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

[Lavonne Baker]

Oh my gosh!! Can't wait to get started with the Couture collection.

[Rea Custer]

Awesome creations with wonderful details. And a great prize package your so generously offering. I would love to win.

[Sandra E]

genial

[Lynn Hardy]

Clare's frame is lovely and the altered matchbox is spectacular! I love the coture papers - the designs are just timeless and classic.

[Marla Grimsrud]

What a clever way to use the matchbook box! Would love a chance to win - the Couture collection is one of my favorites.

[Anna Nusbaum]

Lovely and creative projects and a generous prize!

[Velvet]

The couture line is so elegant and lovely -- I can't wait to get my hands on it!

[linda ann murphy]

Love both of these, so inspiring. Thank you for the chance to win a great prize.

[Dee F]

OH MY! These are just two of the beautiful projects to be made with this collection. Both are just stunning.

[Gitte]

Beautiful projects. Thanks for the beautiful inspiration. Would love to win.

[Chris bodurtha]

Always a class act at graphic 45. Beautiful papers turn into works of gorgeous art!

[Tona]

Fabulous projects once again!

[Linda Bell]

Oh my word, I love them both so much. What a great way to use the 8x8 box. thanks for sharing.

[Ann Richards]

Thank you both, Clare and Annette, for your fantablous projects and tutorials. they are stunning.
Plus another great Graphic 45 giveaway. Lots of super goodies, thank you for the chance to win.

[Cathy Skrehot]

Beautiful projects, as usual. Very unique and lovely. And a chance to win! how awesome.

[Deborah Cox]

Once again, Jackpot! Love the projects and thanks for the tutorial...and of course, thanks again for a chance to win!

[margaret ann moffat]

fabulous designs with gorgeous paperlines, Would love to win this and play with these scrumptious papers and accessories.

[Vanessa L]

Gorgeous projects! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Judy D.]

Amazing altered creations today! Thanks for the instructions, too!!

[Jersey Lady]

Loving both projects. They so make me think of my grandmothers. Well done, Ladies! And Well Done, G45, for creating such gorgeous papers for us to craft with.

[Maryann]

This is so gorgeous, and I absolutely love especially the matchbox box, it´s sooooo gorgeous and spectacular. Really awesome work and it looks amazing.

[Debbi Mann]

I love the matchbook box. Awesome. And I would love love to win the prize pak this week.

[Alice Vick]

I love the project!! It would be sooo nice to win the prize package!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

[barbara macaskill]

What lovely projects!! Love the altered matchbox!!!! So pretty! TFS!

[Deborah S.]

I love the shadow box with the Couture papers but then I love all of the Graphic 45 papers!

[lexi]

oh, what lovely ideas! thank you for inspiration!
..and the chance to win this wonderful prizepack :)

[Sue]

Both today's projects are fantastic! And, we get the chance to win some goodies! What a Marvellous Monday Morning it is!

[Cindy Suda]

I'm having so much fun creating with Couture--I've got to have more!!! Thanks for the contest & the all the wonderful project ideas!!! :D

[barbara f]

Always beautiful projects! LOVE G45!!

[SUZI Q]

Nothing better than Graphic 45 and the projects are always beautiful!!

[Linda H.]

Love the projects with "Couture" today! This collection is gorgeous!

[Martie Rollin]

Thank you for offering this wonderful product package. Lovely paper collections! Love the sewing theme of Couture and Sweet Sentiments is just plain beautiful. Well done, G45!

[AngieD]

Beautiful projects, would love to win this wonderful prize!

[gill trevor]

Great products, I just wish there was somewhere near me in the uk where I could see ALL your products

[Pauline A]

Wow these are wonderful. I really must save my pennies to get this collection, either that or rob a bank, but please don't tell lol x

[Kathie R.]

Wonderful projects as always!

[Linda Oldenburg]

Thank you for offering such a great prize. I love both of these collection and would love to win them. Beautiful projects!

[Jean Marmo]

Breathtaking!!!

[Lainie Michel]

Such a cute shadow box project and stained glass framed piece. Thank you for the opportunity to win such fabulous collections.

[Sharon Young]

Beautiful ladies. The frame is just stunning. Love the twist on the shadow box. Thanks!