Monday, 22 June 2015

Thinking of you layout & Sketch - Hearts Ease by Couture Creations

#couturecreationsaus

Welcome back crafters! 
Nice to see you again for some more Couture Creations inspiration. 

I love layout sketches!  Especially when I'm unsure where to start my layout.
It reminds me of following a recipe. 
I have a great starting point and can see where roughly where I want to end up, 
but I can change it up along the way.  There is no right or wrong! 
In saying that,  I have never drawn my own - until now! 
So I give you my very first, hot off the press layout sketch! Ta-da!

So let's get crafting! 


I created this layout (and sketch) around this darling photo of my grandma that I've been wanting to scrap for sometime.  This photo is particularly special to me as it was the last birthday we celebrated with her, as she left us 6 weeks before she would have turned 100.   Her birthday is in June, so she has been very much in our thoughts.  She was a true English lady - lover of all things floral (especially roses), cups of tea and loved a good morning tea!  She was particularly handy when it came to cooking, sewing and crafts - something I'm very thankful to have shared with her. 
Her favourite colour was purple so I can imagine she would have loved all the 
gorgeous purple tones in this Hearts Ease Collection.  


Firstly I chose two 12x12 papers from the Hearts Ease collection for the background.  Cutting one piece smaller than the other, I distressed the edges with my non-stick scissors and then inked all four sides.   I then stuck down this inked paper using 12mm doubled sided tape.  

To give some dimension and shimmer to the page I've heat embossed 
two of the stamps from the Borders and Butterflies stamp set. 
 It's such a quick and easy technique but the results are stunning.  
I've then added the book paper banner, cutting in half to maximise it's use - 
why waste paper when it  won't be seen? 


This layering technique is fabulous for using up scraps and offcuts, which is exactly what I've done here.  And since most of it will be covered by the photo it doesn't matter if you have small bits or how much they overlap. 

Using my sketch as a guide, I've layered 4 bits of Hearts Ease Patterned paper, and several pieces
from the Hearts Ease Ephemera pack to create the background.  
And this is where you can move pieces around, add bits or even take them away.  
Remember the sketch is just a guiding, a starting point. 
Once I was happy with the placement I have stuck everything down with 12mm double sided tape. 


I've doubled matted my photo on Hearts Ease Patterned paper and then on purple Core'dinations cardstock, and distressed around the edges,  I've added 2 corners from the Ephemera pack to the photo and then mounted the photo with foam mounting tape to give the photo some height. 


The white of the Bulk Flowers was a bit stark for this layout so I have spritzed them with a matching purple spray.  I wanted to have some white still visible so it was only a light coat and after they had dried I also ruffled the petals up.  But you can make them as light or as dark as you want. 
I've adhered the 3 flowers with Craft Glue Spots and slipped a vintagey card and a small butterfly (both from the Ephemera pack) under the flowers.



For the title I've used one of the new Hearts Ease Chipboard Stickers "Thinking of You' and attached to the layout with foam mounting tape.  I've added my favourite 2mm Gemstones in crystal to highlight other embellishments and draw the eye to them.  You can see them on the embossed butterfly and the chipboard title, on the tiny butterfly near the flowers and around the patterned paper and embossed borders.    




To finish off the layout, below the title I've ave added an embellishment cluster with several pieces from the Ephemera pack (pocket watch, arrow and tag) and a few items from my own stash. 


So happy birthday Grandma!  
You will be forever loved, and this June many cups of tea & scones will be had in your honour. 



Thanks for dropping by. 

Be sure to check the Couture Creations Blog to be inspired 
by the amazing ladies on the Design Team. 
You can also follow Couture Creations on

Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. 


Have a crafty day! 
Tracey R
xx









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Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia

Monday, 8 June 2015

Love Card - Couture Creations

#couturecreationsaus

Hello again crafter! Today I'm sharing some of the beautiful Hearts Ease Collection
from Couture Creations. 

Today I'm excited to show you this card I've made, perfect to celebrate a wedding or anniversary. 


Let's get making!



I've chosen a matching rich purple Core'dinations cardstock as the mat for my card, and cut it to fit my card. I've then die cut with one of the Heart Core Nesting Dies to make a window in the cardstock. 



I've embossed my cardstock with the Hearts Ease Tied Together Embossing folder. 



TIP! You get a much crisper and raised embossed pattern if you cut FIRST then emboss. 
You can see both here - cut then emboss on the left, emboss then cut on the right. 
I find that if you cut second the second pass through the die cutting machine flattens the pattern somewhat.  But in saying that, it might be a look you're after - it's up to you. 



I've then distressed the cardstock 2 ways - using the Couture Creations Sanding block on the pattern, and the Non-Stick scissors around the edges. 


Next I've chosen my patterned paper background and stuck it behind the window. With the different patterns in the Hearts Ease Patterned Paper Collection there are so many beautiful images you can use.  Simply lay the card window over the patterned paper and until your happy with the look. 



Using green Core'dinations cardstock I've cut 2 of the Vintage Branch die from the Vintage Rose Collection to use as foliage and placed them to the left of the heart window, 
attaching with the Craft Glue Spots.  Remember to always use your Quick Release Die Paper especially for intricate dies like this one.


I've spritzed an English Rose Flower purple and opened it up, placing a crystal classic gemstone in the middle, and adhered it on top of the tree die cuts with  Craft Glue Spots.

To add a sentiment to this card I have used the Hearts Ease Time Goes On Clear Stamps  and stamped the 'Love' with versa mark ink and then heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I love how the gold just jumps off the card.



I've cut the embossed Love down and flagged off the ends, inked around the edges and adhered with 6mm Foam Tape at the bottom of the heart. 



Simple, effective, and made with love.  Just another way to use this stunning Hearts Ease Collection. 





I'd love to see how you use your Hearts Ease stash!

Thanks for dropping by. 







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Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia
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