Couture Bottle Art

*Wow!*
I made the Couture Creations Design Team! I am so delighted! 
Happy Days!!!

A huge thankyou to everyone for all your support!

As a show of appreciation, here's a sneak peak at my Bottle Art using 
Couture Creations products...

Hope you like it!



Isnt this just soooo pretty?

 Loving my handmade ribbon rosette,   and that delicate butterfly decorative die!

 
Such a sweet, girly 
& romantic lil creation. The Couture 
Creations Doilies make a stunning base too!

Hope you liked....

Thanks for all your support, 
Happy arty days xx

Couture Creations Design Team Application Round 2

Welcome to my final audition for the 
Couture Creations Design Team. 

I am absolutely thrilled to be sharing this delightful and exquisite project with you. 

I call this stunning piece, 
Key to my Heart. 
Which is coincindentally the name of the 
Couture Creations embossing folder that was used to create this project.... 


 Isnt this just divine....  
& oh so pretty! 
A work of art to behold.

Mood boards are all the fashion these days, so below is the image that inspired my colour selection for this design. 
Love these cool colours from the studio......

 And now for the super fun part:
Tutorial Time!
You wont believe how easy it is to make one of these treasures for yourself.

Essential must haves for this project: 

Couture Creations
Embossing Folder: Wallpaper Collection: Key To My Heart: CO723004
Couture Creations Doily Dies:
 Royal Jewels Collection: Crystal Star CO723116 
Couture Creations Decorative Dies: Endless Dreams Collection:
Spring Butterfly: CO723411
& 
Core'dinations Core Essentials paper in Snowflake & Black.

You'll also need:
photo frame 13x18cm
liquid watercolours
pastel teal cardstock 
hot pink organza ribbon
gold/silver sequins
assorted flowers
2 ornate keys
mini frame 
pearlised heart pins
butterfly gemstone
hot glue gun

Note the top tip on the Couture Creations packaging: use wax paper for easy release of your doily and decorative dies. This is essential!

 1. Trim your Core'dinations Snowflake cardstock to 13x18cm to fit frame,
& emboss with Couture Creations:Key to my Heart folder.
Lightly spritz over the design with liquid watercolour in magenta, dabbing excess to reduce warping. 
(Tip: I dont recommend gesso for this particular creation, as it can reduce the vibrancy and coverage of the watercolour)

 2. Add a little splatter in teal
& pat dry any excess liquid with a tissue.

While you wait for this to dry, precut your
Couture Creations dies 
(2 ornate butterflies in black, and the intricate doily in pastel teal).

Once dry, glue on a few sequins.
Sequins are having a huge come back, and are so on trend!

3. Carefully remove the glass from your frame, & insert your fabulous heart art. 
Place the glass behind your artwork & secure frame backing. 
The glass will keep your art firm in the frame & prevent your cardstock from further warping.

 4. Prepare your work area for hot gluing, and follow all safety precautions when using a hot glue gun. 
Attach mini frame & gemstone with hot glue.

 5. Fold up a length of hot pink organza ribbon & glue onto bottom left hand side of your cardstock.This will support the doily die, preventing movement. 
Attach doily as pictured above.

 6. While the doily adheres, attach all the top right hand embellishments. 
As the butterfly is so very delicate,
I glued my flowers & key first, then inserted the butterfly underneath to avoid excess glue.

 7. Glue flowers, and insert butterfly & pearlised heart pins.
In this cluster, I also included a little pendant that reads 
"love and be loved" but any small detail here would work.

 Love the details..... 
And isnt that doily just divine?!

 Wow!  

Such an exquisite piece to give as a gift or enjoy for yourself.

"Whether on a wall or on a dresser, this is art to really treasure!"


Thankyou for stopping by, I hope this creation has inspired you! 
If you havent already done so, I urge you to like Couture Creations on 
Facebook and follow on 
Pininterest.
www.couturecreations.com.au

They really do have an exquisite 
& elegant range, 
& hopefully you'll see some more of my  creations there too! 
(fingers crossed)

Thanks everyone, 

Happy arty days xx

Art journal: When I grow up....

This weeks art journal prompt is when I grow up... This really didn't appeal to me, until I altered the prompt to grow up?! No way. Much better, and suddenly, a happy arty days page!
Please leave me a comment,
Id love to know your thoughts on this page...
Thanks!  :-)

  
I had a lot of fun creating this, hope you liked. 

Have a happy arty day xx 

Birthday card inspiration !

We have a couple of birthdays this week, so naturally 
Ive made the cards myself. 
Two very different styles for two very different people, but 
I think theyve both turned out lovely. 
Let me know which one you like best.....

Birthday cards

  Male cards can still be fun.....



And heres a pretty one....

  
Elegant and very feminine.
So pretty.....

