How to customize Google Sites for Google Apps Eportfolio (or other purposes)

The saga of making my eportfolio using Google Apps continues.  I am using Google Sites for the presentation part of my eportfolio.  I was happy with my artifacts and reflections on my Google Site but I thought all the themes were kind of lack luster. It was time to add a creative, aesthetic element to my Google Site.  Here's how I did it: