Presenting the sites and blogs our students made while taking the course!

So you’re intrigued by The Girl’s Guide to Web Design… but before you commit, you want to see the kind of thing you’ll know how to make once you’re finished with the course?

Happy to oblige! Here’s a sampling of the amazing creations our students have cooked up with the graphic, web and coding skills they learned in The Girl’s Guide to Web Design. You can click the mini screenshots immediately below, or simply scroll down to see the sites and blogs in all their glory.

Pink Peacock Design Studio (site by our student support guru Stephanie):

Site name: Pink Peacock Design Studio
Site made by: Stephanie, one of our wonderful Student Support Gurus (follow her on Twitter)
Stephanie’s “website vision statement”: “My site will be the “storefront” for my web design business. It will be bright and cheerful but not childish. The name of my company is Pink Peacock Design Studio, so my site will have a peacock logo, an animal I think represents the business well: colorful and proud to show it! The site will display my design portfolio to give potential clients an idea of my design style, as well as lay out the design services I provide. The playful attitude of the site will make it immediately clear that Pink Peacock is not a stuffy, intimidating, Judgy McJudgy pants type of company. Instead, people will know it’s a friendly, down-to-earth, fun-loving design studio. Even with the bright colors the content will be easily readable and the site simple to navigate, making it easy for clients to find the information they are looking for.”
What Stephanie had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “To put it simply: the GG2WD is wonderful. Amanda has put together such a comprehensive course it is basically impossible to not get your site looking exactly how you want it to. She knows all the little areas that when customized, gives a site its own unique identity and gives wonderful tutorials on styling each of these areas. The course material is presented clearly and each chapter builds logically on the content from previous chapters. I just can’t say enough about Amanda and the Girls Guide to Web Design course!”

Bobalong Press (site by our student Malin):

Site name: Bobalong Press
Site made by: Malin (Follow her on Twitter)
Malin’s “website vision statement”: “My website will reflect Bobalong’s design aesthetic of charming, hand-printed letterpress paper goods but it will have a clean, crisp and modern feel (not too crafty or twee). The products and good product photography will take centre stage and will add colour and illustration to an otherwise white and clean site.”
What Malin had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “My site isn’t quite where I want it to be yet (due to lack of time) but I know that with the knowledge & skills I have acquired through GGWD I can make into anything I want!” ~ Malin

DanielaHummel.com (site by our student Daniela):

Site name: DanielaHummel.com
Site made by: Daniela (Follow her on Twitter)
Daniela’s “website vision statement”: “A clean, simple and sophisticated showcase of my acting materials: resume, photos and reels. It should be like walking into a white room with a single, bright item right in the middle as a showcase piece. I’m going with a “magazine” theme as my inspiration. Think nytimes.com type galleries. http://www.shopbando.com/ layout. Minimalist. Perhaps a single “paintbrush” stroke of color somewhere in the background. Photos must “speak for themselves.” Goal: to show versatility of actor and inspire.”
What Daniela had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I didn’t know anything about coding but I definitely had ideas of what I wanted for my site. I’m still learning but it has definitely given me a lot of freedom! So glad that I had this opportunity!”

Olios Design (site by our student Katie):

Site name: OliosDesign.com
Site made by: Katie (Follow her on Twitter)
Katie’s “website vision statement”: “The online home of Olios Design will be simple, contemporary, fun, and sophisticated. It will be a website that any design client will want to visit- for both design services and quick design tips. It will need to be easy to navigate for both future and existing clients. It also will have a design blog for readers of all kinds! Eventually, it will incorporate a gallery of design projects and an online shop. The website should be inspiring for all who visit!”
What Katie had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “This course was really fabulous (and amazingly fun)! Our fearless leaders, Amanda and Allie truly helped me gain confidence at creating my own website. Although I am still not a website designing ‘guru’ (and probably never will be, but that is OK), I have really enjoyed learning so much about designing my website. A few months ago, every time I logged into my WordPress account, I had no clue where to even begin! Now when I log in, I know exactly where to go and how to add new content, thanks to GG2WD! My website is still a work in progress, but I hope you enjoy it thus far!”

Seagrass Studio (site by our student Elizabeth):

Site name: Seagrass Studio
Site made by: Elizabeth (Follow her on Twitter)
Elizabeth’s “website vision statement”: “I’d like to have website / blog that reflects me and my work/crafts. I intend to use it as an online diary or notebook to keep track of my ideas, progress, disasters and successes. Post what inspires me, entertains me and be able to link them all together. I’ve had an Etsy acct which is great for many reasons but also ends up a graveyard for non-prolific people like me. Some people will find my site because of my postings and others will find me because of my jewlery/accessories and I’d like to keep them in one place rather than sending them to tumblr, facebook and etsy – they’ll all link to this main site but I would like it to be’ one-stop shopping’ if you will.”
What Elizabeth had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I am now the Art Director I’ve always wanted to be. Not only can I create with my hands but I can now create online. I have full control over font, color, space, content, etc. It’s really satisfying to be able to make something look exactly as you picture it in your head – without having to describe it all to someone for them to interpret. I also ove that I can change things up whenever I want without waiting or paying for help. I’ve gained freedom and control and the learning process really forced me to focus on more of a brand or image for myself – all of which equals empowerment. THANK YOU!”

