Guest Designer | Bridget Louw

#couturecreationsaus #ultimatecrafts

Hi Everyone Bridget Louw here
I am so excited to be a Guest Design Team member for August for Couture Creations. I got given some OH SO HEAVENLY things to play with. I could not pass up the opportunity to do a beach themed layout to scrapbook one of my favourite photos of my kidlets. I hope you like what I made and will feel motivated to get creative. Your local scrapbook stores should already have these items and if they don't, NAG!

Choosing papers for this layout using the Sea Breeze Collection Pack (C0724905) was very difficult as all the papers are just lovely. I cut out all the papers I need to create this slightly distressed layout. I dusted off my sewing machine and ran a straight stitch around all the edges.

Once this was all done I cracked open a lovely set of stamps by Ultimate Crafts Background Textures 2 Wire & Oil (ULT157632). I wanted to try inking/stamping with gesso and boy, did I love it. A thin layer of gesso on your craft mat and then put the stamp in it and apply randomly to the layout..Easy as pie and very effective.

Here is the stamped gesso all done & dry.

Next up I got out my edge distressing tool and went around all the edges of my layered pieces. Ink them afterwards and you will already start having a very lovely looking layout.

Time to start sticking your layers down. Leave off the layer that goes behind your photo. We need to add a little bit of cheesecloth there and in the top left corner of the layout.

Once the glue has dried, add the photo mat layer.

Now comes one of my other favourite things to do..die-cutting and I cut these VERY detailed dies with the amazing Go Cut & Emboss machine from Couture Creations. Once they were cut I inked them up as I decided I wanted them to be dark brown. I did not end up using the leaves and stems but watch this space as I will be using them on another project soon. The scroll one is a beautiful die from the Ultimate Crafts Background Gallery Collection called Floral Lattice (ULT157545).

Assemble the layout with all your bits and pieces. I cut the shells from the paper in the Collection Pack called Navigating At Sea (C0724669) and then using a flower shaping tool I made them a bit more dimensional. Add 3d Foam tape and stick down.

These flowers are just amazing and hold up to intense inking and misting without falling apart like some other flowers do. Some pearls on a beach layout work beautifully.