The Blue Birdhouse is Moving

I know I've been quiet here for almost a year. My blog moved to a wordpress site for just a few months, when it was hacked into and vanished from the world wide web.

Just imaging how it could work...the room sizes are not correct...just how I remembered it.

How to Add Clickable Links to Blog Comments

So today I am sharing with you a sweet little trick I learned a few months ago. 

We all leave comments. It's a proven fact....comments bring new people to our blog. Many of you, like I used to, leave your blog URLs like this www.thebluebirdhouse.blogspot.com. The problem is the only way someone will visit is if they copy and past your URL. 

People are lazy and don't do it.

Soooooooooooooo...

Today I want to share with you the secret of leaving CLICKABLE links!!

Are you ready?

<a href="http://thebluebirdhouse.blogspot.de/">The Blue Birdhouse</a>

Yep, that's it! Not complicated.

<a href="http://YOUR URL">Your Blog's Name</a>

Try it out and leave me your blog's link!

Design a Blog Button with a Picture

Today I want to show you a quick and simple way to design a blog button with one of your pictures. First off you need to go to PicMonkey.com a free & awesome photo editing site.

1) Upload your picture & make it light and beautiful.

2) Cut your picture to the site you want....square it a great choice or a slim rectangle.

3) Add a frame to give you picture more pop and definition

4) You can write directly on the picture but adding a a strip makes the letters easier to read when the button is very small.

5) Write your blog or link up's name

6) Upload it to your host....I use photobucket.com

If you have any questions leave me a comment and I'll answer!

Blog Button with a Grab Box // Quick and Easy

Blog Buttons are so important for our blogs. Today we will be just talking about how to get your picture into a button with a grab box.

1. Take your picture and upload it to a site such as photobucket or flickr....both are free. I am using photobucket.

2. After uploading it you need your picture's URL.In photobucket it's called "Direct Link"

3. Go into your blog and add a HTML gadget to your layout. Now add this HTML.

_______________________________________________________________

<center><a href=”YourBlogAddress“ target=”_blank” title=”The Blue Birdhouse“><img alt=”The Blue Birdhouse” src=”DIRECT LINK“ /></a><center>

</center>

<center><textarea id=”code-source” rows=”3″ name=”code-source”><center><a href=”YourBlogAddress“><img border=”0″ src=”DIRECT LINK“ /></a></center></textarea></center></center>

___________________________________________________

4. Add your blog address and photo's URL

5.  Save

6. Enjoy your new blog button!

600 Blog Post Ideas

Gigi from Kludgy Mom has put together a BUNCH of ideas for blog posts....I always see people saying they have no idea what to blog about. If you only used half of them you would be blogging every day in the year!!!

 I honestly don't have the problem for ideas....I have a problem with finding time to write. ☺

IDEA BANK TOPIC LIST

My favorite present I’ve ever received…

10 things I believe

Find one of your old blog posts. Rewrite it, using the perspective of someone else in your family

Write a letter to someone you have a beef/issue with

I was stuck….

A room with a view

Review your own blog..

If I could rename my blog…

What is your biggest regret?

Who is your blogger crush and why?

You can find the other 590 ideas {here}

Which ones would you like me to write about? 

Two {Custom} Blog Designs

Today I wanted to share with you two blogs I designed last month. Both ladies were awesome to work with and gave me some new experiences working with & getting to know total strangers....and decorate their home on the internet.

Savvy Working Gal was very open for ideas. After giving me a few other blogs as examples I came up with this design which she loved right away. After a choice of about 5 colors she decided for this purple blue design.

{Link to Blog}

Mary-Andering Creatively wanted something that would match her love for writing and her love for roses. I decided to use my photography skills in the process and with a bit of imagination, old books, pink roses and red nail polish I had a great header and colors to work with.

{Link to Blog}

You can get a Custom look for $50.....or a fun pre-made design for only $25!

Go check out my site: CHARMING BLOG DESIGN

Are You a No- Reply Blogger?

I think we all have left a comment on someone's blog and then never hear back. I don't always remember where I left a comment....you just hope for the best.

Have you ever considered that these bloggers tried to get in touch with you but couldn't?

Some of you might have added your email to your blogger profile but you can only get it if they click on your profile....and many won't go in that trouble. Some of you might not even have that option.

There is a simple little box in your profile that is "unchecked" right now....check it and you'll get answers!!!



1.) Go on Blogger....see your picture in the top right?

2.) Click on Your name and go to >Blogger Profile<

Now you see your public profile...

3.)Click on the >Edit Profile< button.

 
Now look at the second box.... if it's empty than you are a no-reply blogger...
4.) .Check the box and people can easily respond to your comments.

If you fixed your profile write a comment and I will let you know if it works.....check your email.

PS....if you want your readers to know about this, just copy and paste this tutorial.....give credit to The Blue Birdhouse..... and let your readers check if they are no-reply bloggers!