Creating fantasy art - "Journey In The Sky"

Create a new file. Insert an image of a woman in sitting position.

Knockout the background using your favorite technique.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Insert a cutout of a flying bird.
Move this layer below the lady layer in layer order in layer palette. Place it as shown. Apply same layer style we used before.

Select the lady layer. Create selection of unwanted area and press delete.

Select and merge both the layers. Open an image of mountains.

Drag the merged layer to the mountain file.

Double click the layer to open layer style window. Apply settings as shown.

Duplicate the layer. From "Filter" menu select "Blur>>Gaussian Blur ". Apply settings as shown.
Change the layer mode to "hard light".
Duplicate the original layer again. From "Filter" menu select "Blur>>Motion Blur ". Apply settings as shown. This will create an illusion of motion.
Change the layer mode to "vivid light". Move this layer below the original layer in layer order in layer palette.

Select the mountain layer. Duplicate and apply gaussian blur with the previous settings. Change layer mode.
Create a new layer. Select brush tool with dissolve mode settings. Right click and select brush as shown.

 

Apply stroke using white as foreground color.
Select Eraser tool with feathered brush settings. Remove the corners as shown.