Under Construction

Pardon the dust, but my blog is currently “under construction.” I figured since I have been doing spring cleaning around the house, my blog could use a bit of cleaning up as well! Actually I think this is just a poor excuse for avoiding the {actual} cleaning that really does needs to be done around my house! :-)

Anyhow, here is the deal. I had begun to feel like my blog was TOTALLY cluttered and I wanted to add a bit more color. I felt like it looked “homemade” and I wanted it to have a more clean, professional look to it. So, these are the changes that are in progress…

Header: I think the header is one of the most rewarding changes you can make on your blog. As much as I loved the general look of my old header {and was proud that I had made it all by myself}, I love my new one ten times more! My old header was made from a sort of digi-hibrid style. My new one is completely digital. (I used Photoshop..older version and Microsoft clipart.) My old header was IMO too big. It started to bother me that I had to scroll down to see a decent portion of my most recent post…because of the size of the header. So, the new one is smaller and more colorful.

Horizontal Drop Down Navbar: I added this to my blog a few weeks ago, but I plan to edit some of the labels on it as well as changing the hover colors. Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler has a great tutorial in case you want to add one to your site. Be sure to follow her directions completely so that you don’t make the same mistakes that I did! 

Columns: Well, I thought I was hot stuff when I figured out how to change my blog from two columns to three. At the time I thought it would give my blog a more clean look, but now, I plan on going back to two columns. I am starting to think less is more. Hopefully this will help out with the cluttered feeling that I am having! (In case you want to change your blog to three columns, here is a three column tutorial from Cutest Blog on the Block…can’t remember if this is the one that I originally used.)

Background: Well, I am not too fancy when it comes to backgrounds. The new one is much like the old one…just completely digital and with a brighter color. I used the background tutorial from Cutest Blog on the Block to adjust the background. With their tutorial you are able to make more elaborate backgrounds, but I was able to use the general information (with a few tweeks) to get something simple that I liked.

Multi-tabbed Navigation Widget: I got this idea from Erica at Confessions as well. If you want one for your blog, be sure to head over and check out her tutorial. I LOVE the idea of this and I think it will help out with the cluttered feeling. I plan on putting stuff like my labels/categories list and archives in it. I feel like it is good to have both on my blog, but I think they take up WAY too much space. I think putting them in the navigation widget will really help out with that!

Button: I plan to update my button as well. So, if you currently have my old button, be sure to be on the lookout for my new one. I will be using my old button tutorial to make the changes. To go along with the button, I think I will also update and edit my profile pic as well!

Sidebar Titles: I debated on doing this, but I think I am going to make coordinating sidebar titles. I thought I would just use the standard “title” from Blogger, but I was having issues with the sizing…I want the sidebar titles big, but that meant that other stuff that I wanted to be small ended up being big too. Probably doesn’t make much sense, but changes are on the way!

Font: For some strange reason, I am really liking the look of Arial font. For so long I used Time New Roman, but I suppose change is good.   :-)

Removing the “Showing posts with…” Label: I almost forgot…this has been a pet peeve of mine since I added in the horizontal drop down navbar. If I clicked on a label, the “Showing posts with…” label would pop up. If I then wanted to use the drop down navbar, I couldn’t access any of the menu below the “Showing posts with…” label. So, Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations has a tutorial for removing this and I totally plan on doing it!

So, please pardon the dust while I do a bit of bloggy spring cleaning! I am starting to think that perhaps I could do a bit of extra “construction” and do an overhaul on my other blogs! In case you don’t know, I have three other blogs…feel free to check them out.

• “Brown Like Me” Book Reviews
• Homeschool Resource List
• Living Math Book List

But, beware, they might look totally different in the next few weeks too!  :-)

By the way, if your blog needs a new look and you don’t have the first clue about html and all that jazz, be sure to head over to Relevant Designs. My blog buddy Jolanthe has started the blog design site as a way to raise money to attend Relevant 2010 ~ a blogging conference for Christian women that will be held in October 2010. Jolanthe has not “officially” gone live with the site yet {debut scheduled for May 15th}, but if you need a bloggy makeover, head on over and get in line!

Like what you've read?
Subscribe to have it delivered directly to your inbox!

{This post may contain affiliate or advertiser links. Please review my disclosure policy.}