coy smile

Sorry to have no blogs lately, I have been soooo busy with the Scrapbooking and Papercraft show coming up in June, not long away now though. Blogging has taken a back seat while I prepare kits etc. But today is one of my last layouts for Down Under Direct.

I have stepped down from the design team, because I have more and more on my plate lately. Something had to give. I have been on the team for 2years exactly, and had a wonderful time, while there. I think the discipline of only using cardstock has made me a better artist, and of course using Spellbinders really makes you stretch your imagination with great results. I have enjoyed bringing you all my layouts and cards each month and will continue to bring you work from Couture Creations and Imaginarium( have some great ones coming up. 

Many of my layouts will be at the June show, in the tutor display, so if you want to see them In Real Life, be sure to pop by. Not to mention see if you can track me down and say hello, I will be at the Practical Publishing stand and in class room 9 teaching, spaces are still available if you are interested.

As for the layout above you may notice the webbing on the flowers, before I cut them out I covered the cardstock in plaster's mesh, then cut and coloured as usual. A great way to add texture and interest. The photo is one of my daughter years ago, who was so miffed at wearing the hat, she did not want to smile for me, as a sort of revenge for making her wear the hat!!

last minute places available

 

It is not too late to secure your place in one of the classes we are sponsoring at

Couture Creations is proud to be sponsoring classes at Australia’s premier event for people who love scrapbooking, card making, stamping, photography and mixed media.
The Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo will be held in Brisbane on June 8 to 10, 2013 from Saturday to Monday, over the June long weekend.

3 of our Design Team Tracey Cooley, Kerrie Gurney & Sue Smyth will be teaching all bringing their own style to their classes.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Card Set with Tracey Cooley

Session 1: 9.30am – 11.30am

Skill level: All levels

Join Tracey Cooley and enter the world of the Mad Hatter for a technique tea party...create a set of matching cards with handmade flowers using nesting dies and techniques with emboss folders, that can easily be transferred to your scrapbooking/papercraft with a trip down the rabbit hole!

Class includes: Couture Creations Nesting Dies, Couture Creations Elegance Embossing Folder, Embellishments, G45 Patterned Paper, Couture Creations Tools, Couture Creations Adhesives & Core’dinations Cardstock.

Products supplied by Couture Creations

Students bring: Basic tool kit, one 5.7 acrylic stamp block, one deep purple pigment ink pad.

Class cost: $45

Family Fun (we're all mad) Layout with Kerrie Gurney

Session 2: 12noon – 2pm

Skill level: All levels

Join Kerrie  Gurney and create a single page layout using the latest Couture Creations Fantasia Doily Dies, Elegance Embossing Folder & Couture Chipboard. Some of the techniques you will get to play around with are learning how to create a unique background using texture paste, distressing & misting.  You will also get to do some die cutting and of course some embossing and you even get to keep your doily dies and embossing folder.

Class includes: Couture Creations Embossing Folder, Fantasia Doily Dies, Couture Creations Chipboard , Couture Creations Gemstones, Glitzin' Glamour Glitter Glue, Paper Flowers, Patterned Papers, Core'dinations Cardstock & Texture Paste

Products supplied by Couture Creations

Students bring: Basic tool kit, one 5” x 7” photo of a fun family moment.

Class cost: $45

Alice’s Shrunken Trinket Dress Form with Sue Smyth

Session 3: 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Skill level: All levels

Join Sue Smyth for an afternoon of inspiration and creation with Couture Creations. Play with gesso, sprays and glitter to make your own trinket pin storage Dress form. This gorgeous angel will be a glorious addition to anyone’s workshop, with a very practical use.  Learn how to alter the basic form, with clever but simple techniques you will be able to use over and over again on other off the page projects and even layouts. See how versatile embossing folders and dies can be to make unique flowers and complete a one of a kind project.

Class includes: Calico Dress Form, Couture Embossing Folder, creating with doily dies, nesting dies, ribbon, lace, beads, buttons and more.

Products supplied by Couture Creations

Students bring: Basic tool kit, paper piercing tool, Dimensional Magic, foam paint brush, gloves if you don’t like getting your hands dirty.

Class cost: $45

GUESS WHO WILL BE WEARING THE BOOTS

You will learn some great techniques during these classes and also receive loads of  great Couture Creations Products along with giveaways and loads of fun. Our tutors have chosen an Alice In Wonderland theme and will be decking out their classroom with loads of Alice décor, and there is talk that some of them may even dress the part...

So guess which one of our Couture Creations Tutors will be wearing these at the Expo!!!!

WIN A PRIZE

Leave a comment here, which tutor you think will be wearing these boots at the show.

If you guess correctly and have booked into the class you will go into the draw to win a prize pack, which will be given to you in class.

(This is only open to those booked into any of our classes over the 3 days)

http://couturecreationsaus.blogspot.com.au/

Super fish

Today I am sharing a layout for Down Under Direct, of my son surfing. This layout is made with bamboo skewers, loads of gesso and Glimmer mist. While the glimmer mists were wet, I sprinkled rock salt over it and allowed to dry. This gives a cool mottled effect that replicates the water nicely. The glass pebbles look fantastic too. Hope you all like it.

