Sunny Days and Sandy Toes

This tutorial was written by me on May 10th, 2013 and was written assuming you have a general knowledge of PSP.  You will need the following supplies:

Awesome kit entitled "Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses" by Horseplay's Pasture Design.  This gorgeous kit is available at Scraps From the Heart.  Thanks so much Bev!

Artwork ©Dean Yeagle.  Dean was with CILM when I purchased this tube, but you can now find his tubes at CDO.

Mask #35 by Weescotslass.

Filter used: Eye Candy 4000; Gradient Glow

Font: I used Bamboo Brisk, HERE.

Drop shadow used throughout, unless otherwise specified: H&V 2, Opacity 50, Blur 10.

~~ Remember to save often! ~~

Place the mask in your PSP mask folder or a folder of your choice.

Open a new image, 750 x 750, white background.

From the kit, open element 33 and resize 75%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and move a bit to the left.

Using the magic wand, click inside the frame.  Selections > Modify > Expand > expand by 5.

Open Paper 10 and resize 60%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange as desired.  Invert the selection and tap delete.  Deselect and apply drop shadow to the frame.

Open element 28 and resize 55%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange on the right side of the frame (see my tag for reference).

Copy and paste the tube as a new layer, and arrange so it looks like she's sitting on the barrel.  Drop shadow the tube, I used V 2, H 5, Opacity 40, Blur 15.

Now add the rest of your elements, I used: 

#4: resize 25%

#5: resize 50%; duplicate and mirror.  Resize copy 85%.

#11: resize 70%; duplicate twice and mirror once.  Arrange as shown above the background layer.

#12: resize 40%

#13: resize 50%

#18: resize 35%

#20: resize 50%

#21: do not resize

#36: resize 85% and mirror

#44: resize 35%

#47: resize 25%, then 90%

#51: resize 30%; duplicate and mirror, resize 85%

#60: resize 35%

Apply drop shadow to all elements except the sand.

Hide the background layer and merge visible.  Unhide the background and add a new raster layer.  Select all.  Copy and paste Paper 11 into the selection; deselect.  Apply Weescotslass mask #35 and merge mask group.  Use the raster deform tool to adjust mask size and placement.

Crop and resize your tag, I resized 85%.

Open element #74 and resize 75%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange at the bottom of the tag.

Effects > Plugins > Eye Candy 4000 > Gradient Glow.

Under the Colour tab, select "Medium" from the list.

Under the Basic tab, change the settings to:

Glow Width: 3.00

Soft Corners: 0

Overall Opacity: 100

Draw Only Outside Selection: checked

Click OK.

Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 2, Opacity 50, Blur 6.

Activate the text tool and select the Bamboo Brisk font.  Size: 72, Stroke: 0, Create as: Vector, Anti-alias: Sharp, colour: black 

Type your name and position inside the frame, or wherever you wish.  Layers > Convert to Raster Layer.  Apply the same gradient glow as above.  Apply drop shadow above.

Add all applicable copyright and license information.

Save as a png and you're done!  Enjoy your new tag!

Hugs, Carol♥

Ahhh... (FTU)

This tutorial was written by me on May 6th, 2013 and was written assuming you have a general knowledge of PSP and Animation Shop.  You will need the following supplies:

Adorable tube by Sally Gilroy, this one is called "Dagmar The Dragon" and is available at PSP Tube Stop.  Love this tube!

Mask #87 by Signature Collections.

Filters used:

Toadies: Ommadawn

Eye Candy Nature: Water Drops

DSB Flux: Bright Noise

Font used: Curlz MT, a web search will result in multiple links.

Animation Shop

~~ Remember to save often! ~~

Open a new image, 750 x 750, white background.

Foreground: #9cd5eb

Background: #b958a9

Change foreground to gradient with these settings:

From the drop-down menu: Select Foreground/Background

Style: Linear

Angle: 45

Repeats: 5

Invert: checked 

Add a new raster layer and flood fill with the gradient.

Adjust > Blur > Gaussian Blur > Radius 15.

Apply Signature Collections mask #87 and merge the mask group.

Effects > Plugins > Toadies > Ommadawn with these settings:

Cell Width: 17

Cell Height: 17

Cell "a" Sharp/Soft: 235

Cell Edges On/Off: 15

Using the magic wand with the settings below, click one of the black lines.  Selection > Modify > Expand > expand by 1.  Tap delete and deselect.

