Monday, August 27, 2012

How to Make a Blog Button

I finally added a blog button to this blog and I want to teach you how add one to your blog, too!

Here is my blog button! Feel free to put it on your blog and share the LOVE!! :)

Photobucket


In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a blog button in Power Point {although you can make a button in any design program - I personally use Adobe Illustrator} and how to add it to your blog in three easy steps.



STEP 1:

To make your own button, open Power Point, click on Design, and then Page Setup.


I would suggest making a button that is 160px X 160px 
which is 2.22in X 2.22in or 5.64cm X 5.64cm
On the Page Setup screen, change the slide to the following dimensions.


Then make a blog button using different shapes, colors, patterns and clipart to match your blog.  Click {here} to check out some great clipart and font resources. Make your button original and unique to your blog... don't be tempted to copy someone else's design or style.


After you have made you blog button, select all the different shapes and text boxes. To do this, hold down SHIFT and click on each shape. When everything is selected, continue to hold down SHIFT and right click on your button. Select "Save as Picture..."


Be sure to save it as a PNG: Portable Network Graphics Format.
{BTW: This step makes it so you don't have an unwanted, white box surrounding your image.}


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STEP 2:

Next, you need to sign up for Photobucket, and don't worry, it's free. Click {here} to sign up.
After you sign up and you are signed into your account, click on the green Upload button.


Then, click on the green button that says Select Photos and Videos and find your blog button.


When the upload is complete click on View Album.


Next, click directly on your blog button.


On the next page, you will see this box on the right side. 
Remember this, because you will need the Direct Link in Step 3.


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STEP 3:
Open up a new window and go to your blog address. Make sure you are logged into your blogger account and click on design {it is in the upper right-hand corner}.



Then, click on Layout.


Next, click on Add a Gadget.


Add the HTML/JavaScript gadget.


Copy and past the following code into the Content part of the HTML/JavaScript gadget. Make sure to put your own blog address where it says, "PUT YOUR OWN BLOG ADDRESS HERE," and the direct link where it says "PUT THE DIRECT LINK TO YOUR BUTTON HERE." {BTW: The direct link can be found in step 2.} When you have added the correct code, click on Save.



This is the HTML code you need:



Now your faithful readers can put your button on their blog!!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

How to Hyperlink Your Blog From Your TpT Store

Like thousands of teachers out there, I have my favorite teacher authors that I frequently buy from on TpT. Those teachers have blogs and I also visit them frequently. However, when I stumble upon a darling new store {and this keeps happening a LOT}, I usually want to know right away if they have a blog or not. I love it when they have a hyperlink to their blog from their TpT Store, because it makes it possible for me {as a potential buyer} to check out their "style" even more. 

In this tutorial, you will learn how to hyperlink your blog from your store, like the picture below. 
Click on the picture below to visit my store and see how the hyperlink works.


First, make sure you are logged in to your TpT account. If you aren't a TpT seller and would like to become one, click {here} and sign up for the Seller Upgrade {don't worry, it's free}. Then, click My Sales: Dashboard.


On the right-hand side of your dashboard, click on Edit Profile.


Enter the following code into the Personal Quote text box. 
Be sure to add your own blog address and blog name!

Please Note: The maximum quote length in TpT is 120 characters.


After adding your hyperlink, make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Submit.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

TpT Banner {Tutorial}

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create your own TpT {TeachersPayTeachers} banner using PowerPoint. Banners are great for promoting special, new, or seasonal products on TpT and they can help your store look more professional. Right now in my TpT store, my banner is promoting my Back to School packet and I will probably change it in the middle of September to promote a Halloween product I am working on. Click on the image below to check out my back to school banner in my TpT store.

{Out of respect for my digital artwork, please don't copy this exact design!}
It may not show up quite yet... I'm still waiting for it to be approved by TpT, because I made a few changes to it.

To make your own banner, open Powerpoint, click on Design, and then Page Setup.


This next part is SUPER important!!!
*TpT Banners can only be 706px by 90px, which is 
9.81 inches by 1.25 inches.* On the Page Setup screen, change 
the slide to the following dimensions.


After you change the dimensions, this is what it will look like in PowerPoint.


Have fun and add shapes, color, images, and text boxes to make your banner look appealing. Click {here} to check out some great clipart and font resources. Try to make your banner original and unique to your store... don't be tempted to copy someone else's design.


When you have finished your banner, save it as a JPEG File Interchange Format {a.k.a. picture}. 
I always save stuff like this to my desktop so I can find it easily.


Next, make sure you are logged in to your TpT account. If you aren't a TpT seller and would like to become one, click {here} and sign up for the Seller Upgrade {don't worry, it's free}.


Then click on My Sales: Dashboard.


Towards the bottom of the page {kind of in the middle-ish area} you will see Marketing & Promotion. Click on "dress up your store..."


In the Profile Page Leaderboard {a.k.a. banner} section, you will see the Choose File button. Click on it and find your banner JPEG. Then, enter the link you want your banner to take customers to and click on Save Changes. BTW: It can take up to a few hours for your banner to appear on the site, because it has to be approved by TpT.


Even though this tutorial was for PowerPoint, you can really make your banner in any design program, as long as you can resize your artboard to:

706px X 90px 
or 
9.81in X 1.25in 
or 
24.91 cm X 3.17cm

I am excited to see how your TpT banners turn out! 
Leave a link to your TpT store in the comments section below and I'll be sure to check them out! 

Monday, August 20, 2012

"Back To Top" Button

On this blog {and my teacher blog} I have a "Back To Top" button in the lower right-hand corner. I love this button, because sometimes it's just nice to be lazy and take a shortcut back to the top. ;)

In this blog post you will learn how easy it is to add your own "Back To Top" button:


First, make sure you are logged into your blogger account. 
Then go to layout.


Then click on Add a Gadget.


Select the HTML/JavaScript gadget.


Next, copy and paste one of the following codes into the content box. 
{BTW: You don't need to put a title}. Then, click save.







Before viewing your blog, make sure you click on the "Save Arrangement" button.


Enjoy your new button!! I know your blog readers will!!!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Great TpT Resources

Here is a list of clipart and font companies that I like to use in my TpT products.
PLEASE NOTE: Each company has their own TOU {Terms of Use}, so be sure to check them all out!

Clipart:

    KPM Doodles

Profile Picture Photobucket

Click Below to Check out Awesome Graphics    Fancy Dog Studio    

Mel Lloyd   Ginger Snaps  


Sonya DeHart Design

 


Fonts:
Profile Picture     

9 Free Fonts

Let me know if I left off a clip-art or font company {with reasonable TOU for teachers} that you like to use in your packets on TpT!

 
back to top