Moms on the Move Fundraising (site by our student Stephanie):

Site name: Moms on the Move Fundraising
Site made by: Stephanie (Follow her on Twitter)
Stephanie’s “website vision statement”: “This site was designed for a client. She wanted a site that would be fun and adventurous, something that would reach out to young moms with grade school age kids. The product that she is offering is a Fundraising Event Planning Guide. She has figured out everything to make any event run smoothly. My client started the fundraiser, Moms on the Mountain, over 17 years ago. In that time over $480,000.00 has been raised for the K-8 grades in our small community of 8,000 people and 1,500 students. Pretty amazing! She now wants to bring her guide book out for other people to use in any way that seems to fit their community.”
What Stephanie had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I’ve been a graphic designer for years. I have designed websites before but using Dreamweaver and straight html code. I never had taken the time to learn css. Over the years almost all of my clients wanted to be able to make changes or additions to their sites. Using Dreamweaver made it almost impossible unless they had either Dreamweaver or Contribute, and those programs required a fairly big commitment of time to learn. With WordPress my clients can make the changes or additions that they want to their own sites! I needed a specific course to teach me so that I could then help my clients. The Girls Guide to Web Design was perfect! The combination of WordPress and Thesis is amazing in the flexibility that they offer. Amanda is a fantastic teacher. She goes over everything that anyone would ever need to get started creating the ideal website or blog. Plus, with Amanda’s course you’ll never be afraid to change things down the line! Too much fun!!”

Far Far Away… (site by our student Fiona):

Site name: Far Far Away…
Site made by: Fiona (Follow her on Twitter)
Fiona’s “website vision statement”: “Far far away is my little space on the internet to share my thoughts, ideas, passions and moments in my day. It’s here I write about my work, my marriage, my faith, my travels. And if others want to join me for the ride, I’m honoured to have them as travelling companions!”
What Fiona had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I really was not sure about taking this course. I wondered whether it was too expensive, if the time differences would make it hard, if I’d be able to keep up with the classes or if it’d be actually too basic… so I might have been one of the last to sign up. But I am so glad I did. I LOVED this course. It was exactly what I needed to give me the skills and the motivation to make my website really beautiful. First stop was my blog which was languishing in a boring (and often seen) wordpress theme, but I am also now working on my own sites for new business I am launching. Being able to create beautiful and functional websites without paying an arm and a leg for a website designer to do it is such a liberating feeling! Amanda is a fantastic and generous teacher, and the student community created on facebook was truly fun and inspirational to be a part of. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to take control of their own website and make it shine!”

Down Syndrome Resource Connection (site by our student Heather):

Site name: Down Syndrome Resource Connection
Site made by: Heather (Follow her on Twitter)
Heather’s “website vision statement”: “The goal of my website is to provide great reviews and resource ideas primarily for families who have a child with Down syndrome or others who are interested in this topic. I really want it to have a positive, welcoming, and inspiring feel. Because of the many myths and misconceptions out there, I would like the site to also have a professional look, so visitors understand that it is a reliable and trustworthy source of information. With that in mind, I’d like the site to have soft, calming colours so that people will want to hang out and read my articles. It also needs to be well organized with a clean and simple design to help visitors navigate through the content. Fonts in the body will need to be clear and easy to read, but I love a vintage look, so will perhaps use some script in my banner.”
What Heather had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “What didn’t I get out of this course! In the eight weeks, it has given me the fundamentals to set up a site I have been imagining for two years! The support from Amanda and Allie as well as the members of our Facebook forum helped me through any sticky situations and even at the end we have options for more help and are not left in the lurch. It’s been very satisfying to be able to learn some code and have the changes magically appear on the site. The platform used seems to be extremely flexible in terms of organization and design. I was very impressed by the course and the way the content was presented.”

Franny Bolsa (site by our student Lisa):

Site name: Franny Bolsa
Site made by: Lisa (Follow her on Twitter)
Lisa’s “website vision statement”: “Franny Bolsa should be a comfortable place to visit. It’s a place to pull up a chair and prop your feet up. It’s home. I use colors that feel warm and vibrant, keep the space simple and uncluttered, use images and graphics that have a vintage or homespun feel. Here at Franny Bolsa, I dish about parenting, food, and the lovely chaos that is life. It’s a work in progress here and I’m refining as I go.”
What Lisa had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “Did you ever get a box of crayons for Christmas… the big box of 64 crayolas? That’s what this course is like. Except you get the crayons a few at a time. It’s a world of possibilities. Each chapter builds perfectly on the other and as we moved through the site my design vision has become a chameleon of sorts. I’ve gotten a great foundation with some basic CSS and HTML and have learned how to combine them to make for some fabulousness on my blog. Amanda has a knack for taking what might seem complex and making it understandable and fun fun fun!. My blog is still a work in progress…. I’m playing with all the things I’ve learned. GG2WD gives you the tools to take all those nifty things in your head and make them happen on your site. This course is a gift of possibility – just like that Crayola box.”

