Mostly Minimalist - Free 2 column blog template

This template is simply simple - very minimalist and nothing pretentious.  It includes a wide "main blog" column for your blog posts and a sidebar with light grey banners in the background.

click above for a live demo site

• To download the xml template: click here (zip folder)
• Preview the site here
• Need help installing this? Click here
  

BONUS BLANK HEADERS:

I have also included some blank pre-made banners for this template which look quite nice too.  These are made using dingbat font "Adhesive Nr Seven" and can be found here. 

Here are the 6 headers I have made:

If you would like to use one of these header images instead of the boring old plain-text header that comes with the template you will have to follow these instructions:

1. Pick the header image you want to use.  There is a folder within the downloadable zip folder called "HeaderImages" - the blank header images can be found in here.
   
2. Edit the image to include your header/description.  You can use various graphics programs like Photoshop, Photoshop Elements etc, or you can use free online applications like Aviary (use Phoenix) or Editor by Pixlr. There may be more out there that I don't know about.
   
   
3. Upload your new header image into your blog:
   Go to the LAYOUT then PAGE ELEMENTS window and click on “EDIT” in the header area:
   
   
   
   
   A pop-up window will appear (see below)
   
   
   
   Browse for the header image file on your computer and make sure you select “Instead of title and description” is selected (also, do not select ‘shrink to fit’).
   Click SAVE.
   
   
4. Done!
   

Free For All! (yes, this was my giveaway template a few months ago)

So, a few months ago, I had a giveaway. I emailed the winner a few times before they disappeared and never emailed me again! Tough luck, cookie because now I'm giving that Blogger template away to everyone!

click for a live preview

• To download the xml template: click here (zip folder)
  
• Preview the site here
• Need help installing this? Click here
  
  

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE:

(1) Your blog header and title will not show up! That is because there is a blank header image (within the downloadable folder) that you need to edit yourself. You don't need Photoshop to edit the header image, you can follow these instructions and edit - and add - it. Easy peasy and fancy fancy!

(2) Please don't leave me a comment complaining that your blog title doesn't show up. If you have this problem, please read point #1.

(3) If you like this template then why not look at some of my similar ones on offer at Suck My Lolly. It's easy to jazz up your blog, why not try it?

(4) If you were the winner of my giveaway a few months back, sorry! You missed out.

(5) If you like it and use it, leave me a comment and show me what you do!

(6) Enjoy!

Temps Heureux - subtle, lovely (and don't tell anyone got the name from a teaspoon I bought in Japan)

Here is a template which is quite subtle yet lovely. I like the colours a lot (I thought about using pink text but decided on green for the headers - of course this is changeable from within the "Fonts & Colours" area so you can alter this to be whatever you want. I also think that orange would look lovely).

The frame/doodle in the header area is by the exceptionally talented Jen Furlotte at pixelsandicecream.com (possibly one of the best URLs ever!) and I full advise you to go and check out her extremely well priced graphic goodies! *sigh* I love people who share! Enjoy.

click for a live preview

• To download the xml template: click here (zip folder)
  
• Preview the site here
• Need help installing this? Click here

Please back up your widget data before installing a template!

Rainbowz - XML Blogger template

click for a live preview

The design works with "new" blogger - ie: it's an XML template. Please ensure that you backup your widget data, as installing a new template will wipe/erase your current widget content.

• To download the xml template: click here (zip folder)
• Preview the site here
• Need help installing this? Click here
  
  

Please note that the background colour is changeable. The header has a transparent background and therefore won't look good with all colours, but it does look good with many. Here are some examples:

orange


pink


green

All the colours are changeable from within the "Fonts & Colours" area. Enjoy!

Tweet Tweet - Free XML blogger Template

Argh! I have just moved house and have been without internet for a few days (ok, it was a WEEK!), but we're back online tonight, so here's a cute design.

(click for a live preview)

• To download the xml template: click here (zip)
• Preview the site here
• Need help installing this? Click here

Your blog title will not be visible!
I have included a PDF with instructions on how to replace the header image - alternatively you can leave it as it is and it will look the same as the live preview (the header will say "Tweet Tweet").

Party at my house! - DIY XML blogger template

click for a live preview

This Blogger/Blogspot design is called "Party at my house!" and it's available under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

*** A few things ***

This blogger template is for those of you who are comfortable editing images and uploading them to the internet (and then replacing the image path). YOUR BLOG TITLE AND DESCRIPTION WILL NOT SHOW UP - this design is not interactive from your Blogger Dashboard.

The header image is a blank banner that you may do what you wish to:
Here is the image (see it's blank and ready for you):

click the image to view full size
and then right click and "Save Image As....."
(or download the zip file, it's in there too!)

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

"So, how is this different from your other designs?"
It's not, really. I have just included the "blank" header image so you may edit it to include your blog title/description or any images you want. You don't have to edit any other images or change where they are hosted... just the header. If you do nothing and install it as presented in the zip file, it will look exactly the same as this page with "Blog Title Here" in the header image.

"WHY did you make this design like this?"
Two reasons really - one: I know that a lot of people want to customise their design a lot more (you can use any graphics editor to put your own text onto this banner and there are waaaay more font choices than the silly old internet can handle. DaFont: droolworthy!) and two: I just thought it would be more interesting - and things are definitely better when they're more interesting ;-)

"I don't want to edit my own header image! Can you please let me know how to make my title & description come through from Blogger?"
No. There is no way that your blog title and description is going to come through and actually "fit" well in the banner bit, so bad luck.

"What graphics program can I use to edit this image?"
I have Photoshop CS, but you can use any graphics program that allows you to open/edit a JPEG or GIF - which should be pretty much any graphics program. I have also included the (layered) photoshop file for those of the Photoshop persuasion.

"Ok, I made my own banner, now what?"
Now you'll have to upload it to some hosting on the internet. I host my files on photobucket.com (a free image hosting service) but there are more options out there.
Upload the file to the internet, then find the URL of the image.

Next, go to the "Layouts" >> "Edit HTML" section of your blog.
You will need to replace the original header image - seen on this page - to be your own.

Scroll down until you find the following image path:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa231/free_blogger/HeaderTest.gif

hint: it's under this bit
/* ---( header and site name )--- */

click for a larger view

Replace the original image path with the newly created header image path that you've just uploaded to your own hosting. Make sure not to remove the brackets. Preview to check it's all ok and then save. Viola!

OK OK OK, gimme the template:

• Download the XML template: here (zip)
  
• View a live preview: here
• Need help installing this? Click here