This tutorial will show you how to put all the pieces together to make a little village. This is the fun bit, where you get to be creative and make magic! *grin*

All of the items in this series, saved in PSP format.

My color chart. Right click on it and save to your computer.

Step 1.Open up a canvas, white background. My canvas is 500 x 400, but you can make yours as large or small as you wish.

Step 2.Add a new layer. Choose your selection tool>rectangle. Draw a shape at the top of your canvas, approximately 1/5 of the canvas. Flood fill with color #1. [Note: I've put a border around the image below, so you can see the white bit]

NOTE: Put EVERYTHING in the following steps on its own layer. It'll make it a lot easier to arrange your scene to your liking!

Step 3. Next, add the larger pieces to your image, as sort of anchors (Santa house, elf huts, reindeer barn, train station, train), and arrange these items into a scene that you like. Here's what I have so far.

Step 4. Choose your airbrush, using color #2, and paint a path if you wish. Use your smudge brush to soften it to something of your liking.

Step 5. Add a new layer. Choose color #3, and with your paintbrush (size 1), draw a track for your train (see screenshot). To make sure your ties are evenly spaced, turn your grid on (view>grid). Move the tracks so the wheels of your train are resting on it.

Step 6. Now open up your other items and copy>paste them as new layers onto your canvas. Arrange items into a scene that you like. I've made several variations of elves. I've also used a lot of reindeer milling about the place while Santa's waiting lol.

I've also added elves to the train station window. to do so, make that layer active. Choose your magic wand, click on the window and cut>paste as new layer. Arrange the new layer in the exact location it was before. Then, paste one of your elves onto a new layer and place the elf on top of the yellow layer.

I also added an elf to the locomotive window (just add an elf layer underneath the window).

I added bows, wreaths, and garlands all over the place. Get creative!

Finally, I drew lights on everything lol. To do so, add a new layer. With your paintbrush (size 1), choose color #4 and paint lights as you wish. Here's a sample.

Step 7. Add a new layer and place it on top of your sky layer. Choose your paintbrush and paint snowflakes in the sky. The size of my flakes range from 1-3

Step 8. Now spend some time arranging and looking at your image. Tweak it until you have it the way you want. Then save it as a master PSP file with all layers intact. That way, you can go back later and change things around if you wish.

Then, delete the color chart and merge all layers. Save in format of your choice (jpg, gif).

WHEW!!! You made it all the way to the end. Good for you!!! I hope you've enjoyed making this little series as much as I did. I really love the end result of this one - I want to be there with Santa, playing with those reindeer!

I hope each and every one of you have a fantastic Christmas. If you'd like to share your tut results with me, I'd love to see them!