The hardest thing EVER

Is it not just mind warping how many different free backgrounds are available?!

I feel like a kid...I have to try out every single background with every free header.  Three column or two column?  Classic Layout or the stupid new layout designer (don't like it)? Pages?  How should I arrange my gadgets? Very hard for me to make decisions like this.

I really like Itkupilli's free blog backgrounds

She's a finnish artist.  A little funky, little romantic, little vintage...and she some awesomely dark, but not gorey Halloween backgrounds

Garden of Death!!!

Image from Itkipilli

or a milder, Happy Halloween

Image from Itkupilli

Adding free backgrounds is VERY easy~Copy the designer's background code, go back to your blog and click "add a gadget" while in "Design", pick "html" from your list of gadget options and paste the code right there. 

After lots of dinkin' around I've decided to go with something simpler than Ikupilli, though.  I really want to use a drawing that my daughter Alyssa made for me this last Christmas as my header and if the background is too busy it won't work, so....

BACKGROUND FAIRY IT IS!

Background Fairy is also Karen of Graphics Fairy!

Still easy to do!  You can even just add the backgrounds as the while in Template Designer (she has easy to follow instructions).

And I can use my special drawing...

I asked for a bear and some chickens in a parade.  Perfect!

OH!  Don't forget to change your signature line from My Live Signature...it needs to be transparent if the background is a not white.    So much  to do!



I'm gone for a bit, but I can link, right?

I know I'm supposed to be decorating a tree right now, but I just COULDN'T stay away!

Do you ever get to feeling like your blog just isn't up to snuff?  Wonder how some of those women have SO much time to be so flippin' perfect (they cook, they clean, they craft and they look like Donna Reed!)?  Did you think your front-room looked pretty nice until you read so-and-so's blog and found out that plum just isn't the in color anymore?



Here's a very inspiring post from one of my favorite blogs Joys Of Home.  Check it out...you'll feel better.

On that note...I'd post some pictures of my imperfectness (and there'd be plenty), but I cannot find my camera. 

OR...

..You can just have someone else do the designing and purchase a layout.  My layout is from Shabby Creations and was only $10!  She has several really great designs to choose from and she'll personalize and install them in about 24 hours.  She also offers custom design services, button and header design packages, and much more.

Thank you Shabby Creations--I love my new layout!

Change your minima template to 3 colums

The easiest to follow tutorial I've found is here.  Take the site's advice and use Control C for copying and Control V for pasting--It truly is easier!
You will have to go into your HTML (In the "Layout" tab click HTML), so be sure to preview your changes BEFORE you save them!

The tutorial ends with instructions to remove the nasty little blogger bar at the top, too.  If you feel like your margins are too cramped, go ahead and follow the link for a instructions on adjusting the margins.

When you adjust your blog to 3 columns you will need to change your custom background to fit.  I found that each of the free sites offered both a 2 and 3 column version of each design.

You may want to increase your banner/header to 940 pixels wide, too.  You don't have to do this, but if you'd like it to take up the full space you'll need to change it