CT Tutorial for PTU Kit "Just a Cowgirl" by Michelle's Myths

**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 Kit- “Just a Cowgirl” by Michelle’s Myths.  You can buy this beautiful kit at PicsForDesign or Scrap Candy.

PTU Tube – “Cindy” by Spazz.  This tube was a special bonus tube for customers at the artist’s store.  Check out her currently available tubes at The Art of Spazz.

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 10 to the canvas.  Resize to fit the entire canvas.

Add the Mask to the canvas and resize if needed so it is the same size as the working canvas.  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. 

Make the original mask layer invisible.

Add Element 35 to the canvas and resize to desired size.  Position at the bottom of the canvas.

Add your tube.  Resize her to fit on the canvas.  Position her on the left side so it looks like her foot is resting on the Cowgirl element.  Add DS.

Add Element 37 to the canvas on the left side.  Resize to fit and add DS.

Add Element 50 behind the tube and horse layers.  Resize so it looks like the cowgirl is leaning on it.  Add DS.

Add Element 75 and resize to fit the canvas.  Position at the bottom so it looks like the Cowgirl word art and the tube and horse are all standing on the grass.  Add DS.

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

Now decorate your tag with any of the western themed elements from the kit.  Resize the elements as you add them so they 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 elements I used from the bottom layers up.

• Element 17 (X4)
• Element 71 (X5)
• Element 80
• Element 14
• Element 37
• Element 19
• Element 31
• Element 52
• Element 27
• Element 60
• Element 84
• Element 30

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!