Follow the links to add a layer mask to Adobe Photoshop Elements program.
This makes things so much easier.
Just dowload the file and load into your program as instructed.

For Elements 5 and under see here:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pse...sktool-old.htm

For Elements 6 and up here:
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pse...ermasktool.htm