Placing Ribbon Rules

One of my favorite veerle's blog have this really cool site design and one that i like is the ribbon. I found this generator from Dynamic Drive Tools to make it more easier for you to generate a horizontal alternating colors or as it calls "Ribbon Rules".
What i like with this generator is that it gives you an option to use a random colors only choosing a one color as your base or to individually select colors that you like using color picker or if you already knew the hex color code you can just place it on each section hit generate if not happy try again or reset until your satisfied, how hard can it be?

You are also given a CSS code to use, so for newbie or those who are not familiar with coding it easy as ABC.

But...here's what to do if you want to use ribbon rules with blogger.

1. Go to Dynamic Drive Tools Ribbon Rules Generator to generate your ribbon.
2. Follow the instruction and upload them to Photobucket, Google Pages or any of your image hosts.
3. Go to your Blogger Dashboard - Layout - Edit HTML
   
4. In your Keyboard Hit Ctrl+F then type body { (If it won't work just look for this Code manually)
   
5. Then Add the CSS Code given; This is what the code look like once your done.
   

background:#1f2a22 url(ribbon.gif) top left repeat-x;
margin:0;
padding-top: 10px;

You can always change the hex color code to anything background color you want. This is simple yet make your site look neat and stylish. I hope you like it and have fun with colors.

Build Your Pepperjam Store Builder Now!

Have you joined Pepperjam yet?. Not like Adsense, pepperjam won't limit the ads you can place on your site. I noticed that most of bloggers like to have full control over their blog, that is why you hosted your own site, you buy your own domain etc...that's the same with Pepperjam you have all the control.

Pepperjam Store Builder allows you to build product store front very quickly and so easy. Here are things you do to build your virtual store, just to give you an idea aside from the self explanatory images (Click the image for a bigger preview) ; You select the products you want, choose a category then you can refine the result further by filtering the keywords. You can also customize to match with your site or to make it look more outstanding to get more attention it's all depend with your strategy -- when done, code the code then your done, your store is up and running without any hassle.

Before, creating a store front needed some understanding of php or any coding etc...but with Pepperjam Store Builder you can create them so quick without needing any expertise.

There are so many products to choose from, you find a partner and in less than 30 seconds you have a fully functional product feed storefront. I have included an image so that you can see the what it look like when you start building your store front. What really good is that they provided a Live Demo to help you more and make it more quicker and easier for you to build your store.

If you have not joined yet, this is your chance -- nothing to lose but something to gain.

I can see you! Faces of your Commenter's can now be seen

Okay, just ignore my Title i am not really great of making a capturing title but just in case you read this post because of the title then i can say that i got lucky haha...

With my previous post i showed you how to customize your comment system and who say's that it's only wordpress can have fancy comment system? With the help of some very talented programmers, bloggers and hackers(Not the bad hackers i am talking here but those who play with codes and hacks) all of this makes possible. Now you can see your commenters avatar, how? i will explain them shortly.

I got a comment from Gem say's

"I was also trying to see whether it is possible to use profiles instead of MyBloglog hack. As you see, those who left comments above do not have their own MyBloglog accounts.

I guess no one figured that out. I've been using Google for that hack, by the way."

Answer to that is it is possible and already been used by few bloggers. Scripted by Singpolyma based by the work of Johan Sundstrom Updated by PurpleMoggy Updated and Promoted by http://www.bloganol.com i don't have any contribution but to spread it :)

Here's how to do it:
Go to your Dashboard - Layout - Edit HTML (Important! Save your template)
Hit Ctrl+F type </head>
Above that code place this Script

<script src='http://bloganolutilities.googlepages.com/blogger_comment_photos.js' type='text/javascript'/>
<script type='text/javascript'>
//<![CDATA[
addLoadEvent(function(){showCommentPhotos('commentphoto','comment-author', 1);});
//]]>
</script>

... Then Save.

