Cute n Cool Blog Stuff

Mix and match!

2011-12-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

I´ve made a bunch of new backgrounds and headers. Mix and match, find your own favorite combination. :)

Good news and the bad news about the background disorder!

2011-12-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys,

Here are the latest news about the backgrounds appearing too small:

The good news first. I fixed all the background codes, so they should work just fine. (but if there is still problems with any codes, please leave a comment and I will fix the problem).

And then the bad news. You have to replace your existing background code with a new fixed one of your own. You have to find the HTML/Java Script gadget where you have the background code and remove the old code and then add the new fixed code.

One way of fixing the shrunken background....

2011-12-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Thank you guys for helping (the previous post) with this shrunken background problem, here is a of linkfor the solution:

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=69af04ba7855635d&hl=en

But I have also fixed all the background codes, so the easiest way of fixing the background problem is to remove the old code and replace it with the fixed code.

I know, something is now wrong with some backgrounds....+ edit.

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've got suddenly a bunch of questions of weird tiny backgrounds. I must tell now right in the beginning, that I still have no idea, why some of the backgrounds have shrunken. It must have to do something with Picasa, because I have stored all of them to my Picasa Album, and the links come straight from there.

I don't know yet how to solve this problem, but I try my best. If any of you know anything about this, please, help!

And anyone who has this problem, leave also a comment and tell which background you have, so I could try to fix something...hopefully.

Edit. Now I have some idea what has happened, but I still not quite sure, how to fix the problem. But I try...

How to add sHabby FraMes + some freebies

2011-12-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

You can find my tutorial and some freebies from my *itKuPiLLi* ~ in the City of aNGeLs-blog.

When in Hollywood....

2011-10-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

...even though in North Hollywood, I wanted to launch more movie themed backgrounds. A couple of backgrounds are ready, more is coming up. But I haven´t forgot your great ideas, I try to execute all of them, but it takes some time. ;)

Thank you guys and cure for disturbing logo

2011-10-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

Oh my, thank you guys, talking about responses! I can´t complain anymore that I don´t have ideas for the backgrounds! I am overwhelmed and flattered. And now it´s my turn to do something, first new background is ready to post...

And about disturbing logo, with Blogger newer templates, the logo doesn´t know where to go, I don´t know why, but anyways, it´s very easy problem to solve. Just move the gadget with the background code from the top to the end of the side bar. The code takes up the position where the gadget is placed. Hopefully this was clear enough explanation. Forgive my lousy English. ;)

Hi guys, I need help! + edit.

2011-08-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, you must help me now, I´m so depressed! Just kidding, the problem is not that bad! But seriously, I could use your help.

I´ve run out of all ideas for new backgrounds. I would love to make more, but I don´t know what kind of themes you want. Any ideas? Tell me what kind of background you would like to have? What about banners and header, any ideas for those?

I would be more than happy to get new ideas. And I will pick as many as I can and create new backgrounds with your ideas. Thanks in advance. :))

And once more, I´m really sorry, that I have not time to reply either email or comments. But I appreciate your interest and support.

Edit. Please, do not send the ideas on my email, because I'm afraid that I loose them there, leave your ideas on the comment box, then I see then all and know where to find them all at once. Thank you. :))

2 in 1 = itKuPiLLi united

2011-08-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

Just a few words about my other blog, or actually blogs. I have too many of them, so I decided to combine two blogs together. So for now on, *itKuPiLLi* ~ in the city of aNGeLs is my main personal blog. There is now under the same roof, either my art and photography and also this and that about me and my life in LA. Welcome to look what I do and how I live. :))

And remeber also the *itKuPiLLi*-page in Facebook.

C'ya!

Would you like to be my guinea pig?

2011-08-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

I have ready a draft for new coloring tutorial. I need help to improve it, so maybe you're interested to be my guinea pig, there is surely a reward too. Come over. ;)

about upcoming PaintShop-tutorials

2011-07-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

I have a post about my upcoming PaintShop-tutorials on my other blog. If you have any ideas about the tutorials, what you wanted to learn, come over to my other blog and leave a comment about your suggestions. That would help me a lot. Or if you have any questions about PaintShop, I´m happy to help, even though there is still zillions of things for me to learn too. But helping each other, we all learn more. Hope to see you HERE.

I will still keep all tutorials about blogging and backgrounds and stuff on this blog, but all photo editing tutorials and other stuff like that, I will for now on publish on the other blog.

My humble apology

2011-05-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

I´m so sorry, that I haven´t had time to respond to any comments and emails. And I can´t promise that I have more time in future either. I hope I have time to post new backgrounds and other stuff for blogs and I would love to post some new tutorials too.

But that´s all, I´m not able to help you with the problems and at the moment I don´t have time for custom designs.

