TUTORIAL - MERGING DIGITAL STAMPS JPG FORMAT (PAINT SHOP PRO)

Merging digital stamps together is a fun way of getting more of a unique look to your creations. You may have seen some people doing this on blogs and are wondering how its done so I shall do my best to explain! I use an image editting program called Paint Shop Pro (9) I *think* most other packages will work in the same way.
Once you learn the concept you can join as many as you like!


Just a quick note that some digital stamp companies have an angel policy that if you do merge images then you must only use theirs together.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER IS TO MAKE A COPY OF YOUR IMAGE, NEVER EDIT THE ORIGINAL!!!

Simply open your image and press control & c then click EDIT -> PASTE AS NEW IMAGE

There are generally 2 formats of images you may download, one is PNG format and the other is JPG or TIF, they work slightly different so I'll cover both separately. If you don't get things right the first time don't worry just click the back (EDIT->UNDO) button or try again :)

For this tutorial I am using Sam in Trouble and Jill Two by Mo Manning (with permission)
Click the pictures for a larger view.

STEP 1

Working on your copy of your image increase the canvas size to where you want your image to go, here I will be placing it to the left so click IMAGE ->CANVAS SIZE and adjust. It shows the current canvas size at the top so you know how much to adjust by.

You can also create a new image and copy and paste your first image into it.

STEP 2 (Optional)

You can resize your 2nd image to fit. To do this open your 2nd chosen image and click IMAGE ->RESIZE. Here I adjusted to 75%

STEP 3

You'll notice which image to work on by which one is highlighted blue at the top as now you will be flicking between them.

Working on Jill your 2nd image go to your tool menu and click on the SELECTION TOOL. Drop down the menu and select MAGIC WAND as shown in the pic below. Now click on the WHITE AREA next to your image of Jill. This will put 'runing ants' around the image and the page edge.

STEP 4

Next click on SELECTIONS which is on the top tool bar as shown below then SELECTIONS ->INVERT.

Make a copy of this by clicking EDIT ->COPY

STEP 5

Now move over to your 1st image (Sam in Trouble) by clicking on the blue bar above the image. When on this image you need to make a new layer so do this by clicking LAYERS ->NEW RASTER LAYER and click OK.





Next click EDIT ->PASTE ->PASTE AS TRANSPARENT SELECTION and your copied image of Jill will appear on your 1st image.

STEP 6

Your image will be floating so slot it where you would like it and right click your mouse. If you wish to move it again then click on the MOVE tool on the sidebar which looks like a cross above the magic wand. As you can see on the image below the images are over each other but you can still see your 1st image through


Click SELECTIONS ->SELECT NONE


STEP 7


This is the clever bit and takes a bit of practice! Click on the ERASER tool on the side tool bar as shown in the pic below. The eraser menu will appear above the images so look at size, hardness, density etc at the top. Set opacity to 100% and adjust the size of the eraser head, this is trial and error, I chose 18.


You also need to make sure your background colour is set to white which is on the right of the screen (Image below) Click onto it to change the colour. Now working on the layers click onto background (which is your 1st image)

As you have selected background on your layers panel when you erase it will not touch the top layer (JILL) so moving the eraser over Jill, remove bits of Sam that should be behind her. You do this by clicking and holding the left mouse button. Do a bit at a time as if you go too far over Sam you can click undo!



And finished! You can see Jill is now stood in front of the crayon box, I removed lines from the skirting board and put Sams hand behind Jill to hide the crayon! Just remember the eraser will remove whatever layer you select so if you wanted Jill behind Sam you would click on Jill in the layers panel then erase bits of her that you want behind Sam.



Don't worry if you don't get it right first time, just play and have a go. Remember to use a copy of your images and you can always click undo!


In summary

Open File 1
IMAGE ->CANVAS SIZE
Increase canvas to where you want image 2 placing.
Open Image 2
Select MAGIC WAND and click on white outer area of image 2
SELECTIONS ->INVERT
EDIT ->COPY
Click on Image 1
LAYERS ->NEW RASTER LAYER
EDIT ->PASTE ->PASTE AS TRANSPARENT SELECTION and move into place
SELECTIONS ->SELECT NONE
Click on Layer 1 on layers panel (Background)
Use ERASER TOOL

TUTORIAL - HEART SHAPED EASEL CARD

As promised a really easy heart shaped easel card tutorial! You can do most shapes with easel cards so long as you leave a connecting piece on the fold.

