“No Ordinary Bird”
by Vanessa Spencer

Channel your inner 8 old and create a whimsical wall hanging! Begin with the 8" x 16" Shadowbox (5PR-24-8056) by Provocraft. These shadowboxes are great because you can actually remove the top section of the box, which allows you to work separately on the inside and outside. Paint the inside with white acrylic paint (5HSP24750) and allow to dry. On the outside frame trace the patterned papers you wish to use from the Wonder Years collection (5DD-18349). You will need a good quality decoupage or liquid adhesive to attach the papers to the box. I used the “catching fireflies” paper for the green grass look and the blue from the “go play” paper for the sky. I then used the striped “let's picnic” paper to cover the outside edges of the frame. Glue all those papers on and allow to dry.

Mix gesso (5HSP24941) and water together (equal portions). Using Claudine Hellmuth brushes (5CHS24729) paint over all the patterned paper that has already been glued to the shadow box. This will give the papers a chalk-like finish. Allow to dry. Cut out some clouds from the other side of the “let's picnic” paper. To create a unique cloud look I took 2 of the clouds and glued them onto sticky back canvas (5HSA24903) then cut out the cloud leaving a thin white border of canvas. Attach all your clouds to the sky section.

On the green paper use a green crayon to draw over the stems on the flowers so that the stand out more. Use thin twigs and attach them to some of the flower stems with a strong liquid adhesive. Attach the various collage flowers (5PM-523824) over the top of the stems. Add a few artful collage leaves (5PM-523862) to just a few of the flowers.

Cut out the banner from the “hooray” paper and glue to the inside of the box. Stamp the bird from the Marylinn Kelly “A Knack for Accessories” acrylic stamp (M4754) with black stazOn ink (5TS-BLACK). Color the bird using pencils and then cut out using the Tim Holtz scissors by Tonic (5TO-817). Glue the bird image on as shown in the picture. Use more thin twigs and break or cut them to length so you can create a mini easel. Glue the twigs on with liquid glue and allow to dry. Use a small square of blank sticky back canvas (5HSA24903) to cover a piece of chipboard and then glue onto the easel. Cut out the fish image from the “catching fireflies” paper and glue onto the mini canvas.