I hope this doesn´t sound too rude, because I so appreciate your lovely feed back and support. And I want to thank all of you, who have made donations. That encourages me to keep on making free stuff for blogs and tutorials.

PS. Welcome to follow me also in Facebook. You can see there the latest updates of backgrounds and other stuff.

Happy New Year

2010-12-30T11:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone, it has been so fun with you. Hopefully you come back next year too.

I made some new stuff for you, go and check new backgrounds and accessories.

Happy New Year!

Confused? I am!

2010-11-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

One reason for not updating this blog recently is, that I'm confused about the new Blogger templates. I haven't had enough time to dig into the new codes and stuff. I still don't know how to make these background for new templates. Therefor still all my backgrounds are made for Minima template.

If you have a new Blogger template, but wanted to change back to Minima, luckily that's easy. You just had to go to your blog "Design" > "edit HTML" > scroll down and choose "Select Layout Template" > choose "Minima" (first tempalate) > save.

But, if anyone can advice me with new templates, I'd love to learn what to do. Then I could promise new backgrounds for new templates too.

And I must apologize, that I haven't had time to response to any comments or emails. And I'm afraid that until Christmas I'll be to busy to do that. Get back after Christmas, if you still need help or advice. I'm going to delete my email. And I start replying on your requests after Christmas. I know, I'm awful, I hope you understand. ;)

A little info

2010-05-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

Once more, I have to thank you, my dear blogging friends. Your lovely comments inspires me! I read them all, but I don't have time to reply, not even to the questions. I know, I've promised this and that, but now I'm way too busy, at least now in the summer time, to do anything else, except new backgrounds and accessories. I don't have time for custom work either.

If you need any help with your blog (like changing your blog to 3 column), you can contact my friend and colleague, but I can't promise anything, you must consult her at:

blogassistant@hotmail.com

And one more thing...I've get constantly questions of how to show the gratitude by donating a little compensation. I highlight that everything is totally free; backgrounds, accessories and tutorials. You don't have to pay a dime. But for those of you who insists to donate something, I will add the donate buttons.

I wish you all great summer time!

Why the background or header don't look like it should?

2010-02-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

Your blog should look like this. But why it doesn't?

The most typical mistake is, that the template is not Minima, all my backgrounds are designed to work with Minima template. To change the template, go to customize (right upper corner).

Pick the Minima template, it's the first one. With Minima the whole background looks like it should look.

One other quite common mistake with the headers or the buttons is, that there is not transparent background.

The images with transparent background are in .png format, you must remember when you save them to your computer, that you save them in .png format, if you save them as .jpg, the background will be white.

An other thing you must remember with transparent background images, that you don't let Blogger shrink them, make sure you don't have check on "Shrink to fit". I make my headers and buttons right size to fit your blog without shrinking.

I'm not sure if I remembered everything, feel free to ask more, if these instructions don't help.

Edit.
This has nothing to do with posting the images. You can post also images in .png format to your blog posts, and then you can choose there any size you like, the background will remain transparent. The right size is only important with the header image and the images you add to your sidebar with image gadget.

Paint Shop Pro Tutorial - How to cut images from .png format collage sheet

2010-01-22T10:48:00.001-08:00

I've got many questions of how to cut images from .png format collage sheet. It's sometimes difficult to cut images without getting some pieces of the adjacent images. I have an easy tutorial to show how to do it, but it's on my other blog, I hate to bounce you from blog to blog, but there is no sense of posting same post to different blogs, so if you are interested, you can find the tutorial here.

Free test sheet

2010-01-16T13:47:00.000-08:00

I've got so many questions about digital collage sheets, that I made a test sheet, that everyone can try how to work with digital collage sheets. Go here for further information.

tHe cUtEst BiRd ObSeRVeR

2009-12-28T13:06:00.000-08:00

I've got so many requests of custom blog design, but I haven't had time to make any. But for long time I got a little bit spare time and I made this pre designed Blog and Etsy set. It's one of a kind, and will be sold only once. It's available on my Etsy Shop (unless somebody has already bought it).

I will make these pre made stuff more, I'm open to ideas, but I won't have time to make custom design, so if you want something unique, check if there are some pre designed blogs you like on my Etsy Shop.

But to you, who don't want to waste your money to unique design, I will always make more free backgrounds and other blog stuff.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T15:45:00.000-08:00

I like to thank you my dear blog friends, it has been so fun of making the backgrounds and other stuff for your blogs! I get so wonderful comments and feedback, that they keep me inspired!

The time before Christmas was quite busy, I didn't had enough time to post here. But next year I would love to post new tutorials and blog stuff. The suggestions of new topics or themes are always more than welcome.

Happy Holidays for everyone!

