How do I make my blog?

Started a blog on Blogger.com. I see others blogs whose are nice and decorative but when I change my background I'm stuck with whatever the middle part of my original template is so it's pointless to change. Give me ANY pointers to help me PLEASE!! I'm new to all of this and already not liking it. Also, I search many friends in the search engine just typing their name plus blog, I try it and nothing for me...how do I get that to work so that family and friends can just type our names in and it brings up our blog like it does for others....aaahh this is all frustrating!