Next Level Style With Couture Tutorials

Hello G45ers,

It's always a good time to be fashionable! Our new Couture collection is a celebration of beautiful style and elegance! Today we're going to share some stunning crafts that take beauty to a whole new level! You'll see a dazzling Couture altered frame by Clare Charvill. Then Annette Green will take you on a fun step-by-step tutorial through the creation of a gorgeous altered 8x8 Matchbook Box! Both of today's crafts would be perfect for pretty home decor or beautiful handmade gifts! With our Couture collection, it's easy to find your signature style! Let the creative journey begin!

It's Monday and you know what that means! It's time for a new blog contest! This week we're giving away this beautiful Couture and Sweet Sentiments prize pack! You could win a Couture 8x8 Paper Pad, Sweet Sentiments 8x8 Paper Pad, Couture Stickers, Couture Banners, Sweet Sentiments Tags & Pockets, Sweet Sentiments Chipboard Die-Cut, Ornate Metal Keys and Metal Butterflies! That's a $51 value! Just leave us a blog or Facebook comment this week for your chance to win. A random winner will be selected from this week's comments and announced on our blog this Friday! Stay tuned to see if you've won!

And now it's time to get fashionable with pretty Couture crafts! Here we have a perfectly vintage-inspired art deco altered frame by Clare! This is such a fun and beautiful idea! You can find inexpensive frames at thrift stores and other bargain retail establishments. It is such a joy to turn an old frame into a breathtaking work of art with Graphic 45! The elegant patterns and bold colors of Couture make it perfect for creating unique home decor like this! The art deco style of Clare's lovely frame matches perfectly with the theme of this amazing collection. We also love Clare's use of the Couture Cling Stamp 3 for the central image inside the frame. This creation definitely takes style to a whole new level! Here is what Clare had to say about it!

"I used papers and stamps from the fabulous Couture collection to make this art deco style picture frame.  It’s not an expensive project to make, but would make a lovely gift.  I love the oranges and blues in the collection and used tiny off cuts I had left over from earlier projects for the inlay in the frame. There’s a tutorial on how to make it if you’d like to have a go yourself." -Clare

Video Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBMWtTNnkmA

 

Supplies:

12 x 12 Fashion

8 x 8 Fashion

off cuts of 12 x 12 Couture & Classy for inlay decoration

Couture Cling Stamp set 3

Other Supplies Used

Foam Tape

Art Glitter – various colurs

Black & Cream Card

Black Acrylic Paint

Glossy Accents

1 sheet 2mm A4 chipboard

White Smooth White card for stamping

Memento Ink

Copic Ciao Markers E41, E000, E18, B00 B010 BG000

Sizzix Frame, Ironworks 657556

Next we have a fabulous tutorial by Annette to share with you. She created this remarkable Couture altered 8x8 Matchbook Box and filled it with lots of beautiful ornate objects. Let the lovely vintage style of this fabulous box inspire you to create one of your very own! It's so much fun to customize your altered Matchbox Box and fill it with little treasures. This darling creation also makes a gorgeous gift idea for friends and family! Have fun creating your own exquisite altered box by following Annette's marvelous tutorial! Take it away, Annette!

"Living in a small house, I find I don't have much tabletop space for displaying art pieces so I like to create projects which can be hung on the wall on propped on a shelf. Graphic 45's matchbook boxes are so versatile, they can be so much more than just a box with a sliding drawer. With the lovely Couture paper, an 8 x 8 matchbox slid open halfway, and two added panels of chipboard I created a display piece for my office wall. I love Couture because of the warm tones and the highlight of blue. Deep and rich while feminine too. It was great fun to hunt for small bottles, an antique hand mirror, and other treasures to fill it. Everything is securely glued so nothing shifts about." -Annette

Supplies:

Graphic 45  8 x 8 Matchbook Box

Couture Collection Double-Sided Cardstock Flowers

Couture Collection 12 x 12 Papers, one of each:

    Couture   #4500813

    Fashion (back side)  #4500814

    Beautiful  #4500816

Chic   #4500818

Fabulous (back side)   #4500821

Graphic 45 Ornate Metal Label Holder

Core-dinations Signature Series cardstock for Graphic 45, Kraft

Other:

Chipboard

Ink and dauber to distress edges, if desired

Adhesives: Glue stick, hot glue, Scor-Tape and tacky glue

 

 Tutorial:

 

1.  From “Couture” paper, cut apart the lace border.

Cut an 8 ¼ x 8 ¼  inch square from the lower center of the paper.

Cut apart the flowers and leaves in the upper left corner.

