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, expand widgets, and copy and paste the template code into the "Edit HTML" page.
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 click on the link to download the template you want to use. Select and copy the text of the template. Make sure not to copy anything below the black line at the bottom of the page.
4. Back in your Blogger account, go to the "Edit HTML" page. Click on the "Expand Widget Templates" Box. It will reload the template and show a little check mark in the box.
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. It may tell you it's going to delete widgets. Since you saved your old template, you'll be able to add that stuff back in by using the Add Page Element feature. All done!
Things you should do:
1. Save all the images in the 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.