Using Scrapbook Paper As Your Header Background

I love scrapbook paper, it's not quite an addiction because it's actually a hobby of mine to scrapbook and make greeting cards but I do have a tendency to buy in bulk. I ran into this very pretty paper that Big Lots carries in my City. It was so pretty that I decided to make it my background for my blog title.

I was tired of using the free banners that are out there, only to be cut later by the owner and then I was left with nothing.  I also didn't want to pay anyone to do this for me as I figured, I should be capable of doing it myself.  So I decided to create my own look using my own resources so that I wouldn't have that problem.

Today I'm going to show you how I did it so you can try too.  I should note that this is how I did it and the software I used made it very easy.  I'm sure there's other software out there that can be used but I can only comment on the software I used.  I am not a programming expert, I barely know how to turn on my computer so if you run into trouble, I may not be able to help you.....you're on your own....sorry! but if you are willing to try, then read along. 

TIP: I actually have a second blog that is a tester and I test EVERYTHING there before doing it on this one.


The first thing you want to do is download your template onto your hard drive and save it.  You can do this by going to your settings, click on basic, and click on export blog, then click on the orange button to download blog.  Write down the file name, it will probably name it something like, blog 08 03 2010 or it will give you a file number.  It will probably save it in your downloads folder.  Make sure you know where it is before, proceeding, in case you change your mind and you want to upload it later.  

Okay, now we're ready to play.  Scan your paper in your scanner and save it in a folder on your desktop, we'll name it:    Blog Title Background.

Open your Blog Title Background file on any photo editing software you have and crop it.  It may take you a few times cropping the paper until you get it to the size you want it to show on your blog.  Mine was actually  cropped quite a bit.  As you can see on this picture, which in real life is 5" by 8 1/2 piece of paper, and below is a cropped final picture.

 

got cropped to this:
I left the width untouched but I cropped the top part 

 Next, save this as a picture using your photo editing software, I used Adobe Photoshop.  Just click File, then click on Save For Web. This will decrease the pixels so that it doesn't take long to load on the page.  

Next, log onto your blog and click on Dashboard, Design, click on your header gadget Edit.

Where it says Image, click on upload image.  Find your saved image and upload.

Under Placement, click on Behind Title and Description and click on Shrink to Fit.

Click save and check your blog to make sure it looks the size you want it.  It it's too big, or too small, go back and do it all over again.  I did have to change and play around with the width of my blog so that the banner would expand from one side of the blog (left) to the other (right).  If you need to change the size of your blog so the banner would expand, go to Design, Template Designer, Layout, adjust width entire blog.  Move the button to the right or left to make the adjustment.  Then upload the picture onto your Header Edit gadget once again until it looks just how you want it.

That's it!

If you are brave enough to do it on your own, good luck.  Remember, you can always upload your blog template back if you are not happy.  To do this, click on Settings, Basic, Import Blog.

I will do a post on how to create a button using the same scrapbook paper so that it matches.  But that part is very difficult, so I will need to take my time posting all the steps.  I will also share some links on how to do the "Follow Button" html code roll.  The code inside the square that everyone can copy and paste and post on their blog.