STEP 1

Fold a piece of card in half (Any size) then draw freehand your heart shape. You can use templates downloaded or any you have around. Cut your shape out but remember to leave the pieces touching the fold on the card uncut as below.

STEP 2

Open your card up and it will look like below.

Fold it closed and draw around it onto a separate piece of card to make an extra heart shape and cut out (As shown below). Decorate all your pieces with backing paper and trim.

STEP 3

Take the front of your card and fold it over. I have put the point at the bottom of the heart in line with the cut out on the top of the heart as shown below.

STEP 4

Add adhesive to the bottom half of the folded heart shape and attach your extra heart shape panel to this.

STEP 5

Decorate and job done! Don't forget to add a "stopper" to the bottom of your card to stope the heart from slipping.

How to add items to your sidebar

I have already posted this in the general Q&A but have been asked a few times lately how its done so thought I'd make a separate post for customising your blog by adding pwitty backgrounds and adding items like blog candy alerts and blinkies to your sidebars.

HOW TO GET A PRETTY BLOG

This really is very easy! If you see a pretty blog around chances are there will be a link to the creators somewhere (Look in top right corner somewhere usually)

Go to their link i.e http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/ or http://bloggerblogbackgrounds.blogspot.com/ for the gorjuss girls ones.

They will all have instructions on site on what you need to do but generally they will have a code you highlight and copy.

1. Go into your customise option (top right of screen)

2. Add a gadget and select the html option (about 3rd one down) and copy and paste the code across from the site.

To make a personalised banner you need to download this and edit it in software such as paint shop pro or you can edit online at places such as photobucket.


HOW DO I ADD ITEMS TO MY TOOLBAR SUCH AS BLINKIES AND BLOG CANDY?

1. Right click the image and select save. Save the web address of the blog

2. Go to your customise option top right again and ADD A GADGET, select picture. Click browse to find it on your PC then upload. In the same box you will see link: http://

3. Paste the web address of where the candy is or where the blinkie is from & add a title if required so for example...

Title: Rowenas Blog Candy ends Oct 09

http://craftypagan.blogspot.com/

Upload image from your PC.


You can add blog lists, link lists and much more. They are self explanitory and once you've mastered inserting a code for a pretty blog you can do anything lol!

Good luck!

TUTORIAL - SKETCHES

As a new cardmaker (or even an older hand!) you may have come across the term "sketches" You may have seen a "Sketch challenge" on a forum or challenge blog and may have even been put off by thinking it involves drawing! Don't worry you wont be the only one!

Sketches DON'T involve drawing unless they specifically say so which is rare.

They were regularly used for scrapbook layouts but more latterly have crossed over into cardmaking and very welcome they are!

Sketches are simply a pattern, you can follow them quite literally or put your own interpretation on them, so long as the original sketch is identifiable then it will pass :)

They are very good for ideas on how to lay out your designs and eventually you will find favourite sketches, if you have particularly enjoyed a sketch why not draw it in a notebook so you can quickly reference it when your mojo leaves the building!

This is an example of a sketch you might see and below I will show you how its composed.

EXAMPLE SKETCH

Start with the lowest layers working your way up so here it is the background (in yellow) and the bottom panel (in beige)

Next there is a little square next to your main image, this can be added later or in this case I have done a rectangle and the image will sit over the top of half of it.

Then there is a circle below the image, add this. I would often stick this to the back of the image first then lay it down.

And finally your image!

OK that was easy peesy!

On the original sketch you may have noticed 3 dots and a bow. These will be your embellishments. You can use sticky gems or flowers or something quite small for your dots and the bow would normally be a ribbon but hey its YOUR interpretation!

The image below follows the sketch but is turned 90 degrees. As will ALL sketch challenges it is absolutely fine to turn your sketch whichever way suits you (and your stash!) Its also a pink/green complimentary!

When taking part in various challenges I often combine challenges with a sketch from one and a different challenge such as a colour one from another. Please check the rules of the blog before combining challenges as a rare few will not accept combined entries.