Design your own blog

These are the instructions to making your own background for your blog. These seem a bit intense but once you start doing it, it all makes sense. However, if it doesn't, I am here to help. Once you have this format down, we will work on recognizing the html code so you can change up the blog layout and not just the background.

Changing your blog.

To change your blog you want to first find paper that you like. I like places like www.shabbyprincess.com, www.heatheranndesigns.com, www.sweetshoppedesigns.com and others. There are many that provide free kits to download which is amazing. So look for freebies. Then once you find and download the paper you like, save the ones you want to use in an online photo saving program. I prefer photobucket.com but you can use whatever you like.

Then once the papers are saved copy the DIRECT LINK for that paper. Go to layout/html in your blogger dashboard. I have bolded and highlighted where you are to insert the different pages. The first one is for the main background page, the next is for the header outline and the last is for the center page where you write. Once those are in you can click preview to make sure you like it. Before you save you NEED to go to the category HEADER. Under this category, right below the spot where you put the direct link code for the paper, you will see width and a number, probably 765 px. You HAVE to change that to 720 px and then click save.

To make a header you will need photoshop, elements, scrapbook deluxe or some other program like this to make it. Make the paper size a 12x5 and the creativity is up to you. Once your header is done, save it as a JPEG. Then go into layout/page elements in your blogger dashboard and click edit on the right hand side of the header location. You will upload the new header from your computer. Be sure that the use instead of box is clicked and the shrink to fit. Then save.

After that go back into your HTML code location and change that number you just changed to 720 back to 765 and save. This will make it fit perfectly. The reason you are switching it the first time and then again and you must do it every time, is because if you don’t it will just get bigger and bigger and you don’t want that.

From here you can go to layout/fonts and colors and switch up the colors to your liking and save.

Now you’re all set. And as always, shoot me an email or comment on my blog if you have any questions.

******The code below is just so you know where to put it, do not copy this and paste it, you already have the code so it’s not necessary. Just use this as a reference in doing yours and paste the direct links in your current html and not this one****

body { background:$bgcolor; background-image:url(INSERT DESIRED BLOG MAIN BACKGROUND HERE, USING THE DIRECT LINK CODE FROM PHOTOBUCKET OR OTHER PHOTO SERVER);background-repeat:repeat-xy; margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: left; } a:link { color:$linkcolor; text-decoration:none; } a:visited { color:$visitedlinkcolor; text-decoration:none; } a:hover { color:$titlecolor; text-decoration:underline; } a img { border-width:0; } /* Header ----------------------------------------------- */ #header-wrapper { background-image:url(INSERT THE DIRECT LINK CODE FOR THE DESIRED PAPER THAT GOES IN THE HEADER OUTLINE);background-repeat:repeat-xy; width:765px; margin:0 auto 20px; border:1px solid $bordercolor; } #header-inner { background-position: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } #header { background-image:url();background-repeat:repeat-xy; margin: 25px; border: 1px solid $bordercolor; text-align: center; color:$pagetitlecolor; } #header h1 { margin:5px 5px 0; padding:15px 20px .25em; line-height:1.2em; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; font: $pagetitlefont; } #header a { color:$pagetitlecolor; text-decoration:none; } #header a:hover { color:$pagetitlecolor; } #header .description { margin:0 5px 5px; padding:0 20px 15px; max-width:700px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; line-height: 1.4em; font: $descriptionfont; color: $descriptioncolor; } #header img { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } /* Outer-Wrapper ----------------------------------------------- */ #outer-wrapper { background-image:url(INSERT THE DIRECT LINK CODE FOR THE DESIRED PAPER THAT WILL BE WHERE YOU TYPE HERE);background-repeat:repeat-xy; width: 60%; padding:2.5% 5%; margin-left:15%; margin-right:25% text-align:left; font: $bodyfont; }

Long time no post

I promise I haven't forgotten about this site. It's been busy with the holidays and we are doing some house renovations and I'm going on vacation next week, so I have been a major slacker. I promise I have some great stuff coming, like how to customize your blog! So check back this week, there will be some new stuff. I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Liquify

Now that we have ribbon making down, a great technique to learn is how to make it look more realistic when you add an embelishment to your ribbon. Like pinching the ribbon or making it look like it's hanging down.

First open your ribbon, then open a new file that is 12x4. You'll want to drag your ribbon onto that new page. This is so we have space to work with our ribbon.


Now go to filter/distort/liquify. Depending on how much kinking/bending you want to do, you'll want to choose a different brush size. I chose a large brush 430 because I wanted a smooth bend in my ribbon. Play around with it and see what it does. If you don't like it, simply click revert and it will undo all the changes. Once you're happy with it, click ok.

There you have it, a realistic bend in your ribbon. Just add your charm and your set.
Next time, we'll learn how to make it so the charm and other items such as paperclips appear to be partly behind paper/ribbon/images and the rest not, the realistic look.

handwashing

This is kind of a silly tip, but kind of not. I am obsessed with washing my hands. I am a huge germaphobe, trying to recover OCD maniac. Well, a great tip I just heard from a Dr. -- the perfect amount of time for a person to wash their hands, keeping our little kidlets in mind, is the same amount of time it takes to sing the ABC's or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. What a great idea.

On a similar note, when we started brushing my daughter's teeth she would fight it, she hated it so we decided to sing the ABC's and she loves it and has not faught getting her teeth brushed since. So, it sounds like the ABC's are a trick for several things.

Scentsy

I recently became a Scentsy consultant. If you haven't heard of Scentsy it's this amazing home fragrance system. Scentsy candles are a wickless, smokeless, and leadless candle system. There are over 80 wonderful scents to choose from. There is a scent for everyone and a warmer for all tastes. Right now, I am having a special, if you book a party with me (the parties are in home and online, so if you're not in the Albany, NY area by me, it's ok, you can do it on your own in your house or online only--or both and still receive the benefits) you will receive one free plug-in warmer of your choice for free. Let me know if you're interested and check out my site.

Scentsy

Christmas gift idea

Can you believe that right now at More Than Words Design, these are only $10??!!! Fabulous price and fabulous gift. You get to choose a charger color (red, silver or gold) and tell More Than Words Design the last name you want on it! If it is being shipped out of state (they are based in Georgia) there is a $5 flat shipping charge no matter how many you order!!! Just email Kerri at kerri@morethanwordsdesign.com and place your order. Check out their website www.morethanwordsdesign.com for other great deals but to order these be sure to email them so you can get the special price.

Two in one day :)

That's right, two posts in one day. I feel it's fitting since I haven't been around for at least a week. As all of us are I'm sure, I've been super busy with the holidays and then I'm doing a craft fair on Friday and two Scentsy parties this weekend, phew, busy but all of it's fun. But, I have some great stuff to add so why not do two in one day.

This one actually comes from my good friend, Amanda. Unfortunately for her, but fortunately for us, her youngest daughter got her cute little hands on a permanent marker and decided to display her artistic abilities on the counter and linoleum floor. That can't be a pretty sight to see!

So off my friend went to find help. She used Mr. Clean on the counters but, as I too learned from personal experience, Mr. Clean does not work at all on linoleum floors. I'm not sure why, but I too have scrubbed my floor with it to get a grape juice stain out and it didn't work, just like she didn't get the marker out. However, the good new is, toothpaste and baking soda remove permanent marker. Amanda said you can't even tell there was marker on the floor. Hopefully you won't have to test this one out, but rest assured if you do, there's a way to get it out. Thanks Amanda!!!!!

**All tips are much appreciated, email me at j4atkinson@gmail.com.**