And to catch up a little, here is a little extra. I will show you a little bit of fun. 

Made with a Spellbinder die this cute as frame would be useful as a place card or any party favour you like.

Simply cut the shape out with thin chipboard or a cereal packet, I have embossed with Stampendous Aged silver powder and rub over with black ink to add to the aged look. Cut a small piece of black card to fit the centre, and to make a stand at the back. You could also hang this as a wind charm, just leave off the stand. I have actually cut two frames and embossed both, then glued together. In this case you can't see the back but if you hung it you would. I will trim up a photo and stick it onto the black card, or you could use it as a place card or trinket to give out at mothers day or to teachers perhaps.!

Sweet As

I love the flowers in this layout, I wasn't as happy with the rest, but you can't win them all lol

The flowers are made with Spellbinders Peony Die and cardstock. I have inked the edges of each layer of the flower with Donna Salazar's Mixed Media Inx Jasmine. It leaves a really nice white edge that just makes them look so pretty and real. My daughter used to pose nicely for photos, now not so much, oh how they grow up!

June show

Couture Creations is proud to be sponsoring classes at Australia’s premier event for people who love scrapbooking, card making, stamping, photography and mixed media.
The Scrapbook & Papercraft Expo will be held in Brisbane on June 8 to 10, 2013 from Saturday to Monday, over the June long weekend.

3 of our Design Team Tracey Cooley, Kerrie Gurney & Sue Smyth will be teaching all bringing their own style to their classes.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Card Set with Tracey Cooley

Session 1: 9.30am – 11.30am

Skill level: All levels

Enter the world of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and create a set of cards perfect for any occasion using the new Couture Creations Premium 3 in 1 collection. Combine stamps, dies and an embossing folder and create a stunning set of cards in matching combinations.

Class includes: Couture Creations 3 in 1 Collection Stamp, Die Cut and Emboss, embellishments, tools and adhesives, Couture Creations & Core’dinations Cardstock.

Products supplied by Couture Creations

Students bring: Basic tool kit, one 5.7 acrylic stamp block, one deep purple pigment ink pad.

Class cost: $45

We’re All Mad Layout with Kerrie Gurney

Session 2: 12noon – 2pm

Skill level: All levels

In this class you will create a layout showcasing the fun side of your life. We will be using Couture Creations Decorative Dies & Embossing Folders. You will also learn how to get more from your dies and embossing folders.

Class includes: Couture Creations Embossing Folder, decorative die, tools.

Products supplied by Couture Creations

Students bring: Basic tool kit, one 5” x 7” photo of a fun family moment.

Class cost: $45

Alice’s Shrunken Trinket Dress Form with Sue Smyth

Session 3: 2.30pm – 4.30pm

Skill level: All levels

Let Sue take you down the rabbit hole into a whimsical world and create this shabby vintage look trinket pin cushion. You will create flowers from dies, learn masking and all things creative. Using Couture Creations Dies and Embossing Folders you will take home a treasured decorative piece for your craft room.

Class includes: Dress Form, Couture Embossing Folder, creating with doily dies, nesting dies, ribbon, lace, beads, buttons and more.

Products supplied by Couture Creations

Students bring: Basic tool kit, paper piercing tool, Dimensional Magic, foam paint brush, gloves if you don’t like getting your hands dirty.

Class cost: $45

GUESS WHO WILL BE WEARING THE BOOTS

You will learn some great techniques during these classes and also receive loads of  great Couture Creations Products along with giveaways and loads of fun. Our tutors have chosen and Alice In Wonderland theme and will be decking out their classroom with loads of Alice décor, and there is talk that some of them may even dress the part...

So guess which one of our Couture Creations Tutors will be wearing these at the Expo!!!!

WIN A PRIZE

Leave a comment here, which tutor you think will be wearing these boots at the show.

If you guess correctly and have booked into the class you will go into the draw to win a prize pack, which will be given to you in class.

(This is only open to those booked into any of our classes over the 3 days)

Kerrie Gurney UNIT 1,1425 Boundary Road WACOL QLD 4076 AUSTRALIA PH: +61 7 3718 7606 FX: +61 7 3271 5994 kerrie@artdecocreations.com.au www.couturecreations.com.au http://couturecreationsaus.blogspot.com.au/

Couture Creations Cherish your dreams Layout

My latest layout for Couture Creations by Sue Smyth

One of the things I like most in a layout is texture and colour. Today I have achieved this with Couture Creations embossing folders and dies.

Close up of the flowers created by using the Sunflower die by Couture Creations

You can see I have adjusted the colours of the flowers with Glimmer mists and inks.

Step 1

emboss a long strip of cardstock, insert cardstock into folder and emboss, take out of the folder and insert the other end and emboss. The larger 5 x 7 embossing folders should meet in the middle so you can hardly see the join. Then dry brush with gesso.

