Note: Tutorial shown in PSCS2 running Windows XP.

After learning this technique, you can apply it to folding not only a tag, but any object in your digital scrapbooking project... fold tags, paper, photos, ribbon, anything!

 

Step 1: Making your tag.

 

First, open the paper (I am using my Lovely Lillies Collection) that you want to make your tag with. Add a new layer. On this new layer, use your Custom Shape Tool to select your shape and then drag it to the size you want. I am using ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Tags 2101 to make my tag. Using the Magic Wand Tool, select the shape. Then, activate your paper layer in your Layers Palette. Go to Edit> Copy to copy the shape of the paper layer.

 

Next, open your layout and Edit> Paste your shape into your layout. (I took the time to name my layers: Background, Photo, Tag, to help better explain.) Now, Edit> Transform> Rotate your tag to the position you desire. Apply the transformation.

 

Step 2: Folding your tag.

 

Using the Rectangle Marquee Tool, select the part of the tag you want to fold.

 

Then, go to Edit> Cut to cut the selection out. Go to Edit> Paste and paste the selection back into your layout on its own layer. I will name it "Fold." Next, go to Edit> Transform> Flip Horizontal.

 

Step 3: Adding some realism.

Line up your folded tag and move it to where you want. Here, I folded it around the upper left-hand corner of my photo. Move your fold layer below your photo layer, sandwiching your photo between the tag and the fold. Paper isn’t usually the same color/pattern on the front and back, but some papers have coordinating patterns/colors, so I am going to change the pattern/color of my fold layer.

 

To do this, I select the area around the fold layer using the Magic Wand Tool, then Select> Inverse. Next, I open the paper I want to use. Then, Select> All, then Edit> Copy. Return to your layout and go to Edit> Paste, pasting the paper into your layout.

This will create a Layer Mask so that you can then move the paper around until you get it where you want. I then go to Layer> Layer Mask> Apply. I will name this "New Fold" and make the fold layer invisible.

 

Step 4: Finishing touches.

 

To give this tag a bit more dimension, like it is coming off of the layout, you will use the Edit> Transform> Warp Tool. Move things around until you are satisfied with the look.

 

Add a drop shadow for realism. Use the Magic Wand Tool to select the area around the tag in the tag layer. Go to Select> Inverse. Then, create a new layer. I named it "Shadow" and moved it under the tag layer. Using your Paint Bucket Tool, fill this with a dark gray (you will still have the tag in the shadow layer selected, fill in that selection with the gray). You won’t be able to see this because it is under the tag layer.

 

Using the Edit> Transform> Warp Tool again, you are going to make the shadow visible.

After warping, go to Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur (my setting was 8.0) and blur the shadow a bit. I actually went back and did this twice. Then, change the Blend Mode to "Multiply" and adjust the Opacity to 40%. Add additional drop shadows to the tag and new fold layers using the Layer Styles to achieve a look you like.

Layout by Talina Ripper
larger view

	Note: Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Tags 2101, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Edgy, THIN, All Stitched Brush Set Biggie and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Corner Folds are also available.

Tutorial written by Talina Ripper