Winter Card Used images: http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=24321&phpsessid=95e8e8290894cc5194898 e16d1dddb4c http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=14285&phpsessid=95e8e8290894cc5194898 e16d1dddb4c http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=23033&phpsessid=95e8e8290894cc5194898 e16d1dddb4c http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1195369 http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=view&id=1101045 http://www.cgtextures.com/textures.php?t=browse&q=2000
Create Photoshop document 900*675 px. Fill background layer with dark grey/light grey gradient. Create top and bottom edges using Pen Tool and Convert Point tool. You may use this photo to make the same card silhouette.
Correct edges shape using Warp Transformation, draw attention to curves lines. Create shade under bottom layer using the same way, but move left and right corners little bit down. Apply Gaussian Blur Filter to the shade layer.
Apply Radial gradient for the top edge and Linear light grey/white gradient to the bottom edge.
Duplicate bottom edge, fill it with darker Linear Gradient. Cut out left and right corners, apply Gaussian Blur Filter.
Repeat the previous actions, but leave just selected area, it should be darker than previous layer.
In result, you should get something like this.
Load selection for the top edge. Create a new layer. Go to Edit > Stroke > Inside(1 px). Play with layer Opacity.
Create a new layer,load selection for the both edges. Fill selection with dark blue/ light grey gradient. Apply Multiply Blending mode for this layer, Opacity about 60%.
Place ice surface image. Load selection for it. Edit > Copy. Create a new empty layer.
Go to Vanishing Point Filter. Take Create Plane Tool and make the grid just like on the screen shot below. Click Ctrl + V (paste copied image).
Grug image on a grid. Click "Ok".
Apply Overlay Blending Mode to this layer. Add Layer mask, fill it wit linear black and white gradient.
Place wood image into a new layer below card and shade.
Apply Vanishing Filter for wood just like in example with ice surface. Add Layer mask to Wood layer. Fill it wit black and white gradient just like in the screen shot.
Merge background and Wood layers. Apply Radial dark/transparent Gradient Overlay layer style effect to create layer.
Draw light soft spot between background and card layers. Apply Soft Light Blending mode to it to create smooth lightning effect.
You should get something like on the screen shot below.
Create selected shape above background layer using Pan Tool. Fill it wit black/transparent gradient, play with Opacity, apply Gaussian Blur Filter (around 3%)
Insert cloud image. Separate it from background. You may found detailed tutorial, how to remove background here: http://alfoart.com/green_planet_3.html
Erase superfluous areas using soft Eraser Tool.
Now, Insert winter landscape image. Apply Auto Levels and Auto Contrast.
Apply Distort transformation to image just like example below. Select sky and erase selected area. Process distant view using translucent Eraser Tool (Opacity about 20%) and Blur Tool, Strength around 15%.
Load selection for top and bottom edges, Invert selection and remove selected area.
Erase Right part of Landscape just like on the image below:
Add shades for snow using soft round brush.
Select center area of the landscape, Feather=40%. Copy selected area. Paste it into a new layer. Go to Image > Levels.
Apply Screen Blending Mode for this layer.
Duplicate landscape layer. Go to Filter > Blur > Motion Blur (250, 90)
Erase whole blurred image except reflection.
Create a new layer, fill it wit black/transparent radial gradient. Apply Multiply Blending Mode, Opacity 20%. Erase front area using soft brush.
Create new layer once again. Load selection for whole card. Fill selected area with any color, Fill 0% and apply gradient just like on the example below.
Insert Moon Image. Cut out round area. Apply Screen blending Mode to it and layer style effects.
Insert pencil image. Cut out shade area, paste it into a new layer below and apply Multiply Blanding Mode.
Load selection for the pencil and process it top part wit white translucent soft brush in a new layer.
Duplicate white spot on the Pencil and apply Dissolve Blending Mode with Opacity 50% to duplicated layer.
Draw some glitters using brush from Assorted Brushes Set.
Create big white spot in a new layer, apply Dissolve Blending Mode, Opacity 6%. Merge it with a new empty layer.
Apply Gaussian Blur Filter(1).
Create big white spot again. Apply Dissolve Blending Mode, Opacity 6%. Add layer Mask, fill it with Radial black and white gradient just like on the screen shot.
In final, merge all layers. Click on Quick Mask Mode icon Choose Gradient Tool. Fill work with Reflected black and white gradient.
Click on quick mask again, keep selection. Go to Filter > Blur > Lens Blur.
And here is result. Click for larger view!