New File - Customizing and Understanding Blog Structure

I found this great web site with a series of tutorials on creating your own custom templates to use with Blogger.  Click Here To Download Word document ..

The Creidt for the instructions goes to http://www.ourblogtemplates.com/

New Look

Good morning.  I am trying to go for a new look here.  What I really wanted was a St Patrick's Day theme.  I am searching for an easy way to update the look on my blog with the seasons, holidays, themes, etc.  This is a learning curve for me.  I have designed web pages, however, I am from the old school of design and this style sheet stuff is all new to me.  If anyone has any good resources to make it easier to update with out learning a lot of code and loosing my elements, etc, please post a comment here.

Thanks..
Jennifer

Free Font Management Software

Hey everyone...  gee how about that..  I am posting 2 days in a row.  Aren't you proud of me :)

If you are like me, you find all kinds of free fonts and dingbats that you like to use in your card making and scrapbooking projects.  I found so many that I want to cut that it is bogging down my computer with too many installed.  I discovered this program that lets me choose what fonts to install when I need them.  I cut down how many fonts load when my computer boots.  Below is the link

Nexus Font Viewer and Manager

Big List of Blog Topics

I was browsing around the web today and stumbled across a post in the Etsy forums. This crafter had an extensive list of blogging topics posted on her blog.  I don't know about you, but sometimes I struggle to come up with something to blog about.  I give credit to Carzoocritters for this list.

 GIANT list of blogging topics
etsy tips
how tos
demos
tips and tricks
tutorials
tip of the day
give aways
your latest creation
a custom order you made
a craft show you participated in
a craft show you went to
a link to a treasury you love
a link to a treasury you made
something you loved that was on the front page
something you loved that you found when pouncing etsy
sketches to new ideas
teach your readers how to draw something
recipes
healthy eating
healthier versions on otherwise unhealthy food
talk about your favorite food
favorite restaurant
money tips
how to save
how to be frugal
links to good deals online
links to sales
a funny lighthearted story about your kids
a story about your pet(s)
a story about your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/best friend
pictures of your child's artwork
exercise
work out videos you love and hate
a diet you are on
articles you read
current news
favorite tv show
books that are your favorite
books you read to your kids
you tube videos you have watched
your favorite song
a movie you watched that you LOVE
a movie you watched that you HATE
a movie you watched with your kids that made you laugh
a movie quote
a quote from a book
a website you love
blog for a cause
picture blog
of your workspace
something funny when you went out
what you had for dinner
your pets
your kids
a new creation
inspiration pictures of nature
inspiration pictures of architecture
inspiration photos of animals
inspiration photos from the news
inspiration photos when just looking at google images
inspiration scents and smells
feature a seller on your blog
feature something you recently bought from an etsy seller
feature something from your favorites on etsy, explain why you had to heart it!
top 5 finds
feature something unusual you saw on etsy but you love it
feature something you love by color
something you have always wanted to do
something you are looking forward to
what you are thankful for today (thankful thursdays!)
things that make you happy
amusing pet peeves
something funny you saw today while running errands
things that distract you when you are trying to get something done
get your readers involved
suggestions on a name for a new product
polls about favorite colors, favorite food, favorite type of jewelry, favorite movies, favorite games
polls about a favorite new product
critiques and suggestions

ask how everyone else gets motivated or creative
blog about someone else's blog post you thought was interesting
blog about someone's new creation they posted on their blog
if you don't have time to blog for yourself, post a link to another great blog article of a follower of yours

Post Your Comment to What topic ideas can you add to the list?

********** SNOW SNOW SNOW ***************

I haven't posted in a little while because of all the snow.  We have over 2 feet and another major storm hitting at the beginning of next week.  I was with out electircity for several days, so I couldn't get on line.  I have spent the last week trying to catch up on projects, emails, orders.....   I decided to go ahead and drop a note to let you know what is going on.  I have posted a couple pics below.

Card Challenge Valentines Day Card

I created this card for the current challenge on Card Patterns Challenge Blog .

The flower and the XOXO was cut on my Cricut Expressions machine.  The 2 carts I used were Life's A Beach and Wild Card.  The papers were scraps left over and orginally bought at my local Joann's. The ribbon was some in my stash that were given to me by a friend of my mother's.  I added some bling to the card as well.

Swap and Challenge Organizer Sheet

I have decided to create a way to keep organized with my swaps and challenges..  at a glance I know what is due when and the group or blog the project is from.  I am sharing this with you in hopes you can benefit from it too.

Click Here To Download

The type on the image is hard to see..  but the first column is to label swap or challenge.  The next one is the due date.. then is the address of the blog or yahoo group it is for, then you can put in the details of the challenge or swap.  The last column is to write in your assigned Partner's name if it is a swap.

Let me know what you think..  do you find that useful?

Jennifer

Blog Hop "Moving" Challenge

This is my first time joining in a blog hop.  This hop is sponsored by Brenda of Floral Fantasies and as part of this challenge we have to create a project with a "moving" theme. She is giving away some fantastic blog candy (one item is a Big Shot with a couple dies)..  so hop on over and check it out.  Below you will find my entry for this challenge.  The sponsor of this challenge is Sir Stamp Alot

I used my Cricut Expressions machine to create this card.

For Your New Home

This hop ends on Feb 13 and the winner will be announced on Feb 14 (The Big "V" Day)

New Card for Crafter's Companion Challenge #2

Good morning everyone..  it has been a little while since I posted.  But I am here today with a new card I created for a challenge on Its A Crafters Companion blog.  I did use the Ultimate Crafter's Companion to score my fold line for the card.  The challenge was to use the colors yellow and orange.  The papers used were some of my own that I designed.  I used blendable markers to create the stems for the flowers and stickers for the sentiments.  Below is the card I created.