Sibling Design (site by our student Alisa):

Site name: Sibling Design
Site made by: Alisa (Follow her on Twitter)
Alisa’s “website vision statement”: “My site will be a cohesive web presence which showcases my freelance design services, etsy shop and blog. The main goal is to attract new clients, sales and creative opportunities. The site will have a modern, graphic aesthetic with lots of white space. Color palette will be black, gray and pops of bright pink. There will be an emphasis on craftsmanship through the use of professional product photography and skilled typography. The overall look of the site should inspire people to take action, whether that is daydreaming about their own design needs and requesting a quote, purchasing something from my shop, or checking out my blog. It needs to show personality and a sense of fun while simultaneously establishing a professional level of skill and confidence. Desired audience is design conscious males and females in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s, indie business owners, bloggers, print designers looking to outsource web work, artists, local businesses and organizations, and people with trend-forward taste who value craftsmanship.”
What Alisa had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “This course completely exceeded my expectations. I am thrilled with how thorough the lessons were, Amanda’s approachable teaching style and her responsiveness to student questions and suggestions. GG2WD armed me with a skill that I feel is a crucial element of achieving my goal of being a successful freelance designer. It sounds over the top to say this, but the truth is that the knowledge and confidence I gained from this experience has transformed how I think about my goals, future, and opportunities ~ now *anything* seems possible.”

Undeniable Style (site by our student Kate):

Site name: Undeniable Style
Site made by: Kate (Follow her on Twitter)
Kate’s “website vision statement”: “I want people to identify WITH me as the “girl next door” who’s got a little quirk. I want it to be modern and crisp with thin handwritten fonts. I want people to feel that they can do what I do, and make it easy for them to ask me questions or consult with me. The site should should be engaging with a pop of color and interactive features.”
What Kate had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “Even though I finished the course long after the sessions ended, I was still able to get a ton out of it thanks to the super helpful videos and written tips. Most helpful for me were the parts the dove into CSS and Openhook. Really, the most important thing I learned though, is that you just have to have the courage to dive in and mess things up. No, it’s not going to be perfect the first time you try it; but if you fiddle around you’ll get there eventually!”

Mountain Home Liaison (site by our student Katy):

Site name: Mountain Home Liaison
Site made by: Katy (Follow her on Twitter)
Katy’s “website vision statement”: “My website for my husband’s business will have a rich, luxurious and sophisticated feel to attract wealthy, 50+ vacation homeowners in our CO resort town who are looking for a caretaker who takes great pride in their homes, caring for it as if it were their own. The site will convey that Chris is authentic, trustworthy, and reliable, and that he has meticulous attention to detail, as well as a wealth of experience and a quality reputation. Visiting the site will be like curling up in front of a wood fireplace in a grand Colorado log-home, a place where your worries and list of chores melt away and where the pleasant memories of your days filled with skiing, hiking and fly fishing, as well as family dinners and fine wines fill your thoughts. You’ll easily forget city life, bright lights and the fast paced corporate world, and the site will stir reasons you fell in love with this town and your home. You’ll want to contact Chris to manage your home, to eradicate honey-do list – and refer him to all your friends too!”
What Katy had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I signed up on a whim for the Girls Guide just days before I had my last day at my corporate job, just days before I dived head first into my own business. I had originally focused on helping clients with web marketing and search engine optimization, but after doing this course, web design is my primary work! I studied graphic and web design at University about 10 years ago. This course empowered me to re-stoke my graphic design flame and has ensured that I will never have to work for anyone – but myself – again! I absolutely loved Amanda’s teaching style and enjoyed every second of the course. Today, I am thrilled to have become one of the ‘Student Support Guru’s.’ Answering all the Girls questions not only helps them, but it helps me! I learn every day, and am utterly inspired by all these amazing women accomplishing their dream websites! It’s a privilege and a joy to be a part of the process.”

Wendy Sue, Web Guru (site by our student Wendy):

Site name: Wendy Sue, Web Guru
Site made by: Wendy (Follow her on Twitter)
Wendy’s “website vision statement”: “A friend of mine who prints t-shirts once said, “People are like magpies- they can’t resist glitter”. This is true in social media too. Not the literal glitter but the metaphorical. Everyone loves the sparkly bit that stands out from the rest. As you wend your way through web world keep it in mind- how can you add a little glitter? Where is your sparkle? Wendy Sue Web Guru can help you find it or build it. You can create what you are dreaming and you can build a site that is “you!” Keep Calm and Sparkle On is the way to build your own unique web world.”
What Wendy had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I’ve spent many years working in web world as a web manager but never had the skills to code or create on my own. This class gave me the tools to make whatever I dream up without having to find someone else to create my vision.”

Lingering Daydreams (site by our student Kate):

Site name: Lingering Daydreams
Site made by: Kate (Follow her on Twitter)
Kate’s “website vision statement”: “I’m branding it as “fresh domesticate”. Lila’s vision was to step up her blogging game with a site that was more user-friendly and heavy on resources for the reader focusing on DIY and local San Francisco Bay Area adventures. The site vibe was described as having a hint at industrial and a nod to old-school, but still a fresh clean and current feeling.”
What Kate had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “See my comments on Undeniable Style! Lingering Daydreams is proof that it gets easier the second time around! I finished this blog in about half the time that it took me to do Undeniable Style.”

