One of my favorite easy-to-do scrapping tricks is to “cut out” a title. I love how it adds a little “umph” to a page as well as giving it that handmade “paper” scrapbooking look. It’s simple to do…here’s how I did it on the page above.
I adored the alpha that came with the All About Me kit by Zig Zag Scraps (part of THE DIGI FILES 10). I have a thing for stamped alphas! However, on this page, I thought that the alpha was lacking a little something. I wanted it to “pop” a bit more. So, I decided to add some paper behind the alpha (to give the appearance that the alpha was stamped onto paper and then the paper cut out).
1. I selected my alpha layer (CONTROL CLICK on the thumbnail in the layers palette for an easy selection of the entire layer; COMMAND CLICK on a Mac)
2. Once my layer was selected, I created a new layer beneath my alpha layer (CONTROL + Clicking on New layer icon will give you a new layer underneath rather than above)
3. With the “marching ants” still on/the alpha layer selected, I went to SELECT > MODIFY > EXPAND.
4. I entered an amount for how much I wanted to expand the selection. For this alpha, a 65 pixel expansion looked about right.
5. Without deselecting (turning off the marching ants), I selected the new layer I created. Then I went to EDIT > FILL SELECTION. I chose white, but the color doesn’t matter if you plan to cover it with paper.
6. I then deselected (CONTROL D; COMMAND D on Mac). I then had a “paper” background for my title. I wanted a more realistic look, so I used another piece of paper from the kit and used a clipping mask to cover the new layer with paper.
7. I added a drop shadow to the layer and I was done!
FINAL PAGE:
Credits: All About Me by Zig Zag Scraps for THE DIGI FILES 10; stitching by Syrin, paper tears by Steph Krush; font is Typewriter Scribbled
Here are some other pages I have used this technique for
Credits: Shabby Sugar and Chasing Rainbow kits by Zoe Pearn at Sweet Shoppe Designs; stitching by Syrin; swirl and metal brad by Shabby Princess; Shmootzy Alpha 4 by Nancie Rowe Janitz; fonts are Typewriter Scribbled and CK Cursive
Credits: Happy Go Lucky by Shabby Princess; stamped date by Amber Clegg; Shmootzy Alpha 4 by Nancie Rowe Janitz
Credits: Flower Stand by Shabby Miss Jenn and Scrapkitchen Designs. Template by Janet Phillips; stamped alpha by Nancie Rowe Janitz
[...] Cutting out titles at The Daily Digi [...]
Great tutorial, so far I have just been using the “stroke” to get this look!
awesome tip! TFS!
Janet,
I also was using the stroke option and often wondered how you got the patterned paper behind your letters on your layouts. Thanks so much, I just love the way this looks.
Awesome tip! Thanks!
Thanks Janet–I’ll remember this if I want to use patterned paper as my fill!
Thanks! I just used this today on a layout for a calendar!
I don’t comment very often, but I love this site!
Hollie — Yes, the stroke option is available but what it doesn’t allow you to do is then cover the background layer with paper/cardstock.
Janet
What a wonderful tutorial, I’ve always wanted to do that! For some reason, though, I can’t get the “marching ants” when I select my layer, only the bounding box (I’m using PSE6). Does anybody have any ideas? Thanks!!
Thanks! I never know whether to add shadows to stamped alphas or not. A stamp in the real world would not have a shadow, but they often look weird or don’t stand out enough on my digi pages without a shadow. This solves the problem! You rock!
thank you for such clear directions!
Thanks for the little tutorial – I have never done this, but I surely will now!
I think it looked good before the paper AND after.
Thanks for the tip. I have always done it a different way but this way is waaay more flexible than how I did it. You’re awesome! 
Thanks for the tutorial!!
great tutorial! I love stamped alphas too and will definitely be using this!
oh I like this! great tip thanks
Is the “stroke” option available in PSE? I use that all the time in PSCS (same palette as the drop shadows) and it is super easy and gives the same effect.
Thank you for another great tip!
brilliant tip/tutorial.
what a fantastic idea! And great layouts too, thanks!
Great tutorial, thanx!