Good news and bad news

2009-11-19T10:41:00.001-08:00

First, of course, the good news:

You've been asking for backgrounds and other stuff for Christmas, and there is already some backgrounds and headers. And I promise to make more and also Christmas accessories.

And bad then bad news:

I've been a bit busy and I didn't had time to check my emails for some time. And I've got so much spam comments and emails, that I really haven't been able to answer your questions or requests of the custom works. So I had to clean all my emails and I have to start from the clean table.

So if I haven't answered to your questions or haven't accomplished your request, please, email again to blo64rt (at) gmail (dot) com. Or leave a new comment.

I promise to answer to all your actual emails, comments and requests from this day further.

What a sweet way to thank!

2009-09-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful gift this morning waiting in my email. There was a link to Glamour Bomb blog, and there was this amazing video and also so flattering post, thank you DaBomb! You are sooo sweet.

Thank you all so much

2009-09-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments, I'm so happy to get so much feedback. I try to reply asap, but I've been quite busy. I'm sorry that I haven't even been able to answer the questions, but I'll be back.

News, question and a give away

2009-09-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting for long time, although I've made some new backgrounds and accessories. I've been busy of making new digital collage sheets. Specially for Halloween. If you like to see all my sheets, visit to Itkupilli shop. There is also a give away offer, go and check, you can find more information there.

And I also want to ask, if you have any wishes for tutorials, for blog or Paint Shop Pro. I've been so happy reading your comments, that the tutorials so far have been useful. I would love to make some more, but at the moment I don't have any ideas what kind of tutorials you would be interested.

And of course I always like to get new ideas for backgrounds and accessories.

Edit.
I added the blog list to the background page, if you have used my background on you blog and want to share your link on that list, please leave a comment to this post.

How to add link to your comment

2009-07-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you want to add a link to your comment, it's really good to make it easy to use. If you first have to copy the link and then paste the address, it's way too complicated, so better learn this very simple, but practical trick.

So only thing you need, is this simple code:

<a href="link">text to click on</a>

Here is a sample, I will make a comment to this post and will add this link below there, so you see how it looks, click the link on my comment and you should get back to this post:

<a href="http://blo64rt.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-add-link-to-your-comment.html">how to add link</a>

Paint Shop Pro Tutorial - Coloring the image

2009-07-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

I will show now, how I usually do the coloring.

First I want to decrease saturation a little bit.
I use this saturation/hue/lightness tool quite much. There is many other tools you could do the same thing, but I like this.

Next I take a paint brush.

And choose the fuzzy soft head.

Then I choose the color I want to add. I put the opacity very low, usually I use it between 8 - 18 %. I want to use very thin layers of the color, the brush stroke become much more smooth.

Usually I do first the skin color, little by little.

Then I use the other colors, but also very thin coat.

Later, when I've finished the coloring, I usually add more saturation, or sometimes I might diminish color from some parts. And once more little by little with low opacity. This tool is great, when you want just adjust some parts of the image.

And sometimes I want to darken or lighten some details.

Here is now the ready colored image.

I wanted to add this time more contrast to it. If you want to adjust the whole image, you find really useful tools from these adjust tools. You can adjust color balance, contrast, saturation, hue etc.

This is now the final result, but maybe I could add one more cool detail...

I open the new image, this time a damask pattern, and I choose the paint brush again.

But this time, instead of the solid color, I choose to use pattern.

I start coloring the bandana, once more little by little, and I vary the scale and the angle to get the look natural.
Ok, this is now enough. If you have anything to ask, please do, I'm happy to answer to any questions.

Paint Shop Pro tutorial, How to cut image from solid color background

2009-06-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

Previous tutorial was about how to cut an image from the multicolored background. This tutorial is for cutting the image from the solid color background. It's a little bit faster and simpler.

First you cut the image with selection tool > freehand selection and then copy and paste as a new image.

Then choose selection tool again, but this time magic wand. (You can adjust the tolerance of the magic wand to find suitable for your needs).

Place magic wand one by one onto all white areas, then cut, and the white parts are gone.

Sometimes the image is quite ready already after magic wand, but to make sure you should add a new layer behind the image, first black and then white to get rid of the all remaining background around the image. Erase all disturbing stuff around the image. (See the previous tutorial).

When the image is cut out, you can add little bit drop shadow, if you like. And remember save the file as .png, so you hard work don't go to waste (see previous tutorial).

***

Many times for example the collage sheets comes with solid white background and this is quite easy way to get images proper to digital working.

I used as an example my digital collage sheet Vintage Party #2, but then I cheated, I used in the last picture the ready cut .png file from the digital design kit Grunge and Crazy. I have already once cut it, so I didn't had nerve to do it twice. Both digital collage sheet and the digital design kit (for lazy digital artists) are available on my Etsy Shop.

