Wallpaper ~ Wanna Play

This wallpaper was created using the July Bonus Tube from 2011 by CuddlyRigorMortis.  You must have a license to create with this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the matching Inspired by ScrapCD_IB-CuddlyRigorMortis-July2011-bt.

To save click on wallpaper then right click to save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Summer and Sandcastles

This wallpaper was created using Sabine Rich (Mermaids) 2-3.  You must have a license to create with this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the cute scrap kit ScrapFoxy_IB-Destiny Lauritsen-May2018-bt.

To save click on wallpaper below then right click to save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Beer, BBQ and Friends

This wallpaper was created using the artwork of Cuddly Rigor Mortis.  You must have a license to create with this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the scrap kit ScrapSchnegge_IB-Cuddly Rigor Mortis-August2017-bt.

Wallpaper is 1920x1080.  To snag click on wallpaper below then right click to save to your PC.

Word Art ~ Pure Imagination

Download Here

If you use this word art in a tutorial please link back to share.  Do not upload to any site.

Example of what I made with it.

I am using Molly Harrison Individual Tube 129-2.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

Word Art ~ Rainy Days and Sundays

Download Here

If using in a tutorial please link back.  Do not upload to any site.

Example of what I made with it.

I am using Enys Guerrero Individual Tube 19-1.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

Word Art ~ Classy, Sassy and a Bit Smart Assy

Download Here

If using in a tutorial please share this link.  Do not upload to any site.

Just an idea of what you can create with it.

I am using Anna Liwanag Individual Tube 39-2.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information

I am also using the matching inspired by scrap kit ScrapGimptastic_IB-AnnaLiwanag-39-2

How To Create Your Own Windows Theme Pack

This will seem complicated but it really isn't and once you get the hang of it you will be creating your own Theme Packs for Windows within moments.  I am running Windows 10 but I think it's pretty much the same with other operating systems.

First and foremost please do not use anyone else's images, wallpapers, photos.  Use your own.  Create your own wallpapers with proper credits or use your own photographs.  The best size to create wallpaper is 1920x1080.

I have a folder labeled Wallpapers on my PC and then I have stuff in different categories.  Stuff I created and stuff I snagged.  For this example I will be using my own wallpaper creations.

Open your wallpaper folder and select the wallpapers you want to use in your theme.  Choose between 5-12 wallpaper.  Any more than that and it might be too big a file to share.  So you can see below I have chosen 8 wallpapers using the same artist as my theme, Cuddly Rigor Mortis.  You must have a license to create with this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

Once you have chosen the wallpapers you want to use, right click on one of them, Set as Desktop Background.

You can close that folder now, we are done with it.

Click the Start menu and select Settings.

Choose Personalization from the settings screen.

Click Themes.  All the wallpapers you just chose are now set as a theme.  Now to personalize this theme.

First choice is Background.  Choose Slideshow.  Change Picture every 10 minutes is usually a good choice but you can choose what you like.  Shuffle and Fill options both chosen.

Color is the second choice.  Change that to Automatically pick an accent color.  This automatically chooses a color from the current wallpaper up for your open windows accent and your task bar and start menu background.  Scroll down, Transparency Effects on, check both under Show Accent Color.

Next is Sounds.  Now you probably only have the Windows 10 default for sounds but you can change that with a tiny bit of work.  I will write another tutorial for that but for now just leave it as it is with the default sounds unless you are familiar with how to change them and if you have WAV files on your PC to do it with.

Now is the cursor.  I keep mine with the Windows Default but you can change it around if you like or even surf the web to find cursor packs.

So if you are happy with your theme pack then it's time to save it.  Click the Save, name your theme and then save it.  Now it will show under the Apply a Theme area.  Right click that new theme and Save Theme for Sharing.  Name it the same as you did before and save.  Depending on how you have your system configured it will save to your downloads file or your desktop.

That is it.  You now have your very own personalized theme to share.

If you run into any trouble feel free to write to me at dianadcreations@gmail.com

Wallpaper ~ Fiesta Party

This wallpaper was created using 2 different tubes by Cuddly Rigor Mortis.  Sept-CuddlyRigorMortis-2015 & 106-1-CuddlyRigorMortis.  The first is a Bonus Tube only available in 2015.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the awesome matching scrap kit to the Bonus Tube by Foxy.  ScrapFoxy_IB-CuddlyRigorMortis-Sept2015-bt.

This wallpaper is 1920x1080.  Please do not re-size, alter or claim as your own.  To save click on image below then right click and save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Be A Star BCA

This wallpaper was created using PinUp Toons Individual Tube 199-1.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

To save click wallpaper then right click to save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Unicorn Rainbow Dream

This wallpaper was created using AOTM-May-SheenaPike-2018. You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the collaboration scrap kit by CDO called A-CDO_RainbowsAndUnicornsCollab-2018.  I am using Schnegge_CDO-RainbowsAndUnicornsCollab2018 part of it.

To save click on image the right click to save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Beach Summer

This wallpaper was created using Michael Landefeld Individual Tube 30-1.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using part of a collaboration scrap kit by scrap kit designers at CDO.  It is the CDO_SummerCollabKit-2014 and I am using Scraphonored-CDO-SummerCollabKit-2014 part of it.  To earn the collab scrap kits for free visit CDO for information on current specials.

