Create Helen Cant’s pretty botanical-themed découpage jewellery set

What you need...

• BEADS Pearls, cream: 8mm x 5; 10mm x 2, Glass, faceted, topaz: 8mm x 4; 10mm x 1, Glass, bicone, 6mm; topaz x 2, light pink x 5, Cabochons, flowers, flat backed x 3, Charm, leaf, antique copper x 1, Gems, flat back, topaz x 3
  
  FINDINGS Jump rings, antique copper, 6mm, 9mm; Chain, antique copper, medium links, 46cm; Earwires, antique copper x 2; Head pins, antique copper; Eye pins, antique copper; Cabochon bail, glue on, antique copper x 1; Lobster clasp, antique copper x 1; Extension chain, antique copper x 1; Bead caps, antique copper; Brooch back; Ring blank, filigree; Wood shapes, solid birch: standard heart (51mm) x 1; square (25mm) x 2, (38mm ) x 1; Box, papier mache, heartshaped; Paper, inkjet, matt coated; Sheet music, scraps; Pages of text, scraps; Ribbon, lace
  
  TOOLS Drill, hobby, Paint, acrylic: blue, yellow, white, Paintbrushes, Printer, inkjet, Pliers, round-nosed, Cutters, wire, Glue: PVA; strong, Varnish, diamond glaze, Craft knife, Scissors, Ruler, Tape measure, Tea bag
  

instructions

1. Preparing and Printing Images - 1. Visit http://www.thegraphics fairy.com and browse the free Clip Art categories selecting a variety of images to use. We chose ones from the Botanical, Birds & Eggs, and Bugs & Butterflies sections). Place the images into a blank A4 document in a program of your choice with ruler guides. Measure your wooden shapes and box and begin to plan the composition of the pieces, identifying the sections of the images you are going to use. Scale the images referring to the document ruler guides so that the identified sections fit the wooden shapes.
   
   2. If your program has an option which allows simple shapes to be drawn, try creating a to scale representation of the wooden shapes. Then use these as a reference to help you to size your images. Alternatively, create rough trial prints and experiment, cutting out sections of the images and fitting them to the wooden shapes.
   
   3. If necessary return to your document and make any required adjustments to the scaling. Once you are happy with the size of your images, load good quality matt coated paper into your printer and print them out. For optimum printing quality, ensure your printer is set to its’ highest quality level in the preferences menu.
   

2. Brooch - 1. Apply three coats of a suitable shade of acrylic paint to the edges of a square wooden shape then leave to fully dry. Cut flower and bee motifs and a section of script type from the downloaded images. Use straight cuts where the images meet the edge of the wooden shape and torn edges elsewhere. To create a worn effect on white areas, dab with a used tea bag then leave to fully dry.
   
   2. Firmly adhere the images to the wooden shape using PVA glue overlapping them slightly for a layered effect. Ensure that you press down and flatten the images well to ensure no air bubbles are trapped beneath, then leave to fully dry.
   
   3. Using a soft paintbrush, apply a coat of varnish to the wooden shape as before to seal the paper then leave to fully dry. Drill three small holes at the bottom of the wooden shape and thread a 9mm jump ring through each. Create two beaded head pins and attach to the jump rings along with a leaf charm before closing. To finish use strong glue to apply a brooch finding to the reverse.