The free Blogger templates you will find on this site are set up for the Blogger Layouts format (as opposed to the old Classic format).
The Reader's Digest version of these instructions is that you need to save your old template and copy and paste the new template code into the "Edit HTML" page.
If you have a bunch of stuff in your sidebars, Blogger now allows you to keep them! You'll see the option after you hit save - it will ask you to select whether to keep them or not.
Here are more detailed instructions:
1. Log into your Blogger Account.
2. On your dashboard (the first screen you see), click on "Layout". (If you are still using a Classic Template, click on Template.) Click on "Edit HTML" and download a full copy of your current template. This is your backup in case all hell breaks loose and for saving the content from your current customized widgets. (If you are using the old Classic Template, save your old template, then select "Customize Design," then click on "Upgrade Your Template" and select any of the templates in there. Click "Save Template." Now you're all caught up.)
3. Come back to this site and copy the code for the template using the instructions in the post for the template you like.
4. Back in your Blogger account, go to the "Edit HTML" page.
5. Delete the code for your template and replace it with the new template code. I do this by right-clicking in the template area, clicking "Select all" and then hitting control-v to paste the new stuff over the old stuff.
6. Click Preview. If everything looks good, click Save Changes. This is when Blogger will allow you to choose to keep your widgets or delete them. (I highly recommend keeping them because it is much easier to delete them from the new template than to recreate them.) All done!
Things you should do after installation:
1. Save all the images in the new template and upload them to your own Photobucket or Image Shack account so that if anything goes sideways, you will have copies of the pictures to replace them.
2. Replace the links to the images in the pictures with the links to your Photobucket or Image Shack account. This way you have control over the images and will always know they are safe!
3. Leave the link to Made by Madeline in either the sidebar or the footer (please!).
If you have trouble installing it, email me and I can install for you for a small fee.
[Updated 2.9.10]
Madeline--I found your site through a a post Anne made about her custom site (which is so cute, BTW). I have just been working on a new blog today & couldn't resist your cute toast template! So, even though everything is "still in the works," here's a link: www.controllingthechaos.blogspot.com. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Megan! I was a little worried that I would be the only one who thought it was super cute. I'm glad to see it's being used!
ReplyDeleteHi Madeline,
ReplyDeleteI hope that it is ok to use your template. I love it! If it is not ok for me to use it please let me know. I also have your link in the footer.
Thanks!
Val
Hey, I put them up here for just that reason! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI love them!!! you are soooo funny ;O)
ReplyDeleteI love this template and am using it for my moms group, but there is no link to post comments, which is an important feature of our blog. Am I able to have comments using this template?
ReplyDeleteHey fcfmops - which template are you trying to use? As far as I know, all of them have comments included, so maybe try to reinstall it? If comments were deleted from one of them, it was unintentional!
ReplyDeleteMadeline
Can one use this template if you want your page on STRETCH..I prefer that to display my photo's...
ReplyDeleteThanks
Hi Marcelle,
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't have the templates set up for stretch. Maybe I will make some!
Please let me know when you have one ready....
ReplyDeleteContact me at wortmann.marcelle@gmail.com
I am in desperate need of a blog update...would love u to look at mine and give me some idea's...
Easy to follow instuctions Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteits so interesting, everything is ok
ReplyDeleteI love them, and the instruction is so easy to follow, but I lost some page elements, such as archive page, link page and about me page.. I don't know what to do, help me pls..
ReplyDeleteHi baby,
ReplyDeleteIf you selected the option to keep your widgets, they should still be there, but they might be in a different spot in the template.
Thank you for the free template! I'm brand new to the whole blogging world and did not have a clue about templates....found you through beautiful blog designs! The instructions were soooo easy and the template is installed!
ReplyDeletehello, I am confused. new blogger here..which code to copy? theres too many of them. should I copy them all and just paste to my html?thanks
ReplyDeleteYou copy all the code and paste it into the Edit HTML page of your blog. If you'd like me to install it, I do that for a small charge. Just email me at madebymadeline at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteDo you mind if I use a free one and edit it completely?
ReplyDeleteFeel free to do that, Alice!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I REALLY love this.. I did change the font tho! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI really like the Yowl Kitty template but get this error message when I try to use it:
ReplyDeleteYour template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure that all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: The reference to entity "action" must end with the ';' delimiter.
Error 500
Hi Lara,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to say I haven't had a chance to update these! I'll post here if I finally do, but the odds aren't great. I double pinky swear that I will try to find the time!