A Note with Fixes from Wilna

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Friday, 01 May 2009 Contact UsSIStv HomeHomeUsing The ClassroomFAQHow To EnrollTeachersStudentsWelcome!Join The GroupBlogger1. Intro & Set up.2. Templates2a Template Issues3. Blogger: Backgrounds4. Adding the backround5. Making a banner6. Uploading the banner7. Fancy Titles8. The magic buttonNEW: Note From Wilna9. The pixelstick10. Fonts and Colors11. Adding social networks.12. Adding MUSIC.TypepadIntroductionDownloadsSetupDesign TabPhoto AlbumsTypelistsPostingHTMLBannersCustom PreMadeSidebar pt1Sidebar pt2PagesNavigation BarBackgroundsFaviconWordpressDownloadsSetupSettingsHTMLBannersCustom PreMadePostingWordpress: Widgets
Bling Out Your Blog 2.0

with Wilna Furstenberg and Kayla Aimee Terrell

A Note from Wilna
Dear Students...

First of all, thank you for taking this class. When Kayla Aimee and I started working on this class, we had no idea that close to 250 people will sign up for it. We were talking yesterday that the hours both of us spend on putting this class together will be close to 160 hours. We made 33 videos and endeavoured to provide you the most pleasurable and pain free way of remaking your blog.

That said, I know for a fact that blogging is just not that simple. The code (HTML) is like speaking a different language. It took me years to figure it all out and to come to a place where I have some knowledge. I promise you, i know what I know and not much more.

Every single class I do I put in 100%. I don't mind people asking questions. I am more than willing to help! If you have a problem, I am asking you to keep that in mind when you leave a comment stating your problem. There is really no need to be frustrated and irritated. All of us goes though learning curves. If you want to email me with a problem, please feel free: wilna71@yahoo.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please state your problem and include your blogger username and password. Once your blog is like you want it, you can change your password again.

I want to answer a few questions:

1. How long will the class be available after this week? The classroom will be up for 2 weeks. The vimeo videos will be available for at least a month after the class. So be sure to bookmark them. Personally, I will be available to help with problems THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK. Unfortunately, Kayla Aimee and I can not be sorting out blog problems for ever.


2. I don't want to use photoshop. I can totally understand that some people don't have/want photoshop. I think that in the class we give those who don't have photoshop some wonderful alternatives... we gave you free backgrounds to use, free banners and there's millions of free blog templates that you can download. Look at this STUNNING Blog... done with a free template. And this BLOG too...Kayla Aimee also made a video on how to make a blog banner using an online service.

3. I have ISSUES. I have fixed some problems for a lot of people in this class and I can honestly say that 80% of the time it's because they didn't read my instructions carefully. Now, sometimes one misses something. I have done that millions of times, and I have much patience with it. All I am asking, is don't be in a hurry. Take your time. Watch the videos again. Make sure you are using FireFox 3.0. Even google your question first ...And still feel free to email me! Oh, and please be sure to study the template issue lesson.

4. My blog don't look right. I don't see it as you see it. If you ARE using Firefox 3.0, it might be your screen settings. with PC: Try this: go to your blog and click and click CRTL - ( the control button and the - button at the same time) and see if that makes your screen view smaller and the margins fill in the correct places. On Mac: Go to system preferences and click display. You might want to play around with it a bit.

5. My banner is not centered anymore. You made your blog wider with the 3 column template and so your banner might not be centered. All you need to do is create a blank (transparent) image in photoshop that's 950px wide and paste your current image on it. Now make sure your image is in the center and click Merge visible. Save the new file as a PNG and upload it to your blog. Your image will be centered again.

6. The background paper I designed myself don't look right. When you make backgrounds by yourself, you must be sure to measure your blog. I will have a very brief (Not detailed) video showing you how to do it. Then you will begin the process of uploading, viewing and changing the background. Welcome to the world of blogging. If anyone thinks that I do something once and it's always right, I would thank them for such a high opinion of me and then proceed to bitterly disappoint them. I have to do everything at least 5 to 6 times before I am happy. I CAN NOT help you with designing your own backgrounds at this stage. I think that's an advanced blogger class lesson.

