Comments on Blog templates for anyone that wants one

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gomedome, You do a might fine job.  I have grown accustomed to the face of the one I already posted.  I'm going to keep it.  Thanks for everything.

posted by TAPS. on January 4, 2009 at 8:44 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - the experience you describe is how I made font color selections
I tried a few different colors, font weights and sizes to find that the color combination I used seems to be the least hard on the eyes while still distinguishing between links and text. I hope it works out.

posted by gomedome on January 4, 2009 at 2:51 PM | link to this | reply

Thank you so much, gomedome.  I have the giant task of resizing all the photos on that blog, but I can tell I'm going to like it, even if it is hard for other people to read.  I did get worried yesterday because I went to one of those free blog sites and tried out their black background just to see what I was getting into.   It was just awful.  I thought to myself, what have I done.  But this one is so much nicer.  I am very pleased.  Thanks again.  Come look at it, please, after a day or so when I have it all aligned.

posted by TAPS. on January 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - I have a proto type finished

My brain just isn't clicking in terms of what would look sharp on the dark template but at least we have a starting point. Again I've dropped it into one of my blogs: HERE . . . and again will change it back shortly

If you like it as is, the code can be gotten: HERE

posted by gomedome on January 4, 2009 at 1:03 PM | link to this | reply

gomedome, You are quite (I want to say precious, but I know you wouldn't like that) accommodating.

posted by TAPS. on January 3, 2009 at 11:26 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - I'll have it ready tomorrow sometime

posted by gomedome on January 3, 2009 at 11:02 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS. - What do you think of this one?
That's beautiful.  I'd like to try it.

posted by TAPS. on January 3, 2009 at 10:42 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - What do you think of this one?

This is an old Blogspot template adapted for Blogit. If you wanted to try a dark template, this one would work nicely:

posted by gomedome on January 3, 2009 at 10:27 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - I am going to persist as I clean things up

I promised myself that I would clean off my computer during the Christmas holidays, part of that monumental task will be organizing all of my clip art, web and blog templates. Out of character for me, I've actually lost some of the templates in the maze of files I've created over the past few years. For example, I tripped across the following concept image created awhile back for a writing blog: (anyone can have this, I'll never use it)

As for gold text on a black background, it can easily be done but know up front that it poses some small issues. Some screen resolutions and varying screen brightness sometimes make text on a black background hard for some people to read. Also, when posting images it is hard to utilize natural backgrounds, as an example; if you post a picture of a piece of fruit with a white background in a content field with a similar white background, only the fruit will be visible. On a black background, this effect is lost . . . . but a black content background can be very striking . . . which I think is the entire point of a blog template.

posted by gomedome on December 24, 2008 at 10:21 AM | link to this | reply

gomedome, Please know that you don't have to do me another one.  I appreciate all of your time and efforts spent on doing things for others and I am well satisfied with the two that I received.  If you persist, what would you think of black background with gold writing?  Does that sound too dramatic or off the wall?

posted by TAPS. on December 23, 2008 at 1:11 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - my mind is drawing a blank on the last one
I'll look through my collections of ecommerce and web templates to see if there is something suitable for this site. It may take me a day or two.

posted by gomedome on December 23, 2008 at 6:15 AM | link to this | reply

OTA. - thank you

posted by gomedome on December 23, 2008 at 6:10 AM | link to this | reply

Gomedome, I just wanted to say how much I like the templates you have done for TAPS. They are so colorful. I've seen a few of the others such as Mysteria and Cantey also. Very Cool stuff. ~Peace

posted by Blue_feathers on December 22, 2008 at 1:54 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS. - the second one is finished
I finally got it done.  It is just what I wanted.  Thank you!  Thank you!  The reason it took me so long was that there are so many dang pictures (one for each post) and the majority of them were way too big for the confines.  I finally got them all shrunk down and the borders alligned properly.  From now on it will be a piece of cake--thanks to you.

posted by TAPS. on December 22, 2008 at 1:28 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - the second one is finished

Check it out: HERE . . . again it is temporarily uploaded to one of my blogs and will be taken down once you install.

I used link colors that would contrast the primary dark grey, if you like it, you can get the code for it: HERE

Let me know if it works for you.  

posted by gomedome on December 22, 2008 at 9:18 AM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - it seems to be working
I changed the code in my blog back to its original now that yours is up. I'll have to rely on you to back up the code and images for your template. Simply save the code as a text or HTML file and the images together in a folder. I'll start on the next one shortly.

posted by gomedome on December 21, 2008 at 8:59 PM | link to this | reply

I think everything is working just fine and dandy.  I just need to back track some and make a few past pictures smaller so they fit within the bounds.
Everything is great.  Thank you so much.   

posted by TAPS. on December 21, 2008 at 5:27 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - I can't do any more damage, so I'll say it is finished

You can drop the code into your blog now and begin using it immediately. I would suggest that you save the images (right click and save to the folder of your choice on each image)  . . . because they are being served from a free image host.