Paint Shop Tutorial - How to cut image from background

2009-06-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

There are millions of ways to cut the image from background, and if you have found nice and easy way to do it, you don't have to change it. I just want to show you how I do it.

First I choose selection tool > freehand selection

I go around the image, not too carefully. I don't want to waste time with this, cause I think it's almost impossible to go so carefully around the image, that there is nothing to erase.

I copy the image and the paste it as a new image.

Now I start erasing around the imag, there is many different heads for eraser tool, I used +round 10. Opacity must be 100 %. First I go around and erase the easiest part with larger eraser, and the at last I go to details with smaller eraser size.

Now image looks already quite ready.

But I want to make sure, that the image looks fine in all different backgrounds. So I add a new layer and choose black color to that new layer. Make sure that you have the image and background in different layers.

You can see, that there is still something to erase. I go around once more with small eraser.

And then I change the color of the background layer. There is still left some disturbing stuff from the background. So I go around once more and try to erase all that stuff away. When you satisfied with the image, delete the background layer.

You must save the image without the background as a PNG Portable Network Graphics (*.png). If you save your image as .jpg all your hard work is gone for the waste, your image will have a white background, but as .png file, your image has a transparent background.

Now the image is cut out from the background quite successfully and saved as .png file. It still need some retouch and coloring perhaps...

Paint Shop Pro tutorial How to use .png files

2009-06-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy to see how many of you have find the fascinating world of digital art. I started about 4 years ago. My children helped me in the beginning, cause I had no idea what to do. But I got so hooked from the very first trial, that I wanted to learn more and more. And I'm happy to share some of my knowledge with you.

This time I want to show, how practical .png files are. You can use ready made files, like my digital design kits, which I've designed specially for digital working. Or there is of course lot of more available. Or you can make your own files.

But here I used my Digital Design Kit Marie Antoinette Turquoise and Pink as an example.

First you pick the images you might want to use. Files in .png format are so easy to use, cause they have transparent backgrounds.

Then you copy the chosen image.

And paste it as a new layer to the chosen background.

You can edit now the image, add for example drop shadow.

Same way you can add more images, and if you need to scale them to fit better, the pick tool is very practical, you can also turn images with it.

After you add more images, you can arrange the order of the images.

And until you still have all image on their own layers, you can adjust then individually. You can change colors, sizes order. Or you can add special effects. Try new things, there is endless possibilities.

Here is my result. I wanted to play with colors and with some of my favorite special effects.

Feel free to ask, if you want to know more, but best way to learn is to try everything.

Paint Shop Pro Tutorial - How to make picture tubes

2009-06-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Picture tubes is one of my favorite tools, and now I show how to make them, actually that very easy, more difficult is cut the images out of the background. But here is now a ready cut flowers for you to try. Right click the flower basket and copy it to your computer, or you can of course use something else. But I show now the easy steps...

1. Go to layers and open New Raster Layer

2. Click OK this defauld window

3. Go to Merge, then choose Merge Visible

4. Go File > Export > Picture Tubes

5. Use these default setting and give name for you Tube. Click OK, and you have a new Picture Tube ready to use.

If you want now to use your picture tube, I recommend first add a new layer, cause if you add a picture tube straight to the background, it's on the same layer than background. Therefor you can't edit the tube, but if you have it on the other layer, you can do what ever you want with it.

So now you can choose your picture tube, you can easily scale to right size from 10% to 250%.

And now, when you have the picture tube on it's own layer, you can edit it.

You can for example add drop shadow, or anything you like.

Here is now a simple sample, but now only your imagination can limit the possibilities to use picture tubes.

I know, my instructions are always funny, cause my English is so limited. If you don't understand something or want to know more, feel free to ask.

What is wrong with my background?

2009-05-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

There comes sometimes requests that could I change the width of the background, specially the width of the middle part. Somebody wants to get it wider, that they could add larger images, or somebody wants to get background narrower, cause you could not see the whole background on your monitor.

But I have to tell you, that the backgrounds them selves have nothing to do with those widths. All widths have been defined in the html code of your blog. On the upper picture is 2 column regular Minima, and then the width of the header and outer wrapper are 660 px. This won't change if you change the background, you could put there what ever background and still the width remains the same. If you want that middle part wider, you must change the width of those wrappers on html code.

But, if you change the widths wider, then the background for 2 column regular minima doesn't fit anymore.

In this picture you see the 3 column Minima, where the widht of the header and outer wrapper have been changed from 660 px to 880 px.

So the background image has nothing to do with the widths of your blog or how you can see it on your monitor.

If you design your own background you must be ware of these widths, and make the design fit to your chosen template. Or if you choose ready made background, you must choose the right size for you template.

Unfortunatelly on some monitors, you can't see the whole background, specially with 3 columns it might be that the you can only see the middle part of the background image, and the sides are not seen at all. That you can't correct with changing the background, only thing you can do is change the resolution of your monitor.

