I know why the caged bird sings

No, I don't really but I know why the 2 are singing and perhaps the other 3 aren't...they're outside the cage!

The fab LindaE is hosting another Grungy Monday challenge.  This time she's chosen an older technique from Tim's blog...back in May of 2008.  It's all about creating a new dimension. 

I cut out 3 tags using Tim's trusty Tag & Bookplate die.  Two tags were from cardstock found in the Lost & Found Paper Stash and the 3rd was from thick chipboard.  I adhered the top tag and the chipboard using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi Medium.  That stuff is da bomb!  I carefully positioned the tag on the Caged Bird die and ran it through my Big Shot.  Not only do I have a birdcage niche on my tag but a birdcage to use for a future project!  I glued the 3rd tag on the back, this time the patterned side of the paper is showing.  The tag is a bit large so a small bit was taken out of the side (part of the bird) so I covered it up with a slightly altered Adage ticket.

Using shrink plastic I cut out the bird and colored it with blue, orange and brown distress inks.  A pain in the patoot to shrink and I ended up cutting off the branch.  Like the twist in the tail feathers?  Poor birdy is probably saying 'ouch'!  The other birds are Martha Stewart punches that I used on some canvas-y type of ribbon.  Square toothpicks were cut to fit the cage so the birds would have a perch...or two.  The perches were stained with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and glued in place. 

The cage is hanging from Tim's new Mini Leaf & Branch set.  The branch was cut from chipboard then I smeared Walnut Stain Distress Crackle Paint over it to make it look more like wood.  The leaves were cut from some green scraps before I drew in some veins and ran more Walnut Stain over the leaves for dimension.

I didn't need the tag reinforcements so I used them at the bottom of the tag so I wouldn't thrown them out and be considered wasteful.  :) 

Plenty of birds are singing outside my window so I guess I should go out and join them but I'll be working in my gardens...weeding, planting, and installing rabbit fencing to keep out critters.  Hope your day will be filled with lots of productivity!  We seem to have 1 dry day then 3-4 wet ones so I need to take advantage of the situation and 'make hay while the sun shines'...or at least it isn't raining!