“Download paper backgrounds.” What a dull heading. I mean, surely, this post contains some pretty cool paper backgrounds for download, but …
… I wanted to name it something else. I wanted to name it: “Some Thoughts on Happiness and “Shanghai-shoes”.
Now, the free paper backgrounds download link is just down below. You will see the “Download Paper Backgrounds” button somewhere near the end of this article. Pretty big button, can’t really miss it. So, if you’d like to skip my funny article, go ahead, just download the paper backgrounds I hope you will enjoy them. For the rest of you who’d like to read this totally cool article, well, read on …
Ok, for those two of you who stayed and are willing to bare with me through this totally cool article – thank you for staying. I should give you something as a reward. Actually, you know what?! I will give you something. Here is the link to another paper backgrounds set and, as a reward for bearing with me, these are yours. This what you get and they don’t. Ha!
What am I doing? Where was I? Ah, the Shanghai-shoes and the precious emotion of happiness. The inspiration came to me as I walked thorough the field of grass in my front yard. I stopped at some point. Looked down at my **Shanghai-shoes (please read the explanation below) and the grass and the flowers. And, for some reason, I just felt happy. I had to take a picture of that. So, in the header you can see the image of happiness. Maybe it was not your first thought when you looked at it, but, well, that’s how I perceive happiness.
And the happiness is the meaning of life. (That’s if you ask me. Let me know if you have a better idea on our purpose here :))
OK. That’s it. I hope I managed to transmit the message of happiness. It was nothing else, just a sunny day, some green grass and a flower. That’s all it took for me to detect happiness somewhere within my chest. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.
Anyways, here is the free paper backgrounds download, I hope you will like them and enjoy them and make some pretty cool stuff with them.

Now, there is one more thing I wanted to share with you.
Due to the huge success of 800+ Photoshop brushes MEGA SET I, I created another MEGA SET and called it, inventively, 800+ Photoshop brushes MEGA SET II.
And, then finally, I bundled these two sets into one HUGE GIGA Photoshop brushes set and called it, well 1600+ Photoshop brushes GIGA SET. So, I figured, if you are into graphic design or scrapbooking, you will want to take a look at this monster (1600+ Photoshop brushes GIGA SET)
OK. Now, that’s really it. I hope you liked the post, the downloads and well talk soon!
Love,
Silvia
P.S.
About the term “Shanghai shoes“
**Please note that the term “Shanghai-shoes” is copyrighted as I came up with it ;). Maybe. Or at least I never heard of Shanghai-shoes before so, in my mind, I came up with it ;)
But you can use that term, ok. Just don’t tell anyone else about it. Let’s make it a secret code of ours “Shanghai-shoes”, have you ever been to Shanghai, by the way? I haven’t. I’d rather go to Norway if you ask me. Not that there is anything wrong with Shanghai, of course. It’s just that I am more of a “Norway” type. OK. So much about the “Shanghai shoes”. Talk soon and – feel the happiness, it sits there in your chest waiting for you to notice it. :)
Popularity: 2% [?]
And, today, ladies and gentleman, I present you with 4 FREE Photoshop backgrounds for your commercial and non-commercial projects! Now these are really HUGE. We’re talking 3600px bx 3600px at 300dpi so you can make large printouts with them if you want.
Here is a detail of one of them at 100%. Bamboo background.

These should fit perfectly for your design, scrapbooking papers or photo books design projects (even commercial ones). Basically, they’re fit for any kind of design project you might have in mind.
Of course, I created them using my Photoshop brushes, some of them are free for all GBG members, some of them are available exclusevly for GBG Gold and Platinum members.
Happy Spring!

