Before I get started, I use Photoshop Elements (PSE) 2024. If you use a different version, some of my screen shots may look different from what you see on your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As tends to be a habit, I\u2019m going to start by creating a new 12×12 file with a white background:<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Basesmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNext, I grab the Ellipse Tool:<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Ellipse](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-EllipseToolsmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMy Foreground Color chip is set to a light blue color (#78c3df), and that\u2019s what color shows up in the Ellipse Tool. You can use whatever color you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within the Ellipse tool options there\u2019s a section (unlabeled) that is referred to as the geometry options:<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Ellipse](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-EllipseOptions01smaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe options are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Unconstrained<\/strong> (default): This lets you drag freely and adjust both width and height to any dimension. Even when Unconstrained is active, it is possible to create a perfectly symmetrical shape (like a perfect square or circle) by holding down the Shift key while dragging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Circle<\/strong>: This lets you draw perfect circles without needing to manually hold down the Shift key<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fixed Size<\/strong>: Draws an ellipse at the exact dimensions you specify in the Width and Height text boxes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Proportional<\/strong>: Constrains the ellipse to a specific aspect ratio based on the values you type into the Width and Height boxes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Note<\/strong>: The geometry options may vary based on the version of PSE being used. Specifically, The Circle geometry option for the Ellipse tool was introduced in PSE 2.0 (released in August 2002). And \u201cDefined Proportions\u201d changed to \u201cProportional\u201d in PSE 2021 (released October 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m going to use Fixed Size and set both the width (W) and height (H) to 1 inch. Then I click roughly centered on the file, near the left edge. PSE creates a perfect circle (Shape 1 for me):<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Circle#1](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Circle01smaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nShape 1 is the active layer. I press Ctrl-J ten (10) times. I now have a total of eleven (11) circles stacked one on top of the other. Shape 1 copy 10 is the active and top layer in the Layers Panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holding down the Shift key, I use the Right-Arrow key to nudge that circle over to the right side of the file. I want to try keeping the distance between that circle and the right edge approximately the same as how the circle on the left looks:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Circle](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-TopCirclesmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nShape 1 copy 10 is still the active and top layer in the Layers Panel. Holding down the Shift key, I scroll all the way to the bottom of the Layers Panel and click somewhere in the name for the Shape 1 Layer to select all eleven (11) layers:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Layers](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-CirclesSelectedsmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWith all the layers active, I grab the Move tool and find the Distribute options:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Arrange](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-ArrangeOptionssmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI then click on the icon in the Distribute section that is next to the word Middle:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Distribute](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-DistributeMiddlesmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPSE then distributes the circles evenly across the file:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Circles](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-CirclesDistributed01smaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAll the circles are perfectly aligned. But they aren\u2019t touching. That\u2019s easy enough to fix. I simply undo the distribution (Ctrl-Z). Shape 1 copy 10 is once again the only active layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using Shift+Left-Arrow, I nudge the circle back to the left a bit (holding down the Shift key and pressing the Left Arrow key about twelve (12) times).<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Right](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-RightCircleMovedsmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI know it doesn\u2019t look like I moved it very much. But I\u2019m fairly certain it\u2019ll be enough. Let\u2019s see if that helps\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scallop Border – Circles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I then once again select all the circle layers in the Layers Panel and click Distribute – Middle:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Scallop](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-CirclesDistributed02smaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThat\u2019s better. If I want them to be touching even more, all I have to do is undo this alignment, move the right circle even more to the left and Distribute – Middle again until I\u2019m happy with the scallop shape. Once I\u2019m satisfied, I can merge the circle layers together leaving me with a single layer (still Shape 1 copy 10 for me).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note<\/strong>: An alternative is to undo the alignment, add another circle (or more if necessary) and Distribute – Middle again until the gaps are closed to your liking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To finish this, I just need to add a rectangular shape across the bottom of the circles. So, I grab the Rectangle shape tool and drag out a base to cover the bottom of those circles:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Bottom](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Rectanglesmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIf I wasn\u2019t sure, I could zoom in and adjust the size of the rectangle (Shape 2 for me) so it wasn\u2019t any wider than the edges of the first and last circles. But I think that looks pretty good. So, I can now merge the circles with the rectangle for my finished scallop border:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Scallop](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Completesmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nScallop Border – Ovals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
And I don\u2019t have to use just circles. Here\u2019s an example of a scallop border using an oval ellipse instead of a circle:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Scallop](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Ovalssmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nUsing Other Shapes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I made this one using a Heart shape:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Scallop](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Heartssmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHere\u2019s scallop border made with the Spade card shape:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Scallop](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-SpadeCardsmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI like that one a lot. It reminds me of \u201cchocolate\u201d kisses \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And this last one made with the Strawberry shape:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Scallop](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ScallopEdge-Strawberrysmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOh, how fun would it be to use that as a grass border?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All that\u2019s left at this point is to crop the file to size, remove the white background and save the completed \u201cscallop border\u201d as a PNG file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope you\u2019ll have fun making some scallop borders of your own using circles or any other shapes you find interesting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simple Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n![\"Quick](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/QuickTipssmaller.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIf you\u2019re feeling extra creative, you can try making your circles (or other shapes) with a brush instead of the Shape tools. Just be sure that you put the \u201cpainted\u201d element on its own layer, not on the background layer. You can then duplicate that layer the same as you would duplicate the shape layer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more circles (or other shapes) you create initially will change how close together they are when distributing them. Using a larger sized shape will also affect the distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The size of the rectangle you create is strictly your choice. It can be as tall or as short as you like. The objective is to cover the bottom of the circles (or other shapes) and line up nicely with the left and right edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing says you have to add a rectangle to finish your scallop border. You can just as easily make a selection along the bottom half of the merged circles and delete the selected section. This might not work well when using some of the other shapes. But it is a viable alternative with circles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t limit yourself to whatever color you used to create the scallop edge. Clip a paper (solid, patterned, glitter, etc.,) to the border for a more finished look.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Quote](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CreativityQuoteOfTheWeeksmaller2-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOriginality is nothing but judicious imitation — Voltaire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks for reading this week\u2019s Tuesday Tip. Remember, if you have any suggestions or questions please don\u2019t hesitate to \u201cMessage Me<\/a><\/strong>\u201d. Check back next week for tips about creating wavy line paper. Click \u201cFollow Me<\/a><\/strong>\u201d to stay in touch. I hope you have a wonderful week!<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Stay](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/StayInTouch03smaller.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Summertime, and the livin\u2019 is easy\u2026I wish! I for one, have a ton of projects underway at my house. And I know a lot of people are busy. I decided this was a great time to keep things simple. Sometimes I just need a certain kind of scallop border and none that I have seem \u201cjust right\u201d. So, what\u2019s a girl to do\u2026I make a new one \ud83d\ude0a This super quick technique doesn\u2019t require much more than knowing how to…<\/p>\n
- Circle<\/strong>: This lets you draw perfect circles without needing to manually hold down the Shift key<\/li>\n\n\n\n