Website Improvements Begin — Starting at the Top

Amanda
May 23
3 min read

Starting at the top — small changes to my website header that make a big impact, with a handmade touch behind every decision

Welcome back to the Creative Muse Handmade journal! In this post, I’m diving into the very first round of updates I made to my website—with the help of ChatGPT and a fresh perspective. I decided to begin right where every visitor does: the top of the page.

What I didn’t change

I’m still completely happy with my branding—so the colours, fonts, and logo remain the same.

🎨 My Branding Palette

These colours still spark joy and reflect the calm, handmade vibe I want for Creative Muse Handmade:

Fonts include Tan Whistling, Lato Light, and I Heart It — they balance a touch of whimsy with clean readability, which feels very “me.”

I also kept the cart icon in its original spot at the top right corner of the page—it’s familiar and functional.

What I did change

Pretty much everything else in the The Header & Navigation section.

✅ Shop Announcement Bar

Old version: Generic and a little forgettable.

New version:

“Enjoy free Australia-wide shipping on orders over $100 — with a little thank-you gift from us to you in every order!”

Why this change works:

Increases perceived value: Everyone loves a freebie.
Encourages conversions: That little extra gift might be the nudge someone needs.
Enhances loyalty: It adds a thoughtful, handmade touch.
Cross-promotion: I can include samples of other items, subtly promoting more of my products.

✅ Main Menu Revamp

Updated structure:

Why it’s an improvement:

Customer-focused: Clear, product-driven categories make shopping easier.
Flexible for growth: Easy to expand as I add more lines.
Sale section: Always an eye-catcher!
Journal instead of Blog: “Journal” feels more curated and lifestyle-oriented—perfect for a handmade brand.

✅ Login & Search Adjustments

Login: I removed the word "Log in" and kept just the avatar icon. Cleaner and more modern.
Search bar: Moved it up into the top announcement bar, making it easier to find and freeing up space in the main header.

✅ Social Icons Placement

Originally, my social media icons were crammed off to the far right—easy to miss. I moved them to the footer, which made sense for a few reasons:

Keeps the header clean and brand-focused
Visitors who scroll down are usually looking for more
Footer placement is common and expected
It suits the slower, storytelling nature of my handmade brand

✅ Sticky Header & Streamlined Design

I turned the top section (announcement, logo, and menu) into a sticky header—so it stays visible as you scroll—and reduced its overall width to declutter the view.

Here’s a look at the before and after of my website header. The changes might seem subtle at first glance, but they’ve made a big difference in how clean, cohesive, and user-friendly the site feels.Let me know what you think—I’m always curious to hear how others experience the changes!

Original header — a little cluttered, with less emphasis on user experience.

Updated header — cleaner layout, sticky navigation, and a more streamlined, user-friendly design.

Time Investment

This round of changes took me around 60–90 minutes—not bad for a first improvement sprint, and already making a noticeable difference in how the site feels and functions.

That’s it for this update! In my next post, I’ll tackle some changes to the homepage layout itself—focusing on first impressions, product visibility, and that all-important “why should I stay here?” factor.

Thanks for coming along for the ride—see you soon for the next step!