Picture-Perfect Gift Tags

By Liz Ness · Issue: November/December 2010 (V7N6)

· 24 Comments · Add to my favorites · Print

Related Tags: gift tags

Add a special touch to your presents–and show off your crafty side–by transforming favorite photos into personalized gift tags.

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Related Tags: gift tags

This entry is filed under Holiday Projects, Magazine, PDF Articles and Tutorials.

24 Replies to Picture-Perfect Gift Tags:

Julie
November 25, 2010 at 4:04 am

I was just stressing looking through my collection of tags yesterday in order to wrap a few (early) Christmas gifts to take when I visit family for Thanksgiving. I never thought to make my own! Thanks for this, Liz…
Ronald
November 26, 2010 at 12:40 pm

I tried to follow along using Elements 6, but certain menus were not available. eg. my mouse does not have a right click, and I could not choose “Simplify layer”
Do I have to get a later version to try this project?
Please advise.

Ron
- Kelly
  November 29, 2010 at 10:34 am
  
  Hi Ron,
  
  Are you using a Mac? If your mouse doesn’t have a second button, you can just hold down the Ctrl key when you click to access the contextual menu. You should also be able to follow the tutorial without simplifying the layer. Many people automatically simplify shapes after creating them to give themselves more flexibility. But I don’t believe you actually have to simplify for this particular tutorial to work.
  - Ronald
    December 2, 2010 at 7:03 pm
    
    Thanks Kelly:
    I followed your tips, and it worked out fine.
    Thanks very much.
    Have a wonderful Christmas.
    
    Ron
Lisa
November 29, 2010 at 1:04 pm

I’ve been working on this project for about 2 hours now and I have “simplify layer” but it’s not highlighted when I need it to be……this isn’t working for me….are then other directions or tips I can follow??

Thanks!
Liz
November 29, 2010 at 1:56 pm

Hi Lisa,

When you say that the “simplify layer” isn’t highlighted, do you mean you can’t select it in the drop-down when you right-click on the shape layer? If so, as Kelly indicated (in the previous comment), you don’t need to simplify the layer (it’s a habit I have for flexibility later on, but not necessary for this project). You should be able to move on to step 8 without any problems.

TIP: If you’re still looking to simplify the layer, be sure that the shape layer (and not another) is selected when you right-click the layer. In addition, just after drawing a shape (and before doing anything else), look for the Simplify button on the tool bar — it’s a time-saver!

Best wishes!

Liz
Carol
November 30, 2010 at 9:51 am

When I come to step 5, I am getting a message that it could not stroke because there is nothing to stroke. Cannot figure out what I am doing wrong.
- Liz
  December 1, 2010 at 9:19 am
  
  Hi Carol,
  
  1. Select the new (empty) layer.
  2. Ctrl-click on the rectangle layer (to get the marching ants).
  3. Check to make sure the empty layer is still selected.
  4. Then, choose Edit>Stroke.
  
  And, that should do it.
  
  =) Liz
Betty
December 4, 2010 at 12:57 pm

I tried the tags using Vista and Elements 8. Everything went fine until I got to step 14…..The picture did not recede under the outline of the snowflake. It stayed as a square picture on top of the snowflake. Betty
- Luke
  December 5, 2010 at 7:45 pm
  
  Betty,
  
  Instead of using the Ctrl+G method, try hovering your mouse cursor between the two layers and press and hold down the Alt key. You should see a two circle icon with a black arrowhead. When you see that, click your left mouse button and that should do the trick. Hope that works.
- Liz
  December 7, 2010 at 10:59 am
  
  TIP: Double-check to ensure that the photo layer is selected before pressing Ctrl-G.
Diane
December 4, 2010 at 1:22 pm

I am attempting to crete Picture Perfect Tags and am stuck on Step 4. The rectangle box does not come up blue (I have done the foreground color swatch). In Step 5 the rectangle box does not come up on the layers palette. I keep getting the message I don’t have “Could not use the move tool because no layers are selected.” or “No pixels selected” Help!! I am using Elements 6.
- Liz
  December 7, 2010 at 10:54 am
  
  Hi Diane,
  
  I’m not sure what’s happening and need just a little more information. Can you draw a rectangle at all — in any color? How about any other shape? If you can draw a shape (any shape and any color), can you see it in your palette?
  