And remember also, that the way you see your blog, is not neccesserely the way the others see it. What ever widths you use on your blog, the way it looks for the others depends on their own monitors. If the template is centered, like in most of the cases, the main content on your blog is seen to everyone, but the sides can be seen differently.

If you are not sure, how your blog looks on different monitors, you better check your blog on different computers, or ask somebody take the print screen of your blog and show it to you. Or if you want, I can also send you two different print screens and show how I see your blog, just leave the link to your blog and email address to comment box, and I will send you the print screens of my computers.

And feel free to ask anything about the backgrounds and templates, I'm happy if I can help you to get your blog look great!

Free Give Away!

2009-05-06T00:16:00.001-07:00

Here on this blog you can get of course backgrounds and other blog accessories for free, but I wanted to tell you, that I'm also giving away free collage sheets, if you are interested go to my art blog!

About resolution

2009-04-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've got questions about making own background, and I will give tutorials for it more, but now I want to show one thing, what is very important to understand, before start making backgorunds.

It depends on your screen size and resolution how you see the background, but you also have to consider that there is many other size screens too. I've took these screen prints with both of my computers. You can see, that there is quite much difference.

Here you see this blog with 1680 x 1050 resolution in 22 " screen.

And this is the same blog with 1024 x 800 resolution in about 15 " screen (my laptop). You can go and check how you see it, this is my Kyynelkaasua blog. It is a normal 2 column Minima template.

Here is a 3 column Minima template in 1680 x 1050 resolution in 22" screen.

And same template with 1024 x 1024 resolution on my laptop 15" screen. How you see my other blog, go and check here.

I make all my backgrounds on 1600 x 1200 px size, some older ones are 1450 x 1100 px. So they all fill the screen even with larger screens. In smaller screens you don't see everything, but I try to place the main images so, that the main parts of them are also seen on smaller screens. I check my backgrounds with both of my screens.

Sometimes I see backgrounds which are too small for bigger screen or too large for the small ones. I recommend to make the background large enough, but make sure if you have images there, that you place them right, that you can see the best parts of them also on the smaller screen.

It's quite difficult to explain, specially for me in English, it would be much easier for me to write in Finnish, but I bet that most of you would not understand a word. Feel free to correct my English anytime you see something written wrong. ;)

And feel free to ask anything about background making, I try to answer as well as I can.

About background colors

2009-04-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

If you use background image, like my backgrounds on your blog, you should adjust your blog background color as close as you can with the color of the center of the background image.

Even your background color is behind the background image, it shows a little while, before the background image has loaded. So if you have your blog background color close to background image color, all the texts and other stuff will be shown better, if the color is same with image background. And, of course, if there comes problems for some reason, that the background image doesn't show up at all, then your blog is still readable.

About Headers

2009-04-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

The blog header is like a crown for the blog. Very important element. And if the header and the background match well together, then the blog blog looks so distinguished.

One very important thing is the right size of the header. With 2 column regular Mimima, the header width is 648 px, then the header fits perfectly inside the borders and is well centered. If your header width is something else, it might best to change the widht to 648 px with photo editing software and then install it again.

With 3 column blogs, the header widht can differ, but the header width which I use on my 3 column backgrounds is 868 px.

If your header is already quite close to right size, it's easy to change, but if your image is a much smaller, it might become blurry. Then it's better to make a new image, which is closer to right size.

An other way to make the header match better is remove the borders from the header. You must change the border width from 1px to 0px.

header-wrapper
width:880px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:0px solid $bordercolor;

header
margin: 5px;
border: 0px solid $bordercolor;
text-align: center;
color:$pagetitlecolor;

Or you can of course adjust just the color of the borders from "fonts and colors". Choose the color which is the closest of the background color.

Have a wonderful Easter!

Easter greetings

2009-04-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

I've been busy making collage sheets, but some new Easter stuff you can find from backgrounds and accessories.

More Easter stuff coming up!

2009-03-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Check new Easter stuff from backgrounds and accessories!

What photo editing software you use?

2009-03-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

I want to know, what photo editing software you use. I've used both Photo Shop and Paint Shop Pro, but I have ended up to use Paint Shop. I've done almost all of my works with Jasc Paint Shop Pro, but now I have also to latest version; Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo x2, there is not much differences between those two.

I would like to make also some material for making your own blog backgrounds, headers and banners. And perhaps some tutorials, but I can do it only for Paint Shop, of course some of the tutorials would work with other photo editing software, but mainly my stuff would be for Paint Shop.

So is here anyone, who uses Paint Shop and wants to learn how to make own web design? Leave comments and answer to poll at sidebar.

Celebrating Marie Antoinette

2009-03-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

I found the following wonderful post from Cupids Charm-blog; we are going to have a Marie Antoinette P-A-R-T-Y!!!

