INTRODUCTION
You can add text to your pictures and create shadows and curves, colors and words.  This lesson assumes that you are reading this on the Web.  You will be using a picture that can be copied.  Click HERE to view the picture > right-click the picture and select Copy_Image.

OPEN PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS
Click (or double click) the Photoshop Elements icon on the Desktop.  If the Welcome screen is visible, close it.  Open the Layers palette.  Click the New icon and accept the defaults.

OPEN A GRAPHIC AND PLAY IT SAFE
Click Edit + Paste.  Click Layer (on the Menu bar) > click Duplicate Layer > close Layer1 and Background.  Always work with a copy to prevent accidental destruction of the original.

WRITE TEXT AT THE TOP
Click the Text Tool (Tools bar) > select Arial Black size 60 pt > click in the middle of the top clear area above the flowers > click the color patch and select a dark purple color > type WELCOME > click the Move tool and position WELCOME in the center of the space above the tree.

Select the Text tool again > click Window (on the Menu bar) + Layer Styles > in the Layer Styles dropdown list select Drop Shadow and select Hard Edge > click any portion of the Layers palette (removes Layer Styles).

Double-click the ball that appears to the right of WELCOME (Layers palette) > move Shadow Distance slider back & forth, stop at about 13 > click the Lighting Angle pointer around, stop at about 65 > unclick and click “Use Global Light” (reverses the shadow position) > click OK.

WRITE TEXT ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOWERS
Click the Text tool > click the picture about 3/4 inch from the bottom and near the left edge > double click the text (in the Text Size field) > type 60 > click the color patch and change to dark blue > type HOME > select the Move tool > position HOME in a centered lower area > click the Text tool > click the Create Warped Text tool on the Menu bar > choose Flag in the Warp Text Style dropdown menu > (move the Bend slider left and right, return to +50 > move Horizontal and Vertical distortion sliders back and forth, return both to 0) > click OK.

Click Window + Effects > select Text Effects + Medium Outline (from the drop-down menu in upper left corner of the Effects dialog) > click Apply > click the Layers palette (notice that the T is missing for HOME because this is no longer text) > see if you can change the color of HOME to dark purple (use Zoom tool to enlarge, Magic Wand to select and Paint Bucket to color).

CONCLUSION
This lesson just touched the surface of the many options available for creating text objects on your pictures.  If you were to save, you have a choice:  If future changes are contemplated, save as Photoshop *.PSD, *PDD Layers.  For E-mail or placement in a photo album, either Merge Visible or Flatten Image before saving with a *.JPG extension.