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

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Everyday Beautiful - Couture Creations


#couturecreationsaus

Hello again crafters! 

Tracey R with you today. 
I'm so glad to be once again here on the blog and sharing more 
awesome Couture Creations products.

Enough talking - Let's get making! 


I really love the detail and fine lines of the Malvoisie Corners die from the Elegant Card Cuts range.  I've been wanting to use it for something other than a card 
and thought it would be perfect to use as a frame on a scrapbook layout.  
I chose a bright pink core'dinations card stock background to match the photo and distresses this with my non-stick scissors.  I've then layered a torn piece of kraft core'dinations on top,
 flicked white paint and sprayed pink pearled mist over the page.


I've cut 8 of the separate corner pieces from Malvoisie Corners using the Quick Release die paper, placed them in a square shape, and placed my mounted photo in the middle. 



The perfect adhesive to use with such delicate die cuts is the Turbo Precision Pen. 
The glue comes out in such a controlled and precise way, it makes it so easy to draw fine lines and not have glue go everywhere (and how many times have we have THAT happen!)



When mounting my photo, I wanted to give it some dimension on the page, so I've used
Couture Creations 3D Foam Strips.  No more cutting little bits of foam tape! 
This product is fantastic!
Next I've used the Hearts Ease Words embossing folder to add some detail for a corner embellishment, and tucked it under the bottom left hand side of my mounted photo. 
 Don't forget that you can use your embossing folders for shapes not just as a whole.




Next I've cut three little flower lace borders from the Elissa Set (Frames N Frills Ornamental Lace Die Set) and layered them on top of one another, in the lower left hand side of my page. 



I've used my very favourite embellishment at the moment - 2mm Gemstones
(I can't get enough of these!!!) to decorate the bottom white layer of the borders, 
on the bottom left corner of my photo mat, and on the points around the diecut frame. 



on the back and adhered on tp the flower lace borders.  
TIP - I find it so much easier to add my die cuts to the spot while it's on the roll, peel off the diecut and place where required. 
To match my Couture Creations bulk white flowers perfectly to my layout, i spritzed them with the same pink pearl mist that's on the background and once dry opened them out. 
I purposely left the flowers closed when misting so that when they were opened (after the mist was dry), there would still be some contrasting white.


In the middle of the flowers I've placed some of the larger Gemstones to compliment 
the other bling on the page. 



Some close ups of the details...


A few other hints of pink, some sequins and the layout is done. 




And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to keep up to date with all the last Couture Creations news and Design Team inspiration. 



I hope that you find your 'Everyday Beautiful today! 
And that you create something to celebrate it. 

Thanks for stopping by

Tracey xxx







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Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia

Monday, 11 May 2015

Enjoy Yourself Everyday - Couture Creations


#couturecreationsaus

Hello and welcome to another Couture Creations project!

Tracey R here today to share some craftiness and awesome products with you. 

Isn't spending time with your friends the best?  It's a definite way to 
destress and relax.  I am very lucky to have a group of ladies who 
share my love of craft (and Couture Creations!) and even more lucky that 
I go away on a craft retreat with them for 3 nights twice a year. 
I know right!  How lucky am I? 

This layout was inspired by a twenties themed night at our retreat last year with my fellow Design Teamer the lovely Lesa Bird. Printing out the photo in sepia, I knew it would suit the tones of the Vintage Rose Collection, with some gold thrown in for good measure!

So let's get making! 

First I matted my photo on a Kraft core'dinations cardstock and then chose a coordinating patterned paper from the Vintage Rose Collection. 


To add some dimension to the mats I have distressed the edges using my non stick scissors and then brushed a brown ink pad around each side. 


I'm a visual person. So when i choose my papers I like to lay them out and see how they coordinate together. I had chose another two Vintage Rose papers, cut them down and distressed and inked these as well.  As a base for the layout I have again used the Kraft Core'dinations cardstock.


I've taped the bottom two pieces of Vintage Rose paper with 6mm double sided tape and layered on the background cardstock.  The perfect thing to adhere my cotton gauze to the layout is the Couture Creations 18mm doubled sided tape.  Excellent for wide coverage and great stick.  I've added a piece along the width of the layout at the bottom of the smaller piece of vintage rose paper. 


To mount my matted photo to the layout I've used the Couture Creations 3D Foam dots. I love that the dimension they add.  And the easiest way io find to use them is to remove them from the sheet with the Piercing tool from Handheld Essentionals Tool Kit. 


To embellish this layout I've cut 2 of the Beach Fern die from the Everyday Essentials range.
 I have layered the ferns cut from kraft core'dintations AND die release paper
 to the bottom left of my photo. 


I seriously never die cut anymore without using the Quick Release die paper. 
Not only does it make cutting and removing the images a breeze, you are also creating extra "FREE" embellishments for yourself!
If you haven't seen it in action take a look at this video...It's a game changer!


Couture Creations have recently released their very own flower range!
There are 15 styles & sizes to choose from.
  
I have been itching to have a play with them - so many to choose from! 
I chose one of the larger flowers - a Cottage Pollen Flower - sprayed it with mist and rubbed 
Aztec Gold Glitzin' Glamour Glitter Glue all over it to make it pop. 


After the flower has dried, I've placed the flower on top of the leaves. 


Gold is definitely on trend at the moment. Which I am LOVING! 
It add some sparkle to this layout I run a line of Aztec Gold Glitzin' Glamour around the edge of the layout and spread it out,  creating a lovely gold shimmer effect.


To bling up my layout even more (there is NEVER enough bling!!!) I've added some Sparkling Champagne Gemstones as an accent both to the side and on the photo.  While the Golden Touch 2mm Gemstones add little flecks of gold in the corners of the Vintage Rose Paper 
and either side of the title.



And we're done!




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. 


Couture Creations Products Used













Have a crafty day! 
Tracey R
xx




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Location: Brisbane QLD, Australia
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