Blogger Backgrounds: Tech Tip

This post is not about quilting but about blog design.  In the past you may have noticed an absence of background from my blog, I happen to dislike all the "stock" blogger backgrounds and that got me wondering. There must be a way to put my own background on my blog, not just the stock backgrounds. I wanted something more personal that matches the overall look of my blog. Other bloggers are also using the simple blogger format and have pretty backgrounds.  Well there is a way. Here is what I did. 

First I needed to chose a picture that I wanted.  The site Comment Nation  had a good selection of backgrounds and they allow you to use them for websites. Make sure the image you pick is open source "can be freely used." I picked a diagonal peach pinstripe that went with the colors in my giraffe logo and downloaded it to my desktop.

Next, I had to upload my image to blogger. I am going to defer you to the Blogger Tips Pro website because there directions are visual and involve zero code! It was pretty simple and I followed the directions with no problem.  The result is the image above. 

Here are some other backgrounds that didn't make the cut, but are still good looking ... 

Also, while I am at it, here is another tip.  Want to center your title, or pages? While you are in template designer, three tabs below the background tab is an advanced tab.  Click the advanced tab and scroll down to the bottom and click add css.  Cut and paste the following code into the box add custom css.  Then click apply to blog.

.PageList {text-align:center !important;}

.PageList li {display:inline !important; float:none !important;}

.post-title {

text-align: center;

}

.date-header {

text-align: center;

} 

At this point your titles and pages should center :) Want to learn how to add social media links? Click on my earlier post to learn how. Happy designing.

- Patch and Chels

Tech Tip for the New Blogger

Some of my blogging buddies are taking on the challenge of hosting the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop and asked if I would create an advice or tech help post. That got me thinking, what did I most want to know this time last year as I was just starting to blog. The thing that came to mind was some blog bling! Those little icons in the sidebar that cleaned up the clutter and linked readers to different forms of social media. I had drooled about them since I started blogging. I figured they were out of my expertise. Turns out, they are not difficult.  

The icons themselves can either be purchased (I got mine from Etsy) or make your own for more personalization. They come in a variety of different social media icons.  I just picked my favorite forms of social media to link. It's also fun to look through the styles available. There are so many to chose from, they should match any blog. 

So, now is the confession. I do not know how to write code and have no idea how computer programing works, but, there is a shortcut around that for my non compute friends. Don't worry. The videos show how to step-by-step just pick blogger or wordpress.

How to Install Social Media on Blogger Sidebar 

How to Install Social Media on Wordpress Blog 

Right, not so bad? The best part about the video, was I was able to see her actually do the direction, pause the video, do the task, then move onto the next direction. Breaking the information into smaller parts made it more manageable for myself. 

Another fun note. This is also how I create buttons in my sidebar to link to different events/activities happing on my blog or in the blogging community.

Good luck in creating your own blog bling! 

-Patch & Chels

P.S. If you would like to be apart of the 2015 New Bloggers Blog Hop the links are below ... 

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl

Stephanie @ Late Night Quilter 

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs 

Terri Ann @ Childlike Fascination