Weekend Project: Getting Started with Google Web Fonts

This project is for subscribers at the Pro Unlimited level and above, since you'll be using the Custom CSS feature. Want to do this too? Find out how to upgrade to Unlimited!

One bit of feedback that we hear a lot is that there isn't enough variety in the fonts available in the Compose editor and blog themes. There's a technical reason behind this - if you use a special font on your blog that your readers don't have installed on their computers, they won't be able to see it.

That's a bummer, right? Luckily, services like TypeKit and Google Web Fonts can help you bring more exciting fonts to your blog. We have instructions for getting started with TypeKit in our Knowledge Base and this project will get you started with using Google Web Fonts.

The first step is to head over to the Google Web Fonts site and take a look at the fonts they have for use. There are nearly 400 available so you'll be there a while. Don't say we didn't warn you!

Don't Forget to Voice Your Opinions on Get Satisfaction!

We’ve mentioned before that we’re looking for Get Satisfaction Champions. A great way to shine and be noticed as a Champion is by participating in one of our “Who Do YOU? Recommend” threads.

Two of our current topics are on music widgets and monthly e-mail digests.

Do you have any you’d recommend for either topic? Maybe anyone that you recommend people don't use? If so, head over to Get Satisfaction and speak your mind! You might become a Get Satisfaction Champion and win yourself some free TypePad time and a Marc Johns SAY Media shirt!

Featured Shop: The Hidden World of Eloise

Eloise creates fairytale-inspired art that is sure to capture your imagination. You can choose from prints, jewelry, buttons and more. We especially love her new line of stationery that includes adorable journals and bookmarks. 

That's it for our 25 days of featured shops but don't fret - the TypePad Shop is staying open all year long! Don't forget to submit your shop!

Featured Shop: The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project isn't exactly a shop like the others we've featured. But because the spirit of the holidays is about celebrating what makes you happy, we had to include it. Gretchen Rubin believes you can attain happiness by taking small, simple steps every day. She shares tips, quotes and exercises to help you along the path of your own happiness project. Her blog has links to her best-selling book and new 2012 daily calendar.

There's more to discover in the TypePad Shop!

Happy Holidays to all our bloggers!

We wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy holiday season and good blogging in the new year.

In the new year, we will be bringing you more tips and weekend project posts on Everything TypePad. We also have some exciting new features which have been development for some time. We can’t wait to rip the wrapping paper off of the new features and share them with you. Keep an eye on Everything TypePad for updates!

We released the new theme, Clean, yesterday, and more new themes are in the works to give you new design options for your blog in the new year. Check out the Style Guide for CSS tips you can apply to your blog. You can still let us know what styles you would like to see in new themes in the forum.

As always, the TypePad support team will be available every day throughout the holidays to answer your blogging questions. Click the Help link in the upper, right corner of your account to submit a ticket or post to the forum.

Featured Shop: Katie Can Draw

Kate can draw: little kitties doing yoga, comic book characters, or even a custom mini-painting of anything your heart desires. Be sure to check out her webcomic about a monster named Gronk. 

You know the drill - there's more great stuff in the TypePad Shop.

Introducing Clean, A New Theme From TypePad

Today, we're introducing Clean, a brand new theme with a minimalist design that's great for displaying large photos and making the most of your content. It's full of really great features that we can't wait for you to try out. Here are just a few of the awesome things you'll notice when you apply the Clean theme to your blog:

• Displays large images beautifully.
• Enhanced mobile viewing for folks on the go.
• Want to add a custom banner? There's a tool for that.
• Features an extra clean, beautifully minimal design with lots of white space.
• Using a single column layout? Your blog footer is customizable and ready for content.

The most exciting thing about Clean isn't what we've done with it, it's what you can do with it.

Are you a design and coding enthusiast? Make the Clean theme your own by using our brand new, hands on Style Guide to completely customize the look and feel of your blog. Into color? Change things up with different shades from Eggplant to Orange:

Ready to rock the Clean theme? Head to your Dashboard. Click to Blogs > Design > Choose a theme. Click on Clean, and you're there!

Clean is our gift to you this holiday season; it's a deceptively simple, powerful theme that will help your blog make a big impact. We could not be more excited to premiere it, and we hope you all enjoy it as much as we do!

We'd love to know what you think, so tell us all about it in the comments!

Featured Shop: small sweet steps

We'll let Stephanie Ryan's words speak for her blog: "It is my purpose in this life to help inspire others and then in turn myself, using love and the creative arts as a means to heal our spirit and live our truth one small sweet step at a time." Her shop is full of colorful, whimsical art for kids and grown-ups, too.

Santa Claus is coming to town! Maybe he stopped by the TypePad Shop?

Featured Shop: the blackbird sings

Have you ever seen a beautiful work of art painted on a pebble? Natasha Newton creates original art and illustrations which she showcases on her blog, the blackbird sings. You can pick up her pieces in her Etsy shop.

There's more art to discover in the TypePad Shop!

Simple Girl, Great Blog

Catherine was looking for a platform to share her thoughts and ideas with others and decided to start her blog, Simple Girl, on TypePad. However, she needed some help with getting the blog up and running, so she signed up for a Power Launch Service. We worked with her to set up her own custom URL and subscription and sharing tools for the blog, streamlined the blog navigation and sidebar, and set up other recommended TypePad features. Finally, we created a new banner image that is simple and elegant, emphasizing the theme of her blog - something that's very important in design and branding.

Ready to start a blog but not sure what you need to do? Or just need some extra help setting everything up? Check out our Power Launch Service. And don't forget to visit Simple Girl to read Catherine's reflections on life.

P.S. You can view this and many other great blogs in our portfolio.