Repurposing a Busted up Bust

Hello! It's Rachel Whetzel here. While I was on the Amazing Mold Putty design team, I created some decorations for my sister's wedding. When the wedding was over, she mentioned wishing she had a neat way to display her birdcage veil. That is when the idea for this bust was born.

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

• A junked out old styrofoam head/bust.
• Old book pages.
• Creative Paperclay® modeling material
• Glue (I used Elmer's)
• Craft Paints in brown, black and red (I used Folk Art)

I started my project with a junked out old styrofoam head I bought at a thrift store forever ago. It was very much worse for wear, but that won't matter for this project!

To create interest in the piece, and to make it more feminine, I used Creative Paperclay® to add hair and very slight facial features to the bust. I also changed the shape of the base by adding "shoulders" to the bottom.

Once the clay was dry, I didn't even bother sanding. (which for me is rare, because sandpaper and I LOVE us some Creative Paperclay®) Next, I glued torn bits of book pages over the whole piece. I use my fingers to apply the paper and glue. I have the most control this way, and I can work the paper most easily over the contours of the bust. To keep your fingers from sticking, keep the glue wet, and apply it liberally over the top of everything as you go.

The next step was to paint the bust. I used a wet rag, and some brown craft paint to "stain" the piece, and kept the hair area in thicker paint.

Once that was done, I added more dimension by shading the hairline with black paint, and adding just a TOUCH of red to her cheeks. I don't have my sister's veil, but she'll be able to add it similarly to the brooch I placed on the bust for the "final" picture. Now, my sister will be able to display a piece of her wedding in her house! I personally think she'd look adorable on a stack of old books inside a glass bell tower.

If you create something inspired by my project, please leave a comment with a link here, so I can come and visit to see! I would love for you to visit me at my "house" too!! Thank you so much for reading!! 

~rachel