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Saturday, February 8, 2014

Love Birds Birdcage Dress - New Images, Tutorial & Giveaway

With Valentines just around the corner I have been in a romantic mood which is reflected in this birdcage dress.  In this post I’ve included a tutorial  outlining how I assembled and decorated the birdcage dress. 
A fun aspect of this piece is that the middle section opens to reveal birds in love and then the entire birdcage opens to reveal the romantic couple inside.
This lovely ladies umbrella is made from 2 paper fan images.  The piece stands up with the aid of a chipboard stand attached to the back.  The images I used are from my new collage sheet and digital image set.

DAYS GONE BY COLLAGE SHEET
I am so excited about my new collage sheet and digital image set.  The regency period is my favorite and Jane Austen is probably one of my top 5 favorite authors of all time.  I’ve chosen some of my favorite images for the collage sheet pictured below.
The digital image set includes all of the images in the collage sheet plus many more for a total of 80 images (pictured below).  Along with more images, the digital image set gives you much more flexibility in printing just the images you want, and in resizing the images to your particular needs.  Click on the image below to purchase the image set.


TUTORIAL
The skirt is made from a 2 Part Die-Cut Chipboard Birdcage which measures approximately 5 ½” wide x 6 ½” tall.
First I painted the front pieces.
I started by painting the surface with cream paint.  Then I dry brushed the reddish-orange paint onto the cage.  Next, I added Patina Gilders paste and lastly I dry brushed on gold metallic paint.
I added copper Dresden to the bottom.  I glued one side of a larger hinge to the cage and one side of the smaller hinge to the removable door.  Lastly, I glued the other side of the small hinge to the cage.  I used E6000 glue.
I used beads to cover the holes on the hinges.  To decorate the cage I added chipboard leaf flourishes, metallic stickers (from my stash), a brass keyhole, and brass butterflies accented with Stickles.
In order for the small door to open, I attached the leaf flourish to the door rather than to the cage.
I used multiple layers of paper, Dresden Scraps, paper images from my collage sheets and digital image set.  I used only paper images to decorate behind the cage which allowed the cage door to lay flat when closed.
The last step was to glue the other side of the large hinge to the back piece pictured above.
 The Umbrella
To make the umbrella I used two images of a fan.  When cutting one of the fan images out, I left tabs on each edge of the image.  I used these tabs to glue the one image to the other.  Score and bend the tabs before gluing.
It also helps to pre-bend the umbrella images before gluing them together.  Inking the edges of the images hides the white of the paper when the pieces are glued together.
The Stand
To make the stand I used heavy chipboard.
Below you can see the measurements that I used.  The idea is to create a triangle.  Next, cut away part of one edge to create a slant, that when glued to the back of the piece, causes the piece to tilt slightly backward.  I cut two pieces of heavy chipboard and glued them together to give the stand more strength.  If you want the piece to tilt more, cut away a larger piece of the triangle. 
I cut two pieces of heavy chipboard to glue on each side of the triangle giving it more support.  All of the pieces are covered with decorative paper and the edges inked.  I glued the pieces in place using E6000.  Be careful to keep track of the side where you made the cutaway so that you glue that edge to the piece.

37 comments:

Kate Yetter said...

What a stunning piece of art! I love the birdcage dress. The colors and texture are amazing!!
Kate

Kathy said...

What a gorgeous creation, as all of your work is. Love your tutorials. Thank you for allowing us to enter this giveaway!

Diane D. said...

Love what you did with the birdcage. Stunning. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway. And as always love the banner at the top of your blog. I'm always waiting to see what you'll put there next.
Thanks,
Diane

Carolyn said...

Your project with the birdcage dress is phenomenal. I'd love to win the collage sheet along with the lady and her fancy dress. BRAVO!

smokeysmom said...

OMG Laura! This is just amazing! But, then again, everything you make is amazing! I'm going to try this using a large die cut birdcage I have, cutting a piece of card-board to create the back piece. It probably won't have the delicious cut out window in the front, but I'll give it a try:) Many thanks for offering the giveaway. Who wouldn't want to win this wonderful piece! Love your new banner, too.

Roxanne said...

