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
  
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• 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
  
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• 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. Necklace - 1. Mix blue, yellow and white acrylic paint together to create a shade of green to complement your selected images. Apply three coats to the front and edges of a wooden heart shape allowing the paint to dry between coats. Cut and tear a sheet of vintage music to create a selection of pieces to fit together along the left side of the wooden shape. Secure using PVA glue.
   
   2. Using a craft knife, cut a bird motif from the downloaded images and also tear a section of appropriate text from an image. To give the torn paper a vintage appearance, dab with a used tea bag then leave to fully dry. Using PVA glue firmly adhere the image and text to the wooden shape. Ensure you flatten and smooth the paper well to make sure no air bubbles are trapped beneath it. Cut off any excess paper overhanging the edge of the shape or alternatively fold it around the edges ensuring it is well adhered.
   
   3. Using a soft paintbrush apply a coat of varnish to the wooden shape to seal the paper then leave to fully dry away from sources of fluff and dust. Mix a small amount of strong glue according to the manufacturer’s instructions then apply a flower cabochon to the top left-hand side of the wooden shape before leaving to fully set. Mix a further small amount of strong glue then apply a bail to the reverse of the heart, before again leaving to fully set.
   
   4. Thread a bead cap followed by an 8mm pearl and 6mm light pink bicone onto a head pin, trim the excess then form a neat loop using round nosed pliers. Repeat three more times, then create four beaded head pins using single 8mm topaz glass faceted beads. Cut a 46cm length of chain and pass through the bail. Using 6mm jump rings, attach the beaded head pins to the chain at either side. To finish secure a jump ring, extension chain and lobster clasp to the ends.