BuySellAds is a name that is known to all. It is an advertisement service where you can buy and sell ads out of thousands of blogs and websites. Ads are displayed in different format sizes, the most popular being 125 by 125 and 468 by 60 and 300 by 250. By default the empty Ad Posts look dull and grey in color just like these,

Its really important to keep everything as attractive as possible while writing posts. Text Area boxes are a useful method of showing long bunch of text or code on your blog. Just last month I wrote two posts 25 Vertical Navigation Menus and 30 Horizontal Navigation Menus where I have used a lot of coding and all those coding were displayed inside fully customized text areas that made the post looked clean and neat. Text boxes are good only if there length and height is well controlled and today with this tutorial we will learn several ways of styling our default text areas.

Kindly see a demo first,

WordPress receives a lot of love from the blogging community, but Blogger.com is still a perfectly viable blogging platform for the majority of people.
In an effort to help those devoted Blogger users, we’ve gathered up the best of our lists about tools, themes and shortcuts for your preferred platform. Take a look through and you are sure to find something that will help you, even if you didn’t know you were looking for it!
Tell us what you think of these and any we might have missed, and let us know about your Blogger blog in the comments.

Free Template Resources

5ColumnTemplate.Blogspot.com – This site only offers one template with five variations, but it isn’t every day you see a five column theme for any blogging platform, and it is actually pretty clean in presentation.
AllBlogTools.com – A collection of over 100 templates from an assortment of a lot of smaller designers. You can look them up by layout, color, subject matter and so on.
Blogger-Templates.Blogspot.com – Keeps a small selection of top-notch Blogger themes up and running.
Blogger-Templates.Deceblog.net – A small selection of unique themes for Blogger accounts.
Blogger-Templates-Directory.Blogspot.com – A large directory of Blogger templates, links to resources for further development and a whole lot more.
BloggerTemplates.org – Doesn’t seem to have been updated since it originally launched, but all of the templates still work, and have a lot of resemblance to WordPress themes.
BlogspotTemplates.Blogspot.com – Several pages of Blogger templates with tips on how to use them.
BlogspotTemplate.com – Right around 100 templates for Blogger of varying styles and colors.
BlogTemplates.Noipo.org – A small selection of graphical and text based templates for your blog.
BTemplates.com – Features a wide assortment of over 600 free Blogger templates that can be browsed by category, tag, number of downloads and so on.
Carl Galloway’s Blogger Templates – A small selection of some fairly unique templates that haven’t been updated in some time, but are still fully functional.
FinalSense.com – Offers over 300 templates for your Blogger account. Have just about every theme and color combination that you can think of.
FreeBlogger-Templates.Blogspot.com – Focuses heavily on simplified Blogger templates that make for the easiest reading possible.
FreeTemplates.Blogspot.coms – A blog dedicated to bringing you nothing but free Blogger templates. Nicely categorized, and easy to browse.
FreshBloggerTemplates.Blogspot.com – It has been a while since this site released any new templates, but their designs are very clean and still in working order.
Gecko & Fly Blogger Templates – Offers many Blogger templates, most of which are in a more “classic” style, as well as tutorials on how to tweak your blog even further.
GoSuBlogger.com – A large selection of free templates that mix original work with converted WordPress themes.
Isnaini.com – A large and varied collection of templates for use on Blogger, along with a detailed tutorial on how to properly insert them into your account.
JackBook.com – Besides offering a large selection of free templates, with a heavy saturation of video game inspired themes, JackBook also offers tips and pointers on better SEO for your blog.
OurBlogTemplates.com – An odd mix of nearly 200 free templates for you to use and with a dash of reviews of DSLR cameras.
PannaSmontana Templates – Numerous free templates for Blogger, but the site is entirely in Italian. Thankfully it is well designed and you can find your way around.
Public-Template.Blogspot.com – Features a mixture of free templates for you to download, tutorials on how to make your own, and admiration for templates they enjoy.
Simple-Blogskins.Blogspot.com – Offers a handful of free skins for your Blogger account.
Template-Godown.com – A site specializing in converting WordPress themes to the Blogger friendly XML format.
WP-Themes.us – Yes, the name points to them being all about WordPress themes, but they also provide a nice selection of free templates for Blogger.
Yanku-Template.Blogspot.com – Offers some very slick looking, free, Blogger templates of the 2 and 3-column varieties.

Premium Template Resources

ChicSassyDesigns.Blogspot.com – Offers up pre-built templates you can buy, will design unique themes and offers background images for sale that you can build your own template around.
PaperbackDesigns.Blogspot.com – Offers free themes and sidebar badges in addition to doing custom designed templates for a fee.
SuckMyLolly.com – A mixture of free and premium themes for your Blogger account. Very colorful in design and lacking the traditional Blogger look.

Tips & Tricks for Template Design

Firdamatic Template Generator – Allows you to generate 2 or 3-column templates by just filling in the blanks with your answers.
PhotoshopSupport.com – Tips for designing your own Blogger template, using Photoshop.