To save click on wallpaper below then right click to save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ You Make Miso Happy

This wallpaper was created using 2 adorable tubes from Cuddly Rigor Mortis.  Cuddly Rigor Mortis Individual Tube 110-2 and Cuddly Rigor Mortis Individual Tube 110-3.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using a super cute scrap kit ScrapCrys_IB-Cuddly Rigor Mortis-40-1 that has lots of Asian influences.

To save click on image then right click and save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Born to Rock

This wallpaper was created using Maryline Cazenave Individual Tube 13-3.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the cute matching scrap kit by Monti.  ScrapMonti_IB-MarylineCazenave-13-3.

To save click on image then right click to save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Best Friends

This wallpaper was created using Cuddly Rigor Mortis Individual Tube 123-1.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the matching inspired by kit ScrapLHD_IB-Cuddly Rigor Mortis-123-1.

To save click on image below then right click and save to your PC.

Wallpaper ~ Under The Sea

This wallpaper was created using Destiny Lauritsen (May Bonus Tube).  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I am also using the fabulous matching kit ScrapFoxy_IB-Destiny Lauritsen-May2018-bt

To snag, click on image then right click to save to your PC

Wallpaper ~ Butterfly Change

I created this wallpaper using Cuddly Rigor Mortis Individual Tube 112-1.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

I also based it on a tutorial by Just Fi called Let's Go Quackers

To save right click then left click and save to your PC

Tutorial ~ Tiered Boxes Blended

Supplies Needed

Tube of choice

I am using Ash Evans Individual Tube 4-1 by CDO.  You must have a license to use this artwork.  Please visit CDO for more information.

Scrap kit of choice

I am using CDO_ValentineCollab-2015.  This kit is no longer available.

Filters

I am using Eye Candy 4000 - Gradient Glow but only on my credits.

Mask

Mask of your choice.

As with all my tutorials feel free to switch things up.  Use different colors or fonts or images.  Make it your own.  For the purposes of my tutorial I am going under the guise of you using these materials so make adjustments as you go if you use other materials.  I am using PSP 8.  I am sure if you are using a different version you can adapt.

Let's get started!

Open your tube and Shift D to duplicate.  Close out the original.

Open a new image 600x600 (we will be cropping this later but a larger work space is easier to work with)

Preset Shape Tool.  Rectangle.  Anti-alias and Create as Vector checked.  Solid Line Style.  Width 3.  Miter limit 10.  Foreground black, background Xed out.  I am choosing to use black as my box color but feel free to choose whatever color you like.

Draw out a rectangle, use my tag as a reference.  Objects, align, center in canvas.  Layers, convert to raster layer.  Rename Center.

Layer Duplicate, rename Top.  Back to Center layer and duplicate, rename this layer Bottom.

Back to Top layer, Effects, Image Effects, Offset.  Custom checked.  Horizontal 600.  Vertical 125.  Wrap checked.

Back to Bottom, repeat offset but change Vertical to -125.

Layers, merge visible.

Magic Wand, Add shift, RGB, Tolerance 0, Feather 0, anti-alias checked, Outside.

Click in each of your 3 boxes.  Selections, Modify, Expand by 1.

Choose a paper from your kit.  Copy, paste as a new layer, selections, invert, hit delete.  Move this layer under your boxes.  Do not de-select.

***note for users of PSP higher versions...I had a friend write to me that uses PSP X7 and said that the copy paste of the elements was not working properly.  She found a work around and here are her notes.  If you run into the same issue I am sorry, I use a super old version and just can't get used to the new versions.  Here is her note ::  deselect on paper paste new element move to top position in place back to paper select all click on element invert go back to paper select all float defloat click back on element select invert delete.***

Now choose an element you like, copy and paste, position then hit the delete key.  Continue with this routine until you have all your elements you want in your tag. 

Your final one should be your tube.  Copy and paste as a new layer, position, hit delete.

Selections, select none.  Move your Merged boxes to the top and hide that layer.  Click any other layer that is visible and Layers, Merge Visible.  Un-hide your tiered boxes.

(Now for some reason I noticed a line on the left of my canvas.  So to remove that I first did a Selections, select all, Image crop to selection.  That didn't work.  So then I did Selection, Select all, Modify, contract by 5, invert delete and that took care of it.)

Go through and change the blend mode on some or all of your layers to Luminance Legacy or any blend mode you like.  Play around with it until you like the effect.

On your top layer *should be your tiered boxes* Effects, 3D Effects, Drop Shadow.  3, 1, 68, 18, black, shadow on new layer not checked.

Layers, Merge Visible.

Choose either the same paper or another from your kit, copy paste as a new layer, layers arrange send to bottom.  Selections, select all, Image, Crop to Selection.  Layers, load mask from disk, choose your mask, Source Luminance, Fit to Canvas, Hide All Mask, Ok, Layers, Merge Group.  Layers Merge Visible.

Once you are happy with your tag you should re-size it to a more friendly size.  I re-sized mine to 488 pixels in width Re-sample using Smart Size checked, Lock Aspect Ratio checked, Resize all layers checked.

If needed ::  Adjust, Sharpness, Sharpen.

Add your credits.  I used Gradient Glow on my credits so they would show a little better.  Settings are Fat, white, 3, 25, 100 or you choose your own that you like.  It was a bit bright so I lowered the opacity on my credits to 68.

Choose your font, add your name and save as a PNG.

Thanks for trying this tutorial.  If you have any questions feel free to write to me at dianadcreations@gmail.com

Here is another example using a different tube and different kit.

For this one I am using Cuddly Rigor Mortis Individual Tube 33-3 and ScrapCrys_IB-CuddlyRigorMortis-33-3 both available at CDO.