Blog Design Inspiration: Watercolor

I have been working on a “watercolor” type blog design for one of my favorite clients lately :)  and I have found lots of great sites for inspiration.  I thought I would share those with you, because I love them!

 

100 Layer Cake

Blog Design Inspiration: 100 Layer Cake

 

August Empress | Design by The Darling Tree

Blog Design Inspiration: August Empress

 

The Glossarie | Design by Tabitha Emma

Blog Design Inspiration: The Glossarie

 

Hue & Hum | Design by Twenty Twenty

Blog Design Inspiration: Hue & Hum

 

Design Lotus | Design by The Darling Tree

Blog Design Inspiration: Design Lotus

 

Lovely

Blog Design Inspiration: Lovely

 

re:frame | Header Design by Oana Befort

Blog Design Inspiration - re:frame

 

Flower Child

Blog Design Inspiration: Flower Child

 

The Aquarian Twins | Design by The Darling Tree

Blog Design Inspiration: The Aquarian Twins

Inspiration

My inspiration section is SERIOUSLY lacking!  So I spent  a little bit of time adding some new designs today.  I hope to be able to add a lot more, if there are blog designs that inspire you, please comment and let us know about them.

 

One Charming PartyOne Charming Party: Party Blog Design Inspiration

 

Let Birds Fly designed by Redbud DesignsLet Birds Fly: Simple, Vintage Blog Design Inspiration

 

Erin’s Reel Life designed by Redbud Designs

Erin's Reel Life: Vintage, Unique Blog Design

Drew B Photography design by June Lily Studio

Drew B Photography:  Photography Blog Design Inspiration

 

Astrid Muller Exclusive design by Astrid Mueller, web coding by HDcoding.com.

Astrid Mueller: Illustration, Simple Blog Design

 

Forever Frazier designed by The PixelistaForever Frazier: Illustration Blog Design Inspiration

 

Disterlic Embroidery designed by The Pixelista

Disterlic Embroidery: Illustration Blog Design Inspiration

 

Blu Door designed by Penny Lane Designs

Blu Door: Blog Design Inspiration

 

 

Free Blog Background: Large Floral

This free Blog Background was made possible by Fotolia.com I did a post on them awhile back that you can see here.

 

Free Blog Background: Large Pink, Salmon, Peach Floral

To Download this background, CLICK HERE, then click on “Free Download”  No Sign up or registration is required.  Learn how to install this background, and how to Give Credit, HERE.

*Makin’ Cute Blogs backgrounds do not have an ad in the top corner (we think that messes up the design), instead,we ask that you put one of our buttons on your blog to give credit.  Buttons are located here.

How to Create a Seamless Border around your Blogger Blog Layout & have a transparent background behind your Header

This tutorial was requested. If you would like to request a tutorial, visit our “Make a Request” page.

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to take a standard blog layout (with the white section all the way down the middle, and replace it with a Header that has a transparent background, a post section and a footer section.  This way, you have a border all the way around your posting area, from the header to the footer (Like seen below).  Click here to learn how to make these elements using Pixlr.com OR Purchase a Set in my Shop for less than $5!

Blogger Blog Layout with a Transparent Background behind the Header and a Border all the way around the Header, Post Section, and Footer.

 

Step #1

The first thing that you need to do, is to change your template to the White Simple Theme.

Template, Simple Theme, White

 

Step #2

Next, you need to add your chosen background.  I am adding this Chevron Background from my shop.  If you need detailed instructions on how to add a seamless pattern background to your blog, check out my tutorial here.

Upload Seamless Pattern Backgroun

 

Step #3

Upload your Header.

Upload your Header in Blogger. Click on Layout and Edit.

Header Added in Blogger(Don’t worry if your header is cut off, or not centered like my example above… we will fix that later)

 

Step#4

We are going to move our header above our “content-inner” and we will also move our Footer below our “content-inner”.  This is how we do that.  Go to your Template and Edit HTML.

Template and Edit HTML

Then you are going to scroll way down until you see <header> and you are going to select from <header> all the way down to </header>.  Then you are going to Cut (right click > CUT) all of that text…

Cut Header Code

…and Paste it directly under <div class=’content-outer’>.

Paste Header Code

 

Next, we also need to move the Footer Code.  I you scroll down some more, you will see <footer>.  You need to select from <footer> all the way down until </footer> and Cut it (right-click Cut).

Cut Footer Code

Then you need to Paste it (right-click Paste) right below the first </div> after <!– content –> (like seen below).

Paster Footer Code

 

Now your blog should look something like this:

Screenshot of Blog Thus Far

 

Step #5

Now we need fix the sizing and add your images.  So head over to your Template Designer, under Template and Customize.

Select Template and Customize

Click on Advanced and Add CSS.

Advanced and Add CSS

There you will add this Code:

.header {
width: 1000px;
}
.content-inner {
background: url('POSTING BACKGROUND IMAGE URL HERE');
background-color:transparent;
padding-bottom:10px;
padding-left:40px;
padding-right:40px;
padding-top:10px;
width: 920px;
}
.footer-inner {
background: url('POSTING BACKGROUND IMAGE URL HERE');
background-position: bottom;
width: 1000px;
}
.footer-outer {
background: url('FOOTER IMAGE URL HERE');
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: 2px bottom;
border: 0px;
padding-bottom:59px;
width: 1000px;
}

Then you will need to customize the code to suit your blog. If your header is 1000px wide, then all the number values are correct, if not, then use the info below to set yours up right. **If you need to know how to host your images, or find your “Direct Link – Image URL”, I have a tutorial here.

Code Description

Phew! Did you get through that :) That is it, now you should have a lovely seamless blog design!

Blogger Blog Layout with a Transparent Background behind the Header and a Border all the way around the Header, Post Section, and Footer.

DIY Friday

It's DIY Friday!  What is it? DIY Friday is all about celebrating DIY Blog Design! Every week I feature a super cute blog design that has been designed by one of you, and I award that person a “DIY Cute Blog Award” that can be displayed their blog. How do I get Featured? Simple! Go to the “Show it Off” page on the left, and submit your blog. Any Rules? Yes, Rule #1: You have to design your blog on your own. You can use freebies or any other elements in your design (free blog backgrounds, etc.). Rule #2: No Proffesional Designers please (it needs to be an even playing field). Rule #3: Have fun with it!! Good Luck!

Okay…. so even though only 8 people submitted blogs this week, I had the HARDEST time picking just one person to feature!

This week I am want to feature “Neathering our Fest“, wow, I was so impressed with all the details put into this design, very cute!  I also wanted to point out that she has this great article explaining her inspiration and blog design process, you should check it out.   Without further ado…. the DIY Cute Blog Award goes to….

Makin' Cute Blogs DIY Cute Blog Award: Neathering Our Fest

Rindercella, if you could just contact me through my contact page, I will get you the code for your award!  Thanks to everyone who entered & just so you know, you are automatically entered for every week.