2.13.2014

That Time My Blog Demanded Plastic Surgery {Plus Six Great Resources for Customizing Basic Blogs}

My blog hasn’t had a midlife crisis in a while, so it was no surprise to me when over the weekend it tried to sneak out to get hair implants and then began demanding a Porsche. I firmly said no while doing more important things, like creating that raindrop decal accent wall in K’s nursery. But when it began whining about its liver spots and then threatened to look up its old beaus on Facebook, I said whatever, enough is enough and offered a simple facelift as collateral. It appears to have been appeased with its new header and fonts and colors, but I’ve hidden the steroids just in case.

his and hers blog header

Speaking of blog facelifts, I’ve done various simple things over the years—obviously nothing major; I’m just using Blogger as a platform, after all—and have spent a lot of time googling all around for clear tutorials containing certain information about how to customize a Blogger blog. I thought I’d save some of you the googling around and compile helpful resources all in one tiny little post; unless you like the googling around, of course, in which case please don’t let me interfere. But might I recommend instead searching for something more exciting like hair implant fails? And then report back to me with your findings.

how to customize your blog

Visit the following links to learn how to…

  1. Create a custom blog header. Say your blog was called That Time I Got a Chin Job and Other Midlife Musings. You could make a totally customized header that featured a close-up of your…chin job. 
  2. Create a custom navigation bar OR create custom side tabs. Tabs like Nostalgia and Waxing would look great in a hip new font.
  3. Center your navigation tabs. In case you don’t want Nostalgia and Waxing cuddling up in left alignment.
  4. Create custom social media icons. You know, so your blog can connect with its old beaus.
  5. Create a custom blog background. This could feature repeated images of your favorite bands from the 70s.
  6. Create a thumbnail image gallery. This way you can give sneak peeks of all your before and afters. Refer to #1.

Ooooookay. I’ve officially poked way too much fun in the direction of midlife crisis. This will probably come back to haunt me in 35 years when I am trying to buy cheetah-print shorts at Aeropostale and some super hilarious 27-year old cashier is rolling her eyes at me. Signing off now.

P.S. If you’ve made a tutorial about blog customization OR know of another good one, please feel free to add it in the comments! :)

20 comments :

  1. i love your new header- it is so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great tips and links. I have been slowly learning how to customize my blog design but it's been a slow painful process.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ha! I love the new look. Now my blog is jealous and wants to keep up with the Joneses.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much for this, it was exactly what I've been looking for!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like your header! I am on blogger too and have definitely made a lot of changes to my blog over the years.. but yea lately feeling like it needs a face life again.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pinned this!! Thank you so much for the tips!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great tips and info, my blog needs a facelift, for sure! I have been neglecting it for a while. Thanks for doing the research for me! I love your blog design by the way, am adding you to my Bloglovin feed! Stopping by from #SITSBlogging.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, my blog is in need of some plastic surgery...but I'm just not ready to take the time to do it. :) So glad you shared your tips though. By the way, I moved from Blogger to WP last fall. BEST decision ever! Your design work is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  9. hahahhaha this post is hilarious. I recently gave my blog a face lift too but did not have a fantastic funny guide to go with. Everything looks incredible!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hahahaha..... Looks great!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. thanks for the tips i pinned it so i can come back next weekend and give myself a blog facelift as beautiful as yours!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've just found your blog after it was featured over at Censational Girl, and I have to say the way you write is brilliant. Ive been chuckling to myself reading through your projects and posts - wicked sense of humour!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love all of these helpful tips! Pinned!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the new look and totally appreciate the list of resources!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow! This is great! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you. You know me.... I like to customize things but I am technologically........SQUIRREL!!!!!!!! I have tried to customize my blog in the past but I...... SHINEY...SOMETHING SHINEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I appreciate this post a whole lot, :-)

    (This is the first "google tagged" comment I have left so.... this is Rachel.. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. First, I have to say that I appreciate your crazy humor. I don't say that enough ... or maybe I haven't ever ... but it is fun and lighthearted and silly and great. So many people are way too serious! :)

    I have been neglecting my blog for months and months now. I went through a phase when I was working on some updates but they went along with a new blog name, and my readers voted down the name change, then I never got back to the updated look. Now that I've come up with a name I like for my Etsy shop, I am wondering whether I should change my blog name to that (Stuck on Hue ... instead of I'm Busy Procrastinating). I love color in general and I always wondered if my current blog name makes me sound like a lazy person, so maybe??? And I have been wanting to update the look too ... just need to get around to it. But apparently I'm busy procrastinating or busy using ellipses ... or something. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. And apparently I never complimented you on the new blog look in my long comment above. It looks great! Frankly, I'm surprised there isn't a photo of a certain beautiful baby in the logo, but maybe that was a bit much? :)

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from my readers, so don't be shy. :) Thanks for being here!

Want to read more?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...