Dissolve effect. FTU Kit, PTU Tube

I was recently invited to join a new CT Team!

Well as you can see, I really don't get to be online much lately...
But I did get this SUPER CUTE Siggy done and figured I could at least share info. LOL!

This siggy was made using a combination of The full size and mini kit below.
You can click either one to go to the page where these kits can be found.






 
I use PSP(Paint Shop Pro). 
The two effects I used are Gradient Glow and editing Layer properties. The main font is called Words of Love. It can be found HERE. 
 My tagline is Pixelmix Micro. It can be found HERE.
I am also using the artwork of Caron Vinson which can be found HERE.
 

A Note before you get started:
It is always a good idea to save your work as you go. It's the best way to make sure that you don't lose any of your hard work. 
*Remember...if you use a template you will want to duplicate the file and close the original. Then save the NEW file.*

Now to the tutorial.

First, open a new file in PSP. I used 440 pixels by 440 pixels but I make most of my signatures to fit on cafemom so you may want to make yours a bit bigger.

Outside of PSP, open your scrap kit and select a few elements, a frame and some papers you like.

Open your elements and your frame. Resize them if you wish and place them. There is no hard or fast rule about how or where to place your elements. Just put them where YOU think they look good. And you can always move them after you put the name in if you think they need moving. I find one of the best ways to resize is to paste the object into the workspace and then try different sizes. 


Add in the rest of your elements. 
NOTE:Adding multiple tubes??? Make sure they are ALL from the same artist. Mixing artists is a big NO NO.

If you want the same effect I have with the scattered dots, add a paper behind your frame. Use your magic wand to click inside your frame. Then go to your paper layer. (I expanded selection by 25 pixels and then feathered by 25 pixels to give it a bit of a fade.) And promote the selection.

Then you will want to go to the layer properties of the promoted selection.

And Select Dissolve from the options.

Now you're ready to add your name. PSP will automatically add a vector layer when you have the text tool selected and click anywhere on the project... or you can add one and then just click. 
Type in your name, select the font you like best and the size that fits best and then hit apply.  

Now you want to add your gradient glow.
You MUST make sure that the you convert the Vector layer to a Raster Layer. If you want to keep you vector layer for further editing later, duplicate it, hide the original and work in the duplicate. (I ALWAYS do this.)
Then go to your Alien Skin Eye Candy Impact and select gradient glow. Fiddle with your settings until you get a look that you like and then kit OK.

 

Add drop shadows to your text and elements.

NOTE: I ALWAYS save my files as a PSP file in my templates folder. This will save your work in layers and you can go back anytime to edit. But you can save it however you prefer. If you Save As and select JPG, GIF or PNG the image will automatically save flattened. And depending on your program settings, you may get a message about this... asking if you're aware that it will save a flattened image. If you chose to save your work in layers, you will want to save a copy that you can post elsewhere. To do this: either export as a PNG/JPG/GIF (File - Export) or Save as(File - Save as / F12). 
REMEMBER: If you chose to flatten the image, you will no longer be able to edit any part of it.

Don't forget to add any copyright required and your tagline! If you don't know what this is, look HERE!

And you're done!

I would LOVE to see your finished work! 
Please email me your results.
I'll even post em on my blog if ya want...

This tutorial was written by Rachel aka craftin4fun/siggie-sweete. It is an original work and any similarity to any other tutorial or siggy is purely coincidental. You may link to the tutorial but PLEASE DO NOT copy and claim as your own work! Also I would appreciate if you let me know if you link back to the tutorial. THANK YOU! ENJOY!

Can you believe it's almost a New Year...

I am definitely getting some mojo back!
It's slow going but it's coming back. YAY!

CUTE HUH...
This one was made with a GREAT FREEBIE kit found over at Angela'z Creationz. Click on the preview below for more info!




I did not use any masks or templates but I did use the artwork of PinUpToons. It can be found HERE.

I use PSP(Paint Shop Pro). 
You will be using the magic wand Tool and Changing layer properties. The main font I used is Janda Swirlygirl. It can be found HERE. 
 My tagline is Pixelmix Micro. It can be found HERE.

A Note before you get started:
It is always a good idea to save your work as you go. It's the best way to make sure that you don't lose any of your hard work. 
*Remember...if you use a template you will want to duplicate the file and then save the new file.*

Now to the tutorial.

This one's pretty basic. I used 440 pixels by 445 for mine but I make most of my signatures to fit on cafemom so you may want to make yours a bit bigger.

Outside of PSP, open your scrap kit and select a few elements and a frame you like. 

If you want to use the clock in the background like I did, you will need to paste it in and then resize.

Then you want to change the layer properties. 
Click on the layer and then click up where it says Opacity. I changed mine to 45.

And next we will be working with the cityscape element: 

You want to select your Magic Wand tool. 

With your Magic Wand Tool, click somewhere inside the black area of the cityscape. This will give you the floating lines around the black cityscape image. 

From there you have a couple of options. You can promote the selection or you can invert selection and delete. 

