March 5th

Oh gosh Leaf, what explanation do you have to say to yourself XD It has almost been 2 months since my last update T.T Surprisingly, we've reached 500 views! I'm happy that people still visited the site, yet sad that I left my visitors/customers for over a month. School has been so busy, and I know this is the most clique (yet true) excuse ever. The 10 Days of New Years event has been over, and I'm sorry to keep you all waiting. The last person on the waiting list's site has closed, but I don't have time to take any requests. I'll make it up to you all- I just don't know when...

January 7th

I'm very sorry to the last person on the waiting list! I've been so unmotivated to review! I know it's not right to make someone wait this long for a review, so I'll try to get it done (: Check out 2 new Clues!

January 5thth

I apologize to the last person on the waiting list. I've been really busy with the 10 Days of New Years and making all the prizes. Also, a new clue has been posted!

January 4th

Hi everyone! Sorry for that *poof* in the last 3 days. To make up all those days I've missed clues, I've posted all of them up to date. See them? Already 3 have guessed them, but everyone gets a prize (:

January 1st

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! Back from all the new year fun (not quite back to work XD) but just stopped by to post another clue for the 10 Days of New Years! Wow! Already two people have figured it out! ^_^

December 31st

Finished a review! Take a look? Also, the first clue has been released for the 10 Days of New Years!

December 30th

Hey everyone! I'm proud to introduce a special event hosted by Cookies and I called the 10 Days of New Years! Please check out this page for more info, or click on the special '10 Days' link above!

I received 2 review requests! Since winter break is almost over, I'll get started on these reviews right away!~

December 29th

• Currently tweaking the Menu & possibly adding in new rubrics (:

Still no requests, so I plan to advertise around and hopefully, I'll get requests before break ends. In the meantime, I'm going to organize and tweak the site. As mentioned earlier, I highly recommend you all to read Apartment 9 and How to Offer Great Service!

+ 1 button by Last Fantasy! *pokes left*

December 28th

Since I receive no requests, I decided to read guides to see how I could improve! If you haven't already, I highly recommend you (all site owners) to read Apartment 9 and How to Offer Great Service. It really opened my eyes and made me think twice. I think I'll go revise the site now...

Back from my affie hunt and am now affies with:

• Fine Tuning
• 13th Street
• Shenyi

December 27th, 2011

Finished Blue Flowers review! Take a look? Requests are also now open!

December 26th, 2011

Now that Christmas is over, I have some time for reviews! I still need to finish the one on the waiting list, so until then, requests will be closed. I'm not exactly sure how much time winter will give me for neo, so we'll see...

December 19th, 2011

Eep! Just found out we're ranked 8th at Echelon & 5th at DigiHear?! Millions of apologies to the requester on the waiting list! My winter break begins on Friday, so I'll get to that request then ^_^ I currently have an essay, project, and sports cut offs this week, so I'm pretty stressed out about that. Just 4 more days til winter break!

• -1 Button (image host deleted)
• Added to Achievements

December 15th, 2011

Yay! Received one review request! (My first Perfectionist Review after re-opening!) That said, I've decided to close requests, since I'm still in school. Winter break begins next week for me, so I still have to catch up on school work.

December 12th, 2011

Hey everyone! So sorry for my absence in the last 2 days :O I was a lot busier this weekend than I had thought I'd be XD Yesterday, I logged onto neo and found out- we're featured at Digihear?! Wow! Thanks so much Kuroida!

Still no review requests, but I guess this site is still new in the community, and plus, we all know how busy school keeps up ^^" I actually didn't go on an affie hunt, but I'm going on one now ^_^

December 10th, 2011

Yay! Finished my first request! Take a look?

• Updated Portfolio

Eep! Second day of opening, and received one request!

December 9th, 2011

GRAND OPENING!!! Started the counter today, and requested to be listed at a few directories! Requests are also open!

How silly of me! I forgot to add in Rules!

December 8th, 2011

Site's grand opening tomorrow! Can't wait to get listed and start on some reviews!

Quick Flip

In this review, I will just be providing you with main pointers of things to improve. These suggestions will be in bullet point form, and will have descriptions of what's wrong, and how it can be fixed. This review will have no score.

Preview:

Site Name by Owner Name
Quick Flip
Reviewed day month year in Browser

• Topic Here- explanation
• Topic Here- explanation
• Topic Here- explanation

Custom Review

Preview:

Site Name by Owner Name
Custom Review
Reviewed day month year in Browser

1. Topic Here: ?/10
2. Topic Here: ?/10
3. Topic Here: ?/10

Perfectionist Review

In this review, I will be judging you on 10 things with a total of 100 possible points. Next to each criteria, I will explain positive and negative opinions I had in a paragraph form, followed by a small description of why I docked points.

