Glamour Bomb's Spring Collection 2010: Fascinator Hats

Now available for your fashion pleasure is my spring collection of fascinator/mini hats.

In keeping with the theme of Easter this week  I thought I'd share with you this vintage clip. While my line of fascinators would make a lovely chapeau for the spring break, they are also make quite lovely Mother's Day gifts not to mention derby hats!
Enjoy my spring collection at my Etsy shop by clicking on the image below.

LuLu's New Dress!

Many of my new readers have been enjoying my series of the modified 3 column Minima template I coded and am giving away under a CC 3.0.

It's basically just your normal 2 column minima with an extra side column.  There's one that's just perfect for free backgrounds by such fabulous designers as 1stFloorFlat, Itkupilli's Cute'n'Cool, the Background Fairy and more.  I call that model the "Skinny" because it's a slender one that fits the design specifications of most free backgrounds.

But I also developed templates with extra elbow room and I call them "Standard" and "Wide".  Think of them as ectomorphic, endomorphic and mesomorphic templates respectively.

Now I'm developing a 3 column Minima with an additional three footer columns much like the ones coded in my template here (scroll down to the bottom of my blog to see!) ⬇

The first to test this new template is my wonderful friend LuLu of Coastal Sisters. You should really have a look at how pretty it is with her new free background she's sporting from the Cutest Blog on The Block.  LuLu's giving this template a beta test for me and will be providing me feedback to let me know how it's working for her.

How about you, dear reader? Would you be interested in testing this template?

Let me know and I'll send you an invite. In only ask that you be willing to test drive this template on your formal blog (not your test blog) for at least 21 days and give me feedback on how it's working for you. To receive an invite just contact me by clicking on the invitation below and type "3+3" in the message box. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave a comment, too. But it's not necessary to receive an invite. I'm only giving away 3 beta invites so hurry! :)

It's funny because when LuLu posted her debut the new template she likened it to a new dress. I think that's so apropos because I feel like templates are a dress form and the free backgrounds that the above referenced designers create are the gowns.  It's when I began to see a lot of ill coded templates -- or rather an "ill fitted" dress forms -- that I got my tailoring skillz (i.e. coding skills) out to help make sure your dress fits your blog perfectly.  To me it's a lot like dressing up paper dolls!

BTW, you can enjoy the paper doll illustrated above compliments of Farah Rahman.

Vintage Easter Greetings!

I don't usually post items I'm selling in this -- my personal blog -- because I use my shop links for items I'm selling either directly or through Etsy. I do this as a courtesy to my readers because who wants to read stuff I'm selling (which is a lot) all the time? I sure don't. Unless I'm in the mood to shop.

But today is going to be different. I'm cross-posting this gorgeous Easter Bonnet/Vintage Hat from my shop by promoting it with a with this trailer from the 1948 MGM classic Easter Parade starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Yes, I think it ties in well with my hat promo!

Isn't this hat bomb? Click it! ➤

Enjoy this clip and if you have a moment, come admire the pretty bombdiggity bonnet I'm selling over here.

Posting Transparent Images in Blogger (A Follow Up to 1stFloorFlat's Recent Blog Post)

Lucky for me, the background on my blog is white so my readers and I often fail to notice the effects of transparent .GIF and .PNG files.

But in designing darker Blogger templates I've noticed that the issue comes up where supposedly "transparent" items have a white background. In a recent blog post from Susie Jefferson of 1stFloorFlat she offers some quick and dirty work around solutions and it's worth checking it out over there.

I just wanted to take a moment to explain what is going on.

As examples, below are two images of the exact same transparent .PNG file I uploaded to Blogger. Click on them to embiggen.

Indeed one of them showed a white background as if it was mounted on a piece of copier paper.  It just looked horrible! But then with a little hacking, I managed get the file to display its glorious transparent background. (Note since this blog has a white background as I mentioned previously I used screenshots from a blog I'm designing with a darker background).



Now this file (courtesy of the Graphics Fairy) is rather large. I made a .PNG out of it that measures 1000px wide so therefore I selected Picasa's embed code of "400px" to ensure it would fit properly in the main column. For those of you that don't know, all images posted to Blogger are stored in Blogger's sister site Picasa Web Albums, a photo sharing site provided by Google.

Notice the white bits peaking through around the edges?

