Using Elements

Often times we buy kits with a few elements on a page, like "My Big Backyard Girl" kit elements come. I know other programs are different and you use a lasso tool or technique to get individual elements off the page, but in DIP this is one way you can do it:

1. Open the element page you want to use and also the paper you are "pasting" on.

2. There are two tools you can use. The first is the marquee tool located in the lower tool bar.

3. After you have clicked on the marquee tool you can drag your box (or shape) around the element of choice (in this case the bird). Sometimes you may have to adjust that shape. The arrow is pointing to adjust. Click on this and adjust till you are happy with the area covered.

4. The other technique or tool you can use is the Freehand tool. This is ideal for getting in tight spaces or around an awkward shaped item.

5. You click on this tool and then click or draw around the element freehand style.
6. I then go to the copy button and hit copy (you can also use the cut and paste, but I always worry about accidentally saving without the element there...so I use the copy and paste).

7. Then select in your files open (to the left), the paper you are pasting on. Hit the paste button.

8. And there you have it: a bird nicely pasted on the paper. You can then go in and add the drop shadow if you want and complete your layout.

Using Templates

As promised, I had many ask on how to use templates. I save all my templates that I offer in png, so that they are easy to fill and replace. I will show you how and then you can go get my free templates and try one on your own. Also, if you want the kit I used it is called Bubblegum Garden. By the way, this will only work if the template elements are not flattened down and if they are saved in png format (like mine) but there are others out there that do it that way too.

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If you are using PSP or Photoshop, I found a great scrapbooking site (Scrapbook-Elements) that shares wonderful tutorials as well, go here for PSP: http://www.scrapbook-elements.com/tutorials/SBE_Using-Layered-Templates-in-PaintShopPro12.pdf and if you have Photoshop: http://www.scrapbook-elements.com/tutorials/SBE_Using-PSD-Layered-Templates-in-Photoshop.pdf. Good luck and continue on if you use DIP.
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1. First go to your library and select the template you want to use and then all the paper. Bring it up so that it is on your screen.

2. Now using your mouse, select the background 12x12 box (white). Then go to your toolbar and bring down the menu under "Effects". Select "Fill with texture or color".
3. When it opens click on the button that says "Picture".
4. This is the place where it allows you to select the picture you want to fill that shape with. Go over into your opened files (yellow arrow) and select the paper you want. It will automatically fill this shape for you. Select done and continue these steps with all the shapes you want to fill on your page. You can take off what you don't want to use, move shapes around and make them bigger or smaller. I have filled all the shapes and have also opened the elements I want to use and placed them on the layout as well. Now I am ready to put in the photos.
5. Go into your library and select the photos you want to use. For this template it has five, but again, feel free to make it your own. When your photos are in your file palette, go through the same steps above that you used to fill in the paper. You can move them around and make them bigger or smaller before you hit the "Done" button. Don't forget to add drop shadows (if desired), journaling, and other elements.
Here is my completed layout page...it took about 15 minutes. This is such a useful technique and one I promise, you will use over and over for a number of reasons. For example, often times I purchase a kit and I want the element or the alphabet a different color than what was provided. You can change it! So have fun, play around with this and enjoy!