Preview:

Site Name by Owner Name
Custom Review
Reviewed day month year in Browser

This will be my first impression of your site. This area will typically be short, as I will just describe what I see when your site first appears on my screen. I won't go that in-depth, until I judge the more crucial things (criteria below)

Here I will read through your intro, and actually look to see if it has the necessities an intro should have. I will search for any grammatical errors, legibility, etc. as well as judging if your intro really 'flows'.

I will be inspecting your content and really be checking if it's high-quality, and overall unique. I will provide tips, an opinion as to whether or not your content stood out, as well as some techniques to improve on.

Does your layout function well? Are the boxes too small or too large for your site? Are the colors too bright? etc. A majority of the time layouts are difficult to alter, especially if it was created by someone else. Thus, I shall give out pointers and maybe coding ideas or suggestions for a future layout.

I will observe how everything is organized. Does it all look neat? Is everything aligned? Broken links? etc.

Not all sites have a theme (such as mine), so this may not be included in some reviews.

How easy is it for your visitors to contact you? How often do you update? How convenient? If you do requests, I will check your 'system' or 'method' for requesting.

Total__/70

ktls kreations by KT
Perfectionist Review
Reviewed 31st December 2011 in Google Chrome

As your site first appears on my screen, I see an organized, functional layout and various shades of color. Starting from the top, the main banner has a very modern touch, with the use of gradients and shadows. However, the images and text could use some revising but this will be discussed later. Just peering at the headers and navigation, I can immediately define your color scheme of purple and red. Scrolling downward, I spot a grumpy little darigan kougra staring at me, which, I must say looks of lower quality, but only due to the grainy white border. The black background definitely makes this poor border visible, so I'd suggest adding a white outline around it, rather than changing your background. (I'm not exactly sure what program you use, so I cannot offer suggestions.) This leads me to say that although your background is a solid color, it fits in nicely with your layout. At the very bottom of your page, I notice a quite strange thing. I'm assuming your link back buttons are meant to be placed on the layout, rather than underneath it. It makes your buttons look quite odd, as if they were just placed there in desperation. What I also find strange is how your counter and current visitors are placed off of the layout as well. Typically, these items belong in the sitely section. I'd also like to suggest changing your counter color to match your layout, so maybe to a red or purple shade.

Your first sentence could ultimately be left out, as it comes on as too much of a 'casual' feel rather than professional. As a site-owner, you want your visitors to feel welcome and invited to your site. I understand how you'd like to draw your visitors in through humor, but there's a division between professionalism and casualness when owning a site. This said, I highly encourage you to stick to the more efficient parts of your intro, just pulling out the necessary information, and leaving out the excess. Let's begin with a few things your missing in your intro. For one, you don't have a link to your userlookup. It may not seem as big a deal, but as a visitor (say my first time looking at your site) I'd like to have a direct link, so I can know who you are as a person. A lot can be told from a userlookup, as it acts as a mini profile, where people can judge. In addition, a visitor can know profoundly where to contact you if they ever have a question or comment.

I think another essential factor your missing is a goal. Now, I don't mean a checklist of future content to add, but your ambitions for your site in comparison to your visitors. With most intros, siteowners express what they are hoping their visitors can gain from their content. It's a 'moral' to why they're even putting their site up, and why the visitor should visit. It may be a confusing concept, so I suggest referring to a mini extra, called Building an Opening Paragraph. This is an extension of Reflection (closed) which outlines the basic requirements for an intro.

As a semi-new site, you have a plentiful amount of content, which is nice because it gives your visitors more selection. I just have a few minor remarks though. Staring with your Layouts page, I see how you wanted to point out important information you want people to read, but honestly, it seems harder to read in paragraph form. I greatly advice you to place the key information in bullet form. In bullet form, it pinpoints the main information you want your visitors to know, thus, shortening it. By shortening it, it encourages your visitors to read it. Below I've provided a setup in bullet form:

If you noticed, I also put headers saying Thing to Know and Rules. These titles give (in a way) a summary based on what you are discussing in the bullets.

Lets move onto your actual content- your layouts. Your layout previews do look appealing, especially with the number you have. I like how you have links on some, that takes you to a live preview of the layout. One main thing I notice on your previews, however, are the backgrounds. On some layouts, the background works flawlessly such as your Shine On, That's Amore and Esophagor: Beware layouts. I believe the reason being is that these backgrounds aren't too over-welcoming with the layout. With most of your other backgrounds, the designs, effects and colors become too distracting, and some don't even match the layout. I see a repetition of an effect (I'm assuming), motion-blur. It's a very advanced effect, but the mixture of colors don't suite your layouts, but rather make them appear at a lower quality.