Spritz with a glimmer mist of your choice that matches the layout. Try mixing colours and if you dont like it wipe off with a wet hand wipe and start again.

To create flowers cut out 2 of the four smallest shapes, and 2 more of three smallest shapes. So you will have the layers to make three flowers, one large and two medium sized. Don't be afraid to mix and match and vary layers, the more layers the fuller the flower.

Ink the edges with Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx, Jasmine, this ink is so reactive that when it is wet it will run and bleed, 

Ink the middle layers with a red or pink ink of your choosing. 

Cut slits into each petal section of all layers.

 A little tip is to cut the 2 layers at once to save a bit of time.

Bunch up 6 stamens, cut them in half and apply 

a little hot glue to the ends to make them into a bunch. I use

my fingers to roll them but glue is hot so be careful, I find if you count to 5

after you put it on, you can handle it before it sets. 

Pierce holes into the centers of each layer and thread onto the stamen bunches.

Starting with the smallest and working back to the largest. 

I find the easiest way to make the holes is with a mouse pad and a sharp pointy pair

of scissors like the ones from Couture Creations, as I can tell where the centre is better than using a plier punch, also some of the larger layers, the plier punch will not reach to the centre  

Once threaded, add a little hot glue to the back and allow to set.

Then wet with a mister, and scrunch up, I like to push down 

on the scrunched petals to give them a twist in the end.

Unfurl and dry off with a heat gun, use a bamboo stick to adjust petals while

drying off. Spritz a little extra glimmer mist into the centres only,

 if you spritz and it looks clumsy and uneven 

spray with water mister to blend the colour better.

You can go ahead and adjust the flower colour to suit the layout as I have done

by adding more  glimmer mists.

 Products Used

Prima Marketing Fairy Rhymes Collection Violet & Caladee by Jodie Lee

Cream, petalsoft & elephant cardstock

light weight chipboard

Couture Creations Fantasia Collection Dazzling C0723225

Couture Creations Moments in Time C0723434

Couture Creations Viva Birdcage C0723427

Couture Creations Embossing folder Super Fancy That C0723459

Couture Creations Embossing folder Joes Garden C0723298

Couture Creations Sunflower C0723212

Stampendous Aged Gold embossing powder 

Peeled Paint Tim Holtz Distress Paint 

Organza ribbon

White fluffy fibre 

Assorted flowers

Assorted glimmer mists

Gesso 

Pearl liquid pearls 

Couture Creations pearls pink and white

                                                               

Imaginarium Design Team

There is No Place like Home 
Shoe and Layout 

By Sue Smyth

Well here is the other shoe, remember a previous post of a white decorated shoe....while making it I thought of the ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, and what better way to do that than with red glitter and lots of it!

While on a visit to Print Blocks, I found the Imaginarium Chip, there is no place like home, and it all came together! Hope you like the results and it inspires you to think of more ways to alter shoes, what about Alice in wonderland, Snow white or Cinderella, not to mention fairy shoes and elf shoes and the list goes on.

What do you do with these you ask? they can be a centrepiece for a table, make the theme birthdays or anniversary instead, or like me as just a decoration for my workshop.

Here are some other shots of the shoe.

See below for a Mini Tutorial 

Most of the Chippie I have inked black and coated with Dimensional Magic, But the white picket fence I have painted with Gesso and covered with Dimensional magic and while wet sprinkled with lots of clear micro beads. When dry, I have sprayed with White gesso or spray paint, for a really textured look. The clouds I have coated with swirls of texture paste, when dry I have painted with pearl paint and drenched with glitter for a luscious fluffy pearl look. Other bits of chip have been simply embossed with Aged gold embossing powder. For the Arch I have embossed the chip wit gold and when dry, I have added Dimensional Magic and a sprinkle of micro beads, when dry just smear a small amount of turquoise paint over the raised bits, to look like verdigris.  See below for a mini Tutorial and a list of Chip and materials used. 

Step 1 

apply versamark over frame 

Step 2

apply aged gold embossing powder to frame.

Step 3 

heat set embossing powder and randomly 

apply dimensional magic, sprinkle with clear micro beads.

allow to dry 

step 4

lightly swipe with turquoise paint for a verdigris look

Now for a layout

I wanted to use the same colours as the shoe, and show how this Chippie could be used as a title easily, this photo is a very old one of My grandparents, and me, along with my cousin, Uncle and My grandfather from my Dads side, it is a rare photo as occasions like this did not happen often. That doll in my hand was for my Third birthday, and by the end of the day I had cut all her hair off!!! Creative even then lol

Flowers are some of the new ones from Petaloo, I love them at the moment because they are not too over the top and can be used on layouts that are not girly and feminine.

Chip Used  

Other Materials

Gesso 

Olive Green and Red Velvet Glimmer mist

Prima Flowers

Petaloo flowers

pearls 

red glitter

dimensional Magic
gold embossing powder

micro beads

pearls

texture paste 

lace and sequins

wood fibre

cardstock 

birck stamp

crystal sprays

Red organza ribbon