Fresh and Modern Blogger Templates

Aspire – A rustic look and calendar in the sidebar make this blog template perfect for history bloggers and traditional food bloggers.
Cat – Glossy, shiny; great for a web 2.0 centric blog.
Decorativo – Easy on the eyes, great for a literature-themed blog.
Erudite – I love the templates at this site. This particular one is very clean and can be easily customized.
Feminina 1 – Pink background and one for the girls. In fact, you will see a lot more pink in the Feminina series.
Flower Pink Border – If you’re up for something different, try this combination of black and pink.
Gemstone – Very nice use of the header area and a good color combination.
Genesis – A three-column dark color theme with nice header tabs and sidebar header buttons.
Glass – Another personal favorite of mine, creates that “wow” effect right from the start.
GossipCity – A three column template that will give your blog that metro look with stars and shines.
History channel – A template based on the History Channel.
Jeans – A template that looks like your faded jeans. Quite nice if you are a cowboy. Or like cowboys.
Leia – A popular template in three column. There are header tabs, and a big blog description space on the right-hand side.
Looter xp – A simple black and white design with some striking effects.
Mosaico – A template design in mosaic style.
Navideno – A eye appealing treat with a fruity flavor.
O2 – This is a popular WordPress template ported to Blogger. It is a three column template with a bigger sidebar on top of two mini bars on the right hand side.
Rainbow Garden - Would you like to have your post decorated nicely with the garden flowers? This is the template for you then.
Red Girl – Quite a nice theme with a red background and an unusual style. You can put your picture in the header.
Bloggerized AdSense – AdSense-ready template, not too shabby looking.
iPlantilla – Another Mac-themed template with a very clean look.
Secret – Nice hand drawings. And quite a unique design that is definitely striking.
Simplicity 2.0 – This pink color template looks classy and very feminine.
Styleicious – A nice color combination again with blue and black on this three column template.
Terra Firma – A nice WordPress ported blog with space for Adsense in the header. Orange and green combination makes it looks fresh and bright.
1024px – A simple two column template on plain white background without much color, but with great readability.

Beautiful Blogger Templates

2-column templates

Andreas02 – Lots of tab links above the header. You can showcase the description of each active tab on the header.
Andreas08 – From the same author of the one above. The header is ready to be customized with your own picture.
Agua – A minimalistic, clean template giving a pure white look.
Cajas – A blog title in a header that looks like the Blogger navbar and five menu links with multi-color backgrounds that take the place of the traditional blog header.
Colibri – This reminds you of a garden, doesn’t it?
Dead – This one can be described as heavy metal/rock style – sinister and dark.
Eclipse – Another dark theme that brings werewolves to mind. An enchanting template for the dark souls.
Emire – Beautiful color combination but I wish there was more width for the post and the sidebar.
Hada-negra – A beautiful template – seductive and pleasing to the eyes.
Integral – The most striking visual details on this template are its rounded header and the green and sky-blue color combination.
K2 – A popular WordPress theme cloned for Blogger.
Minyx – A template that looks like an invitation card. Good use of space in the header.
Natural – If you are the artistic kind, this one will be a feast for your eyes.
Neoneon – This is another unique design – rectangular sidebar boxes and spiral main body.
S08 – A blue color body on a darker blue background – you might have thought it wouldn’t work, but here it is.
Vertical – As the name suggests, this is a vertically designed clean template. You might want to throw in some more code and utilize the space below the blog title better.

3-column templates

Andreas4 – Another popular WordPress template by Andreas cloned for Blogger. The template can be used as a bare bone structure for customization.
Autumn Grass – I like the color combination and the vertical menu links in the header. There is also sufficient space there for ads and videos.
Butterfly Magic – Another beautiful color combination, or shall we call it just another butterfly effect :-)
Columnas – This theme’s peculiar design stands out from the rest of the templates in this list. Nice and clean.

Cultivado – Neat, floral, elegant – this one’s perfect for writing on life, philosophy, thoughts, poetry, love and the like.
Dark Ritual – A nice theme which somehow reminds us of the Adams Family.
Erudite – A neat three-column Blogger template with the black color header and the orange color RSS icon gelling well.
Green Marinee – A long time favorite of many bloggers ported to Blogger. Great use of space, and a nice color combination.
Hemingway – A beautiful dark template – one column for the post body and three column on the footer.
Illacrimo – A beautiful clone for Blogger from the WordPress theme Illacrimo, though I feel there should be a way to use more space currently taken by the date-display on the left of the screen.
Informativo – A similar template to the Columnas template above but with the header, for the less-unconventional bloggers who wants to stick with the proven.
Minimalista – Another great port from WordPress to Blogger.
Minyx 2.0 – A great template without pictures; good use of available space.
Pizza – Don’t be dissuaded by the pizza theme if you are thinking of using this for a different subject blog. The template is highly customizable. The unique element in this template is the header which has been divided into two parts. You can display your blog logo or title on the left-side header box while using the other box for whatever you like.
Pro – A different looking search box, menu links above the blog title, and the graduated blue header background in a unique design makes this template unique.
Puerto – Somehow this template makes the post body look grand and majestic.
The Hobbit – If you are a fan of Tolkien, this one is for you.
Neo – A 3 column template that reloads in parts allowing faster reading and surfing.