In addition, I'd like to point out your images and fonts. At times your images are a tad blurry, but again, in some layouts the images work faultlessly. Taking a look at your Shine On layout, I think the image works perfectly, and the 'water-color' effect adds a nice touch. As for the font colors, it could use some revision. I must say, the red really strains my eyes and I highly persuade you to change it to white. Now, lets head over to your Majestic Lupe layout. The text and colors are just perfect; they stand out; are easy to read; and most of all, follow a soft color scheme (that isn't straining to the eyes). The image could use some work, as it's a bit pixelated. Please be very careful when resizing images.

As mentioned in the First Look, your banner could use some improvement, as it is a piece of your layout. Being that it is the first image visitors see, you want to evoke the impression that you are a high-quality site, and so, need a high-quality banner. The kougra images appear as a bit blurry, so again, please be very careful when resizing images. The drop shadows add a dimensional appearance, as well as the background, and is appealing. The main suggestion I have here is the text.

For some reason, the font just doesn't seem to go with the banner. I see where you got the red scheme from (kougra's eyes) but I really think a black color would be a much better choice. I think a better font would be Impact (in black). You could add a drop shadow to it too. Another solution would be to request a banner from another site. Please refer to the The Status Center for open banner requests.

I'd like to point out that underneath your updates box is a strange scrolling area:

Drag & Drop

When you click the up arrow, it seems to be previews from your layouts. I'm not exactly sure how to fix it, but I just thought it would be safe to bring it to your attention.

Though said before, your layout is very organized and aligned. The navigation is simple and easy to use, and the fonts are very legible. This layout functions very well with your site, having a large quantity of space to display all your content. The darigan kougra, buttons, and counters have already been stated in the first look and will be discussed later, so I have not further remarks.

The most apparent organization fault is your textareas; they are not aligned with your content or buttons. This is a simple fix though. You have 2 options:

1. Add this code in your style tag and change all your textareas to [textarea class="layout"] and [textarea class="button"]. (Class="layout" for layouts, Class="button" for buttons)
   .layout { height: 17px; width: 250px; } .button { height: 17px; width: 88px; }
2. Change your textareas width and height accordingly to align with their image. [textarea style="width: #; height: #;"]
   <textarea style="width: 88; height: 17;">

Again, your counters should be moved to your Sitely section (perhaps at the bottom of that page). Browsing around, everything seems organized, except for a tiny thing at your sitely page. All it is that the last row in your Listed is too long one button, so I'd just move that button to another row underneath it. Other than that, everything else seems fine.

Your updating is very frequent, which lets your visitors know how often you keep up with the site, and what new content you've added. I would change your navigation link to say Suggest? or Suggestions?, rather than request. Even though you are taking requests for suggestions, having it named requests makes me think you take custom requests for userlookups. This can confuse visitors. Also, I think you should make it really clear if the layout someone suggests will be up for everyone to use, or just for that one person to use. Might I too, suggest getting a new status sign. Below are some status signs that I believe would work with your site:

Click to go to the site!

Click to go to the site!

As a part of service, you want to give your visitors as much convenience as possible. This said, you should let it be know what browser your layout appears best in. I've checked your site in various browsers, and it doesn't appear well in Internet Explorer. I've put together this mini collaboration of 'Best Viewed In' buttons that I think would look best centered, and above your updates.

<center> <table><tr> <td> <a href="/~gyvany"><img src="http://i50.tinypic.com/15yac68.jpg" border="0"></a> </td> <td> <a href="/~gyvany"><img src="http://i46.tinypic.com/10idtep.jpg" border="0"></a> </td> <td> <a href="/~gyvany"><img src="http://i50.tinypic.com/15yac68.jpg" border="0"></a> </td> </tr></table> </center>

Total: 44.5/60

Overall, your site is in a great place with already a wide variety of content. I see a promising future, destined by a large amount of practice. Your layouts are descent, and with a few critiques here and there, they will gradually grow better.

