How to Add and Use Custom Shapes

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I love using shapes in both my designing and my scrapping! They are quick and easy and can then be used in a variety of ways! The simplest way to use them is to draw them on your layout and then clip a paper to them. In today’s tutorial, I walk through how easy it is to use the default shapes with your program and also how to add custom ones. I even have a set of custom shapes for you to have! You may use these for your scrapbooking, crafting and even designing needs!

This tutorial is done in Photoshop, but I’m sure it will work similarly in PSE and perhaps other programs as well.

To start with, when you click on the shape tool and then find the shape menu, there will usually be a drop down arrow that will give this menu. You can see  how many default shapes come with your program:

Next, we’re going to load the free set that I made for you (or others you have purchased or found!). Start by clicking on the little gear of the drop down shape menu and choosing “Load Shapes”:

Then find where the file is saved. In this case, the shape file is a CSH file and it will look like a little paper with lots of words on it. At least that is how it does on a mac! Click on it and continue.

Now you can check at the bottom of the drop down shape menu and see the new shapes added! We have a camera, a house, a fun scallop border and more!

To use them in your scrapping, you simply choose which one you want and draw it out. Make sure to hold down shift while you draw so that it has even and accurate proportions. Here are a few of the shapes used. I added a cream house to a patterned paper. I created the scallop, the hexagon outlines and the star and clipped paper to them. They are easy and fun additions to whatever else is added to your kit!

Now it’s your turn!

Download the set of custom shapes into your program. If you don’t have a program with the ability to add custom shapes, I have also added these shapes as PNG files so you can still use them!

And if you’d like to save this for later or share with a friend, feel free to pin the image below!