To make it easier for completely 'Do It Yourself' persons to have a privately hosted WordPress blog  and customize the theme themselves, I've made a series of videos.

I show how to use WordPress' default 2010 theme and  I have created a 'child' theme (explained in the third video) that you can download HERE.  As I get questions or additions/changes are requested, I will update the child theme at that URL.

Want a new look?  Anyone can do this with my video instruction.  I have 'slanted' the directions to Stampin' Up! professionals as they are the bulk of my privately hosted sites. So, what do you think?

VIDEO ONE – Cropping and sizing your MDS banner:

VIDEO TWO – Customizing & Tweaking 2010

VIDEO THREE – Uploading & Customizing 2010 Child Theme

Coming soon… 'must have' plugins for the 'Do It Yourself' people.

One of the things that I love about Connie Heisey is her complete trust in me just completely make-over her site–with no input from her, LOL!

I love the new My Digital Studio software and I created a banner and background idea and asked Connie to 'trust me'–it was time for a makeover!  I got two thumbs up [...o happy dance...].

Yes, I know that I am not allowed to use MDS commercially, however I didn't charge Connie for the makeover.  Connie is always game for any crazy idea I get for her site, so I chose her.  And, fun for me, I got to push the limits of MDS and show it off, without making over my own site.

Connie actually doesn't even realize it but the theme that I used was iThemes new premium 'Builder' theme (which is something else I have been wanting to play with).  This breakthrough framework allows an unlimited number of variations on different pages… watch a video on what this powerful theme can do here.  Pretty amazing, huh?  I was able to configure by myself using the directions that came with the theme (…and sometimes I even amaze myself).

Expensive theme you say?  Well, as a member [read: 'head bowed, hands up, unworthy follower'] of iThemes, I have access to all current themes and have used many iTheme themes as the framework of the sites that install and customize.  The cost of it is included in the customization that I do for you.  I have been using the Flexx theme quite a lot over the past few months, however Builder has found its way into my heart by allowing different pages to have different layouts (even widths) within the same site.  For example, need a 'landing' page with a completely different look (even width)?!

I suppose I should take a moment and tell Connie about the cool potential of her site… 

Creativity is a family affair at StampingPro.com… I'll explain why in a minute.

Chiaki was one of the first people to contact me regarding a WordPress site using her own banner made with her MyDigitalStudio^tm software by Stampin' Up!

I created her a clean 2-column layout in pale shades of celery taken from her own beautifully designed banner. The background of the page is white. 

I took a moment to go back yesterday (as she graduated to a larger disk space) to see if she was properly sizing her photos and was shocked and amazed to see quality photography rarely seen in even in some commercial sites!

Her work is LOVELY but the photos were unlike I've seen and this warranted a phone call (immediately!)  Chiaki explained that her husband did her photography.  Well, I needed to speak with him immediately, and in a 3-way call, I interrogated asked him about how he got the amazing effects and clarity of the shots, and he was wonderfully sharing with this information.

I won't attempt to explain what he told me, except to say that he has the MOST amazing photography of his own on his personal blog and has also created photo tutorials on photographing different subjects and in particular this latest article HERE, in which he shows how he does the photography for Chiaki.  Most likely inspired by my freaking out at how awesome he was (don't you like how I'm taking credit?).

So, I don't know if this amazingly creative couple have kids, but can you imagine the genetic jackpot of talent that would be?

Many of you are very confused when it comes to your sidebar widget.

Some widgets are ‘pre-made’ such as ‘Categories’ or ‘Archives’ and you can just drag them, but what if you want your own sidebar widget with a photo and text and links, etc.?

I have created a video that shows how you can use a WordPress post to create a custom sidebar widget and then use the HTML generated from it to drop into a text widget.

Clear as mud?  Watch the video!

I am very excited to say that due to popular demand, I have decided to look into a FREE photo editing package and was very surprised (and pleased) to say that I have found one that works on both Windows and Mac operating systems!

You can view the tutorials on my Support (Tutorials page) or refer to the links below:

Carl Wilkens of WorldOutsideMyShoes.org comes to me from a "Blogger" blog.  He was looking for something that had the landing page like a website but the with capability of a blog.  His world traveling doesn’t leave him a lot of time to blog, but leave him feedback and encourage him on!

From Carl’s site:  Carl Wilkens is the former head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in Rwanda. In 1994, he was the only American who chose to remain in the country after the genocide began.  His choice to stay and try to help resulted in preventing the massacre of hundreds of children over the course of the genocide. 

Wilkens was featured in Frontline’s "Ghosts of Rwanda"and "The Few Who Stayed: Defying Genocide,"an American Radio Works documentary which aired on National Public Radio. 

His story reminds us of the profound connection between history and the moral choices we face each day.  It also arms us with new insights in the fight against genocide  along with tools and inspiration  for re-evaluating the relationships we are part of every day. 

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I welcome Connie Babbert with www.InkspiredTreasures.com to the family!  She is an awesome stamper… check her out and leave her feedback (be sure to tell her she looks MAHvelous!)

Connie had been with Blogger for a few years and we imported all of her posts into a customized version of the  "Paalm" theme by Sadish Bala at www.WPRocks.com.  See her old site (while it is still up).

The custom header was designed by Beth Silaika at www.FreckledandFun.com.  The banner is fresh and fun and the colors in the blog were chosen to complement it.

Her work truly INKspires!

Welcome to Kim Assaly of Ontario, Canada!

Kim’s site is a customized version of "Seashore" free Wordpress Theme by Sadish Balasubramanian (his new WP Theme site at www.WProcks.com and I think Sadish rocks!).   His WordPress themes are very easy to customize by swapping out the header photo that he has on it, he also has an awesome support forum for his themes that you really never see!

Kim’s custom banner was done by Michele Kuslea of StampingThroughTheTulipsDesign and I used the background of the banner as the background to the blog.

Kim is new to the blogging world, so stop by and tell her she looks MAHvelous!

When it uses ‘pages’ only!

I LOVE the look of the new "CoastCreations.ca" which is a blog that utilizes only pages… doesn’t it look great?!

The ‘about us’ is the left sidebar and the logo is in the right sidebar.  This particular theme doesn’t have any lines defining the sidebars from the body, so you can achieve this look easily.

One of the biggest plusses to this is that it is SO EASY to update and edit, unlike a traditional HTML site.