Thematic Category Styling Example

functions.php

// changes the "Page Title" on Categories to Blog
function childtheme_page_title($content) {
    if ( is_category('') ) {
 // if ( is_category('aciform') ) { // if you want to target a specific category, target it by name 'aciform'
        $content = '<h1 class="page-title">';
  //    $content .= ' <span>' . single_cat_title('', FALSE) .'</span>'; // calls the actual category name, if you need it for something
        $content .= ' <span>Blog</span>';
        $content .= '</h1>' . "\n";
    }
    return $content;
}
add_filter('thematic_page_title', 'childtheme_page_title');



// this totally works and is good
function no_postmeta_for_cat_templates($postmeta) {
  if( is_category() ) {
    $postmeta='';
  }
  return $postmeta;
}
add_filter('thematic_postheader_postmeta', 'no_postmeta_for_cat_templates');



// this totally works and is good
function no_postfooter_for_cat_templates($postfooter) {
  if( is_category() ) {
    $postfooter='';
  }
  return $postfooter;
}
add_filter('thematic_postfooter', 'no_postfooter_for_cat_templates');



// modify the post thumbnail size though a filter, instead of a override (cleaner)
function childtheme_post_thumb_size($size) {
    $size = array(480,325);
    return $size;
}
add_filter('thematic_post_thumb_size', 'childtheme_post_thumb_size');



// readmore link
// add read more on categories to match wp read more, this also adds it in a second paragraph
// so they can recieve different styles
function new_excerpt_more( $more ) {
    return '... </p><p><a class="more-link" href="' . get_permalink() . '">Read More</a>';
}
add_filter('excerpt_more', 'new_excerpt_more');

style.css

/* If you need a top border, use the header for a bottom border (or background image)
/* .category .page-title {
    margin-bottom: 4em;
    padding-bottom: 1em;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;
} */
.category .hentry {
    clear:both;
    padding-bottom: 2em;
    margin-bottom: 2em;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;
}
.category .hentry:before, .category .hentry:after {
  content: " ";
  display: table;
}

.category .hentry:before, .category .hentry:after {
  clear: both;
}
.category .entry-header {
    display: table;
    float: right;
    width: 45%;
    margin-top: 1em; /* use this margin to push down to create a fake vertical centering */
    margin-left: 5%;
    margin-bottom: 1em;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;
}
.category .entry-thumb {
    float: left;
    width: 50%;
}
.category .entry-thumb img {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}
.category .entry-content p {
    display: table;
    float: right;
    width: 45%;
    clear: right;
    margin-left: 5%;
    padding-bottom: 1em;
    border-bottom: 1px solid #000;
}
.category .entry-content p:nth-of-type(2) {
    border-bottom: none;
}
.category .entry-content .wp-post-image {
    float: left;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}