Cut the word “Couture” from the upper right corner (This cut is not shown in photo. This will

be used behind the metal label holder.)

 

 

2. From “Chic” paper, cut an 8 x 8 inch square from the lower right.

    Cut a 4 x 8 inch piece just above it.

    Cut apart the flowers and postage from the upper left.

3. From “Beautiful” paper, cut away the three tickets and an 8-inch strip from the lace on the

   lower right corner.

4. Adhere the 8 x 8 piece of Chic into the base of the matchbook box and adhere the 4 x 8 inch
   piece to the box frame’s inside top.

5. Cut four strips from “Fabulous,” using the back side of the paper, 1 ⅝ x 8 each. Adhere to

   inner walls of the base of the matchbook box.

6. Cut strips from “Fashion” using the back side of the paper:

    Two at 1 ¾ x 8 inches; adhere one to top and one to bottom of the outside of the matchbook

       box base.

    Two at 1 ¾ x 4 inches; adhere to lower portion of the left and right of the outside of the

      matchbook box base.

 

   

7. To create a shelf and topper for the boxes cut two pieces of chipboard:

Chipboard Topper: 2 x 8 ½ inches

Chipboard Shelf: 1 ¾ x 8 inches

 

Cut Kraft cardstock 2 x 9 ½ inches and adhere (centered) to the Chipboard Topper. (It will be longer than the chipboard so it can fold over and adhere to box sides later.) Cut another piece of “Fashion” (using back side) 1 ¾ x 8 ⅜ inches and adhere to Kraft side of Chipboard Topper, centered.

 

Cut Kraft cardstock 1 ¾ x 10 inches and adhere (centered) to Chipboard Shelf (it will extend past chipboard). Cut another piece of “Fabulous” (back side) 1 ¾ x 8 inches and two small pieces 1 ¾ x 1 inches. Adhere to Kraft side of Chipboard Shelf as shown.

 

8. Flip over the Chipboard Topper and Shelf and then cut two more pieces of “Fabulous”:

   For Chipboard Topper, cut one piece 2 x 8 ½ inches and adhere, centered.

   For Chipboard Shelf, cut one piece 1 ¾ x 8 inches and adhere, centered.

   Add Scor-Tape to side flaps as shown. Set aside.

 

9. For the frame portion of the matchbook box, cut two pieces of “Fashion” back side 1 ¾ x 4

   inches each and adhere to upper inside walls.

 

   From the 8 x 8 piece of “Couture” that you already cut, using the back side, cut out a square

   from the center of the paper measuring 5 ¾ x 5 ¾ inches. Adhere to front of matchbook box

   frame.

 

10. Adhere Chipboard Topper to box frame’s top and sides using tacky glue to secure the top

     edges and the ScorTape flaps folded over the sides.

 

     Cut two more pieces of “Fashion” (back side) 1 ¾ x 8 ⅜ inches each and adhere to sides of

     box frame. In this step, you will cover up the kraft flaps from the Chipboard Topper.

 

11. In the base of the matchbook box, create your shelf by adhering the Chipboard Shelf piece

     across the center, securing the Scor-tape flaps to the inner walls of the box as shown.

 

12. Apply tacky glue to the upper half of the box base’s edges, including the front of the

     Chipboard Shelf. Quickly slide the box frame onto the box base, lining up the bottom of the

     frame with the Chipboard Shelf. Press to adhere and let dry competely.

 

     Cut four thin strips of “Fashion” (back side) at ¼ x 5 ⅞ inches each. Adhere to box frame

     opening.

 

     Fussy cut flower and leaves; flowers and postage pieces and adhere to corners.

 

13. Layer double-sided cardstock flowers as desired and adhere to box with hot glue.

     (Note: “leaves” are cut from the peacock side of the largest flower shapes)

 

13b. Adhere the word “Couture” to the box frame and affix the metal label holder over it using

       brads.

 

14. Layer more flowers as desired; cut apart three tickets and fan out. Adhere this unit to inside

     of box base in lower left corner.

 

15. Create another flower cluster as desired. Adhere this unit to frame as shown using hot glue.

 

16. Add small items to your display piece like picture frames, knick-knacks or memorabilia.

 

We hope today's blog helped add some pizazz to your Monday! Don't forget to leave us a blog or Facebook comment this week for your chance to win that amazing Couture and Sweet Sentiments prize pack! Big thanks to Clare and Annette for their stunning work today! We had a lot of fun sharing their gorgeous creations with all of you, G45ers! Thank you so much for stopping by our blog today! There's more inspiration in store for you on tomorrow's blog. We hope you'll stop by and see us again. Enjoy your day, G45ers!

