If you’d like to take a sneak peek at the new blog and store, feel free to do so.  I’d love to hear what you think.

"Laughter" Unlimited blog design screen shot

Last week, Linda posted her Valentine’s Day giveaway. Now it’s my turn. See, we love you guys!

I have been working hard to create new, attractive blog designs to sell at Berries and Cream Blog Design.  (I can’t believe the launch is only 5 days away!)  I am giving you a chance to win one of my new designs before you can buy it.

Although my Laughter Unlimited edition Blogger design was created with Valentine’s Day in mind, it’s more than a seasonal design.  The cheerful and bold colors (pink, orange, green, and yellow) are sure to lift your visitors’ spirits and make your blog memorable, and the cute word art included in the header will remind you and everyone else to take time to laugh daily.

Laughter is a 2-column Blogger design which features a custom background image, coordinating header (it doesn’t need any additional customization to properly display your blog title and description), and a coordinating heart and flourish post divider image.

To be entered to win this design, you must leave a comment at this post no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, February 13, 2009.  The winner will be announced at Berries and Cream Blog Design on Monday, February 16, 2009.

If you want additional chances to win the Laughter design, you can earn one additional entry for each of the following tasks you complete. (Please leave a separate comment for each task.)

1. Sign up for our newsletter.  The sign up box is located in the right hand side of our header.  If you are already a subscriber, leave a comment letting us know that.
2. Add our Berries and Cream Blog Design button to your site.  Grab the code from our sidebar.
3. Blog about and link to this giveaway.
4. Blog about our Berries and Cream Blog Design launch (Saturday, February 14) and make sure you include a link to the site (http://berriesandcreamblogdesign.com).
5. Follow me on Twitter: @RS_Designs

You can combine steps 3 and 4 into one post, but leave a separate comment for each step you complete.

I wish you all the best.

Revka Stearns

All entries must be received no later than midnight, February 15, 2009.  Go ahead – enter now.

To win the design you have two options; leave a comment below and secondly sign up for our newsletter which will give you an extra entry and a higher chance of winning.  Our newsletter will tell you about everything that is happening here at RS Designs and at future Berries and Cream Blog Design and give you special deals that are not available for non- subscribers.

If you would like to help us spread the word about Berries and Cream we appreciate that! Donb’t forget you can win beautiful prizes!

The giveaway will close on Monday February 8 so leave your comment now!

Good luck!

The second contest is at Seeryus Mama.  To enter, leave a comment at the giveaway post. Leave your e-mail address so you can be contacted if you win.

Both winners will be working with Revka on their new design.  Good luck to all!

Choosing a Designer:

When Kathryn decided to start a home-based business, she held a “Name That Business” contest at her personal blog, Overwhelmed with Joy.

When she announced the name, she also asked for designer recommendations.  One of my former clients recommended me.

Kathryn, being the savvy business woman that she is, contacted several designers, including myself, for quotes and even conducted some phone interviews.  In the end, I was privileged to be the designer she chose to create her online storefront.

Creating an Online Boutique

We decided to use self-hosted WordPress as the platform and turn the blog into a fully-functioning store front by using the WP E-commerce plugin.  (That is what we use here at RS Designs, too.)

I setup and designed the site from start to finish:

• installed and setup the self-hosted WordPress platform in her hosting account
• created the site design based upon Kathryn’s requests and ideas
• installed, setup, and customized the WP E-commerce plugin and additional agreed-upon plugins
• provided training on WP, the various plugins used (including the E-Commerce plugin), and other programs we decided to use

In the end, both Kathryn and I were more than pleased with her site’s design and functions.

Fabulous Products

The main point of In the Spotlight posts is to tell you what a business offers, and Sparkle and Charm Boutique offers top-quality products, most of which are handmade.

Here is their promise of excellence:

Please be assured that a great amount of attention to detail and love goes into everything we make.  We use quality materials to make excellent and unique products.  We heat seal our ribbon to prevent fraying on all our products.  We sew wherever possible, rather than just using glue, to ensure extra durability.  And we do our best to make a product that your little charmer is going to love for a long time to come!

Offerings include:

Tutus	Hair Accessories	Flip Flops	Beaded Bookmarks

Enter to Win Your Choice of 6 Pretty Clips

Lucky for you, Kathryn is holding a contest right now.  As long as you follow the directions and enter by  October 31, you could be the lucky winner of your choice of 6 pretty clips from Sparkle and Charm Boutique‘s Uptown Collection.

Entrance is easy:

• View the Uptown Collection and decide which six clips you would like. (You can choose 6 of one clip, multiple clips of various clips, or 6 different clip styles.)
• Leave a comment at the giveaway post stating which clips you would like to win.

Here’s a quick tip for you:

Sisterly Savings is hosting a giveaway of a $60 RS Designs credit to be used as the winner wishes. Entries are accepted through 6 p.m. EST on October 26, 2008. Visit the giveaway post and leave a comment to enter.

Don’t leave a comment at this post in an attempt to enter. You must comment at the giveaway post.

Good luck!

Linda’s giveaway is at Bella Casa where entries are being accepted until this Thursday, September 25, 2008. The winner will be announced on Friday. Read the giveaway post for details on how to enter (leave a comment at your choice of two posts) and qualify for multiple entries.

My giveaway is at Thrifty Mommy where my friend, Karen, is accepting entries until September 30, 2008, and will announce the winner the first week in October. Karen has two ways for you to enter. If you choose to do both, you will receive an additional entry. Details are at her giveaway post.

As a thank-you for hosting these giveaways, these ladies will be given a 20% discount code that they can use toward their next order at RS Designs.

If you’d like to host a giveaway, please check our giveaway calendar to see which designer is available during the month you would like to host a giveaway. Typically, each designer will only sponsor one giveaway per month. (I accidentally double-booked myself for November, but that is not the norm.) If you host a giveaway, you, too, will receive a 20% discount code to use toward your next order.

I chose 1 winner and 3 runners-up via random.org.  Here are the numbers chosen.

So the winner is comment #69:
Lindsay – “I love a zebra in paris!!!! It’s so cute!!! Thanks for being so generous! (both you and Nicki!) ”

Lindsay, you have 72 hours to respond to claim your prize.  If not claimed in 72 hours, I will notify the first runner-up and proceed through the list until someone responds as requested.

First runner-up: Laura “Also signed up for GBB’s newsletter. Thanks!!”
Second runner-up: Cindi “Hello! I just signed your guest book. Again, many thanks…..Cindi”
Third runner-up: Rebecca R. “I would choose the Take Flight design with my lil’ guy’s initial on it.”

Our last giveaway from Giggle Bug Boutique was such a success that Nicki asked if we would be willing to host another one.  This time, she is giving away the winner’s choice of a beautiful customized blanket by Zudi and Vi.  The pictures below are just two of the blankets available.

How to Enter:

1. This contest is open to those with a US mailing address only.
2. Entries will be accepted from September 1, 2008 through 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on September 15, 2008.
3. View Giggle Bug Boutique’s selection of blankets by Zudi and Vi and decide which one you would most like to win.
4. Return to this giveaway post and leave a comment stating which blanket you choose.

For up to 3 bonus entries (leave a separate comment for each extra entry letting us know which requirement you have completed):

1. Sign up for Giggle Bug Boutique’s newsletter.
2. Sign the Guest Book.
3. Blog about this contest.

Best wishes to all of you.