Friday 23 May 2014

Make a Little Bird-house!

Hello and Welcome to Magpieheaven. It's been rain interspersed with sunshine today in my Magpie Garden. These are some of my favourite roses - they fade so fast, I just wanted to share them with you before the wind and rain takes away their beauty!
I've been thinking a great deal about gardens now that the Summer approaches, and that combination of pinks and oranges and greens with the blue of the sky that always suggests summer days to me!
I'd wanted to decorate my own bird-house for some time so I was delighted when I picked up a  reasonably priced one at Ally Pally and I decided I wanted to re-create some of those garden colours on it. Also Fashionable Stamping Challenges were asking for 3D creations this time, so I wondered if I might be able to enter my bird-house in their current challenge here.
After sanding down, I applied a couple of coats of Little Black Dress as a foundation. At this stage my son asked if I was creating a funeral parlour for the birds! I had a plan, I told him, which included Crackle Glaze! Now I have to admit to being completely carried away and sadly no 'Work in progress pics' were taken. As I worked I found myself singing the old They Might be Giants song that was a favourite of my son when he was four years old: 'Build a little Birdhouse in Your Soul'. Do you remember it? You can find the lyrics here or see it on You tube. Surreal madness, or is there some method there? Maybe I'm going crazy, but I suggest the singer represents a little blue nightlight and he asks the child he protects to have a special place for him in his or her heart/soul: a metaphorical bird-house sanctuary for the blue 'canary' glowing nightlight that watches over the child while he sleeps! Anyway, I think I put something of my soul into my birdhouse and I tried to make it represent a magical haven!
I chose PaperArtsy Bora Bora Fresco Finish to give that blue sky feel to the roof - all that black now shows through the Crackle to create contrast! My butterflies are die-cut from a Sizzix die in thick card and then painted and stencilled with a mix of Cheesecake, Yellow Submarine and Tango Frescos with Inky Pool to edge them. I then stamped with Lynne Perrella images from the PaperArtsy LPC range before dipping them into Versamark, sprinkling with clear UTEE and Shabby Blue Frantage and melting them until they were glossy. Their centres are cocktail sticks coloured with Sapphire Treasure Gold. To give a weathered, shabby impression, I stamped over the roof with PaperArtsy script stamps from LPC028 and an Ink and the Dog mini script stamp. I was beginning to hope that little birdhouse would strike a chord with someone!


Here is the door into the soulful bird-house! It looks big and heavy, but the ancient keys are in the lock and it's easy to step inside - art unlocks everything! I used Grunge Paste coloured with a little Guacamole Fresco paint and then sprayed with Hey Pesto and Tinned Peas to create an impression of grasses around the edge of the building.

I cut the door from corrugated card, using a Tim Holtz arch die-cut. The sentiment from Lin Brown's PaperArtsy Eclectica range was stamped using Potting Soil Archival onto tissue and then fixed to the door with Satin Glaze by PaperArtsy. I used Grunge Paste for the tendrils about the door. The butterflies are punched out of card using a Martha Stewart punch.
I hoped this flower with its beautiful Lynne Perrella lady at the centre would echo my orange climbing roses as they stretch towards the sky!
From what exotic lands has my resting blue butterfly flown?
 I took what my son was now calling The Butterfly House into the Magpie Garden where the idea of the 'bird-house in your soul make' was born! Here you can see how I used Tim Holtz's trellis, painted with Yellow Submarine and embossed with Verdi-gris embossing powder. There are images of different Lynne Perrella ladies on this side. There are some Tattered Pine Cone Roses; some Retro Cafe Art Gallery toad stools and more butterflies - including one on a curly wire like a cuckoo from a clock! Just like the song, my bird-house was turning a plain wooden bird-house into a fantasy creation.
Pictured on my glass-topped table it could be a boat-house in the centre of a lake!

Another side view!


Back indoors to photograph this side, as the sun became so bright the shadows were making it difficult to get a clear photo!


Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch 
Who watches over you 
Make a little birdhouse in your soul 
Not to put too fine a point on it: 
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet 
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I had such fun creating this 3D piece, I should like to enter it in The Fashionable Stamping Challenge #73 to create a 3D make, which you can find out about here.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Magpie Garden today. Have a lovely weekend! If it's a Bank Holiday where you are, i do hope the sun shines brightly for you on Monday too!

20 comments:

  1. Fantastic birdhouse and I love those butterflies housing those fab LP images - stunning

    Sam xx

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  2. A realy beautiful bird house and wonderful impression from the garden!

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  3. That's a fantastic 3 D project, your birdshouse looks wonderful.

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  4. I love reading your posts as much as seeing your beautiful artwork Julie Ann. I have a little granddaughter who would drink in every word that springs from your imagination especially when it involves birdhouses. I love how you incorporated all the gorgeous LP images into your wonderful butterflies and flowers and the trellis looks great too. An altogether stunning piece.

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  5. looks like summer!!!!

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  6. Fantastic Julie Ann, love how you always have a story to go along with you artwork.

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  7. So very pretty and your son did make me laugh !! Oh and your garden roses are beautiful.

    Julie xx

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  8. I love rose very much, both combination colours are stunning Julie Ann!! Fabulous bird house! It's a very fun world, lovely LP images and beautiful colours. You always gave to body for butterfly, It's nice xx

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  9. Awesome bird house, thanks for sharing the words.

    Enjoy your weekend! :-) xxx

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  10. I love this, julie Ann, and how you have incorporated the lp images. Love that song too and love your roses!

    Lucy x

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  11. Such a beautiful bird/butterfly house. The song is one of my all time favourites too.

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  12. Julie Ann- I love reading your post as much as adoring your art pieces! What a wonderful house, in spite of no in process pics! teehee I have those projects also! xoxo

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  13. ps..Your roses are simply GORGEOUS! I can almost smell the fragrances from here- looks like I'll have to go shopping this weekend! Sadly I was only able to bring one of mine when we moved last year- the owners loved the gardens and asked that they remain intact- "( time for new!")

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  14. I don't know the song, but the lyrics are great! Love the bird-come-butterfly house, what a stunner! I can almost smell your roses from here...

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  15. That's a great song Julie Ann, & very apt for your glorious birdhouse! xxx

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  16. Wow Cuz, this post just made my day, how lovely of you to share your flowers in the Magpie garden, their colors are gorgeous blend just like the magic you do with the paint, the bird house has your heart and soul created in there, the colors, all the special details, your gorgeous signature pieces, you fabulous flowers, oh my I looooooooove the brown one, the butterflies are just magical, I know a few fairy who would like to live in it at the bottom of the garden. Thanks for sharing this brilliant creation, you are an amazing artist/story teller, have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS)))..

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  17. Glorious roses, Julie Ann, thank you so much for sharing those photos. And what a delight your altered bird box is - beautiful stamping as always, and such gorgeous bright summery colours - wonderful!
    Alison xx

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  18. Magpie Heaven indeed Julia Ann ... lovely to see your beautiful roses
    AND
    your precious bird house transformed into something most magical and pretty!
    oxo

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  19. A beautiful little birdhouse, with gorgeous details...Thanks so much for sharing with us at FSC...Esther xx

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  20. Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning bird house. Julie-Ann each piece of art you totally amaze me, your stories behind each creation is so unique. Really love the colours and the butterflies are beautiful especially with their faces. The flowers look awesome, lots of lovely layers. Hugs Kezzy :-) xxxxx

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