How to make advertising buttons for blogs

I've been asked a few times how to make advertising buttons for blogs. And while I'm no computer expert, the following is the simplest way that I have found to do it, so I thought I would share. I use picmonkey.com, a free online photo editing program, to turn a photo like the one above into an advertising image like the one below. I also use picmonkey to make my blog headers and some of my image mosaics. 

This image is 170 x 170 pixels

To start, open picmonkey and click Edit an image. A pop up window will allow you to select an image from your computer. Using the editing tools in the left side bar (see image below) you can now change the contrast, add filters and play with your image. Then, to make the image smaller and square like the example above, select Crop and change the numbers in the box so that they are both the same - we want a square image - it doesn't matter at this point what the numbers are. I used 2243. Then click on Scale photo. This way the image window will stay square and you can adjust how big or small you want the square crop to be. When you are happy click Apply. If you change your mind you can always go back with the curved arrow keys above the image.

To resize the image, simply go to Resize and type in 170 in each box.

Then, to add text, click on the P on the furtherst left of the screen and choose your font. You can change the size, colour, transparency etc of the font with the Text box on the right and the white guidelines around the text itself. 

When you are happy save your work and you are done! Simple, yes?

Once you have your image, to add it to the side bar on your blog, log into your blogger dashboard and from there go to layout. Click Add a gadget, select Image, un-check Shrink to fit, choose the image file from the computer, copy and paste the link you want the image to link to and then save it. Then move it in to position  on your layout, save arrangement and ta-dah, it's done. 

I hope that all makes sense! Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

Do you use a different method? Is it easier, or does it have more options? Feel free to share in the comments.

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PS. And to make a screen shot on your laptop like I have done above, press Ctrl and PrntScr at the same time, open a Paint document and click Paste, then Save. To edit out the screen tab bars at the top and bottom of the screen shots (you'll see what I mean if you make a screen shot) I cropped the images in picmonkey. :)

This and that

1. When the pain killers are working and my hands are idle I have been joining in Alexandra Mackenzie's Crochet-Along on Facebook. I am making these round cushions for Emerson and Cohen for Easter. (You can buy the pattern here.) These, and an egg hunt for the little man will do nicely I think. Do you give gifts at Easter?

2. Dahlia's from the garden adding cheer to our bedroom. I hardly believe I grew them myself. My thumb gets greener the older I get. The vase is thrifted Royal Doulton. 

3. Gifted early, because I couldn't wait, my sister's Easter present. A Mikodesign DIY Freida kit. How wonderful is this?! I saw it on Maya Made and knew Fiona would love it. As usual I was tempted to keep it myself when it arrived in the mail...

4. Emerson's first pair of shoes also arrived in the mail this week. They were brought with money she was given for her first birthday. I hope these little shoes will be eventually wrapped in tissue paper, along with her baby dresses and knits, and kept until it is time to pass them on to her again. I am a sentimental Mama, aren't I?

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Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Mama's might be interested in joining in the Peach Tree Coastal Trek to raise awareness about perinatal mental illness, and help fund the free, weekly parent meetings Peach Tree hold at Warner, Caboolture and Stafford. I'm not fit and able at the moment, but if you go I would love to hear about it! Thanks to Gin for letting me know.

10/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen: They went quiet, so I went to investigate. 

Emerson: She is standing unsupported for longer and longer now.

It's been a week of quiet here. A week of bed rest. A schedule of pain medication and eye drops. A week of listening to the children play, the rain fall and life continue without my help. I was overly optimistic in my last post, hoping to be back in a couple of days. It was not to be. Surgery did not go as smoothly this time. The first anesthetic block didn't work fully and I could feel the instruments at work on my eye. The second block did not alleviate the pain either. It was the stuff of nightmares, being operated on without pain relief. Eventually I was given a general anesthetic. I woke up to the advice that I could not breastfeed for twenty-four hours. I had to fight my instincts that night as my husband and my sister tried to settle my screaming, teething daughter. It was heartbreaking. 