Joyce MacFarlane Interiors (site by our student Joyce):

Site name: Joyce MacFarlane Interiors
Site made by: Joyce
Joyce’s “website vision statement”: “I’d like my website to convey a fresh and open approach to interior design. It should showcase some of my recent work (interiors and published articles on design) and include a new blog called jmi design mix, where I share insights and observations — hopefully making the site more interactive and appealing.”
What Joyce had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “This course has been liberating. I love being able to make changes instantly to my website and experiment with new ideas. Even though I still plan to tweak it, I’m so pleased I got it up and running. What an achievement. Amanda’s enthusiasm for web design and life in general motivated me to stay with it. She’s a natural teacher and her laid back approach was refreshing and inspiring. Money well spent. Thanks Amanda!”

The Best of Sofia (site by our student Sofia):

Site name: The Best of Sofia
Site made by: Sofia (follow her on Twitter)
Sofia’s “website vision statement”: “I designed 3 sites total in the last 6 weeks and I went through the least changes on this site. From the moment I conceived and created it I knew I wanted it to be punchy and graphically inviting and girly but not to a nauseating degree. I started with designing my header in Photoshop which I somehow managed to learn along with GG2WD (Who knew I could do that?!@!?) I then did my Nav Menu Bar buttons, then the social media icons, followed by the sidebar headlines and page background pattern which were last. I found the background pattern last sort of by accident, I was able to tie all my elements together and I’m quite pleased with my results!”
What Sofia had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I had always wanted to learn how design websites in Thesis and felt so daunted and gobsmacked by code that it took me 2 years before I felt like I could manage my way through it. I would have never been able to do this without The Girl’s Guide to Web Design Jetsetter course. Genius Creation Amanda! I’m impatient and also a fast learner and went through the entire course in 2 weeks. Just when I thought to myself “I wonder if she’ll cover ____ ?” and then there it would be in the next lesson. I was floored! The whole time I watched the videos all I kept thinking was the level of organization and care and love that was put into the conception and development of this course was superb and so inspiring! It was so permeable that I could feel just how much Amanda cares about empowering us all and helping us to banish our fear of code forever! Once I got the hang of it, I was then able to google a bunch of other css styles for different things I’d wanted to tweak and by understanding the mechanics of code, I felt so empowered to go for it! I can’t thank you enough Amanda! What a gift this was for me!”

On Point Business Coaching (site by our student Sofia):

Site name: On Point Business Coaching
Site made by: Sofia (follow her on Twitter)
Sofia’s “website vision statement”: ” I already had my own business for the last 5 1/2 years and a thesis site that I kept perfecting here and there. I was adding a new business to my roster to go hand-in-hand with my professional organizing business and I wanted my coaching site to incorporate elements of fun, un-corporate, retro, modern and clean. My original design for this business site was more quirky and retro and after a while of messing with it, I found out that my logo wasn’t going in line with the online presence I wanted to project. So I designed a new logo and re-did the site in 3 days and Voila!”
What Sofia had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I had always wanted to learn how design websites in Thesis and felt so daunted and gobsmacked by code that it took me 2 years before I felt like I could manage my way through it. I would have never been able to do this without The Girl’s Guide to Web Design Jetsetter course. Genius Creation Amanda! I’m impatient and also a fast learner and went through the entire course in 2 weeks. Just when I thought to myself “I wonder if she’ll cover ____ ?” and then there it would be in the next lesson. I was floored! The whole time I watched the videos all I kept thinking was the level of organization and care and love that was put into the conception and development of this course was superb and so inspiring! It was so permeable that I could feel just how much Amanda cares about empowering us all and helping us to banish our fear of code forever! Once I got the hang of it, I was then able to google a bunch of other css styles for different things I’d wanted to tweak and by understanding the mechanics of code, I felt so empowered to go for it! I can’t thank you enough Amanda! What a gift this was for me!”

So Dough Savvy (site by our student Jennifer):

Site name: So Dough Savvy
Site made by: Jennifer (follow her on Twitter)
Jennifer’s “website vision statement”: “My site is dedicated to helping people save money in the Midwest, using coupons and other money saving tips and tricks, in various aspects of their lives. I want my site to be unintimidating, organized, fun, and colorful. I am using a “smart cookie” theme and showing how easy it is to save money on everyday things like groceries, clothing and eating out as well as on big ticket items like vacations. My site will focus on local stores as well as national chains, with tutorials and easy to understand guides on how to shop at each store. I will also include ways to make extra money and lots of other ways to be “dough savvy.”"
What Jennifer had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I had the most amazing experience creating my own site with the help of GGTWD! Amanda and company are super supportive and exceptionally easy to follow. I feel so grateful for their patience and clear guidance during the whole process. Now that my site is finished I feel so fortunate to have the ability to maintain, update and change it any way I like! I know others in my niche are paying big bucks every time they need any little change made or any updates done. I am easily updating things myself as well as adding and changing things on a daily basis – so cool and SUCH a money saver. I’ve learned that coding can actually be fun and slightly addictive thanks to Amanda and the Girls Guide to Web Design!”

Music Inkorporated (site by our student Gina):

Site name: Music Inkorporated
Site made by: Gina
Gina’s “website vision statement”: “Music Inkorporated will be a place for me to share insights & ideas about the future of the music biz, art, music, life & all manner of cool things. It will be an edgy, fresh take on music and the Biz, and the design will reflect the site’s core values – Independence, Innovation, Creativity & Authenticity.”
What Gina had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “Never in a million years did I plan on designing my site myself. But after several failed attempts to find the right designer, I realized that the right person for the job was ME. Thanks to GG2WD, I was able to learn a new skill, take control over my own site and have a ton of fun in the process. Knowing that I managed to create this on my own has made launching my site even more rewarding and exciting for me.”

