New Year, Big Sale!

The New Year is almost here. That means right now is the best time to update the look of your blog or website, or get a new logo for your business. Start things off fresh and get ready to make 2010 a smashing success!

To help you reach your goals for 2010, we want to give you a great start. That's why from now until January 31, 2010, all orders over $20 will receive a 25% discount. Just enter code happynewyear at checkout and your discount will automatically be taken. Now you can afford to make all the changes you can dream up, and we'll be right here to help you all along the way.

Ready to begin? Click here to start shopping.

Don't delay! This offer ends January 31, 2010.

New Policy in Place

At Angela Vinez Designs, we are honored to work with quite a few Moms in Business Networks, creating customized buttons and banners, among other design items.

It is now our policy that in order for any work to be done, payment must be received up front. Our products are easy to find on our website, and if you require large amounts of design work (such as logo design, website design, or other higher-cost services), we will send you a paypal invoice for 50% of the design cost up front, and another 50% after the final proof approval. Services will not be installed, nor will full resolution files be sent without 100% of payment received.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Help Us Decide!

I am so excited to be working on a project for a client. I've known this client for a few years now, and I actually took her wedding portraits. (So much fun!)

Now, she's starting her own business, and she came to me and asked if I could create a logo for her. I gave her a few options, and she's narrowed it down to 3, but she's just not sure which one she would like to have as "her" logo.

That's where you come in! Take a look at the logos below and then cast your vote in the poll. It only takes a moment, and your opinion would really help!

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Thanks for your help!

25% off EVERYTHIING

Our handmade boutique items will be leaving the site soon. Very soon. But, we want to give you one last chance to grab these items before they're gone forever! And to sweeten the deal, we want to give you 25% off! Just use code CPSIA at checkout.

Need a tutu as part of your little one's Halloween costume? We make adorable custom tutus for little girls.

How about a gift for a new baby girl in your life? Our hairbow bouquets are the perfect choice.

Want even better news? The 25% off discount is good on ALL of our products - including custom buttons and banners, and even blog designs!

Head over to www.angelavinezdesigns.com and shop today. This sale ends at 11:59pm EST on Friday, October 2nd, so don't delay!

Items to be Removed Soon

At Angela Vinez Designs, we currently offer some handmade products. According to the CPSIA, I need to stop selling those handmade items that are intended for children, and I will be taking the next few weeks to pull those items off my website. So, if you need something, you'd better grab it now, because soon I won't be selling things like tutus and custom hairbow bouquets any more.

You may have no idea what I'm talking about or why this bothers me so much, and I totally understand why. It can be quite confusing.

Here's the definition of the CPSIA, according to this website:

The CPSIA stands for the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act which is a law that was enacted in August of 2008.

The stated purpose of this bill is to “establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children’s products and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”

The CPSIA requires that all products intended for children under 12 are tested and certified as meeting the lead limits as set forth in the law. Phthalate testing is also required for toys intended for children under 12 or “child care articles” for children under three.

Basically, if you're a working mother, and you produce products for children under the age of 12, you need to have expensive third party testing done to make sure your products meet the required lead levels. The thing is, this isn't just directed at painted items, this is for all items. Even an item like a tutu that couldn't possibly contain any lead.

The idea behind this law was good. Remember back when Mattel had all of those toys recalled because of the high lead level content? This law was started to protect our kids from that. The problem is, this law is putting many working mothers out of business. When I stop selling these handmade items, I'm going to hurt my income severely. Most of these items are my biggest sellers, aside from blog designs. But our government views these handmade items as dangerous. And I can't afford the third party testing for each item, as it's outrageously priced!

That's not even the worst part! I found this article the other day that actually gives Mattel a pardon! They don't have to go through the third party testing. And they're the reason for the law in the first place! But, apparently, if one has enough money, one can buy off our government. Doesn't say much for the working mother struggling to put food on the table for her kids now, does it?

In all honestly, I don't understand everything about the CPSIA, but I know that it's affecting many working mothers and their income. The businesses that we should be supporting - WAHMs - are the ones being forced out because large companies can pull strings and get pardoned.

Tell me your thoughts about this. Are you a working mother who has been affected by the CPSIA? And I'd love to know what you think about Mattel's pardon, whether you're a working mother or not.

And, remember - grab the handmade products while you still can, because very soon they will no longer be available, unless we can get the government to change this law. Anyone have 3 billion dollars so that I can buy them off?

New Blog Design

Go check out Malissa's Blog at http://miracle-momma.blogspot.com/.

She opted to go with the Professional ULTRA Layout, and wanted a fun, personalized design.

You can read what she had to say about her design here.

It's been great working with you Malissa! I hope you enjoy your new design!

Client Projects from this Weekend

I tend to get more clients that need design work done - logos, websites, blog design, that sort of thing. And I love it. But, sometimes it's nice to get away from the computer and do some work with my hands. Luckily, I had 2 clients gave me such an opportunity this weekend.

First, a very dear friend of mine told me about a lady she works with whose daughter just had triplets. (Can you imagine?!) There are 2 boys and 1 girl. Because all of their names start with M, the lady said it was like having her own little bag of M & Ms, only she got 2 peanut and 1 plain. My friend came up with the idea to make little onesies with M & Ms on them, and I got to make them! I am beyond happy with the way they turned out. Here - take a look!
Aren't they adorable? I am so, so happy with the way they turned out. I hope my friend is as happy as I am with them. :) What do you think? Should I add tutu onesies to the shop? Would people buy them? Would you buy them?