Well below is how I resolved it:




Notice this image has no bright white lines around the border. It's completely transparent! This is my workaround solution: take the original size and code the dimensions by hand like so:

1. Grab the URL for "Large 800px" (image only, no link).
2. Remove the the part in the URL that reads s800/.  Be sure to include only one (1) slash not two.
3. Insert the URL into your blog by handcoding the dimensions so that it fits precisely in your column. Example: <img src="THE ENTIRE URL WITH S800/ REMOVED" width="DESIRED WIDTH IN PIXELS" />

Of course Susie's got a quicker solution: just upload transparent GIFs and PNGs to Photobucket where you won't have this problem. Again, her detailed solution is here.

A St. Patrick's Day Video Card from Glamour Bomb

The song says, ‘It’s not easy being green,’ but the song is about knowing who you are. And in it you can hear Jim [Henson's] message loud and clear. We should learn to love who we are and be proud of it. And that's the way we learn to love each other.”

– Ray Charles

NEW! Blogger In Draft Launches The Blogger Template Designer

ZOMG!  Blogger is coming at you in a fresh cool way! Last week Blogger In Draft announced a new feature: the Blogger Template Designer!


This is pretty amazing because ever since I started my first Blogspot blog (I'm talkin' pre-Google) their template collection has remained unchanged.  Douglas Bowman from StopDesign has really gotten some mileage off the ubiquitous Minima template which was launched in 2004.  That's a pretty good run for the lifetime of anything on the Web. And while I think it's an elegantly designed classic template, I'm really kinda bored with it.

So Blogger In Draft has rolled out the template designer and that means eventually it's going to be available for all Blogger users. For those of you who don't know, Blogger In Draft is a special version of Blogger in which new features are beta tested before being released to the Blogger community at large.  Through feedback the Blogger team develops features that users want.

If you want to use the Blogger In Draft dashboard just go to http://draft.blogger.com/ and log in as you would normally. If you want to stop using it and go back to “normal” Blogger, simply log in to http://www.blogger.com/ instead. Your blogs and posts are the same regardless of whether you use Blogger in draft or regular Blogger.

When it first launched Blogger In Draft was my default way to blog. Now I switch back and forth between these two features just to see what's up and coming but I usually use the regular dashboard because it's stable whereas draft can sometimes be a little wonky. But then, after all, it is for beta testing.

I really, really like it Blogger in Draft. I think you will, too.

How To Install an .XML File for Blogger in 9 Easy Steps!

Ever since I released my FREE modified 3 column Minima templates for the Blogger/Blogspot platform I've been asked a million questions on how to install'em.

As I've suggested before (and now I'm gonna do it again) Sharnee at YummyLolly.com has a kick-ass tutorial that's all in text. It's concise, well written, and super informative.

But if you're anything like me, I never read the directions. Nope! Not me! I push forward and explore by trial and error.  O_o

Yep! That's how I process and integrate information. It's really true what Marshall Mclaren meant when he said "the medium is the message" because now that we're all connected digitally we are literally changing our brains. I mean there are so many ways to exchange information and ideas it's truly freaking amazing that I can share with  you this little video.

Now some folks learn aurally, others learn visually and still others learn kinesthetically.  I know this because used to teach private post-secondary vocational education and it was my job to make sure my students "got it".  If they didn't, well it was all on me for being a poor communicator.

Anyway, so I created this video for those who learn better by watching and doing.  All you have to do is follow along with me and click the "pause" button when you need to. The same steps in the video are also below.

I know this screen is teeny and it's difficult to see what exactly it is I'm doing. So if you click on the little expander on the menu of the player the video will blow up to full screen and you can see all the details.  If this doesn't work then by all means head on over to my YouTube channel 'cuz I know it will click to full screen there.

Remember: before you begin remember to back up your original template before installing!

Now, here's how you install a new one:

1. Click on "Download" button and save file to your hard drive.
2. Extract or "unzip" the file you just downloaded. The .ZIP file opens into an .XML file. UPDATE: 3/17/2010 I no longer zip these files because too many users were complaining they were unable to open them.
3. Login to your Blogger dashboard.
4. Click on "Layout" tab in the dashboard panel.
5. Click on "Edit HTML" menu item.
6. Click the "Browse" button and look for the extracted .XML file on your hard drive.
   (It may be in your Downloads folder or your desktop.)
7. Only select the .XML file. Do not select any other type of file.
8. Click "Upload" button. Be sure to "Keep Widgets" when asked in the pop-up menu.
9. Confirm this action and hit "Save".

Voila! You have a new template! Woo hoo! U R so kewl!

I may go back later and record a voiceover track for those of you who take in information better through their hearing but we'll see.  Somebody is going to have to request that by contacting me or leaving a comment!