I'm already so exicited that I can't wait and I've put some Marie stuff for sale in my Etsy Shop, but I'm going to make also free stuff for you to just pick up! Check new coming Marie stuff from the free backgrounds and free accessories.

The Celebrating banner and the following text is borrowed from the Cupids Charm post Celebrating Marie Antoinette:

In celebrating the magazine release, I've decided to theme my party “Celebrating Marie”. The party will last for 1 week (April 1 - 7) with a different Marie post each day. I’ll also have several give-aways during the week, lots of fun history and facts about Marie’s life and lots of sparkling glamour too! So mark your calendars dear friends! You are invited to come and celebrate your inner-Queen as we also celebrate the beautiful Queen of France, Marie Antoinette!

In the spirit of Marie Antoinette

2009-03-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

I can't help it, I love rococo and all Marie Antoinette stuff. I have put two new Marie set on my Etsy Shop.

Spring is here!

2009-03-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

It's time to give a new fresh spring look to your blog! Go and check new light pastel color backgrounds.

Black and White

2009-03-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

After my green line, I like to work with black and white for the change. This Marie Antoinette background and header was the first set. Both are free, if you like, just pick and add a royal touch to your blog.

Go and check new backgrounds and accessories.

And one thing I must tell you, I'm so happy to work with you guys!

Green Green Green

2009-03-16T13:02:00.001-07:00

A lots of new free backgrounds, more green of course. Go and check!

Memories in Green

2009-03-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Soft and romantic background and header, unique design, on sale in my Etsy Shop.

Green theme continues

2009-03-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

I made decision, that I work only with green color, until St Patrick's day, and so far I kept my own promise. So here is green Marie, this background + header set is unique, it is on sale in my Etsy Shop.

Gree Line

2009-03-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

I will work with green color until St Patrick's day, some new green backgrounds and accessories are already ready. But I will make the most of these green stuff so, that they are usable all year around, not just in St Patrick's day. So all you green lovers, there is coming a lot's of new stuff for you!

Tiny Maries

2009-03-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Today I was on again in the mood of making tiny pictures, these Marie pictures you find from the accessories. Hope you like! :)

Forget me not!

2009-03-12T14:32:00.001-07:00

If you have visited recently in my art blog, you might have seen the original work for this background. I made the digital collage first and then I made a digital card, as participation to Theme Thursday, where this weeks theme is Flowers. Since forget-me-not is definitely one of my favorite flowers I wanted to use them.

And as usually I ended up to make a template set, this is on sale in my Etsy Shop, but only once!

How to add a menubar?

2009-03-11T13:19:00.001-07:00

I have a horizontal menubar under my header, I haven't add yet the vertical, but it will come soon. But I tell you now, how you can add that new element to your blog.

Actually it is very easy. But you have to go to your html, and change there a couple of things. But before editing your template, you may want to save a copy of it.

1. First you must go to /* Footer, it's all the way down, but you can easily find the right place, if you use ctrl+F (find) and write there showaddelement, this will highlight you the right place.

2. First showaddelement is at 'header-wrapper', there you must make these 2 changes:

maxwidgets='3' showaddelement='yes'

(so change maxwidgets from '1' to '3'and showaddelement from 'no' to 'yes'.)

3. Then find 'crosscol-wrapper' and also change there showaddelement from 'no' to 'yes'.

4. And next 'main-wrapper' and also change showaddelement from 'no' to 'yes'.

5. Click Save

So you just have to make 4 little changes. Actually this is even more you need right now, but now when you go to Edit Layout, you can see 3 new 'add a gadget' elements. One above the header, one under it, and one more just above the posts.

So that was the first part. Now we need a code for the menubar:

<a href="http://your link" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="your image url"/></a>

This code you add to html gadget, if you want to add horizontal bar, add it just under header, for vertical menubar, add it to html gadget at sidebar.

It's able to make a menubar without buttons, but this instruction is for making it with buttons. So we must make some buttons...

The area for horizontal menubar buttons is as wide as your header, in normal Minima template for 2 column it is 648px. And 3 column, which I've used it is 868px. So now it depends on, how many buttons you want to add, what size they should be.

At vertical sidebar the width of buttons should not be more than 220 px, which is the width of the sidebar.

My buttons widths here are 210px, so for 2 column you get 3 buttons, and for 3 column 4 buttons. You can make them narrower or wider, it depends how many links you need.

You need of course a image editing software to make your buttons and to write titles. But if you like, you can use my ready made buttons here, just add your text with image editor. And you must of course upload them to your image host, so you get their url to add to the code.

Oops. I little bit complicated instruction, but this is really quite simple. But please, feel free to ask, I try to explain, if there is something you don't understand (and believe me, I don't blame you ;)

Click images and then copy to your computer and add your text. The width of all the images is 21o px.

