Hey Judith,

Can you tell me how to add a signature to my blog posts like you have on yours?

Thanks!
[Some Blogging Mama Somewhere]

Sure thing, [Some Blogging Mama].

There are actually a couple of ways to do this… Wait. I take that back. There are probably lots of ways to do this. But as this is my blog and my tutorial, we're gonna do it the way that I do.

Well, because that's the way that I do it.

Confused, yet?

No? Give it a minute, you'll get there. I promise.

Okay, to add a signature that automatically posts to the end of your blog posts like mine below, you'll need two things:

1. A Blog
2. A Signature Graphic

If you don't have number one, then you most likely live in a cave somewhere and could care less about pretty little signatures or anything else that I have to say in this post. I'll be adding some naked pictures tomorrow that are sure to interest even the most Neanderthal-ish being, however, so feel free to come back then.

Already have a blog? Good for you, moving on:

To create your signature, you can either pay a little visit to My Live Signature or open up your favorite handy dandy graphics program and make one of your own.

I, of course, opt for the making of your own bit… Especially if you happen to be a font whore like myself. On the other hand, if you have no idea what a "font whore" is, My Live Signature has lots of fun options including some great font choices and varying slants. Simply follow along with the easy to use signature generator and download your finished signature at the end.

Either way, be sure to choose a size and style that "fit" well with your template and voice.

(In other words, ix-nay on anything wider than your posting column and leave the fun little fonts with heart dotted 'i's for the more cheerful of the bunch, alrighty?)

Once you've got your signature created, you'll need to upload it to your blog's media manager or whatever it is that you use for image hosting, OR, if you used My Live Signature, simply click on the "Want to use this signature?" link that appears below your finished signature and allow them to generate the html for you.

Now let's add it to your blog:

To add it to a hosted Wordpress installation (not a wordpress.com blog), we're going to have make a little adjustment in your theme's files:

1. Click on Design > Theme Editor
2. Now look on over in the column on the right and open the file that is called something like "Single Post (single.php)". If you don't have a single.php, then open up your "Main Index Template (index.php)" instead.
3. Find the line that looks something like this:
   

   <?php the_content(); ?>

   OR this

   <?php the_content('<br /> <p class="serif">Read the rest of this entry »</p> <p>'); ?>

   Basically, whatever says "the_content" followed by whatever it is that your blog says for the read more option.

4. Add your image code (or the code that My Live Signature provided) just after that so that you now have something that looks like this:
   

   <?php the_content(); ?>

   <img style="border: none;" src="http://theonlythingiknow.com/images/sig.gif" >

5. Update the file, and you should be good to go!

For Blogger:

*Edited 8/15: If you were having problems getting this to work via copying and pasting the code below to your blogger account, it wasn't because you were doing anything wrong… It's because I'm secretly a blond. Seriously. You should be able to C&P now with no problems!

1. From your dashboard, go to Layout > Edit HTML
2. Check that little box next to "Expand Widget Templates"
3. Find the line that looks like:
   

   <div class='post-footer'>

4. Now paste your image code right above that. It should look something like this (be sure not to forget the trailing slash (/) after the image address):
   

   <img style="border: none !important;" src="http://theonlythingiknow.com/images/sig.gif" />

   <br/>

   <div class='post-footer'>

5. Preview & Save.

And that's it! If I've explained it right (which is probably like a 1 in 3 chance, I figure), then you should now have a signature that automatically posts whenever you do.

If I didn't explain it right, well, then, at least you got to see a nifty little post full of pretty code, right?

What was that? You don't find code pretty? Oh…

Well be sure to come back tomorrow for a naked picture.

It's Wordless Wednesday after all.

Have a similar question that I may be able to help you with? Contact me.

Last month, I came across this post by one of my favorite bloggers which re-affirmed my belief that even when you think you've got this whole parenting gig in the bag, there's always a few tricks up some brilliant lady's sleeve that could simply make your day…

You see, Amy- the lovely and wonderful Amy- has a daughter who has a bear. A bear which, I assume, is as loved and cherished and carried everywhere as my daughter's "Baby" (that scruff of fabric tucked so lovingly to her face below).

Amy- the lovely and brilliant Amy- has a daughter who also has a Spare Bear. A Spare Bear! A bear to magically appear and assume all of the everyday duties of the original bear should the original bear be unable.

A. Spare. Bear.

How bloody brilliant is that?

As I read her post about Bear and Spare Bear, I paused for a moment to replay all of the horrific, nightmare-inducing memories born of a forgotten baby, a lost baby, an "oh my god this thing is putrid and needs to go into the washer" baby…

And I shuddered. Twice

Then I took myself on over to eBay and got us our very own *prepare yourself for my cleverness* Copy Cat.

A Copy Cat which ended up costing me FIVE times more than the original baby, I may add.

Thrilled with my Amy-inspired cleverness, I gleefully snuck into her pretty little pink room to make the switch… A couple of tugs, a snuggle, and a sigh of contentment, and we were good to go. Wrapping the now retired baby in a blanket, I crept out of the room…

And then it happened:

My sweet little girl woke-up– And let out the shrillest, loudest, most infuriated cry that I have ever heard in my entire life. Think "Demon Out of Hell"… Now take away its baby.

Yeah.

Busted.

Hanging my head in defeat, I unwrapped the now back in action baby and walked back…

And now, well, now we have this:

Say hello to "Cute".

He now comes along everywhere as well.

And me?

I'm moving to Amy's.

For more Weekly Winners, be sure to head on over to chez Lotus. And if you're not participating, you really should! She's giving away some really great prizes including a $150 blog makeover from JudithShakes Designs… and I hear that they're freaking awesome.

Oh! And don't forget to Free Me. It's important.

Okay, so it's 1:39 am and technically Monday…

But I won't say anything if you won't.

And those are my favorite shots for the week! Be sure to drop by and visit other great winners when you get the chance.