[Do you see the new blog header? If not, hold down the ‘Control’ key and ‘F5’ key at the same time to refresh your page if you aren’t seeing the new header.]
When the seasons change, I’m often motivated to change as well. I purge clutter, enjoy new seasonal food kicks, and break out a to-do list before succumbing to disorganization in 3 days time. Ah, it’s great.
The other day I was reading an article about improving the appearance of a blog. It said, ‘If your website had no text at all, would people know what your blog was about?’
I imagined my blog without text. All that was left was a creepy, glow-y profile picture circa 2008. Yikes.
It was kind of like looking back on my Grade 2 picture seeing myself with a side pony tail and a scrunchie.
Oh wow. Thanks Mom?
I’d like to think this new header is clean, fresh, and seasonal. Aside from my dying basil plant, I was able to grow these vegetables in my garden this summer (the picture, however, is from 2010).
My plan is to create a new header for each season shooting local and seasonal produce. So if you hate this one, it’s only going to be around for about a month. For Fall, you’ll probably see gourds, squash, pumpkins, candy corn, apples, etc.
For Winter, you’ll probably see snow, ice, and extremely unflattering winter boots circa 1994. For Spring, dirt and mud. You get the idea.
This header was a close second with a new and improved tagline…
My third idea was a Chocolate Chunk Toffee Bar dipped into a Green Monster. It demonstrated a lovely balance of health and indulgence, but perhaps not the most photogenic header of all time.
PS- Photoshop owns my soul.
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I thought it would be fun to have a discussion about blog headers today. What makes a great blog header? For bloggers: Did you design yours or have someone design it? What do you love about your header or want to change? Feel free to link to your blog in the comments.
Love the new header!! :)
This header is nice, but honesty I like your previous one. When you saw the one with the picture of you, you thought who is this girl? What’s she all about? Why does she glow? I was curious and so I read your story and checked out your site. The header with the veggies is nice to but it is so common, but the one with you in the header is not common, since there is only one of you.
I love how fresh your new blogger head is, colourful and simple – I deteste fuss on blogs and website I love clean cut lines, simplicity and minamilist
Angela!!! i love the new header. Hubby and I have been working on mine for a while now and I can’t wait for change to, I hear ya on that!
I want to create me own blog header (mine is my own creation right now), but for my next one, I’d love to improve my photoshop skills! I took one photoshop course in my first year at uni, but all that info is out the window (ie: my brain!), so I need to start fresh. I couldn’t see myself paying someone else to make a header, especially if I just take the time and proper steps to try myself!!!
I love your header ideas!! Can’t wait to see some of them in the future!
It’s funny. My husband took the picture of my blog header after a day of wine tasting in Napa. The picture was at Alpha Omega and I was feeling “tipsy”, and did what anyone who might be feeling tipsy do, cartwheels.
When I decided to start a blog about my journey to greener pastures after being diagnosed with breast cancer, at 30 years old, 8 months preggers with my third son, I came across the picture and thought it would be perfect! I am happy with it, but my blog is fairly new and I know I will be looking for a change in the future.
*Angela, I love your blog and read it daily. Your recipes, photos, and stories are a soure of inspiration. Keep doin’ what your doin’ girl!
My husband is an art director and designed my blog for me, along with doing a lot of the wordpress customization. I am so lucky!
http://mariamakesmuffins.com
I like clean and simple headers that let you know instantly what the blog is about without being cluttered or looking photoshopped together. I personally really like your new header.
I’m all for simple headers without a lot going on. Any pictures should just enhance the text, and the text needs to be easy to read. Your new header looks great.
I’ve never had anyone create a header for me, because I’m cheap and don’t know what I want. I actually don’t have one on my page right now, and I’m torn on weather it’s worth putting one up, or not. I feel like my front page is already very photo heavy, so adding another photo header might be too much. You can check it out here: http://frenchfriestoflaxseeds.com
Without text I think my header says exactly what my site is all about! I have thought “if I update this one day – what will I do?” I have no idea! :) For now, it stays!
Love your new looks! It depicts this site perfectly.
First of all, I love your new header and the idea of changing seasonally. I’m all about cleaning out, organizing, and eliminating clutter too! After all, we need to make room in our lives for new and exciting things, right?
I love my header, it’s one of my favorite photos (that I actually took) but sometimes I get a little bored of it. Then again, I clearly look at it more than everyone else. It’s not completely representative of my blog either, but I think it’s such a good shot. I probably wouldn’t get bored of it if the featured image function on WordPress would work consistently! Does anyone else have that problem??
All for feedback! www.itsbeenreal.net
The ‘Orange Tree (Portakal Agaci – http://www.portakalagaci.com/)’ was the first Turkish food blog that I have started following before OSG. One of the reason was its lovely headers which changed every season. The blogger Hatice had made her headers to Penelope Dullaghan, a great artist. Check out her illustrations, it might give you some ideas: http://penelopeillustration.com/
I think your new header is missing you! I like the colour scheme and font types, but it simply doesn’t mention about you even a tiny bit. Because your blog, apart from your lovely recipes, is based on your story/life and positivism that you bring on the blog which makes it unique among all others. It’s not only cooking but perhaps learning life through cooking and healthy living. At least this is what makes me feel about OSG..x
Interesting points, thank you!
i love the new header.
i was thinking about seasonally changing mine, as well… since my last one (up until last week) was a wine bottle and a CHRISTMAS TREE… in august. honestly, i’m not worried about that. i hung christmas lights in college and left them up all year lond.
LOVE LOVE the header!
I absolutely love checking out the headers on blogs! It’s like meeting someone for the first time – it gives you a good or bad first impression, however, with blog headers I’d say a good or great first impression! I have yet to come across a header that is not creative. Even the simple one’s leave somthing to the imagination.
I would love to have a great header for my blog (www.sunnystateofmind.com), not that I have to have one because I love it just the same, however, I would like to spice it up with my own creativity and give people a good first impression :) Alas, I am not technology savvy and I cannot afford to splurge on a header. Eventually I plan to get put a snazzy header on the old girl (blog) though :)
I love all of your creative buttons and headers! And I would have to agree that a toffee bar and a green smoothie look great separately…not so appealing dunked together I’m sure – good choice ;)
I’m the same way! Seasons change and it’s purge time! Spring cleaning doesn’t happen once a year over in these parts ;)
I love your new blog header! Super summery and cute! Can’t wait to see Fall’s!
Great header!
I changed my blog header once and it was a nightmare! I couldn’t get it to fit right and it took hours and hours of trying everything to get it right. Now that I have it, I don’t think I want to change it again – I am too scared!
I love your new header :-)
I haven’t seen the new header until today!! I know, it’s my fault!!
I think your idea about the seasonal headers is really great, and the actual photo is really cute, and so natural and fresh!!
It invites to stay here. Don’t missinterpret me, your photo was great, you’re cute, but this so fresh vegetables are perfect for a (healthy) food blog! They say, “Here you’ll find healthy, but really delicious recipes!”.
LOVE your new header! Clean, simple but still fun!!!
I sort of liked the old banner on your blog since your “glow” is obvious and inspires me to improve my eating! :-)