If you’re interested in getting into WordPress theme development and want to create your own themes then you need to visit these sites for their instructions.

CSS-Tricks - A video tutorial on how to convert an already designed HTML and CSS into WordPress

Net Tuts - A how-to guide on creating a WordPress theme from scratch.

Spoon Graphics -Shows you how he took his existing design concept and created a WP theme with it.

Web Designer Wall -A basic tutorial on how to convert a static HTML to a WordPress theme

Line 25 – A walkthrough for intermediate web designers and developers on how to create a WP theme.

Theme Shaper – Create a powerful, up-to-date WordPress theme in 11 individual lessons.

WP Designer -a thorough and easy to understand tutorial on creating a WordPress theme

Theme Tation – a 3 part series on how to create a WP template from scratch

Developer Tutorials -Create a theme from nothing using Photoshop CS3, WordPress, MAMP, Color Schemer Studio, Firefox and Netrenderer.

Eruanna -A very detailed tutorial on how to create a complete WordPress theme from scratch

These days the internet is filled with thousands of new blogs popping up each day.  It seems like everyone and there siblings has a blog setup on WordPress or Blogger.  There is no question blogging has become the more popular choice in expressing individual content on the web.  With so many people entering this large niche, it makes it hard  to standout from the pack.  One thing you can do to save yourself from the rest is have a great design to work with.  Over the past several years developers have improved the look and functionality of one of the first blogging platforms to gain popularity, Google’s Blogger.  I’m highly recommending NOT to use one of their free themes due to many of them with broken template images and some which are not updated to the latest XML blogger.  You can still choose from a wide variety of free quality XML blogger themes.    Now, what makes a quality template?

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EYE CATCHING HEADER

First impressions are everything, if a reader isn’t initially stuck on your site…you probably lost the reader for life!  Isn’t it scary how the world of blogging works?  I suggest finding a header that has some sort of graphic element to it.  You’ll find out how one simple graphic can change your loyalty rate.

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SEARCH FOR BROKEN LINKS

Be sure that you view a demo version and test the links.  A site’s look is worthless if it doesn’t work properly!  In order for your blog to have credibility it should have a perfect flow from page to page, post to post.

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LOOK AT REVIEWS

If you can, look at what other Bloggers rank the theme.  You should have own opinion ultimately but it doesn’t hurt to be influenced if one Blogger template has 5 stars and the other has 1.5 stars.  Sites that rank their themes like BloggerTemplatesFree can be very beneficial to the final decision.

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MATCH YOUR NICHE

This is a simple concept, if you have a car blog then don’t download a template that has flowers in the header.  Find a theme that matches and flows with your topic of interest.  Find the best color scheme, layout, columns and functions that fits your blog topic.

All in all, many blogger sites have the same boring templates.  Don’t go this route, trust me!  Instead, look through the many sites offering free Blogger themes and find one that best fits your needs.  Choose wisely and know that you can always change your theme if you feel you will outgrow the new one.

This week’s FFT is a premium PSD template called Clickloud Web 2.0.  This theme is designed for companies selling or servicing web 2.0 content; although it can be used on other sites such as portfolios.  It comes with 6 organized PSD files that easily integrate with each other.  As you can see from the screenshot below, Clickloud is organized with clouds in an easy to read format.  For only $12 this theme is well worth the price.

Click here to purchase

Delistore is a free professional template designed by Dellustrations for Smashing Magazine readers.   The Delistore resembles, you guessed it…a deli store.   Compliant with all major browsers, this template comes with 4 custom pages.  You can customize the look to fit your needs if you have a catering operation, pool and spa website, ventures and facilities and more.

Demo // Download

The way you hand in a resume has changed from the past.  If you give a generic resume to a potential employer it will most likely be piled up with the rest of the  boring resumes.  To get noticed, you need to stand out.  Online resume’s are great for many employers and employees.  Today is a theme called Smart CV, it’s a resume theme that allows you to capture your work history and any other details on a clean template.  You can easily add, change and delete any section of the template.  A rich feature that this theme has is its jquery scroller, the potential employer can see all of your contact info while scrolling up and down.  Get noticed and standout from the crowd with this theme.

Demo // Purchase

Polaroid is a free Blogger template great for photographers looking for a pink theme.  This theme was created by Adii,  the man behind Woothemes. Polaroid is perfect for those of you who want to promote yourself through your amazing work.

Demo // Download

Features include;

• 3 columns w/ right sidebar
• 2 description text areas
• flexible layout
• Flickr integration
• Google Adsense ready
• Beautiful pink icons

Today’s Blogger theme is called BCute.  The theme fits its name, its got a great looking twitter graphic right below the header.  Another nice element is the RSS icon coming down from the top right corner of the header.  This template was originally made for WordPress but later converted to Blogger by Deluxe Templates

Demo // Download

In a tribute to the late, great Michael Jackson, we have posted a free PSD theme called MJackson Forever.  This is just the landing page but a good one at that.  The theme is a revamped work of art from one of Michael’s best albums, Dangerous.

You will need to register here to download a free copy of this theme.

Assassins is a free template for the Blogger platform.  I’m not familiar with the game but the template is suppose to resemble it.  Just viewing it from a Webmaster’s stand point, the large header is very attractive along with the simple 2 column layout.

Demo // Download

It’s winter here in America where things can get chilly, today it was below 10 degrees.  For my own sanity and optimism here is a tropical theme for Blogger, its called Emerald Waters. This is a very goodlooking 2 column theme that can make the right blog look great.

Emerald Waters Template

Download // Demo