How do you make a banner?

[Dark Turtwig]

Okay, I have been looking EVERYWHERE for info on how to make a banner. In the process I have searched youtube, right here on PE2K, and downloaded Gimp 2 for my computer, but no luck. I can't figure out Gimp, even with the guides.. And I have been trying to make one on paint, but I can't get it right. Does anyone know of a really good, simple tutorial? I am just trying to take this image:

And put it in a banner. I can't figure out (on paint) how to do what the people in the youtube vids are doing. I am very good with paint. I have done a lot of Sprite fusions on there before, just for fun. Here are some:

[Soda]

First of all, save you images in PNG, not Bitmap, Please, it hurts my eyes x_x

Second of all, you don't need a thread, post your sprites somewhere else...Ask aomeone experianced with Gimp, through PM/IM, not by a thread...

Gimp is the best free program...If you must use paint, ask Anastasiar, she does the best Paint banners, of anyone =P

[Dark Turtwig]

Sorry.. I want to download Photoshop, but you have to pay for that.. And I'll try Gimp again.

[dogs rule cats drool]

Hmmm.
I made a tut on Paint banners:

And GimpTalk's tutorials are good. :)
There's Gimp basics somewere in there.

[Dark Turtwig]

Oh thank you! That is soo simple! Thanks!