This tutorial belongs to SweetAngel, a Member of PSPMagic. She created stationery for another group and was asked how she did it. She does not write tutorials so I offered to help her get it up on the web. I take NO credit for the idea, it is her's. Please do not copy this tutorial, or send it in Email thru AOL or any other source. This is copyrighted to Sweet Angel. Whatever you create from this tutorial is copyrighted to you. This tutorial was created on 6/18/2002 and any similarities to any other tutorial is coincidental. If there are any mistakes, they are probably mine and not Sweet Angels. LOL

This tutorial will have no screen shots, and it is assumed that you have at least an intermediate knowledge of PSP. The tutorial was done in PSP 7.4, but you could probably do it in other versions, we did not test it in other versions. : )

Supplies Needed:

Plugins - Simple - they can be downloaded here ( Be sure you grab them all if you don't have them, they are great add ons to PSP and the price is right. Free.... : )

Plugins - Texturizer - This is an Adobe plugin and if you do not have it, you can probably achieve a similar effect with the PSP texture. We can not offer it for download.

Image of your choice. Your results will vary depending on the original image and the size of the image. You will want to do some experimenting to achieve the look you like the best. : )

Step 1 - Duplicate your image twice and close out your original.

Step 2 - On one of your duplicate images - Effects - Plug Ins Simple 4 way Average - Default Settings

Step 3 - Effects - Blur - Gaussian Blur 9

Step 4 - Effects - Texturizer - Sandstone - Scaling 100, relief 4 Or play with the settings to see if you like anything better. ( NOW would be a good time to save ) This is your background image.

Step 5 - Open a new image 750x288 transparent background

Step 6 - Copy and paste your background image to your new 750x 288 image. ( If your image was a small one, you may need to use the deformation tool to stretch out the background to fit the 750 width.- I used a larger image than 750 and did not need to use the deformation tool. ) I also did some experimenting and used it as a pattern fill and liked that effect too.

Step 7 - Open up your second duplicate image. Use the freehand tool ( lasso ) and set it to Freehand, Feather at 50.

Step 8 - Rope around the part of the image that you want to use and paste it as a new image. Resize it to 218x288. ( Make sure you UNCHECK Maintain aspect ratio)

Step 9 - Copy and paste the resized image to the RIGHT side of the background.

Step 10 - We will use the selection tool now. Make sure to change the feather to 0. Go to the left side of your background and make a small rectangle up against the left side. Go to Effects, Drop Shadow and use these settings: V & H 2, Opacity 100, Blur 30. Deselect. Repeat this two more times, backing up each rectangle to the previous one.

Step 11- Layers Merge, Flatten and Save. If you are using this tutorial for a group that does not allow stationery, you could just use the background, the image and the borders and make sure to size according to your group guidelines. If you are making stationery, have fun. : )

This is another example of SweetAngel's work.

This is the one I did following SweetAngel's instructions while writing the tutorial. Thank you SweetAngel for a fun tutorial.