Blogging 101: How to Create a 150x150 Blog Button

When I first began blogging, I relied on the generosity of other bloggers. Posts about content, tips and practical stuff were a godsend to me. I would type my question into Google and benefit from the how-to posts of all the bloggers before me. Now that I've been blogging for almost a year, I thought I'd start posting tutorials as well. I'm by no means an expert, but I hope you find something useful here!

I decided to create a quick, picture tutorial on an aspect of blogging that everyone can benefit from. Buttons. People are far more likely to click on buttons than on text links. Having an attractive button on your site (and on other people's sites) is a great way to create a cohesive theme on your blog or shop and ultimately drive more traffic to you. Buttons are a small snapshot of what you are offering, so the idea is to attract readers who will enjoy your content. The ideal button will:

• Represent YOU. Whether thats an Etsy shop or blog.

• Will intrigue buyers and/or readers

• Should have readable text, or no text at all

• Should have minimal clutter

How To Make A Button Using Picmonkey

Picmonkey is a free photo editing service. If you are like me, you want to have great photos without having to spend a lot of time editing them. Picmonkey is a great resource for bloggers and Etsy shops. I use it for all my photo editing, and its a great place to make buttons, headers and other visuals for your blog and shop. So, in order to make your button, head on over to Picmonkey to get started!

Congratulations, you're in the right place!

This tutorial is going to focus on creating a 150x150 button from an existing photo. You can also create a button using a blank white canvas, but I find starting with a photo you like works well too. Click on "Edit a photo" to find one you like:

 Choose a simple photo with very few details. You are not going to resize the entire photo into your button. You are going to choose a section that is visually appealing, edit it, mess with the colors and add text. I like to start with a completely unedited photo. 

Don't crop a 150x150 button just yet. It will be way too small to work with. Start with a large section. I like to go with 1000x1000 so I have a lot of room to play with. You'll resize the button at the very end.

Now you've got a square button to work with. Start with easy things first. Lighten it up. Play with the color temperature. Try some of the interesting features like "Orton" or "Yesteryear". Not all of the features are free, but the majority of them are. If you find a monkey has been added to your picture, you've accessed one of the "not free" features. Just click "undo" and the monkey will go away. To get the above effect I simply lightened the photo, turned the color temperature up and "tinted" it pink. Play with the features until you get something you like!

 If you want to add a cute graphic, click on the 5th section from the top. This will open up hearts, stars, arrows and other symbols. The default color is black but you can easily change it to other colors. 

 If you like rounded corners, click on the "frames" section and add them. Make sure to click "transparent corners". I don't typically add rounded corners but thought I'd give it a try this time around.

Now you're ready to add text. Choose something readable, you don't want any confusion when it comes to your shop name or what you sell. If you choose a cursive font, try not to choose one with too much embellishment. Remember this button is only 150x150, if you're text is too small or too embellished it won't be readable.

 Lastly, you want to get it to 150x150. Click on "resize" and make sure to check the box marked "Keep Proportions". You're done!

You're 150x150 button is complete and ready to share!

If you haven't got the time to make a button, check out my Sponsor Page.
I make buttons for a small fee:)