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How to Make a Blog Button

August 11, 2011 by Chris

You’re right. This is most certainly not the first time this has been tutorialized. But when I tried to find a tutorial on it, it was nearly impossible to find one that gave me the step-by-step that I was looking for!

Show and Share Day (I made this one to be “officially” announced on Friday.)

After figuring it out for myself (shocker), I’m passing that knowledge onto you. Keep in mind, I’m not a technical guru or a code phenom (I leave that up to Beth), but I think this works! Here we go.

Picnik Logo

First off, sign up with Picnik. It’s FREE (sort of), and it’s brilliant. The free version offers everything in this tutorial, but the selection of fonts, etc. is much more limited. The Premium version is only a couple of dollars a month. Totally worth it.

1. Okay. Find a background (all kinds of sites have free ones) that you can save to your computer. When you get onto Picnik, upload it. This is what you’ll get…

blog button

**I used screenshots for this tutorial, so I apologize if some details are difficult to see. I have written some extra info in red in order to clarify some things.**

2. Click on the “create” tab, and it shows you numerous things you can do (ie. stickers, text, frames). I added a little oval sticker to put on the background and dragged it to the size I wanted.

blog button

3. When you’re ready for text, just click on that tab and type in the text box. You have the freedom to change the font, color, size, etc. You can also drag it all over the place to position it just right.

how to create blog button

If you want to use different fonts, make sure you click in the text box again for a different one.

blog button tutorial

4. Add shapes/stickers. Go crazy here. Below, I’m showing that if you right click on the item, it will do more things as well. Most of the fun is just playing around with it!

make a blog button

5. Frame it! All of these things are optional, of course, but I like it framed.

blog button help

5a. Here are some examples of how you can add stickers/colors to change it up. I don’t know about the skeletons. It was late; I found him funny—especially when he was holding the toilet paper. Poor skeleton has tummy troubles.

blog button examples

6. Once you get your button exactly how you want it, you’ll need to resize it. Standard button sizes are 125×125, but you can make it whatever you want. Click on the “edit” tab, then “resize” tab.

how to make a blog button

You can just enter the dimensions into the boxes, and it’ll resize it for you. As you can see, you’ll want to be aware of that when you’re adding text. You don’t want your text to be too small once it’s sized. (If this were a real button, I would have adjusted that.)

blog button tutorial

7. Finally? Save it! I LOVE that Picnik gives you the option to save it to multiple places. Twitter, Flickr, Photobucket..on and on. That’s cool.

JaG blog button

In order to get it on your blog, you’ll need to do a few more steps. However, THAT tutorial can be found ev-er-y-where. Here are a few that I think are helpful.

Smile Monsters offers a good visual of what Photobucket looks like for your HTML code.

Home Stories A to Z offers a tutorial on how to make one with the code offered underneath.

The Blog Designer Network  is another tutorial I like for both.

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Chris

Chris

Well, hello. Ahem. Allow myself to introduce..my..self. My name is Chris! And I’m a blogger! I got into blogging after spending months reading all the inspiration that is found in blogland. I thought to myself, “Self, I can do this. I might have something to offer too!” And so it began...
Chris

@https://twitter.com/justagirlblog1

Chris
Chris

Chris

Chris

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Filed Under: Blogging, Tips/Tutorials Tagged With: blog button, picnik

About Chris

Well, hello. Ahem. Allow myself to introduce..my..self. My name is Chris! And I’m a blogger! I got into blogging after spending months reading all the inspiration that is found in blogland. I thought to myself, “Self, I can do this. I might have something to offer too!” And so it began...

Comments

  1. Richella at Imparting Grace says

    August 11, 2011 at 11:55 am

    THANK YOU, Chris. I’m one of those people who needs detailed, step-by-step directions and photos to guide me. And then a little extra explanation on the side. With a few hints printed in red, just for good measure.