Edit.
I changed instuction # 2, there was 'content-wrapper', but now it's right 'crosscol-wrapper'. But once you add that code to html gadget, it's very easy to move it, and you can check where it looks at best.

Edit 2
I have added the menubar to the header wrapper, which is first above the header, you must move it under it, and all the html codes goes to one gadget. If the buttons are right size, they should go nicely on line under the header.

Dungeon

2009-03-10T15:32:00.001-07:00

This one I have to show you, I put it on sale on my Etsy Shop, but it game out pretty cool, so I couldn't resist of showing it!

Tomorrow I will tell you how to add menubars to your blog, both horisontal and vertical. It's amazing easy. But now I'm too tired to write, so see you tomorrow! :)

Something simple for the change!

2009-03-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've made so romantic and frilly backgrounds, that now it was time to make something simple, yet romantic. Go and check new backgrounds, there are backgrounds for both 2 column and for 3 column tempaltes. And some new matching accessories as well, also headers.

Blue Boudoir

2009-03-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

I finished just a new template set, blue boudoir, and I had to think twice, do I want to sell this, cause I would love to have that my self, but I needed to make one more new blog for it and I already have too many blogs! So I put it in my Etsy Shop for sale, hope it ends up to a very nice blog.

Edit.
Blue Boudoir set is sold. :)

Super romantic fairy stuff!

2009-03-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

I was on super romantic mood this morning and this was what game out! Fairies and violets. The background is free, but the header is once more unique. And if you like it, you can buy it from my Etsy shop.

How to add your own signature to your posts?

2009-03-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is very simple way to add a personal touch to your blog. First make your signature with any photo editing software, I used PaintShopPro. For the image I used png format, so it's transparent.

And then upload it to your web host, I used Picasa Web Album, to get url address.

And then go to Settings > Formating > Post Template

And paste this code to that Post Template box:

And that's it!

Do I make custom design?

2009-03-05T17:22:00.000-08:00

I've been asked do I make custom design, and of course. I can build up your blog, if you have ideas, and also use your images, if you like. Contact me with email, if you are interested.

But I also make ready designed unique stuff. I make backgrounds, headers and other blog accessories, which I sell only once. I opened an EtsyShop and I put my unique designs there on sale. So go and check, if you find something for you. There is not yet much items, but will be soon.

But everything you find here is still free, and will be free. This background you will find from free backgrounds and more stuff from free accessories.

How to change to 3 Column Minima

2009-03-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

I promised to help you to change your blog to 3 column, I try to explain it now very simple, and sorry my bad English. This works best with Minima Template, like all my background designs. And the width is same, than I have used to design all my 3 column backgrounds.

And a very good news is, that if you do these little changes to your HTML-code, you don't have to reset your template, so you won't loose any content of your blog.

Please note: before you make any alterations to your Blogger template ALWAYS save a backup copy to your hard drive. You can do this by selecting the “Layout” option in Blogger, then the “Edit HTML” option, then “Download Full Template.”

Select first Blogger "Layout" option and then "Edit HTML."

1. Scroll down until you find #header-wrapper, change the width show with red (660 to 880):

<#header-wrapper { width:880px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
}>

2. Scroll down until you find /* Outer-Wrapper, and you will find this following code, where you should make the changes shown with red, (change the width, add margin, change float right, add the whole code for left-sidebar-wrapper) :

<#outer-wrapper { width: 880px;
margin:0 auto;
padding:10px;
text-align:$startSide;
font: $bodyfont;
}

#main-wrapper {
width: 410px;
float: $startSide;
margin-left: 20px;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: right;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#left-sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: left;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */ overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

>

3. Scroll down down down until you find the following code (under /* Footer)(don't do anything to that code, just find it)

<div id='main-wrapper'>

4. Now copy the following code below shown red and paste it straight above the code you just found (yes, just above <div id='main-wrapper'>):

<div id='left-sidebar-wrapper'> <b:section class='sidebar' id='left-sidebar' preferred='yes'/> </div>

5. Now save your template and go into the Layout Editor.(Notice, the posts will be shown on left, until you add some gadgets to your new left sidebar).

6. Enjoy!

PS. Ohjeet suomekielella loytyy Keisarin Uusista Vaatteista.

Polka dots are here!

2009-03-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

New backgrounds with simple and cute polka dots, also for 3 column. Go and check new backgrounds, maybe there is something for you! (^_^)

PS. New matching banners will come soon.

Edit. There are already some matching polka dots accessories!

Cute and Cool Headers

2009-03-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

Now you can also find Headers from Cute and Cool Blog Accessories. Headers are blanck, so you just add it behind title and description.

