Want to see our newest design?

Here is the custom blog design we installed today for Mrs. Goddard's Class.

You can click on the picture to see it in action.

Bright and happy, don't ya think?

Before....After

Our first custom blog design is up!  

Tessa at Spotlight on Kindergarten knew she wanted to keep her polka dots but opted for her favorite colors: green, teal, and red.

Ready for the big reveal?

BEFORE

AFTER

 

Well, what do you think? 

If you like the scrap kit Tessa picked you can click on the picture and head over to tell her. 

Tips to Gain Followers

I was asked to share tips on gaining followers. I am not sure I am the best person out to there to respond since there are others with more followers than me but I will try. Here are my

#1 Creative Ideas
The most popular teaching blogs are those teachers who share original, creative, aesthetically pleasing
lesson ideas. Deanna Jump, Cara Carroll, Babbling Abbey .... they all just ooze creativity and everything they do is A-dorable! Nothing beats QUALITY!

Now I know you are thinkin', I WISH I was like them but they are A-mazing. I feel ya, but when you do have the occasional brainstorm, make sure you blog about it, with pictures, directions, and a free download if possible.

#2 Free Printables
Let's face it, teachers love free stuff!  If you share, they will come. Especially if it is cute! Add clip art, borders, and fun fonts to really WOW them.

#3 Host a Giveaway
The prize can be anything...gift cards, bags, jewelry, TPT items, etc. The more valuable of course, the more people who will take the time to enter. You want to make the giveaway last a few days to a week to give it time to circulate among the blogs. Asking to be followed for an entry is good but don't stop there. Offer another entry if they blog about your giveaway so word spreads to people who don't currently follow you. Another entry can be given if they add you to their blog roll or grab your button. That way their followers may check you out long after your giveaway is over.

#4 Link Up
Participate in linky parties. This will bring traffic in from the linking site and if people like what they see, they may follow you. See my previous linky party post here.

#5 Comment
Do you like when you receive a comment on your post? Of course you do! One way to get friendly with other bloggers is to stop lurking and take the time to comment. Make sure to leave your link under your name. The blog owner and other readers may decide to give you a look. You can read my previous post on leaving your direct link here.

So, in the spirit of helping newbies gain followers, please go visit Hope at her cute new blog Second Grade Shenanigans. You'll be glad you did.

Dream Team Designs

Sorry I haven't been posting much this week. 

Bill and I have been SUPER busy working on blog designs!

We'd love it if you would become a follower of our new blog

Dream Team Designs.

Our first customer's design will be unveiled soon...

More Commenting Tips

Did you know you can subscribe to comments???  

Have you ever been interested in reading the comments on a post but don't want to have to keep going back to the post to check if there is anything new? Or perhaps you asked the blog owner a question and are hoping she comments back?  You can hit subscribe right under the comment and you will be emailed! There is an unsubscribe option in the email if you no longer want to get them.

 I had a few questions after my direct linking post that I thought I would try to answer also.

 1. Where do you save this direct link code so it is easy to cut and paste into comments?

I use and love a free app called xpad.  (Sorry PC people, it is only for Mac. Maybe a PC person can comment on what they use? There must be something similar.)

 After I install it in my applications folder I drag it to my dock so it can be opened quickly. I use it all the time! It saves automatically and you can easily switch to different pages. If you are a list person, this is the app for you!

2. I can not get direct linking to work. I get this error message. Can you help me?

My husband actually figured this one out. (I told you he was a computer genius.) The problem seems to be saving the code in word or pages. They both automatically are changing your quotes to those fancy curved quotes called smart quotes. You can shut this preference off. Web browsers do not see regular double quotes and smart quotes the same. This is why you are getting the error message.

Solutions: Use xpad instead or change your preferences in word  or pages.



Hope this post has been helpful.