I've been getting a number of questions about adding a Google +1 and/or Pinterest buttons to a WordPress site.  And to tell you the truth, I've had to help several clients recover from plugins or script add on's that add these buttons as a standalone that end up conflicting with other plugins.

So, it got me to thinking how much I love and use SexyBookmarks on my Ustamp4fun blog and I actually use it myself to post my articles to Facebook and to Twitter.  So in answer to people who are having trouble linking their articles from Facebook… this is also a solution for you. 

The only drawback was that SexyBookmarks didn't have a Pinterest button… which got me to asking Uncle Google… and I found two things 1) WordPress.org Plugin Repository no longer carries SexyBookmarks by Shareaholic and 2) the latest version DOES have Pinterest, BUT can only be downloaded via www.shareaholic.com.

If you are reading this on my site, you can watch the video below on how to download and configure Shareaholic.  I strongly suggest that you create an account from the beginning so that you can get more information about the information being shared.

By posting this video, I do not claim to be an expert and cannot help you with the plugin if it does not work for you… you will have to contact Shareaholic for that. 

I have created a short (okay, 15 minutes… so not that short) step-by-step video on how to make your own watermark in Paint.net and then place it on a photo.  If you are receiving this post via email feed, the video won't show up, you must go back to the article (click on article title).

I have created two previous videos on how to download free Paint.net and install it as well as how to edit a photograph and embed a watermark in it HERE.  The latter video assumes you already have a watermark and this one shows you how to create and save as a transparent .png.  Good luck!

I have embraced Paint.net as my new 'free photo editor' of choice over Gimp. The videos below are for the purpose of giving you a free alternative for editing your photos for the fastest viewing quality for the web as well as shows you how to watermark your work.

I have found Paint easier to install and use immediately.  And recently I have found that there are plugins that will add functionality, such as one that allows editing of Photoshop .psd files and another one that allows Paint.net to use Photoshop brushes.

DOWNLOADING & INSTALLING PAINT.NET – you would think that this wouldn't be difficult, but I have found that the page that you usually are directed to when typing in www.getpaint.net, is full of other software that you can be easily tricked into downloading accidentally.  UPDATE:  CLICK HERE to download the .exe file, once you download it, you probably can update it.  If you want to download the latest version, this video will navigate you through downloading the zip file, unzipping and installing.

EDITING & WATERMARKING A PHOTO from your camera for viewing on the web.  This video does import and place a watermark that is a pre-existing .png file.  If you wish to see how to create your own watermark, CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.

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.

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 about making this video and I think that a LOT of you have wanted the ability to create galleries of your work on pages or in posts.

This video shows how to import and use the NextGen Gallery plugin for your WordPress site and use it immediately. 

This plugin is capable of way more than I am showing, so I recommend that you get to know it better by going to the website provided by the plugin designer, meanwhile, see how easy NextGen gallery is to use right out of the box!

One of the awesome things about WordPress is the ability to drop code in to a post or page without needing any special ‘plugins’.  Just remember to drop it in in HTML or CODE view (depending upon your WordPress version).

And I realized after I made the video that I spelled YouTube wrong (I typed it as two words, LOL!).  So, trust me on the method (if not my spelling)!

I will be featuring more videos in the coming week(s) on most asked questions… so send me your questions!