Signature Test  - I used the signature creator from My Live Signature and the directions from Blogger Tips and Tricks to do this in just a few minutes (you only really need the final paragraph which directs you to put the code into the last box under SETTINGS > FORMATTING).  Piece of cake!

printing your blog

The best site I have found for printing blogs is called Blurb.  You can download their free software (called Book Smart) and be up and running in no time.  The best part is that they will "Slurp" your content information and you won't have to re-type your entries.  

Here is the even easier way for the totally not-tech-savvy . . .  it is totally goofy, but it works. First, click on your post header (or title) so that only the post you want to print appears on your screen (otherwise, you will print reams of unnecessary pages) then go FILE, PRINT in your computer's tool bar. It will print out your blog, just as you see it on the screen - sidebars and all.

The fancy way to do it is much more complicated - go to blogging basics 101 for a few sites that offer tutorials on creating printer friendly pages. I haven't had the guts to try this method yet. Let me know if you do!

Changing the background wallpaper

I lifted most of these instructions from a site that I can't remember now, so if you recognize them, please let me know and I'd happily credit the smart person who originally figured all of this out!

I know it sounds strange, but the first thing you will need to do is set up an account with www.photobucket.com

Then upload your favorite pattern - If you haven't found anything yet, check out some digital scrapbooking sites.  My favorite is www.scrapbookflair.com . - you will need to download your "paper" to your computer, and then upload it to photobucket.  

First, log into your Blogger account, and click on LAYOUT then click on the TEMPLATE tab
You will need to choose one of the Minima blog templates (these code changes may or may not work with other templates)  Click on SAVE

Next you will need to click on EDIT HTML and search for the following:

body {
background:$bgcolor;
margin:0;
color: $textcolor;
font:x-small Georgia Serif;
font-size/**/small;
font-size:/**/small;
text-align: center;

In-between    background: $bgcolor;           and      margin:0 

You will need to copy and paste the following text: 

background-image:url();background-repeat:repeat-xy;

***if you only want the image to show up on the left side of your screen then change the repeat-xy; to repeat-y;


Now go into your Photobucket account and decide what image you want to show up on your sides. Copy its Direct Link (make sure that you choose DIRECT LINK) and then paste it
in-between the two ()'s so that it looks something like this:

body {
background:$bgcolor;
background-image:url(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w105/suzannejhart/Scrapbook/SPcom_Festival_Paper_Stripes.jpg);
background-repeat:repeat-xy;
margin:0;
color: $textcolor;
font:x-small Georgia Serif;
font-size/**/small;
font-size:/**/small;
text-align: center;

This will change the background of your ENTIRE blog.  I will post later about how to make the center a different color.

Adding Clickable Tabs (Menu Bar)

Clickable Tabs are the horizontal menu items that you see across the top and/or bottom of most web sites.  Here's how to do it:

First, check to see if you have the ability to add page elements to your header.  If not you will need to do this first.  

Click on LAYOUT and then on one of the ADD A GADGET rectangles:

• click above your header if you want the tabs to be the same color as your header
• click below your header if you want the tabs to be the same color as your background

Choose TEXT

You will now need to add the titles of the items for your menu bar.  Common ones include "Home" and "Contact Us".  Separate each title with quite a few spaces (I used 16).  

Next go back and highlight your first title and click on the little icon at the top of the page that looks like the world with a chain across the top of it.  You will be asked to enter the corresponding url (http://website address).  

When you have created links for each title, click on SAVE and then PREVIEW to see your work.

There are many more beautiful and complicated ways to do this, but none as easy!

Adding New Page Element Locations

Adding new locations for page elements not only adds flexibility, but also gives you the opportunity to do fun things like add clickable "tabs" at the top of your blog.  This is one of the easiest, and most versatile changes to make.

Safety First - Make sure to save your current template before making any changes - just in case. I, personally, decided that it would take me much more trial and error than I was willing to risk on my main site, so I created this site as a place to play. You can do the same by going to your Dashboard and creating a new blog.

Beware that the code below is missing the first <

This was the easiest way for me to convince Blogger to ignore the code within this post.

Click on LAYOUT, then EDIT HTML 

Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for this: 

div id="header-wrapper">
b:section class="header" id="header" maxwidgets="1" showaddelement="no">

You will want to change the '1' to '3', and 'no' to 'yes' so that it looks like this:
div id="header-wrapper">
b:section class="header" id="header" maxwidgets="3" showaddelement="yes">

You will then need to change the 'no' to 'yes' in two additional locations.  They are listed below:

     div id='main-wrapper'>
     b:section class='main' id='main' showaddelement='yes'>

and also

     div id='content-wrapper'>
     div id='crosscol-wrapper' style='text-align:center'>
     b:section class='crosscol' id='crosscol' showaddelement='yes'/>
     /div>

That's it!  You're Done!  

You won't notice any changes in preview, because you haven't enabled any new elements, so just take the risk, click SAVE CHANGES and then check-out your updated LAYOUT tab.  

T

his is to test the larger first letter
Magazine style format.
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