Creating Elements with Letters in Inkscape and Gimp

This is a super easy photo corner you can make in a jiffy and change in many ways to your heart's content.

• Fire up Inkscape.
• From the side toolbar, choose the text tool.
• Select the Font Garamond, size 144, for the color, choose Black.
• Click on the canvas and make the capital letter O.
• Choose the Select or Arrow tool and select your O, drag one corner of the letter to make it even bigger. Now go to Edit, copy and paste 5 more copies of your original O.
• Click on each O and drag it to position it overlapping the original O, right next to it but forming a chain, repeat with another O to form the bottom of your corner and then, drag the other two Os to overlap the top of the original, to form the rest of the corner chain.
• Now, click on the Arrow tool again to choose it and drag a selection over all of your chain photo corner. You will see all of your Os selected. Now go to Object Group. This will join the links of your chain so that they will not come undone. Now go to File, Export Bitmap and choose PNG. Save your work.

• Fire up Gimp.
• Open your PNG file. 
• Now choose the bucket fill and fill the chain corner with a pattern of your choice that you have preciously uploaded to be used in Gimp. Fill the chain photo corner element with the chosen pattern.
• Now Choose Script-Fu, Bevel and Emboss.
• Choose the following settings: Style: Outer Bevel; Depth: 5; Direction: Up; Gloss Contour: Linear; Highlight Color White; Shadow Color Black, and leave the rest as is.
• Click OK. Let it apply.
• Now go to Filters, Blur. 
• Once the simple blur is applied, go to Layer, Merge Down.
• Now, go to File, Save as, Save File Tpe (By Extension) and choose PNG, then say yes to merging layers and exporting, and you're set.

Bible Universe

Very Easy Fun Text in Gimp

This is a very simple tutorial which you can play around with until you can get the look you want for very fun and attractive text for your scrapbooking pages.
This tutorial assumes you have Gimp installed on your computer and that you have also downloaded some of the free patterns that are readily available online.

• Open up Gimp.
• Choose any size image you like.
• Now look for a thick font that will show off the pattern that you will use.
• I picked Accord Heavy SF Bold, size 76. Make sure your foreground color is Black (you can choose a background color of your choice, a gradient, or nothing. I chose to leave it blank.)
• Click on the bucket tool and choose a pattern that you like (previously downloaded into your computer and placed in Gimp’s patterns folder.) Try not to choose a pattern that has White in it, because that will be mostly our Gloss color.
• Now, right-click on the text layer that has your text in the layers menu, and choose Alpha to Selection. Now pick the Ellipse tool and draw an oval over top section of the text, leaving the bottom untouched.
• Now choose White as your Foreground and a very light version of one of the colors of your pattern (in my case it was a light green.) Choose the blend or gradient tool and stroke from the bottom of your oval upward, filling the area with your gradient. Give it an opacity of 50% by moving the lever down in the toolbox. Go to Filters, Blur and then
• Save. Got to File, Save as and then choose Select File Type by Extension and choose to save your text as a PNG.

That’s It! Experiment with different fonts and different patterns for different looks and add fun text to your pages, Enjoy!

Bible Universe

Sleek Modern Bow Element in Inkscape and Gimp

This is a super simple element which can take many looks accorind to your taste and to the effects you apply to it!

Note- This tutorial assumes you have Inkscape and Gimp installed on your computer. It also assumes you have at least a basic understanding of both softwares. Please, see our previous tutorials, since they are quite simple for beginners.


Open Inkscape

• Choose a color you like, I chose a hot pink. Create a horizontal rectangle of the size and width you like.
• I chose rounded corners but you can leave the edge straight if you want to.
• Now click on the Arrow tool and then select your rectangle, click again. You will notice some rounded arrows have appeared, you will use those to rotate your rectangle. To rotate your rectangle, drag the corner top arrow and while holding down the space bar of your keyboard, slowly drag your rectangle around until you have formed a bow. Let go when you are pleased with what you've got.

If you are not very sure, practice rotating your rectangle before you press the spacebar. If the space baris not pressed down, the stamping function will not be active and you will not be repeating the pattern.

When you are happy with what you have, go to File, Export as Bitmap.

Fire up Gimp.

• Open your stamped bow in Gimp.
• Choose the bucket tool. Select a texture you like. I have a pea green fabric with white polka dots that is perfect for this.
• Fill the topmost rectangle with the texture you chose. Now click on the Ellipse tool. Make a narrow oval at the center of your bow.
• Go to Layer, New Layer. Click on the bucket tool. Make sure your Foreground color is Black and fill the oval with Black.
• Go to Select, Shrink, and shrink your oval by 10 pixels. Choose the gradient tool, and click on the little menu and find Golden, click
• to select it. Stroke downward with your mouse to make a golden linear gradient to fill the circle in the middle of your bow.

