I know what many of you are thinking right now. You're excited to start, you see the benefits of blogging like keeping memories remembered and becoming a record keeping woman. But if you're like me you might be a little distracted by your desire to make yours CUTE. "How do they DO that??" you think, as you browse the blogger template options without seeing a single one you like. The answer, Sisters, is coming right up.
First of all, a warning. Do not - as a beginner - add a template if it tells you to change/edit your html code. Many of these, not all, delete your widgets. Widgets are the little additions on the sidebar like pictures you've added, lists, text, links you like, etc. Only add the backgrounds that are themselves a widget. I'll explain.
One of the best and easiest sites to use is www.thecutestblogontheblock.com. (You can right-click on the link and choose to open it in a new tab if you want to see it right now.) On the homepage there's a menu on the left-hand side. What you want are the Free Backgrounds so click there. Next, scroll down a little until you can click Blogspot Backgrounds in the little blue box with rounded edges. Perfect.
You're there! You can now browse for something that you love that fits your style. Now, you'll see on the right-hand side. You can browse there - by category - if you know you want one with polka dots or flowers or a certain color or whatever. Just click on the category you like. Otherwise you're free to just scroll down each page, clicking "Next" when you want to see the following page.There has to be something here you like, I hope. I've never found a site with more options than this one.
Once you've found a design you like, click on it.
**NOTE: You most likely have a 2-column blog, so the 3-column options won't fit yours. So if it's labeled 3-column don't click there, but find the matching background for the double column. Usually they're posted together, but not always.**
You'll need to scroll down a little to find the instructions. What you're doing is you're adding a widget to the sidebar of your blog that dictates what your background looks like. I'll paraphrase the instructions in case that helps some of you:
- When you sign into blogger it takes you to your dashboard. Your dashboard lists all your blogs so you can choose which you want to work with. Under each blog listing you'll see a little blue box that says "NEW POST" followed by four other blue links. You want to click LAYOUT.
- This should bring you to the "Add and Arrange Page Elements" page. You want to click on Add a Gadget on the right-hand side.
- The third or fourth option that comes up is HTML / Javascript. That's what you want.
- Hold that thought. Back on the cutest blog page there should be a paragraph of jibberish under the background you clicked on. Scroll down until you see it. It's labeled also, so it should be easy to find if you're on the right screen. Highlight that whole paragraph and copy it. (Right click, copy).
- Go back to your new blogger gadget. Paste (right click, paste) the paragraph of html (the jibberish) in the "content" box. You can give it a title if you want, but I never do. Your title will show up on your sidebar, though, so keep that in mind. The jibberish doesn't though, so don't worry.
- Click SAVE.
- Now you'll be back to your LAYOUT page and you'll see the new addition highlighted in yellow on your sidebar. You can drag that entire html/javascript box down to the bottom of your blog if you want. That's what I do because I like my important gadgets to be at the top, like pictures or text or something. If that confuses you don't worry about it ... it's no biggie.
http://hotbliggityblog.com/ - the html code is in the box below each background
http://www.delightfuldots.blogspot.com/ - find the html code by clicking either 2 column or 3 column (you probably have a 2 column)
http://www.scrap-e-blog.blogspot.com/ - the html code is in the blox below each background for this one as well
Happy experimenting, Sisters! Once you start poking around these sites you're bound to find several more you like. Many of the sites have their own tutorials also, so be adventurous and try whatever you want! And don't worry, if you mess up just delete the gadget and start again. There should be no permanent damage done. :) That's the best part of this kind of decorating ... it's free to do over and over again.
