I’ll be the first to admit I’m usually either dumbfounded or terror-stricken when it comes to technology. In fact it makes me anxious in ways I never thought possible. All this coding, programming, platform malarkey… What if I push the wrong button? Click the wrong thing? Will my virtual world melt before my very eyes into a vortex of doomed data? In my little ‘bubble of tranquillity’ it’s just one big giant doorway to the Mama of all migraines, I loathe it. But here’s the thing blog buddies… I only loathe it because I don’t understand, and 99.9% of the time I don’t want to understand it either. After all I’m just a mere beauty blogger, all I want is a cute little corner of the inter-web to sharing my musings on eye shadow or lusting for the latest lippy. CSS, ABC, 123, Zzz or whatever the fudge it’s called has no place in my life. I just want something that does the job and satisfies my digital requirements. Are you with me? *pretending to observe mass nodding*
Yet since launching Confetti & Curves (that cute little corner of the inter-web I previously mentioned) quite a few bloggers each month have bestowed me with an small array of questions over customising themes… What’s my theme? Why did I choose it? How did I design it? How did I manage to customise a header bar without turning every follicle on my head 50 shades of grey? Well, here’s the answers…
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What’s My Theme & Why Did I Choose It?
Well, it’s The Adelle Theme from Blu Chic. In fact if you scroll down on each blog it usually states what theme the blogger is using and/or who has designed it. Apart from the fact I think it’s rather pleasing on the eyeballs, it’s also incredibly simple which is IDEAL for beginners or terrified techies such as moi.
There’s no moving parts (or confusing flashy doo-dahs), the layout is very straight forward, easy for the reader to locate where potential interesting reading material is neatly tucked away & it does the job it’s intended to do = house my blog posts efficiently and effectively. There’s no coding required, no degrees in computer science, just a little bit of creative flair and maybe a few bottles of wine cups of tea to see you through to the end result.
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How did I design it?
Hold your horses, I’ll get to that in just a moment…
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How did I manage to customise a header bar without turning every follicle on my head 50 shades of grey?
Refer to above answer… gee, you’re an impatient bunch!
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Okay, okay, so I’ll cut to the chase – nope I’m not a secret web developer with a deep rooted passion for Clinique Chubby Sticks & Rimmel Sun Shimmer. Instead I stumbled across the rather talented Katrina from 77 WebStudio who (thanks to her rather chirpy YouTube tutorial) was able to guide me step-by-step through the whole process via her video guide. It’s ideal for clumsy computer oafs (aka me) as she shows you in front of your very eyes how to create and customise the theme to suit your own personal tastes. You can change the colours, fonts, header, add widgets, add pages, add categories – the list goes on!
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So if you’re at the beginning of your blogging journey and need a little bit of guidance on how to create & customise your simple but oh-so-pretty theme then I’d suggest you start off with The Adelle Theme and watch this handy dandy tutorial… I’ve no doubts you’ll be a digital design whizz in no time.
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What’s your favourite WordPress Theme? Do you have any Theme suggestions for a first time blogger or one that has limited design experience? Or are you a whizz at designing/building/customising themes for the rest of us terrified techies? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below, so do take a moment to say a quick hello!
