I wanted to make a layout using a photo I recently took of my son Andrew, and thought it would be fun to use the ScrapSimple Photo Templates. My goal was to come up with a digital scrapbooking background paper that looked masculine while matching his eyes. I used ScrapSimiple Photo Templates: Textures – 2104 for this particular layout.

 

First I opened a new document.

Then I put a teal blue on bottom layer.

Because I didn’t want the black spots on the photo, I selected the black inside of them with Magic Wand and deleted them out.

 

Then I reduced the transparency of the photo so that the teal shows through more.

After that, I decided that I didn’t want the spots to show up at all and so I used the Clone Tool to copy surrounding areas and replace them.

 

Next I decided to add further textural interest by putting this neat wood/moss picture on the layout.

 

I decided to use the Clone Tool again to get rid of the nail head and other items that I didn’t like on the photo.

 

Next I reduced the opacity (transparency) of the photo and then changed the Blend Mode settings to "Multiply." If you will look at my Layers Palette (bottom right-hand corner), you will see how many layers I am starting to build up. Right under the tab “Layers” you will see “Multiply”. It is in this drop-down box that I am changing the Blend Mode settings. Your software may have you do this in a different way, but most software packages allow you to do this.

 

Next I duplicated the wood grain photo layer and then rotated it 90 degrees. Then I changed the Blend Mode settings on the new layer to “Color Burn.” This added a deep richness to the colors.

 

After that, I decided that I wanted to create an aged looking overlay for the digtal scrapbooking layout and decided to use this mossy/stone photo for it.

 

To do this, I desaturated the photo. This turns it into a black and white photo, but still leaves it as a RGB (red, green, blue) document, which is critical. Don’t just turn it into grey scale or your software may want your entire digital scrapbooking layout to be black and white!

 

Next, I reduced the opacity (transparency) so that I got the effect I wanted.

 

I then decided to change the results by experimenting with the Blend Mode settings. This sample shows the Blend Mode effects using the “Color Dodge” settings. Notice how much more green you see now.

 

Here’s the layout once I add some digital stitches (ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Thick Stiches) and some alpha numerals (Halloween Fun Collection Mini Alphas – retired), and brads from my 1947 Florida Vacation Embellishment Basics Biggie.

If I want to add further interest, I can make a coordinating paper using a ScrapSimple Paper Template. Here’s how:

 

I have just opened one of the ScrapSimple Paper Templates (I used Crepe) and have moved one of the photo layers over on top of it. Look at the Layers Palette and you will see the two layers.

 

Now I use the clipping mask commands (Ctrl+G - PC or Command+G – Mac) to cut the shapes out of the paper. (Note: These keyboard short cuts work for Photoshop Elements and Photoshop. You will have to go at this a different way if you are using a different soft program.) To make it “stick” together, I merge the layers.

 

This is what the digital scrapbook layout looks like once I put the patterned paper on the layout. Notice that I have put it under a couple of the transparent layers so that I still kept the overlay effects I had built up.

Layout by Ro
larger view

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Photo Templates: Texture 2104, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Crepe Biggie and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own: Thick Stitch are also available.

Tutorial by Ro