Bird Garden Angel

A couple months ago The Crafty Chica contacted me about altered a piece from her upcoming line of products due out in August. (I've been following - not stalking - her on Twitter for awhile now.) I was super excited by the opportunity. Not sure why she picked me, but I'm so glad she did!

In the mail I received this Crafty Chica Empowerment Guardian. I managed to score a QUEEN! You know how I love queens & crowns. I am a Contessa after all. lol After it arrived in the mail I got a little intimidated. I had no ideas jumping to mind for a long time. Then several flying at my brain at the same time. I managed to rein them all in and finished it up this week.

What I did:
I collaged the whole dress body with tissue paper words and poems (You can see it more in the pic of the back.) I also used some old book pages. I painted everything with acrylic paints. It was too bright when I was done so I sponged brushed on Tim Holtz Antique Linen Ink refill. Worked like a charm to 'age' it. I used present packing grass, a couple birds and a plastic egg in the crown. The necklace is made of the packing stuff & a star type earring, back removed.



The skirt is made of plastic fencing (similar to chicken wire) and the top of the skirt is black window screening. I knew I had been saving that small roll for a reason (about 3 years! lol) I wired the screening to the fencing and attached in the back with a safety pin. Before I put it on the body I glued on velvet ribbons and vintage laces. I also sewed on glow in the dark light aqua pom poms. I added glitter glue to all exposed parts of the fencing and screening. I attached it to her body and then added clip on earrings to 'attract the birds'. You know how they like they're shiny things. lol



I love the wings. I bought all they had left in Christmas clearance last year. Gaudy silver wings, didn't know what I would do with them. But I realized if you lightly brush acrylic paint over them it doesn't go in the crevices and you can change their color. She's now the Bird Garden Angel.



You can buy these Guardian statues on Amazon now. Crafty Chica's products are fabulous. They're in select Michaels right now, not mine, so I'll be buying online.