Timeline Jazz

Time’s up. Like it or not, Facebook is mandating the use of the Facebook Timeline and its Timeline Cover. You could leave your cover blank, but…why? There is opportunity to play like a kid with a Crayola box.

So, maybe you know your way around a keyboard; can find your way through a thousand hits in a search engine to discover what you’re looking for in under 30-seconds; or maybe you are a luddite, who has limped (or begged for assistance) to find her way to Facebook. And now, Facebook went and added a mandatory Timeline Cover, which means you’ve got to do something (upload?), something else (a photograph?) and great, what does that mean? How do I express myself to the world out there? Isn’t it enough I like my friend’s comments about their having found a great shirt 50% off? Isn’t it enough that I liked a politically themed story and therefore performed by civic duty for today? Now….now, I have to add a timeline cover?

Rest easy…it’s not so hard and it can be fun, if you consider your Timeline Cover a personalized expression of where you are now in your life. There are a few free services that will help you define yourself, personality and interests to the world in a few easy steps.  The services generally ask to connect to your Facebook account and from there, you’ll be able to play with the software and follow the steps to have your new Timeline cover functioning in minutes. We’ve included a few timeline covers that we played with and were able to create in minutes.

And because we believe in self-expression, while also simultaneously supporting the idea that there are some thoughts a woman should keep to herself, BohoMamma is gifting a  Note to Self Journal from Suitor to three BohoMamma Fan Timeline Cover Creators. Just post a note on our wall telling us yours is up. The only rule is your Timeline Cover must represent something about you to the world and you must notify us of your new Timeline Cover by Midnight on Friday, April 13th via a note on BohoMamma’s Facebook Page. We’ll announce the winners on April 14, 2012.

Cover Canvas offers a few templates from which you can choose to utilize photographs in your photo albums. If you’re not satisfied with the photographs placed within the frame, click “Remix” and a new group of photographs will appear. (You may have to hit “remix” several times to get the grouping you prefer. If you would like to add a few fashion, lifestyle or other shots not already in your photo album, search free stock photography sites, such as Stock.Xchng and upload a few of your favorite photographs before you create your Timeline Cover.

Cover Junction does allow a user to personalize their Timeline Cover, but it also has a slew of pre-formatted images for your use in myriad categories. We’ve included a few that caught our eye below.

Cover Photo Magic is another app that allows a user to utilize photographs in their Facebook albums to create a Timeline Cover. There are several templates…some of which are fun; others of which are creatively interesting in terms of showcasing a few of your favorite photographs; and, still others that should not be used on anyone’s timeline under the age of 14.

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