Altered Eclectics Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

Hello Crafters!

Whoo Hoo! I have a wonderful announcement! Altered Eclectics (sister blog to Eclectic Ellapu) is now up and running and I am on the Design Team! Uh huh, that's right. I am so looking forward to this new adventure. The blog is entirely created just for altered projects. Isn't that cool? That means, no cards or layouts. I have to tell you, the other DT's have created some awesome projects. So you should get over there and check them out. After you've taken a peek here of course.

I really like altered projects but haven't had a lot of time in the recent past to work on them. Now, I have a good reason to make time for them. As a DT member I will have one new altered project for you each month along with the rest of the DT. Completely doable. Here's my first project:

Warning: I am posting this as a tutorial so it will be a long post, complete with pictures.

The first thing I did was paint a 1/4" x 12" dowel and wooden spool (separate parts glued together). I also added an office clip at the top of the dowel to hold a wedding picture as this is for my oldest Goddaughter who will be celebrating her 1st year anniversary in August.
 
Using metal roof flashing which I have horded forever and the Bigz Bird Die from Stampin' Up, I cut two bird bodies and 2 wings then inked up with Stazon jet black ink and let dry.

Once dry, I ran each piece through a leafy embossing folder (Cuttlebug I think) and sanded the raised parts to look like this:

First I shaped the body and wing parts using the end of my marker as a stylus. when you do this, rub lightly so as not to smash what you have embossed.

Now it was time to start gluing the wings together leaving the feather section and the flanged section open and inserted little tufts of tulle with wired beads (purchased) into the feather section. I had to ink the stems a bit as they were white to begin with. It was all glued into place with 3M glue and clamped until dry.

The body section was next. I started by cutting a couple pieces of Styrofoam to fit the body and head and glued them in place to one of the back sides. Starting with beak and working around the top of the head, glue the two sides together adding in the wings and the tufts of tulle while making sure the clip on top of the dowel stuck out just below the wing top. Then I close off the the belly of the bird around dowel.

Next, I die-cut two flowers from the metal roof flashing and inked up slightly then glued a medium silk ribbon flower to the center. I wrapped about a 12" piece of tulle around the spool and scrunched it together in the front. I didn't tie a bow here as I needed it flat so I could attach the flower. Attach your flower with glue and add extra tufts of tulle with beads behind the flower.

 
With about 24" (at least) of tulle, I tied a bow around the top of the dowel at the bird's belly allowing the tails to come down behind the spool. Add a touch of glue if desired to hold in place. Tuck jeweled wired spray up under the knot of the bow and glue in place. Arrange as desired.

Lastly add a bling dot for the eye and some pearls at the neck to finish off.

 

 
Sorry for the long tutorial but I wanted you to see all the steps I took to make the finished project. It really was a labor of love. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to head over to Altered Eclectics and check out the projects from the rest of the DT. They are AWESOME! I know you will be inspired to make your own altered project and I hope you will link up to show us.

I have entered these challenges:

 http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk-anything goes 7/2
 http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.co.uk #172 wedding.html 7/2
 http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk #23 anything goes 7/4
 http://rheddandrosies.blogspot.co.uk #9 take flight 7/4
 http://asimplefive.blogspot.com/search/label/Inspire Me Fridays 7/4
 http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com #104-freestyle 7/5
 http://qkrstampede.blogspot.com #45-anything goes 7/5
 http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.uk #39 7/6
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.co.uk-anyhting but square 7/6
 http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk-june challenge-wings 7/6
 http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.co.uk/#22 get messy 7/6
http://avenue613.blogspot.com-anything goes-or int colors 7/6
 http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/CCH #148 7/7
http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/#7-anything-goes 7/7
 http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk -#48 anything goes 7/7
  http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com-anything-goes 7/13
http://happycamperscc.blogspot.co.uk/ #19 bling 7/23
 http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges-july 7/31

Happy Crafting!