Duplicate the mask layer twice for a total of three.  Rename Mask 1, Mask 2 and Mask 3.  Hide 2 and 3 and activate Mask 1.

Select the magic wand, change the settings to:

Mode: Add (Shift)

Match mode: RGB Value

Tolerance: 20

Contiguous: checked

Feather: 0

Anti-alias: unchecked

Click inside some of the boxes, use as few or as many as you like.

Effects > Plugins > DSB Flux > Bright Noise > Set the Intensity to 45 and select the "Mix" radio button.  Click OK.

Hide Mask 1, open and activate Mask 2.  Apply Bright Noise again with the same settings, this time click the Mix button twice.

Hide Mask 2, open and activate Mask 3.  Apply Bright Noise, clicking the Mix button three times.

Selections > Select None.

Copy and paste your tube as a new layer and move him to the lower right corner, as shown.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 2, Opacity 55, Blur 10.

Open the flowers that came with the tube and resize 50%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and move beneath the main tube.  Arrange as shown on the left side of the tube.  Duplicate, mirror and move the copy above the tube, arrange as shown.  Drop shadow both layers.

Open the bird, copy and paste as a new layer and arrange as shown.  Drop shadow.

Activate the tube layer.  Using the freehand selection tool, draw a selection around the bubbles and above the dragon, like this:

(Click for larger version)

Add three new raster layers.  Name Bubbles 1, 2 and 3.  Hide Bubbles 2 and 3 and activate Bubbles 1.

Effects > Plugins > Eye Candy Nature > Water Drops.  Under the Settings tab, choose "Small, Champagne Bubbles"

Under the Basic tab, change the settings to this:

(Click for larger version)

Click OK.

Hide Bubbles 1, open and activate Bubbles 2.  Apply the Water Drops filter again, using the same settings, but click the Random Seed button until you see something you like.

Repeat for Bubbles 3.

Resize your tag, I resized 80%.

Activate the text tool:

Font: Curlz MT

Size: 72

Stroke: 1

Foreground and Background (same as gradient; see above)

Create as a Vector

Type "Ahhh..." and arrange where you like.  Layers > Convert to Raster.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 2, Opacity 55, Blur 6.

Add your name using the same settings, but change the size to 95.  Drop shadow.

Add all applicable copyright and license information.

Time to animate!

Open Animation Shop.

In PSP, hide Mask 2, Mask 3, Bubbles 2 and Bubbles 3.  Make sure Mask 1 and Bubbles 1 are open.

Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged.

In Animation Shop:

Edit > Paste > As A New Animation

Back in PSP:

Hide Mask 1, open Mask 2.  Hide Bubbles 1, open Bubbles 2.

Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged.

In AS:

Edit > Paste > After Current Frame.

Repeat this procedure for the final two layers (Mask 3 and Bubbles 3).

In AS:

Edit > Select All

Animation > Frame Properties > change the display time to 25.

View > Animation to see your tag in action!

Save as a gif and you're finished!  Enjoy!

Hugs, Carol♥

Have a Bee-u-tiful Day!

This tutorial was written by me on May 5th, 2013 and was written assuming you have a general knowledge of PSP.  You will need the following supplies:

Beautiful scrap kit "Honey To the Bee" by Designs by Stina.  Please visit Stina's blog HERE for links to her stores.  Thanks so much hun!

Tube and close-up by Aurelie Corre, who was with MPT when I purchased this tube.  Her website is HERE.

Silent Spring template #3 from Twyzted T's Playroom.

Mask #82 from Signature Collections.

Font: I used "Frosting For Breakfast", HERE.

~~ Remember to save often! ~~

Place the mask in your PSP mask folder or a folder of your choice.

Open the template in PSP, shift + d to duplicate and close the original.

Delete Raster 9, 10 and Raster 10 Shadow.

Resize template 85%, all layers checked.  Change the canvas size to 800 x 700.  Unhide the background layer and flood fill the blank area with white.

Activate Raster 2; select all, float and defloat.  From the kit, open Paper 3 and resize 70%.  Copy and paste as a new layer; invert the selection and tap delete.  Deselect and delete the original layer.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 0, Opacity 63, Blur 12.