Next is to tick the Expand Widget Template and look for this code Ctrl+F type dl id='comments-block

Here's what it all look like...

<dl id="comments-block">
<b:loop values="data:post.comments" var="comment">
<dt class="comment-author" id=""comment-" + data:comment.id">
<a name=""comment-" + data:comment.id">
<b:if cond="data:comment.authorUrl">
</b:if></a><a href="data:comment.authorUrl" rel="nofollow"><data:comment.author></data:comment.author></a>
<b:else>
<data:comment.author>
</data:comment.author>
<data:commentpostedbymsg>

</data:commentpostedbymsg></b:else></dt><dd class="comment-body">
<b:if cond="data:comment.isDeleted">
<span class="deleted-comment"><data:comment.body></data:comment.body></span>
<b:else>
<p><data:comment.body></data:comment.body></p>
</b:else>

</b:if></dd><dd class="comment-footer">
<span class="comment-timestamp">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%22#comment-%22%20+%20data:comment.id" title="comment permalink">
<data:comment.timestamp>
</data:comment.timestamp></a>
<b:include data="comment" name="commentDeleteIcon">
</b:include></span>
</dd>
</b:loop>
</dl>

Select the whole block of code and then replace them with this code below:

<dl id='comments-block'>
<b:loop values='data:post.comments' var='comment'>
<dt class='comment-author' expr:id='"comment-" + data:comment.id'>
<a expr:name='"comment-" + data:comment.id'/>
<b:if cond='data:comment.authorUrl'>
<a expr:href='data:comment.authorUrl' rel='nofollow'><data:comment.author/></a>
<b:else/>
<data:comment.author/>
</b:if>
<data:commentPostedByMsg/>
</dt>
<dd class='comment-body'>
<div class='commentphoto' style='float:left;margin:5px;'/>
<b:if cond='data:comment.isDeleted'>
<span class='deleted-comment'><data:comment.body/></span>
<b:else/>
<p><data:comment.body/></p>
</b:if>
</dd>
<dd class='comment-footer'>
<span class='comment-timestamp'>
<a expr:href='"#comment-" + data:comment.id' title='comment permalink'>
<data:comment.timestamp/>
</a>
<b:include data='comment' name='commentDeleteIcon'/>
</span>
</dd>
<div style='clear:both;'/>
</b:loop>
</dl>

Then Preview -- If no red marks shows you have no problem then save. Check your comments and now shows the profile images of your commenters.

Credit

Credit have already placed above as part of my post. Post Source: Bloganol.com

How not to Show your Post Date when you make your About Me Page

When we blog, we want our site to be accommodating as possible. We want to make sure that we provide what our readers want for them to keep coming back and one of that we need to place in our blog is contact page, although there are many ways to contact the site owner but we want it to be more easier and we don't want to waste time of our readers -- of course you need to place the about page aswell, we need to let our readers know who is behind the blog. What stopping of blogspot dot com user of doing this is the inability of creating a separate page like Wordpress does.

Fortunately, we have particular webmaster who managed to find ways to work around this problem so bloggers users can now enjoy and place a page they like, Technically Easy have a very clever way to create a page using your post, He explains how to create a static page without showing the post date,if you miss it you can follow the steps here.


Follow this easy steps:

1. Create a normal post. Type the information you want to provide for your readers -- Use this for your about me page, contact page or any other pages you want to show.
2. When your done, scroll down until you get to the "Post Options" click them and you will see the options.
3. Under Reader Comments click Don't Allow.
4. Under Backlinks click Don't Allow.Post date and time: I place mine on the day i started my blog.
5. When you think everything are in order and your ready to publish then click publish.

Now that everything is ready and created, we will then follow this easy steps to prevent the post date from being displayed (Hide the post date of your page).

