Supplies:

• computer
• Adobe Photoshop (I'm using version 7)
• Translucent colored orbs from http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/free/blfree_png6.htm (png files)

What To Do:

1. Open a new image, 400x400 pixels, 300 dpi, with a white or transparent background (I prefer the white background because it makes things easier to see).
   
   
2. Choose the color for your shaker box.
   
   
3. Using the custom shape tool, choose whatever shape you like- preferably a solid shape, nothing 'fancy'. For this one- I used a heart. Draw the shape as big as you want- this will be the 'back' of the shaker box.
   
   
4. Go to Layer>Duplicate Layer so that you now have two shapes. Rename the layers- like 'top' and 'bottom' so that it's easier for you to know which one you are working on. Hide the bottom layer by clicking on the 'eye' on the layers box next to the bottom layer.
   
   
5. CTRL + Click on the 'top' layer to select it. Go to Select>Modify>Contract. Depending on your shape, enter a number. I entered 25 pixels for mine.
   
   *Note: this selection is going to be a cut out- it's where you put the 'beads', 'glitter', or 'confetti' that goes inside a shaker box. So you want there to be a fairly large opening in the middle, but there has to be a decent sized border for it to look 'real'.
   
   
6. While working on the top layer (make sure that it is highlighted in the layer box), go to Layer>Rastersize>All Layers, and then hit Delete on your keyboard.
   
   
   
   
7. Now- it's time to add the shaker stuff. You can add beads, glitter, sand, confetti, whatever you want to add to the center of the shaker box. I am using beads in mine. For the beads, I'm using glass orbs that I downloaded from Graphicsoft.About.Com.
   
   
8. Open the orb files. Copy and Paste (or drag and drop) all of the orbs into your shaker box file.
   
   
9. Use the Free Transform tool (Edit>Free Transform) to resize one orb layer by 25%. An easy way to do this is to click on the chain link looking icon on the Free Transform menu bar, and then type in 25 in the width box next to it.
   
   
   
   
10. Next, you want to apply the same change to each orb layer. But wait! There's a shortcut! Highlight the next orb layer that you wish to work on. Go to Edit>Transform>Again. Now your orb is 25% of the original size, with only half the work. Repeat this for each orb layer.
    
    
11. Duplicate each orb layer 4 times. You will need a lot of orbs to fill your shaker box.
    
    
12. Using the Move tool, move each orb into place. When a shaker box is upright, the filler settles near the bottom. When a shaker box is laid flat, the filler spreads out across the shaker. Where you place the orbs, depends on whether you want the layout to look like it's lying flat, or standing up.
    
    
    
    
13. Now that you have filled your shaker box, it's time to complete the frame. For this shaker box, I created a 'foil wrapped' top. Highlight the Top layer and the layer menu.
    
    
14. Go to Layer>Layer Styles>Blending Options. Add a drop shadow (default settings). Click on Bevel and Emboss, and change the Gloss Contour to Cone-Inverted. Check the box next to Contour. Click on Texture and change the texture to Clouds. Change the depth to +335. Click OK.
    
    *Note: to see the name of the texture file, hold your cursor over the image.
    
    
15. Let's add some texture to the Bottom layer. Highlight the Bottom layer on the Layer menu, and then go to Layer>Layer Styles>Bevel and Emboss. Click on Texture. Click on the drop menu next to the pattern, and load the Artist Surfaces texture file. Choose the Watercolor texture, and hit OK.