Creating Craft Paper

This tutorial teaches you how to make a cool craft paper effect in Photoshop.

Set-up

Create a new document: 680x600.

Background

We're going to make a quick background by creating a new layer (layer>new>layer...) and filling it in with a brown color.

Now, with that layer still selected, go to filter>noise>add noise...

The amount should be 2.45. Check gausassian and monochromatic.

Paper

Using the rectangle select tool, create a rectangle.

Now create another new layer and fill the rectangle in white on this layer.

Now for the frayed edges. Use the brush tool and select the brush grass.

Now go paint all along the top edge of the paper. The brush size should be about 29 pixels (make sure the color is white).

We could leave it here, but to get a more realistic effect, we're going to flip the brush over and paint with the bottom side of the brush. Open up the brush settings. Go to brush tip shape, set the angle to 180 degrees.

Now paint over the edge again. Make sure to leave some spaces for the finer fibers.

Now for the right side, rotate the brush to -90 degrees and do the fine fibers.

Now rotate the brush 90 degrees and paint with the back of the brush.

Repeat this until you go all the way around the piece of craft paper.

Cutting Holes (Optional)

In this example, we're going to be cutting 3 holes in the craft paper. Use the elliptical tool and make a circular selection.

Now erase the paper (set the brush mode to clear) inside the selection.

Repeat this until you've created all of the holes.

Shading

Here's where we make it look like craft paper. Select the layer with the paper on it and go to layer>layer style>blending style...

Check drop shadow. We don't need to change its attributes.

Check inner glow. We need to change its attributes.

Set the color to gray and the blending mode to normal. Also, set the size to 21.

Now go to pattern overlay and go down to its attributes. Set the pattern to concrete. Set the opacity to 8%, and the scale to 240%.

Text

Now we add some text to the paper. I used the "Giddyup Std" font.

Highlighter Pen (Optional)

Create a new layer. Go to brush setting and set the hardness to 90. Check airbrush, wet edge, and noise.

Now draw your highlights on the new layer.

Now you're done. Click here to download the final psd file.