This tutorial was written by me on September 5, 2020. The results are of my own imagination.  Any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental.  

Please DO NOT claim this tutorial as your own.

This was written assuming you have a working knowledge of PS.

Please keep in mind that I write the tutorial as I am creating it.

Sometimes I may not explain properly where to place things so please see my example if you are ever in doubt :)

Supplies needed

I am using CS5 but this tutorial should work with any version.

You can download the 7 day trial of PS here.

https://www.adobe.com/ca/creativecloud/plans.html

PTU Kit:  I am using a gorgeous kit called "Baba Yaga" created by Hania's Design.  You can purchase the kit at Elegance Fly here. 

PTU Tube:  I am using Sheokate's fantastic tube "Banshee Woman".  Please do not use this tube without a proper license. I am using the extended license tube for this tutorial.  

You can purchase this awesome tube at Elegance Fly here.

PTU Animation:  I am using Kiya Designs awesome animation from package 37.  You can purchase her fun animation here.

Mask:  Mask 32 by Vivienne's Paintbox. Thank you for your awesome masks.  You can download it from her blog here. Open and minimize in PS.

Font of choice for your name.

Plug in: None

Drop shadow of choice.

Please read all the Artist's/Designer's TOU.

Let's get started.

Remember to save your tag often in case PS crashes.  I always save my tags as a psd image.  It keeps all the layers and if you make tags for others you will always have the template.

To open an image, I click on the element or paper in the file folder and drag it into PS.

To transfer an element or paper in PS to my tag, I left click and drag it into my working canvas.  

The other way is to left click and drag the element from the folder right onto your tag. 

Either way you will get the same results :).  I will be using the both method for this tutorial.

For resizing and rotating I use the Ctrl+T command.

Let's get started.

Remember to save your tag often in case psp crashes.  I always save my tags as a psd image.  It keeps all the layers and if you make tags for others you will always have the template.

Open a new 800x800 transparent image.  We will resize later.

Go to layers, New fill layer, solid color.  When the pop up window appears type in FFFFFF and click ok.

Drag paper of choice into the tag.  I am using paper 9, The free transformation box will appear.  Click on the link icon between the W & H and resize 45%.  Click ok.

Select Vivienne's mask, click on the mask with the move tool and drag it over the paper layer.  This is not going to fit but that is ok.  Hold down the ctrl key and hit T on your keyboard.  You will see little boxes in the the corners of the mask.  Click on the top corner box and drag it to the upper left corner.  Repeat for the bottom right corner and drag to the bottom right.  Once the mask fits the canvas click on the check mark in the upper right corner of the tool bar.  You can close out Vivienne's mask now and do not save changes.

Next.

In the layer pallet, You should have three layers, the top layer being the mask layer.  Click on layer three to select it (it should be highlighted in blue). Next, click on the channels tab next to the layers tab.  You will see 4 layers, RGB, Red Green Blue.  We only want to work with RGB layer.  Holding down the ctrl key, click on the RGB thumb nail in the layer pallet.  You will see marching ants around the mask.  This is good.

Next click back on the Layers tab.  Select layer two, the paper layer and go to Layer, Layer mask, Reveal selection.  You will notice the mask thumb nail next to the paper layer.  This is good :).  Select layer 3 and delete it as we no longer need it.

Drag element 88 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mask.

Drag element 115 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 30%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mask.

Drag element 101 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mask just right of the tree.

Drag element 109 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 15%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the top of the mask.

Drag element 72 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the doorway.

Drag element 21 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 30%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the left of the mask.  Next, holding down the ctrl key, click on the mask icon on the paper layer.  You should see marching ants around the mask.  Selections, inverse.  Standing on the tree layer, using the eraser tool, erase the outside of the tree that over hangs the mask.  Select none.

Drag element 106 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom of the mask.

Drag element 73 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the left of the mask approx half way down.

Drag element 49 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 15%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the mask.  See mine for placement.

Drag element 81 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the mask.

Drag element 16 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 10%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the cauldron.

Drag element 15 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 10%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the house.

Drag element 64 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 20%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the cauldron.  Duplicate and move to the bottom of the house.  We need to erase the part that is over the tree.  In the layer pallet find the tree layer.  Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the thumbnail.  This will select the tree.  You should see marching ants around the tree.  Back to the grass layer.  Using the eraser tool, erase the part that is over the tree.  Select none.  Drag copy of layer 64 under the original in the layer pallet.

Select copy of 64 layer.

Drag element 114 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 30%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the opening between the grass layers.

