Paper Couture XX: Vintage Corset

Paper Couture is proud to present February's installment of the paper wardrobe project. This vintage corset template is designed to resemble the vintage corset image located in the right sidebar.

free vintage corset template 5 x 7 inches

The video below covers ideas for embellishing your damask pattern corset once it has been assembled.  I also show you how to make miniature satin bows that you don't have to tie!

If you use the template to create a project, please feel free to leave a comment with this post and include a link where we can have a peek at your work! Thanks for visiting and enjoy!

Note: Please observe the terms of use (TOS) located in the left sidebar. By downloading any materials you agree to be bound by my TOS without exception.

Season of L'amore and Vintage Paper Corsets

Ah, tis the season of l'amore and to go a step further than just a corset, how about a ruffled, paper replica of a vintage corset that's so stinkin' cute you'll want this for yourself.

vintage paper corset

I absolutely love this thing to the point where I've decided that this will be the paper couture outfit I will use to launch the displays I've been planning for months! This scrumptious vintage corset could not be more perfect!

Derailed by Car Accident

I've been a little off kilter this week after being rear ended by another car while I was stopped at a red light Monday afternoon. Just exactly how much skill does that take?

Note to the girl who hit me: Please wait for the other car to vacate the area before you try to occupy it! Thanks.

sometimes you just feel like a boneless chicken!

The police officer who arrived on the scene was happy to see we weren't beating the crap out of each other. Hmmm . . . .  I wonder, does that happen a lot?

1 refill left - Seriously?? Glad I declined the narcotics!

Thankfully I came through with a light case of whiplash and a scrape on the back bumper. Apparently my headrest was set too far back to be of any use. Oops! My reward for visiting the doctor was a truck load of drugs and a few days off from work. Ahhh!

Damask Pattern

A damask print is the only thing exquisite enough to use as the pattern for the vintage corset I'm planning for February's paper wardrobe project.

black and white damask pattern - click to download

An image search for damask pattern returns a plethora of results but this one was by far my favorite. Best of all, this is free for your use. This tiles together easily so play around with size and color. Enjoy!

Paper Baby Dress

I received a request for a custom baby dress to which I happily responded with a resounding yes and this divine creation was born.

paper baby dress front

I can tell you it wasn't much of a stretch to adapt my current templates to create this dress and it seemed to just come together like magic.

paper baby dress - dimensional view

I had already planned to design a few baby dresses at some point so I guess the powers that be were telling me that now is the time.

paper baby dress back view

The trimming was created using paper edgers. I can tell you I still have numbness in my thumb from cutting this. Though it looks great here, I'll reconsider doing anything like this again.

embellished paper dress box

Last but not least is the icing on the proverbial cake. The unwrapping experience begins with a nicely tied dress box, tiny tag and a paper rose. Together they are nothing short of true perfection!

Free Standing Tim Holtz Dress Form

After two failed attempts at putting this together I now have a perfect, free standing, Tim Holtz dress form. From failure comes enlightenment as I found out in my struggle with the base.

decorative free standing Tim Holtz dress form

In the past, I was using a paper for my dress form bases only this time the stem and dress form were falling over. I couldn't stop it! In my frustration, I ripped the stem from the base as only I can and it was back to the drawing board.

wire base vs paper - I like the wire

Twisted, curled wire turned out to be my salvation that worked even better than the paper! Add some distress ink, a tiny tag tied with hemp cord and I've got the most divine, little vintage dress form with shabby chic appeal.

Free Vintage Shoe Advertisement

Here's a vintage shoe advertisement. The image is free for you to use in your crafts. I used a portion of it to cover the paper mask I showed you in a previous post.

vintage shoe advertisement - click image to download

The image came from a book called Shoes from Memories of a Lifetime  available for purchase on Amazon.com. Enjoy!

Carnival Style Paper Mask

Over the next 27 days, carnival celebrations will begin around the world including Carnevale Venezia and our very own Mardi Gras.

free paper mask template - click image for full size (8 x 10 inches)

Helping you celebrate the 30 days of Valentine's Day beauty and romance, I give you this paper mask template for your embellishing pleasure.

embellished paper mask

Decorating ideas can range from simple to outright over-the-top, Carnevale Venezia style. Be creative and don't be afraid to experiment but most of all, have fun!

Valentine's Day Paper Rose Tutorial

If red roses aren't the very embodiment of Valentine's Day, I don't know what is. Begin your holiday crafting with a simple, paper rose tutorial created by Wendy of dozi.

paper roses created by Wendy of dozi

Look how beautiful these can be? This arrangement is simple yet elegant and makes a perfect, everlasting Valentine's Day accent for the home.