Body Love Wellness (site by our student Golda):

Site name: Body Love Wellness
Site made by: Golda (follow her on Twitter)
Golda’s “website vision statement”: “I want my site to have a sense of fun and joy and a fresh sunny vibe that feels energizing rather than relaxing. The site’s going to deal with some serious subjects, like negative body image and disordered eating, but I don’t want it to have that clinical, dreary feeling. I want people to come to the site and feel a sense of hope emanating from the words and the design. I want the background to have some yellows to give that sunny feel while still allowing for readability. I also want to use some dark pinks because I love that color and there’s a passion and energy to it. I’ve wanted to have an opt-in box as part of my header for years so I want this site to have that. Last but not least, I want my testimonials page to look AMAZING and I don’t know what that looks like yet. To sort of quote Justice Potter Stewart, I feel like I’ll know it when I see it.”
What Golda had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I had had my own web sites for years and had basically learned as much as I could on my own. I ended up hitting so many walls and I felt like if I just understood CSS for real (rather than copying it from elsewhere and hoping for the best) I could really do great things with my site. I had been following Amanda’s work for a while and really felt like she was a great teacher and that she would focus on the things that I really needed and wanted to learn, so I took the plunge and signed up and I am so glad I did! Within just a few weeks, I was writing my own CSS and creating the vibrant site that I had always wanted. Describing the course as “empowering” is so right on. Now, when I get an idea for something I want to add or change on my site, I can just do it, and that feels so good. If you’ve wasted a lot of time trying to figure stuff out on your own (like I have) I recommend signing up right now.”

Total Body Therapy (site by our student Stacey):

Site name: Total Body Therapy
Site made by: Stacey
Stacey’s “website vision statement”: “The Total Body Therapy website will be a friendly and welcoming source of information about acupuncture and massage and all the services that we provide. It will reflect the qualities of excellent customer service and making each client feel very special and unique. We want women who look at the website to be able to easily find all the information that they need to know and when they have questions and are ready to make a booking they feel comfortable and encouraged to call or email for more information.”
What Stacey had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “The GG2WD course was exactly what I needed to get my website up and running. I had tried to get started before and kept getting lost along the way. Following the videos on the course which were easy to follow and really informative really helped to get the site launched. Amanda was so patient in answering all my questions and the support from the other girls in the course in the private group was really helpful. Even now after we’ve finished the course it’s great to know that you have somewhere to go for a refresher on how to make changes and a forum to ask questions from people who are more than happy to help. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone thinking of creating their own website. Now to get started on my next project!”

Design Marchand (site by our student Kirsten):

Site name: Design Marchand
Site made by: Kirsten (follow her on Twitter)
Kirsten’s “website vision statement”: “Design Marchand is a blog focused on trading design inspiration, including unusual and unexpected one-of-a-kind vintage finds – as well as, connecting with small artisans and crafts vendors that represent quality, intrigue and amazing design aesthetics. Because good design is collaborative my blog is also all about my readers. My blog includes a forum where readers can post design questions and “searching for” requests, and “respond to” queries from others in the Design Marchand community.”
What Kirsten had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “Amanda and Girls Guide 2 Web Design made web-design and coding approachable. I had been nurturing my idea for quite some time and didn’t have the knowledge to take my ideas forward. When I read about the course, I felt like it was made for me, in a language that I could understand. What I didn’t anticipate was the amazing sense of community that has developed beyond the course. I now have a strong network of entrepreneurs to exchange ideas with. In addition, I have been exposed to an incredible support team of professionals with complimenting services for small entrepreneurs. I started working with my career coach, the Career Stylist, through GG2WD.

Amanda shared all of her favorite sources and inside knowledge making the design of my web-site not only possible but enjoyable. After completing my web-site design and graphic design myself, I did end up receiving a referral from Amanda for support with the initial coding for my site. I enlisted help not because I didn’t have the knowledge, but because we all have to make choices in prioritizing business activities and with a full time job, trying to start my own company and being the mom of 16 month old twins, this seemed like the right decision in moving my business forward. I do want to emphasize that there is no way I could have worked as effectively as I did with my resource without the skills and insight gained through GG2WD. Even now as I maintain and move my site ahead I continue to be buoyed through the support of my GG2WD network and knowledge. GG2WD opened up a whole new world for me.

Signing up for GG2WD was the singular most important decision I have made in forming my business.”

Keeping Mum Communications (site by our student Daniella):

Site name: Keeping Mum Communications
Site made by: Daniella (follow her on Twitter)
Daniella’s “website vision statement”: “Website vision: To connect brands with mums who are going to love them and mums with brands they’re going to love.”
What Daniella had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I’ve been a journalist and web editor for many years and always felt completely baffled and bamboozled whenever I’ve tried to have a conversation with techy types. So when I decided I wanted to design my own website I was prepared for more of the same. But the course put me completely at ease from day one. I loved that I could work through it at my own pace. That I have permanent access to the videos for the content that maybe hasn’t stuck in my mind first time round. But most of all I was constantly encouraged and supported by the facebook community. They were there with the answers when I’d been staring at code for hours and was at my wits’ end. A brilliant course and I’ve already got you one potential new sign up from my gushing about it.”

