tuts by j0eswife

Scrapkit of choice - I used the PTU kit “Oriental Mystique” made by Baby Cakes Scraps. The tagger-sized kit is available for only $3 on her blog. You can find it here and be sure to check out the rest of her blog: http://babycakesscraps.blogspot.com/ I am planning on writing a couple more tutorials using this same kit, but no matter what you’ll be getting your money’s worth – it’s FULL of great elements and gorgeous papers!

          Scraps needed: double frame, paper, Asian accents

Tube of choice – I am using the artwork of Paul John Ballard, http://www.pauljohnballard.com. I have purchased a license to use this work. If you do not have a license, please do not use this work. If you would like more info on purchasing a license, visit CILM

Font of choice – I am using “Chowfun,” which you can get here: http://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/chowfun.html

All links and supplies shared with permission.

First, open a new canvas 500 x 250, transparent. Open your tube and duplicate it into a new window (just use Shift+D). Close the original and leave the duplicate up for reference.

Open “Double Frame” and resize 65%. Choose Image>Resize. Under “Advanced settings,” be sure “Lock aspect ratio” and “Resize all layers” are both CHECKED.

Copy and paste the frame onto your canvas. Duplicate. Save.

Copy and paste your tube. Arrange it so that it is between your two frame layers. See my tag for placement.

Add a drop shadow to the tube layer. Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow. I am using settings -3, 3, 50, 5, color black. Save.

On your top frame layer, erase any parts of the frame that are covering your tube, except for on the far left side. You want the left edge of the frame to cover the chopped off edge of your tube. Or if you are using a different tube, just use the same principle, erasing the areas appropriate for your tube. Save.

Copy and paste “Red and Gold Paper” and move it to the bottom of your layers.

Activate your BOTTOM frame layer (the one that you didn’t erase). Using your Magic Wand, mode set to Add and tolerance and feather at 0, click inside both sides of the frame.

Selections>Invert. Click on your paper layer and hit the delete key. Selections>None. Save.

Open “Snake Gold” and resize 20%, then sharpen. Copy and paste it onto your canvas, move it to the top of your layers. Arrange it so that it is on the top right corner of your frame.

Duplicate the snake symbol. Move the duplicated symbol to the lower left corner of your frame.

Open “Red Gold Bloom” and resize 20%. Sharpen. Copy and paste onto your canvas.  Arrange it in the lower right hand corner of your frame.

Duplicate the bloom and then on the duplicate – Image>Mirror, Image>Flip. Move this layer below your tube layer.

You may need to erase a little more of that top frame layer, so it isn’t covering your bloom.

Now add your copyright info, license number (if applicable), and tagger’s mark (if you use one). Save

Finally, add your name to the empty frame on the right. I am using font “Chowfun” at a size of 48, stroke null. I am #dd9422 as my fill/background color. I then rotated my name 45 degrees to the right. Convert to raster layer.

 Apply an inner bevel to your text (Effects>3D Effects>Inner Bevel), using the settings below:

Repeat the Inner Bevel two more times.

If you like, you can add a drop shadow to your text. Go to Effects>3D Effects>Drop Shadow. I am using settings 3, 3, 45, 3, color black. Save.

Save you are done!

For a quick avatar – hide your tube and credits. Crop off everything but the half of the frame has your name it. Resize to 150x150 and Voila – it’s an avatar!

I love to see your results! Email them to tutsbyj0eswife@gmail.com

This tutorial was created on July 19, 2008. Tutorial is © tutsbyj0eswife and is registered with TWI.

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