Digital Pin Exchange - Summer 2019

Hey everyone! Dalis has a lot on her plate right now, so I volunteered to do the Pin Exchange this time!
The History: Mommyish (Leah) did a Pin Exchange to celebrate the release of her Enamel Pin Builder. Since then, she has added more pin building options. And since this started a love of enamel pins... The Pin Exchange was born and carried on!

Theme: Travel & Vacation
No limits on Pins.
Deadline: July 31st, 2019
Upload: Here ​

How do I even make a pin?!?

• Install the Enamel Pin Builder Styles and Actions
• Watch the video tutorials for your program. If you are still unsure, post in this thread for help.
  
• Find an idea. Pinterest has lots of ideas for Enamel pins.
  
• Get creative! Use your tools, talents, text, etc to create interesting effects.

Remember, since you are sharing the item with others, graphics must be CU (Commercial Use) okay.

How do I save my pin for other folks?

• Create a new document that is 300 ppi in RGB format with a transparent background.
• Pins shouldn't be gigantic. 2 inches or smaller is about right.
  
• Save your pin as a .png to maintain transparent background
• Name it: username_tlpxchange_pinname.png
• Upload above!

Here's the video links:
Mommyish TLP Pin Exchange How to make enamel pins in PSE
Mommyish Enamel Pin Builder Drawing by Hand
Dalis Process for Making Enamel Pins

@angiekey Gave us these helpful written instructions:
It helped me to think about how these pins are physically made. Enamel pins are first cast in metal, as the pin back and the raised ridges for the outline of the design. Then, they pour liquid enamel into each of the spaces to create the colored areas. The liquid pools into the space, thicker along the edges, and then dries.
1. Create your metal cast - that's the outline of your design. It goes on one layer all by itself. Draw it in the color you want the metal to be - any shade of grey works great, or gold - but be aware that black doesn't always show up well with the style.
2. Turn your outline to metal. Once you've got your design done, apply style Pin Builder - Metal Rim to that layer.
3. Start filling the spaces with enamel. Create a new layer and fill it with the color for your first enamel section. This layer should be BELOW your metal frame layer.
Then apply one of the enamel styles to the enamel layer: Enamel - Thin, Enamel Small, Enamel - Med, or Enamel Large. The one you choose will be entirely based on how you want the pin to look, and how deep the "pooling" of the enamel will look around the edges of your metal frame.
4. Keep going until you've filled your whole design. I found it easiest to do each section of enamel on its own layer. You might also choose to put all your enamel color on a single layer. If you do this, you need to make sure the different wells of color are separated - otherwise, you won't get that cool look where it pools up next to the metal.
5. Final Touch. And then as a final touch, when you're happy with your pin, merge the layers together, make sure your foreground color is set to the same color as your metal rim, and then play the action "Give It Depth". It will add a really cool edge to the lower right side of your pin that makes it look like a thicker enamel pin, like it's standing off the background by its pin back.

Artisan users: Bev has a post here to help you out! https://the-lilypad.com/forum/threads/creating-enamel-pins-in-artisan-5.64156/
Let's see those fun pins!

 

It'd be a great post for the learning pad of you want to write it. And I'll link it for our Artisan users.