How I Do the Things I Do

So the other day I got this question on this post:

"How do you find how to make these things Laura?"

I'm not sure to what this question was referring to (i.e. the scrapbook page, the header, or the background, etc) so I decided to make a post about the tips and tricks that I have found to customize my blog. I'm going to TELL ALL!

WARNING SUPER LONG POST BELOW! 

MAY TAKE DAYS TO READ!

Digital Scrapbooking:

For my favorite memorable moments I like to digitally scrapbook them. Either I scan in my own scrapbooking materials or I google "free digital scrapbooking." Usually I just search online for free materials and just save them to my computer. Kevin and Amanda probably have the cutest. I then take these materials and open them in GIMP which is a free version of Photoshop (some day I'll have Photoshop, when I can afford it). I then use LAYERS and construct the scrapbook page that I want. I'm afraid that most of the digital scrapbook materials that I use, I downloaded so long ago that I don't remember where they are all from.

Note that this Thanksgiving scrapbook page is not complete. I still need to add something behind the words "Happy Thanksgiving" so that you can read them. I am also going to put in a picture as well as finish down below putting in "Give Thanks" in the gold metal letters.

Premade Scrapbooking:


If I have lots of pictures that I don't want to make scrapbook pages for them all, I like to use SmileBox. They have cute premade layouts and you just have to put your pictures in.

Cute Fonts:

Cute fonts can be hard to find, that is if it wasn't for Amanda. She has the best fonts. Just go to http://www.kevinandamanda.com/ and download whatever fonts you like. Also you can change the font for the titles on your blog, add a personalized signature and more by using Amanda's tutorials. For the changing of the font for the post titles you do have to set up a website with www.webs.com, it is free but very complex. However once it's set up, it's very easy to change the font if you change your mind.


Tabs:


I did have some tabs up for awhile, but I wasn't quite sure about them. If you want your own tabs, create the images, save as PNG then import into Photobucket. Then go to Layout, click add a gadget then click on HTML.


Here is the HTML:



<div id="newnavbar">
<ul>
<a href="the first website that you want the first to go to"><img src="direct link of the first tab image"/></a>
<a href="second website"><img src="direct link of second tab image"/></a>
<a href="third website"><img src="direct link of second tab image"/></a>
</ul></div>


Grab the direct links of each image that you uploaded into Photobucket and insert into this HTML code where it is green. Then put in the links to the websites that you want the tabs to go to where the code is red. You can have as little or as many tabs as you want just take away or repeat the code as much as you want.

For something easier, go to posting in blogger, click on edit pages and create all the pages that you want. I'm thinking about using this new feature, I just haven't decided what I want on the pages.

Signature:


For my signature I have a photobucket account that I upload my creations to and then edit my blog's html by putting in photobucket's direct link for my pictures. For best results save your creation with a PNG extension not JPEG. You can go to http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/tutorials/add-a-signature-to-every-blog-post-on-your-bloggerblogspot-blog.html or http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/blog-secrets/140-how-to-add-a-signature-to-your-blog-posts-updated.html for step by step instructions.

UPDATE:

An easy way to add your signature is to go to settings, formatting, scroll down to post template and enter this code into the box:

<p><image class="centered"alt="post signature" src="SIGNATURE URL" /></p>

Change the red text to the direct link of your signature image. Note: this will add the signature to all future posts, but will not add it to past posts.

Post Divider:

I will try to explain this the best I can. Create the divider that you want between each post of your blog in Photoshop/GIMP on a transparent background, not white and save it as PNG not JPEG. Then upload the image into Photobucket and copy the direct link. Go to your blog and click on layout then edit html. Click expand widgets. Now hopefully your html is similar to mine. Look for this:



.post-footer {
  margin: .75em 0;
  color:$sidebarcolor;
  text-transform:uppercase;
  letter-spacing:.1em;
  font: $postfooterfont;
  line-height: 1.4em;
}

.comment-link {
  margin-$startSide:.6em;
  }

.post {
background: url(your image's direct link);
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-position: bottom center;
margin:.5em 0 1.5em;
border-bottom:0px dotted $bordercolor;
padding-bottom:5.0em;
}
.post img {
  padding:4px;
  border:1px solid $bordercolor;
  }

Then put in the direct link where the code is red. For a better explanation head over to Shabby Blogs. You can also find post dividers on Cutest Blog on the Block or Shabby Blogs if you don't want to make your own.

UPDATE:

With blogger updating its templates, to add my post dividers I just went to design, went to template designer, clicked advance and then went to add CSS. There I posted this code and then replaced the red with the direct link to my post divider image that is uploaded on Photobucket.

.post {

background: url(your image's direct link);

background-repeat: no-repeat;

background-position: bottom center;

margin:.5em 0 1.5em;

border-bottom:0px dotted $bordercolor;

padding-bottom:5.5em;

}

Blog Header:

The header is like creating a scrapbook page. The easiest way is to head to the Cutest Blog on the Block. Click on free banners and pick what you want. Right click and save the image. Then upload it on your blog's layout page under header. If you want to edit it or personalize it, then open the image in Photoshop or in my case GIMP and edit it under there. Remember to use LAYERS because they are your BEST FRIENDS and they make editing so much easier! If you want to completely make your own header then open Photoshop or GIMP or paint.net or whatever you use. Open up whatever materials you want to use and design your own header/banner. If you do design your own, sometimes it might be too big so try clicking the box that tells your blog to limit your header to 760 pixels when you are uploading your header into blogger. 

The Cutest Blog on the Block has many tricks and tips so check them out here: http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/blog-secrets.html.

Collages:


You can make your own collages in Photoshop or GIMP, but one easy simple program that I like to use is Google's Picasa. Picasa is great for someone that doesn't want to read a manual on Photoshop aka they just want something that is a basic program with simple, easy to use features. Sometimes I begin with Picasa and then export and add more in GIMP.

One main problem I have had with Picasa is that the order that you drop the images on the collage determines what picture will be on top. This can be frustrating for me if later I decide I would like the picture on the bottom to be on the top. Another problem is if you do a preset collage you can't move the pictures to where you want them, instead you have to click scramble until you are somewhat satisfied.

Backgrounds:


For the longest time I avoided doing my own backgrounds. I thought it wouldn't be worth the hassle and it would take too much time. Well it certainly did take a lot of time when I finally decided to make my own. I was up all night.

I followed the Cutest Blog on the Block's secret to make my own background. Again you need a photobucket account. Do make sure that you are importing the picture at 1 megapixel. Also I found it best to squish my side decor in the middle otherwise you can't see them all. One other change I made was to increase center part of the background because I have expanded the width of my columns on my blog.

So there is all of it.

Lying out in the open.

I have no more secrets left.

I feel exhausted.

Hopefully this isn't too confusing or overwhelming and that it is useful even to the more experienced bloggers.

I will say that I hope with all my practice that I am becoming a better digital scrapbooker and blog "designer." Also I will say that yes, sometimes this stuff will take me hours or even days. Luckily since it has become a hobby of mine, that I do enjoy designing or scrapbooking these creations and I am proud when I finish something and get the chance to display it on my blog.