Couture Creations Design Team Application Round 2

I can hardly believe it, but I have made it through to Round 2 of the DT call for Couture Creations! This round required participants to create a new project using Couture Creations embossing folders and dies, with an optional bonus requirement to use Core'dinations Cardstock too. 

I have taken the opportunity to create a motivational canvas to go up in my new craft room.

Because Couture Creations have fantastic step-by-step tutorials on their blog and in their Creative Inspiration Magazine part of this round is also to create a walk through of the project's creation.

Prepare the Background

1/ If necessary, prepare your canvas by giving it a coating of gesso. Lots of canvases now come pre-primed so you might be able to skip this step.

2/ Paint the canvas. This is an optional step and depends on your end plans. I chose to paint mine because I'm a bit haphazard when it comes to layering my background paper and I don't white spots showing through. I think it also gives a more finished look to have a painted edge to the canvas. 

3/ Cover your canvas in scraps of paper. It's up to you whether you want to cover the while thing or just cover sections of it. I like the effect of having the rough torn edges showing through and a bit of a haphazard design.

4/ Create a gesso wash by mixing gesso and water, then cover the whole canvas with this. I have found it's better to make a more watery wash as you can always build up successive layers if you decide you want a whiter finish but it can be hard to dilute down once the paint in on your paper if you start too thick. This wash also helps seal all the paper to your canvas.

Put the canvas aside to dry.

Making the Doll

5/ Sketch out your paper doll shape. I have only drawn the left side of mine along a folded piece of paper because I like to have symmetrical dolls, this is up to you of course. The legs have been done as a seperate piece so I can change the height of the doll and also to add the paper lace under the skirt.

6/ Cut out the relevant sections of the doll to paper piece your doll together. As you can see, I slowly cut my paper model down to suit each section I need.

7/ This is the section where the magic happens! I have used the fantastic Core'dinations Cardstock for the dress, which is black on top with a coloured core and underside. I ran it through the Trellis embossing folder to give it a beautiful floral pattern, which is then further brought out by lightly rubbing the paper with a sanding block. Make sure you think carefully about the way you put your paper into the embossing folder so the pattern ends up raised and not debossed, unless that is the effect you're going for of course. I also ran an offcut of the cardstock through with the Blossom Yarn doily die from the Royal Jewels Collection, which I will use as a lace trim to the skirt.

8/ Stick your doll together. Add additional embellishments if you desire. I ended up adding a sparkly bling for a belt buckle after taking this photo.

Decorate the Background

9/ Place your doll and any embellishments/quotes on the layout WITHOUT gluing them down. This is so you can play around with placement until you find one you like and then decorate around those areas. You can see I have also added a couple of extra dollies (Ivy set of die cuts from the Fantastia Collection) cut from dress-pattern paper to the canvas for some added texture too.

10/ Go crazy creating your background! Yes, these is a big difference between the last step and this one but the fun part about creating these backgrounds is that there is no right or wrong approach here so do whatever you feel comfortable. If you don't like it, just add something else over the top. If you want so ideas for what you can do here are the techniques I used:

• Add some washi tape strips;
• Apply texture paste thickly in one area, spray an embossing folding with water or GlimmerMist and then press firmly into the paste. I have used the Celebrate folder from the Elegance Collection in the bottom left corner (bottom right close up photo). This technique takes a bit of practice;
• Gesso over a template or two;
• Use of couple of different coloured Gelatos around the border and blend this in to the middle;
• Stamp circles onto the canvas using toilet rolls and bottle lids;
• Flick mist or watered down paint over the canvas;
• Stamp an image around the edge of the border. I found the unmounted clear stamps work best as you don't need complete images for this effect.

11/ Glue on all the embellishments to the canvas: doll, quote, flowers, metal trim.

12/ Paint on the hair and you're done! :)

I'll leave you with some close ups of the canvas, including the quote I've used: "Live with purpose, Love with passion, Laugh with pleasure". If this tutorial inspires you to create your own canvas I would love to be able to look at your finished work.

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