1. Go to your Dashboard, then click the Layout.
2. Click the Edit HTML to display the layout in HTML.
3. Make sure you tick the box to Expand Widget Template, this will display the code of each widget.
4. We need to look for this code <data:post.dateHeader/> -- to make it easier for you find and save time hit Ctrl+F then place the code above.
5. Before that line place this code:

<b:if cond='data:post.allowComments'>

To wrap it up and to finish this...again hit Ctrl+f and type this code:

<data:post.dateHeader/>

after that code or below the post date code, include this last code to close the html

</b:if>

and your done, save your template

This is how it going to look in your html.


This is to instruct blogger to only display the post date if comment are allowed. since you disable the comment in your about me page or whatever post you made earlier that won't display the date and you have now a nice and pages that won't display date more professional and well designed site page.

Now, if you don't know how to make your contact page and navigation button you might be interested to my post Steps on how to create your contact page and navigation button.

I hope you find this post useful and i would like to once again thanks Technically Easy for this tips and tricks i find it very useful for every blogspot users.

Slideshow using Wowzio

How do you like slideshow? Do you have any hobby -- say sewing, designing, jewelry making, bedding or are you an artist and wants to show some of your work? Slideshow is most of the time saves space, time and also can capture a lot of attention of your visitors and readers. I have seen a lot of slideshows in fact i use one in the template that i just have done i use Jondesign's smooth gallery check it out too!

There is one that is easy to use which i have seen a few bloggers are using now and i see it really is great, i can see their older post and i click in them and link to each post aswell very neat it's so simple to use and i thought that i will post something about this because this is a widget that every blogger even those that are not familiar with CSS, Javascipt or any other code can use this, all you have to do is put your url or feeds then just follow the steps then done.

Wowzio is not just another widget, it is a widget that will help you engage more with your readers, simple, clean and no work in your side. just have fun and enjoy the slideshow. What they do after you put your blog url is that they will extract interesting images in your site and start from there.

Just try it and have fun with it, work with the customization, size and where to place them which ussually most of professional designer place the slideshow at the top where most people can see but it's all up to you, just have fun with it...there's so many widget to choose from depend with your need.

Wallpaper for Grab

I just started learning Photoshop, I have them for quite a while but i just use them for some thing but today i want to make my own wallpaper and i like the result. I follow some steps of tutorial and add a few details in it.

I would like to share this, if you are interested you can grab them for free, Just click and save image as then load.

below are the two that i learned today.

.... here is the other one


Please let me know of what you think.. leave a comment aswell if you grab it for your desktop.

Just Random Rambling...

I have been so busy lately. My hubby is away for 2 weeks and only me and the kids and i am really glad the kids are so behave, they surely knew that mommy needs their help. I praised my son and he say's daddy ask me to behave while he's away, and it is amazing how 4 years old take responsibility although the matter of fact because i asked my husband if he really ask him to behave while he is away "he did not" but he did behave.

My kids is a big help for me during the days i worked with southernplate template, they just play beside me, watch their favorite program and just quite. I really feel accomplished and she love her new look...please pay her a visit because you will surely like everything in her site...food, lot of them and yummy and easy to prepare.

It's spring here in New Zealand and this past days i was enjoying the day because the cold air is slowly fading and is sunny and beautiful. Today, my son's kindy is celebrating their 100 years old birthday and i stayed in, help out the teachers and i really enjoy the time with the kids -- of course enjoying the sun at the same time. They have sack race, egg and spoon race etc..so will going outside the house now and will take advantage of the sunny day, who knows what is it going to be tomorrow because here in New Zealand you can get windy, rainy and sunny just in one day. so while it's sunny i would like to get out and enjoy it and spend my time with my kiddo. :)

Customize Blogger Comment System Continue's

I have posted a few of how to customize you comment system because sometimes we bloggers did not take notice the comment section whereas it is one of the important part of blogging, we read comments, we leave comments and that's one of part where we can discuss things and even make your blog popular.
I would like to share you a recap of my post and i will also give a few links of where you can learn a few tricks.

Here are the list of my post about comment section, i hope you will learn from them and fine it useful.