    You know, you really should consider being a teacher. 🙂

    • Chris says

      August 11, 2011 at 12:37 pm

      Richella, that made me laugh! Thank you!

  2. kristin says

    August 11, 2011 at 11:58 am

    best tutorial i have ever seen THANK YOU! I’m posting this on my fb, I know everyone will love this!
    XO
    Kristin

    • Chris says

      August 11, 2011 at 12:38 pm

      Yes! I’m so glad. ALL of the tutorials I read said, “Use an editing program” I didn’t know what that meant! What if you don’t know how to use an editing program? Gah! Frustrating. Glad you like it.

  3. Emily [On the V Side] says

    August 11, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Thank you for this! It’s like you read my mind re: “where can I find a straightforward tutorial?”

    Well, the answer is… right HERE. 🙂

    Thanks
    Emily

    • Chris says

      August 11, 2011 at 12:38 pm

      I love it! I’m so glad! I couldn’t find a straightforward tutorial either! Frustrating!

  4. Erin @ His and Hers says

    August 11, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    Thank you!! I’ve wondered frequently how to do this. (Love the mustache button. Don’t know why you didn’t go with that one.)

  5. Rachel says

    August 11, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Thank you!

    Now I know what one of my weekend projects is going to be!

  6. Maureen says

    August 11, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    Hahaha… I love the skeleton even more after you comments on his tummy troubles 🙂 What a great tutorial… thanks!

  7. Leanne says

    August 11, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Finally a tutorial about buttons that I can understand. I am so tech challenged, but this one I know I can do. Now I can have pretty buttons on my blog. I’m going to feature this on my Friday Favorites if you don’t mind. Thanks!

    • Chris says

      August 11, 2011 at 12:53 pm

      You bet I don’t mind! I wish I could have found a step-by-step tutorial. I hope people can use it!

  8. rebekah says

    August 11, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    this is amazing! thanks for showing i’m always using picnik! love it!!.. never thought of doing a blog button with it! yay! colorkrafts.blogspot.com

  9. Emily says

    August 11, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Thank you so much for this visual tutorial! I am a visual learner and this helped out so much as opposed to those other tutorials where they just tell you. I just made new buttons for my blog. 🙂

  10. asnipofgoodness says

    August 11, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    OMGoodness, I was just looking for this yesterday, I feel so stupid that I didn’t even know where to start! I can do this!!! Thank you so very much, great info!!!! Thank You Thank You Thank You

  11. Sallie says

    August 11, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    Yea Chris!! Thank you. Finally, a tutorial I can understand.

  12. Shawon says

    August 11, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    As soon as I saw the title of the post, I said thank you-out loud to my computer screen ( I mean to Chris!!!) Thank YOU!

    • Chris says

      August 11, 2011 at 10:11 pm

      What an awesome comment, Shawon! Love it! Thank YOU!

  13. Cara says

    August 11, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    Thank you! Sometimes things like this are so frustrating to find and step by step instructions are always awesome! Amaing, thanks!

  14. Kim says

    August 11, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    Thank you so much!!! You made this so easy to follow 🙂

    http://kim-lifeasweknowit.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-buttons.html

    I made my blog a cute button 🙂

    Thanks again

  15. Stephanie says

    August 11, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    Brilliant! I really, really needed this! Thank you!

  16. Amber @ Quilted Euphoria says

    August 11, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    This is so awesome! I never knew how to do this myself before! I would love to have you come link this up at my weekend link party going on now! And I’d love to have you as a follower. If not, then you have a lovely weekend!

    http://quiltedeuphoria.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-wow-me-party-2-giveaway.html

  17. Abby says

    August 11, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    Thanks so much for this! You actually made it look understandable!

  18. Ami w/AliLilly says

    August 11, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    YES!! I’m SO glad you did this. I too had such a hard time with other blog button tutes out there! I made mine THIS way! Just the way you have described! OH and I made my blog header from Picnic too! LOVE picnic! 🙂

  19. Tammy says

    August 11, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    I need to make a button for my blog. Thanks for posting this. Maybe I’ll tackle it this weekend. I’ll let you know how I do.
    Thanks again!

