Tutorial : Creating Glitter Effects in Photoshop (Freebie Alert!)

Okay, for most of the time, I have been using photoshop to edit pictures, color correction, saturation & sephia effect, or photo collages. I have never once try to design something from it. And so, since I'm into this thing called digital scrapbooking (I never thought it could be this addicting), I hop into one forum to another, and I found this one tutorial in PixelScrapper on how to create the glitter effects in photoshop.
For those of you who have been fooling around with photoshop, you'll find the tutorial easy to follow, it's all about getting the right texture, the correct level of opacity and how you blend each layers. There's definitely no right and wrong in doing this, because it is just a mix and match into your taste. In order to create the glitter papers all you need is 7 layers in your workbook. Here's the list from bottom to top layer.
Layer 1. is the color of your choice
Layer 2. is a layer filled with "Towel" pattern (to give the first texture to your glitter), and use the "Overlay" blending mode
Layer 3. is a copy of Layer 2 with blending mode set to "Soft Light"
Layer 4. is a layer filled with soft gray color (experiment with the gray shades!)
Layer 5. is a copy of layer 2 set to "Overlay" blending mode
Layer 6. is  another layer with the color of your choice, set the opacity to 30%
Layer 7. is a layer filled with "Web" pattern set to "Overlay"
Tadah! You got what you want.
For more detail tutorials you can visit the PixelScrapper Forum, and see how the discussion evolves. There're more tutorials from the community to take your glitter papers to the next level.

Last but not least, I have a glitter papers freebie. The glitter papers coordinate with a new bundle kit from Marisa Lerin, which is called Slovenia. I have never been to Slovenia (let alone setting my foot in Europe), but I have once visit Shrek's house & castle at Far Far Away Land (Universal Studio), and guess what, the kit works just perfect to capture it. It's a great kit to capture any fairytale or renaissance theme you got. But, what I've learned so far is, you don't have to get caught up in the kit's theme that you limited the usage of it. Sometimes the wrong kit works super well for the wrong picture (This is not a lie! I've tried it!). Okay, you must be getting tired already. Here's a layout inspiration using the Marisa Lerin's Slovenia bundle kit.

And obviously, the freebie you've been waiting for!

(Click image to download)

Space Exploring? Visit an Observatory

Though I love math, science such as physics and astronomy were never my strength subjects when I was in school. I always fail to understand the equation of gravity or any theory about heat, layers of the sky, or even type of clouds. But visiting a science museum never fails to amaze me. 

In Indonesia, we have a Planetarium right at the heart of Jakarta. And the famous Boscha Observatory in Bandung is sometimes open for public. Although I never really got a chance to visit the observatory (seems like everytime I went to Bandung, the observatory is always close). But the one observatory that will always be in my heart will be the Griffith Observatory Museum, LA, USA. I went there about 15+ years ago when I was just an elementary student. And even back then, the museum was filled with interactive experiments about the outerspace. Right at the front lawn, there's a statue of famous scientists such as Newton etc, and when you step a foot inside, you were greeted by a giant pendulum. And Griffith is the place where I first saw a solar telescope. It was gigantic!

Last July, one of PixelScrapper designer, Sheila Reid, release a Space Explorer bundle. And at first glance, the kit reminds me of the visit to Griffith Observatory Museum. I wish,, I really wish, that Indonesia has such a museum like it. It doesn't have to be as grand, well maintained is the least we expect.

Nonetheless, here's a sneack preview the bundle kit.

I've created a desktop calendar for August Desktop Calendar using the kit, and mix with a template layout from Marisa Lerin. Obviously featuring my picts from the Griffith Observatory.

You can grab the quick page following below link (clik on image). I have created 3 quick page to better suit your monitor size.