Blue Flowers by Becca
Perfectionist Review
Reviewed 27th December 2011 in Google Chrome

At a first glance, I automatically see a blue, simple layout. However this is not a high-light, blinding blue, but a pleasant, calming baby-blue, which is not straining to the eyes. I also notice the defining black, that is apparent in your background and banner. Before proceeding, I'd like to suggest lightening your background a bit, or getting a lighter background. It becomes a bit distracting (and it's quite bright) when gazing at your overall layout. Printed clearly on the banner are the words, 'Blue Flowers' which I can automatically assume is your site's name. Just judging from the banner, honestly, I have a lingering feel it wouldn't be my first pick to request from. Even though you are a half layout-request site, knowing you made the banner already gives me a hint, of how much quality reflects on your work. This goes to show how first impressions can make differences. As my eyes hover on, I can tell what content you offer by the navigation, but this will be explained later. The blue flowers beneath the navigation provides a nice touch, but it seems a bit odd to have a real-life image near a neo-related banner. Perhaps, you should use the blue flower image in your banner instead. All in all, I wouldn't exactly say your site offers the impression of a high-quality site, in a first impression, but there is more to be seen. Since in this judgement, I am only critiquing a first look, let us move onto your intro

-1 Background
-1 Banner

Intro:8/10

Well, this isn't specifically part of your intro, but I suggest removing one of the Welcome to Blue Flowers! The reason being is that it is existent in already three areas on your homepage. You have it on your banner, header, and the sentence after Hello, guest! I understand you want to have your visitors feel welcome, but truly, one is enough. As I scan along your intro, I'm noticing a lot of repetition, especially of the word we, and at times, you tend to restate sentences. In addition, you have a lot of simple sentences that can be combined, and you're missing a key factor: a link to your userlookup. Having a link to your userlookup lets a visitor not only know who runs the site, but also, how they can contact you. For instance:

From this:

Blue Flowers is a custom/premade layout and HTML/CSS help site. We offer free layouts and HTML and CSS help. We make custom layouts that only the person we make them for can use and we also make premade layouts that everyone can use.

We have many different styles to choose from, you can pick some on the layout options page.

Blue Flowers is a custom/premade layout and HTML/CSS help site, run by me, Becca! Here, we offer layouts of all styles to choose from!

The third sentence isn't actually necessary. When you say:

It really defeats the purpose of custom and premade layouts. What I mean is that people already know what custom and premade layouts are, so there's no need to define them in your intro. It might seem surprising, but I believe that the whole last part of your intro can either be deleted, or moved to other parts of your site (where it can be moved will be discussed later) too.
-1 Repetition
-1 Missing necessary factor (link to userlookup)
-1 Unnecessary/extra sentences

Content (originality & quality):9/10

Let's begin with your premade layouts page. First off, I must say, your intro has numerous grammar issues, as well as (again) repetition. Some sentences lack professionalism, and are a bit too casual for a site. In addition the text in red font (though eye-catching) should be placed in your rules.

Now, let's look at your Petpage Layouts. The previews do encourage me to copy the coding, and see what the layout looks like in real life. As I view the Wocky Fields (first one) I see a pleasant color scheme that relates to the Wocky image. I like how the colors aren't bright and piercing to the eye, and how the text is very easy to read. The only suggestion I have here is the banner image. It's a bit outstretched and decreases the quality.

Peering at your Reading Lenny layout, again, the color scheme is very easy to the eye. I really like the simplicity of the layout, but the actual lenny picture is a tad blurry and outstretched. The Pretty in Pink layout is quite nice, and it's enjoyable how much you can alter it with different colors and such, customizing it.

You presently don't have anything in your portfolio yet, so I can't judge any further with your layouts. Let's move onto HTML/CSS Help.

Reading your intro, it was straight to the point, which is nice. I also enjoy how you went to extent of providing links to other sites for reference, adding convenience for your visitors. Your overall guide was very easy to understand, say, if I was a beginner I could follow it in a breeze.

-1 Layout image quality

Layout:9/10

Though I've already talked about your layout in my first impression, I shall go more in-depth. As stated before, the blue is soothing and soft for the eye, and evokes a pleasant feel. The white on the content box allows for legible reading, and works well with your site. I truly don't have any suggestions, other than changing your background, but that has been mentioned earlier in the first look.

-1 Background
Organization/Cleanliness::9/10

First off, it's enjoyable how your main content box is aligned with your navigation. Your homepage banner could be a bit more wider; maybe as wide as your header that says Welcome to Blue Flowers! Really, everything else seems in place, but I would suggest changing the width of your textarea for the Link to Us page, to align with the image.

-1 Miss-aligned textarea

Theme:9/10

I guess it could be said that your theme is ironically, Blue Flowers. All in all, it was evoked nicely throughout the site, with the exception of the banner (mentioned in first look). I have nothing to say that wasn't already said.

