The Evolution of a Birdcage: From Ordinary to Extraordinary!

First things first: fix the uneven/unfinished whack-a-do color!

I had so much fun spray painting a flat coat of black paint with my nephews on the Fourth of July. Shame on me for not capturing that moment on film! –Auntie Elise received just as much spray paint as the birdcage did…but it was all good.

Next: a semi gloss black coat.
Ribbon was next: Michaels trip #1

Three dots of hot glue as I want around, and a pair of sharp scissors where the ribbon met on the backside of the cage.

Now for the insanity! I was stumped at how to decorate the rest of the cage. I knew I didn’t want a cheesy bow on the top, and black silk flowers did not evoke “joy” as a wedding of two such wonderful people should! So, the “google queen” went to work. When my search for damask silk flowers returned baren I tried damask silk flowers. Viola! Origami madness. Reference the previous post as to my origami skills, but I gave it a go, and the mock-up turned out to be “not so shabby.”

Michaels trip # 2: damask paper

I managed to get all the paper trimmed to 3 x 3 in one train ride to LA and even educated a few people on the power of a paper trimmer (ahhhh – sang like a castrati). I then set out to fold 75 individual petals that would eventually (hopefully) make a flower when assembled together five at a time. I did ALL the folding first and accomplished it in two and a half days. My index finger was numb, but I was determined.

Then came the gluing! Each petal has had to be glued to itself and allowed to dry. Thank HEAVENS for a tough guy on my train named Ray; who suggested I binder clip them and allow the glue to dry instead of holding three in my hand for 5-7 minutes at a time. GOLD STAR FOR RAY!

Then glued to another petal and another and another.

Ta-da! Hallelujah!

The center is a brad I picked up on the Michaels trip # 3 on the bridal aisle. –My other passion? Coupons. But that is a WHOLE different topic, and I am trying to stay focused and not blab. Too late. A big glob of hot glue on the back (one very bad finger burn) and I just plopped them into the center of the flower.

The brad originally had a gold ring around the edge, and although no one else would care (or even notice)… I KNOW Shauna prefers silver. So, I used my ever-handy silver metallic pen and CAREFULLY traced the edges until they were a pewter color. GOLD silver star for me!

I bunched them together (needed four extra arms, but that’s why God gave us elbows!) until I was happy with the shape and glued them to the cage. The point where all the flowers met proved to be difficult to manipulate and they would not stay where I wanted them (I took a sunbathe-by-the-pool-break at this point) but I persevered.

The card label was the finishing touch. One of my favorite elegant fonts printed on simple white cardstock and mounted on black cardstock and adhered –and threatened- within an inch of its life to stay put!

The bride was happy, and that made me happy. Ultimately, I am glad Brittany suggested a birdcage; the end result really was beautiful!

Congrats Shauna & Aaron Keck!