Category Archives: DIYs

Here's a post for all of you out there wanting and wishing you could do your own blog design but don't have Photoshop. Well GREAT NEWS. There just so happens to be a free little service called Pixlr. Rejoice! Rejoice sweet bloggers everywhere! (PS..if this is old news to you I'm sorry! I just thought it was pretty cool.)

Pixlr is preeeeety darn close to Photoshop as far as layout. You can create layered images, which allows you to design to your heart's content.

I'll walk you through how to create your very own blog header using a bunch of the free clipart you can snag on my blog.

1. Go to pixlr and choose pixlr editor.

2. Because we're going to work on a blog header, we're going to choose "Create a new image" so we can use layers and all that jazz.

3. Choose the size of your blog header.

4. You'll now have a shiny new canvas. First we'll add some clipart images.

Go to Layer > Open Image as Layer and then find whatever image you want to use in your header.

5. Voila! Your image is now ready to be worked with however you see fit. You can move your images using the move tool, which is the second tool on the top row. You have to have that tool selected to move ANYTHING on your canvas.

6. While I can't go into every tool in detail, here's one that might come in handy--Free Transform. If you want to make your arrow smaller or larger or rotate it at all, go to Edit > Free Transform.

That allows you to scale the image, rotate it, whatever. Press enter to save the changes.

7. Now you can add more images if you'd like. But if you've never worked with Photoshop before, layers might be confusing. Everything you place on your canvas makes its very own layer, and you can see what's what over on the layers palette.

Any time you want to move something, you have to make sure the correct layer is highlighted. You can (and should!) name all of your layers so that you can keep track of what's what.

8. Now we'll add some text to our very simple blog header. Choose the text tool at the bottom of the toolbox.

9. Before you can add text, though, you have to create a new layer. Just go to Layer > New Layer. Then type away! You can choose the font/size/color all from that toolbox.

But herein lies the downfall of Pixlr. The text capabilities kind of suck. The fonts are limited, and you can't even edit the alignment of your text. There are ways around this, though! For example, if you wanted to center align your text, you'd just have to space it how you want to see it in that white box from the text tool. Make sense? I know...NOT ideal, but better than nothing, right?

Another thing to note is that when you're choosing colors for your text, you can roll over your existing images and a little eyedropper tool will appear. This allows you to select a color for your text directly out of your images so it will match perfectly!

10. Now let's say you want to add a background to your header. Just repeat step 4 and choose what you'd like as a background image! (You could also make it a solid color with the paint bucket or gradient tool.)

I added this linen texture as my background, but the new layer I made is on top of the other layers.

But it's a simple fix. Just go to your layers palette and drag your background layer below your other layers.

11. Now that's fixed, but the mint I originally chose for my text doesn't jive well with the texture. To edit your existing text, select the text tool again and click on your text to open that text dialog box back up! Then you can edit your text however you see fit.

12. Lastly, if you decide your header is too big, you can simply crop it using the crop tool located to the left of the move tool.

13. Once you have your header just how you want it, you can save that baby and upload to your blog template! Woop!

So, there's your EXTREMELY basic rundown of Pixlr and how you can use it to create images for your blog! The most important things to remember are as follows:

• Any time you want to move something, you have to have the move tool selected.
• You also have to highlight the correct layer of what you're trying to move!
• Be sure to poke around at the menu on the top of the screen to look for ways to manipulate your images. And don't be afraid to experiment with all the tools!
• You can use Pixlr to edit images as well! Play around in the Adjustment and Filter menus to see all the capabilities.

I know this was insanely basic, but I'm willing to bet you're a total smarty pants and can get the hang of it after poking around in there for just a little while. It's a strange workflow at first, but you'll get it!! Do some experimenting and let me know if you have any questions.

Happy designing!

PS--if you want some free clipart to get started, check out everything I've got for you right hurr and it's all free!