Cheerio Chums…
This is so helpful!! Thanks xxx
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So welcome 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, so gald you enjoyed it lovely XX
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Great post! Felt awkward cause I am “a secret web developer with a deep rooted passion for Clinique Chubby Sticks & Rimmel Sun Shimmer” xD
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Haaaaahaha – brill!!! Best of both worlds there lol XXX
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Love this post. I am also so scared that if I ever press the wrong button, everything will disappear. Had a nightmare about it once. I just played around with it before I started posting until it worked, and now I try to change as little as possible 😉
xxx Anne
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Oh I’m with you Anne – the fear of it all just crumbling before me is too much lol It is actually nightmare inducing to be honest!! I think that’s the best way – get it right and then leave it be!! I like that approach huni 😀 XXXX
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I just wish you could make a back up or something. I am quite OCD about backing up all of my data but I have no idea how to do it with the blog…
xxx Anne
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Oh that’s exactly me too Anne – I get into such a panic over it sometimes, there must be a way to back it up that we haven’t came across yet – must do some investigating 🙂 Xxxx
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What a great idea for a post. I’m rather fortunate that my lovely boyfriend use to be a web designer so I had over the responsibility to him, kick back and relax! 😉 xxx
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My boyfriend is too haha! x
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You too Laura?!? Another one kicking back and relaxing then? lol Lucky gal 😀 x
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Ooooh you lucky lucky gal – he must come in mega handy!!! Kicking back and relaxing is much more fun 😉 hehe Thanks for stopping by huni XXXXX
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Just realised the amount of typos in my original post! Damn iPhones! Xxx
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Oh aren’t they such a pain!!! I’m the queen of Iphone typos lol X
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Nice! (bottles of wine, haha). You do have a beautiful theme and it can be overwhelming but it’s amazing what you can find on the internet! I’m still trying to find the right wp theme for me and have been thinking of switching to a self hosted site but it’s sooooooooo stressful that I backed out. I’m totally checking out that tutorial though! Wonderful post, Karen 🙂
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lol lol Why thank you lovely! It sure is overwhelming especially when you’ve never done it before! Oh gosh Kaily I’d imagine the self-hosted to be a nightmare (well certainly for someone like myself lol) She has a few other tutorials for other themes so you just might find one for you – though your blog is gorgeous just the way it is!!! Thanks for stopping by & have a great weekend huni XXXXX
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Thanks you too!
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This is fab! Not just fab, but ultra fab! What an outlet to get all creative and having all sorts of fun little tabs and buttons on a blog! So useful Karen! Thanks so much for sharing wonderful “wee” tidbits 🙂 happy Friday cheeto dayyyyyyy!! Xoxoxo
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Awwwh Leah, you always leave such lovely comments huni!! Happy cheetoo friday to you too chum – have a greeeeeat weekend too *hugs* Xxxxx
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I bought some Cheetos yesterday for this occasion! When I get home or later tonight, I’m going to eat them ALL! Oh, where are my manners, here ya go *passes you a bag of cheetos* enjoy them while watching The Munsters 😀 👻 xoxo
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Awwwh you’re so kind – well enjoy your cheesy bag of goodness. Seeing as I can’t get them over here I’ll just have to imagine the yumminess 😀 X
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That’s no good that you can’t get them over in the Irish Isles 😦 what a bummer. That needs to be changed immediately! In the meantime, I’ll think of you while I eat them :
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Haaaaa – well enjoy your munch!! Maybe one day they’ll make it as far as here 😀 XXX
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Will do, thank you! 🍤 here is a piece of shrimp instead of a Cheeto 😀 xo
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Thanks Leah 😀 XX
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🙂
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😀 xo
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Ooops, I forgot the hug again. So
Sorry *hugg* 🙂
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lol thanks huni X
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And thank you for you lovely huggggs! Much appreciated 🙂 xo
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You too chummy 🙂 XXXXXX
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Wonderful post hun 🙂
I am so with you on that! Even though I do understand a bit on tech stuff it’s still fills me me up with anxiety of ‘what if’ I do the wrong thing and everything will be gone in a sec, lol.
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Ahhh that’s exactly me Galit lol lol Thanks so much for stopping by lovely, hope you have a great weekend huni *hugs* XXXX
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Thank you, mostly resting 🙂 I hope you are having a great weekend (。♥‿♥。)
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I think you are very talented as a blogger and a writer and your blog always looks amazing hun ❤ I loved using this theme a lot for the first few month. It is light, fun and so easy to use 🙂
Loved the tutorial as well, she explains things very easily 🙂
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Awwwh Galit thank you so very much – what a lovely thing to say, that truly is the greatest compliment – especially coming from another writer!!! Very much likewise ❤ It really is a lovely theme to use, so simple – that's why I like it lol She's great at talking through it – very handy for us folk who are easily confused 😀 XXX
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Aww ❤ And… How true, glad that we have youtube. I learned so much from it 😀
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You already know my history with technology. 🙂 Great post. I think I also have the Adelle theme. It’s simple and clean in my opinion.