| Spring Time 2011. Free Photoshop Backgrounds DOWNLOAD (9.8 MB) |
OK. I hope you like these. That’s it for the time being.
Have fun creating!
Silvia
P.S.
And if you are after the final solution for your Photoshop brushes collection, I think I’ve got it.
Just click here: http://www.graphics-illustrations.com/800-photoshop-brushes-mega-set
Popularity: 2% [?]
August. Yes, it is here – the hottest month of the year!
I made this August Desktop Wallpaper Calendar for a monthly competition on Smashing Magazine, and they accepted it! (thank you guys)
My theme was nature, but not just usual nature visualization but “Nature’s dream” – well, at least I thought what nature’s dream might look like in August.
This wallpaper can be downloaded on Smashing Magazine and it is available in two different versions: with calendar and without calendar!
However, there are loads of high quality Photoshop brushes (w/commercial license) available in my little Shop of Wonders :) so feel free to visit ->
Popularity: 2% [?]
Gang,
Father’s Day is getting closer and we don’t want to wait for the last moment to prepare a little something for our beloved fathers, now do we?
It’s better to be ready when the time comes.
So, there you go. I took a look at what we’ve got at our GBG download repository and I’ve found some totally cool brushes, perfect for the occasion: Father’s Day Photoshop brushes (digital stamps)
And, after a little bit of playing around with one photo and few bushes, this is what I came up with.
Father’s day Photo Card

| DOWNLOAD Father’s Day Photo Card – PSD and PNG file 6″x4″ @300 dpi (zip) |
Note: Sorry, 5 days subscription free download offer expired. Download is now available after joining GBG. Please read about our free download policy and join our GBG for more free downloads. Thanks!
Of course, files come without the photo :) That’s where you come in.
All graphics on a card are made with Photoshop brushes which are available for download at our GBG web site. So, just head over there, become a member and download 400 Photoshop brushes of the highest quality, and to make things even more attractive, you are free to do commercial projects with those brushes, meaning, you get to earn money with them.
OK. That’s all for today folks. Ah, just before I forget, for the real deal PREMIUM Photoshop brushes, make sure to check the legendary, 800+ Photoshop brushes MEGA SET ->
Popularity: 2% [?]
I already wrote about this before and now it’s the time to encourage myself (and all of you who need encouragement) again.
The importance of not giving up.
Why is it important not to give up?
Because we never know what’s awaiting for us just around the corner. Striving and trying keeps the hope alive and keeps us moving.
Why is it important to keep moving?
Because, when we stop moving, it means that we gave up. Then, despondency takes over and we were not born to be despondent. We were born to be happy. So, our task on this planet is to strive to achieve happiness. For some of us it’s easy and for others … well … not that much. Some of us are happy all the time, some of us have happy and sad periods, some of us are sad most of the time.
But still, every day, each and every one of us, when we wake up in the morning, until we go to sleep at night, everything we do is driven by one single purpose – to be happy.
Helping others to be happy (or at least not to be sad, or desperate or ill), that’s also something that makes us happy, right? (or at least it should be)
Anyways, this is my daily dose of encouragement. Even if these are difficult times for me, I know, I have no other choice but to keep moving. You never know what’s waiting just around the corner :)
Hugs,
Silvia
P.S.

Of course, I did not forget about our monthly desktop wallpaper calendar! I received quite a few emails where you ask if I could adapt the last years wallpaper for this year too. No problem here it is! March 2010 Calendar Desktop Wallpaper free download:
P.P.S.
To create this wallpaper I used Birds Photoshop brushes set (45+45)
Popularity: 2% [?]
Ladies and gentleman, designers, scrapbookers, Photoshoppers, beginners, enthusiasts and professionals. Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to present you
Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop brushes set!
Now, before you go and get to this set, here is the story behind …
I red one Seth Godin book a while ago. The name of the book was Small is the new Big and it is mainly intended for new entrepreneurs (and I am one in Photoshop brushes / graphics business) with a bunch of good advices.
I particularly remember one of the advices (two things):
- Make promises
- Keep promises
So, what can I say. It is only natural that one should keep promises, but to make promises. That’s something I was a bit afraid of. But, good ol’ Seth said it’s good to make promises and that I should not be afraid of making them as long as I can keep them.
Why am I saying all this?
Because I made a promise. I made a promise that I will prepare new Renaissance & Medieval themed Photoshop brushes set.
I made that promise to my Facebook page fans and, of course, I kept it. So …
Ladies and gentleman, designers, scrapbookers, Photoshoppers, beginners, enthusiasts and professionals. Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to present you
Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop brushes set!