Feel free to use these free Cute and Cool Blog Headers on your blog, and a link back to Cute and Cool BlogStuff is appreciated!

Pick anything you like!

***

No vihdoin on tarjolla sitten yla bannereitakin, kokoelma karttuu vahitellen. Kay tsekkaamassa, jos sinullekin loytyisi mieleinen.

Miniatyr Collages

2009-02-25T17:36:00.000-08:00

I have lately made so many backgrounds, so it's nice to work with tiny images for the change. My blogs have got a new look, and I made some new decoration for you too. And more is coming, but these two new tiny banners you find from Accessories.

3 Column Minima

2009-02-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

I changed this blog to 3 column Minima. Main wrapper is 880 px wide and side wrappers 220 px each. And I will now also make backgrounds for 3 column blogs, but notice that some 3 column blogs might be wider, so then these backgrounds might not fit so well.

To change your blog to 3 column, you must change a little bit HTML code and you will loose some gadgets. So you must copy those, before you change. If you want to try, send me email, and I will send you a new HTML code. But be careful, you should copy your existing template if something goes wrong.

My email: kirsi 007 at gmail dot com

Tip:
I have a test blog, where I can try every change before I publish them. If there goes something wrong, I can always change it back to Minima. And no harm done to my public blogs.

***

Vaihdoin taman blogin 3:lle kolumnille ja teen jatkossa myos sivupohjia 3 kolumnin blogeille. Jos haluat vaihtaa oman blogisi 3 kolumnille, laheta sahkopostia mulle, niin lahetan uuden HTML-koodin. Vaihtamisen yhteydessa kylla katoaa joitakin gadgetteja. Esim. blogilistat yms.

Good and bad news

2009-02-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

I start with good news. It's possible to change background to TypePad blogs too, and I'm working on it. And I also will make the accessories to fit better to TypePad sidebars. Some have been too wide. But new stuff is coming.

And the bad news is, that you can change the background only in TypePad Pro account. I took the two weeks trial and I'm not sure yet, if I keep it, but we will see. So I might make backgrounds for TypePad too. And also for 3 column Blogger.

But mean while, go and check new royal backgrounds, but remember, they are for princesses only. ;)

About my backgrounds

2009-02-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

There was a good question in comments; is there something wrong, cause my backgrounds look too large? The answer is that no, they are made to look like that. But I like to make the same question for you, should I rather use a smaller scale? There are of course those too, but I like my self this intense what a larger scale and images gives. But I would be really happy to get your opinion.

And of course it also depends of the screen size, my older backgrounds are made to 1450 x 1100 resolution, newer ones I make with 1600 x 1200, so they look good also with very large screens. But in all designs I've tried to make them so, that they look OK with all kinds of screens.

In that picture you see, how this background looks in my small laptop screen, but there inside is the picture there you see the whole image, which you can see, if you have a larger screen.

Difficult to explain. But feel free to tell me what you think. I would be very happy if I get your opinion too, cause I want to make backgrounds you like and enjoy.

Letters for you

2009-02-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

I found a beautiful old handwritten letter and I made some romantic new backgrounds. Go and check, you might like them too. :)

Some new backgrounds and buttons

2009-02-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

I have made some new backgrounds and buttons, go and check!

***

Ilmoitin taman blogin blogilistalle, tilauksen voi tehda taalta. Mutta muistutan taas, etta Keisarin Uusista vaatteista loytyy laajemmat valikoimat sivupohjia ja ohjeet suomenkielella. Mutta nappeja ja muuta kiva voit kayda etsimassa taalta. :)

Welcome to Cute 'n' Cool BlogStuff

2009-02-13T11:03:00.000-08:00

This is a place where you can find all kinds of cute and cool stuff to your blog. If you are looking for backgrounds, you find them behind this button:

If you want to add some cute accessories, you find them here:

And you find back to this home page always with this button:

All backgrounds and buttons and other stuff, which you find from these pages are free to use. It would be nice if you leave a comment, if you use some of my stuff. And I would be very happy if you add my button, which you can find from the side bar, to your blog.

If you have any questions, what so ever, you can leave comment to any comment box, and I will answer you as soon as possible.

If you want a customize design for your blog, please contact me with email: kirsi007 at gmail dot com.

****

Ja teille erityisen rakkaat suomalaiset lukijat haluan kertoa, etta sivupohjia loytyy viela runsaammat valikoimat Keisarin Uusista Vaatteista. Ja siella on myos ohjeet suomenkielella. Mulla on tarkoitus laittaa tannekin ohjeet suomeksi, mutta nyt ensi hataan en viela saanut sita aikaiseksi.

Mutta kaikki kommentit ja kysymykset voitte toki laittaa suomenkielella, ymmarran ja kirjoitan sita huomattavasti paremmin kuin englantia. ;)

*Cute n Cool* Blog Stuff