couture Creations blog 2

Sweet bicycle card 

By Sue Smyth 

Hi Bloggers, today I have a quick easy card for you 

with a spring touch.

Cut out the largest label from a 14 x 14 cm cream cardstock base.

Make sure you have the folded edge inside the cutting edge

of the die so it remains intact and there 

you have a neat folded base.

Trim off one on the ends to give the card a flat base

Cut the next size down with patterned paper, adhere to front of 

card base and fold semi circular shape up. Attach to front of

card with a little 3 D foam tape.

Die cut a scalloped circle and nested circle from cream and 

pale green cardstock.

Die cut a bicycle from cream cardstock, add glitter

to areas of the bike.

Also cut a small piece of lace from pink cardstock, ink edges

and adhere to bottom of card. 

Adhere all pieces in place and decorate as above.

This card can be made almost from scrap cardstock and papers.

Couture Creations materials 

CO724309 Couture Creations Amaryllis collection Simones style dies

C0724269 Couture Creations Secret Garden Collection French Bicyle

C0721999 Couture Creations self adhesive pearls

C0724170 Couture Creations Hearts ease patterned papers

Nested labels die

Scalloped Circle Nested dies

Circle Nested dies 

megs garden sampler

Victorian Sampler 

By Sue Smyth 

With so many images to choose from in the mini album kit 

 and I wanted to use them all one the one project.

So I decided to alter a frame and do 

a sampler, layering and adding dimension 

to each panel.

Alter the butterfly trinket, swipe white gesso over top.

Add dimensional magic to the centre and sprinkle 

with micro beads.

And yes I fixed that pearl strip above that has moved

I like to add a little extra glue to these strips so 

they stay put more.

To colour a small paper rose, take a small stiff 

bristle brush and dab into a pink/red stamp pad.

The gently stipple the brush to the centre of the 

rose. 

Old dry stamp pads work the best to give just a hint of colour.

You may have seen this before, I love to add a dimensional

frame with small pearl strips.

Just snip them into sections of 2 or one pearl and 

adhere along the edge with a clear setting glue.

Use a pointed tool to nudge the pearls into place.

Ink each panel and adhere to light weight cardstock

to add strength.

Play with the arrangement of your panels until you are happy

then adhere them down. I have

then altered an old plastic frame for them all to sit in, 

this will make a lovely gift for someone this year.

Materials used 

megs Garden mini book papers

Megs Garden charms

Megs Garden azaela flower

Megs Garden silver trim

Happy Crafting 

Sue Smyth 

Imaginarium for October

Happy Halloween Hat and Gorgeous Gold 

layout

By Sue Smyth 

Halloween is always a fun time to decorate

 and make something unique and arty to keep.

You may have seen my altered Gothic books, this

time I wanted to do something to match them.

A 3 D witches hat to match seemed a great choice!

I have decorated a small witches hat before, but it is amazing

how as your skills improve,products grow, and your tastes 

change the different look you will get.

To save time, most of the chipboard is sprayed with 

matt black spray paint.

I then rubbed gold metallic paint over a lot of it

and used it to decorate the front of the hat. I have

added in a skeleton like my book, with wings and feathers around him.

For the peacock feather I have used 3 colours of liquid pearls,

Blue,purple and green, to colour the black

chipboard feather to give dimension and shine.

The other feathers are just dipped in black glitter after they 

are coated with dimensional magic.

Here is a mini tutorial on how to alter the hat base.

Spray paint the hat black for a good base to work from,

Apply strips of tissue paper over the hat with gel medium.

Make sure to pleat and scrunch the tissue to give a

great texture. 

When dry, paint thoroughly with purple paint.

When dry paint with black gesso, this time paint roughly

so that some of the delicious purple shows through!

Use a brush to apply Inka gold graphite paint, all over the hat 

Then use a brush to apply turquoise or lime green glittery paint.

Then apply metallic gold paint over top of that to give 

a rich depth of colour.

Here you can see all of the colours showing through. I have then sprayed

the whole hat with gold glitter spray.

Then to start building the decoration, I have used the wrought

gate.

And added a border to the back, to attach further decorations to.

To bend the border, dampen a little with water and bend

with your fingers, then allow to dry in shape.

Gorgeous Gold Layout 

The next project I have for you is a gorgeous layout featuring 

gold foil board.

This is a sheet of 12 x 12 gold foil that I could not

resist using as my base.

My flowers are just old fluted ones I found on a hat with 

lovely textured centers. Of course

I have altered, sprayed and painted with gold paint to 

match. 

I have kept the colour palette limited, only adding red so the main star is the 

gold background  

Rub over the chipboard with red Inka Gold,

I have added this also, to some black and 

cream fussy cut butterflies. Also double emboss

the leaves with gold embossing powder for a polished look.

After rubbing over the gold paint (see tutorial below)

highlight areas with red and copper inka gold.

Blend together with your finger tip.

A small photo, die cut will fit nicely into the centre

of the clock. I have also sanded the edges 

for a rustic look.

One simple word is all you need for a title, paint with

matt black spray paint.

This is another photo of the layout without so 

much of the reflection, You will notice that 

I have added a few mica shards around the top of the layout

for added glimmer and interest.

Place foil board on some concrete and press down 

with your hands to create a lumpy pitted surface.

Sand edges and over the surface a little too.

Adhere selected chipboard to the foil board with

gel medium, allow to dry.

Paint entire surface with black gesso, allow to partially dry.

Rub off excess with a wet wipe, apply more

pressure in areas that are stubborn

Spritz with a gold glimmer mist, partially dry

and rub off excess over the foil area.

Then rub over with gold metallic paint and 

decorate as above.

A sweet Christmas treat. 

I have used the mini bird cage to make a mini Christmas decoration.

Spray with matt black spray paint,

 Dampen the top of each cage and bend into shape.

Adhere around a resin frame or piece of black chipboard

that matches the size. 

Tie the top eyelets together.

Rub over with gold paint

Decorate with trinkets, pearls, and rhinestones.

Chipboard used 

Happy Crafting