Venus Trapped in Mars Sports and Lifestyle Blog Dallas

07 September 2013

Saturday Sessions: The About Me Gadget




I get so excited when I get an email notification saying someone has requested a Saturday Session tutorial. I really don't know what you guys want to learn, so don't hesitate to request a tutorial here. This week's request was from Rachael over at Pretty in Pink asking for info on installing the about me sidebar gadget. Rachael's blog is already so stinkin cute, not sure that she even needs my help :) 





1. The anatomy gof an about me gadget
I'm all about keeping things simple. Since I first started this blog I have run the gamut on about me widgets. (Is that the correct way to use that expression? I'm not sure, oh well, you know what I mean.) 

I figured I'd give my feedback on my various past gadgets...  that first one... woof.



























2. So, who do I think has a great about me gadget?



3. Designing An About Me Gadget in PicMonkey.
Although I  do all my designing in photoshop, I rarely do any tutorials in photoshop. I want everyone to be able to recreate any of my Saturday Sessions posts, so I use picmonkey. I'm not the most experienced with PicMonkey so I apologize if I take more steps than needed, this is the only way I know how. Ok, let's get started! 

Step 1: Go to PicMonkey and choose edit a photo. You can pick any photo at all, it doesn't matter right now because we are just going to resize it. Change the dimensions to 300x600 and uncheck the option "keep proportions". Next you will go to the option on the left side called overlays. This will allow you to start with a white, blank slate.










Step 2: Click to add your own overlay. This will be the picture you've decide to use for the about me gadget. Then resize and place where you want it to be.  
Step 3: Time to add your text. I suggest mixing no more than two design fonts, and one basic print text (i.e. Georgia, Times New Roman, Arial) at one time. See my guide to pairing fonts here.


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Important :::::: Always save as PNG. No need for us to get into this, just trust me. JPG isn't your friend.
Step 4: Upload it to your blog!
Go to you dashboard, select layout, then add a gadget to your sidebar. Then choose add an image. Before you upload, be sure to uncheck "shrink to fit". Upload your png file and click save! 



Then admire your handiwork! 


Feel free to ask me any questions :)
Happy Saturday << Go Vols and Cowboys! >>

30 comments :

  1. It's great . Though about me's always give me anxiety . Like I don't even know myself !
    Noor @ Noor's Place

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  2. This was a great tutorial!!!! Much needed!

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  3. Have I ever told you how great your Saturday Sessions are? One day when I'm no so overwhelmed by the whole process I'm going to sit down with all of them and make some awesome stuff happen! :)

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  4. Thanks so much, girl!!!! xoxo

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  5. when you're right you're right. and i like how you used yourself, haha! we all learn. But you are definitely a master!

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  6. Definitely need to change mime! Haha
    Then again, I need to change my entire blog design. Where is the time when I need it?

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  7. omg sarah!!! All week I've been looking everywhere for this!!! You saved my blog's life, although I still need to fix a lot. !!!

    Thank you!!!

    Adri @ Adri's Thoughts

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  8. Love this, love these posts. I have no idea what I'm doing, so this is much needed for me! I can't wait to try :)

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  9. Awesome tutorial! Love it, Sarah! These are always my favorite posts :)

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  10. Awesome! Can't wait to make one for my blog. ;)

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  11. Thank you for this tutorial! This is going on my goals list for the week!

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  12. I really love your Saturday sessions! I just need to find me some more time to put them all into action!

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  13. This inspired me to update mine...and that led to an attempt at making my entire blog look better. Thanks!

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  14. So much easier than I thought! I'm definitely admiring my amateur handy work right now. Who knew PicMonkey & NFL Red Zone was such a beautiful match?! Thanks!

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  15. I tried to do this with my about bit on my sidebar, but then I realized I'd rather put up a pic and write actual text under it. It's easily readable by gadgets and easy to edit, and if anyone has trouble with the font they can change it on their browser/phone or make it bigger without it pixelating the way a photo with text on it would.

    - Lix | A Classic Notion

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  16. Thank you! So simple and makes a huge difference.

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  17. Thank you for this!!! I've been wondering how to make one of these!!

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  18. Thank you for this!!! I've been wondering how to make one of these!!

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I made mine tonight!
      I think it's alright.. I would have liked to have matched the border with the beige of my blog background .. but I didn't. Next time! Thanks so much again for your awesome, easy to follow tutorials!!

      http://www.haleyspace.blogspot.com
      (Let me know what you think!!)

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  20. WOW.. I'm not sure why I replied to what I deleted.. and now it's all in black. AMATEUR!! ;)

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  21. Starring this to do later...mine still says Boomer is 6...ugh.

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  22. Well I just think you're the cat's pajamas for featuring me on this Saturday Special :) THANK YOU SO MUCH! I hope your week is off to a wonderful start! XO

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  23. Hot freaking dog, you're a rockstar!!!! Thanks for featuring my little bloggy - I mean, it probably does rank high solely based on the fact that it mentions wine, right? :)
    This tutorial is absolutely amazing! Four for you, Venus Coco, for giving us design-illiterate folks hope with your Saturday Sessions!

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  24. Thanks for sharing! Not to figure out what to say 'about me'!

    Any pointers for doing it in pse?

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  25. Totally just redid my about me based on this. It was so simple when you explained it. You have a gift lady!

    So Much Sunshine

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  26. Ok.... but why is JPEG not my friend? I'm curious about this :)

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  27. One question! My blogger makes me enter a title for the image and that is just all sorts of ugly. Ideas on how to bypass this?

    Thanks! :)

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  28. Music is God's gift to man, It is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart. It leaves people wanting something they never had,
    female singers

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