Wow! I love it! Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial! That bird cage and patina are wonderful! Love the lil lovebirds inside! ;)
When you explain it so well...seems like it might be a pretty easy project...thank you!

Artifice said...

What a fantastic piece! I love all of your art. You are so creative. Thank you for the opportunity to win your lady & for the great tutorial.
Linda

Dame Jeanne Marie said...

Wow! What a totally fun and beautiful piece!!
This digital image set is fantastic too! I'm going to need that one.

Unknown said...

This is so beautiful!!! Wow, I would love to win so I can learn these techniques up close and personal. Thanks! LoriSW

Hester said...

Your new project is beautiful! The birdcage dress is amazing.

Anne said...

I LOVE this birdcage dress and the accompanying tutorial is fabulous. You always inspire me to try things I've never done. Your work is totally amazingly beautiful! Thanks for a chance to win this piece! Anne, yourmainestamper

Jo said...

This is a fabulous piece of art ... stunning!!! and omg your digital sheet is gorgeous, i am also a Jane fan, big time ... thanks for the tutorial!!

Doris said...

WOW! I wish I was that artsy!

Barb said...

WOW!!! I love her!..I love all things birdie and would be thrilled to win such beautiful art!

johala said...

Funny even if I don't like "cages"! LOL
May we put love in cage????? NO!
Hugs and kisses

Judys Lace Creations said...

Love the symbolism of this lovely piece.Your colour scheme, and layout are really splendid.What a lucky person is the one who will win this.Thanks
Judy

Kathlene said...

Such a great idea to use two fans to make an umbrella. I'll give itg a try. Thanks for the chance to win.

Debbie K. said...

Laura, your artwork always takes my breathe away! Simply amazing and so creative. You should write a book. Fabulous creations...

Unknown said...

Wow, this birdcage is just amazing! Thank you for the chance to win this gorgeous piece of artwork.

ParkNSlide said...

Awesome piece of art...I'd LOVE to win. Thanks.

sheilaAR said...

Laura, this sweetheart takes my breath away with all she evokes of spring and romance! Love the little window and then the bigger surprise of the larger cage opening. Your color choices are exquisite, and I also love how the viewer can choose to see a story or meaning there (or not) because of how you have so artfully created this piece. Love love her, so well done!!

Martina said...

Wow! Laura, this birdcage dress is phenomenal! I`m blown away. So, so beautiful!
And how lovely to offer this wonderful giveaway :-) Thanks for the chance to win.
Hugs and smile
MARTINA

Anneke said...

Laura this is so beautiful. It would be a piece worthy to display anytime of the year. Fantastic!

Evelyn said...

So beautiful. A lovely project well done. Thank you for the chance of entering the giveaway. TFS!

Lou Anne Hazel said...

This is another fabulous creation! I love your beautiful projects and it would be awesome to win this! Thank you for the tutorial and the giveaway.

Unknown said...

Your work & your tutorials are SO inspiring! I just need to get off my butt and try one of your creations. Thanks for the giveaway :)

Angelic said...

Beautiful artwork! Thanks for the chance to win.

Cocofolies said...

Oh Laura... This new arty creation is so amazing and adorable!!!... Totally exquisite!!! :D I love your new collage sheet and digital set of images also, they are really great! And thank you so much once again for this generous tutorial, you always share your art so well, I love it. Thanks for this new giveaway, just fabulous. Hugs, Coco xx

Erica said...

What a delightfully amusing piece! She is so pretty, and full of surprises. Love all the paint colors you blended on the cage.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely stunning piece. Love it. Karen.x

Karen Mallory said...

You did it again Laura! I wish I had half your talent!!
hugs Karen

Dawn said...

So inventive ! Another beautiful piece! x

dyeandpigment said...

Woweee, this is gorgeous and oh so creative. I would just love to win this giveaway. Thanks for sharing your talents.

claude said...

bel effet

Jenny said...

You always impress me Miss Laura! Were your ears burning this afternoon? I was telling the girls about your site. XX

claude said...

lovely dress birdcage

CatieAn said...

I know I am late for the giveaway but I have to tell you that this is so stunning. I absolutely love it and will have to try my own version.
Thank you for always sharing.