but you can't.

Another woman with the patience to make these wonderful button bouquets. I tried these........and it wasn't pretty. I love that she added the printed paper flower.She's not selfish with her talents, she shows us how she makes some fab stationary.....If I made something like this, I would probably make a dress out of them and wear it.More great ideas using your printer.She even has fancy tutorials.......this is the one I found on Amy's site. The more detailed tutorial is on both their sites.Another great tutorial.............love how she shows you the steps.

Cathe also has several free downloads. Like this one. A button for your blog.......she has directions and everything for using it. When you visit Cathe's blog, be sure to look around for all her other sites. She's got a ton too. I can barely keep up with my personal blog.......which has become very boring.......

Enjoy everyone.