30 Days of Beauty and Romance

Over the next 30 days expect to see images of beauty and romance in celebration of Valentine's Day. I'll be showcasing items like this digital collage available for purchase from Gallery Cat on Etsy.

faded rose digital collage

You'll find free tutorials, templates, images and just downright beautiful photos that are sure to inspire and possibly make you drool for days! Enjoy!

Note: Image associated with this post remains the copyrighted, intellectual property of Cat Bechman and Gallery Cat.

Tim Holtz Sewing Room - A Modification Story

I'm obsessed with the decorative dress form. You may have already noticed. (tee hee :) Sizzix put out a dress form die designed by that god of steampunk, Tim Holtz called "Sewing Room."

Tim Holtz sewing room die

Of course I HAD to have it and it was just like me to alter the design ever so slightly to suit my own needs. I made it a little more symmetrical because frankly, symmetry is my comfort and joy.

Tim Holtz modified sewing room dress form

Just look at the digital collage possibilities! I will not be posting my version of this outline for your use but I do plan to turn it into something yummy that you can have. For now, it will remain my surprise!

Note: Coping of the image above is strictly prohibited without my permission. Proper credit back to this post will be required once permission is obtained if you plan to post this online.

Valentine's Day Vintage Corset

Valentine's Day is exactly 1 month from today and paper couture will celebrate it with 31 days of beautiful images and crafts starting with this tasty vintage corset that is sure to please even the most discriminating vintage lover.

romantic pink vintage corset

Not only is this exquisite corset the most decadent piece of lingerie I've seen yet but it will make an elegant,  romantically perfect addition to the paper wardrobe project for February.

Note: I am unsure of the original origin of the image associated with this post. If you know it, please notify me so that I may properly give credit.

Vintage Dress Form Freebie

You may have seen this vintage dress form image around Etsy if you have done any kind of search on the vintage dress form key words.

vintage dress form free for your use

I'm giving it to you for free and by the way, have you checked out Wikimedia Commons yet? I just had to let the secret out so don't pay for something you can get for free!

vintage dress form digital collage print

Anyway, I may have previously posted something similar but the above digital dress form collage is just one of the many ways you can alter this vintage dress form and make it truly your own unique creation. Enjoy!

Altered Box Assemblage

My search for box frames took me down the path of altered box assemblage where I came across this eye catching piece created by mixed media artist Lynn Corsi Bland.

"Incubation" by Lynn Corsi Bland

The shelf inside actually swings out. Love it! The piece titled "Incubation" was accepted as part of the National Collage Society 2010 Exhibit. I'm late to the party as usual but I think this is just terrific.

I see visions of that armoire swirling around my head right along side this. A little shabby chic, a little rustic . . . mmmm so many wonderful ideas!

Note: Images associated with this post remain the copyrighted, intellectual property of Lynn Corsi Bland.

Altered Matchbox Art

Did you ever think that an altered matchbox could actually take on the look of a museum quality piece of art? Here it is direct from Finland.

"Letters to You" matchbox art by Kaija

The artist is Kaija of Etsy store paperiaarre which offers a very nice selection of handmade books and other artistic paper items.

"Letters to You" matchbox art sold April 2011

I think what appeals to me the most about the work is its simplistic, understated elegance. The artist also offers something else with these treasures, letters to you written in another language. How magical is that?

Note: Images associated with this post remain the intellectual, copyrighted property of Kaija and paperiaarre. 

New Year Resolutions

First of all Happy New Year 2012! Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet? Here are a few things on my list this time.

It's that time of year again when everyone resolves to make a change of some kind via a resolution but how often do you actually keep them?

I have found that what I thought were really big problems actually break down into a series of minor, manageable irritations that when taken one at a time will dissolve a bigger problem before it can ever become one.

So what's my formula for maintaining or keeping on target with actually seeing a resolution come to fruition? Consistent persistence!

Take one small thing at a time every day, every week or every month. Set up a budget to save for large purchases. Periodically make smaller purchases to keep discouragement at bay.

Keep pushing through even if you don't feel like it because in pushing through the discomfort of it all, you will make steady progress.

Paper Couture XIX: Little Black Dress

What holiday lends itself more perfectly to the little black dress than New Year's Eve? This holiday is all about classic black and white elegance.

paper cocktail dress template 5 x 7 inches

Without further adoo, I give you the paper dress template for the month of January appropriately called New Year's Eve.

Miss January is a short cocktail style dress with contemporary peplum. The video will instruct you on peplum attachment and give you suggestions for embellishing the dress.

Miss January - New Year's Eve

Miss January is ringing in the new year with this decadent cocktail dress extraordinaire! Miss January is simple but elegant with just the right amount of bling.

paper couture presents miss January

Here's wising all you crafty divas a successful year, wherever your heart may take you. As always, the template and video for the dress will follow soon.