Think Outside the Cage

I often find myself using the phrase "think outside the box" when it comes to ideas and concepts.  So when I found this little birdcage on clearance this fall, I knew I needed to think outside the "cage."

Here is the birdcage before it was "Stampin' Up'd."

To start, I cut a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock in quarter inch strips lengthwise. I then ran each strip between my fingers to help break down the fibers in the paper and help it bend easier.  By bending and squishing the paper strips together in a circular pattern (technical terms here, right?), I make a loose bird nest.  This was hot glued on a paper doily and placed in the birdcage.  A few scraps of Soho Subway DSP scrunched up made three little eggs for the nest.

6 strips of Soho Subway designer series paper cut in quarter inch strips decorated the cage.  First, I rolled half a strip around each corner column of the cage.  Feel free to glue this in place, but I found it easy for the paper to stay in place with tight rolling.

Next, I weaved a strip through the diamond pattern on the bottom and top of the cage.  It took two pieces of paper to complete the weaving in each section.

For the embellishments, I tied a scrap of burlap ribbon to the side of the birdcage.  To give the embellishment a more tattered look, I trimmed the hem of the burlap ribbon off the tail sections of the knot.  After trimming the edges, it was easy to fray the ribbon.

Next, scraps of Victoria crochet trim and Crushed Curry chevron ribbon were hot glued to the center of the tied burlap piece and cut diagonally.  Soho Subway paper and the Spiral Flower Originals die made the flowers, which were hot glued to the center of the ribbon bundle.  A vintage faceted designer button in the center of one of the flowers makes the flowers look polished.

Tip: The silicone craft sheet makes adhering the paper flowers much easier!

Final touches were added by added using large pearl basic jewels to the latch of the birdcage and placing several leaves punched with the bird builder punch and Old Olive card stock to the ribbon and flower embellishment.