It is compatible with Photoshop brushes 7.0 – CS4, Photoshop Elements – all versions, Mac and PC.
As usual, there are two versions of that brush. A light one, with 11 brushes which is free:
[ PREVIEW Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop Brushes Lite Edition (11) ]
[ GET ABR Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop Brushes Lite Edition (11) ] [ GET ZIP Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop Brushes Lite Edition (11) ]
Sorry, 5 days subscription free download offer expired. However, you can still get those! Join GBG and enjoy this free Photoshop brushes set + more than 1500 other free downloads. Please read about our free download policy and join our GBG for more free downloads. Thanks!
And for those of you who want to have all of and get some additional good karma along the way here is thePREMIUM Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop brushes set
[ PREVIEW Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop Brushes Premium Edition (42+42) ]
[ GET Renaissance & Medieval Photoshop Brushes Premium Edition (42+42) ]
OK. I hope you will enjoy that one. I think they turned out great!
Have fun creating!
Silvia
Popularity: 2% [?]
Yep, I’m all in Christmas atmosphere, giving giving giving … :)
While my little Poofitza sleeps behind the computer screen only her tail, lurking from behind, gives away her presence and I’m thinking about this years Christmas presents for my family.
It was always like this, our (wider) family gets together each year for Christmas. A Christmas tree, 15-20 family members, specially arranged dinner table, many good looking and even better tasting sweets and of course: many many presents under the Christmas tree.
Well, for last few years I thought a little about all these presents… and I realized that I should probably abandon old traditional approach and do something completely different this year. So, I decided: this year I will donate all of our Christmas presents budget to the SOS Children’s Village! And children will make 20 drawings for my family members with Christmas greetings! So, in Christmas spirit we will donate to the ones in need, our family members will get Christmas drawings and everyone will be happy. I’ll post some of the drawings, as soon as I get them in Thursday.
HoHoHo!
And, here is a little something for YOU! Yes you, the one who reads this :))!
8 Christmas Gift Tags
In Christmas spirit, what better DIY idea can you have? These tags are specially made for Christmas gifts, what can I say, “Original by bsilvia” :) just add names and -voila! Of course, the more you play with them – the better, you can add more brushes, for instance. Or, you don’t have to, you can print them out as they are and just add names on the printout.
OK Enough talking, here they are
Click here to download 8 Christmas Gift Tags, they’re all in one zipped file (3MB)
Sorry, 5 days subscription free download offer expired. However, you can still get those! Join GBG and enjoy this free download + more than 1500 other free downloads. Please read about our free download policy and join our GBG for more free downloads. Thanks!
All tags are 2.7in wide and 4.7in high; PNG files; PRINT READY 300 ppi

And, in case you’d like to know what I used to create these tags, here is the list (recipe :)):
- * Christmas PREMIUM Photoshop brushes set (55+55)
- * Tattoo designs Photoshop brushes set (30)
- * 2 pack graphics: old grunge paper images 3
- * Grunge Stars LITE Photoshop brushes set – free LITE edition available after joining GBG
- * Snowy sky LITE Photoshop brushes set – free LITE edition available after joining GBG
- * Grunge Photoshop Brushes Set (74) – Special FREE edition for Smashing Magazine
Print them, cut them out, use them on your presents and most of all – have fun!
Love you all,
Silvia
Popularity: 2% [?]
Gang! It’s time! Send your Christmas Cards now!
And, as always, I am here to help you out, tickle your imagination and offer some free downloads.
So, for today, I prepared a printable Christmas Card Template!
Go figure, I used Christmas Photoshop Brushes Set (and this Set only) to create this card template. Now it is handed over to you to use it as you see fit. You can (should :)) add wording, or you could – just experiment: add new brushes, new graphical elements, change font, change colors, etc … etc …
Let your imagination do the rest.
That is why this card is made available in Photoshop (.psd) format.
Finish it as you see fit, print it out, fold it in the middle and – voila! Here is your brand new Christmas Card!

