Everything you want to know about Photoshop: Design an awesome Christmas tree in Photoshop

This is my final result with a different background color

I will create a new document with the following size: 1000 x 1000 pixels
I will duplicate the background layer. To duplicate the layer you need to select the background layer, and then press on CTRL+J. On this new layer I will add a gradient. You can find over 27.000 Photoshop gradients in the following pack: Download Photoshop Gradients.

I will create a new layer above all layers ( press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+N ) and with Brush Tool I will draw a dark area at the bottom of the image. I will use a smooth round brush.

I will change the opacity value for this layer to 50 %

I will use a set of custom star brushes. The set of brushes is included in the .zip file (you will be able to download it only if you are a VIP member )
Load the set of start brushes.

First you need to click on the small arrow, and then you need to choose Load brushes. Browse your computer until you find a .abr file ( with the start brushes ).
After you have the brushes in place you need to create a new layer ( press CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+N ) and with the second brush from this set draw some stars over the document

On top of your layer palette you can change the blending mode for this layer to Overlay, and in the same time it is very good if you reduce the opacity to 50 %

I will select Pen Tool and I will create a strange path. Try to make this path like a Christmas tree. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Now comes the funny part. Create a new layer on top of all layers ( press on CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+N ). Select Brush Tool, and use the following settings.

Be sure you have the right layer selected, and this path, and after that press on the ” Stroke path with brush ” button from the bottom of the Paths panel.

From the previous image I am sure you will like the result even if you see only a small corner from our Christmas tree.. Here is a bigger version.

Select another brush from this set, and change the size of the brush between 100 and 200 pixels. Be sure you uncheck the Shape dynamics, and scattering check boxes. . On a new layer draw another stars with different sizes

On top of the Christmas tree add another star. This time use a bigger one.

I will select Pen Tool one more time and I will create another path

I will select Brush Tool, and I will choose another brush.( the name of the brush is Fuzzball ) You should have this brush already inside Adobe Photoshop.
I will use the following settings for the star brush.

One more time I will make sure I have the Path selected in my paths panel, and I will create a new layer. I will press on “Stroke path with brush ” button from the bottom of the paths panel.
This is my result

I will duplicate this layer several times and I will place it towards the top of the Christmas tree. In the same time I will modify the size of the layer ( press on CTRL + T ) and I will rotate the layer to the left.