Cut-outs from brushes-by request!

[scraprascal]

Here you go! This is how *I* do it, I know that you can also use some layer grouping (with Ctrl commands), which I remember using in PSE, but like everything, there is twenty different ways to do things in Photoshop, and I believe the way I do this will work in other softwares as well (DIP, PSP).

Open your new document
Bring over whatever patterned paper you'd like to use
Make a new layer
Stamp your brush in a solid color that contrasts with your patterned paper on the new layer
Use your magic wand tool and select your brush (marching ants should be outlining it)
Go to Select>Inverse
Click on your patterned paper layer and hit your delete key
Now deselect
Delete your solid brush layer
You should now have a cut out in your patterned paper of that brush
Just drag it over to your layout and position, add a drop shadow and there you go!

Feel free to add your own tips or grouping commands if you do it differently! :)

[happyrobyn]

Great tutorial Jenn! Thanks for sharing your expertise!!

[jomi]

Wow! amazing tut Jenn! I have never though of doing it this way!! Thansk for sharing!!

[DianneRigdon]

Or you could just use your eraser.....add your patterned paper, select the erase brush, surf to the shaped brush of your dreams ;-) and stamp-erase it on the paper layer. Same end, different means.:)

[opeysmama]

Awesome, I use this technique a lot!

[Keela]

Thank you, Jenn! I'll have to try this out in DIP! :)

[DianneRigdon]

Oh yeah - my way doesn't work in all programs. That's why you're da bomb!

[MirandaM]

Great tip! I use this SOOO often!!

An additional way that I use for complex things, especially brush strokes:
Select (Ctrl A) and Copy (Ctrl C) the pattern paper you'd like to use.
In your layers pallette, Ctrl click on the layer which has the object you want to add a pattern to. This selects the object.
Edit>paste into.This is how I fill in things like brush strokes, etc...that are too complex for the wand etc...