  20. Beth@A2Z says

    August 12, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Thanks for the shout out love!

  21. nicolette @ momnivore's dilemma says

    August 12, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    by far one of the best blog button tutorials I’ve seen on the internets.

    thanks for sharing your mad skills.

    🙂

  22. jen @ tatertots and jello says

    August 12, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Great tutorial Chris!! I LOVE Picnik and use it for all of my photo editing. I have never tried to make a button with it, but I’m so excited to try. You are so smart!!

    xoxo
    Jen

    • Chris says

      August 12, 2011 at 11:43 pm

      Thanks, Jen! Not necessarily smart…just desperate to make a button. 🙂 Amazing how desperation makes you find things out for yourself!

  23. Notyet100 says

    August 13, 2011 at 5:18 am

    Thnks for the tutorial 🙂

  24. heidi @ wonder woman wannabe says

    August 13, 2011 at 9:30 am

    great tutorial! thanks! I appreciate the additional links for getting the coding as well. 🙂

    -h

  25. Deanna says

    August 17, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    This is THE tutorial I’ve been needing but unable to find. Thank you so much! What a HUGE help!

    • Chris says

      August 19, 2011 at 8:57 pm

      That is so awesome, Deanna! I’m so glad I could help you!! Thank you for telling me!

  26. Stephanie says

    August 20, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    Just popping in to say that I finally used your tutorial. And…can I just say…way too much fun. Thanks for the new obsession! Here are some of my buttons:
    http://www.love-life-project.com/2011/08/look-i-made-some-buttons.html

    • Chris says

      August 20, 2011 at 8:27 pm

      That’s so cool, Stephanie! I’m so glad you linked to it so I could see all your creations. Love them! Great job!

  27. aftergod'sown says

    October 5, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Hooray! This sounds awesome– I have been BEYOND frustrated by the tech-savvy tutorials that assume I know what a “Nava bar,” “Favicon,” and “Editing Program” are. Thanks so much. I’ll be trying this soon.

    • Chris says

      October 5, 2011 at 10:59 pm

      Ha! That’s exactly how I felt! So glad it helped you! Good luck!

  28. Amanda says

    January 5, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Thank you, thank you!! 🙂 This helped tremendously!

    • Chris says

      January 7, 2012 at 10:31 pm

      Yay!!! Thank YOU for telling me that!

  29. April Vernon says

    January 31, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    I know this isn’t a new post of yours, but wanted you to know that I have been looking everywhere for a tutorial like this! Thanks!! Now I hope I can find the detailed instructions on how to add it to my blog! Can you tell me how you got your pretty subscribe buttons on the top left of your blog?

    • Chris says

      January 31, 2012 at 10:42 pm

      Thank you, April. I’m afraid THAT is way over my head. I have a blog designer who did that for me. 🙂 My designer and my “techy” guy are in my advertising space to the left. Feel free to inquire with them! Good luck!

  30. April Vernon says

    February 1, 2012 at 12:43 am

    Thanks, Chris! I LOVE your blog!

  31. Kelly Reber says

    February 21, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Super Helpful! Thanks so much!

  32. Loriann says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    I just went to Picnik and they had a message that they are closing April 1 to move to Google+!!! However, it says you can access all the features including the premium ones you mention for free until then! I’m glad I found this just in time.

  33. jenny at dapperhouse says

    March 18, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    Thank you so much! I just made the cutest button ever in about 15 minutes Easy-Peasy!
    You’re the best!

    • Chris says

      March 19, 2012 at 3:27 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad I could help you, Jenny! Thank you for telling me!

  34. Monica says

    April 13, 2012 at 10:39 am

    Thanks for this tutorial! It is so much easier to understand than others I’ve come across. I’ve been wanting to make a button for my color pages. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

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