• Go to Select, Shink, and shrink by 20 pixels. Go to Layer, New Layer. Select the Bucket tool and fill with Black again.
• Go to Select, Shink and shrink by 15 pixels.Click on your Bucket tool again, and choose another texture and fill your new layer with the texture.
• I chose a yellow fabric with white polka dots. You can leave it as is, but I chose to go a bit further.
• Go to Script-Fu, Bevel and Emboss. Choose Outer Bevel, Dept 5, Direction: Up and leave the rest as ic. Click OK and allow Gimp to apply the special effect.
• Then go to Filters, Blur and apply a soft blur. That's it.

Play with it all you want and make your own bows!

Bible Universe, Come and See!

Cute Tag Line Button for Your Blog in Gimp

A tag line is a catchy phrase or short sentence that either describes you, your interests or what you're blog's all about. It is crucial if you have a business!

Here is how to make a cute but super easy tagline button.

This tutorial assumes that you have Gimp installed in your computer, and that you have some basic knowledge of Gimp and that you have made our previous tutorials.
Open Gimp.
Choose a file size convenient for you. Choose the Rectangle tool and make a square in a size you like. Click on the menu to give it rounded corners.
Select the bucket fill and pick a color you like. Fill the square with the color of your choice. Click on the toolbox and look for a color lighter than the color of your square. Choose the ellipse tool and make a circle that almost covers the whole square, except for the bottom corner.
Fill this circle with the lighter color and give it only a 50% transparency (choose transparency from the toolbox by moving the lever in the direction you want.)
Click on the text tool, chose the color black.
Write whatever tag line you like.
Click on the bucket tool. Fill it with a pattern of your choice by selecting pattern fill rather than a color fill.
Go to Layer, New Layer. Then go to Script-Fu and click on Bevel and Emboss.
Choose the following settings:
Style: Outer Bevel
Depth: 10
Direction: Up
Size: 5
Soften: 0
Angle: 120
Gloss Contour: Linear
Highlight Color: White
Shadow Color: Black
Shadow Opacity: 75.0
Surface Contour Linear
and leave the rest as is. Click OK.

Go to Layer, Merge Down.
Save as, Select File Type (By Extension) and save as a Png.
If you need a transparent background, open the file after you have saved it and go to Layer, Add transparency,
choose the fuzzy select tool and click on the background and holding the control key down, click X to delete the background. Save again as a PNG.


You can make a lovely presentation of what your blog is all about with a button like this one. Here is an example to give you an idea.

 Bible Universe, Come and See!

Cottage Flower Element for Scrapbooking

This tutorial assumes the following:
-That you have Inkscape and Gimp installed on your computer.
-That you have already gone through our previous tutorials to learn the basics.
Fire up inkscape.

• From the vertical toolbar at the left of your page, choose the Polygon tool. Once the Polygons appear at the top of your page, choose Star, for corners, pick 8, spoke ratio, select 0.500 leave the rest of the settings as is.
• Select the color pink from the palette at the bottom of your page, and draw your star by dragging your mouse. Now, to turn the star into a flower, go to Path, object to Path. Then Edit your paths by clicking on the tool right underneath the select tool arrow. After selecting the toll, click on the star and While you hold the shift key down, click on the node that is at the tip of every point of your star to select it. You will notice that they change color to signify that they are selected.At the top of your page, where the paths editing tools are click on the 9th button, counting from the left (make nodes symmetric) that will make the star look more like a flower. You will see some horizontal handles at the top of your flower "petal" pull on those handles gently to smooth out the petals and make them rounder. When you are happy with what you have, you will click on the selection tool (arrow) and then go to Edit, Duplicate. 
• Move the duplicated flower to one side and make it a lighter pink, so you can see it better. Click on the arrow tool and then on the duplicated flower until the rotation arrows appear and rotate it a little bit so that the new petals will not cover the ones from the previous flower but be seen on top of them. Click on the arrow tool again and move the new rotated flower on top of the previous one. While holding the ctrl key down, push the new flower in with your mouse fo shrink it just a little bit. Go to Object, Align and Distribute, and choose Center on Vertical Axis, and Center on Horizontal Axis.
• Now create a new star of 9 spokes (keep the other settings intact) You will notice when you click on the paths tool (you don't have to go to Object, Object to Paths) that there are 2 nodes on the star. Ignore the node at the tip of the star and drag at the node that is near on the edge near the center of the star, while holding the ctrl key to keep things even. Keep this star smaller than the rest of the flower and make the color darker. Drag it to the center of your flower. Now choose the Ellipse or circle tool, choose a darker shade of pink and while holding the ctrl key down, make a circle to go in the center. (Make sure that none of your pieces has a visible stroke color!) Click on the select tool and drag your circle to the centerof your composite flower. Save the flower as a Bitmap. Close Inkscape and open Gimp.
• Open your flower as a PNG in Gimp. 
• (This step assumes you have texture patterns installed in your Gimp Patterns folder, please refer to previous tutorials to find out how to do it!)
• Click on the Bucket Tool, then Pattern Fill and choosing at least 3 different pattern fills, click ont he different portions of your flower and fill them with patterns of your liking.
• I chose pink pastel fabric patterns. Then go to Filters, Blur. Then Script-Fu, Drop Shadow. Finally, save as a PNG bu clicking on Select File by Extention.
• Say yes to Merge Visible Layers to export it and save it. 

