Beginner Bloggers....

Ok, it was fun to hear everyone's comments! I loved hearing about your blog interests! Thanks! I'm excited to share blog stuff!

So without further ado, let's begin our Beginner Blogger Tutorial. :)

Adding Custom Background to Blogspot.(Typepad users, I'm finding out more info on this, hang tight!)

1. Download this blog template fReebie: Enjoy the pRocess.
(first 100 downloads, then it's gone!)2. You’ll need to host this on Photobucket. So, create an account, if you don’t already have one, & go to your Image Gallery.



Notice the above red star: Make sure the ‘Reduce to’ says ‘1 megabyte file size’. In order for your background to span your screen width, this MUST be selected. (IF you have problems with the size of your 1MB background, you may want to try uploading it as a 2MB background. It may help in the screen viewing.)

3. Click: Choose Files & upload your RF_EnjoythepRocessfReebie.jpg blog template.
When your blog template is loaded, it will appear as an image in your account.
Click on the box & copy the Direct Link.4. Now, you’ll apply this to your blog, so log into your blog.

5. Go to: CUSTOMIZE>LAYOUT>PICK A NEW TEMPLATE & choose a ‘Minima Template’.6. Go to: EDIT HTML. Inside your box, you’ll see a bunch of jibberish. *unless you know HTML code! LOL! To they laymen, like myself, it’s jibberish. But, it’s what we need to know to change our blog background.**

so.....Scroll down until you see:



body {
background:$bgcolor;
margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: center;




and simply cut & paste this:





body {

background:$bgcolor;background-image:url(your direct link you just copied);background-position: center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;

margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: center;



Look closely at the section in between the parentheses; this is where you paste your Photobucket Image Direct Link....INSIDE those parentheses.

7. Save your new blog fashion and & view your blog. If you have any problems, just go back into your HTML code & make sure it’s got the link, etc. **I accidentally left out one of the parenthesis & it jacked it all up! So, be careful!*

Let me know how this goes!!! I can't wait to see your new blogs! It sounded like most people knew how to add their own headers/banners. But, if you need help on that, LMK!
have a fab day * enjoy the pRocess!
R

**eta Q & A:
LynetteB asked:
Should we cut out the original "body{, then paste in the script posted here or add it to the original. It's not repeating itself the length of the blog.

Great question! Yes, paste all of the RED up above into your HTML code. Just make sure your DIRECT LINK CODE is inside those parentheses. Make sense? HTH, Tove...don't give up! You can do it! Email me or post your exact questions here, & we'll work on it together until you have it! good luck, guys!

Chris said:
...it worked perfectly except that it isn't wide enough. I assume I would need to widen it in Photobucket but that requires pro($).

This is one thing that totally depends on what size of screen you are looking on. My laptop cuts a lot of the template off since it's smaller. (i.e. the blog template I have no now only shows part of the photo! )
On my desktop, it isn't wide enough, as you said, Chris...so that is why I have chosen a white background color in my blogger account. When it doesn't stretch across the width of your screen you can just apply a coordinating or contrasting color as your background. i.e. with the Enjoy the pRocess template, you could choose a black & it would coordinate! And, then you wouldn't have to pitch in the $$ to make it work!
hth!