A customised date box can really make a difference in your blog's design.

WordPress has an easy way to make it add the date of your post automatically.

This is how I do it...

The image below is my example, you can use it or you can design your own.

First we'll start with some HTML:

For now I've put in the date myself, I'll show you how to automate it later.

Now let's add some CSS3 magic.

.datebox {

        width: 80px;

        height: 80px;

        background: #ff3300;

        -webkit-border-radius: 6px;

        -moz-border-radius: 6px;

        border-radius: 6px;

    }

.datebox .month {

        padding: 4px;

        color: #fff;

        font-weight: 700;

        text-transform: uppercase;

        text-align: center;

    }

.datebox .day {

        margin: 0 10px;

        padding: 5px;

        background: #fff;

        font-size: 24px;

        font-weight: 700;

        text-align: center;

        -webkit-border-radius: 4px;

        -moz-border-radius: 4px;

        border-radius: 4px;

    }

The design is ready, now let's add the PHP and let WordPress do it's thing.

Voilà.

Now try it out yourself, take a look at the WordPress Codex for more information about the date formats. There are many ways to show them, so be creative.

You can add it to any template where you want to show posts, for example single.php or a category. And one more thing, don't forget to put it in the loop!

It's something simple, but it can give a nice extra touch to your design.

Good luck!