Until then, I look forward to bloggers sharing with me what they've done to customize this modded 3 column Minima template and how they skinned it! 

FREEBIE! New 3 Column Minima Dark Template for Blogger/Blogspot

Last week I offered up as a PIF item (Pay-It-Forward) on Etsy a free modified Minima template with three columns. As most people know, the original Minima template has only two columns. Now it's available in dark as you can see above. See the live demo here.

Here's the specifications of this template's built-in features:

• The template is 940px wide with the main column coded at 500px and the side columns at 185px.
• An additional area for adding gadgets just below the banner. The translation menu I used in this demo is a perfect example. Use this for static (sticky) notes, photos, extra menu bars, widgets, polls, etc.
• Peek-a-boo navigation bar designed to avoid its interference with your blog's design while simultaneously preserving its functionality. (Click here for instructions on how to replace the navbar if you prefer that it appear in your blog).
• Numbered comments! Great for contests! (Note: be sure to "keep" widgets when asked in the pop-up window upon importing this template for numbered comments to work correctly. For more help, read this tutorial from Susie Jefferson of 1st Floor Flat).
• Just like a great pair of jeans, this template also comes in "W-I-D-E" and "skinny" widths!
• Note: When you install this template the color scheme will revert to the Minima template's original defaults. This is intended for you to customize in order to coordinate with your preferred free background.

See the live demo and download files here:
http://glamourbombs-3col-minima-dark.blogspot.com/
http://glamourbombs-3col-minima-dark-wide.blogspot.com/
http://glamourbombs-3col-minima-dark-skinny.blogspot.com/

Terms of Use: This template free to use under the provision that my name and credits remain intact both at the bottom of this template and within the XML code. Please respect the time, effort and expertise I offer for free in coding this template and the costs of hosting the files on your behalf. By installing this template, you agree to leave this link intact in perpetuity for as long as it's in use in your blog(s). Removal of said credits requires a PayPal donation to glamourbomb(@)gmail.com. That said, enjoy the template and let me know if you have any questions!

Everybody loves to be acknowledged and appreciated. If you enjoy this template please let me know! Some of the best ways to do so are as follows:

• Write a blog post after installing this template. Tell your friends how awesome it is and where you got it.
• Heart this item on Etsy.
• Heart my Etsy shop.
• Follow me on Tumblr.
• Follow me on Twitter (I will follow back!).
• Follow me here on Blogger with Google Friend Connect (I will follow back!).
• Leave comments on my blog.
• Join the Glamour Bomb Facebook fan page.
• Follow Glamour Bomb with the Facebook application "NetworkedBlogs".

Thanks for stopping by and have a magical day!

Blogger Trick: How To Remove Banner Border (for Courtney)

Courtney from BeautyandtheBride just installed my 3 Column Minima (Wide) template and had the following question:

I am in the midst of uploading the Minima wide three column template you created for blogger (Thank you!) and have a question. I have a banner/image that I would like to install on my blog. In the fonts and colors area I clicked on the border color to white, so there would not be any lines around my image, but one gray line still remains. Is there any way to get the gray line out from around my image? Thank you again for a cool template! ~ Courtney

OK, Courtney.  This is pretty simple and I'm  going to break it down in 4 easy-peasy steps.

First, let's establish our goal: we want to remove the double border around the top banner. See the "before" and "after" photos below. If you need more clarity simply click on images to embiggen.

 

 This is pretty cinchy! Here we go:

#1

First of all, head to your Blogger dashboard and go to Layout → Fonts and Colors (see above).


#2

 

In the colors box on the left scroll down to "Border Color" and change the border from "Pink" to "White".  (See above).

Then hit "Save Changes".

In some templates this should do the trick. But Blogger is funny and sometimes there's a little code monkey running around in your code that will only allow you to remove just one border outline (not both).  I don't know how it got there and I don't know how to get rid of it. However, I can tell you how to remove the second border.  But I have to tell you now: you're gonna have to go into the HTML code. But don't panic! We can do this! Here we go:

#3

Go to Layout → Edit HTML (see above)

Scroll down until you see the following code:

#header-wrapper {
width: 1000px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid #cccccc;     ← CHANGE THIS VALUE
}

#4

 

Change the part where the hexidecimal color code* (aka HEX) says #cccccc (gray) to #ffffff (white). (See above). 

#header-wrapper {

width: 1000px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid #ffffff;       ← TO THIS VALUE
}

And voila! The color is now white, blending in with the background of your template. (See above).

Hit "Save Changes" and you're good to go!

