When I opened my pack of Christmas goodies from Couture Creations I was delighted to see a huge die. I’d been hoping for something like this so that I could do a Christmas Decor project – so here it is!

Today’s creation, as with all of these Christmas quickies, uses elements from the The Gift Of Giving papercraft collection from Couture Creations.

This is what I made.

The colours are not traditional the usual bright reds and greens associated with the festive season however somehow, for me, it really works!

Couture Creations Goodies Used

• CO727912 – Singing Candles Die
• CO727895 – 12 x 12in Patterned Paper – The Gift of Giving – Sheet 03
• Assorted Gold Coloured Heat Activated Foil
• CDEIPL026 – Card Deco Essentials Fast-Drying Pigment Ink Pearlescent Gold
• CO726466 – Nesting Rectangular Flourish Frames Cut Foil and Emboss Die
• Blending Brush

I also used a decorative photo frame and some black chalk paint. You can substitute the chalk paint for acrylic paint if you prefer.

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Steps

To start this project I began by hot foiling various different gold coloured foils to a piece of black cardstock, scrunching the foils first. This creates an open “distressed” look that will then be filled in by subsequent layers of foiling.

Repeat a few times until enough of the sheet of card is covered for the die – approximately 110mm x 150mm.

Then die cut the Singing Candles die.

Next, grab another piece of black cardstock and die cut the decorative frame – you can switch this out for another die if you don’t have this one.

Then, using a gold pigment ink and soft dense brush, dry brush some of the gold ink all around the frame.

Next, open up your photo frame and glue a piece of patterned paper to the back panel and set aside to dry.

You can also glue the Singing Candles die cut to the decorative frame die cut at this stage too.

Then, use black chalk paint to coat the frame. When that has dried, dry brush some of the gold pigment ink onto any details in the frame.

Finally, reassemble the photo frame (minus the glass insert) and mount the central feature into the frame using foam pads.

If you want, you can tart the design up some more but I like this simple distressed look.

Oh, and of course, if you are not a fan of the black, feel free to use any colour your wee heart desires!

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Hope you enjoyed this little overview. If you would like to see more of my design team explorations for Couture Creations, or more of those of my team mates, you can visit the archive here.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!

Bye for now.

J :)