Lana Lou Style (site by our student Lana):

Site name: Lana Lou Style
Site made by: Lana (follow her on Twitter)
Lana’s “website vision statement”: “I wanted something clean and fresh with a feminine hint. I wanted to keep the design simple and uncluttered so that the actual blog posts stand out. The goal is to offer daily inspiration to readers.”
What Lana had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “The course was absolutely brilliant, I still can’t believe how much I learnt. In a short space of time since the course ended, I have built my own website as well as five others and originally I was just wanting to learn how to build my own site. This course has been invaluable and totally worthwhile and opened up a whole new business opportunity for me. Amanda makes everything easy to digest and fun too. I highly recommend it!”

Oh Darling Days (site by our student Monique):

Site name: Oh Darling Days
Site made by: Monique (follow her on Twitter)

Rachel Alison (site by our student Rachel):

Site name: Rachel Alison Video Editor
Site made by: Rachel (follow her on Twitter)
Rachel’s “website vision statement”: “My site will be a visual representation of my philosophy on video editing. It will emphasize my focus on storytelling, artistry, and design, and display how that sets me apart from other editors. It will do this by being easy-to-navigate yet interesting enough to keep the bounce rate down. Also, my site will differentiate me from others by ditching the cold, sterile feel of most video professionals’ websites in favour of a warm, friendly style that mirrors my actual process and personality. My site will be clean and uncluttered, with some hand-drawn-style graphics that will not clash with the video content. The fonts will be a mixture of a serifed font, possibly a typewriter style, and handwritten looking type. The home page will ideally have no content below the fold. And the colours will be neutral/warm to let the video content really shine.”
What Rachel had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “Girl’s Guide to Web Design changed my game. Through Amanda’s process of trying to figure out branding for my website, it also led me to gaining an understanding of my business as a whole. In order to decipher what would make my website stand out from the crowd, I was forced to look at myself as a video editor and say “This is what I’m about. This is what makes me special.” I had never done that before taking the class. I was so busy trying to learn the latest After Effects tricks or whatever that I had completely ignored my brand.”

“I know that at it’s core, Girl’s Guide to Web Design is about teaching us HTML and CSS. It did those things proficiently. I now have a custom-made website that I built myself where previously I had just a boring template. But what made the course stand out for me as something more than just a tool is that now I have the confidence to look at Rachel Alison as a business.”

“Before taking this class, if someone had asked me what I did for a living, I probably would not have mentioned RachelAlison.com. Even though it’s where I make most of my money, I subconsciously looked at it as a hobby. As if it weren’t somehow “real”. I was actually kind of embarrassed by it. Now, I say “I’m a video editor.”

“Hell yes.”

Yoga G33K (site by our student Courtney):

Site name: Yoga G33K
Site made by: Courtney. (follow her on Twitter)
Courtney’s “website vision statement”: “I wanted to create an online sanctuary for myself and my readers that not only evoked a sense of peace, but also fun & creativity. Part of the work that I do asks my clients to open up to possibilities in their virtual world, but also on the yoga mat. I found the photo leading off into the foggy distance and knew I wanted to use that in my header image to evoke that part of my work. The final component was SPACE. A feature that is also key on the yoga mat and online. So I made sure to incorporate white space and not alot of “noise”.”
What Courtney had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “The GG2WD experience was an intense couple months of growth and expansion for my CSS skills, of which I had none, and design principles. I dove into the course and have been using it as a tool for all my design work ever since. This course helped me to create my own online sanctuary and also gave me the tools to build sites for others in the business of health promotion. The course continues to be supportive through the online community so you never feel like you’re completely alone. Overall the course gave me a new sense of confidence in my business and has definitely increased my revenues. WELL worth the investment!”

Delbrook Quilt Company (site by our student Rebekah):

Site name: Delbrook Quilt Company
Site made by: Rebekah. (follow her on Twitter)
Rebekah’s “website vision statement”: “I created this website for my aunt to help her reestablish her former brick and mortar quilting store as an online shop. We wanted the site to be warm and inviting, but also clean and uncluttered as there was going to be a fair amount of colour and pattern coming from the fabric and quilt photos. We wanted it to have a folky, vintage, country feel but still a bit modern and fresh. It was also really important to us that it was really easy to use and understand, especially as we had customers who may not yet feel comfortable shopping online. Our other main focus was to include a blog that would compliment the shop, filled with info and tutorials, inspiration and to make people get excited about quilting, stitching and fabric.”
What Rebekah had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I LOVED it. Really, really loved it. I surprised myself actually, by really taking my time, watching and listening through almost everything before trying it out (this is so not my usual guns blazing style), and by the time I was done I felt so confident about putting together a site. It was awesome to be able to go back through the videos/Q&A’s to find things I had forgotten about or needed refreshing, and the help via the Facebook group has been excellent. As a teacher myself, I really appreciated Amanda’s hands on style that include lots of examples and things for us to try as this made my learning relevant (so important!). Building a website was one of the steepest learning curves I have come up against, and I am so proud of myself for having done it. Thanks to the GG2WD for facilitating that experience!”

