Two Quick Tips for Paper Templates

ScrapSimple papers are amazing! The possibilities are truly limitless when you start playing around with them – colors, textures, styles, filters, bevels. Keep playing and you’ll come up with something new every time. But at the same time, opening a gray file instead of finished products can feel a little intimidating. Here are two quick ideas to help you dip your toes in the water if you haven’t given ScrapSimple papers a try yet.

The Easiest Coloring Method

Color is obviously the first thing you need when transforming ScrapSimple paper templates! And the easiest way to color them is by using the Magic Wand and Paint Bucket tools. This technique works best when you want to color patterned templates with crisp edges, rather than templates that are grungy and distressed.

1. Merge and Select: 

If your template has a lot of layers, you can merge them all together and then select the different pieces to color by using the Magic Wand tool. Set the Tolerance level to a low number – between 5 and 10, and make sure the Contiguous box is not checked.

2. Click and Paint: 

Click on one element of your pattern and see the little “marching ants” appear. That means the element is selected. Now switch to the Paint Bucket tool and pour paint into that part of the pattern.

3. Repeat with Shortcuts:

Third, repeat until all of the different pattern elements are colored! Switch between the Magic Wand and Paint Bucket tools, using the shortcut W for the Magic Wand and K for the Paint Bucket.

Add a Distressed Look to Templates by Adding Texture

Sometimes you want to mix up your pattern templates even more by combining them with other templates to add texture, creases, folds, wrinkles, etc. The easiest way to do this is with Blending modes. Layer a distressed template (one that has a fold, crease, texture, wrinkle, tear, etc.) on top of a patterned template, and play with the Blending mode settings. The list of Blending modes is at the top of the Layers palette. The default mode is Normal. Scroll through and see what combination works best with the particular colors and templates you’re using.
You can add several layers of distressed templates on top of a pattern template to customize it more and more. Remember that you can adjust the opacity of each distressed template to lessen the effect of each layer as desired.

This month’s ScrapSimple Club: Folksy by Cherise Oleson is the perfect set to start with because it has both crisp-edged, patterned templates and distressed templates. Have fun playing with them! Color them using the Paint Bucket tool! Layer them using Blending modes. Above all, experiment and have some creative fun. You never know when you’ll end up with something fabulous. Of course, don’t forget to show us your creations by uploading your layout to the Scrap Girls Gallery for us all to enjoy!

An Amazing Deal!If you were to buy all of the items in the club individually from the Boutique they would cost $19.15 and we offer it to you for just $6.99 a month!MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTIONWant to save even more? Consider a 6 month or 12 month subscription. On the Club Product page in the Details section, choose your preferred subscription in the drop-down menu. Then click on the orange Add to Cart button.Article written by Anna MansfieldUsing  Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 with Windows 8