7. Your blog title. I completely forgot to add this little piece of information! Go to LAYOUT > EDIT HTML and you will see right in the top part of the code this line: Your title here Substitute Your title here with your blog title and you will be able to see your blog title in the tab. : )

8. it worked! No one will be prouder of you than Kayla Aimee and me when you get it right! Please tell us and show us! Tell me when you get the template to work, when you made your first banner and when you found the profile gadget again! It's just so easy to tell us your problems but I DARE you to tell us your victories. Not only for us (the teachers) but also for those that's still going though the valley. Blogging is so rewarding. Let's make it work! WE WILL HELP YOU!!!!



Check back here... i will add some more Q&A here as they come up.


















Comments (10) 10 Friday, 01 May 2009 05:53 Kristi Hellyer
ok, mine is a victory, I am loving all the things you are telling us and my blog is looking cute and fancy :) thank you ever so for all your hard work!

kristi
Reply 9 Friday, 01 May 2009 04:30 Petra van Osch
Thank you both for your time and this wonderful workshop.I'm entering a new world ;) It also takes a lot of my patience and that's okay. I realized that I need more time because it's already after 9.oo pm over here in the Netherlands when the new lesson is available. On my first day off I managed to change the look of my blog and boy I was proud! I'm glad that the workshop is available for an extra week because I'll keep on trying and learning!!
Hugs {etra
Reply 8 Friday, 01 May 2009 01:32 Toni Laws
Hi Wilna, yup this is a GREAT class! I get frustrated and cranky myself while doing it, because there are so many new things to learn all at once, so it helps to take a short break before coming back to it.
I was thrilled yesterday to get the new fonts into my post titles! have been fooling around with hex codes now instead of doing class work LOL
I'll get my blog link up soon if anyone wants to see it I would LOVE some comments!
Reply 7 Thursday, 30 April 2009 19:42 Irene Lennon
Hi Wilna, just wanted to say thank you for all the time and effort you put into these classes. I floundered through the first 2 lessons, then with help from my daughter (who is also doing this class), I started to understand things. I found if I really READ through all the instructions and WATCH the videos, it is much clearer. Thanks again, Irene
Reply 6 Thursday, 30 April 2009 18:34 Courtney Kimbrough
Ah! That makes sense! :) Thank you.
Reply 5 Thursday, 30 April 2009 14:48 Peggy Kushman
my banner and photo aren't centered anymore: I read the paragraph about this but I don't know how to create a blank image in PSE.
Reply 4 Thursday, 30 April 2009 14:30 Courtney Kimbrough
I tried the Ctrl and - thing while viewing my blog. Now everything on Firefox is so small I can't read it. DO you know how I undo it?
Comments (1) 3 Thursday, 30 April 2009 13:00 Donna Nelson
Wilna and Kayla Aimee are amazing.....THANKS!!!!

In addition to all of the teaching materials you both have provided, are there any books that either of you might recommend?
Comments (1) 2 Thursday, 30 April 2009 12:39 Sheri Twing
Wilna, I just have to say your class is amazing! You are so thorough in your videos and screen shots. Loving this.

I have a question though. On your blog, you have photos with rounded corners. I use rounded corners and love them but it leaves the white square when I save as a .jpg. Do you save yours as a .png file? Can you upload photos to blogger in the post section as a .png? I thought only jpgs.

Thanks for your help.
Comments (1) 1 Thursday, 30 April 2009 12:04 Cynthia Tobey
Hi Wilna! I just want to say I am enjoying this class so much and I have learned a LOT! Thank you for doing such an awesome job. Here's my blog (no sidebar work yet): http://cindytobey.blogspot.com/
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