Altered Paintbrush and some Cage Dolls

Hi again folks.

As you know, I haven't been doing much "arting" up in my new studio these past two years, but I thought I should show you what I HAVE been able to get done.

Not having much time to play has not been of my own choice....family dramas and life in general has played a large part of my lack of "Mo-jo", but here we go with a few things I do have to show you.

Our PaperArts Group has had an Altered Paintbrush swap for the Mixed Media theme this month. I have used a paper-clay molded face but added magazine images for her eyes and mouth.

This is a close-up of her face.....I am finding it hard to send of to her new owner.....but mainly because I have had to work out how to make her stand. 

I may have to concede that she doesn't want to and add a hanger to the back of her head.

While on the subject of dolls...which I guess this paint-brush character would fall under the heading of such, I also have been smitten (always!!) by Santos Cage Doll.com but am not in the position to buy one as they are not only expensive but the postage cost is the killer!

So, my next images are of some that I bought in kit form from RetroCafeArt.com
I have managed to finish a couple of them but still have one waiting on my desk to be completed.

This one's cage is covered with harlequin paper, which I printed, backed with a medieval styled patterned paper and spotted paper for sleeves, crown and neck trim,which I also printed. I added  lovely vintage cotton lace for cuffs, puff sleeves, waist trim, behind her "crown" and along the hem of her dress. She has a paper face, which is one of my faves from Deviant Scrap  but I am afraid I can't recall from which designer.  My apologies to whom it may be. She has a little paper flower trim on her waist. Her arms are articulated at both shoulders and elbows.

Close-up of her face and the lace I used.

This next image is of  a shrine cage doll that I began to assemble whilst at my friend Bevlea's  place a couple of months ago. I painted her "cage skirt" cream and distressed it with a sanding block, then covered the rest of her with some beautiful blue tissue paper that Bevlea had coloured and stamped and gifted it to me for this doll. Bevlea also just happened to have the right coloured trim for her waist-line too...thanks heaps my dear friend, you helped to make her beautiful!

As birds are my favourite winged animals, I used her shrine for a nest. I adhered some music paper into the shrine then added a plastic egg, (thanx again Bevlea)which I painted blue and then Bevlea helped again by supplying a sweet little crystal to hang from the end of the egg. Unfortunately, this doesn't show up well in the photo. I found a little blue bird in my stash (much to Bevlea's disgust,I NEVER throw away ANYTHING as one never knows when it will be needed...vbg).

I used a molded paper-clay face (I have a box of them I made yonks back Bevlea...vbg) and tried to make it look a bit like a Santos Doll's....not too convincing I'm afraid but I am happy with her, and that's what counts.

I love the little blue birdie ...keeping his eye on the nest.

This is a close-up of her face...I shall have to try harder next time. Her crown is wooden and came in the kit.

And last but not least, here is a close-up of the shrine and the nest. I made the nest out of fine wood shavings. Pity you can't see the crystal.