Baby Got Back(grounds)!

I had some great comments and questions on my previous Smartboard Linky Party post, so I thought I'd share a little bit of my know-how with those interested. One easy, fun way to jazz up your Notebook files is by creating backgrounds. First I must start with a disclaimer: Everything I'm about to show you I learned on my own through trial and error. If there is an easier, faster way to do this, please don't tell me because you'll break my heart. Just kidding, feel free to any tips you have in the comments :)

I know the pix are a bit small, but just click on them and they get much bigger.
First, open a notebook file or create a blank page.

Click on the properties tab - the one highlighted in blue below. You'll see the panel open. Now click on "image" fill and then the word "browse" under the little gray window.
Now, for this you'll need to have some files with background images. I get most of mine from Thistlegirl.com. (If you plan to sell these, you'll need to buy both of her reseller's licenses) Once you click on "browse" a window will open for you to choose your file:

Once you click on your choice, then click the "open" button, your page will fill up with that image!  (Im a Mac girl, so this part may look different for my PC peeps). Now, I think that's busy for a background, so I usually create a blank space in the middle and leave this image sort of like a frame.
 To create the frame effect, click on your page and go up to the shape menu and choose a square.

 Now, click on the square you just created, choose "properties" from the drop down menu, click on "solid fill" and choose a color.

 Now stretch and position the square to make a frame.
To make a border around the frame, click on the square again, choose "properties" and "line style". Now you can play with the color, size and style of your line (which is the outline of the square).

 Lock it in place and you're ready to create!

Play around with this a bit and see how it goes. Let me know how it worked for you. If you have anything else you'd like to know how to do ~ ask away & I'll do my best to help out!

*Check out Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business Interactive White Board Linky

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7 comments

  1. Yea!!! Thank you!!! I spent hours and hours this week trying to get to work on my Smartboard lessons. I went ahead and bought the Thistlegirl membership and resellers license, so now I have to get busy. I did figure how out to do the background, but I never did learn how to do the line styles, so thanks for sharing. I'll have to send you a finished product!

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  2. Happy to help! It's fun once you get the hang of it :)

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  3. Neat! Never thought to make my own backgrounds on SMART Notebook! Thanks for sharing!

    Justin

    TeacherInMe

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  4. You crack me up!! Love the title! I'm a new follower and I'm excited to read more. I added you to my 2nd grade Sqworl list! http://sqworl.com/8f3io5
    Feel free to stop by and say hi sometime!!
    Julie

    Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher

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  5. Wow! I love it, Denise! Thanks for linking up to my LP! Would you mind putting a back link to my blog since you are one of my celebrity blogger friends and get tons more traffic than me?? That way people can see (and maybe post)their ideas as well! Only if you can find the time! I know its a pain. :)
    Krissy
    Mrs.Miner’s Monkey Business

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  6. Sorry about that Krissy! I did it w/my first one, but forgot w/ this one. It's done now :)

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  7. Thank you for linking up this week at my Thursday's Tech Tips for Teachers and showing my follower such a terrific tip!
    ~Fern
    Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!
    Fern Smith's Pinterest Boards!

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