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Haaaa, I’m with ya Stephie!!!! 😀 Thank you so much lovely, glad you enjoyed it!! It really is a great theme – so popular because it’s pretty and easy to use, two things I love in a blog!! lol XXXX
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Great post Karen, super helpful! I always want to change themes, but I never want to deal with the background stuff lol! I wish things came to my liking already.
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Hey Romy!!! How are you sweetie?! Awwh I’m glad you enjoyed the post & found it helpful 🙂 Oh I know that feeling so I’ve stuck with this theme for fear of over-confuddling the situation lol Looking forward to heading over and catching up with what’s new at Ymor!!!! Hope you have a super weekend XXX
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Hi Karen! I’m doing great, thank you for asking!! I hope you have a great weekend too. 😉
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I have always loved your blog theme Karen. It looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing!! I hope all is well with you. ❤ *hugs* XXXX
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Thank you so much Katie – your comments are always so darn encouraging 😀 Your theme is stunning!!!!!! I’m still to get one of those little button things sorted – I reeeeeeally need to get that done! They look brill 🙂 X
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You’re very welcome Karen! – Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! I feel like I finally have my blog looking the way I want it to lol. It seems to be a process. Let me know when you do make a button and it will go up on my blog. 🙂 X
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Awwwh you’re so lovely!! I mean’t to do it this morning but it’s still lingering on my to do list lol lol XXXXXX
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Awe well that’s okay! Take your time! No rush!! lol 🙂 XXXXXXX
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You know me Katie – I’m aiming it gets done BEFORE 2016 lol xxx
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Haha I do! All in good time you will have it done 🙂 xxx lol
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WOW! What a helpful post! Thanks so much for sharing! I was on the verge of tears when I set up my blog on WordPress! Thank God it’s up and running and I don’t have to deal with that any longer! LOL!
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Awwww poor you 😦 It really can be a virtual nightmare – especially when not used with the software etc. Thank heavens for YouTube tutorials right?! lol Good for you getting it up and running after all the stress!! Thanks so much for stopping by lovely 😀 XXXX
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You’re welcome! And yes – I’m not technically inclined at all and it was really discouraging at first. I persevered though! Lol! And yes! Thank God for YouTube! I must have watched thousand of hours of YouTube how-tos and WordPress tutorials!
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Oh me too!!!! It really is a blessing to have the how-to videos to fall back on lol XX
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Haha
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I use a theme from s small company called Angie
Makes. All their stuff is designed to be highly customizable and its real easy to add up plug ins. They provide GREAT support and what’s cool is… I didn’t like my first theme… I asked if they would give me another one and I swapped it with no changes needed. Just my personal color tweaks.
Even if you don’t buy their themes, they provide inexpensive adorable logos for 6.00! And for 15.00 will customer it for you. There’s tons of cute art to download for free too. Little flowers and hearts. I don’t use that stuff but it’s easy to add like any photo in your post. Angiemakes.com
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Oh that’s brilliant – thank you so much for passing that on lovely 🙂 I’ve never heard of that company before so really looking forward to checking it out! Sounds very user friendly & reasonable! I like it already 😀 XXXXXX
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Great post Karen found this very helpful as I’m fairly new to blogging and want to make my blog look a little more presentable, I will definitely be checking this video out now 🙂
Skye, xox
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Thank you so much Skye, I’m so glad you found it helpful huni 🙂 Do check out the video as it gives some really useful demonstrations of how to tweak things around your blog! Thanks for stopping by XXX
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Fantastic post 😊 xx
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Thanks so much Mecia – hope you’ve had a lovely weekend huni 🙂 XXX
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Love this thankyou so much for sharing girl xx
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So welcome lovely – glad you enjoyed it 😀 XXX
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Great post Karen. Thanks for sharing. How did you design your blog header for Confetti & Curves? Did you use a tool like Photoshop?
http://laceandpearlsblog.com
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Thanks so much Asa, you’re so welcome! I used a product called Draw Plus, though my copy is one of the older editions so I’m sure it’s been updated majorly since I bought it lol I do have photoshop as my hubby is a photographer but it’s just too complicated for me, I find Draw Plus a little more user friendly 🙂 XXX
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Thanks for the tip about Draw Plus. I appreciate you sharing. That’s fun that your husband is a photographer. You both have creative professions.
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So welcome Asa – hope it helps 🙂 XXX
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