Parajunkee Design

Photoshop Animal Print Patterns with Neon ...

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:45:54 PST

I've also been dying to use this magic swirls technique that I found online... does it work with the image?

Photoshop Work

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:58:48 PST

I found some great animal print patterns from a Smashing Magazine article and decided to experiment with some stock images I have in my library. What do you think?

Unleash the Hounds...

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:13:02 PST

Something different led me to Texas and work for a local Vet. If you are in the neighborhood and have an animal you might want to check them out --

Julie Ann Walker, Author Web Site

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:08:48 PST

Julie Ann Walker writes about boys with motorcycles in Chicago with guns and muscles...she wanted something gritty. She described her characters as Sons of Anarchy meet 007. She wanted her website to reflect that atmostphere.

Feed back from the client:

One word: Perfection!

XOXOXO!
Julie Ann Walker
Romantic Suspense Author
of The Black Knights Inc.
www.julieannwalker.com

Transferring from Blogger to Wordpress

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:44:36 PST

I can't say this is the end-all tutorial - but this is how it goes and how I did the transfer. Firstly, I recommend going Wordpress.org - using the free wordpress.com interface you will run into a lot of problems, mainly you can't run scripts or add certain widgets, edit CSS and things like that, which you can do within the blogger interface. But, what this means is that you have to pay a company for hosting. I recommend GoDaddy, mainly because their tech support is amazing. Every time I call my problem is rectified, not to mention the techs are always friendly and speak clearly and at my level of understanding - no quasi-superior-tech-speak. They are also affordable, if you purchase a year of hosting you'll get a domain name for only $1.99, it equals to about $60 a year.

First things first, let's buy our hosting package. Go to
GoDaddy.com

Click on Hosting & Servers in the top green navigation.

The option I recommend is the Economy 4GH - you can choose between 3 months - 36 months. You want to keep the operating system with Linux, which is default (the penguin).

You get the option to purchase a secure SSL - you would do this if you were running a shopping cart, so you don't need this.

Once you add this to your cart, you will get a TON of other options, this is the one thing that drives me crazy about the GoDaddy.com check out process. It is a lot of stuff to wade through. You really don't need any of it, except if you are purchasing a domain. Look for the area that says START A DOMAIN NAME SEARCH. Search the one you want and hit add to cart. Once you do that, click No Thanks at the bottom.

Purchase and you are good to go.

Now you have to install the Wordpress software on the server. Click the MY ACCOUNT link in the top green navigation.

Scroll down to My Products. Click on your hosting account and LAUNCH the green button next to it. It will take you into your hosting control.

To the right on the page there will be a black button that says APPLICATIONS and right below it, Wordpress. Click Wordpress.

New Page -- loading ;)

Click Install Now the white button under the application rating

You want to click the radio button next to the domain and click the next button.

Godaddy has to set up a Database for WP, I wouldn't keep it as the default WordPress, maybe call it something like YOURDOMAIN_WP

Create a password, I would use the usual Capitol letter, 6 letters, 2 numerics and a symbol password. Save this information somewhere on your harddrive.

Click Next -- now we are going to Choose the directory to install within. You are going to delete wordpress in the box and leave blank.

Now you want to create an Admin name - this is the name you will login to access your Wordpress dashboard. Create a good password so you can't get hacked, but your admin would most likely be the name you want to comment with. I use Parajunkee. Add an email you want to associate with your web/blog and the Blog Title.

Click Finish.

It will take 30 minutes to set up Wordpress and create the database.

Once installed you will access your dashboard by typing in:
YOURURL.com/wp-admin

__________

Transitioning Blogger to Wordpress

Step 1: Transferring your feed

First things first, if you haven't signed up for Feedburner, you have to do so now. If you haven't here is a walk-through { http://parajunkee.com/2011/10/book-blogging-101-lets-talk-feedburner.html }.

Then log into Blogger and go to the Settings > Site Feed and in the POST FEED REDIRECT URL box enter your new FEEDBURNER feed URL

Step 2: Setting Up Wordpress

Go to your WP dashboard:

Let's set it up to work best for your service.

Pinging - this tells WP who to send a PING to when you post. Go to WRITING under Settings and you want to add your PING list, you would do this under Update Services. There is a great list at this blog, you want to copy all these URLs into that box. http://www.sparkplugging.com/sparkplug-ceo/blog-ping-url-list/

Go to SETTINGS > GENERAL and add your time zone

Go to ALL POSTS and delete the Hello World Post.

Go to COMMENTS and delete the Mr. Wordpress comment

Go to Pages and delete the SAMPLE Page

Go back to SETTINGS > Reading and change syndication from 10 to 20 items.

