I started this section by using the pen tool to follow the first examples in Prof's lesson.
I then did the freehand drawing using transformation (contract) and then reversing the contour to get a cut-out. I had never seen this done before, and it gives a lovely funky ribbon effect. These were my three steps.
1.....File>new, I chose 300x300. In the materials palette I made the background colour a greengradient (sunburst mode) and the foreground black,
Here are some diagrams to explain what I did next.



these are the tool options palette, but split into two parts for presentation reasons.
With the pen tool active, which brings up the tool options palette across the top,(if it doesn't. goto View>palettes>tool options palette) I clicked on 'presets', (the 1st button on the left) and then clicked on the second icon in the drop down menu.This changes all settings to the default. The defaults for both X and Y under contractions = '10', and the line thickness default is '1' which is what I wanted.
I clicked on the freehand icon (hover your pen over the icons to see which this is), clicked on 'create as vector', and also 'show nodes' *This is important*) then drew the series of loops in a continuous movement, finishing by just slightly overlaying the end of the curve on top of the beginning. Here is what I got

The printed image does not show the nodes, but you will see them on your working image if you ticked 'show nodes'
I expanded the vector layer in the layer palette and clicked on 'new path' to make it active 2.....With the pen tool I right clicked inside the image and from the drop down menu I chose 'Edit' then 'duplicate selected nodes no offset'. Then I rt clicked again , selected 'transform selected nodes' then 'contract'. This is what I now had.

3.....Then I right clicked again inside the image, chose 'edit' and then 'reverse contour' and now had the ribbon I wanted.

Finally I converted the vector layer to raster layer and making the empty raster1 layer active, flood filled it with a contrasting gradient, then made raster2 (the ribbon layer) active again, and added a drop shadow. I then merged all visible layers and saved it. Here is the finished ribbon,

My first version of PSP was V6, and I soon discovered PSPUG. I had worked through quite a lot of the beginners tutorials when PSP 7 was released, and I tried Profs vector tutorials, and also Dora Senson's and other writers. Using Google I discovered other vector tutorials (the Vector Apple by Moons designs kept me busy, but I was delighted by the result.)I also found one by Suzshook on creating Bezier flowers.
With the release of PSP 9, the vectors became even easier to use and HERE is suzshooks updated tutorial
I followed the tutorial, choosing to add a node to the top of the basic petal, and then going to 'node edit' and choosing 'cusp'. Then I made my flower.continued with the tutorial to add leaves and a center to the flower. Added the shadows and a background, and got this image.

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