back to Completed Reviews

Site Name: Sunny Daydream
Owner: Heidi
Reviewed by: Georgina
Reviewed on: 10th February 2010 (started on the 9th)

Site Name

It’s quite a cute name; I don’t really have any problems with it.

Coding and Validation

I get the impression that you use an editor (possibly Microsoft Frontpage…) to edit your website. I feel like you aren’t that confident with HTML and there are some improvements you could make but they would involve coding from scratch and really peering into your coding.

Your coding has 22 errors and your CSS is valid. I think that for starters, the CSS should be in an external stylesheet for faster loading. Also, font-size: large and font-size: small aren’t really very flexible values. Working with something like pt or even % for font sizes is more appropriate.

You’re also using tables for your layout which is not a good idea. Tables can look rather messy in certain browsers and not give you the right look. They are really tricky, load slower and aren’t very accessible – using div, then styling with CSS, is a much better option.

When adding images in the XHTML doctype, make sure you include the slash at the end:

<img src="http://site.com/image.jpg" />

Browser Compatibility & Usability

Your site is navigable and functions in Firefox, Safari, Opera and Internet Explorer.

There needs to be more colour in the CSS. You’re using the same colour and you could style some headings to differentiate the headings from regular text. The links are hard to differentiate because they are the same colour as the text.

The navigation could be improved – there should be more space between the links. I didn’t realise that “writing portfolio” was one link. Additionally, “domain” would be better expressed as “site” or “website” since not everyone is familiar with the term “domain”.

Layout

I like the simplicity of this layout. When I first visit everything is easy on the eyes. However after a closer look, some things can be improved.

Firstly, the background. Stripes really don’t go well with this. A simple teal or blue noise background would do. Stripes are too harsh for this layout. I really like the header image though. Did you take the photo yourself? I don’t see credit so I assume it’s your own. If it’s not, you should provide credit.

I don’t really mind the text you’ve used on the image but I think it could have been centered to fit with the centered layout. The header image should also be a bit shorter in height. It’s quite large.

I don’t really mind the colours in the layout and the colours in the stripes are actually quite nice, but the stripes don’t go with the layout. I think the CSS also needs to be dressed up a bit. It’s quite boring with the same font. Add other fonts and other colours to make it more interesting.

Overall the layout could be more interesting, and the header image a bit smaller.

Content

In the sidebar i’m should be I’m.

Owner

On this page end, my should be end; my and converse should be Converse – capitalised.
enchoraging should be encouraging
Heavy Metal and Rap should be heavy metal and rap.

I just had to put in how much I personally love heavy metal music, but that’s fine if you don’t!

I don’t really like the way you’ve set out this page because I think it could be spaced out a little more. Maybe an extra line break between the paragraphs would make things easier to read and easier on the eyes. An extra line break before “Appearance”, “My Wonderful Tools” and so on.

I also don’t really like the font. It’s bold, and bold should only be used for emphasis. It’s a little hard to read everything when it’s bold. I suggest making only the headings bold – such as My Lovelies <3 and Music!. If you need to, you should make the text bigger rather than making it bold.

On the mixlist page, inspiriing should be inspiring. I suggest you set out the names as:

When the Stars go Blue – Ryan Adams

rather than

When the Stars go Blue *Ryan Adams*

Domain

On the main page the “linkbacks” link is a bit funny; the “l” isn’t part of the link. Probably because in your coding it looks like this:

<a class="style17" href="http://www.sunnydaydream.com/linkbacks.php">l</a></span></span><span class="style11"><a class="style17" href="http://www.sunnydaydream.com/linkbacks.php">inkbacks</a></span></span><span class="style7"><br class="style11" />

There are two links.

On the affiliates page, you should use more line breaks here to separate parts of text. The little Q&A you have can be placed in a blockquote, as well.

On the affiliate application page, you might want to clarify what you mean about sites being in HTML. Most sites are coded in HTML – perhaps you might say that you would like affiliates to be able to code their own layout and not use templates or pagebuilders.

On the contact form page, “us” should really be “me” – you’re the only owner of the site.

