Simple Blog Makeover Tutorial Series {Let's Start With A Background!}

After some very lovely comments on my new blog design, there was a request for a tutorial...

So, here goes!

First of all, I am no expert.
I was taught some Photoshop basics by my genius brother, and figured out other bits as I went along. A lot of trial and error!
I'll explain things as simply as I can, but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to send me an email or leave a comment.

I started by making a custom background and header in Photoshop, then adding them into a simple pre-made blog template from Blogger.
I like things clean, simple and easy.

So let's start with a background!

Open up Photoshop and make a new image to this size...

If you like, you can make a background colour. I chose not to, and went with simple white...

You can download brushes from a whole heap of websites. My favourites are:

http://www.brusheezy.com/
http://www.brushking.eu/Photoshop-Brushes.html
http://myphotoshopbrushes.com/

And here is a tutorial on how to install the brushes once you have downloaded them:

http://myphotoshopbrushes.com/install_brushes/

Then next we need to find some pretty colours to use.
I love this blog:

http://prettycolors.tumblr.com/

And voila!
Finished!

Then, to make a matching header, make a new image to this size...

And play around with brushes, colours and fonts again.
A great website for fonts is:
http://www.dafont.com/

And voila!

That's all from me today.

If you would like to use this background I made up this morning, feel free! I have shared it here:

Free blog background

And if you like the header, I have shared it here:

Free blog header (psd file)

Have a bit of fun experimenting with colours, brushes and fonts and tomorrow I will be back with the next part of the blog makeover tutorial, how to customize your simple blogger template.