twitterday: background patterns

After I updated the look of my own Twitter page (as well as my blog), I thought it would be fun to make some background tiles that you all might want to use. I received some lovely suggestions, and although I didn't make all of them, I had so much fun making these patterns, that I might make more soon.

First, here's the deal. You can use these seamless patterns on your personal anythings (Twitter, blogs, websites, printed, whatever), and you don't even need to credit me. But please, please, don't use these on anything that you're selling, and don't use them in a way that would appear to be branding for your shop. Okay? Okay.

Now, here's the first batch...some different designs and sizes:

To use them, just right-click (Control-Click on a Mac) then choose to save the image to your computer.

In Twitter: Go to "Settings", then to "Design". Scroll down under the images they give you, and choose "Change background image."

Click on "Choose Image" and locate the file that you downloaded to your computer. Make sure that you check the box that says "tile background". Save your changes, and your new background will show up!

In Blogger: Go to the "Design" tab, and choose "Template Designer". Click on "Background", then click in the area under "Background Image".

Click on "Upload Image" then "Choose File" to select your downloaded image. Hit "Done" and Blogger will automatically tile the image for you.

(I'm afraid that I only know how these get set up in Blogger, but other blog platforms will have a similar situation, I'm sure. Also, I work on a Mac, so I realize that some of the directions could look a little different for you.)

But you didn't think that I would make those patterns, and not have something embroidery related, did you? You already got a peek in the Twitter screen shot...and I shan't disappoint! (yes, I just used the word "shan't") So, here's some embroidery floss in some of my favorite (signature!) colors. You'll be wanting to switch out backgrounds on things constantly to fit your #flossmood (see what I did there?)

Again, just right-click (Control-Click on a Mac) then choose to save the image to your computer.

All of these patterns can also be used as computer desktop backgrounds too. Just set one as your background, and choose "tile". If you want to print something with the patterns, Photoshop allows you to "define patterns", which basically saves the image so that you can fill an area with the tiled pattern.

Oh my. This ended up being a far more technical post than I planned on it being. I don't usually write instructions for this kind of thing, so if I confused anyone, I apologize! Leave any questions in the comments, and I'll do my best to answer!

Now, go prettify your backgrounds!