For the Birds

Over the past couple of weeks, I've joined 2 art swaps that revolved around birds.  The first was a Birdhouse ATC swap but the catch was that the ATC had to be in the shape of a birdhouse and still fit the overall size of an ATC (2.5 x 3.5 inches).  The swap was open to any medium so my techniques ranged from hand painting to stamping to collage.  

For the birdhouses, I started by cutting out a template to use but after creating the first house, I decided that it would make me happier to change each one.  As a result, each house is shaped just a little differently.  Each house started with a chipboard ATC and was then cut into the shape it became.  So let's take a look at them and I'll tell you how it was made.

 For the first house, I cut the shape then painted it with a coat of light blue watercolor paint.  Next, I covered parts of the shape with patterned paper.  I wish I knew where I got these papers but I have had them far too long and they weren't marked.  The trim was cut from a part of a pink VooDoo Doughnut box. The flowers were punched and the centers were inked with metallic gel pens.  The little birds were stamped on patterned paper then cut out.  Finally, the words were printed using a text box with a patterned background.

For the second house, I cut out the shape then covered it with green and yellow polka dot paper.  The chimney was also covered in the polka dot paper.  I used a scrap of different patterned paper for the base.  The roof was cut from the inside of an envelope. The flower was punched and inked.  The tiny bird was stamped and cut out then the reverse side was painted and accents were drawn on using gel pens.  The fence was free hand drawn "boards" cut out and glued together. All accents, including the roof shingles and chimney were added using gel pens.  The music notes were stamped.

 This house turned out very different than the first two.  The shape was cut and covered with plain white cardstock.  The light blue swirls were stamped using Stampin' Up stamps.  I added the light blue circle as an opening.  Once those were dry, I coated the whole thing with Delta Ceramcoat Pearl Finish paint.  Next, I covered the base of the house with Studio G glitter Glue and added the white trim using Scribbles 3D paint.  I punched fleur de lis from paper coated with the Pearl Finish.  I added the lace and accented it with Scribbles 3D paint "pearls" then attached the fleur de lis.  Finally, I made paper roses from punched flowers.  Each rose took 3 flowers that were cut and glued into this shape.  I got the idea from a video on YouTube.  I don't have a 6 petal punch so I had to improvise using my 5 petal flower.

This picture is hard to see because the roof is white and I didn't think to scan it with something over the back.  The last house was cut out without a base.  The house is painted with a coat of acrylic paint and then the black circle was added.  I punched scalloped circles and cut them in half to use as the scalloped roof line.  Before adding them to the house, I coated each one with Liquitex Light Modeling Paste to give it some texture.  I applied it using my fingers so there are ridges and peaks in the texture.  Finally, I punched flowers and free hand cut out leaves and vines.  I attached these but it still felt bare.  I decided to add the yellow butterfly that was left over from a different project.  I stamped tiny circles in light green then coated the whole butterfly with Perfect Pearls medium and powder.The trim, dots, and flower centers were made using Scribbles 3D paint.