In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a Christmas card with bright Christmas balls.
We start by creating a new document (CTRL + N) 1900×1200 px (RGB color mode) with a resolution of 72 pixels / inch. We use Paint bucket tool 
(Fill) (G) to fill the background with the color # 462500.
Then use Rectangle tool
(Rectangle) (U) to draw a rectangle with a color # 1C1200.
Install Fill (Fill) for this layer by 90%.
Now we will draw a Christmas ball. We use Ellipse tool
(Ellipse) (U) to draw a circle.
We press the button Add a layer style
(Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Using the same tool, draw a new circle, as shown below.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Draw another circle using Ellipse tool (Ellipse) (U).
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Another circle.
We press the button Add a layer style ( Add a layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Now draw a highlight on the bottom of the ball using Ellipse tool (Ellipse) (U). Hold down Alt or press the button Subtract from shape area (-) (Subtract from the shape area) on the tool parameter panel and draw an oval to cut the top of the previous circle, as shown below. Color # 320000.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Inner shadow (Inner shadow).
Apply Gradient overlay (Overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
In the right part of the flare we draw a reflection of white color using Ellipse tool (Ellipse) (U). Hold Alt or press the button Subtract from shape area (-) (Subtract from the shape area) on the tool parameter panel and draw two other ellipses to cut off the previous circle on both sides, as shown below.
Install Fill (Fill) for this layer by 11%.
Draw a narrow flare on the right side of the ball. First draw the first circle with the tool. Ellipse tool (Ellipse), then hold Alt or press the button Subtract from shape area (-) (Subtract from the shape area) on the tool parameter panel and draw the second circle to cut off the left side of the previous one. Color #FCFBFB.
The same tool draw the top flare.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
We draw one more narrow flare in the right part.
Now we will draw the “tail” of the ball. Take Pen tool
(Pen) (P), set the drawing mode Shape layers (Layer layer) on the tool options panel and draw the shape as shown below. We have a “tail” under the layers with the ball.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Create a new element of the “tail” using Pen tool (Feather) (P).
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Now we have to draw the upper convex part. Activate Pen tool (Pen) (P), set the drawing mode Shape layers (Layer layer) on the tool options panel and draw the shape as shown below. Place the created item under the previous one.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Take Ellipse tool (Ellipse) (U) and create a ring. First we draw the first ellipse, then hold Alt or press the button Subtract from shape area (-) (Subtract from the shape area) on the tool parameter panel and draw the second ellipse in the center of the previous one, as shown below.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Now draw a thread. To start, create a line using Line tool
(Line) (U) with parameter Weight (Thickness) 3 px.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Create a new group Layer – New – Group (Layer – New – Group), with the CTRL key held down, select all the layers and move them to the group. We duplicate it twice and activate it. Free transform (Free Transform) (CTRL + T) to change the size and location of copies.
Now let’s do the background. Create a new layer and take a soft round brush
(AT).
Use this brush to paint the bottom of the canvas with the color # 0F0900. Place this layer immediately above the background.
Paste the mask on the layer by clicking on the button Add layer mask
(Add layer mask) at the bottom of the layers panel. Take a soft round brush (B) black with 10% Opacity. Paint this mask on the mask to hide some areas, as shown below.
Create a new layer and use soft round. brush (B) to sketch the background as shown below.
Place the layer above the previous one. This time we use color # FFD0A7 and change Opacity (Opacity) brush by 30%.
Create a new layer and use the soft round again. brush (B) to paint over the top of the background. Brush color # 4C0000. Place this layer above the previous one.
Create another new layer and continue to work with the top of the background. Take a soft round brush (B) color # FF6C5C and Opacity (Opacity) 80%, then draw as shown below.
Place this layer above the previous one.
Paste the mask onto the layer by clicking the button. Add layer mask (Add layer mask) at the bottom of the layers panel, and take a soft round brush (B) in black with an Opacity of 20%. Paint over the mask to hide some areas of the background and get the result as in the image below.
Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (B) black with 10% Opacity.
Paint over the background with this brush, as shown below. Place this layer above the previous one. All groups with balls should be at the very top of the layers panel, now we are working only with the background.
Add a glow under the balls. Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (AT).
Draw a glow. Arrange this layer so that it is above the previous one and under the layer with the central horizontal line.
Install Fill (Fill) for this layer by 65% and change the blending mode to Screen (Lightening).
Now let’s create a bokeh effect. Take Ellipse tool (Ellipse) (U) and draw a small circle.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Duplicate (CTRL + J) this circle many times and activate Free transform (Free Transformation) (CTRL + T) to change the size and location of copies, as in the screenshot below. Use different levels Opacity (Opacity) and Fill (Fill) for all layers. Lay out layers with circles above the background layers.
With the same tool we create more circles.
Set different values Opacity (Opacity) for circles, duplicate (CTRL + J) them and activate Free transform (Free Transformation) (CTRL + T) to change the size and location of copies, as in the screenshot below. Layers with circles should be under the balls.
Take Ellipse tool
(Ellipse) (U) to draw a circle at the bottom of the background.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient overlay (Gradient overlap).
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Duplicate (CTRL + J) this circle many times and activate Free transform (Free Transform) (CTRL + T) to change the size and location of the copies, as shown below. Set different levels Opacity (Opacity) for circles.
Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (AT).
Brush draw the glow of the balls, using the color #FFAAA6 and Opacity (Opacity) 10%.
Set the layer blending mode to Color dodge (Lightening the basics).
Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (B).
Brush draw the glow on the “tails” of the ball. Use color # F89000 and Opacity (Opacity) 20%.
Set the layer blending mode to Screen (Lightening).
Now we will draw shining stars on the balls. Take Pen tool (Pen) (P), set the drawing mode to Shape layers (Layer layer) and draw a vertical thin strip.
Duplicate (CTRL + J) and activate it. Free transform (Free Transform) (CTRL + T) to rotate the copy 90 degrees.
Duplicate both layers using Free transform (Free Transform) (CTRL + T) reduce copies and rotate 45 degrees, as shown below.
Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (B) in white.
Draw a glow on the star, as shown below.
Take Ellipse tool (Ellipse) (U) and draw a small circle inside the asterisk.
Install Fill (Fill) for this layer by 17%.
Create a new group Layer – New – Group (Layer – New – Group), with the CTRL key held down, select all the layers and move them to the group. Duplicate the group eight times and activate Free transform (Free Transform) (CTRL + T) to change the size and location of copies. Several stars are placed under the balls.
Via Horizontal type tool
(Horizontal text) (T) we write greetings on a postcard. On the panel Character (Font) choose the font, size and color.
Click on the canvas and write “Merry Christmas”. Then press Enter to apply the text.
We press the button Add a layer style (Add layer style) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.
Click on the color bar to open Gradient editor (Gradient Editor) and set the colors as shown below. Click OK to close the window.
We get the following result:
Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (B) white.
Draw shining spots.
Set the layer blending mode to Overlay (Overlap).
Create a new layer and take a soft round brush (B) white with Opacity (Opacity) 20% to paint the blurred spots on the canvas.
We get the following result:
Set the layer blending mode to Overlay (Overlap).
We press the button Create new fill or adjustment layer 
(Create a new fill or adjustment layer) at the bottom of the layers panel and select Curves (Curves) to make a slight color correction.
We get the following result:
(click on image to enlarge)
Our Christmas card with Christmas balls is ready!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Author: AdobeTutorialz
Translator: Maxim Enin
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