Activate Raster 3; select all, float and defloat.  Open Paper 4 and resize 80%.  Copy and paste as a new layer; invert selection and tap delete.  Deselect and delete the original layer.

Repeat for Raster 4.

Activate Raster 6; select all, float and defloat.  Open Paper 5 and resize 55%.  Copy and paste as a new layer; invert selection and tap delete.  Do not deselect.

Open the close-up tube, copy and paste as a new layer.  Arrange within the selection and tap delete.  Deselect and delete the original layer.  Change the blend mode on the tube layer to Soft Light.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 2, Opacity 55, Blur 6.  Duplicate the tube.

Activate Raster 8.  Change the foreground to #383838 and the background to #eb5591.  Activate the Colour Replacer tool, which is located in a fly out menu just under the paint brush.

Change the settings to:

Size: 999

Hardness: 100

Step: 10

Density: 100

Thickness: 100

Rotation: 0

Tolerance: 20

Center the brush on the canvas and left click.

Activate Raster 7; select all, float and defloat.  Open Paper 5 and resize 80%.  Copy and paste as a new layer; invert selection and tap delete.  Deselect and delete original layer.

Activate Raster 5; select all, float and defloat.  Open Paper 8.  Image > Rotate Right.  Resize 60%, copy and paste as a new layer.  Invert selection and tap delete.  Deselect and delete original layer.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 0, Opacity 63, Blur 12.

Copy and paste your main tube as a new layer and arrange on the left side of the tag.  Apply drop shadow, I used V 2, H 6, Opacity 30, Blur 16.

Now add your elements, I used:

Bee 1: resize 30%, then 90%.  Apply drop shadow, I used: H&V 2, Opacity 53, Blur 10.

Butterflies: do not resize; apply a light drop shadow.  I used H&V 2, Opacity 20, Blur 3

Cute Bunny: resize 35%

Floral 1: resize 80% and arrange at the bottom of the circle.  Duplicate and mirror, erase any excess.  Merge the two layers, duplicate and flip.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 2, Opacity 53, Blur 10.

Floral 2: resize 75% and arrange at the top of the circle.  Duplicate and mirror.  Merge these two layers together.  Drop shadow.

Scalloped Tag 2: resize 15% and place in the center of the flower on the right.  Duplicate and move to the flower on the left.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 0, Opacity 40, Blur 6.

Word Art 4: resize 50%.  Apply drop shadow, I used H&V 0, Opacity 58, Blur 6.

Hide the background layer and merge visible.  Resize merged layer 85%.

Unhide the background layer and add a new raster layer.  Select all.  Copy and paste Paper 5 into selection and deselect.  Apply Signature Collections mask #82 and merge group.  Use the raster deform tool to adjust mask size and placement.

Crop and resize your tag.  Add your name, I used the font "Frosting For Breakfast", Size 72, Stroke 0, colour #383838.  Drop shadow: H&V 2, Opacity 58, Blur 10.

Add all applicable copyright and license information.

Save as a png and you're finished, enjoy your new tag!

Hugs, Carol♥

A Fallen Angel (FTU)

This tutorial was written by me on May 4th, 2013 and was written assuming you have a general knowledge of PSP and Animation Shop.  You will need the following supplies:

Awesome FTU kit "Fallen Angel Sampler" by Gothic Inspirations.  Download from her blog HERE.  Remember to say thanks for hard work freely shared, it's always appreciated!  Jess also has an incredible PTU version of this kit with even more goodies!  It's available at her store HERE.  Thank you so much Jessica!

Beautiful artwork by Rachael Tallamy, this tube is entitled "Glisten".  Rachael was with CILM when I purchased this tube but her art can now be purchased at Up Your Art.  Please don't use without a license.

Mask #11 from Horseplay's Pasture Tutorials.  Thanks so much Bev!

Xenofex 2: Constellation

Animation Shop

I used the font "Nadine Script Extra", a pay font.

~~ Remember to save often! ~~

Place the mask in your PSP mask folder or a folder of your choice.

Open a new image, 800 x 750, white background.

From the kit, open Frame 1 and resize 70%.  Copy and paste as a new layer.

