Christmas Wreath

This wreath is done for PSP8 but you can try use the
tutorial on other PSP versions.

KPT5 collections for the spruce, or you can use a spruce
tube which you can get from
hhttp://members.lycos.nl/eddasstuff/tubes1.html.

Super Blade Pro for the ornaments.

Spruce instructions below.

Open a canvas size 600 x 600. Change your bg color to #455335. Start doodling by making lines for the spruce, see figure 1 below. You can draw as many lines as you want. When you satisfied with it, merge all the layers and make it selected.

EFFECTS/PLUG INS/ KPT5 COLLECTION/ FIBER OPTICS. Use the settings below. Apply KPT5 collection one more time.

Click on the image to enlarge.

ADJUST/BRIGHTNESS= -38/ CONTRAST= 0. Deselect. Save this file as PSP image. We will open it later when we are ready to decorate it.

Lets make the ornaments. It's optional. You can use some tube ornaments to decorate the wreath, or make the ornaments yourself. I love challenge so I am doing it the hard way. I am making my own ornaments.

Open a canvas size 500x500. Click on preset shape and choose ellipse. Change your foreground/ background colors to #FFFFFF (white).

Draw an ellipse anywhere on the canvas size 49x46. Convert to raster layer. Copy and paste it 3X on the canvas. Make a square selection around the ellipse. See figure below.

Now click on Effects/ Artistic/ Balls and Bubbles/ Christmas ornament. Shape/single bubble. Surface/ material change to #C00000. Change illumination lights 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to #C00000 and click OK.

Take the ornament out of the selection and put another ellipse inside it.

Repeat the process on the remaining ellipses. Just change the material colors to your colors and illumination lights to the same material colors. See image below.

Now lets add letters on the ornaments. Change the color palette to gradient/ silver or use white. Click on the first ornament. Click on Text tool and find the "Black Chancery". Type the capital letter N, size 28. OK.

Convert to raster layer. Click on Effects/3D/ Drop Shadow. Settings are  vertical = 1 / horizontal=2 / opacity=80 / blur=2.00/ color=black. Click the layer with N on the layer palette and merge it down with the red ornament.

Repeat the process on the remaining ornaments.

Let's put a cap on the ornaments. Change the foreground/background to gradient/ gold. Click on preset shapes and choose rounded rectangle. Click on the red ornament. Draw a rounded rectangle on top of it. Convert to raster layer.

Close the background properties on the color palette. Click on preset shapes and choose ellipse. Draw a small ring over the cap. Merge the ring with the cap. Copy the cap. Merge
the cap with the first ornament.

Click on the second ornament. Paste the cap as a new layer. Place the layer on top of the second ornament. Merge down with the second ornament.

Click on the third ornament. Paste the cap as a new layer. Place the cap on top of the third ornament. Merge down with the third ornament.

Click on the 4th ornament. Paste the cap as a new layer. Place the cap on top of the 4th ornament. Merge down with the 4th ornament.

Your image should look like the one below.

Let's make some berries or you can just use the tube berries. Its easier that way. I just like to see what my own berries looks with the wreath. :)

Click on ellipse. Change the fg/bg color to #C00000. Draw a small ellipse on the canvas. Convert to raster layer. Draw a square selections around it. Click on Effects/ Artistic/
Balls and Bubbles/ choose the factory defaults/ single ball or bubble. Click on Surface/ change the material to #C00000. Click OK. Deselect.

Copy and paste the berry. Merge it with the layer cluster1. Paste another berry and merge it with cluster1. You have now 1 cluster.

Paste another berry. Click on the layer you just pasted and name it cluster 2. Paste another berry and merge down with cluster 2. Paste another berry and merge down with cluster 2. etc.

Repeat the same process to make as many cluster as you want. See image below.

Open up the file where you have your wreath. Copy and paste all the berries on the wreath and arrange them to your liking.

Copy and paste the ornaments on the same file and arrange them accordingly.

You should have an image similar to the image below. (so far).

Decorate your wreath with bows and other ornaments. Draw a string to connect the ornaments to the wreath.  Use the tube "rope", scale 12. Merge all the layers invisible and add drop shadow.

Follow the bow/ribbon tutorial for the Christmas ribbon.