The worst is behind us now thankfully. My eye is healing, swollen shut as it is. My right eye tires easily, but there is time for cuddles, a cup of tea, a little crochet, or a little reading (large print) with rests in between. 

I hope to be back in this space more fully again soon. In the meantime be well and hold those you love near.

Weekending

1. I'm over half way now on Emerson's Camilla Blanket and I am still in love with knitting it. It is my biggest project to date and I was worried I would fall out of love with it along the way. So far so good. I love watching those fans forming.The nights are getting cooler now and I hope she'll be using it by Winter.

2. We've had a week of rain, with another week forecast. There has been Lego, play dough and balloons to keep a certain boy amused, as well as rain coat and gum boot jaunts in the garden.

3. We visited the Qld Art Gallery and the Museum yesterday. Another perfect rainy day activity. I brought this $10 print home with me from the gallery store. Cheap, beautiful art. (The framed picture in photo 2 is another gallery store purchase.)

4. My cheeky little laundry helpers, who played 'throw the cloth nappies at Mama' and rolled around laughing.

5. My veggie-store-brought sweet potatoes sprouted, so I'm growing slips from them. I recently harvested my first sweet potatoes from the garden and I'm hoping for an even bigger harvest next time!

6. Cut flowers from the garden. My dream of filling the house with flowers I've grown is slowly becoming a reality.

7. And they smell amazing.

8. These delightful roses change from pink, to peach, to yellow as they open.

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My second eye surgery is today. Hopefully I will be able to be back in this space in a couple of days. In the meantime take care.

9/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen:  This boy loved all the baby chickens cheeping and wants some of his own. One day soon, I hope.

Emerson: This girl was not the least bit phased by the kangaroos, though small dogs are another matter. 

Stitch. Read. Covet. Blog.

Stitch: Another rainy day and the beginning of Autumn have me thinking about woolens for Winter. I do like this cowl, both pattern and colour. I'm yet to knit a cowl...

Man Reading, John Singer Sargent

 Read: Readers have long made wonderful subject matter for artists. A quick google image search is quite revealing. There is a romance about these images. I can't help but wonder if modern artists will document our current relationship to reading, using technology like laptops and e-readers instead of paper, as artists in the past have? And will they have any of the romance of those beautiful old paintings?

Covet: As a fan of both polaroids and Instagram these yet to be released cameras make me feel a bit wanty.

Blog: I've long been a follower of handmade romance and I love seeing Evie's wonderful and varied creations. From bearded men brooches to kitty cushions, circus dolls and hand drawn porcelain pins, Evie has a wonderful aesthetic all her own and creates items that will be cherished. Her photographs and illustrations are eye candy indeed. She has also recently completed a month of illustrations.

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This post has not been sponsored in any way. The above are genuine items/people/blogs that I am loving.

Care to share your own Stitch. Read. Covet. Blog? Please leave a comment or your link below so we can all check them out.

Welcoming One

The lovely Ralf
(My poor red eye is still healing after the surgery. I think I should have left my sunglasses on!)

I was so upset when my second eye surgery was scheduled for Emerson's birthday. I wanted to spend the day with my little one. When my appointment was re-scheduled I wanted to do something fun and special for the children. My sister Fiona had the perfect suggestion. Thus, we welcomed Emerson's first birthday at Lone Pine, sharing in the awe and delight animals evoke in children (and adults.) Umbrellas and raincoats packed, we braved the grey clouds and I so pleased the we did. I do love little ones in rain coats and gum boots! It was a wonderful day. Cohen enjoyed every minute. Emerson watched from the pram or the sling, getting up close to the oh, so tame kangaroos. And I held a koala for the first time.

The map of the sanctuary now graces Cohen's wall. I do believe it won't belong before we take Dada back and show him.

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More pics on Instagram.