Teresa's comment here got me thinking. Let's see if Hands On Hacking can duplicate the simple, clean, minimalist design of the realestate weenie.
Create a test blog -- illustrated instructions are here: TypePad: Initial Steps Illustrated
Click on the Design Tab, Click "Change Theme"
Mark the radio button to the left of "Custom Theme"
Under "General Page Settings" click "Edit This Element"
At the next pop-up screen, under "General Settings" choose white as the "Background", leave "Border" as none.
Under "Main Content Column", set the "Center Column" at 500 pixels. Set the "Right Column" at 300 pixels. Set the Scroll to the bottom of the pop-up screen and click "Save Changes".
The next item in the "Customize Your Theme" list is "Page Banner". Click "Edit This Element".
Choose gray as the "Background", for "Border" choose, "Bottom", "Solid". Later on you'll want to upload a banner image, but this will do for now. Scroll to the bottom of the pop up screen, and click "Save Changes".
Scroll to the bottom of "Customize Your Theme", and click "Save Changes"
Now would be a good time to post something, so you can view your blog. Click the Compose tab. Make sure "New Post" is underlined, and write something. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, click "Save".
Take a peek, by clicking "View Weblog".
Now, if weenie were mine, I think I would outline the blog container with a line of mustard. Click the "Design" tab. Click "Edit Custom CSS"
And add this line:
.layout-two-column-right #container { border: 6px solid yellow }
Do not omit the DOT at the beginning, remember the brackets are "curly Brackets".
Scroll down, hit "Save Changes". At the Design screen, scroll down, click "Republish Weblog",
in the "Publishing" pop-up box, click "Publish"
Here you go:
Real Weenie http://www.stpaulrealestateblog.com/weenie/
Fake Weenie http://cheryljns.typepad.com/fake_weenie/
Disclaimer: This post addresses learning basic blog design. It does not invite debate on the content of the Weenie blog. :-)
Roberta: :-)
Cyndee: I've haven't played around with GoDaddy's blogs. I think I'll start one and give it a spin. Just taking a quick look, it would seem GoDaddy gives you less control over the style and design. But as the Project Blogger coaches would all say, content and substance rule over style and design anyway. If you're comfortable with the system, and the end result looks good to you, that's what counts.
Maureen: Typepad Pro is $149 per year. The Pro version lets you create unlimitied blogs, and gives you design control.