February 23, 2014

Couture Creations Design Team Application Round 2.


So I have a step by step tutorial today for you using both Couture Creations Embossing Folders and Dies, and Core'dinations Cardstock.

The Core'dinations Cardstock and Couture Creations Embossing Folders are a match made in heaven. As the card stock has a different colour core, once it has been embossed and then sanded the pattern from the embossing shows in a soft distressed way.

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If you would like to know more about Core'dinations cardstock, check out their website here.

"US" Step by Step Tutorial:

By Mel Connell





You will need: 
  • Three different Couture creations Doily Dies. I have used Ivy Set Doily Dies - CO723222, Blossom Yarn - CO723114, Damaris - CO723477 and Mimi - CO723476.
  • One Couture Creations Embossing Folder. I have used Large Damask Flourish - CO723449.
  • 4 sheets of Core'dinations Cardstock. All the same colour. 
  • 2 sheets of accent cardstock. I have used Kraft but you could use black or white also. 
  • An assortment of flowers.
  • one colour of embossing power to suit your colour theme. 


1. Cut 9 squares of Core'dination Cardstock at 5" square. 



2. Fold all nine squares corner to corner to create a cross through the centre of each piece. I used my bone folder to make crisp sharp folds. Open all nine pieces back out flat. 



3. Fold all four corners into the centre point. Again use your bone folder to get sharp folds. Repeat on all nine pieces.






4. Place each folded pice inside your embossing folder and run through your machine to emboss. Emboss all nine folded pieces of cardstock. 



5. With some sand paper, sand over the embossed design. The top layer of the Core'dinations cardstock will come away and reveal the inside colour. Sand all nine pieces. Sand the side with all the folds only. The back doesn't need to be done.


6. With some craft glue add a small drop on the inside tip of each folded flap of cardstock. When gluing down, push the card away from the centre point slightly so the cardstock creates a small pillow. Hold in position for a second until the glue grips. Repeat this for all four flaps on each piece of card stock. Do all nine squares. In the third picture here I have put a black marker dot to show you the centre and how the tips are set back slightly when glued in place.




7. From one sheet of your accent cardstock cut a square 11 1/4". glue or double side tape all nine pillows into the centre of this square. You should have a small board around all four sides. 


8. Border Punch around the outside of your remaining piece of Core'dinations cardstock and adhere in the centre your pillow piece. 


9. Add some adhesive bling or gem brads to the centre of each pillow. 


10. From the second sheet of accent cardstock, cut your self three doily's and three flourishes using your Couture creations dies. 


11. Heat emboss the three flourishes. I coat each piece and heat set twice to give a thick smooth finish. 




12. Mat your photos with the accent cardstock. Adhere into place on your layout background, your photos and the three doily die cuts. 


13. Adhere into place your selection of flowers and sprays.


14. Adere your three Heat embossed flourishes onto your layout. 



15. Add your title, any smaller supplementing words and embellishments as required. 






I do hope you enjoyed my little tutorial. I'd love to hear from you if you created your own page following these steps. 

Don't forget if you would like to keep up with Couture Creations latest releases and all the gorgeous creations that are on their blog, sign up for their newsletter and like them on Facebook. Links at at the start of this post. 

February 16, 2014

Couture Creations 2014 Design Team Audition.

Good Evening All,

Welcome to my Audition blog post for the Couture Creations Design Team.

I have a couple of projects that I have created using some of Couture Creations gorgeous Dies, and also some of their embossing folders coupled with some easy, but effective techniques.

So here we go....... I have long been a die junkie ( as my close scrappy friends know) but have been in awe of the Couture Creations dies that I have. They cut so amazingly well, and with such fine detail they are just beautiful.





















The die cuts on this layout are simply cut from car stock in black and white. The Couture Creations dies left a very crisp finished edge on all the cuts.

Couture Creation Dies used: Celestial Doily Die- CO723220, Ivy Set Doily Die - CO723222, Heirlooms - CO723490.


















I have cut all the die pieces out of black card stock for this layout but have used some silver building wax to highlight the embossing on the scallop circle and the Celestial die cut.

Couture Creations dies and embossing folders used: Celestial Doily Die - CO723220, Damaris - CO723477, Mimi - CO723476, Bossa - CO72501,  Large Damask Flourish - CO723449.




























Couture Creations Die used: Tattered Lace Doily Die - CO723223.




















I used the Couture Creations Embossing folder to emboss foil tape and then layered up washes of acrylic paint over it, then sanded it back to give this a weathered tin feel.

Couture creations dies and embossing folder used: Marant - CO723505, Mimi - CO723476, Large Damask Flourish - CO723449.


I do hope you like them, please stop by the Couture Creations Website to see the full range of beautiful dies and embossing folders that they have to offer. You won't be disappointed.