Butterflies & Flourishes Altered Mini Dress Form Tutorial

   

Hi everyone!

I love altering things but sometimes the corners or latches make it so hard to fit the paper on. That is why I love this GLUE Art & Paper Studio dress form's soft, feminine curves. This is my first design team project for Kelli and Vicki, the owners of GLUE and it was so fun to make. The shape made it so easy: I just decided what spot of pattern on my paper would look best on the dress form, and then traced the form over the paper with pencil and cut inside the lines (I wanted the shape to be a bit smaller than the form so I could show off the paint around the curves). It measures 9 1/2 inches tall which is a perfect size for your desktop or a shelf in your craft room.

I really wanted my style and personality to shine through this piece. I have a very eclectic style but all my "styles" have two things in common: softness and femininity. I love everything girly, swirly and pink. I also love nature, especially during the spring season. Spring is nature's morning - everything is new, fresh, and full of life. Is there anything happier than seeing the flowers and butterflies arrive as the frost of winter departs?

I also love shiny, sparkly things. I swear I can be walking down the street and if something is shining in the window I just stop and stare, hypnotized. Allan will be ten feet down the street wondering where I went lol. I am also big on mixing up shapes and textures. I love a modern take on vintage style, which some people call "shabby chic", our generations word for "kitch". I tried my best to incorporate all of this into this dress form.

This is the back of the dress form. The pink crystal flourishes that swirl along the form are made by Prima and come in large stickers. All the crystals I used were ONE sticker and I still had leftovers!

The stickers have no backing but rather are held in place by stiff shaped plastic and a bit of webbing that I simply trimmed off. I did have to add a few glue dots to make it wrap around the pole.

I love the deep texture and flat paint of the ivory combined with the warm burnished gold metallic paint.

I painted the whole form with white acrylic paint, then painted everywhere except where the patterned paper was to go with gold acrylic paint. When the gold was almost dry I painted ivory crackle paint on the sides, shoulders and top of the base. A thick coating of ivory ensured deep, thick cracks. If you do not want your cracks this pronounced just apply a thin coat.

This is the form as I apply the crackle paint to the sides and base. Excuse the mess - I work on other projects as the paint dries on the form.

Tip: I use a flat square head Taklon brush to paint. They are fantastic to use with acrylics as they are firm yet move well. Clean up is easy too - you just need to rinse them out with water.

When the paint is completely dry, I used a foam sponge applicator to apply Mod Podge to the white torso and adhered my patterned paper that I had traced and cut earlier. I carefully painted a bit of gold paint over any white or unevenness, then let that dry. I then sealed the paper with another coat of Mod Podge and let that dry then added my embellishments.

I bought a dowel knob at Michael's in the wooden crafts section for the "head" of my dress form. I added a Prima crystal and simply glued it on.

Butterfly metal beads were added here and there with clear glue dots.

Beginning at the shoulder, I loosely wrapped May Arts Leaves and Stem ribbon around the body and pole of the dress from, ending at the base. This ribbon is so detailed - it even has veining on the leaves.

Here is how the dress form looks "naked". 

I love how Kelli and Vicki branded their logo into the wood on the bottom of the base. So fun and different. You can paint over it but I didn't. If you would like to alter your own dress form you can click here for a list of local and online retailers.

Thanks for stopping by!

{hugs}

Suzy

Paper: Webster's Pages  Primrose Garden from the Sweet Charity Collection

Accessories: Glue Art & Paper Dress Form; Ranger Adirondack Metallic Gold Dabber Acrylic Paint; Making Memories Spotlight Acrylic Paint (white); Prima Crystals; butterfly metal beads (maker unknown - purchased at art supply store); May Arts Leaves and Stems ribbon; fabric and bead flower; wooden dowel knob from Michaels; Mod Podge and sponge applicator. PS Brush is courtesy of Obsidian Dawn

Comments

[Flower Girl Dresses]

amazing collections , fascinated me a lot , thanks for wonderful post , This is wonderful dress designing forms .

[flower girl dress patterns]

It was nice reading your post. I needed to know such kind of information to update myself. I work in my friend’s boutique of flower girl dresses and also help in the online promotion.

[Elizebeth]

This is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!!

I've just found your blog and I really enjoy it and all your crafty baking. I'll be back for a peek!

[Becky S]

I LOVE this! The blingy swirls are awesome!!!

[Terri Conrad]

Hi Suzy, this is soooooooo chic. I'm on my way over to 'glue's' site to check out their product. LOVE it! Thanks for sharing.

May I post it in my "Heart & Hand Crafted" album on my blog, with your link?

Thanks Suz

Terri Conrad

[dawn chau]

Suzy!!! I LOVE THIS!!! Its been so fun seeing all the neat ideas the other gals have come up with:) Your design is dear to my heart with all the floral and nature scenes you included into your design:) Its fun, fresh, and oooh so feminine:)

[Susan Liles (susiestampalot)]

hey suzy, this is beautiful!!! i love the colors, everything. so feminine!!

[Tammy -SCS-Feathers&ink]

ASTOUNDING! Your time and talent really shows on this piece. Kudos my dear!

[Heather Imhoff]

Oh my, this is really beautiful. You must have had fun with this project.

[malieta]

You did a fantastic job altering this dress form! I love the bling, it is so pretty.
malieta:)

[Kim]

Oh Suzy, that is absolutely fabulous. i love it. It is so elegant.

[Ellie Augustin]

Wow very beautiful :) TFS !

[Beth Norman]

Oh Suzy, this is so gorgeous. Very creative!

[George]

this is wonderful!!! really, thanks for taking the time to do it

[Kris H]

This is beautiful....very girly, swirly and pink. I love all the swirls and bling. Wonderful use of the dress form!!