The credits page is good, but you should link to the sites you haven’t linked to. Also, perhaps linking sites as the name rather than the actual URL would be more attractive – eg. Twisted Reality, Essence of Complexion, Figmint.

Following your coding, you would write it like so:

<span class="style21"<<a href="http://www.essenceofcomplexion.com">Essence of Complexion</a></span>

On the history page, google images pictures would be better expressed as “pictures from Google Images”. Twice on this page, unfortunatly should be unfortunately.
Also, to fast should be too fast.

On the link back page, you should be displaying code correctly with <code>, and converting the HTML into its entities – and not with <textarea>. Textarea is intended for user input and not for displaying code. Visit my tutorial for more information.

The past layouts look alright, though I’m not actually reviewing those. I think that if you do need to save space, just a screenshot of the layout would suffice. It would be a good idea to add screenshots to the past layouts page as it does look empty.

Nothing much to say about the “terms of use” page. I think that rather than having a message in capitals… as I mentioned earlier, you should not make the text bold – only if emphasis is really needed.

Visitor

I don’t think it’s necessary to put ampersands (&) before the subheadings on this page.

The artwork images are lovely. I don’t like the “Dare to Dream” one because it looks really darkly washed out, and the text is too bright. The swirl effect on the Daisies one isn’t too appealing.

The avatars are okay. They could be jazzed up a bit. The texture ones are useful, and I like the simple text/shape ones. The ones with flowers could do with a bit more added to them – maybe some text? The effects cold also be improved a bit as the first flower one is a bit bright.

The banners are okay. They have nice effects but I think you could improve on what kinds of effects you use, and for what images. Certain images look better with certain effects. You also need to work on colour and text – some colours don’t work well together, such as in the retro banner. And the text on some of them could be placed in better positions.

The blending is done very well. Again, I think you can improve. While the blends are plain, I think you can go one step further to add some effects. I don’t particularly like the last one. I have noticed that this, along with a few other graphics of yours, look more like “practice” graphics, and they could be improved.

The link backs are just cropped images. I think these could be taken down altogether – people usually make their own buttons and don’t use templates very much.

The stock photography is alright. I like the images you have here! The fields one and the beach one might need a fair bit of editing though, if someone chooses to use them.

I don’t like the textures because they look really harsh. You could work on these by softening and changing the hues to softer colours rather than dark/bright ones.

The layout doesn’t look that good. I am really not liking the colours. And “Welcome” isn’t really necessary on a header image. This layout could be a little more creative and use better colours.

The animal and landscape photography could go under the other stock images. I think these look pretty good. I’m assuming you took the landscape ones yourself, too? They look pretty good! I rarely see people offer their photos for use, particularly when it’s of a famous landmark.

The rules page for the reviews is a 404.

Writing portfolio

I won’t really read through everything here. But the affiliate rant, though it is a rant – could be spaced out a bit so it’s easier to read. This is up to you, since you’re simply displaying these here but it’s a tip that will help people who do read these. You’ve got valid points but I think you could make this longer and also use paragraphs.

The “Cu L8r Literacy” rant is pretty good. And this is actually easier to read because the font isn’t made bold – so keep that in mind for other pages!

Hosting

This is a separate section so I won’t be reviewing this.

Originality & Creativity

Your website is very original and all the work on your site is “yours” – nothing too similar to what I’ve seen on other sites. I think that you get somewhere with creativity but you do need to work on your skills to produce better graphics with better quality. Some of the effects you’re using are too harsh and you also need to work on the placement and effects of text. Text adds so much to an image but you need to work on refining the way you do it.

Organisation & Errors

Not too many; organisation was okay. I think that in the “domain” section, you could fit things onto one page since most of the pages are short or small.

Overall Comment

Your site is doing quite well and I can see the effort you put into it even though your skills aren’t the best. Keep on practising editing graphics and you’ll be getting there. I also think that your coding could do with some fixing, as div are a good alternative to tables. This tutorial should help you out.

I don’t have too many tips for you but keep on practising. Your site is well organised and your layouts and graphics do need a bit more practice.

Rating

(out of 5)