Many of the new embellishments designers are creating for digital scrapbooking are highly customizable. We don’t always want to merge or flatten them before adding them to a layout because we may want to make changes before we are done.

Using Layer Groups is a great way to create the embellishments; you can move them around as needed.

 

To assemble the zipper, drag the base layer into PSP, adding the teeth and the zipper pull you wish to use. Arrange the teeth and pull where you like them.

 

To create a Layer Group, activate the lowest layer in the group. Click the Layer Icon on the Layers Palette. You can also create by going to Layers> New Layer Group.

 

I gave the group the name "Zipper" and changed the Link set number to "1." Click “OK.”

 

When layers are not part of a group, the link box default setting is None. We will change each box in the group to the same number.

 

Activate the first layer by clicking on it and then click on the link box, the number will change to a 1 and a link will appear on the Group Layer. Change each layer within the Group as you add them.

 

Now that I have my Group created, I will drag each layer from above into the group one at a time. Drag from the lower layers up and place the in the correct order. You can move layers around within the group if necessary. A dark line will appear when you drag the layers, letting you know where the layer will be placed.

 

I ran Lori Cook’s Silver Style 4 on the teeth and pull, and then added a drop shadow to the pull and the zipper base layer. I then used the Color Replacer Tool to make the base pink. When you make changes to each layer within the group, remember to have that layer active. You can add drop shadows, styles and color changes to individual layers.

 

If a box like this appears, check to be sure you do not have the group layer active, click “Cancel” if you do, as clicking “OK” will merge the group. Once you have your embellishment ready, save as both a .PSPIMAGE and a PNG.

Activate the GROUP layer and Edit> Copy (Ctrl+C). Open a paper or your layout and Edit> Paste as New Layer (Ctrl+L) to paste your embellishment. You may need to rename the Group Layer at this point.

 

To move the group, use the Move Tool (M). Here I have the base layer active; if I use the Move Tool on this layer, just the base will move. To move the whole embellishment, I need the Group Layer active. On occasion you will need to activate the Pick Tool (K) first and then the Move Tool (M) to select the part of the group you are looking to move.

 

Now I want to Rotate the zipper. If I choose Image> Rotate 90 Left or Right, I will get the message that the group needs to be merged. To Rotate without merging, activate the embellishment group and go to Image> Free Rotate (Ctrl+R). I chose 10% and clicked “OK.” I also have the box checked to “Rotate Single Layer,” this assures just the embellishment rotates, not the whole layout.

 

Now that I have the zipper in place, I have added a second paper and a photo to my layout. I am going to “cut” the blue jean paper to show the floral under it and make the photo look like it is tucked into the zipper.

 

Select the Free Hand Selection Tool and set to "Point to Point" on the Tool Bar. Activate the jean paper layer and click to create a selection area. To close the area, double-click with the mouse. Delete, and the jean paper will be cut away allowing the floral paper to show.

 

Use the Free Hand Selection set to Point to Point Tool to create a selection box that includes the zipper base, zipper base shadow, zipper teeth and the jean paper.

 

Activate the jean paper and go to Selection> Promote Selection to Layer and drag the new jean paper piece to above the photo layer. Do the same with the zipper base and zipper teeth. Ctrl+D to Deselect All.

 

To create a title, open a new document, File> New Image and drag the letters into the document, creating new Layer Groups for each word. Save as a .PSPIMAGE and Copy each group onto your layout. Use the Move Tool (M) to place them.

 

Before adding a bevel to the words "Hunting" and "Toads," I duplicated each Layer Group and merged the duplicate layer, Layers> Merge> Merge Group. I turned off the Layer Group by clicking the eye on the layer and added my Bevel Style and a drop shadow. I keep my Layer Group in the layout just in case I decide to make changes to the group.

Layout by Dee-Ann Decker
larger view

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Bevels 7501, ScrapSimple Tools - Scripts: Silvers 4602, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Zip It and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie -Weathered are also available.

Tutorial written by Dee-Ann Decker