This tutorial was created on December 18, 2009 and is the property of It's Me Again Tuts by Bonnie.  Please do not remove this tutorial from my site to add to another website unless you have permission from me to do so.  this tutorial was created using Psp vs. 8, but I see no reason why it cannot be created using other versions of Psp.

A BIG thank you to SkyScraps for this lovely scrap kit.  I love it hon, big hugs and thanks to you.  If you haven't checked out SkyScraps Designs before, go here to visit her shop and here to visit her blog.

The scrap kit used in this tutorial is a PTU scrap kit, which you can get here.  You can get it for $3.00, which is a great price for all the elements and papers that you get.

~FOR THIS TUTORIAL YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING~

Paint Shop Pro (trial version)

Christmas Tagger Kit here

Template #40 here

Tube and font of choice

Okay, let's get started on our tag!

1.  Open your supplies in Psp and minimize to your Psp workspace for now.  Activate the ssam-TagTemplate40 and go to Shift+D to make a duplicate of the template.  Close out the original template so that you will have it for future use.  Image/Canvas Size.  Change the width and height of your canvas to 675.  Activate the white background layer and flood fill with the color #FFFFFF (white).

2.  Activate the Big Circle layer of the template and go to Selections/Select All; Selections/Float; Selections/Defloat.  Restore the PP12 paper and go to Edit/Copy; back to the template image and Edit/Paste/Paste As New Layer.  Selections/Invert.  Hit the delete key on your keyboard.  Selections/Select None.

3.  Activate the Border Big Circle layer of the template.  Selections/Select All; Selections/Float; Selections/Defloat. Restore the PP14 paper and go to Edit/Copy; back to the template image and Edit/Paste/Paste Into Selection.  Selections/Select None.  Effects/3D Effects/Drop Shadow using the settings shown below.

Vertical 2; Horizontal 0; Opacity 70; Blur 3; Color Black

4.  Activate the Smaller Circle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps used in Step 2 for this circle EXCEPT change the paper to the PP3 paper.  Activate the Border Smaller Circle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 3.

5.  Activate the Big Rectangle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 2 EXCEPT change the paper to the PP7 paper.  Apply a drop shadow effect to the rectangle using the same settings as used in Step 3.  Activate the Square layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 2 EXCEPT change to the PP9 paper.  Apply a drop shadow effect to the square using the same settings as used in Step 3.

6.  Activate the Line Square layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 2 EXCEPT change to the PP18 paper.  Activate the Top Rectangle layer of the template.  Selections/Select; Selections/Float; Selections/Defloat.  Restore the PP5 paper and go to Edit/Copy; back to the template image and Edit/Paste/Paste As New Layer.  Resize the paper (Image/Resize) by 50%.  Resize all layers is NOT checked; bicubic resize type is used.  Position the resize paper over the selected rectangle.  Selections/Invert.  Hit the delete key on your keyboard.  Selections/Select None. 

7.  Activate the Border Top Rectangle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 3 EXCEPT change to the PP13 paper.  Activate the Med Rectangle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 6 for the Top Rectangle layer  EXCEPT change to the PP6 paper.  Activate the Border Med Rectangle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 3 Except change to the PP13 paper.

8.  Activate the Bottom Rectangle layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 6 for the Top Rectangle layer.  Activate the Border Bottom Rectangle and follow the same steps as used in Step 7 for the Border Top Rectangle.

9.  Activate the Small dotted line layer of the template.  Selections/Select All; Selections/Float; Selections/Defloat.  Selections/Modify/Expand by 1 pixel.  Flood fill this selection with the color #ECE4D2.  Selections/Select None.  Apply a drop shadow effect to the dotted line using the settings shown below.

Vertical 1; Horizontal 1; Opacity 70; Blur 2; Color Black

10.  Activate the Long Dotted Line layer of the template.  Follow the same steps as used in Step 9 EXCEPT use the color #8E2011.  Restore the tube that you will be using on your tag.  Edit/Copy; back to the tag image and Edit/Paste/Paste As New Layer.  Position the tube on  your tag as show in the header tag.  Apply a drop shadow effect to your tube using the same settings as used in Step 3 EXCEPT change the blur to 10.

11.  Now that  your Merry Christmas template is finished, you can choose from all the wonderful elements that have been added to to this scrap kit.  If you want your tag to look the same as mine, use the CandyCane3, the HollyBerry1, the Snowflakes2, Snowflakes3, Poinsetta2, and the Gift1 elements.  Just resize to desired size, apply a drop shadow effect, and position as shown in header tag at top of page.

12.  When you have added all your elements to your tag, go to Layers/Merge/Merge Visible.  Add your text and copyright to your tag.  I used the PP14 paper for the stroke and the PP12 paper for the fill of my text.  Layers/Merge/Merge All (flatten).  Crop away any excess white space around your tag, resize if needed, and save in desired format.