I love creating cards, especially for my loved ones. Hope you have been inspired to create some of your own.


Thanks for stopping by, 
Happy arty days xx

Oh, joy!

Just wanted to re post this project, as when 
I used it in the
Couture 
Creations audition it was late, and the photos were disappointing. 
Here, in natural light, you can see the layout in all its glory. 
Such a happy, pretty girl page.

Joy.



  Textured cardstock makes such a difference......

  
Love the small details..... 


Thanks for taking a closer look.

Til next time, 

Happy arty days xx

Thankyou Card Tutorial

Nothing says thankyou more than a beautiful handmade card. Here's a really stunning card that is so easy to make, and takes only 10mins to create. Enjoy!

1. Cut cardstock, and your embossed paper to size. 
I like to use a round corner punch on my edges to help soften the look.

2. Apply lace, and glue on a die cut mini frame.

3. Attach the title, thanks for being you, and stick a butterfly over the lace and frame.

4.Arrange and attach flowers.


Wow! 
A stunning card in 4 simple steps! 

Thanks for visiting, have a happy arty day xx

Couture Creations 2014 Design Team Audition

Wow! Who wouldn't love the opportunity to design for Couture Creations?? For me, it would be an absolute dream come true! Their product range is both elegant and exquisite, & I'd just love to get my crafty hands on their upcoming new releases!  But for now, why not get inspired by some projects in which I use some lovely dies, and embossed papers. (We can imagine how much better these projects will look when I use Couture Creations dies and embossing folders......)

Here's a cute mini canvas using a scallop die. It's such a sweet gift, and it only takes ten minutes to create.
To re create you'll need: 10x10cm mini canvas, watercolour paint, Kaisercraft
Sweet nothings paper, Kaisercraft
Bonjor rub ons, scallop die,
Prima sunrise mini roses, K&Co mini metal frame, mod podge, muslin, ribbon, and a brad.
Simply paint, paper, mod podge and apply embellishments. Just lovely.

  This is my favourite layout from this week, 
I just love how the bright, bold colours reflect my sons personality. I also love how you can take a rather girly die frame, and using black paper, turn it into a stronger more masculine focal point.

  Its all in the details....



Dies make incredible features, as shown below in my Create,
Create,
Create canvas art.

  A gorgeous birdy die, and a clever use of the hexagon die trim.

  
Cute embossed mini hearts background the bird stamp, adding texture to the canvas. 
Such a fun and vibrant piece.

Below are two really different cards that have both been made with the same circles emboss folder. 
Proof that you can reuse your folders over and over and remain "always original
".

 Stylish and contemporary....

A romantic and classic card!

See my next blog post for a detailed tutorial on how to make this card. 


Finally, a girly layout with a mini die cut frame that helps to embellish the photograph. 
So sweet, love this.....

  Wow, some pretty projects to inspire you. 
Hope you enjoyed & if youre visiting from 
Couture Creations, 
I hope this post gave you a wonderful insight into my creative and fresh style.

Thanks everyone, have a happy arty week xx

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day! Hope you're feeling loved up, and celebrating this happy day with the people you heart most! While I'm not big on "Hallmark" holidays, I am huge on telling my loved ones how treasured they are!
So lucky!  :-) 
Heres my handmade Valentine for my amazing husband. 
Theres a hidden love letter inside the frame, mwah! just love it

Thanks for taking a look, 
Happy arty Valentines day xx

Valentine Gift Tag Tutorial

Isn't this just lovely? This is the surprise Valentine that my daughter will find in her lunch box at school. Many people ask me how do I make such pretty tags, but theyre so easy! Once you know how, you'll be making them all the time yourself.

So here it is! A step by step tutorial on how to make a stunning handmade gift tag. Enjoy!

1.
Select your cardstock & cut into required tag size.

2. Edge the tag with rich watercolour paint. 
I like to splatter a bit too, creates interest.

3. 
While the paint dries, position your embellishments
: in this example 
I used Kaisercraft roses 
 &muslin fabric

4. Add your stamp or rub ons to create a focal point.

5. Embellish where necessary. 
I used
Glost heart stickers.

6. Draw or ink in your message/title and border. 
Kikki K black ballpoint pen used.


Voile, youve just created a simple but stunning tag that will be adored for years to come.

Thanx for stopping by, now go on, create. 

Haapy arty days my friends, happy arty days
!

Art journal: love story

So, in keeping with the Valentines Day theme, here's my art journal entry for this week. Bright, vibrant colours, happiness in abundance. It is the somewhat incredible journey that is our amazing love story. A deeply and passionate page that shouts love is here!
Lots of fun collage work, stamps and inks, watercolours, paint pens, oil pastels and love poured onto the  pages.
Thank you for taking a look  ;-)
Happy art days!  xx