A couple of quick things; I absolutely hate the fact that Blogit does not have a decent blog archiving system. The "Recent Entries" tab doesn't do much for me either so I used the RSS feed from your blog to create titles and summaries of your 6 most recent posts under the heading "Recent Posts". I also used a more subtle approach for the title backgrounds in the side column, I can change it back to the brighter green if you prefer.

First check it out: HERE (I dropped into one of my blogs temporarily, will remove when you have yours up and running)

Go: HERE right click the page, select all and copy the code, then follow the directions found HERE to install it into your blog code field box.   

If you have any questions or have any trouble let me know. As soon as you get this one up and running and feel comfortable with it, I'll do the others. Appreciate that now, additional blog templates for the same user are a few minutes cakewalk.

posted by gomedome on December 21, 2008 at 2:55 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS.

Wonderful.  Perfect.  I would not desire to change anything at all.  And, take your time.  I can wait as long as it takes for something a nice as that.

 

posted by TAPS. on December 20, 2008 at 2:00 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - we will stick with the one you like

I do this because I enjoy it.

Take a sneak peak at the first one: HERE

It still needs a bit of tweaking to work properly on the Blogit server but that's easy. Unfortunately, I have a commitment this evening and will not be able to get back to it until this morning. In the meantime if there is anything you would like changed, let me know.

posted by gomedome on December 20, 2008 at 12:33 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS. - I have another idea for Praying With Taps but can incorporate the
I kind of like that other one better because it reminds me of some kind of force zapping back and forth (communication) rather than just God just sitting up there in the sky shining down on us through the clouds.      Is there some way I'm going to be able to repay you for this?

posted by TAPS. on December 20, 2008 at 2:23 AM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - I have another idea for Praying With Taps but can incorporate the

idea into the grey concept image or not, depending on your preference.

Going through my collection of images I came across one that I though might make a nice subtle header for a prayer blog (as seen below:)

I'll do Perplexities first with the green concept image and you will see the process further develop. All you will have to do is copy and paste some code into the appropriate field box to upload these templates.

Also keep in mind that part of explaining the process allows you to influence changes, or if you have any images you would like incorporated?

I'll have the first one done in a short while.

posted by gomedome on December 19, 2008 at 9:34 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS. - no dogsled these days, I was helping dig out a few elderly people

The hard part is that I like the both really well.  How about the first one for "Perplexities" and the second one for "Praying With Taps".

On those "What Happens Next" things, I hope its you that does them because I just got lost.  LOL.  I know what you mean but I have no idea how to do them.

posted by TAPS. on December 19, 2008 at 9:02 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - no dogsled these days, I was helping dig out a few elderly people

in the neighborhood and making sure my youngest got home from work.

My use of the term "rescue mission" was an exaggeration.

I've pulled out a couple of blog template concept images, I have more in various stages and they are easy to make. The toughest part for me is determining what people like. Following are two samples I've chosen because they are dramatically different.

What happens next to a concept image is that the title of the blog is placed in the header area using a fancy font. Then a title background is chosen for the sidebar headings which is derived from the primary colors of the concept. Once these things are done, the concept image is then diced to form backgrounds for the various blog template areas. These areas are the header, the sidebar, the content area and the footer.

Both of these two samples are ready to be turned into a blog template but if you don't particularly like either of them, keep in mind that this is just a starting point. Any input is welcome.

 

posted by gomedome on December 19, 2008 at 8:38 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS. - as luck would have it, we've been buried by a snow storm today
Are your rescue missions still carried out by dog sled transport?

posted by TAPS. on December 19, 2008 at 2:55 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - as luck would have it, we've been buried by a snow storm today
I'll be off on a few rescue missions and doing some snow shoveling for a few hours but will return to this later in the evening.

posted by gomedome on December 19, 2008 at 11:57 AM | link to this | reply

You've got me looking back here every five minutes like a kid on the night before Christmas.

posted by TAPS. on December 19, 2008 at 8:48 AM | link to this | reply

SpitFire70 - no problem, I'll whip one up for you in a day or two

posted by gomedome on December 18, 2008 at 11:53 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - I have an idea for Perplexities so will do that one first
Ideas will come to me for the other two.

posted by gomedome on December 18, 2008 at 11:52 PM | link to this | reply

Gome,
I want one! I want one!  Cool colors and stuff. Yay!

posted by SpitFire70 on December 18, 2008 at 11:07 PM | link to this | reply

Re: TAPS. - answer the following two questions
Sorry it took me so long to get back.  The gray, cold, overcast day made me sleepy and I took a nap before the fire with Pitiful.  If I can have more than one, I'll take:  Perplexities in gray-green, Praying With TAPS in purple, and And So To Dream in Gold. 
Thank you.

posted by TAPS. on December 18, 2008 at 2:59 PM | link to this | reply

TAPS. - answer the following two questions
Which of your blogs would you like a template for and what colors do you prefer?

posted by gomedome on December 18, 2008 at 11:55 AM | link to this | reply

So, what do I do first?

posted by TAPS. on December 18, 2008 at 10:00 AM | link to this | reply