  Thanks for the clarification,
  
  Liz
Lisa
December 6, 2010 at 8:52 pm

Liz,

Thanks for the info! Just got back into trying this project–it frustrated me the first time. Going to try again!

Lisa
- Liz
  December 9, 2010 at 3:07 pm
  
  Hi Lisa!
  
  Just wanted to let you know that we’ve added the template to this page (up above). A super time-saver, for sure! =)
  
  -Liz
  - Lisa
    December 23, 2010 at 7:38 pm
    
    Thanks for the template Liz! Great time saver! Wish I had seen it before creating mine! Actually I’m glad I didn’t because I managed to FINALLY create the tag on my own! So proud of myself—since I had such problems the first time.
    
    Lisa
Diane
December 10, 2010 at 7:19 pm

Hi Liz, I worked out my other problems and am able to get to Step 13. I have tried what Luke told Betty and that doesn’t work. I also did what you suggested to make sure the picture layer is highlighted. When I look in the menu at Layers Ungroup and Group are not lit up. That is probably what is stopping the Ctrl G to not work. I have even tried it on your template that you have sent and the picture will not Group into the gift tag. It just lays on top. Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help.
Diane
Patricia
December 13, 2010 at 3:47 pm

I downloaded the gift tag template, but I am unable to open it (Elements 8). I get an error message “unable to open because of a program error”.
- Rick
  December 13, 2010 at 10:13 pm
  
  I’ve tried it on a bunch of different computers, Patricia, and am not having any problems. You might want to try and download it again.
  
  There are a couple of systems where I don’t have the font Liz used installed, but Elements will still open the file ok (and you can change the font to one you like fairly easily).
Taryn
December 15, 2010 at 7:40 am

I successfully made the snowflake gift tags in this issue of the magazine and I adore them! I am having one problem though, I can’t get them to print large. When we created the tag is was sized at 2 x 6 but they are printing really small. Is there a way to resize the tag?
Judy
December 16, 2010 at 6:09 am

Thank you for sharing the snowflake gift tag project. It adds such a personal touch to my packages. I have done several now in all different colors. I printed them out on 8.5 x 11 photo paper and put two to a page to save paper. Love them!!
Robert
September 13, 2011 at 9:34 am

I realized picking the right photo was important after clipping the photo to the top snowflake, it looks like the person is inside it. Nice effect. I had some trouble stroking with 50% gray color. I couldn’t find that option. I recall seeing that option somewhere in PSE before, but this time I just picked a light color gray myself.
Joseph A.
October 29, 2011 at 8:27 pm

I have spent half the day trying to get this project to work. I fell like a dummy. First I can’t get the box to draw using your directions when I select the rectangle tool and set it as you say to when I click on my document it does not create the rectangle box. I have tried everything and the ony way I can draw the box is to use unconstrained and draw it freehand. then when I get to the shape picker I can’t get it to place the snowflake in the box. I must have tried this 50 times.I am really frustrated. What am I missing.
- Liz
  October 30, 2011 at 8:15 am
  
  Hi Joseph,
  
  I’d like to help. Where in the following steps does the trouble begin?
  
  1. Open a new letter-sized document.
  2. Choose #b9e5f5 for the foreground color.
  3. Select the Rectangle Shape tool (U).
  4. Set the width to 6 inches and height to 2.5 inches in the Options menu.
  5. Click once in your document to draw the rectangle.
  6. With the mouse still pressed, position the rectangle.
  7. Release the mouse button.
  8. Simplify the layer (by either right-clicking on the layer and selecting Simplify, or by pressing the Simplify button on the menu bar).
  
  In the steps above, ensure the Rectangle Shape tool is the tool chosen and NOT the Rectangular Marquee tool. In addition, please double check the size and that it’s in inches for the shape.
  
  When it comes to the snowflake, where in the following steps does the trouble begin?
  
  1. Change the foreground color to #83d7f5.
  2. Select the Custom shape tool (U).
  3. Select the snowflake shape from the Shape Picker.
  4. Shift-click and drag (or just click and drag) to draw the shape.
  5. Simplify the layer.
  
  Thanks for your help so that we can help you get to the bottom of this.
  
  Take care,
  
  Liz Ness