Comments on: Happy Holidays and Blog Updates

By: Josh Spaulding

Josh Spaulding — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:46:36 +0000

haha, I’m an IU fan, never been much of a Purdue fan. But to be honest with you I haven’t been keeping up with any of them lately.

I’m one of those fans who the hardcore fans hate. I just keep up with them when they’re doing good in tournaments

———————————–

I actually purchased a copy of PhotoShop a while back and haven’t spent enough time on it. I can do the basics, but until my wife or myself really get good at it I prefer to use Sean since he’s so talented.

You have some good points though.

By: Chuck Brown

Chuck Brown — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:58:21 +0000

By the way, Josh…not to knock your graphics designer guy in any way…but here are some other alternatives to consider if you want to do it in a more hands-on manner (whether it might be you sometime in the future or one of your readers).

Most WordPress themes are pretty basic in function and similar in design. So for the most part, there’s one piece of art that’s really key to changing the entire look of your blog (it’s often called header.jpg, found in (/wp-content/themes/theme-name/images/). Depending on what you’re looking for, you might just check out a stock photo site like StockXpert.com, where you can get some great photos and graphics for just a buck or two apiece. A few minutes in GIMP or Photoshop can really take you a long way with cropping, colorizing and cool fonts.

And here are two resources that I like to use for a bunch of my stuff: BoxedArt.com and DesignLoad.net

Both are membership sites, and they run between 50 and 99 bucks a year. But you get a TON of resources when you join. So if you have multiple sites, and if the look of your sites is important to you, you might well consider the investment. I belong to both. In fact, I just signed up with BoxedArt this morning after not being a member for awhile. They’ve got at least two templates that I’ll be grabbing later today so I can completely redesign two of my sites this week. Also, CMS Skins at Themestock has out-of-the-box high-quality WordPress themes that very few other folks are using, if you really want to stand out. The appeal of these sites is not only the quality of the resources, but the fact that they are flat-rate sites… a smorgasboard, if you will. Pay one time for all-you-can-eat during the membership period.

Finally, should anyone be so inclined, I didn’t include any affiliate info in these links…but if you’d like to put a penny in my jar because you find any of those sites of value, you can find my affiliate links for them (and tips on some of the other stuff I use) on this page:

http://tornbread.com/recommended-products.html

By: Chuck Brown

Chuck Brown — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:34:40 +0000

Basketball capitol of the WORLD, eh? Wow…that sounds like a challenge worthy of a wager. My problem is, Indiana is kicking ass this year, and my poor Buckeyes are slow out of the gate. Of course, our coach is working hard, while Sampson is spending all his time trying to cheat, errr, recruit more horses for the fray. Or course, maybe you’re a Purdue fan…which looks like a more even match.

But I’ll take that challenge, whichever team you root for. It’s never wise to bet against the Bucks! I think I can spring for a decent-sized hot-fudge sundae, should my team stumble.

By: Josh Spaulding

Josh Spaulding — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:22:29 +0000

@ Ruck – I guess you’re on your way to Kansas, or already there. I hope everything goes/went smooth for you.

Thanks for the very nice comments. Just send me an email if you have any questions about what I’ve hit on in the past.

@ Vern – It wasn’t too bad, how about yourself? I told Sean I didn’t expect a reply during the Holidays, so hopefully he has a chance to get back with me soon after.

By: Vern

Vern — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 07:09:19 +0000

Hope you had a good holiday and Christmas night Josh!

Thats a good way to start of the New Year.
Nice going and will have mind customized too
somewhere in Summer probably.

Cheers all,
Vern

By: Ruck

Ruck — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:10:29 +0000

Hey Happy And Safe Holidays To You Too Josh!

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holidays man. I’ve really caught on to this blog and been reading a lot. There are some aspects where you and I are totally different in, however I am trying to clean a lot of that up and it’s your advice and writing that is helping me do just that.

I got to fly down to Florida for some company issues on Wednesday but it gets me out of the nasty Kansas winter. I look forward to catching up with your posts when I get back man.

Happy Holidays,
Ruck

By: Josh Spaulding

Josh Spaulding — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:52:31 +0000

I figured you’d like that, Chuck.

I suppose you’re right, but someone needs to tell Google that. They’ve been working with the same design for years.

Both sites look very nice, thanks. Two links or more cause comments to be held for moderation, so that’s why your comment didn’t immediately appear like they normally do.

I don’t listen to music much at all (I know I’m weird) otherwise I’d dig a little deeper into your music sites.

Have fun in Indiana (hahaha) We’re the basketball capitol of the world, not just HS

Drive safely and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:53:31 +0000

New template action. Woot!

Just remember, Josh…a web designer’s work is never done. Any given site at any given time is simply considered “between updates”.

In fact, I just completely re-did one of my sites yesterday: http://FreeSoloPiano.com

But, since it’s the holidays and all, y’all might enjoy one of my others: http://FeelsLikeChristmas.com (free, legal MP3 downloads of holiday music)

And now, it’s time for me to head off to Josh’s humble state…the HS basketball capitol of the world: Indiana

I hope to be back home before midnight tonight…seeing as how it’s pretty cold and windy out there… (brrrr….)

Have a great couple days off, everyone!