Do you have a favourite wrapping paper, card or other image you would like to use on an egg but you don't have enough copies? Paper tole applications become really simple when you use your computer to prepare and copy your prints.

Scan the card or wrapping paper using a high resolution on your scanner - this will give you a clearer finished image. I used 1200 dpi which I then reduced back to 300 to work with. Keep the print large to make it easier while you are cleaning it up - it will be resized later.

Click for a larger view
 

Using the cleaning technique from Lesson 5, or if you prefer the background eraser in PSP 8,  remove any unwanted areas around your main focal point. Think of this step as cutting the image from the wrapping paper using scissors or a craft knife. I've used a pink background layer to show up the cleaned image.

Once you have cleaned the image you can use the Lasso Tool set on point-to-point to isolate the individual sections of the print you wish to modify.

Usually, when cutting prints from wrapping paper, you would cut out the shape rather than just cutting around the actual leaf or petal outline. This procedure requires lots of copies of the print as cutting the required shape from one print will ruin another portion of the design.

Using the clone feature in PSP you can go one step better on the computer and "re-create" each of the individual parts of your print before reassembling the image on the egg.

In the above picture the original cleaned image is on the left and on the right I've cloned the leaves so the lily now looks like it is behind the leaves.

Prepare each portion of your print in this manner and save the individual selections to a new image, choosing a separate layer for each piece.

Depending on how particular you want to be you could also break down the individual portions of the flower as well. In this example you could clone the throat portion of the lily and then do another part for the "collar". This would give even more depth to the finished art work.

When re-assembling your pieces it may be necessary to put a wash of colour on the back of the print using water colour pencils or textas before shaping the paper. This will prevent the appearance of white paper if you are able to view the print from behind.

Click for a larger view

This is a set of flowers and leaves I've cleaned and modified using the above technique. Print out a page of the flowers and if desired recolour them using water colour pencils or transparent glass paint.

Cut out the flowers and shape each petal on the underside using a large ball stylus. Flip the shaped flower over and press down in the centre to define the shape and make the petals stand up. The leaves are shaped in a similar manner and tucked in behind the flowers.

This is an egg I'm currently working on.  I've recoloured the flowers using watercolour pencils and then blended the colours with a wet brush to soften the effect.

If you have any queries regarding this technique email me.