Dark Angel - 100% FTU!

Tube used: Cookie by Lisa K. Included in scrap kit

Kit used:  Dark Angel by Grunge & Glitter Scraps – Freebie

Mask used:  BabesDesignz Mask32. Her blog is no longer available, so I've supplied the mask HERE

Font used: Eight fifteen – Free font by Kevin andAmanda

Open a new canvas, 500 x 500.

Open Paper 8, resize 75%, copy and paste onto your canvas.

Open Paper 9, resize 75%, copy and paste onto your canvas.

On Paper 9, apply BabesDesignz, Mask 32 (Invert transparency checked), merge group, resize layer by 105%.

Open Frame 4, resize 75%, copy and paste onto your canvas.

Shift+L to Colorize the frame – Hue & Saturation set to 0.

Save your progress.

Open Paper 8, resize 75%, copy and paste onto your canvas.

Open your tube. If you’re using the same one as me, resize 75%.

Copy and paste it above your frame layer. Arrange your tube in the frame.

Apply a drop shadow to your tube – 5, 5, 50, 5, black.

Duplicate the frame layer and move the duplicate frame above your tube.

Erase the portion of the frame that covers the head and right wing of your tube, so it looks like she is coming out of the frame.

Erase the portion of the tube that shows below the bottom of the frame.

Apply a drop shadow to your bottom frame layer. 5, 5, 55, 5, black.

Save your progress.

Open Harp. Resize 75%. Copy and paste onto your canvas as the top layer. Arrange at the bottom right of the frame.

Open Candle2. Resize 50%. Copy and paste onto your canvas as the top layer. Arrange at the bottom right of the frame.

Open Flower2. Resize 55%. Copy and paste onto your canvas. Arrange at the bottom left of the frame.

Open Flower4. Resize 40%. Copy and paste onto your canvas. Arrange behind the Flower2 layer. Duplicate, move the duplicate slightly lower – or however you like it!

Open Ribbon2. Resize 85%. Copy and paste onto your canvas.  Image>Mirror (Ctrl+M).  Arrange at the bottom of the frame.

Open Butterfly2. Resize 35%. Copy and paste onto your canvas. Arrange at the top left corner of your frame.

Add a drop shadow to each of the elements you added. 3, 3, 55, 3, black.

Save your progress.

Add your copyright & license info. I used the copyright that came on the tube.

Add your name in your font of choice.

To add the border around your name like mine is –

Convert name layer to raster layer.

Selections> Select All, Float, Defloat, Modify, Expand by 3

Add a new layer below your name layer.

On the new layer, flood fill the selection area with a color of choice.

Selections>None.

Add drop shadow, 3, 3, 55, 3, black.

Delete the bottom white layer.

Save and you’re done!

Blurred & Woven Forum Set

Supplies needed:

No scraps for this one :)

Image of choice – Artwork used in this tutorial is ©sxc.hu. These are FTU stock images, just be sure to check the usage instructions for the image you want to use. For this set, I used this one - http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1094303

Filter – Mura’s Filter Meister: Copies (Free)

            Eye Candy 5 Impact (PTU) OR Eye Candy 3.1 (Free) – Gradient Glow - Optional

Font of choice – I used “Manta”

All links and supplies shared with permission.

You will need a good working knowledge of PSP to complete this tutorial. This tutorial was written using version X2.

Let’s get started!

Open a new canvas – 500 x 250, transparent.

Open your image. Crop & resize so that it is between 200 x 200 and 250 x 250. It does not have to be square. Be sure, when resizing, you click “Lock Aspect Ratio” so that you do not distort the image.

Still on your small image – add a new raster layer as your top layer. (Or, if your image is on the small size, skip the next 3 steps & use Image>Add Borders to add a 5 pixel symmetrical border in your color of choice.)

Flood fill the new layer with a color of choice from your image. I used #c82a43.

Selections>Select All, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Hit Delete. Selections>Select None.

Right click on either layer and choose Merge>Merge Visible.

Then copy & paste it onto your 500 x 250 canvas. Do not close out your 250x250 image with border, we will use it again.

On your 500x250 canvas, duplicate your image.