------
* FYI the HEX code for black is #000000 and here's a table of other color codes.

FREEBIES: Aviary - Creation On The Fly!

OK all you crafty vixens. I think you're gonna like what I've got to blog about. Because today it's all about Aviary, an on-line multi-media suite that allows anyone to create, edit, and remix digital content directly from their favorite web browser.

Each application on Aviary is named after a bird (hence the name) with programs such as Phoenix (an on-line image editor that's comparable to PhotoShop), Peacock (an effects editor/pre-visual laboratory), Toucan (a color swatches and palettes creator), Raven (a vector editor) and many more! The best part is Aviary is free as a bird!

The tutorials Aviary offers are a great place to start if you're new to this digital-techie-sorta-thing. Here are just a few that I think will appeal to all the crafty Etsyans out there: How to Make an Etsy Banner and Avatar in Aviary and Enhancing Your Etsy Photos using Aviary’s Online Photo Editor.  Recently Aviary's blog showcased Etsy seller Leslie Hamer's free Etsy banners.

If you're flying on over to Aviary be sure to connect with me there!

GB-TV: Featured Artist "The Dark Art of LuLu Kellogg"

I know it's been awhile since I've done a featured artist video so it was with a very happy enthusiasm that LuLu Kellogg from CoastalSisters.com commissioned me to make this piece featuring her latest collection of dark and nefarious art!  It just love how goth it all is. Bua-ha-ha!

What's also cool is LuLu was unable to decide which piece of music to go with her video so she ordered two -- one for each piece of music. The above features a rendition of Orff's "Carmina Burana" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. On LuLu's blog she posted a version with the mashup by DJ Poly called "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of A Seven Nation Army" featuring the Eurythmics vs. the White Stripes.

If you would like to have a video portfolio of your work I'm offering a "Spring Special" from now until the end of March in which new customers can save 5% on a video portfolio. Use promo code "iheartlulu" to receive a discount. The offer expires 3/31/10 @ 11:59 pm. More details here.

FREEBIE! New 3 Column Minima Template for Blogger/Blogspot

Featured here is an image for free modified Blogger/Blogspot Minima template featuring three columns that I coded myself. As most people know, the original Minima template has only two columns. See the live demo here.

Here's the specifications of this template's built-in features:

• The template is 940px wide with the main column coded at 500px and the side columns at 185px. 
• Peek-a-boo navigation bar designed to avoid its interference with your blog's design while simultaneously preserving its functionality. (Click here for instructions on how to replace the navbar if you prefer that it appear in your blog).
• Numbered  comments! Great for contests! (Note: be sure to "keep" widgets when asked in the pop-up window upon importing this template for numbered comments to work correctly. For more help, read this tutorial from Susie Jefferson of 1st Floor Flat).
• An additional area for adding gadgets just below the banner. The translation menu I used in this demo is a perfect example. Use this for static (sticky) notes, photos, extra menu bars, widgets, polls, etc.
• Note: When you install this template the color scheme will revert to the Minima template's original defaults. This is intended for you to customize in order to coordinate with your preferred free background.

This template free to use under the provision that my name and credits remain intact both at the bottom of the template and within the XML code.

Just like a great pair of jeans, this template also comes in "W-I-D-E" and "skinny" widths. As always, be sure to back up your current template before installing.

See the live demo and download files here:
http://glamourbombs-3col-minima.blogspot.com/
http://glamourbombs-3col-minima-wide.blogspot.com/
http://glamourbombs-3col-minima-skinny.blogspot.com/

Terms of Use:  This template free to use under the provision that my name and credits remain intact both at the bottom of this template and within the XML code. Please respect the time, effort and expertise I offer for free in coding this template and the costs of hosting the files on your behalf. By installing this template, you agree to leave this link intact in perpetuity for as long as it's in use in your blog(s). Removal of said credits requires a PayPal donation to glamourbomb(@)gmail.com. That said, enjoy the template and let me know if you have any questions!

Everybody loves to be acknowledged and appreciated. If you enjoy this template please let me know! Some of the best ways to do so are as follows:

• Write a blog post after installing this template. Tell your friends how awesome it is and where you got it.
• Heart this item on Etsy.
• Heart my Etsy shop.
• Follow me on Tumblr.
• Follow me on Twitter (I will follow back!).
• Follow me here on Blogger with Google Friend Connect (I will follow back!).
• Leave comments on my blog.
• Join the Glamour Bomb Facebook fan page.
• Follow Glamour Bomb with the Facebook application "NetworkedBlogs".

Thanks for stopping by and have a magical day!