Using the freehand selection tool with the Selection Type set to Point-to-Point, Mode set to Add (Shift), Feather and Smoothing set to 0, draw a selection around the frame, like this:

Open Paper 6 and resize 55%; copy and paste as a new layer and move beneath the frame. Invert the selection and tap delete.  Do not deselect.

Open Blood Drips and resize 70%; copy and paste as a new layer and arrange as desired within the frame.  Tap delete and deselect.  Apply drop shadow to the frame, I used H&V 2, Opacity 67, Blur 12.

Open Tree, do not resize.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange behind the frame.  Use the eraser to remove the bottom portion under the frame.  Drop shadow using settings above.

Paste the Tree again (it will still be on the clipboard) and resize 70%.  Move to the left side behind the frame and move this layer below the large tree layer.  Duplicate and mirror.  Drop shadow.  See my tag for placement.

Copy and paste the tube as a new layer and move to the left side of the frame.  Apply drop shadow, I used V 2, H 6, Opacity 35, Blur 16.

Open Grass, do not resize.  Duplicate 5 times for a total of 6.  Mirror two of the copies.  Arrange the layers to form a "lawn" beneath the tube and frame.  Once you're satisfied with placement, merge these 6 layers together and drop shadow.  Make sure this layer is beneath the frame and above the background layer.

Open Rosary and resize 25%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange in front of her hand, as seen on my tag.  Zoom in:

Using your eraser, carefully remove some parts of the rosary so it looks like she's holding it in her hand.  This is what mine looked like:

 Zoom out again.

Now add your other elements, I used:

Bow: resize 20%

Charm: resize 30%

Fabric Flower: resize 15%; duplicate, mirror and resize 85%

Fog: do not resize.  Duplicate twice and arrange as desired.  I placed two above the background layer and one as a top layer.

Word Art 3: resize 70%, arrange above the frame.  See my tag for placement.

Apply drop shadows (except for the Word Art), I used H&V 2, Opacity 67, Blur 12.

Type a quote if you wish, I used "Angels are bright still, but the brightest fell."  I used Nadine Script Extra, size 36, stroke 0, BG colour white.  Arrange in front of the word art and drop shadow.

Hide the background layer and merge visible.  Resize the merged layer 90%.  Unhide the background layer and add a new raster layer.  Select all.  Copy and paste Paper 5 into the selection; deselect.  Apply Horseplay's Pasture Mask #11 and merge mask group.  Apply the same mask to the merged layer to soften it.

Duplicate the merged layer twice for a total of three.  Rename Merged 1, Merged 2 and Merged 3.  Hide Merged 2 & 3 and activate Merged 1.

Zoom in on the cross of the rosary.  Using the freehand selection tool with the settings listed above, draw a selection around the cross, like this:

Effects > Plugins > Alien Skin Xenofex 2 > Constellation with these settings:

(Click for full-size version)

Click OK.

Hide Merged 1; open and activate Merged 2.  Apply Constellation with the same settings, clicking the Random Seed button once.

Repeat for Merged 3.

Add your name, I used Nadine Script Extra, size 92, Stroke 0, BG colour white.

Add all applicable copyright and license information.

Time to animate!

Open Animation Shop.

In PSP, open Merged 1, hide Merged 2 & 3.  Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged.

In Animation Shop:

Edit > Paste > As New Animation.

Back in PSP, hide Merged 1, open and activate Merged 2.  Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged.

In AS:

Edit > Paste > After Current Frame.

Repeat for Merged 3.

In AS:

Edit > Select All

Animation > Frame Properties > change display time to 20.

Animation > Resize > I resized 90%, bicubic resample.

View > Animation to check your work.  Save as a gif and you're finished!  Enjoy your new tag and thanks for trying my tutorial!

Hugs, Carol♥

The Omen (SAC)

This tutorial was written by me on May 1st, 2013 and was written assuming you have a general knowledge of PSP and Animation Shop.  You will need the following supplies:

I used two incredible kits by Gothic Inspirations.  "Epiphany" is a tagger-size PTU kit available HERE and "Epiphany Sampler" is a FTU add-on kit available from Jessica's blog HERE.  Remember to leave a thank you when downloading, it will only take a moment of your time and is always appreciated!  Thank you so much Jess!

Beautiful artwork by Christina Lank.  This tube is entitled "Omen" and is available for purchase at PSP Tube Stop.  Please do not use without a license.

