new template and a tut

This is a tutorial-special for Carol from Brazil :D

I created another template called Around the Block (I was inspired by a challenge at Snap and Scrap, go check them out!) and am including a tutorial on how to use them. Enjoy!

First of all: my templates are in psd-format, which means they can be used in Adobe Photoshop. When you downloaded the file, and open it, you will see something like this:





There are 2 layers you need to read, and then make invisible. You can do that by either clicking on the eye in front of the layername, or by right-clicking with the mouse, and then choose 'delete layer'. After you do that, you'll have the template ready to use.


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Step 2:


Open a paper you would like to use as your background. Hold ctrl+A to select the paper and then hold ctrl+C to copy it (or use your own way of selecting and copying). Go back to the template, make sure you click on the layer that is labeled 'background' (this layer-name becomes blue).

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Step 3:



now hold ctrl+V to paste the paper onto the background. It should look something like this.



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Step 4:



Open a paper you would like to use in one of the blocks. For small blocks it's nice to use patterned papers. Here's what I chose:





Again: hold ctrl+A and ctrl+C to select and copy.
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Step 5:



Go back to your template, make sure you select the right layer with the block you want to fill (by clicking on it and making it blue). Hold ctrl+V to paste the paper onto your template.





It should look like this, don't be scared! The things below the paper aren't gone, check the next step.

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Step 6:



Remember the clipping mask from the last tutorial? If not, check it here. You'll need this info to go on.

We are going to clip the patterned paper to the block. Hold the alt-button on your keyboard, and click between the layers of the patterned paper and the block. The patterned paper should be on top of the block you want to fill. When you clip them together, it should look like this:



Continue this process with other papers or with photo's, it works in the same way.

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Step 7:



Now play with some other items, you don't have to leave the template in the exact way you downloaded it. Make it your own, by adding journaling, your own title (just double click on the title-layer and type away) and elements. The template is only a way to inspire you to create a unique layout. In the end it could look like this:



I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, if you have any questions please let me know!

It's Magic elements and another tut

First things first: the freebie elements (and the last part of the It's Magic! kit). You can download by clicking the preview. It contains buttons, stars, a starry overlay, a wand with sparkles and see through bubbles.

Do you have any requests for my next freebie? Word-art, templates or another kit? And what kind of kit do you want? Let me know!

sorry, link has been removed!

And now another tut. This time I will explain the magic of the clipping mask. It's a simple way to design elements with your papers.

Step 1: Open a patterned paper, any paper will do.

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Step 2: make another layer (IMPORTANT!) and draw any shape on it. I made a star, color doesn't mather.

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Step 3: change the layer order, the shape should be UNDER the paper. You can't see it, but it's still there.

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Step 4: And now the magic trick! Move your mouse between the layers (where I draw the circle in the last image), hold the ALT-button on your keyboard (you'll see that your cursor changes now) and click. MAGIC! This is called the clipping mask, the paper is now clipped to your shape.

To use your shape, save it first or merge the layers. You have now created an element!

Paperpack 2 and a little tut

sorry, link has been removed!
Here's the seccond part of It's Magic, 5 more papers.
Someone asked me how I make my papers. It's hard to explain in simple words, but I'll show you one little trick. I use Photoshop, create 2 layers and use the Blending Mode 'overlay'.

Step 1: take a picture of a nice texture and resize it to 3600x3600 pixels (you may need to chop some bits off to make a square)

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Step 2: add another layer, color it the way you want to and put this layer UNDER the texture layer

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Step 3: This is the trick! Select the texture-layer, and change the Blending Mode to 'overlay'

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Step 4: You paper should look something like this, the texture layer has the same color as the color-layer. Now you can finish your paper with brushes, gradients, borders or some more textures!