The second item I got to make was a covered travel wipes case. I have a ball making these, and I've never made 2 that look the same. Here's how this one turned out:
The client told me she wanted "black and white and totally glam." I added a few Swarovski crystals to give it the "glam" look. I hope she loves it. Ashley loved it so much that she asked if I would make her a school supply box out of the same material. So for her birthday, I'll be giving her the whole shebang - an art box, a pencil holder, and anything else I can find to cover in this material.

Maybe I should start hosting some giveaways on blogs for tangible items rather than services. What do you think?

Thanks for letting me share. Be sure to stop by the shop and see us. Oh, and if you haven't guessed - I love to take custom orders! Just drop me a line and let me know what you're looking for!

Heather of All Ruby Cakes (Blog Design)

Congratulations to Heather of All Ruby Cakes. She was the winner of the Outnumbered 3 to 1 blog design giveaway and she selected the "It's A Girl" pre-designed theme in a 3-column design.

Stop by All Ruby Cakes and check out her fabulous new look!

Buy By Mom is Looking for WAHM Sponsors

Buy By Mom will soon be hosting their HUGE Americana Bash. This is a great opportunity for WAHMs to get free advertising, and spread the word about their business.

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Want to become a sponsor?

As I receive Sponsors, I will put up a blurb about them on the sponsor page and also add a link to them on every page of the Buy By Mom website and blog. To those that offer both a review & a giveaway (2 products), they will receive their own Sponsor Page/Post, a button on every page of the blog/website, and top placement on the Americana Bash Sponsor Page. The pages and links will go up the moment the sponsorship is agreed on, and will not come down until August 15th. If you are interested in being a sponsor, use the contact form to send me the following information:

1. Would you like to sponsor a Review & Giveaway or Just a Giveaway?

2. Product or Gift Certificate? (Let me know product details or gift certificate amount.)

3. Send me a 125×125 button to use on the sponsor page and/or the buy by mom website as well as a blurb about your business. (Make sure to include a link to your website.)

If you have any questions, send me an email at angie{at}buybymom{dot}com.

Thanks!!

Custom Blog Design Giveaway

We recently worked with Melinda at Melinda Joy on a new blog design, and she is now giving away a custom design on her blog. The winner will get their choice of a 2 column, 3 column, or Professional blog design. (Professional ULTRA not available for this giveaway.) The design will be completely customized to the winner's specifications. Click on her button to enter to win!

Contest ends June 18th, so hurry!

$40 Gift Certificate Giveaway

All in a Mom's life recently received a piece of Photo Jewelry from us to review and is now giving away a $40 Gift Certificate to one lucky reader.

Be sure to stop by and enter to win by clicking on her button.

Contest ends June 22nd.

More Blog Design Options Added

Because the response to the new designs we've recently done has been so big, we've put them up for sale in our store.

You can find the design similar to The Mom Reviews and This Mom Can Shop here: Custom Blog Design Professional

And you can find the design similar to 5 Vinez Monkeys here: Custom Blog Design Professional ULTRA

Either design will give your Blogger Blog a crisper, cleaner, more professional look. People will notice the difference and want to come back to your blog!

We want to help you get the perfect blog design. Stop by today!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

This Mom Can Shop (Blog Makeover)

We also had the chance to work with Erin of This Mom Can Shop on a blog makeover similar to The Mom Jen's.

This blog design is really easy to install, and loads of fun to personalize for clients.

Thanks for the chance to work with you, Erin! I hope you love your new look!

The Mom Reviews (Blog Makeover)

We recently had the opportunity to work with The Mom Jen on a makeover of her Reviews blog.

Jen wanted something clean and professional looking. She already had the header that she wanted to use, so it was my job to help her get the rest of her blog looking fabulous.

I think we did a pretty good job! Go check out her new look, and be sure to enter some contests while you're there!

Giveaway on A Latte in the Morning!

Hurry over to A Latte in the Morning and read her review of a Custom Tutu & Matching Bow Set that she received from us. While you're there, be sure to enter her giveaway. You could win a $40 Gift Certificate to Angela Vinez Designs!


What would you spend your $40 on?

New Blog Design Options

If you've browsed our site, you know that we only offer custom blog design for Blogger. The reason is simply because Wordpress and I do not get along. At all.

Well, now you can make your Blogger blog look like a Wordpress blog. You can see an example here. There is a LOT of work involved with this new look, but it really is fantastic.

Now I want to hear from my clients - would you like me to start offering this style of design? What would you want to pay for it?

Thanks for your input!

Loving Hearts Designs New Look!

GAHome2Mom was the winner of the Dore's Diaries Giveaway that we were a sponsor in. She got to choose between a custom blog design or a portrait tile pendant.

She decided to go with the custom blog design. You can see her new look here.

She wanted hearts and a tree was also important, as she loves genealogy.

Congratulations, again, GAHome2Mom! Hope you love your new look!

Sweet Words Customer is Satisfied!

Melissa from Sweet Words Blog and Sweet Words Boutique found our services through the Mom Blogger's Club. She needed a button designed so that visitors to her blog could grab her button. We ended up designing the button, a new blog header, a new etsy banner, and a custom signature for her to use in her posts.

She was delighted about everything she received and she raved about us on her blog.

Thank you for the opportunity to create these for you, Melissa, and also for your kind words! I'm so glad you love them!

Welcome to our new blog!

That's right! We've finally jumped into the blogging world!

Actually, Angie, the owner of Angela Vinez Designs, has been blogging since 2005, but this is the *new* blog for the designs website.

On the blog we will share new items, items we've created, giveaways and reviews that we have going on, and so much more.

I hope that you'll stop by often to see what we're up to! It's pretty empty now, but I promise it will fill up soon!