• Still Using Bloggers Pop-up Comment System?
• Improve your Blogger Comment Section to Create More Inter-action
• Position Comment Date Above the Comment Body
• Highlight Authors Comment and Move the Comment Date

This list will make your comment section better than before...to add a few more customization and soon you will have a wordpress or other professional like comment section here are the additional like to make it look more better.

1. Randomness Toturials - Styling your comments Area, Numbering Comments
2. Blogger Busters Tutorial - (Add Comment Avatar) Mybloglog Comment Avatar Hacks

I hope this list helps you learn of how to customize, tweak and make your comments section look more professional.

Using all of this tips and hacks, you can see the demo here in my blog... browse my comment section and you will see what i mean.

Cleaning Up my Entrecard Favorite

I procrastinate a lot and i have this really old plan to clean up the list of my entrecard favorite which finally have done it -- i removed the ones that are no longer active and replaced my favorite blog that are active in the community because i am going to drop them everyday, i am using the entrecard toolbar now because i noticed that it making my dropping more faster .

I always started with my favorite then reciprocate what is in my inbox which i can't reciprocate to all of you guys but i always priorities the most popular then the rest, if you ask me why? because this are droppers who put an extra effort, please, please, please don't get me wrong with giving priority of dropping but it's my strategy but i am always open to listen to what your point of view guys.

I would like to thank you my top dropper for the month of September, another link love coming your way guys, this is one reason i use my favorite aswell because i want to be one of top dropper -- anyway here they are ad please pay them a visit aswell; they all have dropped 31 days here are TBN.

So, what is your dropping strategy? i wonder if you agree with me prioritizing my recipro dropping. I thought before that reciprocate everyone in my inbox is fine but i noticed that i passed the opportunity of getting free link from other site which very useful for my site...and so i started my favorite list.

List of Background for your Template

Background added additional appeal to your template, the important you have in mind though is to have the right background; we can't just find an image and put them as background because it's colorful or you simply like the image but, instead choose a background that won't hurt the eyes of your readers because they can be destruction aswell.

I decided to post her a few resources of background images...they are my favorite either you like a textured background, colored or simply white it's all up to your just as long as it blend and won't scare your visitors.

Here are few resources of background that i like and you can have a look and even try them out.

1. Barracuda Background - Woods which is very popular and used by some web designers, Papers, Fabric, Stones and more...explore the site and look which one you like the most.
   
2. BgPatterns - Tiled Background - What i like with this is that you can choose the images, choose canvas so that it's not just plain, what color do you like, rotate the image if you like and you can also choose the location then apply the background so that you will get an idea of what it's going to look like in your template.
3. Design Reviver - I love this site because not just cool background but you can get a lot of freebies to use for your project, even brushes, and fonts..have fun with this guys.
4. bgmaker - Okay, if you like to design your own background this is for you, you can be as individual and unique as you can be.
5. PixelDecor - Every Mama are going to love this site, i have a lot of favorite background here that are to funky, whimsy what else can you call them...i love the color combination and i love the patterns. Update: Please ask Jen of Pixel Decor to use them for private websites, and link to her site. They are *intended* for desktops.
   
6. Squidfingers - Here's another source of lovely patterns 158 to choose from.
   
7. tickie.net - Same as barracuda you get the stone, woods and a lot more -- more then the barracuda and you can even find food background, if your template or site is about food why not try to find your background here.
8. fractured sanity - another great resouce.
9. Miss Jo - Another one just like PixelDecor but you have to pay for this wonderful background though but it's worth visiting because the images are worth paying looks really great.
10. Kaliber10000 - Patterns everywhere, tartan, pixel you choose.
11. Dromoscopio - Beautiful dark patterns...really look good for your design.

There so many background resources you can find online, there's still have more i love just like urban dirty, and grunge texture -- the bottom line of background is to not to scare your visitors and won't blind your readers make it simple yet attractive.

I hope you can find something that you like in the list and find this list useful.