Friday 4 April 2014

Crafty Individuals' April Challenge - Nature's Beauty - Bird Cage


I am very excited that my turn has come round again to choose the theme for the Crafty Individuals' challenge.  I have chosen Nature's Beauty as I felt there is such a lovely range of bird, butterfly, flower, and tree stamps amongst the Crafty Individuals' range that you can play around with.

I wish you could see this 'make' in real life as it is difficult to capture in 3d. It is a deep box shaped like a birdcage with acetate windows through which you can see a range of stampbord tiles depicting a variety of nature themed stamps in a pale teal and pink colourscheme, accented with olive for the leaves. It took me days, but it was days of pleasure as I added little bits here and there; a very relaxing make.

I thought I would go into a bit of detail today as I feel really guilty that I haven't done a step by step tutorial yet for Crafty Individuals. The box was bought in the post-Christmas sales a few years ago as I fell in love with the shape, and it contained quickly discarded make up products. I have been saving it ever since and was scared of messing it up. I painted the outside (lid) first with Beach Hut and Mermaid Fresco Finish paint and then stamped it with Script CI 161 and Music Script CI 194 in Archival Inks. I made rolled roses with a selection of Crafty Individuals' background papers. I cut leaves and branches from dies and inked them with Distress Inks, graduating the colours. I made a bird out of clay and a mould and painted him with Frescos and highlighted the wings with Treasure Gold and sat him on a branch. I added a clock to the top which I also highlighted with Treasure Gold. I dotted on some Simply Pearls in places for a pearl accent. So that's the outside.

For the inside, I cut a piece of cereal box to fit the shape and covered it with Crafty Individuals' background paper, piecing it together carefully so it fitted without the joins showing. I spread some Paper Artsy grungepaste through a Mini Art Is stencil for the words.


I used a selection of Bird, Tree, Flower, and Butterfly stamps on Stampbord, colouring the tiles first with archival inks. I used Jet Black StazOn, did some scratching back highlights, and sanded the edges, then coloured the sides with a dark brown Pro Marker. To position them I kept popping the lid back on to see how they would appear through the acetate windows. Finally I added more rolled roses, branches, and leaves, and a leaf and birdcage charm painted with Snowflake Fresco.

I do hope you will join in this month's challenge. As always, you can claim a discount on any Crafty Individual orders placed, just for taking part, which I think is amazing! All challenge details are here.

I thought I would also enter this into the Altered Eclectics challenge as it is altered art in the sense that I have altered a gift box into a home decor item. As it is very much a Spring make which represents New Beginnings, I am entering it into the Country View Challenge which is here.

Thank you so much for all the lovely good wishes on Facebook and Twitter and the cards and e mails for my birthday. Unfortunately I am very behind with everything, and with saying my thank you's, as I have had a crisis this week, and the worst is over. It was wonderful getting so many messages and I will be able to catch up and have some birthday outings now.

19 comments:

  1. It is so very, very pretty and I love the detailing on this and those flowers are stunning.
    Lucy, you have been in my thoughts, hope all is well.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  2. What a beautiful creation, Lucy - the delicate CI stamps and pretty colours work so well together, and the depth and layers are wonderful. Gorgeous rolled roses too!

    Hope the crisis has passed leaving not too much in its wake, and that you can enjoy the weekend with some belated celebrating... speaking of which: late Happy Birthday! (Watch your inbox for an e-card - sometimes they end up in Spam!)
    Alison xx

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  3. Lucy this is magnificent; It is stunningly, breathtakingly lovely - all those wonderful roses. I am thinking of you, Take care. Julie Ann xxx

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  4. Lucy, imho this is one of your best projects yet!!! Adoring the stampboard tiles, the exquisite colour palette, the dies, so much texture and depth... Wow a breath taking piece of ArT, i am in awe:-)

    Thinking of you and sending hugs :-) xxx

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  5. This is sooo very beautiful, Lucy, I love every detail on your fantastic artwork.

    I hope you get well soon.

    Have a nice weekend.

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  6. Lucy, this is just what you do best, so much wonderful detail, & such a beautiful project! I wish too that I could see it in real life.
    I hope the crisis is now past, & that you manage to catch up with your celebrating.
    You alway leave the lovliest comments on my blog, thanks. And now I see I can get email updates from yours...great!
    Hugs,
    Alison xxx

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  7. Lucy, this is absolutely stunning. The colours that you have used would not be obvious to me but blend together so well. The stamping is delicious and I too would like to see it for real. I love everything about this project. What a clever girlie. Xx

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  8. This is beautiful Lucy, gorgeous colours and fab composition. Chris xxx

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  9. Love your beautiful project Lucy, love the light colours you've used, Annette x

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  10. Hi Lucy, oh my goodness this is a real beauty! Love the biirdcage box, wonderfully upcycled to create a stunning piece of artwork. Great theme for this months challenge too
    Claire xx

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  11. It's simply amazing, Lucy! Such details you put in it!

    Hope you feeling well now, a big hug!

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  12. Oh this is fabulous and lovely details.
    luv
    Debby

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  13. Love this Lucy - a very unique and beautiful 3D project which is full of gorgeous detail. TFS the steps of how you made it xx

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  14. This is so beautiful Lucy - all those details and love the delicate colours.
    Helenx

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  15. Hi Lucy, I really wanted to tell you (for days, but time passes so quickly, and I'm very busy..) that I love this!!! Fantastic use of lovely CI stamps on stampbords, love all the details! Hope you are feeling better?... Hugs from Coco. xx

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  16. Beautiful piece of art Lucy, I love your use of imagery and the colours are stunning. Wonderful design and I love the bird and branch. Tracy x

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  17. It is really beautiful.I like colors and composition- greate idea!

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  18. Gosh! This is wonderful! Love it lots. Thank you for joining in with us at Country View Crafts Challenges. Please accept my apologies for the delayed comment, I'm running behind this month and running to catch up!

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  19. Wow wow wow truly gorgeous stunning creation, I love the way you have decorated it in soft colours. The stamped tiles are awesome :-) Kezzy xxx

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