Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Paisley and Pretties

As Summer draws to a close, I thought it would be fun to offer some free blog backgrounds that are 'transitional' in that they would fit both Summer or Fall.

The following backgrounds were designed using elements from the "Angel Mother" kit at Summertime Designs.

An Ode to Paisley

(My brothers helped me come up with the name for this background.) ;)
An Ode to Paisley, 3 Column


Annabelle


Annabelle, 3 Column


Mom's Garden

Late-Blooming Daisies


Late-Blooming Daisies, 3 Column


Summer's End

This background reminds me of a quilt that one might tenderly unpack from a corner of the attic at the end of Summer to cuddle up with on the chilly late-summer nights.
Summer's End, 3 Column


Picnic at Rosie's

This background is named after my grandmother Rosie, and the hint of red-and-white gingham makes me think of a picnic. :)
Picnic at Rosie's, 3 Column



Enjoy! :D

Denim and Damask, Blues and Mystery

I confess, I adore a good mystery. I began with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and worked my way up to Sherlock Holmes. Curled up in an armchair reading a mystery when "the game's afoot!", while the sky outside turns midnight blue and a full moon peeps through the clouds is something I very much enjoy.

The following series of Backgrounds all have blue, or mystery, or both, as the theme. :)

Design Elements were used from the absolutely wonderful Summertime Designs, and the Clock elements came from the very awesome Scrappiness Downunder.
Remember, to use a background, copy the HTML code underneath the picture.

Blue Mystery

 

Blue Mystery, 3 Column


Dancing Paisley
 



Dancing Paisley, 3 Column


Teal Shadows



Teal Shadows, 3 Column



Have you ever read a Sherlock Holmes story? Oftentimes the 'time' of certain events turns out to be crucial in solving the mystery.
The Clock Struck One



The Clock Struck One, 3 Column


(A 3 Column version without the clocks is available upon request for both "The Clock Struck One", and "Is It Time?") :)
Is It Time?




Is It Time?, 3 Column


The Time Has Come


The Time Has Come, 3 Column


And one more, just for fun!
(we had a) Grand Time




Enjoy!

Glamorous Gray

There's something so chic and sleek about just the right shade of Gray. Or Grey. How you you spell it? I like both! :D The backgrounds in this series all have a shade of gray somewhere in the design. From charcoal to light ash grey, a subtly sophisticated look is incorporated throughout.

A Sense of Style


A Sense of Style, 3 Column


Gray Sophisticate (For rather wide or 3 Column designs)


Grey Sophisticate (For rather wide or 3 Column designs)







So sorry that there isn't a 'standard' size background for the 2 designs above!

 Greypatch








 Greypatch, 3 Column


Chloe's Chandelier


Chloe's Chandelier, 3 Column


Nanny's Dress

(Without the chandelier, it reminds me of a dress that a proper English nanny might wear... the black, with white polka dots - oooh, and a hint of bright accent color, if she's a fashionable lady!)

The following series of backgrounds is named after one of my very dear friends, McKenzie. I was able to attend her lovely graduation ceremony, and the colors of the party and cake afterwards were much like the palette used in these blog backgrounds... and so were the polka-dots! :)
McKenzie {Flower}


McKenzie {Flower}, 3 Column


McKenzie


McKenzie, 3 Column


Grey Wildrose


Grey Wildrose, 3 Column


Black Madonna

This background design "Black Madonna" was named after a book I read by Davis Bunn, one of my favorite Christian Fiction authors (or as he prefers to be titled - wordsmiths). One of my very favorite Davis Bunn books is "The Book of Hours". Check it out, you'll like it! :)

Black Madonna, 3 Column

Enjoy! :)

Photography Backgrounds #1

All these free blog backgrounds are made with photographs I took myself with my Olympus PEN E-PL1 Camera. It's a super-easy way to make a background... but it's fun too! :)

What's really cool is that all these pumpins and squash were grown in our vegetable garden by my Dad. He definitely has a double dose of green thumb when it comes to gardening! :) Even with the drought, he's managed to reap a very bountiful harvest!

And since Autumn is on it's way... ;) This series of backgrounds features 'autumnal' themes.

To use a background, copy the HTML code underneath the picture, and see the "Installation Instructions" page for a tutorial on how to install a background on your blog.
Antique Pumpkins


Antique Pumpkins, 3 Column


Railroad Ties {transparent}

For the "City Slicker", Railroad ties are the crosspieces that the railroad tracks are laid on. Leftover railroad ties make wonderful lumber for using in landscape projects. We happen to have huge retaining walls built on our land from railroad ties, and the wood has a weathered, mossy texture that was just begging me to photograph it. :D

Railroad Ties {transparent}, 3 Column


Railroad Ties {white}


Railroad Ties {white}, 3 Column


Sepia Squash


Sepia Squash, 3 Column




 Bright Pumpkins




Bright Pumpkins, 3 Column

Enjoy! :)