Artist Desiree East (site by our student Desiree):

Site name: Artist Desiree East
Site made by: Desiree. (follow her on Twitter)
Desiree’s “website vision statement”: “I wanted to create a website that had a serene, yet ‘artsy’ quality to it. I also wanted it to be approachable, where my visitors have a chance to get to know who I am, as a professional, as well as on a personal level. I know that I wanted to use a simple color palette that was earthy, feminine, and somehow, connected to the ocean, by using hues of blue w/a splash of honey and faded pink. I liked the idea of my site having a zen-like quality, where it is easy to navigate and easy on the eyes…not too many distractions.”
What Desiree had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I absolutely loved this class! Before I took the class, I had knowledge of basic HTML, and since then I have learned SO much. I have learned how to use CSS, how to make beautiful graphics, and all of the ins-and-outs of what goes into building a website using Thesis on WordPress. There was so much valuable information to go through, that I know I will be using the videos to refer back to, as my website evolves. More importantly, Amanda and the Support Gurus have been INCREDIBLE! Building a website from scratch is very technical stuff, but they have been there every step of the way, jumping in to help whenever you get stuck. The community of fellow web designers are also very supportive and active…it’s been a pleasure!”

Tangerine Sky Designs (site by our student Zsofi):

Site name: Tangerine Sky Designs
Site made by: Zsofi. (follow her on Twitter)
Zsofi’s “website vision statement”: “I wanted to create a website that felt fresh, innovative, professional, and sophisticated. I wanted it to feel deeply personal–not corporate or cookie-cutter. I wanted to use large, gorgeous, inviting imagery to draw in the viewer and make them feel the experience I want them to feel: that of being understood, expressed, and a strong presence in the world. The feeling of claiming your own style and seeing how it makes the world come to you. My site will also include some light hand-drawn elements to make it feel more personal and touch quirky. I want my viewers to feel immersed, and with a sense that my design services will bring a sense of ease, brightness, and rejuvenation to their business.”
What Zsofi had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I loved this course! Though I already had a strong design and coding background, I am always up for learning more tricks and tips, and concept of starting from scratch and relearning everything was appealing to my perfectionist nature. Plus, I knew it was time I really learned Thesis. The support in the Facebook group alone is seriously worth the price of admission. Amazing. I would recommend this course to ANYONE who is looking for a serious skills upgrade or to immerse themselves into the thrills of design and coding.”

Mansfield Animal Emergency Hospital (site by our student Janet):

Site name: Mansfield Animal Emergency Hospital
Site made by: Janet. (follow her on Twitter)
Janet’s “website vision statement”: “This site was actually done for my client the Animal Emergency Hospital of Mansfield. Here’s a pic of the old site: http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s435/bluetailtweets/OLD-vet-site_zps49cd8419.jpg They wanted an updated, fresh, modern, simple but professional look with their colors of black, burgundy and grey. The Doctors and contact I worked with LOVE it! Happy clients = happy me!”
What Janet had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I tell everyone about the GG2WD! The best investment I’ve made in a long time! I even got more out of this than I did in school! I was planning on rebuilding my own site while taking the course but got a new client and did theirs instead, they can’t be happier! Have 3 more to build now! I can assure you, I will be taking any other courses Amanda creates! THANK YOU Amanda, Ali, hubby, gurus and everyone else involved in making this course super, awesomely, terrific and fun!”

Yes We Are Stars (site by our student Xenia):

Site name: Yes We Are Stars
Site made by: Xenia. (follow her on Twitter)
Xenia’s “website vision statement”: “This is my first website and there are many more in the works! This first site is my main work and business site. It will be in English and in Greek. I am – and have been – working as an alternative Therapist for over 10 years, offering unique and powerful healing methods which bring about revolutionary change. I also found out ( or should I say confirmed… ) through this course that I love to code and build websites and use color and design!!! ( I have studied Art, Art History, Photography and Jewellery Design as well as played around very simple with some code in the past).”
What Xenia had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “Loved it/loving it! It is totally worth it. I have learnt a great deal and am still learning. It is great to have all the info in one place. You can learn at your own pace and can still branch out and learn things by googling, but it is a great feeling of security to always have this place as a home that you can come back to and as a base and a “back-up” if needed.

Great inspiration, great help with design elements, coding elements, social media and website communication/marketing elements. I am really pleased that i made the investment, learning how to – and then building – my own website has been brilliant for my confidence. I have really enjoyed all the avenues and directions it has opened up for me and I am still enjoying my time here! I love not being dependent on anyone else ( coder, designer etc ) to upload content and design to my sites for me. Because there is a lot I want to do, having someone else do it for me would cost me a fortune, plus I would not have the same element of control, which I want and need. The Facebook group is also majorly helpful in terms of inspiration and resources and being up to date with web developments. Thanks so much to Amanda for bringing this and to the web gurus for their valuable help!”

Many Creative Gifts (site by our student Phyllis):

Site name: Many Creative Gifts
Site made by: Phyllis. (follow her on Twitter)
Phyllis’s “website vision statement”: “I wanted to create a site on which people could learn how to crochet, to make a pattern, and to grow with crochet through giving.”
What Phyllis had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “It was awesome! I feel like I learned a lot in a fun, painless way, and it was easy to go back and review things when I needed to. Amanda really cuts to the heart of what you need to know to do the basics, but she also gives you the foundation you need to go on to more advanced tricks! I know I will refer to all the materials whenever I need to make updates, and it’s nice to have it handy through the GG2WD site!”