4-column templates

Neosapian – The contrast between black and red is striking. The second right-hand sidebar can be widened further and the red header can be used subtly for ads or to display more information. You decide whether to change the current header image or not :-)
Qwilm – A simple looking great design that can be customized to a great extent.

Unique Blogger Templates

Digg – Do you have a burning desire to make your blog look like Digg? This theme turns the normal voting buttons into the dates of your entries and is just a bit of fun. The designer is Turkish, and the download is in his native tongue, but easily understandable.
Dream Light – Artistic and in your face, but maintains readability with ease.
Fly Net 02 – A very business-like template that gives you a 4-column header for information as well as a flash intro – if you want it.
iBlock – Versions of this template are available just for the iPhone/iPod Touch or you can keep the feel for a normal browser if you like.
Night Club – Made for actual nightclubs, but easily changed. Great for music enthusiasts, DJs, party promoters and more. It’s rare to see a black theme for any blogging platform that is actually readable, and this one handles it beautifully.
Nyoba – Nyoba gives you three columns as well as two Google AdSense units in prime locations, with an easy to change header image.
Retro Mac OS Theme – Are you ready to kick it old school style with your blog looking like it escaped from a 1980s Apple? This is your template!
The Girl – Available in multiple colors with different headers, it very much has a “WordPress feel” to it. If you prefer the convenience of Blogger, this would be a good theme for you to merge the two.
TotuliPink – Pink templates tend to be loud and hard on the retinas, but this one works quite well without making you want to run for the hills.

Miscellaneous Blogger Tools

AvantBlog – Post to your Blogger blog from your Palm or Windows CE device.
Back up your Blogger Blog – A comprehensive tutorial regarding the backup of your Blogger data.
Blogger Status – Stay up-to-date with the latest Blogger updates and so-on with the official Blogger blog.
Google Macintosh Dashboard Widgets – A quick way to post to your blog via the OS X dashboard.
HaloScan – Integrate trackbacks into Blogger.
w.bloggar – Windows application for integration with your blog, which includes several features web-based editors don’t offer. Manage various Blogger accounts efficiently.

230+ Keyboard Shortcuts for Top Web Services

These shortcuts work when editing posts:

control + b – Bold
control + i – Italic
control + l – Blockquote (when in HTML – mode only)
control + z – Undo
control + y – Redo
control + shift + a – Link
control + shift + p – Preview
control + d – Save as Draft
control + p – Publish Post
control + s – Autosave and keep editing
control + g – Hindi transliteration

For more keyboard shortcut commands, see the Official list of Blogger shortcuts.

Post Source: http://mashable.com/2009/01/16/blogger-toolbox/  

1. Comment-author
2. Comment-body
3. Comment-footer

Our tutorial today is on how to style the Comment-Body section of Author. So lets get to work!

Highlight and Customize Comments in Blogger

1. Go To Blogger > Design > Edit HTML
2. Backup your template
3. Check "Expand widget templates" Box
4. Search for this.

]]></b:skin>

     5.   Just above it paste the CSS code below,

.mbt-comment-body {
background: #FFFFFF;
color: #008000;
border: 1px solid #008000;
margin:0;
padding:0 0 0 10px;
width:520px;
}

Make these changes:

• To Change the background color of author comments change #FFFFFF
• To change font color change #008000
• To change border size change 1px, to change border style change to solid, dashed or dotted  and to change the color of the border change #008000
• To change the width of the comment body change 520px

Tip: Use our color generator for making these changes
   6.    Next search carefully for this code in your template,
Tip: Press Crtl +F and search for one line at a time

      <data:commentPostedByMsg/>
          </dt>

          <dd class='comment-body'>
            <b:if cond='data:comment.isDeleted'>
              <span class='deleted-comment'><data:comment.body/></span>
            <b:else/>
              <p><data:comment.body/></p>
            </b:if>
          </dd>

     7.     Replace it with the following code,

      <data:commentPostedByMsg/>
          </dt>
<b:if cond='data:comment.author == data:post.author'>
<dd class='mbt-comment-body'>
<p><data:comment.body/></p>
</dd>
<b:else/>
          <dd class='comment-body'>
            <b:if cond='data:comment.isDeleted'>
              <span class='deleted-comment'><data:comment.body/></span>
            <b:else/>
              <p><data:comment.body/></p>
            </b:if>
          </dd>
</b:if>

     8.    Save your template and you are done!
Visit your blogs and see that the author comments now look something like this,

Let me know if you faced any problem. Would be a pleasure helping you. In my next post I will share several ways of customizing author comments. Have Fun! :)

It is no wonder that web technology has developed tremendously over the recent years. Fonts that were once stored in user’s computers are now embedded in templates. Few years back you could use only those fonts in your templates which were available on major operating systems and in order to view those stylish fonts on your websites, the user should already had fonts installed on their PCs. Today you can use any font you like for your designing purposes and the reader doesn’t need having those fonts installed on his PC. Thanks to Google Fonts API you can now embed any font you like in your templates out of the popular fonts available at Google Font Directory.