Hello there, Stefanie here with a How to create an artsy or art journaling type layout using brushes found in a kit.

I started with Digital Scrapbook Ingredients : Second hand.

 

There were some really great brushes. In order for them to work as a photo mask, you need them to be quite opaque or layer up a few, I layered three on top of each other and then merged them into one layer.

In Photoshop Elements I used Edit- Fill layer to fill them with black, (my foreground colour, while keeping their transparency)

Lastly I added my photograph above the new brush/mask layer and Ctrl-G clipped it together. At this stage you can move the photo around so that it is shown off to best advantage, you can re-size as needed and then I linked the photo and mask layers together so that if I move one the other will move with it.

I did this a few more times (4 flower photos), found a quote that resonated with me about grief (on quotegarden) and then just added a couple of dimensional goodies (the greenery and butterfly) and called it done. Scrapbooking is cathartic for me, I enjoy the creativity and appreciate the beauty of my photos and scrapping goodies even when I am struggling with a lack of mojo and jumbled emotions.