[ PREVIEW FREE HOLIDAY CARD TEMPLATE ]
[ DOWNLOAD FREE HOLIDAY CARD TEMPLATE: JPG ]
[ DOWNLOAD FREE HOLIDAY CARD TEMPLATE: PSD ]
Sorry, 5 days subscription free download offer expired. However, you can still get those! Join GBG and enjoy this free Christmas Card template + more than 1500 other free downloads. Please read about our free download policy and join our GBG for more free downloads. Thanks!
This card is also made to show you what are the possibilities of Christmas Photoshop Brushes Set. So, if you would like to play some more, feel free to get it.
Regular price is $9.99 but, don’t forget, you can get it for 1/2 the price if you go and purchase the real deal - Graphics-Illustrations Original 800+ Photoshop brushes MEGA package! More than 800 HiRes Professional Photoshop brushes that will unleash that little creative beast inside of you and let it go wild with Photoshop. No matter what you do, graphic design, web design, photography or scrapbooking, those 800+ Photoshop brushes is all that you need to have fun and make money with your creations, because (Did I mention that?) – they all come with commercial license. So you can make new creations for:
- Image microstock agencies
- Cover designs
- Christmas card designs
- Packaging
- Web design
- Business cards
- … just about anything you can think of

Popularity: 42% [?]
Gang, autumn is here! Leaves are turning red and yellow and all kinds of colors. I’m kinda hooked up to red.
Anyways, it would be such a shame, I thought, not to grab these beautiful colors with camera. So, what I did? Went out to my terrace and took a few shots of these beautiful leaves.
So, what better model can one ask for, especially when making a calender for the month of October?
Made by nature, together with some Photoshop brushes I bring you now:
Desktop Calendar Wallpaper – October 2008

Here is the original photo, no wording or brushes:

In case you were wondering, I used three types of Photoshop brushes sets from Graphics-Illustrations.Com Shop:
You are welcome to download this desktop wallpaper calendar in four sizes:
- 1680×1050 October Wallpaper
- 1024×768 October Wallpaper
- 1280×800 October Wallpaper
- 1280×1024 October Wallpaper
Love ya all,
Silvia
P.S.: Visit my personal blog for more Autumn images :)
P.P.S.: Here I used gallery option that comes with WP :)
In order to download the image do the following:
1. click on the image you wish to download
2. on this new page click on that image again
3. Right click on the image and select “Set as Desktop Background”
P.P.P.S.: If you’d like to link to our site, please feel free to copy and paste these banners or grab the code here!
Popularity: 5% [?]
Size: 7″x5″ (300 ppi)
Format: psd (you can change font color, size, style, and background color, and you can change flowers colors too)
Brushes: Photoshop Brush – Floral DUO (62)
Free Fonts: Noserif (category: Normal, page 5) and Windsong (category: Handwriting, page 9)
*******
Featured PREMIUM Photoshop Brushes Sets
![]() | ![]() |
| CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW THIS SET | CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW THIS SET |
| Swirls Floral brushes set (42+42) Second Edition + 42 PNG files Set of 42 brushes in two sizes compatible with Photoshop 7.0, CS, CS2, CS3, CS4 and CS5. Set contains 42 .png files at 300 dpi, 2500×2500 pix – transparent, so you can easily use them in any photo editing software (zipped) - COMMERCIAL LICENSE | Tattoo designs Photoshop brushes set Second Edition (30+30) - 30 Photoshop brushes in 1361-2429px, |
Popularity: 14% [?]
So, you would like to print your own scrapbook that will be cool, unique and… huh, cool?
How would you like to make some cool graphics, merge them with some photos and print out as a scrapbook that will always remind you of some people or events?
Do you just feel you can’t afford to spend too much time working on it?
Well, let me tell you something. It took me one afternoon to do my Rovinj (Rovigno) scrap book. Rovinj is a small fisherman’s town in Croatia, at the coast of the Adriatic Sea. I decided that I want to have scrapbook of it, took one afternoon of and … voila! Here it is. Do I need to mention that I used my own brushes for it? (and of course my photos!)
Here is just a preview of the book and in next post I will briefly describe how it’s done. So, if I did it, I’m sure you can do it too. At home. Just using a printer, canvas paper, some textile, cork board, sea shells and a sponge. Nothing too sophisticated.
Photoshop brushes used for this book:
- Swirls (floral) Photoshop brushes set (premium edition)
- Tatoo designs Photoshop brushes set (premium edition)
- Simple custom Photoshop brushes set
*******
Sticky note
Join GBG and get immediate access to loads of free Photoshop brushes and other freebies!
Popularity: 3% [?]
Yesterday, after discovering that AdToll thing, I found myself thinking about how this, this and this person can earn enough money from their blogs? They are actually living a great life only from money earned that way?
Look, this woman is even supporting her family with it! That’s the direction I’m going to. It takes long, but I’ll get there sooner or later.
Why does it take so long for me to do it? Maybe “give stuff for free” business model doesn’t really work? If you have an answer, let me know, will pay for profitable advice.
But that’s me. I can’t be johnchow or shoemoney or dooce. I’m just… Me.
So, today here’s the latest scrapbooking in form of digital scrapbooking – free download: Sepia. This is zipped .psd file (35MB) – 7,5×7,5 inches – 300pix/inch resolution. Every design element is on his own layer, so you can just replace my image with your and – that’s it!
Note: Sorry, 5 days subscription free download offer expired. Download is now available after joining GBG. Please read about our free download policy and join our GBG for more free downloads. Thanks!
Elements used:
- Swirls floral brushes set (premium edition)
- Grunge paper (2 in pack)
- Hearts Photoshop brushes set (premium edition)
- Simple custom Photoshop brushes set (free edition)

Love,
S
*******
P.S.
If you are into scrapbooking you will want to check out Digital Scrapbooking Source the site where you can find free scrapbook kits and everything that has anything to do with scrapbooking.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Today in Photoshop brushes: FREE Download Photoshop brushes set, borders in stencil technique. Set of 10 brushes.
Sorry, 5 days subscription free download offer expired. However, you can still get those! Join GBG and enjoy this free Photoshop brushes set + more than 1500 other free downloads. Please read about our free download policy and join our GBG for more free downloads. Thanks!
The weather was ugly last weekend so I stayed at home. I thought I could try the stencil technique and here is what I came up with – in Photoshop brush form of course :)

How to make your own stencils, YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvYU3bqlwH8
Cheers.
S
P.S.:
KUBOTA SLOPPY BORDERS
Get over 125 Kubota Sloppy Borders in this fantastic border Pak.
From elegant thin borders, to eye-catching medium borders, to heavy borders for a bold statement, this Pak adds the finishing touch to your tweaks.
KUBOTA SLOPPY BORDERS have always been a favorite way to present images in the old days of film. But with digital, this cool retro look is much more difficult to achieve. Scaleable, snap them on inside or outside your image, and even change the border color to fit your image!
To create the Sloppy Borders, Kevin Kubota and Craig Strong, (of Strong Photography and Lensbaby, LLC) went into the darkroom and individually printed the borders, using a variety of filed out negative carriers (the traditional way). Then, they were scanned at high resolution, and digitally prepared for overlay on any image.
Excellent for online presentations or slide shows, this is the finishing touch Pak that will set your images apart from the rest.
Popularity: 4% [?]















