Try to use Channels to cut out the fire:
Select the picture layer of the fire, and click channels ( if it's not active near the layer tab , go to Window -channels)
Choose the channel with most contrast and use select color range to select the fire. Use the fuziness bar to adjust the selection. after you click ok and have the selection press Ctrl J to make a new layer out of the selection. Try it multiple times until you like what you get.

Selectiv via channel gives you a more transparent look which blends better in background.

Thank you so much.

so cool work author...and where is the bottle of Absinth...

keep it simple

Too simple, IMO, but the underlying concept is creative. If I didn't know the theme of this contest, I'm not sure I would have noticed the owl faces. I would delete the little owl (just distracting) and make the big owl's gray portions a different color. The tag line on the bottom right doesn't add anything IMO and its font is totally at odds with the rest of the image.

great!

Smart!

super creepy and EXCELLENT!!!

Can you imagine hiring a babysitter for this angry demon, very nice interpretation of the theme..

nice work

simply amazing !
Instant fav !!
W O W sorry im stunned
GL AUTH !!

awesome work...best of luck

excelent job, GL!

Outstanding!

Love it!

Great

thank you all so very much for the support!!!!!

Excellent !!

I recognized at first.. sight.., lol Instant fave

ok you win ! -- I love it.

Great job! You seem to have quite a knack for this...

Excellent work author GL!!

Delighted to see my favorite back! It's different - darker background I think - but it's masterful. Good luck!!

Wow! You guys are awesome! Thank you all so much for the compliments! I am so proud that you all like it so much.
I am also totally amazed at the amount of favs on this one. Its overwhelming!!!

What really scares me is how good you are at this stuff. Great job, well rendered!!

Congratulations on your well-earned first place!!!!!!!! I have never so loved such a horrifying image.

Thanks again! I really appreciate it!
By the way, this little demon is my daughter. She is quite excited about being the first place scariest face! So, thank you all from me and my daughter.

Congrats, really scary work well done

congrats on the win.

No surprise to me, terrific job, Congrats!!

Congrats Jade, and double congrats for the place of the highest scoring entry

congrats!!

congrats, yep it's scary! )

congratulations, it was certainly the best

Congrats on the win ... great image!

congrats for I.........excelent job!

Congratulations

Congrats on your 1st place... A convincing win!

Fabulous!!! Wow!!!

well its a great idea and very good chop

Lemons on the Bun! very neat visual

Sizzling...

Nice idea and very cool construction..I love the mood too. GL author!

Congratulations for first....!

Congrats very nice work

Congrats!!

congrats, very creative work

congrats!

Congrats on your 1st place...

Congrats on First Place Win

Congrats, cool one.