Drag element 27 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 15%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom of the fire.  

Select the layers you would like to use on your tube by clicking on the eyeball to make the layers visible.  Click on the eyeball of a visible layer to hide it.  Holding down the Ctrl key, Select each visible layer.  Once all layers are selected hit Ctrl+G on your keyboard to group the layer.  Select your move tool and select group 1.  Drag this into your tag.  You can close the original and do not save the changes.  Standing on group 1 in the layer pallet, right click and convert to smart object.  Your group layers are now one single layer.  Hit Ctrl+T on the keyboard and click on the link between the H & W.  Resize 20% and move to the bottom right of the mask.  See mine for placement.

Drag element 119 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 5%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the tube.

Drag element 39 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 15%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom left of the mushroom.  The little part of the leaf should by on the right side of the tube.

Drag element 92 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 10%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the tube.  

Drag element 28 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 12%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom in front of the mushroom.  

Drag wordart 3 into your tag.  Click the link icon between the W and H and resize 10%.  Click the check mark.  Move to the bottom right of the tag by the jar.  

Add any other elements you like and make any adjustments to the layers.

Crop away any extra space.  

Image, Image Size and resize 650 on the longest side.  See my settings below.  My settings will have one different number depending on the cropping.  

Oh almost forgot we need to drop shadow all of our elements.

Select the element on the bottom of your tag in the layer pallet and double click it.

A layer style window will pop up.  Click on Drop shadow. and use the following settings.

Now right click on the layer you just applied the drop shadow.  Click copy layer style.

Now click on the layer above and hold down the shift key, click on the top layer.  Right click and paste layer style.  

Click on the frame layer and hold down the shift key and click on the top layer.  Right click and paste layer style.  Drop shadow is complete :).

Add your copyright and name.

If you do not want to animate.  Hide the white background layer Save your tag and export as png.

Might want to grab a coffee :)

Open Kiya Designs psd file in ps.  You will notice that there is 16 layers in this animation and it does not have the group layer.  That is ok as we are going to learn how to do this so it matches the animation layers of the tube.

We need to group all the layers.  Starting from layer 16, hold down your control key and select each layer so the next one will be 15 then 14 etc.  Once all the odd layers are selected (the layers will be highlighted in blue) we need to group them.  All layers selected? 

Next we need to group these layers.  Go to Layers, Group layers or Ctrl + G on the Keyboard.  You will see group 1 folder at the top.  Make sure Group 1 is selected.

Select the layer you would like the animation to be placed.  I selected the fire layer.

Back to the animation.  Click on Group 1 and drag it into your tag.  Ctrl+T and resize 30%.  Move to a spot you like best.  I moved it over the fire.

Close the original animation and don't save changes.

Click on the little white arrow beside Group 1 to expand it.  Click on the eyeball of each layer to hide it but leave frame layer 1 visible.  Click on the arrow beside group one to hide it as we do not want to accidentally make any changes.

Next make sure your animation viewer is open on the bottom of PS.  I you do not see a row that has Animation (Frames) on the bottom, go to Windows, Animation.

Next is animating.

Click on the little icon at the right end of the animation screen then select make frames from layers.

When the pop up shows select  Make Frames from Layers

You are going to see a big mess in the animation window but we are going to fix this.

Click on the first frame and click on the trash can in the animation window.  Repeat this until you reach the first frame of the animation.  

Now you should be at the first frame of the animation.  Click on frame 17 and hit the trash can.  Repeat for all the remaining frames.  You should be left with 16 frames in the animation window.  This is the amount of frames for our animation.

This next step is very important.  Any changes you do from here you must be on frame 1 in the animation window. It will be highlighted in blue.

Go to the bottom of your tag in the layers pallet.  Make sure you have animation frame 1 selected.

Click on the eyeball beside each layer to make it visible.  For the white base layer you may have to click on it a couple of times to make it visible in all the animation frames.  It's a Photoshop thing.  Do not touch the group layer.

Next, I want to slow down the animation.  With the first frame selected, hold down the shift key and click on frame 16.  This will select all the frames.

Next, click on the little black arrow beside the 0 sec as we want to change the speed.  A pop up window will appear.  

I selected 0.1 Sec.  Now click on the play button to view the animation.  Click on it again to stop it.

Click frame 1 again so we don't accidentally make any changes.

Now to save our tag as a gif.

Go to File, save for web device.

A new pop up window will appear.  Change the settings to my screen shot below.  Click on the image to enlarge it if needed.  Click save.  My screen shot will look different but the settings are the same.

I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial.  I would love to see your results.