On the bottom (original) layer, apply Mura’s Meister Copies: Wall Paper with Shrink. Play with the “Number” setting until you have a nice mix of colors and the entire canvas is filled (no blanks spots or gaps). If you end up with areas of the canvas that aren’t covered, you can duplicate the Mura’s layer, and then mirror it and/or invert it, to get more coverage. If you do this, you will need to merge the 2 layers together.

Still on the Mura’s layer, Adjust>Blur>Radial Blur. Blur type: Zoom, Strength: 50, Elliptical: Checked, Horizontal & Vertical Offset: 0, Protect Center: 25.

Still on the Mura’s layer, Effects>Texture Effects>Weave. Gap Size: 1, Width: 3, Opacity: 1, Fill Gaps: Checked. Weave Color & Gap Color: the same as what you used for your border.

Save your progress.

Above the Mura’s layer, but below the image layer, draw out a long rectangle that goes all the way across your canvas (horizontally). Foreground color turned off, background color the same as your border color.

Center it, convert to Raster. Apply a drop shadow: 3, 3, 40, 5, black. Then -3, -3, 40, 5, black.

Apply the same drop shadows to your image layer.

Above your image layer (will be your new top layer), add a new raster layer.

Flood fill the new layer with the same color you used for your image border.

Selections>Select All, then Selections>Modify>Contract by 5. Hit Delete. Selections>Select None.

Save your progress.

On one side of your canvas, add a quote or saying of choice. (Optional)

On the other side, add your name. Add a drop shadow to your name. I used 3, 3, 40, 3, black.

Now, add your copyright info, license # (if applicable), and tagger’s mark (if you use one). Every tag needs copyright info ;) I used a gradient glow to make my copyright info more visible.

Save as .png file and you are done with the tag.

For the avatar -

Go back to your small image with border.

Resize it so that the longest size it 150 pixels.

Image>Canvas Size – Enter new dimensions of 150x150 pixels and choose placement to center.

Now, add your copyright info / license and your name or initial.

Save as .png and you’re done!

I would love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on March 28, 2011. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to the tutorial listing. 

Here's another example, also using a stock image from sxc.hu:

Beginner Forum Set Tutorial

Supplies Needed

Image of Choice – I'm using a wonderful image by Darriel Jenkins, http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/browse.php?username=ryo80
*Used with permission granted to Shewolfs Domain yahoo group 

Font of Choice – I'm using Dynomite Spark Thin

Optional – Animation Shop, Eye Candy

Let's Get Started!

Open image of choice. If image is larger than 500 pixels in width, resize to width of 500. If smaller than that, don't resize to make it larger, just work with it as is. Duplicate it, we will use one for the tag & one for the avatar.

Activate your Crop tool. Set it to a width of 500 (or the width of your image) and a height of 250. Move the crop box around until you get the area you want to use for your tag. Hit the check mark to apply crop.

Activate your Preset Shape tool. Choose the rectangle tool.

Set your stroke/foreground color to null & your background/fill color to a color from your image. I used #bf4b01.

Draw a long thin rectangle out on your canvas. Convert to raster layer.

Rotate your shape so it cuts across the canvas. I rotated mine 55 degrees to the left, but the exact angle will depend on the image you choose.

Apply a texture effect to your shape. I used Blinds, 3, 25, Light from the top, color #482d1a.

Save.

Add a new raster layer, should be your top layer.

Selections>Select All

Flood fill with the same color your used for your rectangle.

Selections>Modify>Contract by 5 pixels.

With your flood filled layer still active, hit the Delete key.

Selections>Select None.

Save.

Add a drop shadow to your border & your rectangle. I used 0, 0, 55, 10, black. Save.

Add your copyright info.

Add your name/text. Rotate it the same amount you rotated your rectangle & place it over the rectangle on your canvas.

Add a gradient glow (optional, use Eye Candy: Gradient Glow) and drop shadow to your name.

If you'd like to add simple animation to the rectangle/border, follow the instructions below, otherwise – you're done with your tag!

For your avatar – 

Crop a 150 x 150 portion from your original image. Repeat the steps you used to create the border. Add your name & copyright info.

For animation -

Activate your rectangle or border layer – whichever you want to animate.

Go to Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise. Choose settings “Uniform” and 60%, Monochrome should be CHECKED.

