Monday, February 7, 2011

How to Make a Cute Header in Blogger


I really like to blog.  As long as I can remember, I have been pretty avid about documenting my life through diaries and pictures.  So naturally, writing on a blog and posting pictures just made sense!  However, when I first started blogging, I remember feeling very overwhelmed with how it all worked and being highly frustrated that my blog looked so blah. 

I've said it before, but I truly am not a "techy person" at all (that would be my sister, the computer programmer).  Largely, I am a self-taught blogger, thanks to the "all-knowing" internet (joke).  But I also have to give credit to my lifelong friend, Lindsey, who answered all my questions as I tried to get this thing up and running.   Honestly, I might had given up if she hadn't taken the time to explain a few things to me.  Thanks a bunch, "Soul Sister!"

So now it's time to pass it on.  I hope this post helps some of you who are wanting to make a new header for your blog.  I am sure there are much more professional ways of doing it, and in fact, you can actually pay someone to design your blog for you.  But for most people, myself included, that's not really an option.  So here are some ways you can create a cute blog header yourself!

One way of creating a header for your blog, is to go to www.scrapblog.com (I'm sure there are other sites like this one) and create a header that you like.  It's basically an online scrapbook page.  You can use one of their templates or, if you are super creative, you can design it from scratch (but mine always look like poo, so I just stick to the templates).  When you've got your image looking like you want it, go to "File" and hit "Export as JPG."  After that, you will need to save it to your computer.   Then, go back to your blog, click "Design," "Page Elements," and upload your picture in the "Header" box.  Be sure to click the "instead of title and description" option.  Also, you may have to hit "shrink to fit" if it asks (I can't remember for sure).  

Here is an old header that I created using this method.  Literally, all I did was insert a picture into a template on Scrapblog, typed in our name, and that was it!

The other way I know how to do a header is to use a photo editing program such as Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) or Picasa (which is free!!).  Basically, the process is the same as above, only you have different options in terms of "scrapbooking" your page to save as the header.  So when your image looks like you want it to, save it to your computer, and again, upload it to your blog under the "Design" tab.  

To make my current header, which looks like this (in case I decide to change it) . . .
I took the pics myself, edited them on Photoshop Elements, and then used Picasa to make the collage and add the turquoise text.  Originally, it looked like this . . .

but Greg didn't like "family" because it inferred that we had kids.  And we don't.  So "Est. 2007" it was!  It was a quick and easy fix to change the text using Picasa.  I just re-saved the image with the new text and uploaded it to our blog.  

If you are new to Picasa (which I am), you will definitely find this article helpful on how to make a collage in Picasa.  You can use Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) to do the same, but Picasa is wonderful and free.  And - I - Like - Free.

For all of you non-computer people like me, just know that making a header is easier than it sounds!!  I promise . . . you can do it!  

I'm sure that there are many other ways to create cute headers, but these are just a couple of the ways that I have tried.  

I really hope this has helped somebody out there.  Let me know if it you learned something or if you have anymore questions.  I may or may not be able to answer them :)

Happy Designing!


6 comments:

  1. Such a helpful post. I really need to change my blog header but am scared!

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  2. Thanks for the info! I made my header at Picnik, but I don't like it. I need a cute one! :-)

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  3. Thanks for the shout out!! I've been loving your header! It's awesome!! Anything to help out my soul sister!!

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  4. Your header is so cool! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. This is such a great idea! :-) I love your blog!!! Thanks for the tips, I'm going to have to try this!

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  6. Photoshop and Picasa are "the bomb". Does anyone say that any more? Well, I just did. ;)

    I am a self-taught techie, too, (though I'm married to the ultimate techie). I even designed my own website (from scratch) for my boutique. Complete labor of love. First one took four months and it's been revised since.

    I'm really loving your blog so far! It's my first day here. [Picture me. Smiling.]

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