Couture Creations: Let Every Day NOT Be A Christmas Layout by Julie Schinkel

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Hi everyone! It's Julie here back on the blog today sharing a layout I created using the Let Everyday Be Christmas collection from Couture Creations. This is a simple layout to show how you can use the beautiful ephemera and dies to create a non Christmas layout.

For this layout base, I've taken a piece of Ultimate Crafts Ivory Cardstock, worked out placement for my photo and embellishments, then lightly traced around them in pencil. This would be my guide for mixed media placement. Next, I've taken a stencil and lightly added some of the Couture Creations Anna Griffin Embossing Paste onto the page, following the penciled outline. This will create a "frame" around my photo and embellishments. I've then sprinkled some Couture Creations Chunky Gold Crystals Embossing Powder over the embossing paste and allowed to air dry before using the heat gun to set. I wasn't worried about being too careful with the stenciling as I wanted to create a random, distressed look. This is the result

Next, following the embossed patten, I've randomly stamped around the page page. I've mostly used the "Postcard" stamp from the Ultimate Crafts Magnolia Lane "Magnolia Lace" Stamp Set as it's perfect for this technique. All stamping has been done using black archival ink.

I then took a die cut of the Let Everyday Be Christmas Christmas Baroque Background Die in ivory cardstock and an Ultimate Crafts Ooh La La Collection Heart Doily. I cut one third from the bottom left of the die cut and onr third from the right of the doily. Both pieces were also edged with gold ink to tie in with the ephemera pieces. These will form the mat for your photograph and adhered onto the layout as shown below.

Next, I took two large pieces from the Let Everyday Be Christmas Ephemera Pack and inked around the edges with gold ink. I adhered these two pieces in an "L" shape using foam tape to form the main embellishment feature on the layout. My apologies, I thought I had taken a photo of them placed on the layout but didn't. You'll be able to see the placement in the full layout photo.

I've then taken one of the Couture Creations Camden Beaded Cottage Flowers and lightly added some Couture Creations Glitzen Glamour in Aztec Gold. I did this by squeezing some product onto my finger and lightly dabbing the flower. I've done the same with the other flowers on the layout which are the Couture Creations Camden Cottage Roses and the Couture Creations Tie Dyed & Jewelled Flowers. I've adhered the flowers using both Couture Creations Craft Glue Spots and 3D Glue Spots.

I have used an alcohol marker to colour the stone and add some colour and dimension to the jewelled flower. I decided to add some more diecuts so I've used both the Let Everyday Be Christmas Winter Corner Mini Die and the Let Everyday Be Christmas Stained Glass Mini Die, cut from ivory cardstock and inked with gold ink. The corner die cut was placed on the bottom right under the floral embellishments. Some gold stems from the Couture Creations Be Merry & Classic Gold & Silver Bouquets were added to both flower clusters to add a pop of gold and also tie all of the gold in together.

The stained glass die was cut in half and placed on the layout as show in the photos below.

I can't do a project without bling so I've randomly added some Couture Creations 2mm Gemstones in Champagne and Couture Creations 3mm Pearls in Glamorous Gold. To finish, I added some bits of trims from my stash to complete the layout.