Template #133 by Horseplay's Pasture Tutorials, download HERE.  Thanks so much Bev!

Mask #111 by Vaybs

Animation Shop

I used "Kolker Brush", a pay font.

Throughout the tut, I will specify elements and/or papers from the Sampler kit by placing an "S" in front of the element name.

Ready?  Let's begin!

~~ Remember to save often! ~~

Place the mask in your PSP mask folder or a folder of your choice.

Open the template in PSP, shift + d to duplicate and close the original.

Delete the credit layer.  Change the canvas size to 800 x 700.  Activate the background layer and flood fill the blank area with white.

Activate Rectangle 1; select all, float and defloat.  From the Epiphany kit, open Paper 9 and resize 70%.  Copy and paste as a new layer, invert selection and tap delete.  Deselect and delete original layer.

Follow these basic instructions for the following layers:

Rectangle 2: use Paper 6

Rectangle 3: use Paper 4

Rectangle 4: use Paper 4

Circle: use Paper 13

Working on the Circle layer, do not deselect.  From the Elements folder of the Epiphany kit, open Gravestone 1 and resize 45%.  Arrange on the left side of the paper, use my tag for reference.  Tap delete, do not deselect.

Open Gravestone 2 and resize 60%, arrange beside the other gravestone and tap delete.

Open (S)Lightbeam and resize 30%.  Copy and paste as a new layer, move below the gravestones and arrange as shown.  Tap delete.

Open (S)Fog and resize 60%.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange as desired.  Tap delete and deselect.

Apply drop shadow to the gravestones, I used H&V 2, Opacity 75, Blur 10.

Activate the Circle paper layer again; select all, float and defloat.  Invert selection.  Activate one of the gravestone layers and tap delete.  This will remove the excess drop shadow.  Repeat for the other gravestone and deselect.  Apply this drop shadow to the template layers, except the circle.  For the Circle Back layer, I used H&V 0, Opacity 75, Blur 15.

Open Foliage Grass, do not resize.  Copy and paste as a new layer and arrange at the bottom of the tag, as shown.  Duplicate and mirror; arrange.  Duplicate again and move the copy down below the other template layers.

Open the tube and resize 78%, then 95% twice.  Arrange on the right side of the tag.  Apply drop shadow, I used V 2, H 6, Opacity 35, Blur 15.

Add your other elements, I used:

(S)Crows: resize 30%

Cloud: resize 60%

Flowers: resize 30%

Omen Magpie 1 (comes with the tube): resize 70%

(S)Tombstone: resize 65%

(S)Tree 1: do not resize

(S)Tree2: resize 50%

(S)Wordart: resize 45%; sharpen

Apply drop shadow to all elements.

Hide the background layer and merge visible.  Unhide the background and add a new raster layer.  Select all.  Copy and paste Paper 3 into the selection.  Deselect and apply Vaybs mask #111, merge the mask group.

Crop your tag.  Add your name and all applicable copyright and license information.

Open Lantern 1, resize 45%.  Copy and paste as a new layer.  Duplicate twice for a total of three layers.  Rename each layer Lantern 1, Lantern 2 and Lantern 3.  Hide Lantern 2 and 3 and activate Lantern 1.

Using the Freehand Selection tool, zoom in and draw a selection around the flame, like this:

Adjust > Brightness and Contrast > Brightness/Contrast > set Brightness to -55 and Contrast to 30.  Hide Lantern 1; unhide and activate Lantern 3.  Set Brightness to 18 and Contrast to 30.  Don't make any changes to Lantern 2.  Deselect.  Apply drop shadow to all three layers.

Hide Lantern 3 and unhide Lantern 1.

Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged.

Open Animation Shop.

Edit > Paste > As New Animation.

Back to PSP.  Hide Lantern 1 and open Lantern 2.  Edit > Copy Special > Copy Merged.

In Animation Shop:

Edit > Paste > Paste After Current Frame.

Repeat these steps for Lantern 3.

In Animation Shop:

Edit > Select All

Animation > Frame Properties > Change the display time to 20.

View > Animation to see your tag in action!

Resize if desired, I resized 90%.

Save as a gif and you're finished, thanks for trying my tutorial!

Hugs, Carol♥