Edit>Copy Special>Copy Merged

Go to Animation Shop and Edit>Paste>As New Animation (or CTRL+V)

Back in PSP, Edit>Undo (or CTRL+Z)

Go to Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise. Choose settings “Uniform” and 61%, Monochrome should be CHECKED.

Edit>Copy Special>Copy Merged

Go to Animation Shop and Edit>Paste>After Current Frame (or CTRL+Shift+L)

Back in PSP, Edit>Undo (or CTRL+Z)

Go to Adjust>Add/Remove Noise>Add Noise. Choose settings “Uniform” and 62%, Monochrome should be CHECKED.

Go to Animation Shop and Edit>Paste>After Current Frame (or CTRL+Shift+L)

Still in Animation Shop – Edit>Select All (or CTRL+A)

Animation>Frame Properties – Change the display time to 15

View>Animation – You can speed up the “twinkling” by changing the display time to a number lower than 15, or slow it down by using a higher number.

When you are happy with it, save as GIF and you are done.

Here's another example of the tut, using artwork by ©Khaosdog, www.khaosdog.de (Used with permission of the artist)

Sweet Nothings

Hosted on Fotki

Supplies needed:

Scrapkit of choice - I used Bluedream Designs' FTU kit “Sweet Nothings”. You can get this great kit & more freebies at her blog - http://bluedreamdesigns.blogspot.com/

Tube of choice – I used Keith Garvey's tube “Robin”, which can be purchased at MPT. You must purchase the tube & obtain a license from MPT in order to use this artwork.

Font of choice – I am using “Diskus”, you can use any font you want.

Mask of choice – WSL Mask 079, which you can get from her blog - http://weescotslasscreations.blogspot.com/

Optional Plug-In – Eye Candy Gradient Glow

All links and supplies shared with permission.

This tutorial is written using PSP X2, but should be easy to do on other versions. It is written assuming you have a general working knowledge of PSP.

Let’s get started!

First, open a new canvas 500 x 500.

Flood fill the canvas white.

Open Paper10, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Apply WSL mask 079.

Activate the mask layer & resize just that layer 125%

Merge mask group together.

Save your work.

Open Paper5, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Open Frame1, copy & paste onto your canvas.

Open your tube, copy & paste close-up onto your canvas. Move it above Paper5 but below Frame1.

On your close-up layer, Mirror (CTRL+M). Arrange it under the frame as you like.

Change Blend Mode of close-up layer to Luminance (Legacy).

Save your progress.

Activate your frame layer.

Using your magic wand tool (tolerance and feather set to 0, mode set to add, match mode set to none), click INSIDE your frame.

Selections>Modify>Expand by 5 pixels.

Selections>Invert (CTRL+Shift+I)

Activate your Paper5 layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Activate your close-up layer and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

Selections>None (CTRL+D). Save.

Activate your close-up layer, right click on layer palette, choose Merge>Merge Down.

Repeat to merge your frame down onto your close-up & paper.

Save.

Activate your crop tool, select the entire canvas, and crop (gets rid of any paper outside of the canvas area).

On your merged together frame layer – resize 90%

Apply a drop shadow to your frame layer. I used 5, 5, 25, 6, black, then again using -5, -5, 25, 6, black.

Save.

Copy & paste your tube onto the canvas. I resized mine 85% to get it to fit.

Arrange it how you like & add a drop shadow. I used 4, -4, 40, 8, black.

Save.

Open Flower Doodle & resize 65%. Copy & paste onto your canvas, below frame layer & above masked layer.

Move the doodle to the top left corner of your canvas.

Duplicate your doodle layer, Mirror & Invert the doodle & arrange how you like.

Open Flower1, resize 85%, arrange how you like. Add drop shadow, I used 3, 3, 40, 5.

I added the saying “Whisper Sweet Nothings To Me” at the top in #605342, then added a gradient glow of 5, using color #fcdcde. Drop shadow used is 2, 2, 45, 2, color #29231d.

Save.

If you are going to resize the tag, do so now BEFORE you add your copyright info.

Add your copyright info/license number/tagger’s mark. Save.

Add your name or other text, hide the white background, save as .png file, and you are done!

I would love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on November 18, 2010. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

Click HERE to return to tutorial listing.