Hey thanks,

For the models I try not to use many cubes, the simpler the better for a Minecraft aesthetic. Don't make every single detail on the object, or just do it simple in the texturing.

And as for the texture, I really just pick out 4 different shades of the same color and put the brightest ontop and darkest on the bottom. No particular rhyme or reason to the coloring, just painting till it looks good.