Then just add in the rest of your elements. 
I duplicated the cityscape selection and placed them behind the other two frames. I used several different tubes (If you do this, make sure they are ALL from the same artist. Mixing artists is a big NO NO.) from PinupToons.

Once you have placed your elements and applied all of your effects, you're ready to add your name. PSP will automatically add a vector layer when you have the text tool selected and click anywhere on the project... or you can add one and then just click. 
Type in your name, select the font you like best and the size that fits best and then hit apply.

Special note. I ALWAYS save my files as a PSP file in my templates folder. This will save your work in layers and you can go back anytime to edit. But you can save it however you prefer. If you Save As and select JPG, GIF or PNG the image will automatically save flattened. And depending on your program settings, you may get a message about this... asking if you're aware that it will save a flattened image. If you chose to save your work in layers, you will want to save a copy that you can post elsewhere. To do this: either export as a PNG/JPG/GIF (File - Export) or Save as(File - Save as / F12). 

REMEMBER: If you chose to flatten the image, you will no longer be able to edit any part of it.

Don't forget to add any copyright required and your tagline! If you don't know what this is, look HERE!

And you're done!

I would LOVE to see your finished work! 
Please email me your results!
I'll even post your results on my blog if ya want...

This tutorial was written by Rachel aka craftin4fun/siggie-sweete. It is an original work and any similarity to any other tutorial or siggy is purely coincidental. You may link to the tutorial but PLEASE DO NOT copy and claim as your own work! Also I would appreciate if you let me know if you link back to the tutorial. THANK YOU! ENJOY!

Have you wondered what size works best for the new Facebook timeline banner??? Well here it is!

TA DA!
I AM BACK!
I can't promise I will be posting every week but the mojo is comin back nice and slow.
Here is my first new tutorial!
Hope ya like!


I have fiddled with these for a long time. I didn't start with the Timeline format when it first became available but when I did switch over, I wanted a personalized banner of course!

I have a personalized banner on my Facebook right now but I have made this one for New Years and I will be putting it up soon.

And YES! It's snaggable! You'll want to click on the banner and save the full-size image that opens.


I used a BRAND NEW kit by Sarah over at
Sarah's Tags N Things.
There's no post on her blog but the kit is in her stores AND she is having a sale RIGHT NOW! All of her kits are 50% off so GO check it out HERE!

I didn't use any templates or masks but I did use a tube from the incredibly talented Ismael Rac. FAIR WARNING: There is ALOT of R-Rated stuff on the following website! So if you go look at his artwork HERE, you've been warned. 
The link goes to the tube I used.



The program I use is PSP(Paint Shop Pro). 
Feel free to use any effects you like. There are quite a few cute ones in past tutorials I have written. The only font I used is the tagline font. It is Pixelmix Micro. It can be found HERE.

The size of this project is very important so I'm putting it here in it's own little space:
800 x 296 pixels
I have tried many many sizes and this is the one that is LEAST distorted on Facebook. 

Now to the tutorial.

The first thing you will notice about this is a shadow put by itself. This is a personal preference of mine and it was very difficult to accomplish. It is a shadow where the avatar is in front of your banner.

I will happily share my template with you but there's really too much info to walk you through it. 
You should note that this will only work right if you use the above size for your banner (800 x 296). When you copy and paste the avatar shadow into your workspace, the faint line you see around the edge will actually be outside the edges but that's good. You don't want to really see it on your finished banner. You are welcome to erase the credits on the file to use it but please do not erase them on the original. Thanks!

This is not the full-size file. Click on it to get the full-size then save that one.

Open your scrap kit and select a few elements and a paper or two you like.

Open your elements, your paper and your tube. Resize them if you wish and place them. There is no hard or fast rule about how or where to place your elements. Just put them where YOU think they look good. And you can always move them after you put the name in if you think they need moving. I find one of the best ways to resize is to paste the object into the workspace and then try different sizes.

From there you can add any special techniques you like. Feel free to peruse my blog for more ideas on those. 

I ALWAYS save my files as a PSP file in my templates folder. This will save your work in layers and you can go back anytime to edit. But you can save it however you prefer. If you Save As and select JPG, GIF or PNG the image will automatically save flattened. And depending on your program settings, you may get a message about this... asking if you're aware that it will save a flattened image. If you chose to save your work in layers, you will want to save a copy that you can post elsewhere. To do this: either export as a PNG/JPG/GIF (File - Export) or Save as(File - Save as / F12). 
REMEMBER: If you chose to flatten the image, you will no longer be able to edit any part of it.

Don't forget to add any copyright required and your tagline! If you don't know what this is, look HERE!

And you're done!

I would LOVE to see your finished work! 
Please email me your results.
I'll even post em on my blog if ya want...

This tutorial was written by Rachel aka craftin4fun/siggie-sweete. It is an original work and any similarity to any other tutorial or siggy is purely coincidental. You may link to the tutorial but PLEASE DO NOT copy and claim as your own work! Also I would appreciate if you let me know if you link back to the tutorial. THANK YOU! ENJOY!