That's it, now you have a pretty cottage flower element to use for scrapbooking!

Bible Universe

How to Make a Cute Flower Frame in Inkscape and Gimp

This tutorial assumes that you have Inkscape and Gimp installed in your computer, and that you have followed at least some of our previous tutorials to get an idea of how the free softwares work.

You will also need 1 or at least 3 patterns downloaded into your computer (there are many free ones online)
 Fire up Inkscape.
 Click to select the polygon tool and make sure to choose the star shape.
At the top of your page, select the following settings:  Star, Corners: 7 Spoke Ratio: 0.05 Rounded: 0.000 Randomized: 0.000
 Now choose the color you like for the fill and for the stroke (it will only be a base coat) I chose pink. Drag to make your star. Make it large enough so that a face can fit there.
Go to Path, Object to Path. Now click on the tool right underneath the Arrow or Select tool that is the Edit Paths by Nodes tool.
 Now, click on each node (tip of the star) to select it and then, at the top of the page, click on the 9th button from the left, which says make selected nodes symmetric, this will round up the point of the star to look more like a petal.
If you need to, manipulate the nodes manually to make them more to your liking. Now, while the flower is selected, hit Ctrl D to duplicate it twice. Click on the flower and move the duplication to one side of the previous flower, but make sure they are touching end to end, as if they were a string of paper cut flowers.

Position them any way you like, mine are not totally straight, but you can position yours any way you like. Click on the select tool and drag your mouse over the 3 flowers to select them all. Go to Object, Group.

 Now to to File, Export Bitmap, give it a name and export it as a PNG. Close Inskcape. Fire up Gimp. Open your PNG image. Choose the Ellipse tool and make a selection on the center of your first flower, then go to Edit, Cut. Then go to Select, None. Repeat this with every flower.
You can leave your string of flowers frame as is, but I want to embellish mine more.

 If you would like to do the same, before you make your flowers, download free texture patterns (fabric ones) from the internet (there are many for Gimp), in previous tutorials I have taught how to save those.

Once you have chosen the patterns you want to use, pick the bucket tool and choose Pattern Fill and click each flower, applying either one pattern or a different pattern for each flower. Go to Blur, Gaussian Blur and apply a blur of 5.0. Now go to Script-Fu, Drop Shadow and apply. Merge Layers. Go to Save As, choose Select File Type (By Extension). Save as a PNG.

 That's all! You can now use your cute string of flowers frame in your next scrapping project.
Enjoy!

Bible Universe

Let's Make a Fun Text Decal in Inkscape and Gimp

Fire up Inkscape.

Select the Text tool and pick out a font that is thick. I chose Once in a while, size 144.
Write the words you want for your message. I wrote Loving It. But write the words one letter at a time, clicking on the canvas to
deselect each letter, so that the word will not be all together, that way we will be able to work with it.

Now rotate the letters to your likeing. To rotate in one direction, slect the letter you want to rotate, then, press the Alt key plus the opening bracket [, to rotate in the opposite
direction, select the letter you want to rotate and then press the Alt key and the closing bracket ]. Once you have the letters in the direction you want, click on the select tool (arrow) and
draw a selection around the word or words you have writing, now click on Ctrl + G to group the selected letters.

Click on the canvas to deselect the grouping, and click on the letters again, then go to Edit, Duplicate, then Paste. Move the duplicated text below the original text and keep it selected.

Now, click on Ctrl + Shift + F, so that the Fill and Stroke menu will appear. Chose stroke paint.
Choose a medium gray, then go to stroke style, and choose a width of 18.00 and a miter limit of 18.00 and choose for Join choose the first box. Now drag your selection and place it on top of the previous text.
Then, to to the top of the page and select Lower Selection One Step, the 9th button up there from the left.
Now Click on the select arrow and draw a selection over the whole text and go to Path, Union, to join it all together. Export as a PNG, to to File Export Bitmap.

Now, go to Gimp. Open your ext decal there. Now select the bucket tool. Choose a pattern that you like (there are many free patterns online for Gimp that you can download) and click on Pattern Fill.
Apply to the inside of your text. Now select FG color Fill and change the Foreground color to White. Apply White to the gray all around the outside of your text.

Finally, go to Filters, Blur, Gaussian Blur, apply a 5.0 blur. Now go to Script-Fu and choose Drop Shadow. Now go to Filters, Blur. Save as a PNG as follows, go to Save As, then click on Select File Type (By Extension and pick PNG).

Click to merge the layers and then to save it. (Do this even if you see the png on your file name, because otherwise, what I have found is that Gimp tends to save files as its proprietorial file format and then you cannot open them in other scrapbooking software.)

Done!

Bible Universe