Spring nest

Oh SPRING! It will be here shortly! 

Tonight we bump the clocks ahead which will make our evenings lighter longer - spring can't be far off! 

I've created a spring shadowbox with a stamped nest and little birdie in it to share with you today. 8"x8"

 

The current challenge at eclectic Paperie is to use recycled fabric in your mixed media project. I have an old wallpaper sample book that also has fabric samples in it and that is where this project began. This is the wallpaper book:

 and this is the fabric sample I used:

First I stamped the adorable nest from this Stampers Anonymous Easter Blueprint Stamp Set on to the fabric. 

I stamped it twice more on to patterned paper, cutting one out, and laying washi tape by My Minds Eye over the other one to cut out the eggs. 

All of the paper I used is from the Authentique "Hope" collection, it is a beautiful muted blue/brown/tan color palette. On the background paper I did some stamping and inking through punchenella with Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain. A piece of vintage book paper from an old bible study book makes a nice layer between my fabric piece and the background paper. 

A metal leaf, tab with the word "life" on it, and brad by Tim Holtz Idea-ology bring some deeper color and another layer to the piece. Some twine by American Crafts wrapped around the top took up an awkward bit of white space. I frayed the edges of the fabric and colored it with Faber Castell Pitt pens in different shades of brown.  I was very please with how this all came out but then what to do with it? 

I didn't want to mount it to a canvas because I liked how the vintage book paper  was dimensional on the background and I knew it needed to be protected. Off to Michaels to find a shadowbox and WOOT! - there was this one on clearance for a penny! YES, a penny!!!! I have had this happen before at Michaels, when there is only one of something left, they sell it for a penny - amazing. Anyway, I found a little birdie and some moss and this project was coming together nicely! 

I lined the inside edges of the box with paper from the same Authentique "Hope" collection to help brighten up the inside of the box and glued the moss and bird to the bottom.

 Do you have any bits of fabric laying around? Make a project and share it with us at eclectic Paperie - we'd love to see your work and there is a random draw among the entries for a nice gift certificate to spend at the eP shop!

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your comments!