Khadia Design (site by our student Khadia):

Site name: Khadia Design
Site made by: Khadia. (follow her on Twitter)
Khadia’s “website vision statement”: “My site will be a bright & beautiful non-intimidating approach to web design. It will include 3 main colours; tan, teal, & a purple or pink. It will be clean, bold, and have large hard-to-miss grab-your-attention titles. I will speak to heart-centered entrepreneurs, to feel comfortable hiring me to express themselves online. I will have a free download to sign up for my newsletter, and use this as a professional marketing tool while maintaining a down-to-earth vibe, with the main layout for my site being overall fun & simplistic.”
What Khadia had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “As a girl who already had quite a bit of WordPress and coding knowledge, I signed up for GG2WD to add to my skills so that I would be more confident in starting my own web design business. As it turns out, I DID get a lot out of this experience, although a lot of the information in the beginning I was already very familiar with, towards the end (more complicated part) of the course, I did learn some invaluable information that would have made my design business harder if I’d not learned it! So that in itself made the course worth it to me, and I’m so glad I took the leap. Amanda definitely filled in the gaps ”

Sparkle & Spice (site by our student Stepha):

Site name: Sparkle & Spice
Site made by: Stepha. (follow her on Twitter)
Stephas’s “website vision statement”: “My site is a personal blog where I intend to share my musings on natural beauty and healthy living. I wanted to show people that holistic living can be fabulous. My blog will feature product reviews of brands that use organic and non toxic ingredients, hair care tips, fitness tips, and delicious grain and gluten fee recipes.”
What Stepha had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “The GG2WD has provided an incredible experience. I knew absolutely nothing about coding before this course. I don’t consider myself a “creative” person and was petrified that I would fail miserably. This course has proven me wrong, and showed me that I can be that creative girl. The course was easy to follow and the support given went above and beyong my expectations. I’m so glad I took the leap of faith and am looking forward to continuing to sharpen my skills and develop new sites. Thanks to Amanda ad all of the Gurus for the continued support. You ladies ROCK!!”

Star Fish Shop (site by our student Marre):

Site name: Star Fish
Site made by: Marre. (follow her on Twitter)
Marre’s “website vision statement”: “Starfish, a wholesaler and webshop in Legendary African design, is founded by Christine en Marre. We met in high school. With some friends you drink tea on the couch or go shopping; Marre & Christine do things together. This is why starfish became bigger then just an idea. All our products are made by wonderful people mostly to help others, but always inspired by legendary stories and on a fair trade base. These stories are the beginning of beautiful design. Our products are made out of the hearts of African designers, seamstresses, mothers and women. Everybody has their own story. Starfish tells and collects these legendary stories from the African continent.”
What Marre had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “It was an eye-opener for me to see that coding is not as difficult as it might appear to be…. It opened a lot of doors for me and helped me create a fab new website. The Student Forum is a wonderfull resource if you get stuck along the way!”

Money Off Mum (site by our student Daniella):

Site name: Money Off Mum
Site made by: Daniella. (follow her on Twitter)
Daniella’s “website vision statement”: “I’ve worked as an editor in the parenting arena for a number of years and though there are lots of sites giving general advice there was nothing giving valuable money saving tips for mums with young children. That’s where Money Off Mum came from: really useful advice coupled with the best money saving deals for mums.”
What Daniella had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I have learnt so much in the few months since I signed up to ggtwd. The facebook group is the most supportive group of people I’ve ever met and I feel privileged to be a part of it.”

A Reading Journal (site by our student Jennifer):

Site name: A Reading Journal
Site made by: Jennifer. (follow her on Twitter)
Jennifer’s “website vision statement”: “The vision of this site was to create a visual reading experience. I wanted to share a review on the books I have read and many quotes that guide me through some of the days.”
What Jennifer had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I absolutely enjoyed the class and am still thinking of the perfect THESIS project. I have to say this site was not developed in THESIS but I did use ALL of the techniques I learned in the GG2WD class. From the html to CSS to all the widget and design techniques – GG2WD was the reason I succeeded in customizing my site. I am so proud to be part of this group. Thanks to All – Amanda & team.”

Littlelock (site by our student Gabrielle ):

Site name: Littlelock
Site made by: Gabrielle.
Gabrielle’s “website vision statement”: “I wanted to create a clean, modern, stylish, professional site to showcase my product.”
What Gabrielle had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “GG2WD was great. I really wasn’t sure I would be able to design my own website when I started. The course material was easy to follow and the support from the private Facebook group was amazing when I was having difficulties. Now that I am finished I am really happy with the result and the knowledge that I have the skills to update and change things myself when I need to.”

Republic of Freedom (site by our student Heather):

Site name: Republic of Freedom
Site made by: Heather. (follow her on Twitter)
Heather’s “website vision statement”: “The vision for my site was to feel very light and free and inspiring. I wanted it to be a visual representation for how I feel on the inside because my business is an extension of me.”
What Heather had to say about her site and her GG2WD experience: “I loved GG2WD and still reference it now and again if I’ve forgotten how to do something. I also refer a lot of people to the course because it’s easy to follow for people who are technically inclined and helps you feel completely on top of your game if you run an online business. Thanks so much!”