CT Tutorial for Miss Retro by Carolann Creations

**This tutorial was written using Photoshop CC. I believe the instructions should work with various other versions, but they are not tested on any other version.  This tutorial is my own creation.  Any similarity to any other tutorial is not done purposely or knowingly (aside from the fact that the process is pretty similar in most tutorials).  If you do not know how to do some of the things I mention here (like mirroring an image, adding a drop shadow, resizing elements, etc.), check out my “Tips and Tricks” tutorial. **

Supplies:

PTU Poser – “Miss Retro” by Carolann Creations.  You can purchase the tube at Berry Applicious.

PTU Kit- “Sunflower Smiles” by Designs by Stina.  Check out the designer’s blog to see a current list of stores where this kit is available.

FTU Mask - "Mask 05 - Dreamscape" by Aeval Amore.  Available for download on my blog, Aeval's Art.

Abbreviations:

DS – Drop Shadow

Settings I use:

DS Settings - Blend Mode set to Multiply, Opacity set to 75%, Angle set to 120 degrees, Distance 5, Spread 0, Size 5

Ready…..Set….Tag!

Open a new canvas (Ctrl +N) 700 x 700, transparent background.  This will be referred to as the working canvas in my directions when switching between canvases.

Add Paper 05 and resize to the fit the canvas. 

Add Paper 02 and resize it to fit the canvas as well.

Use the rectangular marquee tool to select the entire bottom quarter of the canvas.  Make sure you have the Paper 02 layer selected and right click on the layer.  Choose “Rasterize Layer”, then press your delete key.    This will erase the portion of the yellow paper in the area you have selected with your marquee tool.

Next inverse your selection (Shift + Ctrl + I) and select the Paper 02 layer.  Rasterize this layer and then press delete.  This will delete the green paper from the upper portion.

Select both paper layers (select one layer and then while holding down the Ctrl key select the other paper layer).  Right click on one of the layers and select “Merge Layers” this will make the two paper layers into one layer. 

Add the Mask to the canvas and resize if needed so it is the same size as the paper.  Then drag the mask layer below the paper layer.

With the mask layer selected, select all (Ctrl + A) and copy the entire canvas (Ctrl + C).  You will see dashed lines surround the canvas. 

Click on the paper layer to activate it, then turn on quick mask (Press the Q key on your keyboard).  The dashed lines will disappear and that is ok.  Next Paste onto the paper (Ctrl + V) and turn your Quick Mask off (Q again). 

You will now see a dotted outline of the mask on your paper.  Press the button on the bottom of layers side bar that is a rectangle with a circle cut out of it.  The mask will now show. 

Right click on the paper layer and select Convert to Smart Image.  This releases just the mask. 

Delete the original mask layer.

Add LogCabin to the canvas.  Resize to fit the width of the canvas and position in the middle of the canvas so it looks like the cabin is resting on the grass of the mask layer. Add DS.

Add Paper 28 to the canvas and resize to a width that covers both windows.  Mover the paper layer behind the cabin.  Use the eraser tool to erase the paper showing out the cabin area.

Add Fence01 to the canvas and resize the width of the mask.  Position in front of the cabin.  Add DS.

Add your poser to the canvas.  Resize her so she fits on the right side of the canvas.  Position her so it looks as though she is standing in front of the fence on the grass. 

Voila!  The focal point of your tag is now created.

Now decorate your tag with any of the beautiful elements from the kit.  Resize the elements as you add them so fit the proportions of your tag.  Experiment with rotating them and mirroring them for more variety.  In addition duplicate elements and use multiple times to fill in holes and add more pizzazz.  In this tutorial to indicate when I used more than one of the same element I will add (X#) by the name to indicate how many versions of the element I used. 

Here are all the additional elements I used from the bottom layers up.

• Sunflower08
• Greenery02 (x2)
• Buttefly03
• Deco01
• Deco02
• SunflowerDeco01
• Sunflower01
• Sunflower02
• Sunflower03
• Sunflower11
• Sunflowers08
• Sunflower14
• Sunflower08
• Butterfly04

Add your license and copyright info to the tag.

Add name and any other text of choice.

Save as PNG and go share with all your friends!

Thank you for trying my tut! I’d love to see how your tags turn out so if you like what you made, please post a copy here or show me on Facebook!