There are millions of blogs out there so it can be difficult to distinguish yourself. Just making a blog header can personalize the template so your visitors know exactly what your blog is about before they ever actually start reading. The blog header makes a first impression on the guests of your site so make sure that it's a good impression.
Photos are popular sources for blog headers. You'll want to make sure that the picture directly relates to your content or incorporate it with a witty tagline. Be aware that people all around the world will be visiting your blog so make sure that you take that into account when deciding whether or not to use pictures of your kids.
For a personal blog or if you scrapbook or sell crafts you might be interested in a cute cartoon graphic. This can look like you but still have a sense of whimsy. This creates a welcoming feel on your blog. It's rare to find these graphics for free but if you look through free stock photo sites you may be able to dig up a few. You'll want to contact the artist before you put it in your template. The picture may only be available for private use instead of on commercial sites. You'll also want the artist to be aware that you'll be using the photo in a template, especially if you are going to let other people use your design as well.
You'll need some kind of photo editing software when creating designs for blogs. There is free software that is comparable to Photoshop such as the GIMP program. Be aware that there is a sharp learning curve for these kinds of programs because there are so many different features available. Give yourself enough time to really learn the full capabilities of the software. This will give you a professional looking design.
If you aren't a designer then turn to people who are for free help. Many designers offer free headers. These are basic designs that you can use for a background. Then you can just add the title of you blog or maybe hang a frame with a picture that speaks to your niche on it. The downside to this is that you'll probably have to include a link in your template back to the designer but it saves you a lot of money.
The other way to create a free blog header is through the use of collage. You might want to just crop different photos and then resize them. Then you can lay them out in your blog header for a tile effect. This way you'll have a totally different look from every other blog out there. You'll want to make sure that the title of you blog is still visible and readable on top of a custom header.
A free blog header allows you to personalize a template easily. You can create a custom look without a big budget and it's an opportunity to tap into your creative skills.
