Hero Arts Challenge- Using Unexpected Colors...and a Tutorial

I spent way too much time on this card...I decided to create some custom paper to incorporate the color palette from Wednesday. I had fun and I will be making more custom paper. I used stamps from the clear set Decorate Your Own. I thought I would include a tutorial for anyone who may want to create their own custom designed paper.
Here's the card:

This is how the paper started...I stamped using Distress Inks in the palette colors of Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans, Fired Brick. Once I printed the paper I stamped the screen shadow in Dried Marigold to use create the circle frame. I printed out the letters for NOEL and stamped Houndstooth background in Dried Marigold over the top to give them some color, then cut the letters out.

Custom Paper Tutorial Using Microsoft Publisher

Click on the photos to view them larger for detail.

I scanned the stamped sheet into my computer and opened the file in Microsoft Publisher.

Copy and paste the image several times and then crop around each stamped image.

 

 While cropping the images use the set transparent background tool on the picture tool bar, it's the second tool from the right, this makes it easier to line up the images because it removes the white background from the original paper.

Once the images are cropped arrange them in a line and align them so they are straight using the Arrange tool as shown on the screen below. You will use- align middle because the images are different heights. Then group these images.

 

 Once grouped, copy and paste twice and using the Arrange tool to align the 3 grouped images. Now you will reduce the images to the desired size. Now just keep copying and pasting and grouping until the sheet is filled. You will want to stagger the rows to create a diagonal pattern or leave them straight to create stripes.

 

You can clean up the edges by ungrouping and deleting the images that fall off the sides. (You'll notice I did not set transparent background here and it made this part much more difficult; trial and error)

 

When I filled my page I opted to add text over the top using the text tool from the drawing toolbar on the left side. Just layer it over the top.

Final design before printing....

And here is the paper ready to use on my card....if you would like, you may click on the photo below to save and use this paper for your own projects. Since I used Hero Arts Stamps please don't use the paper for anything commercial. Thanks.

There are so many possibilities with this...any color scheme and design you choose. I was thinking about stamping a little scene and using it to make a design. If you use Word or Power Point use the drawing toolbar to access the tools you'll need.
Let me know if this is helpful...there's a good chance I'm the only "dinosaur" still using software other than Photoshop. (I have Photoshop, I just can't remember how to use it.)

Thought for the Day: From Philippians 4:8 Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise!

Blessings to you!