Tut-Frame with Cutout Designs

Frame With Cut-out Designs.
PhotoImpact 10
(Can be done with any version).

Description: Just a fun frame for a scrapbook page using cut out shapes. Fancy Pants Designs sells this type frame made out of chipboard. I thought I would try and make some.
Author: Rosalie Elmore
Terms of Use: Please read
Skill Level: Intermediate I assume you know where the tools are in PhotoImpact. I would suggest that you take the free Beginners Workshop to learn this program if you do not know how to use it very well. You need to know how to save shapes you make and save to your EP so you can use it as a Custom Shape.

Tools: Path Shapes,
Additional Files: A photo you want to use, some small decorative objects you have for embellishments.

NOTE: Save your work often. I suggest you read the entire tutorial, before you start. Where it reads "Rc" in this tutorial, it means right click. And if you need help, or if you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me at: blurose@wildblue.net

Instructions:
I will try and make this simple for the first one you do. Open a page 600x600 pixels to work on. Draw a square 2D shape about 500x500 Use any color I have brown. Click on Edit Mode and select the bottom right corner. Bring it inward towards the center. It will look something like this. Deselect all. Draw a 2D square, using a different color, about 420x420. Center it so its in the middle on top of the brown one. Select the top one you just drew and click on Edit mode. Change the shape to look something like this. I moved the top Left corner to the right a little bit and then the bottom right corner in towards the center. It will look sort of like this. This piece is a pattern piece or something you will be able to see in the next step. Save this 2nd square in your EP as a path shape. When your out of the Edit mode click your Enter key to deselect all. Select the 1st square, [the back one- mine is brown] Click on the Path drawing Tool and go to Continue Draw You will not be able to see your square now but you can see the one on top of it. See below screen shot. Click the Shape icon and go to Custom you will get your shape box up. At the bottom where it says Gallery click on the down button and select the My Library, or what the name of your library is that you saved your shape in. Tab Group is path-mine, yours may be different. Just click on the shape. Mine was named frame 2. Draw your shape in about the same place where the green is. When the shape has been drawn get as close to where the one you can see is,, you may have to move it over a little bit or maybe even click on the undo button and try it again. In the Mode box on the top bar select 2D. You now have a cut out frame. You can delete the green one you used for the pattern to go by, meaning the top shape in the center. At this point I save this new frame shape to my EP so I could use it as a custom shape again. Save this as a ufo Here comes more fun. Decide on a shape you want to use for your frame on the inside the shape you choose can be stars or hearts or whatever you want. I wanted an arrow and used shape A 12. Since I wanted it longer and not quite the shape it was when I drew it, I used the edit and changed the shape to look like the one in the screen shot below. When you have the shapes you want place them on top of the frame to see exactly where you want them to go. I also used shape A 01 arrow. If you decide to make your own shape save it in your EP and make sure you have one that goes in the opposite direction if you use the arrow shapes. Actually you can do this part to your own liking. When you have the design shapes on your frame top the way you like them select the Brown frame shape and just like you did before use Continue Draw to draw the shapes on your frame. You can go by the design you left on top to place your shapes where you want them. When you finish select 2D. Save it in your EP as a path shape for your use again. Here is my finished result with added elements I had. I also made a heart shape on one. By saving the finished frame as a shape with the designs you chose you can use it over and over. The finished one below has one more shape but it is just placed above your frame. Shadow of your choice. I used an all around one default settings. The rectangle piece shown in above picture is just a rectangle shape that I used the Transform tool / slant to the left. I made my background yellow and used the chalk brush to go over it a little bit then added a design I made of scroll work. The small area on the right side was done by making a piece to fit there and using a fill background design. I used the Magic Wand and touched the inside area, RC Expand/Shrink and Expanded to 3. RC convert to object. Then fill that little shape with something pretty. [Use a nice background tile] I just selected a color for the frame then used the chalk brush no top of it for a grunge appearance. I found some elements in my EP and added them with the heart shape I made. Put your photo in and add some design . I added Writing at the top of the frame using Loveletters Font size 32 with a 1pixel black border for Little Sweetheart I am betting your mind is really thinking up various ways to use this little frame you made. Here is one more I did after this one. This one I used my heart shape I made on the frame along with just circles drawn in the frame. I colored behind the frame with red paint on this one where the design was. There is a second frame behind the brown one. Also stitches are done...you have lots of ideas running through your head now I bet. If you have any questions just e-mail me I would be glad to help in any way I can. Note: Use of Text or Dings~ Remember to shadow your frames.. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial as much as I liked writing it for you. If you wish to do so, post your results in the Scrapbook and Crafts forum of the PhotoImpact International Bulletin Board. Thank you! Here are a few examples that others made using this tutorial. Just click on the thumbnail to see full size. Birgit Brenda Brenda Sylvia Cindy Leila

Instructions:

I will try and make this simple for the first one you do.
Open a page 600x600 pixels to work on.