Settings > Permalinks: Now you want to change your permalinks so they match those in blogger. Go to SETTINGS > PERMALINKS and in the CUSTOM PERMALINKS you want to put this in that box:

/%year%/%monthnum%/%postname%.html

One more thing to do, for a future step you want to install another plugin for Feedburner. Go into ADD PLUGIN again, and search FEEDSMITH and add and activate that plugin, you'll need that for later to keep your Feedburner account active

Step 3: Import/Export

Back to your Wordpress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add Plugin
Search Term Blogger Importer
Click Install Now on the Blogger Importer
Then it will give you a list of the steps, click Activate once it is done

Now go to Tools > Import

Click on Blogger

They are going to want you to authorize with Google. Sometimes this works and other times it doesn't. It's rather finicky. If it doesn't work when you click authorize, clear your cache and close down your browser. Restart. Open your browser back up. Log in to blogger and gmail with the account you want to authorize and then get back into WP and try to authorize again. That has worked for most in the past. If not try another browser.

Once you authorize you will get a list of all the blogs you mange. Click import next to the name of the blog you want. It will process and you will know it is done when it prompts you to set authors. Click that and set your authors name - usually if you are the only authorized user, it will be easy. If you have multiple authors you will have to create new accounts.

Step 4: Transfer the Feeds time

If you are ready to make the break for it, I would recommend writing a farewell blogger post - now that you've transferred everything and leave a link in that post that says something like - feed and URL is forwarding, but if not please click on this link to be forwarded to our new home and leave your link.

Then, once you do that, login to FEEDBURNER and you now want to edit your feed details. When you set it up to begin with you added your blogger feed, now you want to add your WP feed. Change that blogger feed to: http://YOURURL.com/feed/

Then go back into WP and that Feedsmith that you installed earlier and add your Feedburner link

Step 5: Forwarding your URL

You want people if they somehow click on your old blog, whether search terms, or if they are going to the .blogspot URL to be forwarded to your new address.

Go into DASHBOARD > TEMPLATE > EDIT HTML --blah blah proceed

Search term <head>

and copy this right after it:
<meta content='0; url=http://YOURNEWURL.com/' http-equiv='refresh'/>

That will do it! You are ready to check yourself out of Blogger and into Wordpress.

Monday Desktop Madness

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:33:14 PST

Happy Martin Luther King Day Peeps - my desktop is a mess, but I did manage to sneak out with the kidlet and hubs to grab a roast beef poboy. Yum!

Winner of the Reba Template Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:12:51 PST

A winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter for the Reba Template giveaway.

Congrats Kat C -- foreverbklover

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Desktop Madness

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:28:08 PST

Another week, another Monday...what am I working on this week? Take a look at my desktop.

I'm Not Vain...Just Drawn That Way

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:05 PST

Say hello to Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy. I haven't had this much fun with a blog design in awhile! Pink pink and more pink. She wanted blond, beautiful and sparkly.

Check out Miss Vain's blog here.

What the client had to say...

Oh Rachel, you absolutely rock!!! That's fabulous!!!!!!:))))) I love it!!!!!!!! :) it's sexy, cute, flirty, fun!!! All of it is fabulous, I love it how you incorporated your own ideas into it as well.

Freebies! Free stars to use as raters

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:23:31 PST

Free Star Graphics to use as raters

Just right click on the image you want to use and upload to your blog.

Rater Graphics For Black Backgrounds

Rater Graphics For White Backgrounds

Rater Graphics with transparent background
without a shadow.

Design Giveaway: Win a Reba Template!

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:36:59 PST

In celebration of the craziness that is this new idea of "prepackaged" blog templates. I'm giving away your choice of one of the Hill's Packages.

Reba's Many Templates:

Reba Goes Emo - Main Template Design with Graphics
Reba Likes Skulls - Main Template Design with Graphics

Secondary Template Styles:

Reba's Star
Reba Goes Tribal

The templates retails from $50 - $20, the minor designs are less expensive. The Emo & Skulls templates come with extra graphics. The winner will also get a custom made "grab" button that matches the template they pick. All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter widget.

Good Luck!

The ONLY mandatory entry is a comment -- just comment and let me know what template out of the Reba collection you like best!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A New "Dress Up" Avi - Meet Reba

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:44:42 PST

Reba is a little bit fringe, a little bit emo and she wants to call your blog home!

Meet Reba the latest in the Parajunkee Design dress up avatars. There was requests for a little more "alternative" instead of barbie looking avatars, so Reba was born.

You can find Reba in four templates so far, two master templates with great graphics included, like a Winner! graphic. Along with custom favicons and even a rater!! Check Reba out, because you haven't seen anything like this!

View the templates live by clicking on the links below.

