Backgrounds (The Cutest Blog on the Block)

Your blog is now ready to start posting, but there are fun extras that you can add to your blog to make it more fun and inviting for your readers. This post will address backgrounds.  All of the work you will do to change your background (and add fun gadgets) is located in the template page.

Go to your dashboard and click on the clipboard (mentioned in earlier posts).  From there you will want to click on "Layout" (shown in picture below).

When you click on the layout page it will look like this:

Layout is where I will show you how to change your background and add gadgets. You will want to keep this page open.

 

BACKGROUNDS

I am in love with the website The Cutest Blog on the Block and get all of my cute (FREE) backgrounds from their site. While working on this part of your blog, you will want to make sure you have three windows open to toggle between.  Keep this page open (for reference), The Cutest Blog on the Block website (which you can reach by clicking HERE) and your blog's layout page.

When you get to the cutest blog on the blog website, you will see the word "Backgrounds." When you move your mouse to it you will see some choices drop down.  Click on "Blogspot".

From there you will choose "Select a Category".

You will see a variety of topics (themes) that you can choose from. You can (literally) spend hours looking at backgrounds.  Like everything else, this can always be changed (I change my backgrounds monthly). The backgrounds that fit onto your blog are the "3 Column" designs.

When you find a background you like, click on it. It will show the background you chose and the following directions:

You will see a code (where I put the red arrow above).  You will need to copy this entire code.  To do this, highlight the entire thing and hit "control c" (or "command c" if you are working on a mac).

Then go back to the window where you have your layout page and click "Add a Gadget".

When you click on "Add a Gadget" you will see many different "Gadgets" you can choose from.  To add a background you will need to scroll down until you see add an HTML code.

Click on the white + sign in the blue box (above) and you will see this (below):

Go to the content box and paste the code you copied by pressing "control v" (or "command v" if on a mac).  Leave the "title" box blank. CLICK SAVE (in orange). Please note your box will be empty.  The picture above was taken after I pasted my background code.

After you click "save" it will bring you back to your layout window.  Click on "View Blog" at the top and you should be able to see your blog with it's new background.

WHEN CHANGING A BACKGROUND:

When changing a background you will NOT need to "add" a gadget because your background gadget will already be there.  Simply go back to your layout page which will now look like this:

Simply click on edit (where I placed the red arrow).  The same box HTML box will pop up with the code that you added from your last background.  ERASE YOUR OLD CODE and then paste in your new code.  Remember to leave the title blank.

Some of my "bloggie" students have had problems changing backgrounds because they forget to erase their old codes. If you ever have problem, please feel free to contact me or come back to this site.

GOOD LUCK!