~~ CT Tutorial Autumn Beauties and Cluster Frame ~~ Featuring Scrappin Krazy Designs Autumn Mist Kit

This tutorial was written by me, Mary Oakes aka Ariez Moon, on September 4, 2014. Any similarity to any other tutorial is purely coincidental. Please abide my TOU.

Supplies:

Photoshop or program of choice.

Scraps: I am using the gorgeous PTU kit called “Autumn Mist” by Scrappin Krazy Designs.

Elements from kit used:

P14 for the mask P17 for inside frame

ele 03, 06, 09, 14, 16, 35, 48, 57, 58, 66, 68, and 70.

Fonts of choice: I am using PF Rhonda Seven for the credits and Aquarelle for the name/text.

Tubes or Images of choice: I used the beautiful artwork of Jennifer Janesko. I purchased these tubes through CILM, but since they have closed you can now purchase her lovelies at

Mask of choice: I am using Mask 113 by Vaybs HERE.

Filters: Eye Candy 5 Impact Gradient Glow.

Grab a munchie and something to wet your whistle. Are ya comfy??

OK, let's begin!!

Remember to save your work often! If you feel that you have messed up, UNDO is your bestest friend!!

Create a New Image FILE > NEW. 900 x 900px, Transparent background, 72ppi, and name the file whatever you would like to call it.

Open ele48 and from the Layer Palette, drag the thumbnail of the element while holding shift, to apply it to the center of your working canvas.. This element will be used as a frame.

Open P17 and again apply it to the center of your working canvas using the same steps as you did for the frame. In the Layer Palette, drag the paper below your frame.

Open your tubes or images that you will be using. Apply them to the center of your canvas, inside your frame. Don't worry if some is hanging out we will fix it. Make sure that your images are sitting under your frame in the Layer Palette, but above your paper. Close off your frame and paper layer, in the Layer Palette and right click on one of the image layers. Merge Visible. Open your closed layers.

Click on your frame layer in the Layer Palette.

Grab your Lasso Tool, Feather at O, draw a selection around your frame, just inside of the outer edge. It doesn't have to be perfect. You just don't want to be able to see any part of the paper or the tubes outside of the frame.

STOP!! HIT SAVE!!

Go to SELECT > INVERSE. Click on your merged layer and hit Delete on your keyboard. Click on your paper layer and hit Delete. Then go to SELECT > DESELECT. Zoom in and check to see that there is nothing outside of your frame. If there is, use your Eraser Tool, with a small hard brush and erase the little bits.

Click on your merged image layer, and set the Blending Mode to Darker. Lower the layers Opacity to 50%. Right click and Duplicate. Set the Blending Mode of this Layer to Luminosity and lower the opacity to 30%.

Click on your top layer in the Layer Palette, open ele68, and apply it to the center of your canvas. With your Move Tool, position it so that the ribbon sits a little higher up on your frame. Colorize the ribbon to your liking. IMAGE > IMAGE ADJUSTMENTS > HUE/SATURATION. Make sure the colorize box is ticked, and play with the sliders until you get the color that you like.

Open ele09, and drag it onto your working canvas, Re-size if you wish. Position the heart so that it sits above the lower right side of the frame. Grab your Burn Brush with a soft setting and stroke around the outside of the heart element. This will help to define it because it is surrounded by similar colors..

Open ele03. Drag it onto your working canvas and re-size if needed. Place at the lower section of the heart. Duplicate and drag the duplicated leaf's layer under the heart layer, in the Layer Palette. Position that leaf so it is at the bottom and to the left behind the heart. Click on the original leaf and rotate it to your liking. To do this use your Move Tool, and make sure “Show Transform Controls” is ticked. Move your cursor to a corner and your cursor should to rounded double arrow. Click and drag to rotate your image.

Now we are going to adjust the color of this leaf a bit. Go to IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS>COLOR BALANCE. I won't give you my settings (This is a learning experience, LOL). Play with the sliders until you are happy with the way your leaf looks. I will say, however, make sure you keep “Preserve Luminosity” ticked, or it will flatten out your leaf.

Now click on your duplicated leaf to make it active. We are going to change the vibrance of this leaf. IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS>VIBRANCE. Once again, no settings from me. Play around with the sliders and tones until you like the way the leaf looks.

STOP!! HIT SAVE!!

Open and drag onto your canvas ele66. Re-size if needed and position it between your first leaf and your heart. Use your Eraser Tool and erase any stem that may be sticking out..