More Info on Reba's Many Templates:

Reba Goes Emo - Main Template Design with Graphics
Reba Likes Skulls - Main Template Design with Graphics

Secondary Template Styles:

Reba's Star
Reba Goes Tribal

Hill's Get's a Valentine's Look

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:54:24 PST

"Dress Up" your blog anytime you want! The Hill's Templates are innovative and affordable. You can keep the same look and feel of a traditionally "branded" blog without the hefty price of hiring a designer (like me) or learning to utilize design software yourself.

Hill's Latest Look is all Lovey Dovey with a Valentine's Style:

Check out the live version here.

Check out the other Hill's Designs:

Main Designs

Hill's Town

Standard Designs

Vintage Hills

Asian Hills

Seasonal

Valentine's Day

Christmas

New Years

Pardon the mess...

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:50:22 PST

Parajunkee Design is currently going under remodeling.

Winner & Holiday Template Sale

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:51:13 PST

Two announcements on the blog today! The Hill's Giveaway is officially over, but don't worry another one will be starting up after Christmas with a new avatar. Along with ethnic options which I've been asked about enough to take notice. I do have to say I am not blond hair blue eyes -- it was just the first avatar I started with.

Now, for what you want to hear...the WINNER.

Winner of the Hill's Template Giveaway is...
courtneyyxbabe

If you didn't win and are still interested in a template...

For a limited time Parajunkee Design is offering the two Holiday templates created for only $10 and Hill's Christmas template for $15. Get it before the Holiday Season is over! Click below to purchase. Do not purchase from direct links, these are the only BUY NOW buttons that are set up for $10 & $15 purchase.

Click on Image to View Template	Click on Image to View Template

Design Giveaway: Win the New Hill's Main Template

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:24:11 PST

In celebration of the craziness that is this new idea of "prepackaged" blog templates. I'm giving away your choice of one of the Hill's Packages.

There are five Hill Designs, you can view them all here:

Main Design:

Standard Designs:

Seasonal:

The templates retails from $40 - $20, the seasonal designs are less expensive. The Hill's Town template comes with extra graphics. The winner will also get a custom made "grab" button that matches the template they pick. All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter widget.

Good Luck!

The ONLY mandatory entry is a comment -- just comment and let me know what template out of the Hills collection you like best!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A New Type of Template Design: Meet Hills! You can dress her up!

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:17:22 PST

My design work has changed over the last few years that I have been doing this, but what I've noticed is that a lot of you like to change up your designs, either seasonally or just on a whim. To purchase a custom design each time can get rather expensive so, to battle this, I've thought up a rather unique way of handling this. I'm going to whip up an avatar and you will be able to dress her up in different templates throughout the year. Same avatar, same look --- just new clothes, or new holiday themes to go with the avatar. So, your blog will retain continuity throughout the year, but you'll be able to keep things changing and fresh, without the price of a complete blog design. The first avatar is a cute blond girl, that I've nick named Hill's. Currently Hill's has one main template (meaning it comes included with graphics geared specifically for a book blog), two "dress-up" templates and a Christmas and New Year's look. You can view the templates live and purhcase the files below. Features: All templates are able to be modifed via the Blogger template Designer. Seasonal designs will be published during their respective holidays and can actually be requested Expected designs to come: Mardi Gras, Easter, Summer, Fourth of July, If you have any problems with this design please email me at parajunkee at cox dot net


	Hill's main template, designed to give that urban, fun feel. This template comes with a matching favicon, giveaway, interview, guest post and winner graphic. View Main Design > Hill's Town Purchase this template with all the cool stuff included for only $40.

	Give your Hill a make-over with the beautiful asian inspired template. View ress-up blog design, Asian Hills You can purchase this template for $30 and dress Hills up Asian style.

	Give your Hill a make-over with the beautiful vintage, shabby chic, inspired template. View ress-up blog design, Vintage Hills You can purchase the Hills Vintage Template for only $30.00.

	The first in Hill's Seasonal Looks, Christmas-fy your blog look with holiday loveliness. View the Seasonal look: Christmas Purchase this template for only $20.00, use the Paypal Buy Now Button below.

	The second in Hill's Seasonal Looks, Party-fy your blog look with New Years loveliness. View the Seasonal look: New Years Purchase the Hill's New Year's Template for only $20.00

Happy Christmas Template For You To Purchase! Second Template

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:44:06 PST

Obviously you guys liked these prepacked templates, so here is another one. I've packaged it all up and it is ready for download, only $15. This one installs quick and easy into your blog and you'll be up and running in no time. Just click on the paypal button below and purchase the template and you'll be directed to download the file that includes the XML file, a favicon and instructions.