Draw a square 2D shape about 500x500 Use any color I have brown.

Click on Edit Mode and select the bottom right corner. Bring it inward towards the center. It will look something like this.

Deselect all. Draw a 2D square, using a different color, about 420x420. Center it so its in the middle on top of the brown one.

Select the top one you just drew and click on Edit mode. Change the shape to look something like this. I moved the top Left corner to the right a little bit and then the bottom right corner in towards the center. It will look sort of like this. This piece is a pattern piece or something you will be able to see in the next step. Save this 2nd square in your EP as a path shape.

When your out of the Edit mode click your Enter key to deselect all.

Select the 1st square, [the back one- mine is brown] Click on the Path drawing Tool and go to Continue Draw

You will not be able to see your square now but you can see the one on top of it. See below screen shot.

Click the Shape icon and go to Custom you will get your shape box up. At the bottom where it says Gallery click on the down button and select the My Library, or what the name of your library is that you saved your shape in. Tab Group is path-mine, yours may be different. Just click on the shape. Mine was named frame 2.

Draw your shape in about the same place where the green is. When the shape has been drawn get as close to where the one you can see is,, you may have to move it over a little bit or maybe even click on the undo button and try it again. In the Mode box on the top bar select 2D. You now have a cut out frame. You can delete the green one you used for the pattern to go by, meaning the top shape in the center.

At this point I save this new frame shape to my EP so I could use it as a custom shape again.

Save this as a ufo

Here comes more fun.

Decide on a shape you want to use for your frame on the inside the shape you choose can be stars or hearts or whatever you want. I wanted an arrow and used shape A 12. Since I wanted it longer and not quite the shape it was when I drew it, I used the edit and changed the shape to look like the one in the screen shot below. When you have the shapes you want place them on top of the frame to see exactly where you want them to go. I also used shape A 01 arrow. If you decide to make your own shape save it in your EP and make sure you have one that goes in the opposite direction if you use the arrow shapes. Actually you can do this part to your own liking.

When you have the design shapes on your frame top the way you like them select the Brown frame shape and just like you did before use Continue Draw to draw the shapes on your frame. You can go by the design you left on top to place your shapes where you want them. When you finish select 2D. Save it in your EP as a path shape for your use again.

Here is my finished result with added elements I had. I also made a heart shape on one. By saving the finished frame as a shape with the designs you chose you can use it over and over.

The finished one below has one more shape but it is just placed above your frame.

Shadow of your choice. I used an all around one default settings.

The rectangle piece shown in above picture is just a rectangle shape that I used the Transform tool / slant to the left. I made my background yellow and used the chalk brush to go over it a little bit then added a design I made of scroll work. The small area on the right side was done by making a piece to fit there and using a fill background design. I used the Magic Wand and touched the inside area, RC Expand/Shrink and Expanded to 3. RC convert to object. Then fill that little shape with something pretty. [Use a nice background tile]

I just selected a color for the frame then used the chalk brush no top of it for a grunge appearance. I found some elements in my EP and added them with the heart shape I made. Put your photo in and add some design . I added Writing at the top of the frame using Loveletters Font size 32 with a 1pixel black border for Little Sweetheart

I am betting your mind is really thinking up various ways to use this little frame you made. Here is one more I did after this one.

This one I used my heart shape I made on the frame along with just circles drawn in the frame. I colored behind the frame with red paint on this one where the design was. There is a second frame behind the brown one. Also stitches are done...you have lots of ideas running through your head now I bet.

If you have any questions just e-mail me I would be glad to help in any way I can.

Note: Use of Text or Dings~

Remember to shadow your frames..

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial as much as I liked writing it for you.
If you wish to do so, post your results in the Scrapbook and Crafts forum of the
PhotoImpact International Bulletin Board. Thank you!
Here are a few examples that others made using this tutorial. Just click on the thumbnail to see full size.

Birgit Brenda Brenda Sylvia Cindy Leila