Open and drag onto your working canvas ele14. Re-size to your liking and place it above but so that it looks as if it sits in between both of your leafs.

Open and drag onto your canvas ele58. Re-size and position to the lower left of your frame. Duplicate then hide your duplicated leaf layer in your Layer Palette. On your first leaf go to IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS>VIBRANCE and play with the sliders until you are happy with what your leaf looks like.

Unhide your duplicated leaf. Go to EDIT>TRANSFORM>FLIP HORIZONTALLY. Slightly position this leaf so that it sits half the distance down from the original leaf. If you wish, use one of the options you have already used in this tutorial to change or modify the color of your leaf.

Now we are going to transform the leaf so that it flows with the frame. To do this we are going to use the Liquify Filter. ( Yep! I have to play with something I never used before, LOL!! ) Go to FILTER>LIQUIFY.

Now don't get all testy cuz it is easier than it looks, I promise!!

On the left hand side, you have your tools. Click on the very first tool Button. It should be the Forward Warp Tool. On the right had side is your settings for your tool. Follow my settings below, or experiment and use your own. Your Warp Brush is the large circle with the cross hairs in the middle. Use your brush to push up and over the tail end of your leaf to mold it into shape. Do little sections at a time so you do not over do it. When you like what you see, hit OK. See how easy that was? And it looks a lot better than erasing the bottom half of the leaf. Now the leaf just flows........

STOP!! HIT SAVE!!

Open ele16. Drag it onto your canvas, re-size it and position it to the right above the frame and leaves.

Open ele06. Drag it onto your working canvas. Re-size to your liking and perch the wood pecker onto the rocking chair, near or on the arm.

Open ele35. Drag onto your working canvas and re-size to your liking. Position it on top of the frame at the very bottom middle. Duplicate and flip the duplicated layer horizontally using the same steps as above. If you wish to bring out more color, you can, using the same methods as listed above.

Open and drag onto your working canvas ele70. Re-size and position at the bottom on top of the sprig of leaves.

Take a last look at your tag. Click and add a soft drop shadow to all the layers that you think will look best. To add a drop shadow to a layer, double click on that layer in the Layer Palette and click on Drop Shadow. Adjust the settings to what you desire and then hit OK.

Open up Mask 113 by Vaybs and prepare it for use. Click on the very top layer of your working canvas, then drag your mask onto it. You can learn how to prepare your mask in the forum at Rebel-Dezigns. In the mean time I will ask permission to post her tutorial on my blog.

Open p14 and drag it onto your working canvas above your mask layer. Hold the Alt key and place your cursor between the mask and paper thumbnails. When you see the cursor change into a half square with an arrow at the end Left Click to create a clipping mask. Right click on your paper layer in the Layer Palette and choose Merge Down. Drag this layer all the way down to the bottom of the layer Palette. If your mask isn't in a position that you are happy with, re-position it to your liking. Add A drop shadow to the mask layer, but use a dark green for the shadow color.

STOP!! HIT SAVE!!

Final steps! Now let's make our tag a more suitable size. Go to IMAGE>TRIM with these settings:

Then go to IMAGE>IMAGE SIZE with these settings:

Now Grab your Text Tool and select your font for your credits. Size 8 anti-alias Off and Left Alignment chosen with whatever color you desire. Add your ©..

Now change your font to what ever you are going to use for your Name/Text. Size 72pts, Anti-Alias set to Smooth, and the color White. Type out your name/text.

 Rotate it slightly and position it to the upper right so that it just sits somewhat on the frame. Right click on the text layer in the Layer Palette and choose Rasterize Type.

 Right click again and grab your Blending Options and click on Stroke. Type in 2 for the size and use #e17124 for the color. Right click on the layer and choose Rasterize Layer Style.

 Go to FILTER>ALIEN SKIN EYE CANDY 5 IMPACT>GRADIENT GLOW with the following settings:

STOP!! HIT SAVE!!

Now let's save it so we can share it. Go to FILE>SAVE FOR WEB. Use the following settings:

That is it! You are finished! Oooo la la! Gorgeousness!!

I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial, and I hope that I did not do too bad of a job writing it. If you have any problems, questions. or comments just give me a hollar and I will try to help you as fast and as best as I can.

As always, Happy PSPing...... and Photoshop too!!

Ah YES!! Here is the cluster frame for you to enjoy creating with also!! Please make sure you follow the TOU included with the download :) Just click on the Preview to download!!