View the live blog

Questions: Comment or email me!

Happy Christmas Template For You To Purchase!

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:44:06 PST

You guys asked for it, now I have it and super cheap! We are also trying something new. I've packaged it all up and it is ready for download, only $15. This one installs quick and easy into your blog and you'll be up and running in no time. Just click on the paypal button below and purchase the template and you'll be directed to download the file that includes the XML file, a favicon and instructions.

View the live blog

Questions: Comment or email me!

Gaga Over KMM & My First Mac Halo

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:45:25 PST

Meet the Book Nympho....thebooknympho.blogspot.com

Directions: I want a dark & sexy feel to the blog, since most of the books I read have both. But I'm ok with a humor element as well. So if you want to add a campy vampire element I'm cool with that.
Genres I read:
Paranormal Romance | Urban Fantasy | Young Adult (paranormal themed) |
Erotic Romance (paranormal &"normal")

The following images are copyrighted by The Book Nympho and are not for general use. They are for display purposes, please do not steal.

Client Feedback:

HOLY FREAKING COW!!! I love it. - The Book Nympho

Keeping it Simple...From the TBR Pile

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:45:25 PST

All images are copyrighted by From the TBR pile and are not for anyone's use but theirs.

Design specs:

"clean and uncluttered"

We like our basic color scheme, the light bluish/aqua. We don't want anything too cluttered. We'd like something pretty and some clean lines, nothing really cartoony looking...and something building off our blog title....a pile of books or something...

Feedback:

Halloween Inspired Templates

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:01:01 PDT

Sale Price: $40 each

The Spider Template, see it live.

The Skullsy Template, see it live.

SOLD. The El Emo Template, see it live.

Details & Included:

Customized template with your blog name
Works within blogger template designer for limited changes (text color, background image)
Unique blogger set-up
Favicon
Blogger Button with grab text
Stylized blockquotes
Graphics included: "Giveaway" "Winner(s)" "Interview" & "Guest Post" that match your blogger button
This template in these colors and avatar design will only be sold once
If you were to commission PD for this template it would be within the Out The Box template which retails at $150

PREMIUM - Ready Built Template

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:46:02 PST

View the template live here: http://www.myreadingpile.com/

Sale Price: $90

Details & Included:

Customized template with your blog name
Customized avatar, hair color, eye color, skin color & hair length
Customized icons of your choice, linked to your social pages
Customized Welcome message
Works within blogger template designer for limited changes (text color, background image)
Unique blogger set-up
Favicon
Blogger Button with grab text
Stylized blockquotes
Graphics included: "Giveaway" "Winner(s)" "Interview" & "Guest Post" that match your blogger button
This template in these colors and avatar design will only be sold once
If you were to commission PD for this template it would be within the Best Seller template which retails at $200

Disenchanted Cover Design

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:18:58 PDT

Some loves are meant to be…others are cursed.

Elizabeth Blackburn doesn’t believe in fate or the supernatural until she moves into Cliffside Manor and begins having nightmares about a woman who was murdered in the house.

Determined to unlock secrets that have remained hidden for centuries, Elizabeth is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away, not to mention, her uncontrollable attraction to the former owner, Dorian Knight.

As the history of the Knight family curse begins to unravel, tensions heighten and old secrets turn deadly. Even though Dorian wants nothing to do with Elizabeth and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go...even if it kills her.

Something different.

noreply@blogger.com (ParaJunkee) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:16:53 PDT

Client provided photography.

Parajunkee Design

Photoshop Animal Print Patterns with Neon ...

Photoshop Work

Unleash the Hounds...

Julie Ann Walker, Author Web Site

Transferring from Blogger to Wordpress

Monday Desktop Madness

Winner of the Reba Template Giveaway

Congrats Kat C -- foreverbklover

Monday Desktop Madness

I'm Not Vain...Just Drawn That Way

Freebies! Free stars to use as raters

Free Star Graphics to use as raters

Design Giveaway: Win a Reba Template!

Reba's Many Templates:

A New "Dress Up" Avi - Meet Reba

Hill's Get's a Valentine's Look

Pardon the mess...

Winner & Holiday Template Sale

Winner of the Hill's Template Giveaway is...courtneyyxbabe

Design Giveaway: Win the New Hill's Main Template

A New Type of Template Design: Meet Hills! You can dress her up!

Happy Christmas Template For You To Purchase! Second Template

Happy Christmas Template For You To Purchase!

Gaga Over KMM & My First Mac Halo

Keeping it Simple...From the TBR Pile

Halloween Inspired Templates

PREMIUM - Ready Built Template

Disenchanted Cover Design

Something different.

Winner of the Hill's Template Giveaway is...
courtneyyxbabe