-1 Banner (contradicts theme)
Service:7/10

Service is based off of how convenient you organize things for your visitors. It is a matter of assuring your visitors that you keep up often with the site, and show it. This said, I highly recommend you to place an update scroll box beneath your intro. For a visual, try peering at our Home page. Below, I've provided you a scroll box code, and have set up a basic update box format within it:

By showing your visitors that you update often, they can be aware that you are an active site, and can know what new content you placed on your site.

Looking at your rules page, I have no say there. Your request page, however, could use some alterations. The form is perfectly fine, but I just believe you should change the neomail envelope. Your color scheme is clearly blue, so why have a pink and red envelope that isn't relevant to your site? I suggest using one of the envelopes below:

Browsing around, the only major flaw to your service is your Link to Us image. Traditionally, site owners use an 88px X 31px button for affiliating and linking back. I do notice how you said you're not too good at making buttons, but why not request for a button? Check out The Status Center for up to date open button requests. Also, I really persuade you to change the Link to Us to Sitely. As sitely, you can display all your link backs, where you're listed at, affiliates, and most importantly, credits.

Innocent Banners by Emma
Quick Flip
Reviewed 10th December 2011 in Internet Explorer

• Home Page:

  First off, let's begin with your Introduction.

• Add a link to your userlookup where it says Emma, using the format provided below:
  
  <a href="/userlookup.phtml?user=girlygiggle">Emma</a>
  Doing so will add convenience to your visitors and customers to contact you.
• Capitalize the e in emma in the fourth sentence ('We are a banner request site run by yours truly, emma.') It shows effort and professionalism in your intro.
• Change simple, custom made banners which are always of high quality and done to the best of our ability to
  
  <b>simple</b>, <i>custom-made banners</i>, which are always of high quality and done to the best of our ability.
  Please note that italics and bolds are not meant to highlight entire sentences, but to focus on important words you want to stand out. An exception, however, are quotes- some of which I have completely italicized that are from your site. (See how your eyes were more drawn to the italicized and bolded words?)

  Taking a look at your whole home page in general, I suggest transferring I'd also like to say a huge thank you to Blueprint for making this amazing layout. I love it! to your Credit section, and moving your counter to your Sitely area, as that is where these two concepts typically are.

• I recommend adding a mini row of Best Viewed in buttons, as I have organized below. Try placing them beneath your intro, but above your 'My 12 days of Christmas Competition Entry':
  
  <center> <table><tr> <td> <center> <a href="/~gyvany"><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/11b544g.jpg" border="0"></a> </center> </td> <td> <center> <a href="/~gyvany"><img src="http://i46.tinypic.com/20kypad.jpg" border="0"></a> </center> </td> <td> <center> <a href="/~gyvany"><img src="http://i45.tinypic.com/11b544g.jpg" border="0"></a> </center> </td> </tr></table> </center>
  
• Rules Page- The only critiquing I have here, is to be sure to close all of your center tags ([center] [/center]) and changing the color of your bullets. This said, your rules and bullets should be aligned left, instead of at the center. The bullets should also match your layout (your layout has not a single patch of red whatsoever), so perhaps, try using this bullet () Try formatting your rules and bullets like this:
  
  <ul style="list-style-image: url('http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr350/superbubblet/TLB/Resources/b54.png');"> <li>Always credit my banners. I take my time to make them the best that I possibly can especially for you so I would appreciate it if you linked back in some way </li> <li>Please only request up to 2 banners at a time else the waiting list may become very busy </li> <li>I do not make banners for other banner request sites or off neo sites </li> <li>Do not neomail me the same form over and over again. I will read it and reply. Only send another request if you do not get a reply within 5 days </li> <li>Only request a banner when requests are stated as open. If you send me a neomail when they are closed I will not be able to complete your request </li> <li>If you have read and agree to all these rules please be sure to mention the word strawberry somewhere in your request form </li> </ul>
• As with your rules page, I suggest formatting your bullets the same way with your request page. The envelope on your request page should link to your userlookup, rather than an empty neomail. Again, the providence of convenience is key to your visitors and customers. In addition, the envelope should match your layout (as red does not seem to be the color scheme), so I highly persuade you to substitute it for a blue, purple or gray one, such as the one's below.
  
  
  
  If you decide to use any of the resources suggested, please be sure to credit back to the creators. (Click on each resource to go to the original site)



Overall, your site is off to a great start! Being new, you have a tad more to improve on, but you're headed in the right direction!~

Please feel free to link back with a button or an icon. I hope you found this review very helpful! Please let me know if you are unclear about something (: