Live with Passion

As soon as I saw the new tagger's kit by Treasures by Terry called My Grungy Crimson Heart I knew I had to make a tag with it.

It's only 72 dpi, so it isn't suitable for any scrap pages you might want to print out, so I haven't bothered with any quick pages, sorry.

Tutorial for “Live with Passion” tag
What I used:
Tagger’s kit “My Grungy Crimson Heart” from Treasures by Terry http://butterflyblushdesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_53&products_id=365
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4 (have show transform controls checked for easy resizing; in PSP, have pick tool activated)

What I did:
1. Open a new transparent canvas 600 pixels x 600 pixels. Use preset shapes to create a rounded square, then select new fill layer, with use previous layer to create clipping mask checked to fill that shape with your selected background (paper 18).
2. Select a heart (heart 7). Copy & paste, centering in tag & resizing if needed.
3. There are 3 posers in kit; choose poser (cookie goth doll red 3), copy & paste poser of choice, resizing as desired.
4. Choose a butterfly (butterfly 2). Copy & paste, resizing as desired. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
5. Enter desired text in font of choice. In this case, I used Splendid 14, applied bevel & emboss effect to both main text & name, & also applied outer glow effect to the main text. Use a smaller font (3) for tag information.
6. Merge visible & save.

Hope you like it. Enjoy.

Strawberry Kisses

Heaven Dreams has a cute, summery kit called "Strawberry Kisses in both full & tag size.

I've made a set of 2 quick pages & a tag with tutorial.

Tutorial for “So Berry Sweet” tag

What I used:
Lovely scrap kit from Heaven Dreams called Strawberry Kisses http://www.scrappetizing.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_164&products_id=728, also available in tag size http://www.scrappetizing.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_164&products_id=727
Free poser from Anita Lee Creations http://www.posertubes.com/
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4.0 with show transform controls checked for easy resizing of elements

What I did:
1. Open a new transparent canvas 700 pixels x 700 pixels. Use circular selection tool to create a large circle. Fill with background of choice (paper 2).
2. Choose an element (erdbeerstrauch). Copy, paste, & resize as needed. Position as desired. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
3. Choose another element (butterfly 2). Copy, paste, resize, & position as desired. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
4. Copy, paste & resize poser or tube of choice (Kiki red02). Apply bevel & emboss effect.
5. Enter desired text. In this case I used Slash HMK Bold 18. To make the text curve, right click on the text in the layer palette, choose warp text>arch. Use a smaller font to add tag info (Arial 3).
6. Merge visible & save.

Enjoy.

Cuddly Friends

Butterfly Blush has an adorable new tag kit called "My Cuddly Friends" & it's on sale right now!

I've made a tag with tutorial & a freebie quick page.

Tutorial for “Cuddle Up” tag

What I used:
Tag kit from Butterfly Blush called “My Cuddly Friends” http://butterflyblushdesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_9&products_id=354
Poser by Ithas Poser Tubes
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4.0 (make certain “show transform controls” is checked for easy resizing)

What I did:
1. Open a new transparent canvas 700 pixels x 700 pixels. Use preset shapes to draw a large heart. Use layer>new fill layer with use previous layer to create clipping mask to fill the heart with background of choice (paper 2).
2. Choose a bow (bow 1). Copy & paste, positioning at top center of heart. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
3. Choose the elements that you wish to use. I chose panda 3, frog 1, hippo 1, & dragonflies 4. Copy, paste, resize as needed, & position elements around your poser of choice (cookie-pink03-itha). Apply bevel & emboss effect to each element.
4. Add text in desired colour & font. In this case I used Ottum HMK Bold 14 in a blue, with glitter 17 from Yarrow applied. Use a smaller font for tag information (Ottum HMK 03).

Enjoy.

Enchanting

Deb of Deb's Design currently has a great deal on - you can buy her entire store & get all new products she makes from now until the end of 2009 for a low price (that's the deal I opted for) or you can get what you want of her products for 50% off. She sells at different establishments, but I picked the deal up at Butterfly Blush Designs. One of the goodies included was a kit called Enchanting.I got this idea for a special tag. It's up at the top of this post. I hope she likes it -it's a surprise!
anyway, here's the tutorial if you want to make one like it:Tutorial for “Enter into Enchantment” tag
What I used:
Kit from Deb’s Design called “Enchanting” http://butterflyblushdesigns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_11&products_id=88
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4
{Make sure “Show Transform Controls” is checked off, for easy resizing of elements.}

What I did:
1. Start with a transparent canvas 700 pixels x 700 pixels. Using the circular selection tool draw an oblong circle that exits off the bottom of the canvas, so that it appears squared off at the bottom. Fill with desired background (paper08).
2. Create new layer. Draw another squared off oblong shape the same way as in step 1, but centering it & making it somewhat shorter & narrower. Fill with desired background (paper01). Apply inner glow effect & outer glow effect to this layer. The desire is to create the appearance of an opening into a cave.
3. Select your desired elements. In this tag I used tree, shroom1, flowerbranch1, bird2, & butterfly3, as well as angel1.
4. Copy & paste tree, resizing as necessary & positioning off to one side. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
5. Copy & paste the mushroom, resizing & positioning as desired. Apply bevel & emboss effect. Repeat.
6. Copy, paste, & resize, as needed the flowering branch. Position as desired along top of “cave” so that it flows naturally. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
7. Copy & paste the bird, resizing as needed & positioning in upper left area. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
8. Copy & paste the butterfly, resizing as needed & positioning as desired. Apply bevel & emboss effect.
9. Copy & paste the poser. Resize as needed & position as desired. Apply inner glow effect & then bevel & emboss effect.
10. Choose colour & font & apply desired text & name. In this case I used CaslonNo540SwaD 24 with italics applied & then used Creative Intentionz Exquisite Style 4 which both beveled & applied glitter to the text. Use a smaller font (Arial 2) for tag information.
11. Apply visible & save.

Enjoy.

Tropical Getaway

For those of you going on vacation & those of you who simply wish you were, Tootsies Creationz has a new 300 dpi tag kit called "Tropical Getaway".

Although the kit is suitable for scrapbooking as well as tagging, I wasn't pleased with the quick pages I tried to make, so I did 2 tags with tutorials instead.

Tutorial for “Tropical Getaway” tag

What I used:
Tag Kit by Tootsie’s Creationz called “Tropical Getaway” http://digifoxsstudio.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_48&products_id=1069
Kit includes a set of posers by Kairina Kat Kreations http://www.kairinakatkreations.blogspot.com/ and also Macaw posers from Graphics by Belle
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Graphics-by-Belle/
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4
{Make sure “show transform controls” is checked off on tool bar, or “show bounding box” for Photoshop Elements, or “pick” tool selected in Paint Shop Pro to allow easy resizing of elements by adjusting “box” around element.}

What I did:
1. Open a new transparent canvas 600 pixels x 600 pixels. Use circular selection tool to draw large circle & fill with background of choice (tc2, at about 30%).
2. Select tree (tc-coconut tree). Copy & paste. Adjust size & angle to taste. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect, followed by “outer glow” effect.
3. Select decorative element (tc-beach ball). Copy & paste. Resize as needed. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect.
4. Select poser of choice (tc-girl2). Copy & paste. Resize as needed. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect.
5. Choose bird poser if desired (tc_macaw3). Copy & paste. Resize & position as desired. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect.
6. Select text colour & desired font (black, Candice 12). Create a text box along edge of tree with text going in appropriate direction, & type the desired text. In your layers control box, highlight that text layer & right click. Select “Warp Text”. A new selection box will appear click style & a drop down menu will appear. Choose the option that best approximates what you want (arch). You may have to adjust the positioning of the text slightly after creating it. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect. For the name I increased font size to 16 & then applied “bevel & emboss” effect. Use a smaller font to add necessary tag information (Arial 2-4).
7. Merge visible & save.

Tutorial for “Tropical Getaway” tag2

What I used:
Tag Kit by Tootsie’s Creationz called “Tropical Getaway” http://digifoxsstudio.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_48&products_id=1069
Kit includes a set of posers by Kairina Kat Kreations
Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 4
{Make sure “show transform controls” is checked off on tool bar, or “show bounding box” for Photoshop Elements, or “pick” tool selected in Paint Shop Pro to allow easy resizing of elements by adjusting “box” around element.}

What I did:
1. Open a new transparent canvas 600 pixels x 600 pixels. Use the preset shape rounded rectangle to almost fill canvas. Use New Fill layer with use previous layer to create clipping mask checked off to fill with background of choice (tc-3).
2. Select frame (tc-frame3). Copy & paste. Adjust size to taste. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect, followed by “outer glow” effect & “inner glow effect”. With the previous (background) level selected, used the circular selection tool or the lasso to select & delete the area inside the frame.
3. Select poser of choice (tc-girl4). Copy & paste. Resize & position as needed. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect.
4. Select decorative element (tc-doodle6). Copy & paste. Rotate& resize as needed. Apply “bevel & emboss” effect. Repeat with another copy.
5. Choose another element if desired (tc-sunglasses). Copy & paste. Resize & position as desired.
6. Select text colour & desired font (black, Chaparral Pro Bold Italics 18). Create a text. For curved text, create a text box in selected area with text going in appropriate direction, & type the desired text. In your layers control box, highlight that text layer & right click. Select “Warp Text”. A new selection box will appear click style & a drop down menu will appear. Choose the option that best approximates what you want (arch). You may have to adjust the positioning of the text slightly after creating it. Apply other effects if desired. For the name I changed the font to Cluff HMK 18 & applied a glitter effect. Use a smaller font to add necessary tag information (Arial 2-4).
7. Merge visible & save.

Hope you like these. Enjoy.

Smile Because tag correction

In my previous posting for Heartbeatz Creations "Smile Because" I neglected to give specific credit to Schnegge for the 2 posers included in the kit, one of which I used for the tag.

Here is corrected version of tag & tutorial.

Tutorial for “Smile Because” tag

What I used:
Tag kit by Heartbeatz Creationz called “Smile Because”
http://heartbeatzcreationz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_84&products_id=2476, which includes 2 posers by Schnegge http://schneggesscraps.blogspot.com
Paint Shop Pro XI
{Make sure you have activated the Pick tool on your toolbar for easy resizing.}

What I did:
1. Open a new transparent canvas 600 pixels x 600 pixels. Use preset shape to draw an oval in the upper left corner of canvas. Create new vector layer & draw another oval in the lower right corner. Create new vector layer & use preset shape to draw a heart somewhat off-center, that overlaps both ovals. Alternatively, download the template I created for this tag.
2. Highlight the upper oval & fill with background of choice (paper 13). You will be prompted to change the vector layer to a raster type layer. Repeat with the lower oval.
3. Highlight the heart layer & select text (Beth’s Cute HMK Bold 16), making sure the text icon is the ‘A’ with the curve & enter main text as shown in the tag.
4. Activate Fill tool, but do not change your selected fill from text colour to background choice (paper 8) until after you have clicked on the heart & been prompted to change the vector layer to a raster layer. Then fill heart with the background.
5. Choose a flower element (element 30), copy, paste, & resize as needed. Adjust opacity to 80%.
6. Choose one of the 2 posers (element 35) or a poser or tube of your choice. Copy, paste, & resize the poser as needed.
7. Return to text & your text colour to enter name (Beth’s Cute HMK 20). Use a smaller font to enter tag information (Arial 3).
8. Merge visible & save.

My sincerest apologies to Schnegge for my inadvertant ommission.

Enjoy.

August 2009 desktop calendar

Whoa, it's August already!

Time to give you the August desktop calendar I made using Ali Designs A Day at the Beach kit.

Enjoy.