Happy Papercrafting!

Your Friends at Graphic 45

Comments

[Tracy Ross]

I have a friend I would love to make the shadowbox for. She would love it!

[Kathleen Scott]

The project today shows off this beautiful collection in unimagined ways. I do not have these papers & would love to win.

[Beth Recio]

These projects are beautiful. Absolutely love your papers. My favorite!

[Kathy Martin]

I love the projects! They are beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win this great prize.

[Debbie Eslinger]

loved t he video, thanks for a chance to win fantastic product from a great company

[Judy B]

Such gorgeous projects! Love the matchbox with all it's embellishments, and the frame is so pretty. Love anything that Graphic 45 does. Thanks for sharing.

[Rena Matus]

I would love to win some of your fabulous products! Graphic 45 is my favorite.

[Ana Lúcia]

O projeto está lindíssimo 5*. Quanto aos materiais são magníficos, mas adoro os apliques metálicos são fantásticos. :)

[Larysa]

Another beautiful give away! I would live to win these two gorgers sets!

[Larysa]

Absolutely love G45! Thanks for such a wonderful prize and a chance to win it!

[Melanie Ann MacKenzie]

Wonderful project, love the step by step tutorial. Thank so much for a chance to win such a great prize.

[Karen Mallory]

I love that Couture matchbox!!
Always want to win! LOL

[Barb Parker]

I sure love these projects...especially the Shadow Box Shelf display... just wish I could find all of the same cool items to put in mine !

[Elizabeth Etheridge]

Fabulous projects. I thought I would be all about that fantastic frame and then I saw the display box and oh, that is fabulous also. I would really love to win this prize, so special.

[Theresa Kowalewski]

You always have such awesome projects and papers that I love. Thank you for sharing such wonderful inspirations.

[Carla Hundley]

Great tutorial on
this lovely box/shelf.
Very pretty and fun.
Carla from Utah

[Tema]

A great project with my favourite collection,Couture. I'd love to win this week's prize!

[Deborah Cook]

:Love the Couture and the Sentiments, would LOVE to win this prize...thanks G45 :)

[Melissa Minor]

Fabulous projects! Great prize package! Thanks for making my Monday so much better!

[Michelle Nettleton]

Stunning!! Lots of love here. Liken the chance to win!

[Liz Russell]

Absolutely gorgeous! I just love the Couture collection!!

[Diana Durst]

So love this project and the tutorial! Hopefully I will win this one.

[Debra Armstrong]

More stunning projects and supplies You are definitely becoming my favorite inspiration.

[Sue B.]

I love Graphic 45!

[Pam]

Fabulous projects! I love the Couture collection!

[Kathy W]

Another great project tutorial from Clare. Love her projects.

[Diane Smith]

Oh the possibilities!!

[Lyn Kaufmann]

Lovely projects. Never would have thought of using a box to make such a cute display. There are always more things to try!

[Scrappin' Diva - Cindy B]

Gorgeous projects! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Traci]

Love the couture line-beautiful projects by both team members.

[Heather Thompson]

This project is so amazing. I just love the flowers and the paper that was used. I wish I had the imagination and creativity. Just beautiful.

[Kathy P]

Just gorgeous ... Inspiring!

[Jackie QH]

Beautiful! Beautiful! I enjoyed the blog and how to make the Matchbox Shelf!

[Elise Vaske]

It's too cold here in northern Iowa to do anything but scrap with G45 products & winning this fun package would warm my little heart! Thanks for the opportunity!

[Maureen S.]

All my scrap friends love G45 papers. Most of us don't want to use he paper, isn't that so funny. We just want to keep it because it's so beautiful.

Maureen

[CHERYL JONES]

LOVE THAT CORAL PINKISH PAPER. GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS!

[Jackie P]

Ohhh I am so excited, I always seem to miss a chance to win...I am forever behind in emails! Not today!!! Some days I wish there was a store nearby that I could just go and buy off shelf what I want..other days I think oh would I be broke HAHA. I love G45!!! And grab products whenever I get a chance.

Forever G45 addict and fan!
Jackie P

[Jan R]

The Couture Collection is beautiful and fun. Thanks for the chance to win this package of goodies.

[Nancey Thomson]

This is an amazing line. I love the Vintage look, it's perfect for these projects and others that I have in mind.

[Kathy G.]

Wow! I'm always amazed at the beautiful creations your designers come up with and the video tutorials are such a great bonus. Thank you for the chance to win such amazing products.,