Natural Beauties by Cathi O'Neill

My second layout for Couture Creations uses many of their die cuts and showcases how you can use the embossing folders to make continuous strips for longer border pieces or accents like mine.

To create the long strips, cut paper into 50mm (approximately 2 inch) pieces. You emboss the first section as usual, then you place the paper through the slit in the folder and adjust it till the pattern looks to be repeating seamlessly, continue to emboss in this way until you have the length that you need.

You can then sand the paper strip and cut it to the shape that you desire.

For the rest of the layout I used several Couture Creations dies. I cut my photograph with the Oval Nesting Dies and the mat for the photo with the Scallop Oval Nesting Dies. I used Couture Creations 12mm Foam Mounting Tape to lift the photo on the matting. The leafy flourish is the gorgeous Jasmine Dream die from the Endless Dreams collection.

The smaller pink flowers are the 3D rose flowers that I made in my previous tutorial with the Daisy Nesting Dies. My main flower here is inspired by Sue Smith's gorgeous flowers she created with the Rose Nesting Die, but I used my Daisy Nesting Dies again! To make this I used the three smallest daisy dies and cut each twice. I used my Couture Creations pokey tool to punch a hole through each layer.

I used a brad to temporarily hold the layer together while I shaped the flowers. To shape them I sprayed each layer and scrunched them into the middle.

Continue wetting each layer and scrunching...when you are done, unfold and shape the flower, replacing the center brad with stamens.

Using my sponge dauber I was able to edge all of my papers and flowers in ink to give extra contrast to the layout and I used my 18mm double sided tape to stick down my embossed strips and photo matting.

Couture Creations products used
CO723217 - Daisy Nesting Dies
CO723044 - Oval Nesting Dies
CO723045 - Scallop Oval Nesting Dies
CO723415 - Endless Dreams Collection: Jasmine Dream
CO723309 - Sweet Dreams Collection: Ello Embossing Folder
CO721986 - Handheld Essentials
CO723060 - Sanding Block
CO723061 - Sponge Daubers
CO721961 - 12mm Foam Mounting Tape
CO721965 - 18mm Double Sided Tape

I hope I have inspired you a little to try embossing long strips or making some flowers! If you try some out please be sure to share your projects on our Facebook page!!